Everybody Has a Story

I’m beginning to get the idea that apartment life here in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma is a microcosm of society as a whole.  As I sat on the balcony of my third story apartment this morning, my attention was drawn to a slender middle-aged lady walking across the parking lot, as she does every day, shielding her eyes from the rising sun that peaks its bright rays between the buildings at that particular time each morning.  My first thought was, “there she is again, right on time” but then I got to thinking… “What is your story?”  


Everybody has a story.  This gal takes a walk every morning about the time I am out on the balcony doing my morning Bible study.  To be honest, I have never spoken to her and wouldn’t even know her facial features as she always has a book or magazine covering her face when she strolls by!  Then there is the young mother and her not too happy children whom she walks out to the car each morning.  I assume that she is on her way to work and the kids are to be dropped off at daycare.  Many days of the week they are crying and letting her know that they don’t want to go.  My heart goes out to them and I pray for them quite often.


There’s the older gentleman who lives in the larger apartments over the garages off to my left who walks around his building each day, stopping every-so-often to take a puff or two of his cigarette, the blond women who comes out around seven, as I am walking Fiver first thing each day, who lives in the building right next to mine on the third floor, in her pajamas to enjoy her morning smoke, the older couple below her with the friendly wife who always says hello and tells me what a good looking dog I have, the outgoing young gal in my building right next door and her half huskie, half wolf dog named “Zeus” who is becoming cautious friends with Fiver, the family below me and the many others I see on a daily basis. 


My major prayer concern has become the Asian couple one floor down whose door we pass every time we go out.  The wife (I am assuming she is the gentleman’s wife…) looks like she has recently gone through some chemo therapy for she is thin as a rail and looks like her hair is just growing back.  They park right below my living room windows and I see them leave every afternoon and return a few hours later with a few bags of fresh fruits and vegetables from our local Sprouts natural foods store.  I’ve tried to talk with them a few times, but she seems to be frightened of Fiver (although she will wave to him... not me mind you... him!) so I usually keep our distance from them.  But I pray for them.  I figured that God had them come within the parameters of my life for a reason… so I listen, obey and walk in faith.


Like I said, everyone has a story.  It is interesting for me to observe life around me.  To imagine what their lives might be like and to consider how God and the truth of His Word could possibly improve it!  Lately I have found myself drawn to people who have loved ones that are experiencing potentially life ending medical situations.  I wonder why… right?


Maybe God’s got a ministry plan for me out here after what Piper and I experienced.  I’ve found myself telling them without much thought, that if they ever want to talk… just let me know.  My heart immediately recalls the hope and expectation that God and His Word gave to Piper and I during the last chapter of her story on this earth.  It is definitely something that I want others to experience… especially when it looks like they might be facing a hopeless situation.


Another one of my favorite scriptures encourages us to “Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5 God’s Word ©)  When the storyline in our lives seems to take a negative twist, it’s always a good thing to rely on His understanding which takes us far beyond the limitations of our own understanding of the situation!  His hope.  His expectation.  That what I want people to rely on when the  writer of this world attempts to interject an unexpected conclusion to the story of our lives.  Wouldn’t you agree?


Think about it… Maybe our smiles, our encouraging words and our prayers are the things that will place a hint of hope and expectation into the lives of those we see on a daily basis.  One thing I’ve learned in this life is that God always rewards our faith and obedience to Him and His Word.  So, I keep my eyes and ears tuned… to the best of my ability… to His leadings as I interact within the personal stories of the people around me.  What about you?

Have a great rest of the week, and as you do, say with me… “I am expecting to make a positive edit into the life story of someone around me today.”

Making the Impossible Possible!

Well today we jump into the house closing process with the payment of the Earnest money and a total home inspection.  It seems like we just went through this whole thing… and I guess we did just a few months ago, except from the other side of the spectrum as the seller and not the buyer!


I continue to push ahead with this new chapter in my life and at the same time stand in AWE at the way everything is coming together.  I spent the afternoon yesterday with our youngest daughter and her husband and our precocious granddaughter.  After lunch with a couple of friends, the four of us hopped in their truck and drove out to a local Sporting goods store where we checked out bikes, guns, camping equipment, shoes and athletic supplies!  You’ll be enthralled to know that I bought a couple pair of socks, while they purchased a baseball and soccer ball!


Following our store adventure, we headed out to my new place.  While driving over my daughter mentioned how she was surprised that the house purchase happened so quickly… to which I nodded my head in agreement telling her that I originally figured that we’d be looking for at least a month!  I’ve learned though, that when you put your trust in the Lord, that anything can happen… and at times, happen quickly!


I had a thought on Saturday morning that Piper had hardly any “disconnects” between her faith and her daily life.  It was one of the special qualities that set her apart from others.  Then it dawned on me that I have bought into that characteristic of hers as well. I could have easily “disconnected” from my faith in the early stages of our house hunting when things were beginning to look too expensive for my budget.  But we chose to stay connected by keeping our faith and expectations reaching out to His ability to make the seemingly impossible possibilities of life possible… and look what the Lord has done!


Matthew 19:26 assures us that that there are things in our daily lives that may seem impossible to reach or attain “but with God all things are possible.” (KJV)  You don’t know how many times Piper and I hung on to that promise for dear life through the years… and He always proved to be faithful and true to His Word!  I jotted down in my study notes on Saturday morning that “I don’t ever want to lose that AWE in seeing God work His miracles in my life!” 


How about you?  I firmly believe that He is wanting and waiting for us to take Him up on His promises, to stand and then act in faith based on the truth of His Word and then stand in AWE over what He does in our lives.  Sometimes His response takes a bit of time… but on other occasions it seemingly happens overnight… like I’m currently experiencing with our new home!


Have a great week, and as you do, say with me… “I am expecting God’s possibilities to overcome the impossibilities in my life today!”

Expecting What I am Expecting!

I hope you’re not too tired of hearing me say this… but I was listening to a short audio clip of one of Piper’s recorded church sermons… it’s not like she preached a lot in the adult service, but when she did we always got a copy… and she was giving an example of the need for consistency in the building of our faith in the various areas of our lives.  She spoke in particular, about her need to hear quickly and clearly from the Lord when she went grocery shopping… with four kids at her side.


She learned a lesson early on about shopping with young kids when Joshua first became adapt to walking on his own.  I wasn’t with her at the time when the two of them went shopping at our local Lucky’s grocery store.  Up until that point, Piper had always seated Josh in the basket but on that day, he was getting a little squirmy and wanted down.  So, Piper finally relented, lifted him out of the basket and placed him next to her, standing on his own.  Well, before she could take his hand… he was gone!  

I remember laughing so hard when she vividly described how she had to literally run, red faced with embarrassment and some anger, after him through the aisles in the store until she finally caught up to him.  From that point on, with the other three kids, she chose to train them to walk next to her from a very young age… instead of just keeping them in the basket!

So, for her, shopping with the kids, on her busy schedule was a big deal and she naturally sought the Lord’s assistance… as she tended to do for every area of her life.  Some people may think (and some actually confronted her concerning the involvement of her faith in her day to day life) that this was un-needed, but you wouldn’t be able to convince her of that!


When I flipped off the tape, I turned to the dog laying near the front door, and declared with a smile, that “she had such a practical application of her faith.”  Her walk with Jesus was just who she was and what she did!  Then today as I was reading once again from Ephesians 3:20 in The Message paraphrase version of the Bible, it dawned on me that God actually encourages us to dream and to dream big… IN, THROUGH and FOR Christ… with a practical application of our faith, all along the way!  Paul declared that “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!”


At times over the last two months since I moved here to Oklahoma, I have found myself overwhelmed with the goodness of God.  Like I said in my last post, He continues to do His “far more” in my life.  But you know, it kind of makes sense… for in many respects, I’ve come to expect it!  You see, Hebrews 11:1 states that: “Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see.” (God’s Word ©) 


I have to admit though, that it still surprises me when the manifestations of my faith appear.  I was loading my groceries into my car in the middle of the Walmart SuperCenter near our apartment on Wednesday when I got the call from our realtor that the seller had accepted our offer on the house we liked.  I couldn’t help but jump up and down and pump my fist a few times with excitement at the news.  Then on the way out of the parking lot, I had to stop and praise Him as I became overwhelmed with his goodness.  Yes, my faith told me that this was exactly what I had expected… but it still overwhelmed me!


Am I different from anybody else?  NO!  NO! and NO again!  Please don’t get the idea that I write this blog simply to pat myself on the back.  My heart-felt desire is to point YOU to HIM and the peace, power, joy, goodness and faithfulness of HIM and His Word… that any active, committed and consistent in-their-faith Christian can tap into.  


It’s what HE wants for you… wouldn’t you want it too?  As a Christian… it is ours for the taking with the prerequisite’s that I mentioned above.  Why wouldn’t we earnestly desire God’s best in and for and through our lives?


Have a wonderful weekend, and as you do, say with me… “I am expecting what I am expecting from God and His Word to manifest in my life today!” *



*Based on Hebrews 11:1 and Ephesians 3:20

Far More!

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.  Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!”                                                                                         Ephesians 3:19-20  MSG 



I’ve been checking out potential neighborhoods and a few houses ever since I arrived here just slightly two months ago.  I have to be honest though… the more I looked, the more disappointed I got.  It seemed like homes within the price point that I had set for myself were somewhat limited and older than I desired.


But you know?  The Lord didn’t get disappointed and told me after a few weeks, to keep in mind all the houses that we looked at before we found the perfect home for our needs and desires that we purchased in North Carolina.  So, with that boost, I began to pray that He would do… what I would consider… another miracle.  Somehow, somewhere out there… there was the perfect house for us, in the perfect location, at the perfect price.


I had originally set my mind toward a smaller town nearby, where the price point was closer to my financial range.  But again… as I looked… and even found some nice possibilities… it hit home that it was just too far away from my family, church and the stores and community that I enjoy being a part of.  I was letting what I thought I could afford to be my guide.


At that point, I decided to get serious with God and with my faith!  The scriptures tell us that God can do “far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!”  As I looked at my options in the natural realm, all I could see was impossibilities and a lack of choices.  But when I looked at the Word of God, I began to see “far more” possibilities and lots of choices… as many as I could dream… and in fact… “wildly dream!”

Who or what should I believe?  Who or in what would you believe?  Well, I’ve been around this block before and decided to throw it all in… lock, stock and barrel!  And believe me when I say how great it is to have a fired up Christian Real Estate Agent at your side!


And His faithfulness has proven true once again!  As of this morning, we are officially under contract with another wonderful home… exactly what I desired, in the exact type of neighborhood I desired and at the exact price… well, actually a few thousand less… than I desired!  Isn’t God Good!


The house is a little larger than our North Carolina home but with a smaller nice sized yard.  It is located in a lovely neighborhood, in a newer section of Broken Arrow, on a quiet cul-de-sac and is one house away from and has great views of a golf course from both the front and back…  and Oh Yeah… did I mention the nearby picturesque walking trails.  AMAZING!  In my way of thinking, it is “far more” than what I thought, at the time, were some pretty wild dreams…


So yeah… I’m a bit… okay, okay… A lot excited… and kind of in a fog at the same time.  So much has happened to me in the last year… not to mention the last two months.  In many respects, I feel like I’ve been driving down the highway with the top down on my old Mustang GT… with the pedal to the metal… the whole time!  


My head spins as I think about it all!  Piper’s been gone almost a year now, but yet it feels as if it were only this morning that she moved into her new residence in heaven.  In the meantime, I packed up a house… and a life… and drove half-way across the country, moved into a great little apartment, found a great new church, have spent many great hours with my kids and their family’s… and now I’m getting ready to move again!  WHEW!


How does that verse go where it says that we are to “trust the LORD with all our heart, and not rely on our own understanding?”  (Proverb 3:5)  I haven’t had time to think about it or try and understand anything!  So much has happened that I wouldn’t rely on my own understanding if my life depended on it!  But - God is God… and excels in and for our lives, when and where we release Him through our faith and actions and of course with those wild dreams!


So, do it!  Release Him in and for your life… Live on the wild side… in your faith, with your actions that are based on that faith in Him and His Word… and through your wild dreams.  I firmly believe that what we might consider to be wild is quite mundane to Him!  Have a wonderful rest of the week, and as you do, say with me… “I am expecting to release God into my life through my faith, through my corresponding actions of that faith and through my wildest dreams!”   

Continue to Continue!

How did everyone’s weekend go?  I looked at a couple of houses on different ends of town and was actually encouraged by what I saw.  Although there were a couple of red flags with each of these particular houses, it gave me a positive hope that the right one in the right location at the right price is just waiting out there for me to find!  I’m planning to hook up with my new realtor from the church that I’ve been attending and then begin the search in earnest this week.


And talking about searching in earnest… I noticed this morning while sitting out on the balcony and praying the two Ephesian prayers located in Ephesians 1:17-23 and Ephesians 3:16-21, that I kept inserting the word “continue” into my personalized confession of this portion of God’s Word.  Ephesians 3:19 took on a special significance as I prayed that “I would continue to grow in my intimate, experiential and personal knowing of Christ’s love, which takes me way beyond any natural knowledge or understanding, so that I may be completely filled with God.” (God’s Word © personalized)  That’s the kind of love that I want… and NEED to know in this daily changing - everything new - period of my life!


Our Pastor shared yesterday about Jonah and how he actually moved in the opposite direction that God had requested him to go.  His point was that as believers we are not only called to be “movers” but to move in the right direction!  This brought back many memories of Piper’s and my personal experiences during the last eight years of her earthly existence.  We quickly discovered that in order to be following the path that helped us the most during this battle, that we needed to continue moving along the road that He and His Word continually unfolded before us.


In my personal experience, I’ve realized that if I ever stopped moving forward along with Him, that I would actually begin going backwards… as everyone else would pass me by and leave me sitting in their dust!  Ephesians 1:12 tells us that “He planned all of this (to bring all of our history to its goal in Christ – Verse 1:10) so that we who had already focused our hope on Christ would praise him and give him glory.”  I wrote in my note book on Saturday as I read that verse that “I can’t imagine living even one day of my life without the hope and personal expectations of the gospel of Jesus Christ working in, through and for my life.”


That personal hope and expectation forces me to continue - continuing on with and for Him!  I had another inspiration in my moments of serenity on the balcony this morning where it hit me that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 God’s Word ©)  He was the same in my past with Piper, He is the same with me today, and He will continue to be the same with me and with whatever or whoever in my future.  He doesn’t change… so why should I!  I will continue to do what has worked concerning my faith for us in the past for what He has planned for me in my present and future. (See: Ephesians 1:8-11)


Does that make sense to you?  If so… what are you planning to continue to do in your faith life for your present and future?


Have a great new week, and as you do, say along with me… “I am expecting to continue to exercise and grow my faith in my present and future… just as I have done in my past!”

The Grooming of Jim Berruto

GROOM:   verb (used with object)

·       to tend carefully as to person and dress; make neat or tidy.

·       to clean, brush, and otherwise tend (a horse, dog, a person…etc.).

·       to prepare for a position, election, etc.:           - Dictionary.com

I found myself involuntarily raising a hand and shouting praises this morning as I studied my Bible on our balcony.  There was a slight breeze blowing and the deep blue sky was dotted with clouds.  And even though it was a little warm, the early hour and combination of the breeze and clouds made sitting out there to be a very enjoyable and peaceful activity!


Although, I’m not sure how peaceful my shouts were to others in the apartment complex. Most of the early birds had already left for work and the park-like settings infused between the buildings as well as the parking lot below me were calm and quiet… except for my audible intrusions!  I was excited though, for I was reading from Ephesians 1:6 where Paul tells us that we are to be giving God praise, glory and thanksgiving for the kindness and/or grace that He has given to us in Christ Jesus!


I couldn’t help but shout out my thankfulness and joy as I read those words and thought about all the kindnesses and overflowing grace that God repeatedly sent our way during the last eight years and the battle we fought for my wife’s life.


You see, while taking a shower even earlier in the morning, I suddenly had been captivated with the idea that God the Father had been “GROOMING” me throughout my Christian walk… even from my stumbling start back in the beginning of the 1970’s… to face the threat, protect and care for my wife during her deepest time of need… throughout what has been the most difficult trial that we had ever faced in our many years together.


I began to understand how He prepared and undergirded me through years of study of the foundational scriptures in my life like Joshua 1:5 and 9, 2Timothy 1:7, Philippians 4:13 and 19 and Ephesians 3:18-21.  In the midst of the shocking news we received from the doctors, the slow and devastating destruction of Piper’s ability to think, communicate and care for herself along with the awful visible changes to her lovely physical features and maybe worst of all, the vicious attacks of the devil against our character and faith, I was able to stand strong and focus fully on GOD and the truth of HIS WORD.  


When push came to shove… nothing else mattered!  It was almost like we automatically slipped into the default mode that God had been putting in us over the previous years!  I’ve heard special forces personnel say that in the explosive times of battle, all they could do was to trust in their training.  I believe that is exactly what happened with me.  All the negative things around me only served to make me stronger and more resolute to see God and HIS way through until the very end.


I love how The Message Bible paraphrases Ephesians 3:19.  It was the way I heard God speaking to me throughout Piper’s and my last battle together.  When times were at their roughest points, I would hear HIS voice saying to me, “I can do anything, you know JIM—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! And I will do it not by pushing you around but by working within you, MY Spirit deeply and gently within you.” (personalized)  

The anger, the fear and the symptoms of that awful disease that were tossed our way did little to shake my faith because I KNEW that it was NOT God’s way. (See John 10:10)  For HIS ways come froth with hope, expectancy, peace, love and gentleness.  You see, HE had GROOMED me for this event.  When the worst of the worst came into my life… I simply responded with how HE had trained me!  I guess all those early mornings alone with HIM paid off!


How do you think that the LORD is GROOMING you?  What are the foundational scriptures in your life that you study on a regular basis?  Will you be able to depend on YOUR training when your worst nightmare becomes a reality?  With HIS GROOMING, that nightmare will be but a fleeting shadow when placed under the power and light of the WORD of GOD that is in you!


Have a great weekend, and as you do, say with me… “I am expecting God’s training… that WORD that HE has been GROOMING me with, to kick into high gear when the nightmares of life hit home.”

Happy Birthday Piper!

“Don't be sad because the joy you have in the LORD is your strength."    Nehemiah 8:10



Today is a special day to me as it would have been Piper’s 66^th birthday.  When the kids were growing up, we had a tradition when celebrating a birthday, where we tried (budget allowing) to prepare whatever meal the honored individual requested.  This morning I had to ellicit the help of our kids in order to remember what Piper’s normal birthday request was.  You see, she didn’t necessarily have a favorite meal that she asked for each year… like most of the rest of us did.


So, the kids sent texts back naming various “favorites” of hers over the years including salmon, spaghetti and meatballs with a big tossed green salad and garlic bread, tacos… with grated carrots as part of the garnish of course… and barbequed hot dogs with Josh’s home-made salsa and chips.  The one thing I did remember though, was the chocolate cake and mint-chip ice cream for dessert.  


She definitely had a sweet tooth, but was very controlled in her yielding to it!  She’s the only person I’ve known who could take a week to eat a candy bar… just a little bite here and another bite there throughout the week!  When I went through the items in her purse before the move out here, the paraphernalia inside included a couple of granola bars and numerous small bags of Reese’s Pieces!


But ah… her occasional yielding to those sweet confections only seemed to highlight her outgoingly sweet personality.  Her almost tangible glow, her bright eyes, her encouraging words and that contagious smile were the marks of Piper that caused her to stand apart from most others.


The joy that encapsulated her entire being was also one of the major keys to her spiritual, mental, emotional and physical strength… which made the attack of Alzheimer’s upon her brain and body a total surprise to those of us close to her.  I could probably count the times on less than one hand, when I saw her with a sad look upon her face.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the idea of “turning a frown upside down” started after someone’s interaction with my wife!


So, with many poignant thoughts and memories, I wish you a very happy birthday today Sweetie!  I mentioned in the first paragraph that this “would have been” Piper’s 66^th Birthday but in reality… I guess it still is!  She’s just having her party in another realm!  I hope that she thoroughly enjoys whatever feast is prepared for her from the heavenly kitchens and as she bites into her large slice of chocolate cake, takes a little peek down to us as we are thinking about how much her personal presence in our lives blessed us!

10 Times!

The heat index today is projected to reach as high as 112 degrees here in the Tulsa area of Oklahoma!  But that’s okay with me as I plan to enjoy the comfort of my air-conditioned apartment while I catch up on my “To-Do” list.  Last week was crazy busy… but I thoroughly enjoyed it.


I had some good friends from the Denver area visit toward the end of the week, so I spent the first three days completing many urgent “move” projects, cleaning house… what little there is to clean… and getting a much-needed haircut.  When they arrived on Thursday afternoon, we had a wonderful and whirlwind time eating at nice restaurants, touring around the area, playing with the dog, who I think thought that our guests came solely to visit him… and having lots of great conversations as we caught up on the happenings of each other’s families and personal lives.  I can’t say enough about our time together… I enjoyed it tremendously and was blessed beyond measure.


On Saturday morning I attended a men’s fellowship breakfast with the church I’ve just begun attending and was received with open arms and made to feel like I’d been there forever.  What a terrific group of Godly men!  I do believe that I have found my new church home.


Only a week or so ago I was wondering if I’d ever fit into the new chapter of life that I was kind of tossed into with Piper’s passing almost a year ago now.  I’ve heard stories of individuals who have lost a spouse falling into a sort of void, or life-less no man’s land for months or sometimes years.  And I will admit that there were a few days after the initial busy-ness of the move from North Carolina, where I faced the reality of life without my wife without any known plan or purpose… which, let me tell you… could be a very scary place if you let it!


But I am so thankful for Piper’s and my years of training in and dependence on the Word of God during the difficult times of life… especially when you can see absolutely NO physical answer to your situation… when His Word is the ONLY direction leading you, and the ONLY hope you have to hang onto!


Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (KJV)  To me the key to this verse is the power behind our efforts to “diligently seek Him” especially when it looks like there is absolutely no answer to our need on the horizon.

I’ve been reading Ephesians 1:3-14 for a few weeks now.  On most days I sit on our balcony in the early hours of the day with my cup of coffee, my Bible and notebook, before there is much activity around the apartment grounds below me.  Proverbs 8:17 instructs us by saying: “If you seek Me early and diligently, you will find me”  …and I would have to say that those quiet early morning appointments with God that I have enjoyed for years, have been a life-saver for me!


I noticed this morning while reading in the beginning of Ephesians, that the phrases “through Christ,” “in Christ,” or “on Christ” appear 10 times.  Now, I may not be a Biblical scholar but I definitely get the idea that the Apostle Paul who penned this epistle, wanted to make a point here!  As the writer discusses the grace of God, His forgiveness of our failures, His lovingkindness toward those of us who believe in Him, the purposes and plans that He has designed specifically for you and me and the many other blessings that He has destined for us to have, Paul continually tells us that they are all accomplished and available THROUGH, IN and ON Christ!


So, let me ask you then… if this is true… doesn’t it only make sense that we would want to diligently seek HIM within the truth of HIS WORD on a regular and consistent basis for everything that we face in our lives?  


That may sound like a NO-BRAINER, but you would be surprised to see where people turn when things come up that turn their lives upside down!  Piper and I were most definitely surprised with the reactions of some people we knew, when they were faced with the realities of Piper’s deteriorating health.  


Do you know how you would respond when faced with a potentially life-changing situation?  For us, the decision was made well-before the emergency ever came up… how about you?


Have a blessed week, and as you do, say with me… “I am expecting to diligently focus my hope and efforts THROUGH, IN and ON Christ, when the situations of life turn sideways before me!”

NAMES!

“He (Jesus) is far above all rulers, authorities, powers, lords, and all other names that can be named, not only in this present world but also in the world to come.”   

                                                                              Ephesians 1:21 God’s Word ©  

This scripture along with its sister verses in Philippians 2:9-11 are the key verses that Piper and I followed for direction back as the initial results of her brain scans began to come in when we were originally out here in Oklahoma back in 2009.  The doctors were a little confused as the results of her tests seemed to say one thing while her physical and mental condition said something else.  The eight-page report from her interactive hours spent with the Neuropsychologist declared that she should be home under 24-hour care but yet she was still functioning independently, doing everything she normally did except for driving.

So, with much prayer and discussion we agreed that the Lord was instructing us to return home to California in order to reconnect with our network of family and friends as well as the connections we had developed over the years.  It seemed to be the logical way to regroup and find out what was really going on with her.  Piper and I both had the clear indication that He wanted us to find the “name” of what was assailing her thinking abilities and then command it to “bow” its knee before the name of Jesus. (Philippians 2:10-11)

As I sat on the balcony earlier this morning with a hot cup of java in one hand and my favorite God’s Word © translation Bible in the other, reading from the Ephesian prayers at the end of chapters one and three, I suddenly had some retrospective thoughts on the validity of our actions back then.  Like a light bulb going on in a darkened room, I realized that we not only had the one name of Alzheimer’s trying to take precedence over our situation, but other names that were adamantly being suggested to us from people who tried their best to influence our circumstances.

Names like fear, deception, doubt and unbelief did their best to take a stronghold in our decision-making processes.  These along with many more negative names were regularly placed before us.  But as I’ve stated before… they came too little, too late for us!  Our minds were made up way before we ever drove out of the Sooner State on the way back home to the Golden State!

We had already resolved to put Alzheimer’s and any other name under the name that “is far above all rulers, authorities, powers, lords, and all other names that can be named.” (Ephesians 1:21)  Some of those names may have surprised us along the way, but we never allowed the surprises to move us away from the solid foundation we knew we had in the name of Jesus.

I would imagine that all of you have had many different “names” try to influence both the good and the bad times in your lives.  But where you place those names will make all the difference in the outcomes of the events that tend to shape your very existence.  Do you place them on a pedestal in the center of your daily life where you have to look at them on a regular basis, or do you quickly place them under the much more powerful and productive name of Jesus where they quickly lose their influence and relevance?

Have you ever really considered all the various names that you entertain in your day to day activities?  Sometimes we react to certain names without even considering what we’re doing.  Often, we are just conditioned by the things that we read, watch on TV or hear on the news in our response to the different names that we hear.  Maybe it is time to reconsider where we place the names that we hear each day?  Maybe it is time to place them where they belong… under the all-powerful name of Jesus!

Just saying… Think about it!

Have a great mid-week, and as you do, decide to say with me that… “I am expecting to place every name I hear under the mighty name of Jesus!”

SPLENDOR, MAJESTY, STRENGTH and JOY!

I was walking by the bar counter that extends into the living room from the kitchen a few moments ago and on a whim, I reached out and pressed the cassette play button on my old boom box that I had bought back in the early 1990’s at our local Radio Shack.  Within a moment the room was filled with the voice of Piper preaching a Wednesday night sermon at our church in 1999.  Her familiar giggle at a point she made got me instantly to laughing as the congregation also burst into joyous laughter.

As I listened, it quickly came back to mind, that those people really loved her!  They loved her engaging smile, her contagious laughter and her constant encouragement.  She had her audience that night, in the palm of her hand!  That’s not how she saw it of course, but never-the-less, that’s exactly what was going on.  They laughed at every joke, laughed when she laughed at herself and hung on every word she uttered.  I remember her encouraging those in attendance to take notes and witnessed many pens and pencils scribbling keywords and important points on the back of the “Faith Ball” handout that she had provided for everyone.

Throughout the years, I often thought about how wonderful she was… and that line of thought just seems to be multiplied a hundredfold since she moved on to glory.  She did a lot of things right... at least in my book!  My thoughts earlier this morning went to her in heaven.  I imagined that she’s probably even more beautiful now in the presence of the Father.  With all the devastating scars of the Alzheimer’s gone and replaced with the majesty and splendor that surrounds the presence of Jesus.

I Chronicles 16:27 gives us a sneak preview of what’s ahead for us in heaven and seems to confirm my morning imaginations by saying, “Splendor and majesty are in his presence. Strength and joy are where he is.” (God’s Word ©)  Like I’ve said about a million times - to which she’d say: “Jim don’t exaggerate! - Piper was always a very joyful individual.  One of my greatest joys was to make her laugh… there was just something special about the extreme happiness and innocence that she exhibited when she broke out into spontaneous laughter.  And that level of laughter usually caused everyone around her to follow suite… whether they tried to control themselves or not!

I can clearly remember early in our marriage, playing table tennis with some members of her kin while on a family vacation at the Sea Ranch on the northern California coast. At one point she began laughing so hard at some of the funny things we were all saying, that she had to suddenly make a mad dash to the restroom as she… well… you catch my drift!  The look of her very red face and the funny but innocent expression mixed with total embarrassment had everyone in the room in stitches and I laughed so hard that I almost fell on the floor!  Now that folks… is JOY! 

But if I am considering this correctly, we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to be filled with His joy and strength or receive some of the benefits of His majesty and splendor that Piper is enjoying with Him in heaven today.  We can take advantage of those blessings by simply taking the time to quiet ourselves down enough to seek Him, worship Him and come into His presence from right here on this earth!

I experienced that type of worship that drew me into His very presence yesterday morning at church.  I’ve also experienced it in the quiet of my apartment right here in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma as I have been seeking Him for direction for this chapter in my life!  And you can experience it right where you are… anytime you set your mind to take the time and do whatever is necessary for you to come into His presence to worship and then seek Him.

Psalm 16:8-9A in The Message Bible states, “Day and night I'll stick with GOD; I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go.   I'm happy from the inside out…”  I like the simple way this paraphrased version of this verse puts it!  When you take the time and effort to stick with God, you’re happy from the inside out!  Those quiet times in his presence surrounded by His splendor and majesty, strength and joy are what develops and cements your INNER joy and that's where your REAL happiness comes from.

I firmly believe that this is where Piper’s seemingly endless supply of joy came from.  Even when she couldn’t audibly communicate anymore, you could still see the obvious fulness of joy emanating from her!  And that is exactly what I continue to develop and grow in me… How ‘bouts you?

Have a great new week, and as you do, say with me…”I am expecting my happiness and therefore my joy to be developed within the splendor, majesty, strength and joy that is in His presence!”

Eleven

Did you know…

That the First World War ended on the Eleventh hour, on the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month?  That there are Eleven players on an American football team, on a soccer team, on a cricket team as well as on a field hockey team?  That Veteran’s Day which honors military veterans’ in the United States is on November Eleventh… as is our oldest daughter’s birthday…

And the list goes on and on!  We recently celebrated the 50^th Anniversary of the first man to set foot on the moon with the Apollo 11 spaceflight’s lunar landing.  It’s also interesting to note that the deepest known point of the ocean is Callenger Deep, Marina Trench located in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 11km, that sodium has a atomic number of Eleven and that New York became the Eleventh state in the Union on July 26,1788… and so on and so forth!  I’m sure that all this trivia information will come in handy at some insignificant time in your life! *

Today marks Eleven months since my sweet wife moved to heaven.  I was thinking about her yesterday and began to wonder if she thinks about me while in heaven?  Then I had to laugh as the thought of how her newfound strength and joy within the splendor and majesty of His presence is most likely keeping her pleasantly and fully occupied! (See: I Chronicles 16:27)  But down here on the earth, with all the new changes that I’ve been forced to accept… I find lots of time to think about her!

With each passing month it gets easier though.  During this last month I’ve found myself thinking back over the years of my adult life and that how those years were profoundly influenced by the Word of God that I chose to take to heart, stand on… a lot… and then rejoice with much thanksgiving before, during and after I witnessed the results.  Many scriptures stand out, but one by far surpasses the others… and that being Joshua 1:9 when the Lord spoke to the new leader of what was to become the Jewish nation proclaiming: “I've commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the LORD your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.” (CEV)

It was one of the first scriptures that I took personally into my life… with Piper’s patient, gently encouraging influence and assistance.  I remember facing an upcoming Economics mid-term at the Santa Rosa Junior College in 1972 with great concern over my abilities to get a decent understanding of the class subject!  Piper shared her method of doing all you can to study in the natural and then trusting God for the rest.  And, that’s when she introduced me to Joshua 1:9.  Well, I’m not sure what it was, but as I began to study and personalize that verse, I sensed a building confidence from deep inside of me!  So, I studied hard and long and walked into the auditorium with an uncanny peace in the knowledge that He was with me as I took that test.

And you know… even though I received a high “C” on the midterm (and believe me when I say I was expecting a lot less before I put my trust in the Lord!), I was quite pleased with the results and ended up at the end of the semester with a decent overall grade in the class.  I was also relieved because my Dad and the professor were friends and fellow members of the Knights of Columbus at the Catholic Church we attended!

That experience in trusting in the Word of God for the practical needs in life way back then, initiated a lifelong tradition in me that I have only built upon since the almost fifty years when it originally took place.  I’ve looked back over this last month to see and understand how our trusting in the Lord and His Word gave us favor and a good report with people from the beginning of our marriage years to the very end. (See: Proverbs 3:4)

And now, as I enter into the Eleventh month without her, I can only go forward with what I know… with what has always worked for me in the past!  As it was for us then, will continue to be for me today… and tomorrow!

Have a wonderful weekend.  We are supposed to have a pretty wet weekend, but on the bright side… I usually sleep really good when it rains!  So, I hope you enjoy your weekend… or “New Beginning” as Piper liked to encouragingly say, and while you're at it, repeat after me… “I am expecting to find and stand on a specific scripture from the Word of God to guide me on into victory today!”

* See “The Meaning of Numbers” at: https://mysticalnumbers.com/number-11/