OPINIONS

"Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make."  (The Passion Translation)

Opinion    (Oxford Online Dictionary)                                                                                                                      

[əˈpinyən]

NOUN

1.       a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

I found myself meditating in the shower this morning on the meaning of the word “OPINION” as translated in the Passion Translation of the Bible in Proverbs 3:5.  One of my most common ways of meditating is to simply repeat the verse over and over while I am thinking about it and recalling any information that I may have gained on its particular usage through my years of ministry training and experience… as well as through personal life experiences.   It is uncanny to me how, on many occasions, a light of understanding will suddenly pop into my senses and cause me to pause with a verbal announcement of “WOW, I never saw that before!”

Well, that happened again this morning when a couple of thoughts opened up to me.  First was the revelation of why (in the midst of everything that was happening) I felt a lot more at ease and at peace to share some of the deep sensitive things on my heart concerning Piper’s situation and what it meant to me… with somewhat strangers than with many of our family and friends.  I began to see this morning, that those people I shared some of my very personal feelings with had not known me long enough as to pre-form their own OPINIONS about us that would cloud their responses to me.

I realized that by the time we moved out of California in the summer of 2014, that I had become very guarded and selective with the information I shared with different people.  It was not a very enjoyable way to live, but after having so many things misinterpreted or seemingly not heard at all, I sensed the Lord leading me to become very aware of any personal subjects I spoke of, such as feelings that I was dealing with, finances, potential future plans and even the steps of faith we were taking.  

I was also warned to be more tight-lipped with the nature of any information concerning Piper’s worsening health.  These were some of the hardest directions that I had to follow as I always wanted to be open and upfront with those around me. But I was learning that my job in caring for Piper was not just in taking care of her physical needs, but also protecting her emotional and spiritual sides by being more aware of the words, actions, feelings and “OPINIONS” of others that came forth in the environment that surrounded her at any given time.

Secondly, I learned that those expressing negativity towards us were most times, basing their arguments strictly formed by their personal “OPINIONS” of us and were not necessarily, as the above definition explains, “based on fact or knowledge”.  The Lord also reminded me that in the year and a half following Piper’s passing, information has been brought to my attention that actually confirms these revelations.

As I thought on all of this while walking the dog just a little while ago, it painfully hit me that I have also been guilty, in the past, of basing my thoughts and/or discussion points about someone else’s situation partially on my own OPINIONS while not always knowing the full facts of the situation!  Oooh… that reality HURT!  It kind of reminded me of the (many) times I’ve smacked my head on a kitchen cabinet door forgetting that I had left it open! (Anyone else ever do that???)

So… What’s my point?  Well, I guess it would be for all of us to STOP and think BEFORE we utter anything about anything or anyone else and make sure that our input is based on fact and will be helpful to the situation at hand… and the best way to do that, is to follow the wisdom of the writer of Proverbs 3:5 and 

“With all your heart rely on Him to guide you, and He will lead you in every decision you make (as well as with the words and/or personal thoughts you share!).”

I’m learning that sticking with HIS OPINION on any subject is the best, smartest and most harmonious way to live by!  What do you think?

Safe, Free and Happy

Happy Memorial Day!  I felt bad last night when I realized that I still have not purchased a flag holder for the front of my house.  That particular item was always one of the first things that we bought whenever we moved into a new place.  Like my father before me, I have always felt it an honor and a duty to proudly display the Stars and Stripes during the major holidays that we celebrate here in the United States. 

It always kind of surprised me that just about every apartment or house that we rented over the years did not have a flag holder on the exterior of the residence.  The only respite I have over my recent forgetfulness is that it is raining out here today and good flag etiquette dictates that the American flag should not be raised in rainy or inclement weather.

And speaking of “out here,” I noticed as Fiver and I drove home around 9:30 last night, from a very pleasant evening spent with our youngest daughter and her family, that I was quietly and happily thinking about how peaceful I now feel in Broken Arrow.  As we drove down the road, I found myself thinking how familiar the various sights and sounds have become and that this place is really feeling like our home!  I don’t know why… but that thought just made me smile and relax!

While I enjoyed the beautiful home and property we owned in North Carolina, I think that because I was so (rightly) focused and preoccupied with Piper’s care, that I never had the time to just sit back and enjoy my surroundings!  I guess that I always had a sense deep inside, that Piper and I would eventually move back to Oklahoma where most of our family was slowly seeming to congregate, so I never really allowed myself to totally surrender to the feelings of home.

And now that we are here, and Piper has moved onto her heavenly reward, I’ve decided that this is home for as long as God wants us to be here.  I would really dislike having to move again, but the good Lord knows that if He directed to me to move somewhere else, that I would follow His commands.  Some of you may remember that I had made the declaration after we returned to California after Bible School, that I would not leave California again… and especially not to go back to the flat land of Oklahoma… and look at us now!

I made the comment to my younger son during a lengthy conversation we had earlier yesterday, that nobody and I repeat NOBODY knew me like his mother.  In particular we were discussing the strong, burning desire to respond to the Lord’s callings to ministry that was always aflame in me throughout the years of our marriage.  While some family and friends couldn’t figure out why I wouldn’t just “settle down with a good paying job” and spend a lot less time at the church, Piper intimately knew the inner flame that was driving my actions… and in fact, shared the same passions.

Jeremy and I were talking about that sense of emptiness, loss and loneliness that I’ve had that has accompanied the physical absence of his mom in my daily life.  The stark reality, that right now, I am without anyone who has THAT depth of insight and understanding of the real me, one who instinctively knew what made me tick, and especially without that one who always seem to know the EXACT words at the EXACT time to comfort whatever stresses I was experiencing at any given time and place!

Earlier in the day, I had been praying in the kitchen for some heavenly direction concerning some needs I am experiencing, when I turned around, looked at the pictures of Piper that I have taped to the refrigerator and yelled out, “Oh Piper I need you help!  I wish you were here so that I could talk to you about this and get your coveted wisdom and very practical understanding of the matter.”  Then, I kind of laughed and shrugged my shoulders and continued to pray for a few more minutes.

Following that, I walked around the counter separating the kitchen from the living area and paused at the old boom box that I have sitting there, when a light clicked on in my head.  So, I reached out and pressed the play switch on one of the two cassette players and listened to a few moments of Piper preaching a sermon she had shared back in 2000 with the church during a mid-week service.

I really don’t remember what she was talking about, except that she directed the congregations to turn in their Bibles to Psalm 119:130 and she read aloud where the Psalmist declared: “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” (KJV)  I can’t help but interject the immediate sense of peace and joy that came upon me as I heard her sweet voice.  She was also in true Piper form during this message with much laughter and her many funny and quant sayings… it always makes me laugh to notice that many times she would burst into laughter at her own jokes… and then the audience would follow suite in hardy laughter in reaction to her innocent but yet funny and sweet mannerisms!

She then read a couple more scriptures to back her point, but I didn’t hear them. Instead I said “Thank You Honey” while I ran into the bedroom to get a Bible to see Psalm 119:130 for myself.  A few minutes later, I took Fiver for a walk and spent the time meditating on that particular verse.  What it came down to, was the point that the entrance of God’s Word into my heart continually gives me the revelation-light that I need for what is going on in my life today!  The second part of the verse declares that His Word brings understanding to those who are HUMBLE, HUNGRY and SERIOUS about Him.

And while I realized that I may not presently have THAT one person in my life… and I doubt will ever again have someone (in this life) that knew me as well as Piper did after 48 years, that I do have THE ONE who knows me EVEN BETTER than Piper did… and HE is the Lord Jesus Christ who speaks to me through His living and active Word that is found between the pages of our Bibles.  For His scriptures have “been written by the Holy Spirit, the breath of God and will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness.  So that you will be God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 God’s Word ©)

So, there you go!  The answer for both my particular needs and situation… as well as for you and yours!  So, as we spend today honoring those who gave their lives so that we could have a safe, free and happy present and future, likewise honor the ONE who died for our sins and presents us with THE WAY to live a life that is SAFE, FREE and HAPPY today on this earth… and tomorrow in Paradise with Him!

Faith or Fear?

Needless to say, I have spent a lot of time over the last year and a half since Piper’s passing, reflecting on my life, and in particular since 2006, when we packed up our belongings and moved to Oklahoma to begin a new chapter in life and experience another great adventure in Faith.  What we believed was to be the completion of an almost life-long dream of attending Bible school subsequent with the pioneering of a new church back in our home state… well… turned out to be a different kind of adventure that we never would have dreamed of.

That adventure that started to unfold less than a year after our arrival and very enjoyable first months, suddenly changed our focus from study, additional training and eventual ministry, to a focus on family… and in particular, the needs of my wife as she began to outwardly demonstrate the unmistakable symptoms of what would later be diagnosed as the Early On-set of Alzheimer’s.

It is interesting to note that as we swung into the initial stages of testing, diagnostics, visits to various clinics, specialists’ offices and hospitals, I cannot recall any times of panic, self-pity or fear, from either Piper and I.  In fact, I can’t recall having to deal with any of those symptoms (anger, frustration, exhaustion and sore muscles… YES! – but not the others!) until after she was gone and I had time to think about what we had been through for the past eleven years!

Ephesians 1:10 tells us that God “planned to bring all of (our) history to its goal in Christ. Then Christ would be the head of everything in heaven and on earth.”  A couple of verses later it goes on to say that “He planned all of this so that we who had already focused our hope (or expectations) on Christ would praise him and give him glory.”  These verses succinctly describe the mode that we automatically went into as we began to receive the preliminary explanations of what the doctor’s thought might be happening with Piper.  I say “thought” because we did not receive the definitive confirmation on Piper’s situation until two years later after we had finished school and returned to our home in California.

Ephesians 1:13 concludes the explanation of our reaction, when Paul encouraged his readers declaring, “You heard and believed the message of truth, the Good News that he has saved you. In him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit whom he promised.” (All verses – God’s Word ©)

Our first, foremost and to be perfectly honest, ONLY response to the dire situation was a total commitment to FAITH in God and His Word.  Again, looking back, you can almost say that God was preparing us for this particular situation since the early days of our marriage.  We began to study, grow in and follow the message of FAITH soon after we were married, and once we left the Baptist church, we ended up ministering in churches that taught a concentrated message of FAITH in God and His Word for over thirty plus years.  

And of course, it didn’t hurt that during our time in Oklahoma that I was attending a Faith-Based Bible School (many would say THE Faith-Based Bible School) and church and were thereby literally saturated in the Word for three years!  When the pressure was on… it was the only thing we knew to do!  The writer of Hebrews gives us a clear and succinct explanation of the Christian definition of FAITH.  Hebrews 11:1 states, “Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot (yet) see.” (God’s Word ©)

I learned through all the experiences and inter-actions with others throughout the years of Piper’s and my battle for her very life, that FAITH is driven by one’s conviction in God’s Word, while FEAR is driven by one’s conviction in their own words.  I saw unfold before my own eyes that FAITH focuses in on FULFILLMENT while FEAR focuses in on FAILURE.

In my experience… when you are so focused and committed to FAITH in God and His Word, there just isn’t time to even think about the FEAR that what you’re believing for and the actions that you are taking in correspondence with your beliefs, might not work!  We also experienced many of the positive “SIDE EFFECTS” of our faith in the midst of the fight from 2007 to 2018 when Piper moved her official residence from earth to heaven (Hummm… I wonder if she has changed her voter registration yet…).

Some of those “SIDE EFFECTS” included JOY in the midst of the difficulties, a deep inner PEACE while everything in life as we knew it shook and was drastically changed, an abundance of WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING and the ability to make ACCURATE DECISIONS and GOOD JUDGMENTS, FAVOR almost everywhere we went and with everyone we went to for assistance, FINANCIAL BLESSINGS and the LENGTH of DAYS for my wife in the midst of the situation she was dealing with.  (I mentioned in a recent post that Piper actually lived five or more years longer than what the experts consider to be the normal life span of an individual afflicted with Alzheimer’s)

And now I live with the PEACE, JOY and SATISFACTION in knowing that Piper is totally set free from the decimating symptoms of Alzheimer’s and is presently “holy, happy and perfect” in God’s presence! (Ephesians 1:4, Psalm 16:11 God’s Word ©)  Can you imagine how HOT she looks today???  Whew… now that’s something for me to look forward to isn’t it!

So, as our week concludes and we look forward to the weekend, I would hope to inspire and encourage each of you reading this post today to build up your FAITH levels by boning up on the Word of God and thereby dispel any attacks of FEAR that might be attempting to blur the important decisions you need to make every day in your life!  Let your FOCUS be on God’s FULFILLMENT of His promises to you, instead of any FEAR of FAILURE without His Word on the subject at hand!

The PREMISE

I can’t say that I actually remember a time in our dating days, or early in our marriage, when Piper and I took hands and verbally agreed that we would live our life together following the Lord’s Word, His directions, His love and most of all, His peace… We just sort of did it… and as far as I can recall, NEVER stopped.  It just became a way of life for us.  In the early days, I didn’t really know much at all about God’s Word but I wholeheartedly trusted my wife’s discretion, guidance and daily example.  I also had the fortunate opportunity to personally learn from the teaching and example of the Pastor and some wonderful men in the Baptist church where I began my personal walk as a Christian.

I guess that the Pastor and leaders of the church saw some potential in me as they asked me to step into a leadership role as the Youth Minister within a few weeks of Piper’s and my marriage.  In the previous five years to our nuptials, we had become increasingly involved in the church family and most of the 300 or so families in the church knew who we were.  I must also add the caveat, that from what I could see when I started going to the church with Piper, that she seemed to be “The Little Darling” of the church!  It felt like everyone and their uncle knew her and liked her!  (I mean… who could resist that sparkling personality, those cute freckles and her exuberant smile?)

Her parents, especially her Mom, were very involved in the lay church leadership and it seemed like Piper was introduced to most of the activities and many leadership roles at a very young age.  She was also active in many of the girl’s groups and in her teens, with the women’s adult fellowship gatherings and well as the women’s Bible study groups.  In the early days, I kinda felt like her side-kick, until we began to be seen as more of a tag-team in whatever activities we were involved with in and before the church.  After we left that church some eight years later, we became elders and/or Assistant Pastors in every other church we were a part of.

In the years that followed our beginnings together back in September of 1970, we developed a certain PREMISE that we choose to live by.  After awhile it just became a part of who we were.  I noticed earlier this morning that the Psalmist did a pretty accurate job describing Piper’s and my PREMISE that tended to guide our lives.  David wrote in Proverbs 27:1-2,

“The Lord has always been our revelation-light to guide us along the way for He’s always been the source of our salvation to defend us every day. (Therefore) we’ve feared no one! We’ve never turned back and ran from you, Lord; Thank You for the way You’ve always surrounded and protected us.  And when evil ones came to destroy us, they were the ones who turned back.” (The Passion Translation – personalized for us)

When I think about who Piper and I were… This Is It!  It’s what we STOOD for.  It’s how we THOUGHT and FACED everything in life.  It was the PREMISE by which we justified our life.  The Oxford Online Dictionary describes a PREMISE as, “A statement that an argument claims will induce or justify a conclusion. It is an assumption that something is true.”

I learned the hard way through much anger, confusion and frustration, that even though we followed this same PREMISE throughout our 48 years together… that there were some who were close to us that NEVER got it… Who NEVER understood (or took the time to understand) the PREMISE that guided us.  But in the end… when push came to shove… their response only made us stronger, and caused us to see the validity of our life-long, continued stand on this PREMISE.

Psalm 40:4 could be considered the proof to our PREMISE as described in Psalm 27.  It states that “Blessing after blessing comes to those who love and trust the Lord. They will not fall away, for they refuse to listen to arrogant people and those who turn to fantasies, frenzies or falsehoods.” (The Passion Translation/God’s Word ©/Apostolic Bible Polyglot)

As one of my bosses liked to say at Agilent Technologies, “Been There, Done That and Won the T-Shirt!”  That combined translation of Psalm 40:4 perfectly expresses what we saw throughout our lives and especially during the final eight years of Piper’s journey on this earth.  One of the special things that gives me great joy and peace about Piper’s last years, is that she went out EXACTLY the way she would have wanted it… EXACTLY according to the PREMISE by which we lived our life together!

Do you have a PREMISE by which you live your life?  We all know by the sudden upheaval in our lives due to the Corona Virus, that certain things can change almost overnight… but the PREMISE by which we live can and should be the solid foundation that holds us steady when it seems like life as we knew it is being turned upside down! 

Have a good rest of the week!  And as you do, say with me… “I’m expecting the PREMISE of my life to carry me through the rough times that are sure to come.”

Without Her… BUT With HIM!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Mine was a little on the quiet side, but the weather was wonderful and I enjoyed Fiver’s and my walks along the golf course and the errands that I needed to run.  It felt good to get out of the neighborhood and go to the store, to the gas station and even to KFC!  From what I can see, things are on a path to some state of normalcy here in Oklahoma!

When I went to my local Walmart this morning, I noticed a lighter atmosphere as soon as I walked up to the front door.  Most people that I saw looked happier and seem to be walking with a bit of a spring in their steps.  They were also more willing to smile, say “Hi” or even engage in a conversation.  I guess what I am trying to say is that most people that I saw and or talked to in my neighborhood and at the various places of business that I went to over the weekend, just seemed to project a sense of hope in their futures… which is something that I can’t honestly can say that I saw in people just a few weeks ago!

On our first walk to the park and pond on Saturday morning, we had no less than six people stop and tell me what a good-looking dog I had!  After that… I could have sworn that Fiver was actually holding his head up higher and prancing on the way home!  It was as if the mom’s walking with their kids and the men and women golfers were just looking for something or someone to share some happiness with!

With this in mind, I got to thinking during my Bible study times over the weekend and again today, about what it would take for me to experience some happy times again.  I came to the realization that there are still all kinds of things that I would like to accomplish, places that I would like to travel to and ministry opportunities that I would love to jump into… but the problem is that I want to accomplish, go and do all these types of things… with PIPER!  I also discovered that there is a great void in me when I read verses of scripture like Ephesians 3:20 where the Apostle Paul boldly encourages his readers to:

“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. (‘this’ being our experiencing the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions, as stated in the previous verse) For He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest requests, your most unbelievable dreams, and exceed your wildest imaginations! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.” (The Passion Translation) 

For as long as I can remember, I have always been one to have goals set before me.  To enjoy dreaming lavish dreams, and explore the depths of a rather vivid and at times wild imagination.  There was a time where, at the drop of a hat, that I could write a song, draft a sermon or create a storyline to flow within the dozens of puppet skits, plays and lesson plans that I imagined and wrote for all the kids, youth, and adults that we ministered to over the years.

But, over the past year or so, whenever I think about the “infinitely more” of God in connection with my “greatest requests” my “most unbelievable dreams” and my “wildest imaginations” I’ve tended to draw a blank!  I'm learning though, that with time, comes healing and the beginnings of a clearer vision of continued purpose and life without her.  Piper often times talked about the scriptures that spoke of God knowing us before we were born, when ministering to people with low self-esteem or to those who felt like they had no special purpose in life. 

One of her favorites that came to mind today is found in Jeremiah 1:5 when the Lord spoke to a young and seemingly unprepared Jeremiah saying: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose…” (God’s Word ©)  And I had the sudden thought on the way to Walmart this morning, that although I am positive that God had nothing to do with Piper’s illness, that in His omniscience, He must have had a plan for me after her untimely passing through the veil.  And while all of that brings up a lot of questions that I have no idea how to answer, I found peace in knowing that He knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb and had… at that time… set me apart for a special purpose… just like I believe that He has for everyone.

So that gives me hope!  And even though my world was… and to be perfectly honest… still is turned upside down and inside out… I can go forward, I can be free to ask for things… with GREAT REQUESTS, to dream UNBELIEVABLE DREAMS once again, and to allow myself the luxury of having WILD IMAGINATIONS… knowing that according to His Word, that He’s been thinking about me… well, since before I was born… (remember that Psalm 40:5 tells us that “You think of us all the time with Your countless expressions of love”- TPT)  And on top of all that… that He still has a plan for me. 

The exciting part of these truths, is that He has also known you for a long time and has special plans for you!  So never give up and never give in to the lies that say it’s too late or worse yet, that you’re not good enough.  The Word of God says differently… and I think that it is about time that you and I believe IT instead of those nasty lies… and then go on and do something about it!  Are you with me?

Have a great new week, and as you do, say with me…  “I am expecting to ask God for GREAT REQUESTS, to dream UNBELIEVABLE DREAMS and allow myself to go WILD with my IMAGINATIONS!”

Wisdom & Understanding

I got up earlier than my usual early morning trek into the backyard with the dog today, in order to get out and back in before the heaven’s opened up and the predicted severe weather hit with a vengeance.  I must say that we timed it pretty good, although I was a bit surprised how fast it came upon us.  When we slipped out back there were a few clouds in the sky and I could see the moon and some stars.  I found myself thinking that we probably could have waited longer, but within a half hour, the deluge of rain came down and the thunder was roaring… and Fiver WAS NOT a happy camper… in fact he’s still not.  He is currently sitting at my feet under my desk!

When we came back in a little after 5:00 AM, I sat on the bed and opened the Bible sitting next to me (in Piper’s usual spot – you know, I did it again last night and turned over after waking up from a dream and fully expected her to be there before I came to my senses…), and turned it to Proverbs 3:5 and stated aloud that, “I trust in the Lord completely, and I do not rely on my own opinions. But, with all my heart I continually rely on Him to guide me, for I know that He will always lead me in every decision I need to make.” (The Passion Translation-personalized)

And then without missing a beat, I burst out laughing and said before I knew what I was doing… “And I thank God that I don’t have to rely on my own understanding or personal opinion on anything!”  Then I paused for a moment, thought on God’s grace and continued, “For God says that He pours out His kindness and grace by giving us every kind of wisdom and insight… of wisdom and practical understanding, when He revealed the mystery of His plan to us that He decided to do through Christ.” (Ephesians 1:8-9 The Passion Translation & God’s Word ©)

I have come to realize through all the twists and turns in my life, that I really DO depend on Godly wisdom for the daily decisions I need to make… no matter how big or how small they are.  And I would have to confess that I first learned of this habit through my wife in the early days of our marriage.  When it came to receiving and exercising the grace of God with wisdom and practical understanding, my wife was second to none.

I noticed last night while preparing dinner and watching the news, that something went off inside me when they played a couple of video clips of two different Democratic Governors.  In the clips, they were making public comments concerning the large groups of individuals in their states who were protesting against their very strict orders to not open up the commerce in their states and enforcing stiff penalties that the protestors felt threatened their constitutional liberties.   The thing that triggered my reaction was the speakers repeated use of the word “science.” When I thought about it, I realized that they spoke of the field of science like it was a god.

Then as I did this morning, I had to sigh with relief and thanksgiving that, as a Christian, I don’t have to strictly depend on man’s (or women’s) study within the various fields of science for the final decisions that I base the actions of my life on.  I know that there are those in the world who would think of me as being simple minded when I declare my trust, my allegiance and my decision-making processes to be well-founded on the wisdom and practical understanding that the Lord gives to me when I do my homework, research the evidence presented through the study of science, add God’s opinion to it and go with how His peace then leads me. (See also: Philippians 4:6-7)

I still find myself at awe whenever I think of all the wisdom and practical understanding that God gave to me through His grace, when I cared for my wife during the last years of her life.  There were day’s when my head was literally spinning from all the responsibilities on my plate (like the time I drove off from the gas station BEFORE removing the nozzle from my gas tank… Whew!  The attendant was NOT happy with me!), but His grace NEVER waned and I found myself doing all kinds of things that I never thought I would ever find myself doing, as well as many tasks that I had NO IDEA how to do!  I can’t tell you how many nights I went to bed exhausted and sore, only to wake up the next day feeling strong, rested and ready to go.  Isn’t God good!

So, as I look out my large study window and gaze upon the brighter skies with the temporary break in the rain, I can only smile, rejoice and be thankful for the grace that God gives to me… and EVERY Christian… that comes with the added benefits of wisdom and practical understanding to help guide us through all the decisions that we need to make in our daily lives.  Who of you are ready to give Him a CHEER of thanksgiving!  Hip, Hip Hooray!  (Okay… maybe not real spiritual… but you get my point!)

Have a blessed weekend and remember to add His Grace-filled wisdom and understanding whenever you need it in your life!

Mechanically Seperated Turkey

I found myself laughing this morning as I headed to the kitchen to get the dog’s breakfast, before I took a shower and got ready for the day.  When I had finished my Bible study time, just previous to this, I got up from my desk in the study, took a step back and sat on the leather loveseat behind me where the dog loves to lay during the day.  You see, he can lounge on the couch and keep a watchful eye on everything going on in front of our house at the same time!

While sitting next to him, I reached out and began to stroke his fluffy, soft, thick white coat and considered what we were going to accomplish throughout the day.  It was pretty cloudy and dark outside, so I pulled up my weather app and noticed that rain was projected for the next hour or two.  That’s when I made my decision and walked into the kitchen.  The laugh unexpectantly popped out because as I walked out of the room, I turned to the dog and declared: “We’ll be on a ‘Rainy Day Schedule’ today.”  I laughed because of the look on the dog’s face when I told him the plan.  To me that look either said “Huh?” or “I could care less!”

Do you all remember being on a “Rainy Day Schedule” when you were kids in elementary school?  For some reason, I have a very vivid memory of being in fifth grade at St Eugene’s Parochial School during one such “Rainy Day Schedule,” which meant that we had to eat lunch and spend the lunch period in the classroom.  That school didn’t have a cafeteria, so we always had to bring our own lunch, except for the very special hot dog day when you could pre-order a hotdog or two and choose between a grape or orange “Nehi Soda!” in a glass bottle!  That was pretty big stuff for us Catholic kids back then!

But on that particular rainy day, I remember munching on my favorite lunch time sandwich which my Mom had made for me, consisting of Buddig’s very thinly sliced (mechanically separated) turkey lunchmeat, along with a bag of perfectly sliced carrot sticks (I never could figure out how she could slice them so exactly even!) and a fresh red apple.  And as I savored the flavor of the honey roasted meat (at least I thought it was real meat…), I read from my all-time favorite Hardy Boy’s novel “The Mystery at Devil’s Paw.”  

Ah… good food, classic literature and a good rain storm blowing past the wall of windows that looked out on the playground, the ball field, the distant creek and through the trees along the creek, the occasional glimpse of a car speeding by on Sonoma Highway across from the Flamingo Hotel!  At that time in my life… I didn’t think that things could get any better than that!

But as I grew up and matured in life, I quickly learned that life could and did get even better than those cold winter day’s in school.  Meeting my future wife in high school, experiencing an outrageously fantastic life with her, raising four wonderful kids,  having the honor and blessing of ministering the gospel to all kinds of great kids, youth, college-career age individuals and adults alike… and above all… getting to live a life where we “continually experienced the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to us through faith. So that our lives would be an advertisement of this immense power as it works (in, for and) through us unto others!” (Ephesians 1:19 The Passion Translation – personalized)

While breaking down this verse in my study time this morning, I was once again taken in with the awe-inspiring realization of what Albert Barnes’ declared in his “Notes on the Bible” concerning Paul’s words, explaining: “There is much emphasis and energy of expression here, as if the apostle were laboring under the greatness of his theme, and wanted words to express the magnitude of his conception.”

I can just imagine Paul sitting at his desk, and hopelessly staring out the window as he searched his brain to come up with just the right words to properly describe the point he was so desperately trying to convey, concerning the magnitude of the immeasurable greatness of God’s power that He has made available to you and I through our active actions of faith.

2 Corinthians 12:4 tells us that when Paul was taken up into heaven, “whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows.” (2 Corinthians 12:2 God’s Word ©) that Paul “heard things that he was not able to explain. He heard things that no one is allowed to tell.” (ERV)  That tells me that Paul saw and heard things that were so phenomenal and unexplainable according to human understanding and language, that he was at a loss for words to explain the wonders that he had witnessed.  It also told me that the Lord shared some very personal and intimate secrets with him that he was not allowed to share with the world.

I can get somewhat of an understanding of this when I think of the relationship that Piper and I developed through the years.  We were always open and honest with each other and had the freedom to share our most intimate and private thoughts, concerns, hopes and dreams with each other that no one else in the whole wide world would EVER know.

I firmly believe that this is exactly the kind and depth of relationship that Jesus wants to have with you and I as well.  Just like the Lord felt comfortable and trusting in His very personal relationship with Paul, He wants to feel that same way about you and me… and according to Paul’s example… of us with Him.  When I read portions of scripture like this, it always makes me stop and take a personal inventory of my relationship with the Lord, to make adjustments where needed and strive to develop the deepest unity with Him that I can possibly attain… and I have also learned, like with my relationship with Piper, that it is a daily, ever-growing type of relationship that just gets better and better!

How close and intimate is your relationship with the Lord?  In my experience, there are ALWAYS ways to improve it and draw closer to Him!  Don’t allow anything to (mechanically, physically, mentally, emotionally) separate you from having an intimate and very personal active relationship with Him.

Cultivating Thankfulness

Okay… let’s play a little game!  See if you can name 10 things that you are thankful for in the midst of all the crazy upheaval that is going on in our lives due to the Corona pandemic.  Okay… Okay… let’s make it 5!  I’ll start.  Let’s see… First, I am thankful that I live right next to a beautiful golf course.  I think that I figured out why the Lord selected this location for us.  I realized this morning while walking Fiver next to the perimeter paths (on the other side of the wire fence) that the golfer’s walk or ride around the course, that I get to interact with the golfers on a daily basis!  Being as it is just the dog and I at home, I relish every opportunity that I have to talk to another person!

I also enjoy the serenity of the greens.  I couldn’t help but pause on the driveway today, in the quiet of the early morning, when taking the garbage bags out to the curb, and enjoy the beauty that was before my eyes!  I’m also thinking about starting a side business selling used golf balls, as my collection of lost white, orange and yellow balls is growing almost daily!  I’ve even found them on my front lawn… and I have NO idea how they got there since it is in the totally opposite direction in which the course is supposed to be played.  I have learned however, to be careful of the lefties when walking by the vicinity of one particular hole.  We’ve had some balls slice right toward us and land at our feet on more than one occasion!

Secondly, I am thankful that I am still healthy and strong and able to take Fiver for walks in our beautiful neighborhood multiple times a day.  Thirdly, I am very thankful that our kids are all staying healthy and still working throughout this pandemic.  Fourthly, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying working around my yards at my lovely new home, planting new flowers and vegetables as well as planning the new landscaping that I am dreaming about for the backyard.  

And Fifth… and by far not the least, I am thankful for the Lord and the truth of His Word that I so vivaciously align my life with, for I know that I know that  “When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us?” And of His faithfulness to us when He tells us that “I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will find and feel my presence even in your time of pressure and trouble. I will be your glorious hero and give you a feast.”  (Psalm 91:9,10,15 – The Passion Translation) 

I had another one of those “Hummmm…” moments of lost thought this morning as I studied the part about the Lord being our “glorious hero.”  For with a tear in my eye, I thought about my adult-life-long desire to be Piper’s hero.  I have thought about that a lot since her passing and may have even mentioned it before in my blog posts.  Normally when I think about this idea, it is usually followed by that small-still-voice inside of me that reminds me that I did put aside everything in life to care for her 24/7 during the last eight years of her life… so, in that sense, I guess that I was a hero of sorts to her… although to me, it was just me doing my job as her husband (driven by my intense love for her) that I signed up for when we confessed our wedding vows to each other back on that beautiful day in July of 1975.

I watched one of those military homecoming videos on my phone last night and couldn’t help but to cry when the fiancé of the returning solder ran across the college football stadium, where the surprise event was taking place at half-time, and literally jumped into his arms and cried hysterically!  (Geez… I’m crying now as I write this!)  I guess deep inside, I was wishing that I was that guy and Piper was the gal jumping into my arms… Maybe something will happen like that when I cross the veil and see her again in heaven… that would be kinda cool… don’t you think!

Okay… those are my five things and now IT IS YOUR TURN!  Tell me five things that you are thankful for in the midst of this pandemic.  Let’s see how many of you leave a comment on my actual blog page at http://pjberruto.blogspot.com/ or leave a comment on Facebook or send me an email at jimberruto@att.net.

I believe that your stories of thankfulness can and will be a great blessing to all of us… especially right now when most of us could use a good word or two!  Have a great week and remember the Apostle Paul’s advice to us when he wrote: “Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.” 

A Can of Fear...

I caught a few remarks from a Democrat politician a couple of days ago and was surprised when I realized that all he was doing was stirring up FEAR into the hearts of his audience, which was mainly made up of mainstream media reporters.  Think about that for a moment.  That FEAR would then be published in papers around the country, broadcast on radio and TV and zoom through the internet at breakneck speeds.  The one refreshing aspect of his report was that it was not spoken out against the President… but toward a decision made by the Senate Majority Leader.

Being in positions of leadership in ministry and with three major US corporations for most of my adult life, I have first-hand experience concerning the effects that FEAR has when dealing with decisions that one may not agree with.  FEAR can not only serve to diminish the attitude of the individuals involved, but can spread like wild fire within a work group unless it is immediately addressed and resolved.  I have also witnessed how it caused employees to make wrong decisions when operating machinery and put theirs as well as their co-worker’s safety in harm’s way.

In many respects, the same can be said for members of a family, within social friendships and in church congregations.  To my surprise, I came to the understanding early on within the journey that Piper and I were forced to embark upon with the attack on her health, that one of my main and most reoccurring responsibilities was to dispel FEAR that rose up in many of the people that we interacted with. 

In our case, if left unattended, it would physically affect Piper’s health, as she would become confused, glassy eyed and less responsive if she stayed in that environment too long.  That situation was one of the many factors that contributed to our decision to move to North Carolina.  I calculated the other day that Piper actually lived five years longer than the average life span of someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s… and I am very happy about that statistic!

With all the FEAR being broadcast over the airwaves, in print and on every electronic device we carry with us, it almost takes an act of God to stay in a place of peace and rest!  And you know what?  That act of God did take place over 2000 years ago when Jesus died for our sins and was resurrected and given the highest place of authority and honor at the right hand of the Father.  Paul explained this when he prayed for us in Ephesians 1:18-20 that:

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named…” (KJV)

So, there you go!  With all those major secular forces attempting to influence us by FEARFULLY telling us where we can go, what we should say and even worse… what we should be thinking, its more than refreshing to know that as Christians, we are accountable to a HIGHER POWER, to a name that is greater than FEAR!  A name that can bring order in our lives in the middle of a world-wide shake up, and leave us in peace, love, joy and with a positive attitude!

I was reading in Philippians 4:7 this morning that “it is in the place of God’s wonderful peace that transcends all human understanding, where God makes known His answers (to our questions) through Christ Jesus.” (The Passion Translation-personalized)  That scripture tells me that if I allow the world’s FEAR to enter into my life, then I am NOT going to get the answers that I need to know!  FEAR will cause us to make uninformed or mis-informed decisions that will only serve to make things worse and keep the cycle of FEAR operating in our lives.

When we enter into and STAY in the place of God’s peace, then FEAR doesn’t stand a chance of sneaking into our daily thoughts, actions or desires!  Our daily attitudes and possibilities will turn into CAN-DOs rather than CAN-NOTs!

So, which CAN do you want to DO?  The unlimited resources and abilities of CAN-DO or the limited, joy stealing, attitude busting, energy zapping, dead-end of CAN- NOT???

I’ve always been a CAN man myself… How about you?  What possibilities ARE you or ARE you not expecting today?  The choice is up to you!  Have a GREAT weekend!

The Future...

I’ve been getting out and about a little more often lately as Oklahoma is slowly opening up things again.  It is nice to see more cars on the roads and an increase in foot traffic with people out taking walks or doing some shopping.  Mind you now, it is nothing like before the pandemic hit, but I sense that people are beginning to feel more confident (myself included) to get out in the lovely spring weather that we are having.  This morning while driving out to the bank, I noticed more smiles on peoples faces than I had in weeks past.  There just seems to be a growing optimism that we are over the worst of this situation and slowly but surely getting back to some semblance of normal again.

Finding some semblance of normalcy is kind of where I have been since the initial shock of Piper’s passing wore off and I began to take a serious look toward a future without her.  I was sharing some of this yesterday in the produce aisle at my local Super Walmart with a fellow shopper with whom I had struck up a conversation.  I had noticed earlier that she was wearing a hoodie that said “North Bay Imaging” written on the back.  So, when she came walking past me while I was bagging some fresh broccoli, I just had to excuse myself and ask her what “North Bay” the advertisement on her sweater was talking about.  Well, she broke into a big smile and said “Northern California!” 

Well, as you can imagine, that led to a long and interesting conversation.  I found out that she and her husband lived in Vacaville and are now in the process of moving to a little town not too distant from Broken Arrow.  Turns out that they are Christians and are enjoying the receptive environment here in Oklahoma that is quite different from what they were used to in California.  She enquired about my story and then asked what I was doing now, to which I replied, “Well, to be honest, I guess I am just trying to find myself!”  Her immediate reply was that I was in good hands with my faith in the Lord and was assured that He has a perfect plan for me.

I am not sure about what you may think about that comment, but I love it when people respond to difficult situations with an instant boost of peace, joy and confident expectation in the God, Who is bigger, stronger and wiser than anything we may be faced with in life.  I was thinking about that conversation and could only emphatically nod my head and smile this morning, as I have been blessed throughout my adult life to see the miraculous power and intervention of God repeatedly occur in almost every kind of situation!  It is something that I have come to expect and yet always find myself at awe when it happens.

Psalm 23:6 in The Voice translation declares, “Certainly Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me where I go, always, everywhere.”  I had to pause after reading this verse this morning and reflect on the revelation that many of the writers of the books in the Bible, thinking in particular of David and Paul, wrote with an adamant certainty concerning the faithfulness of God.  These were two men who had their own troubles in life, may not have always made the right decisions and fought some very cardinal thoughts at times, but yet loved the Lord with all their hearts, continually humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God and were overwhelmed throughout their lives, with the overflowing grace of God.

I can attest to those same things in my own life.  These two men struggled with things in life just like me, but yet God knew their hearts and continually pursued them, was always there when they needed Him, and when they tripped up, lent a strong arm to help steady them.  I too have felt that strong arm helping to steady me.  I bet most of you have had the same experience.  I am not sure why, but this last week has been very emotional for me.  I wrote down in my notes the other morning that “I am fiercely and emotionally missing my Piper today…”  It hasn’t been a time of breakdowns and tears, but I have definitely felt that pain in my heart that comes about when I think of her not being next to me as I walk the dog or drive to the store or strongly wish that she could once again cuddle with me on the couch while watching some stupid movie on TV!

But it is weird… I guess one could say, for at the same time, I clearly hear His small-still voice reassuring me that everything is okay, that His plan for me is on track and that my job is to keep believing, to keep doing what I need to do and NOT try to figure any of it out within my own understanding!  (See: Proverbs 3:5-6) 

As I was walking Fiver along the perimeter of the beautiful green golf course next to our neighborhood earlier today, I contemplated (like I have many times since her homegoing) just how well Piper and I did in living our faith, raising our kids and being a positive force in the churches we served in as well as in the communities where we lived, worked and played.   Without too much deep thought, I responded aloud that I can honestly report that I believe that we always strived to do our best by living out our faith in and through our lives, to the best of our abilities, with the current information and knowledge we had at any given time.

And you know… Piper may have crossed through the veil and I am left here without out her, but the course of life that we chose to live hasn’t changed one bit!  My faith and my direction in life is still based on His Word and His directions for me.  Therefore, like David, I can still say without a doubt that, “Certainly Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me where I go, always, everywhere.” 

The Passion Translation prefaces this concluding verse to the 23rd Psalm by declaring: “So why would I fear the future...” and then ends it with the comforting thought that, “Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to Your glorious presence to be forever with You!”   I like the way this translation puts it… for anyway I look at it, my future is a win, win situation!  I am blessed with His presence in my life here and now, and then will be blessed living for eternity in His presence, as a part of His life in heaven… oh yeah… and with Piper as well!

I hope you enjoy the rest of your week!  I’ve got some tomatoes and basil to plant and am looking forward to a spring and summer filled with landscaping plans for my backyard!  Be blessed with the knowledge and expectation that He is pursuing you today!

Wet Wood...

I enjoy listening to the Sunday Morning Inspiration program on the enLighten Southern Gospel channel on Sirius Radio.  They mainly play the old hymns, some with very traditional renditions, as well as others with modern translations, albeit Southern Gospel style.  These hymns bring me back to a simpler time when Piper and I were just starting out along the marriage road.  The Baptist church we attended had a very good music program with an excellent adult choir, some marvelous soloists, a few small groups of singers and one or two who sang duets, of which included Piper and I. 

Today as I look through our copy of what was then, the new church Hymnal that was presented as a gift to us by Piper’s parents in 1977, I have to smile at all the various hymns where Piper transposed the music into a different key and then wrote out the chords so that I could accompany her on my twelve string guitar, while we sang a special on Sunday mornings or on other occasions.  Ah… those were wonderful times that helped me to develop a love and a special place in my heart for those hymns.

When we left that traditional church and began attending fellowships with the Charismatic/Pentecostal  style of worship where the old hymns were set aside for the contemporary verses & modern tunes, Piper and I would occasionally rework some of the hymns into more of an upbeat tempo and sneak them into our song list when we led the music!

This morning as I was listening to the satellite radio playing a live recording of a very powerful hymn of praise, my attention was caught when the music ended and a member of the band laughed and stated:  “Well, if your fire’s not lit after that song… then your wood must be wet!”

That saying immediately got me to thinking about our EXPECTATIONS when we come to the Lord in prayer with a request.  When we put that need before Him… is our wood wet or dry?  Do we really have the expectation that the wood will burn or just smoke a lot?  Are we confident that He will answer our request… or are we just “A hoping and a praying?” (a comment I’ve heard many people say after praying and I ask what they are believing for…)

In Psalm 27:4 the Psalmist writes, “Here’s the one thing I crave from God, the one thing I seek above all else: I want the privilege of living with him every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to live my life so close to him that he takes pleasure in my every prayer.” (The Passion Translation)

As I read that verse in the pre-dawn hour, after taking the dog out for a quick business walk, I began to wonder “What fills me with awe?”  Is it HIS unlimited abilities “to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think…”  “far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams?” (Ephesians 3:20 The New King James Bible / The Message) or… is it with the frustrations due to my own limitations and abilities? 

The Passion Translation says that God “will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination” and I thought as I plopped my head back down on my pillow, “Just what am I EXPECTING from GOD?  How GREAT are my REQUESTS?  How UNBELIEVABLE are my DREAMS?  And how WILD are my IMAGINATIONS?”  When I got up for the day a few hours later, I looked up the difference between hope and expectation. 

From what I could determine… in the world’s way of thinking, hope is better than expectation.  I read that “HOPE is a positive feeling which originates from within. It is related to one’s desire that something should happen. EXPECTATION is also a similar desire but unlike hope, most of the expectations depend on others in order to get fulfilled.” Their conclusion is that “Hopes are considered to be healthier than expectations; (for) failed hopes are not as dangerous as failed expectation.”*

That definition kind of made me do a head turn and utter a dumfounded “HUH?”  From my Biblical word studies, this totally defies what the writers of the Bible meant in their usage of the word HOPE… which I’ve said many times… is better translated EXPECTATION.  “In Scripture, according to the Hebrew and Greek words translated by the word “hope” and according to the biblical usage, hope is an indication of certainty. “Hope” in Scripture means “a strong and confident expectation.” Though archaic today in modern terms, hope is akin to trust and a confident expectation.”**

So, if we go back to my original question of what are you expecting when you pray… you can see that what I am really asking of you and me is, “Do I really trust God and His Word to be true and/or to work in my behalf?  Do I, like the above Biblical definition of EXPECTATION declares, have a trusting and confident expectation that God will come through for me?”  Do I trust HIM enough to trust what HIS written Word says?  Or, is my prayer a simple HOPE, based on nothing but my own desires… and NOT on God being true to HIS Word?

When I go to light that campfire… Am I sure that my wood is dry and will catch fire… or am I just hoping that it is and will not result in a smoky mess? 

Successful prayer is a lot like having a roaring campfire.  It takes a little bit of homework.  When I went camping, I always brought some well-seasoned wood that I knew would start all the cooking fires while we were on the trip.  My kids can attest to the fact of having wood under their feet in the car, that was stored under the floormats while traveling to our camping adventures. 

Likewise… Before I come to my Father God with a request, I always make sure that I have built up my faith in His Word (See; Romans 10:17) so that I can have an earnest EXPECTATION of gaining the results that He has promised in His Word.

Tell me… What do you think about that?  Have a terrific new week!  I am planning on getting out a little more this week as Oklahoma has been slowly opening up things again!  Stay safe out there and ask yourself… “What am I EXPECTING when I pray today?”



*(http://www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-hope-and-expectation


**(https://bible.org/article/hope)

Crises Management

I could only shake my head last night as I laid in bed and caught the beginning monologue of a talk show host whose perspective on American politics closely align with my own personal beliefs.  She began by talking about all the divergent views that are out there concerning the validity of the public use of masks.  Then she moved on to the differing reasons why some states are beginning to open up while others are not.  Many of the various clips that she showed demonstrated how a large number of health professionals, leaders in our government and news personalities have vacillated back and forth in their vehement statements concerning much of the information that is coming out concerning the Corona Virus.

I can’t help but cringe with disbelief at the comments and actions that have been taken by some of our federal and state leaders.  It looks obvious to me that a few of these individuals seem to posses very little skills when it comes to Crises Management.  I hear terms like “facts” and “science” being tossed around, but don’t always see courses of actions that are based on those two guiding-lights.  I see two contrasting concepts of thoughts coming to light.  One that basically says that people are stupid and need to be controlled by those who know best in government, and the other oppositely declaring that people are smart and can figure things out when presented with all the facts and information available at the time.

As Christians, I believe we have a third concept of thought that we must factor in to any decisions we make.  It centers around the truth in God’s Word.  For example… When Piper and I received the first negative test results from her original three bran scans taken in the summer of 2007, we had an important decision to make.  We had to choose between whose word we were going to use as the guiding light for every current and future decision we would need to make throughout the years to come.

And as I’ve written on many occasions, it was a NO-BRAINER for us.  At that moment, for that decision, it was like we’d been training and preparing for that important resolution all of our adult lives!  Without a second thought, we placed our faith, our hopes, our expectations and Piper’s very life into the hands of God and the truth of His word.  From that point on, that singlemindedness, determination and commitment was the foundation and beacon of light that guided our every course of action, every medication and every decision we would need to make.  I recently came across a new translation of Proverbs 3:5 that clearly states exactly what we did saying: “Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make.” (The Passion Translation)

The first time I read this translation, I had to pause and add the word “PERIOD!” after the initial five words of the verse!  “TRUST IN THE LORD COMPLETELY”  To me that just about said it all.  It was all that mattered to us.  But we also learned pretty early on in the journey that we were embarking on, that it was important to not only NOT rely on your own opinions but also of those of others (who feel like it is their God-given right to share all their wisdom with you) that is contrary to what the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit is telling you.

I’m seeing that what we learned and experienced back then is also very apropos to what we are all dealing with now concerning the Corona Virus.  With all the various viewpoints and differing opinions of what is right to do or not to do… as Christians, we need to make some personal decisions.  Like with Piper and I, our first and foremost commitment should be to use the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit (which is ALWAYS in line with the Word) as our guiding light and/or beacon to guide us in the course of action we choose to take on a daily basis while this crises is here.  I guess you could say that this is to be our first step of Crises Management in any and all situations that we have to deal with!

After Piper and I made that foundational decision back in 2007, I began to pour over every scientific study, report, article and idea, no matter how fact based or far-fetched it was in order to find out all I could about Alzheimer’s.  I wanted to know EXACTLY what we were facing, all the alternatives and be able to carry on intelligent conversations with the various medical professionals we worked with along the way.  Then with all that information, we/I would make all the decisions that we needed to make using the beacon of the Word as our guide.

The same is true today.  I firmly believe that a born-again, spirit filled, well informed Christian, who is in active fellowship with the Lord, will always have more common-sense and make better, more well-rounded decisions than the intellectual who depends strictly on the scientific facts that they base their trust in.

Psalm 23:1-3 tells us that “The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd… He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss.  (and) That’s where he restores and revives my life.”  I like to be in His resting place, in His oasis of peace for it is where He can restore and revive me in the midst of a crisis situation like the Corona Virus.  Philippians 4:6-7 also informs us that it is within that place of His peace that we are able to receive the answers to successfully manage the crisis’s around us. 

Here Paul declared: “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful (place of) peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.” (both – The Passion Translation)

With His Word on the subject, your research on the physical factors involved and in the place of His peace, you’ll always get the answers you need and can walk the course of action you’re led to follow with peace, security and joy!  Give it a try… it’s always worked for me and I expect that it will do the same for you!