Tag: grace

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Everyone has a Story.

Listen and SilentEveryone has a story—you have one, and everyone you meet has one. One of the most essential life skills is the ability to listen to those stories. In listening to these stories, we start to connect with other people. It is not their bias, preconceived ideas, or emotional state that brings us together—it is the stories of our lives. We can not earn the right to speak until we show compassion and listen.

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” — Stephen R. Covey, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People“

Everyone’s Story

I have traveled worldwide and met people of many diverse cultures. What I have learned is that we all share the same DNA when it comes to life stories. It starts in tragedy, then crescendos to the impossible, and ends with great overcoming. The crescendo’s amplitude varies based on the environment, but the storyline remains intact.

I have found that the root cause of much of the conflict we experience in life is a lack of understanding about our commonality. We focus too much on our differences and not enough on our similarities.

Hebrews 3:4, “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.”

Everyone has a personal story of overcoming challenges, and these stories are profoundly individual yet universally relatable. These stories showcase resilience, growth, and the human capacity to adapt and thrive in adversity. Listening to these stories can inspire us, foster empathy, and build connections by highlighting everyday experiences and struggles. Each story is a testament to the strength and determination inherent in the human spirit, reminding us that we can overcome even the most daunting obstacles.

“Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self.” — Dean Jackson.

EARNING THE RIGHT TO SPEAK

Mark 12:31, “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

How do you earn the right to speak? Most of us enter a conversation assuming we have the right to speak our minds. While this is conventional wisdom, it should not be the default attitude. A better way to position yourselves is to earn this right to speak.

Be Attentive: Eliminate distractions and concentrate fully on the speaker. Maintain eye contact, nod occasionally, and adopt an open posture to show you are actively engaged in the conversation. You are not listening until it is your turn to talk; you are listening to understand their point of view.

Proverbs 18:13, “To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.”

 Avoid Interrupting: Let the speaker finish their thoughts without interjecting. Pause before replying to ensure the speaker has finished their point. Keep your emotions in check and avoid reacting impulsively. Allow the conversation to flow naturally without rushing. We almost always find something to respond to in the middle of their monologue. There is a natural inclination to stop the speaker while your thoughts are fresh. If you let them continue, you show respect, and you might learn something that changes your response.

 Show Empathy: Try to grasp the speaker’s emotions and perspectives. Acknowledge their feelings and experiences. This action shows that you understand and care. You can’t fake this. You care, or you don’t care. If you don’t care, why are you even having this conversation?

 Ask Questions: Ask open-ended questions to gain a deeper understanding. Questions should encourage the speaker to elaborate and share more details. The advice given to me is to convert every statement into a question. Instead of saying, “That won’t work.”, say, “How do you see that working?

 Avoid Judgments: Listen without forming immediate opinions or assumptions. Respect the speaker’s viewpoint, even if it differs from your own.

Benefits of Listening

Proverbs 1:5, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”

When we become so wrapped up in our own story that we can not see or choose to disregard the story of others, we miss an incredible opportunity for grace. Rather than launching into a defense of our story, stop, take a deep breath, and listen to the story of the person in front of you. Here is what you might Learn:

Value of Empathy: Listening to someone’s story is a way to walk in their shoes, to see the world through their eyes. It fosters empathy and deepens your understanding of human experiences, creating meaningful connections. People do not create positions contrary to their experiences. There is a reason they think what they think. Discover it.

Personal Growth: Every story you hear can teach you something new. It can challenge your perspectives, broaden your horizons, and contribute to personal growth. We are all a product of our environment, and so are they. Try to understand the worldly forces molding their experience.

Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

The Power of Validation: When you listen to someone’s story, you validate their experiences. This acknowledgment can be incredibly powerful and healing for the storyteller, reminding them that their voice matters. Stories remind us of our shared humanity. In a world that can often feel divided, listening to others can bring us closer together and highlight the common threads that unite us all.

Inspiration: Consider when someone’s story has inspired you, changed your perspective, or motivated you. By listening to others, you allow yourself to experience these moments regularly. We all love overcoming that moment when the impossible becomes possible. We need to hear more of these.

This Week’s Final Thought

Listening to others’ stories isn’t just about them—it’s also about you. It’s a reciprocal act where the listener and the storyteller gain something valuable. A person’s emotional state is derived from their previous experiences. We sometimes misunderstand a current situation because we do not know its story. Ask them their story when you sense something greater is going on. This moment could be the moment when another great story begins.

Proverbs 27:19, “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”

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Getting in the Way of God

Getting in the way of God, what does that mean? This idea is a concept that I struggle with constantly. It started with a passage in Mark.

Mark 8:31–33, “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Jesus strongly rebukes Peter. What did Peter do to deserve this type of treatment? Peter put his desire and the world’s desires before God’s desire. He thought he had a better plan for saving his Jewish people. The problem was that Peter didn’t understand the right question. It was not saving the Israelites from the Romans but saving all humanity from destruction.

That took me back to the early 2000’s. We had a men’s retreat at my church. A recession was in progress, and some men were looking for jobs. After one man stood before the assembled men and asked for help in his job search, Leo Wells of Wells Real Estate Investment Trust, a relatively wealthy man, said not to get so involved in good works that you get in the way of God’s plans.

At the time, it struck me as a very unChrist-like statement. Should we not always do as much as we can with what we have to help another Christian?

1 John 3:17 ~ “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”

Getting in the Way

1 Corinthians 2:11, “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

It took time and perspective to understand what Leo was saying. I looked at the crisis in my life for direction. How many times did God use a crisis to get my attention? How often have I walked away from a crisis with a greater appreciation for the experience?

We hate crises, uncertainty, and vulnerability. For me, it was mainly about how it affected others. People depended on me, and I was vulnerable. I didn’t know how long this situation would last, how bad it would get, or how I would keep my commitments.

It is in these moments that we cling to Christ. Many times, it is the crisis that causes us to rest in Christ’s promise never to desert us. A crisis is the ultimate litmus test of our faith. It is not the blessings and good times; it is when we are weakest and most vulnerable.

Had well-meaning Christians interfered with what God was trying to accomplish with me during a crisis, I may not have learned the lesson He had for me. I can’t say I looked at it that way during my dark hours; I wanted help, relief, and certainty. I wanted to get as far from my problem as humanly possible; I didn’t care what that looked like.

How Do We Know

Jeremiah 32:19, “Great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.”

I find that there are times when we experience the downside to wisdom. Ignorance is bliss. God opens our eyes to His wisdom, and our limited human existence freezes. We don’t know how to deal with it. God knows everything, and we know so little about our impact on the future. What is our response when presented with an opportunity to help someone out of a crisis?

There is only one viable response: PRAYER. Every situation is unique. Every path forward has its own story. There are times when we should step in and help. But we must be aware that there are times when we need to trust God a little bit more. There may be a purpose behind the situation that we do not see. The best worldly advice I can give is to see if God is not holding open another door that does not include us. Prayer is the only way you can decern this.

Job 42:2, “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

Constantly, others present me with opportunities to help. It seems the opportunities are endless. I have tried to learn not to be impulsive. My kneejerk reaction is to do something. The correct answer is to pray about it. Let God do His thing. I hate to see people in pain, but sometimes, a little pain is precisely what God intends. I think about the long-term consequences of my help. Will it promote independence and growth, or will it foster dependency?

Leo’s Echo

It has been almost a quarter of a century, and that one statement by Leo haunts me. When do I play, and when do I sit on the sidelines? When am I helping with God’s plan for another, and when am I getting in the way? I have gained the wisdom to ask the question but not the wisdom to answer it. That is troubling.

1 John 2:6, “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”

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Whose Biggs Darklighter are you?

Whose Biggs Darklighter are you? Firstly, it’s important to understand who Biggs Darklighter is. In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Darklighter was a Red Squadron pilot flying a T-65 X-wing starfighter during the Battle of Yavin. He served as Red Three and tragically met his demise at the hands of Darth Vader, sacrificing himself to protect Luke Skywalker. Vader’s forces killed Darklighter when they struck his ship. However, without Biggs Darklighter’s character, the Star Wars franchise wouldn’t have unfolded as it did.

The Grand Narrative

In the grand narrative of life, God stands as the sole protagonist, while the rest of us assume minor roles. It is a blessing to be woven into the tapestry God is crafting for others. He graciously includes us in His plans, allowing us to witness His remarkable deeds and bring glory to His name.

1 Peter 3:13, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?”

The Star Wars franchise centered around the pivotal character of Luke Skywalker. Without Skywalker, the franchise would not have thrived. Similarly, Christ is the foundation of our eternal existence. Without the saving grace of Christ, there is no possibility of experiencing eternal salvation. So, whose “Biggs Darklighter” are you? Whom has Christ placed in your life for whom you are willing to sacrifice, ensuring their eternal well-being? What significant episodes may remain unwritten due to your reluctance to take a courageous stand?

Isaiah 1:17, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”

Sacrifice

God does not demand that we undertake heroic missions like defeating a Death Star by sacrificing our lives for others. Instead, He asks us to humbly sacrifice our ego, time, status, friendships, and even material possessions, so that someone else may find eternal life. Can we set aside our pride, knowing that God never forsakes those who remain faithful to extend compassion, love, and grace to others?

We all know that person we don’t get. Their lifestyle or opinions seem counterintuitive. But every person has a compelling story waiting to be shared. They have a story to tell if we take the time to listen. No one is exempt from experiencing tragedy, heartbreak, or disappointment. We all yearn for a “Biggs Darklighter” figure to intersect our path and save us from destruction. However, many of us doubt the existence of such a hero, recognizing that life is not a scripted movie.

John 12:43, “For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”

It is crucial to dedicate time to genuinely listen to the life story of someone in dire need of Christ who has chosen to reject His existence. They might even be combative in their views. They live in a world filled with darkness and despair, seemingly devoid of any solution. They might have lost faith in the possibility of a happy ending. They may view the Bible as a mere fairy tale and believe that the existence of a hero like Biggs Darklighter is nothing but fiction.

Psalm 94:16-17, “Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.”

Power

God has given you the power to change that. You can not change people with mere words but by action. The impact of a person with no common ground sitting down to listen is beyond words. It is an experience most have never had. Listening with no judgment, solutions, or wisdom to impair, just compassion for the pain. Maya Angelou reminds me:

“At the end of the day, people won’t remember what you said or did; they will remember how you made them feel.”

As Christians, we ultimately desire for others to remember not the Bible verses we recited or the advice we shared but the love and compassion they experienced in our presence. The heartfelt embrace leaves a lasting impact, particularly when it comes from someone different from them. In moments of darkness, they will recollect the warmth of your compassion, even if they may not recall your exact words. That memory, surfacing from deep within, can catalyze to ignite hope. Where there is hope, Christ is not far behind, ready to bring light and restoration.

1 Corinthians 2:4-5, “And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

We can’t be Biggs Darklighter to everybody, but we can be him to somebody.

Sean Rowe “Just Trying to Leave Something Behind”

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Swimming with Jesus

Ever wonder what it would be like to go swimming with Jesus? Are you holding on to the side of the pool for safety? Maybe you can swim with Jesus, but only in the shallow end of the pool. You know, where the water is shallow enough to touch the bottom when things get rough. How many of us venture into deep water with only Jesus to protect us?

1 John 5:14, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

Intimacy with Jesus takes the same courage and practice as swimming when we were children. When we were children, we relied on our parents or a swimming instructor to guide us through learning to swim. In the beginning, we spent most of our time either hanging onto the side of the pool or wading into the shallow end, where we knew we were safe. Only after much encouragement and practice did we even think about going to the deep end. But, unfortunately, the pool’s deep end did not provide the safety we needed.

Prayer is like swimming; we tend to cling to the edge and not let go. We want to trust in Jesus enough to set our worries aside, but we aren’t that sure. In time we feel more comfortable trusting Him with some things, but we want the security of taking control if it is not going how we want. If we are to mature in our prayer life, we must be able to swim in deep water and turn everything over to the one who loves us unconditionally. We must learn to trust Him even when we do not see His plan.

Hanging on to the Edge

1 John 5:15, "And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."

When we first started to learn about Christ, we probably did not understand the power of prayer. Prayer was more about asking for what we needed and then hanging on until it arrived. We felt we lacked faith if it didn’t arrive or God didn’t hear us. We certainly didn’t live as though we thought God would answer our prayers. It was more of a fallback position than looking for an answer.

Hebrews 4:16, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

We didn’t approach prayer confidently. Who were we to expect God to care? God is busy; surely,  other prayers are more important than mine. My need isn’t as great as other people’s needs. Satan doesn’t like us to pray. He will do what he can to get us to stop. If he can’t convince us that our need is too big for God to resolve, he will convince us our need is too small for God to care.

Psalm 18:6, "In my distress, I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple, he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears."

Wading In

James 1:6, " But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

As we grow closer to God, we become emboldened, asking what is on our hearts without restraint. The problem is that we still don’t fully trust God to answer our prayers how we want them answered. Somehow, we have come to believe in answered prayer, but not that God’s answer is the best. We want to stay in shallow water where we can stand on our own if the need arises.

Mark 11:24, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

The shallow end is where most Christians spend their lives—praying but doubting the power of prayer. Because of this, they never see God’s hand in their life. It is a spiral that leads them to become more skeptical of prayer’s power. They find themselves standing in shallow water, thinking they can swim.

Swimming with Jesus

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

For the advanced open water diver, the Marriott Gold Coast in Australia has a private saltwater lagoon with an artificial reef visitors could use to prepare for diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Open-water divers are the ultimate swimmers. They are diving fifty to a hundred feet under the water, miles from shore, with only their scuba gear to sustain them. They are literally emersed in the experience, totally dependent.

That is the experience God wants for us when we pray. He wants continuous communication with an expectation that He will meet our needs. God wants us to be totally dependent on Him. Not so that He can control our lives, but so He can show us the power of His grace and compassion. God has a great life planned for each of us. God wants us to experience what He created in us.

Ephesians 6:18, " And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

Be a deep-water diver of prayer, swimming far from shore, deep under the surface, and completely secure in what God has in store for you.

Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
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Normalization

Response to Normalization

Normalization: Any process that makes something more regular typically means conforming to some regularity or rule. To cause something previously regarded as anomalous (aberrant, incongruous, abnormal) to be accepted, as usual, thereby altering the accepted norm.

I just returned from an IMED trip to India. Every trip to a new environment brings unexpected revelations. It is interesting how people normalize their environment. A person is born into or raised in an environment that becomes their ecosystem. It is all they know. They don’t see activities as abnormal. As an outsider, the same activity seems strange and out of place.

What is Normal?

When I visit Africa, they live in houses with dirt floors and no electricity or running water. They don’t go home to watch TV or surf the internet. But they dress impeccably. They are happy for the most part. They have the same concerns as most people regarding politics and the staples of living, but the scale is different.

When I travel to South America, they live by a little higher monetary standard. They have electricity and running water but must deal with the Cartel. A certain amount of money has to be paid for security. To them, it is the way it has always been and will always be.

My trip to India was noisy and chaotic. One of my friends described it as someone kicking over an ant hill. Honking horns seemed to be the primary way of steering through traffic. Crossing the street is an adventure; there is never a break.

Behavior has been normalized to all the people who live in these environments. They don’t see it. It is the way it is and will be. There are so many experiences in our lives that have become normalized. Over the years, modern society has accepted more deviant behavior as normal. Children born in this century have been raised to believe that behavior that a few decades ago was unacceptable is now standard. It is so normal that one cannot speak against it.

As outsiders, we should see it differently. It should seem strange and out of place, but does it? Have we normalized behavior that is unacceptable to God?

The Greatest Commandment

What should our response to this new normalized behavior be? The answer lies in the Book of Mark.

Mark 12:29-31, “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none another commandment greater than these.”

The first part is to love God. Jesus is quoting right out of Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

Our love for our Savior dictates our behavior. One of the most significant indicators of this love is to keep his commandments.

Joshua 22:5, “Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

In a broken world, that means not letting the new normalization creep into our lives. It is holding to a standard of behavior that pleases God. It is not compromising when the world screams for compromise. Do not go along just to get along. Loving God is holding to a single truth.

The Second Greatest Commandment.

But loving God is the first part of what Jesus had to say. He also said that we should love our neighbor as ourselves.

Leviticus 19:18, “Don’t seek vengeance. Don’t bear a grudge, but love your neighbor as yourself, for I am Jehovah.”

Compassion and grace should be the leading indicators that we are children of God. As we deal with people who do not share our Biblical perspective, we must remember who we are. Biblical doctrine and theological preference are not more important than love. We must stay steadfast to the truth but not in a way that condones loveless behavior.

You can safely assume that you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.  – Anne Lamott, on page 22 of Bird by Bird

I am uncomfortable with some of the life decisions I see being made by others. I have to remind myself that I am only responsible for the decision I make, not the decisions others make. Non-believers do not operate on the same set of standards. Before salvation their lives are given over to sin. The only way to have a meaningful dialogue is to be a person with whom they want to engage. The life of a believer must be seen as a better life than the life of a non-believer.  Presenting truth must be accompanied by understanding. They don’t prescribe to what we believe. Until they see the benefit of God’s love, they will not seek change.

Love

I wrote recently about “Love’s Reaction to Anger.” In that post, I tried to present that anger over sinful behavior is Biblical, but we should guard against our reaction to that anger. Sin causes us grief; the sinner is caught under sin’s influence. Our goal is to influence the person controlled by sin to seek deliverance. That cannot be accomplished outside the umbrella of love.

You can be absolutely right in your point of view and ineffective in your communications of that view. The object is not to be right but to be effective.

1 John 4:7-10, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love. In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

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Sic Parvis Magna

1 Peter 3:3-4, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

Sic Parvis Magna is the motto of Sir Francis Drake. Sir Francis Drake was knighted by the Queen and given a ring inscribed with this motto. It translates to Greatness from Small Beginnings. It means that anyone can become great no matter where they started. It gives a sense of hope to those who dare to believe it.

Why should you dare to believe such an outrageous statement? What is there about you that greatness would rest its head on your lap? Maybe it is the belief that greatness is relative. The truly great, the big, do the world-renowned acts of courage and bravery. The common great, those who are small, are appreciated for their small contribution to the welfare of humanity. They are the invisible great, the meat and potatoes of greatness.

Isaiah 54:4, “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. “

God implanted in each one of us at creation the seeds of greatness. Not the invisible great, but the greatness that reverberates through time. It is immortal greatness that bridges generations and millenniums. There will be people from times you will never see that will give thanks for your act of courage. 

1 Corinthians 16:13, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

How many times have we told ourselves, or someone else, if we hadn’t been in a particular place at a specific time, doing whatever, we never would have had that chance encounter? Ester spent her whole life wondering why the things that happened to her kept happening. Then one day, she knew. Joseph spent time in prison, wrongly accused, before he saved all of Israel.  Greatness lurks in the shadows until its time.

I know a man named Robert, a good man, a Godly man. He has had a dramatic impact on my life without him ever noticing it. We were in each other’s company many times but seldom talked. I watched him. I watched his grace, compassion, and almost innate ability to bring peace to every situation. He was unselfish to a fault. Greatness was so part of who he was that he never noticed. Today, as I write this, his family is by his side as he says his last goodbyes. It is way too early in his life. I don’t always understand the fairness of it. God is God, and I am not. But I see the waves starting to crescendo. The ripples of his life growing to be tsunamis for generations. That, folks, is the greatness of God exemplified through man.

Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Why do we close our eyes when we pray, when we cry, when we kiss, when we dream? Because the most beautiful things in life are not seen but felt by our hearts.  – anonymous

Never discount who you are in Christ. Never minimize your potential or your value. Never question your relevance. Pursue Him, pursue His plan for you, and you will prosper according to His will. Your greatness will ripple through eternity. Lives you may never see or know will be changed. Greatness is no more than compassion, love, kindness, and obedience to the will of God. Greatness is not a trumpet’s sound but a child’s whisper. It is the moment when you give of yourself in a way you thought impossible. It is when sacrifice is seen as gain.

2 Timothy 1:7, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”

Greatness from Small Beginnings. Eternity with Christ for someone else that was started in your life. And that new life spread to another, who passed it on to another, and it kept growing.

2 Corinthians 10:12, “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”

When you think that you don’t matter or that your life is an endless challenge of meaningless tasks, remember, there is someone special that God has put in your path. You are eternity to them. Seeing our greatness is not looking inward but looking outward. Someone took a chance to be great for us. Now it is our turn.

Hebrews 10:35–36, “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”

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Splagchnizomai

Greek: Splagchnizomai (splangkh-nid’-zom-ahee), To have the bowels yearn, be moved with compassion, have compassion (the nobler entrails – the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. These gradually came to denote the seat of all affections).

In Luke, compassion is described using the Greek word splagchnizomai. Luke is describing Jesus’ compassion for the sinners around Him. It is more than a pragmatic need to help; it is an emotional connection to their condition. Christ didn’t just have compassion for their lives but more profound compassion for their eternal existence.

Matthew 9:36, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Compassion is the root of God’s purpose for your life. It is through compassion we learn to love. It is through compassion that we act. The challenge is to move compassion from your head to your heart. Many good causes evoke compassion. Who can look away when a small child is hungry? Scenes of poverty elicit a strong sense of compassion and the need to do something.  

James 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

I want to delve deeper beyond the intellectual understanding of caring for others. God loves us with an indescribable passion not because we deserve it but because He knows we don’t. His love for us is driven by compassion for who we are, not admiration for who we are. He understands that we can never repay Him for His investment in us. His heart is moved by our suffering and wondering.

He needs nothing. It is His very nature to love us altruistically. He is the model for what we should aspire to when we engage others. Our reaction to others shouldn’t be rules-based or environmentally conditioned but a visceral swell from deep within us. It should be a reaction too intense to control.

1 Peter 3:8, “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”

That is a lot to ask in this chaotic, busy world. We are constantly influenced by people whose agenda requires more time to decipher than we have. We go along to get along, to make it through the day. It is hard enough to show compassion for the ones we love; how do we extend that? How do we slow down our heads so that we can engage others, not just roll over them on our way to the next thing?

“Compassion costs. It is easy enough to argue, criticize, and condemn, but redemption is costly, and comfort draws from the deep. Brains can argue, but it takes heart to comfort.” – Samuel Chadwick.

First, we don’t eat the elephant in one bite. We have to decide who we want to be. The account of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) has two storylines. The first one is the big one we all think about. It is how the father showed compassion for his son upon his return; it is easy to recognize and relate to. The second is subtle and closer to home (v. 28-30). The good son has little compassion for his brother because he feels he has stayed behind and supported his father after the prodigal son left. The good son has this sense of righteous indignation that overshadows compassion. The father’s compassion was splagchnizomai, while the good son’s compassion was rules-based and pragmatic.

Are we the father or the good son? Can we show compassion even when we have been taken advantage of, or do we have rules that we feel are reasonable and correct? To truly love those God has put in front of us is to scrap the rules. We all have a lot of rules. Many of those rules were taught to us by well-meaning individuals who didn’t want to see others take advantage of us. The good son has a plausible argument, but his position lacks genuine compassion.

Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

To love the way God intended us to love, we need first to have compassion for those God has sent our way. Like Christ, it can’t be compassion just for their current situation, but compassion for their eternity. Once we start to see people as an extension of their eternal existence, we can start to look past who they are now. We start to see them as God sees them.  Loving someone you will spend in the presence of God for eternity is a lot easier than loving the person who can irritate you with just a look.

In life, it is the journey, not the destination. The destination is a gift through grace. The journey is all the beautiful things God has in store for us as He helps us help others.

Galatians 5:14, “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

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Battle for Our Soul

We live in a crazy world. When I think it has become as dysfunctional as possible, we find a new level. I was in my teens during the ’60s. The ‘60s in the United States was about anti-war movements, free love, and following your bliss. It was a time of anti-everything. The “Man” was in charge; he needed to be taken down a peg or two. My parents thought our generation would amount to nothing and destroy the world. You see, my parents were part of the “Greatest Generation.” As I grew older and wiser, I began to understand how right that was. Their sense of duty and sacrifice was beyond anything we see today.

Maybe my parents were right about who we were. Many of the unacceptable things in the ‘60s are not only typical today; the law protects them. The book of Revelations warns us about the march of time. It describes the Seven Seals that mark the second coming of Christ. Revelations is clear that no man can determine the time of Jesus’ return. But the battle rages on.

Matthew 24:6, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.”

The actual battle is for our soul, and it will never end in a loss for those in Christ. They will not surrender to the evil of this world. They have an army of thousand-thousand angels fighting at their side; they have the King of all creation covering their back. He guides them with love, compassion, and grace. He wrote their story before the universe came into existence; the ending was there for them to choose.

Deuteronomy 20:4, “For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

It is so easy to become bogged down in everyday life that we forget our true purpose. Our purpose is not to gather worldly wealth or achieve worldly acclaim; our purpose is to glorify and serve Christ. But, unfortunately, there will always be those who do not know Christ and will choose the things of the world. They are the ones who will suffer the loss. They are the ones who are losing sleep over political aspirations, economic woes, and social stigmas. They are the ones who fruitlessly pursue peace by forcing acceptance of worldly pleasures.

Romans 8:37, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”

We stand on the bedrock of Christ’s salvation. Although we can not escape the effects of those who do not know Christ, we can rise above it by focusing on God’s plan for eternity. When worry overcomes us, we need to do nothing more than speak with our Father. He will comfort us in our time of need.

Romans 8:35, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

It is tricky, especially when we are younger, not to focus on all the world before us. Life seems like a long time; we have dreams, plans, and dragons to slay. We want to make our mark. We want to leave a legacy. We want to rise above the hum of everyday life to make our voice heard. Our focus is on the next project, the next promotion, the next pay raise, the next anything. We forget that our existence is for eternity.

Luke 10:19, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.”

We have an inner strength that can sustain us when the world does not make sense. As much as we should try to overcome evil in the world, there is only One who can, not us. The battle is for our souls. The world will do what the world will do; The Garden of Eden sealed its fate. But we each have the opportunity to escape that natural end. We have a chance to focus on eternity.

Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Every worldly endeavor has an eternal component to it. Therefore, you can use any passion to glorify Christ. Consequently, it is not so much what you choose to do with your life that is important as how you choose to do it. Who do you choose to glorify? Is your purpose focused on the near future or eternity?

Matthew 12:20, “A battered reed He will not break off, and a smoldering wick He will not put out until He leads justice to victory.”

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Greatness in 2022 and Beyond

Psalm 102:18, “Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.”

“God is looking for those with whom He can do the impossible — what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves.” – A. W. Tozer

As I read down the list of famous people who passed on during 2021, it brought mixed feelings. There is the delight of emotions driven by what was going on in my life when they first came to my attention. There was admiration for what they had accomplished and the dedication to their craft. But there was also the melancholia of a time passed that will never be again. I started to think of people who achieved worldly greatness to see that season come to an end.

1 Peter 4:7-8, “For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and be sober-minded for the sake of pray. Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other because love wipes away many sins.”

Not All Worldly Achievements Come to an End.

If you have painted a picture, played in a band, penned a book, inspired a song, starred in a movie, people might remember your name, they might recall a memory, or they might even conjure an emotion, but will they remember you? How fleeting is fame? The euphoria of accomplishment fades over time as we create new goals to surpass. In time, skills digress, and we must be content to rest on our laurels.

I believe deep down inside, we all crave greatness. Many of us suppress that urge because we think it is beyond us, but it still lurks in the shadows; it nags at us from dark recesses when we are left alone too long. We look at social media and the news (doomscrolling), envious of what is not ours. The world defines greatness, and we strive to emulate it.

Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

One of my favorite quotes comes from the book “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Greatness is not a Thing; it is an Emotion

This quote has become one of my life passages. As time passes, people will not remember your acts of kindness and goodness, but they will remember someone who made them feel loved. The name, the place, the exact actions are fading flowers and wisps of smoke, but the feelings stay with us the rest of our lives. It is not the accomplishment that survives time; it is the emotion the accomplishment brought on.

A movie, a song, or a picture trigger deeper meaning from the soul. They water the seed that grows from our hearts. Greatness is not a thing; it is an emotion. The awards and the platitudes are the trappings of success and greatness; the true indication of greatness is in changed lives. What seeds have you planted in the hearts of those you have touched?

Luke 16:9-10, “Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”

The Ripple Effect

Psalm 78:6, “That the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children.”

There is a ripple effect to everything we do, good or bad. When we are in a bad mood and bark at another, our lousy mood can put them in a bad mood, and they, in turn, speak poorly to someone else. The same is true; if we smile and speak kindly to someone who is not in a good mood, it may raise their spirits, causing them to treat others kindlier.

How many times has someone, uninvolved in your conversation, watched silently to the way you behaved and drew a conclusion about who you are; were they drawn closer to God or pushed away? Who did they tell? Did they decide on how to react toward you in the future based on what they saw in the past?

Greatness does not come from being right, being the best, having authority or position in life; it comes from the moments when you made others feel loved and appreciated.

Great people will tell you that greatness is not an event; it is a lifetime dedication to that for which they have passion. It is consistent over time. It is not the pinnacle of the mountain; it isn’t even the climb. It is the years of dedication and preparation to a passion that consumes them. Live life with purpose.

John 6: 68-69, “Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God.’”

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Christmas Afterglow

Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

I have been binging on Christmas movies. I can’t help it. The characters make dumb decisions that could alleviate the problems, but those dumb decisions keep the storyline going until the happy ending. It’s infuriating the level of stupidity written into the scripts. What keeps me coming back is the happy ending.

I can’t get over the happy endings. Everyone wants a love story that ends in a crescendo. God created us to love and be loved. We want that sensation to be overwhelming. We want to be swept away with the emotion of never-ending love. We hold out for that magic moment no matter how callous we have become about life. Even when we don’t believe it exists, we can watch a Christmas movie and fanaticize it might be real. We want our hearts to burst.

I know a couple of friends of mine; they seem to have this idyllic marriage. She is gorgeous; he is handsome, both are successful. He constantly compliments her, and she idolizes him.  I find myself mesmerized by their relationship. Now don’t get me wrong, I know every relationship has its challenges. Not every day is a walk-in wonderland; some days, you try to survive.

My point is that I believe in true love. I believe that God wants us to experience the level of love He has for us. I believe that God knows what it is to love someone so much that it hurts. Yet, God tenaciously powers through the pain to experience the love. There is no other explanation for what He has done for us.

John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

The feeling of love can become an opiate, an addiction, and an obsession. We can elevate the desire to love and be loved to the point that it loses its original intention and becomes a distraction. However, love can also be the driving force of our lives. It can be the catalyst for change and growth.

1 Corinthians 13:13, “The three most important things to have are: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of them is love.”

The essence of most Christmas movies is a great lie. This fundamental element in Christmas movies is someone deceiving someone else and gets caught. It all starts as an innocent deception; as the story grows, so does the deception. In the end, it is forgiveness that creates a happy ending. Although meant for commercial consumption, Christmas movies mimic the true Christmas story. First, we deceive ourselves into believing it is an innocent lie. As our lives progress, the lie grows. It is God’s forgiveness that creates a happy ending.

We deceived our King. We became so comfortable in our deception that we allowed it to grow and grow. It is only the benevolence of our King that we receive a happy ending. It’s not a movies script; it is real life. We receive eternal life through the charity of the King of Kings.

Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

This thought leads me to think about true greatness. We all seek greatness in our lives. We all want to leave a legacy that stands the test of time. We want to mean something, to be something. For me, it is making an eternal difference in a single life. If I could be a person with such great love for humanity that I could humble myself to serve another to the extent that they see God in me, I would be successful. I will have achieved greatness.

Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

Spiritual greatness starts and ends with loving our fellow man. The yearning we have inside to be something greater than we are can only be relieved by learning to love those that do not love us. Loving those that do love us is easy. Turning the other cheek is complicated but still does not require love. Humbling oneself and truly submitting ourselves for the benefit of someone less deserving is the essence of love.

Matthew 5:46-48, “It is easy to love those who love you—even a tax collector can love those who love him. And it is easy to greet your friends—even outsiders do that! But you are called to something higher: “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Let us all bask in the afterglow of Christmas. Let us all understand that we live a life of deception, both big and small. But, let us also take heart that the King of Kings, in His unconditional love, has already written our happy ending.

2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

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