Diane Mickler's Blog

Summing it all up friends, I’d say you’ll do your best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst, the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you have learned from me, what you have heard and seen and realized. Philippians 4:8-9 The Message

Everyone I know wants to live the best life possible. I’ve never known a single person who wants to have a bad life, but what is the secret to living the best life?

When our small group posed this question, the answers ranged anywhere from happiness and good health, to friendship, family, and of course, love. We work hard to achieve the best life, but the reality is that most of us struggle to live our best life everyday. It just doesn’t seem to happen.

Living your best life consists of intentionally creating a fulfilling authentic life which aligns with personal beliefs, passions, and happiness. It involves prioritizing well being, personal growth, and being the best version of yourself rather than simply chasing material possessions or weath.

Sixteen years ago, Randy and I were fortunate to rescue a little dog named Rocco. He loved us from the moment he walked into our home, and he’s never stopped. Now Rocco has some heart issues, and arthritis (so do his parents), and he has begun to slow down.

As we contemplated a way to give him his best life for the rest of his life, we tried to think of ways to let him enjoy life, but make it easy for him. Thus, Randy now walks him as far as Rocco can, then Rocco rides the rest of the walk in his stroller. He loves it!! Everyone stops to talk to him, and he might even let them give him a rub! He’s living the best life!

Now, giving a dog his best life is a lot different from the way we would achieve ours. There are many keys to living our best life, and I have picked some of the ones that I consider most important.

First, it’s all about the attitude. One of our group members commented that if we wake up and promise to strive to be postive every day, it makes the day the best! Good relationships are the key. If we can live harmoniously within that circle, then we will find our best life.

Next, if we want the best life we don’t take revenge or retaliate when others don’t agree with you or hurt you in some way. Politicians could take a lesson from this one.

The story is told of a man who became angry with one of the airport employees who was handling his luggage. For several minutes, he belittled the employee and criticized his every move. Surprisingly, the employee didn’t seem bothered by the criticism and remained calm.

After the man moved on from the counter, a woman approached the employee with her baggage and asked, “How do you put up with such injustice?” The agent replied, “It’s easy. That guy’s going to New Delhi, but his bags are going to Chennati.” Remember, Jesus said, “Vengance is mine.’

Then, if we want to live our best life, we must control our tongue. Someone once said, “The first screw that goes loose in a person’s head is the one that controls the tongue.”

A young man was sent to Socrates to learn oratory or how to speak. On being introduced to the great philosopher, he talked so much that Socrates asked for double fees. “Why charge me double?” asked the boy. “Because,” replied the great man, “I must teach you two sciences: one, how to hold your tongue; the second, how to speak. The first one is much more difficult.”

If we want to have our best life, it’s important to control how much you speak, because I guarantee you, if you say the wrong words, you will have a bad life!

Finally, to live our best life, we need to forget what is evil and just do good. Be peacemakers. We live in a hostile world where people are constantly trying to make life miserable for us by putting us under pressure, and even causing us great suffering.

We look to the scripture above and realize we are told by God to be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind hearted, never repay evil for evil, and hold our tongue!! With all that’s happening, what’s our incentive to strive for the best life?

Our incentive through it all is that the eyes of God are upon us and he watches us with omnipresence and hears our cry. He meets our needs. He will help us achieve our best life if we are willing to do the things He asks.

At the close of kindergaten class every afternoon as the kids waited with their back packs for dismissal, we sang a little song together to end the day on a positive note: “We’ve had a good day, we’ve had a great day; now kiss your brain.”

Make today not only a good day or a great day, but the best day!

For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty! 2 Peter 1:16

Last week, the USA successfully launched and brought safely home the Artemis II and its astronauts. The historic journey around the moon, took the four astronauts further into space than any humans in history!

Their safe return clears the way for the next stage of the Artemis program which aims to land humans on the lunar surface and eventually build a permanent base on the moon.

Upon seeing the moon from their spaceship, the astronauts described the sight as magnificent, awe inspiring, unbelievable, and a close up experience that defies black and white photos by revealing subtle colors and immense detail. I can’t imagine such majesty!

The Bible describes majesty as the incomparable greatness, splendor, and supreme authority of God. It describes His inherent glory, power, and holiness that demand reverance. The term signifies God’s transcendence over creation, and it’s embodiment in Jesus Christ. Who, but God could create a universe that is so resplendent that it defies the human’s ability to take it in?

The greatness of God is not always recognized or appreciated. We tend to take for granted the way day turns to night, the way seasons change, the moon, the stars, the beauty and majesty that He created. Only when we take time to stop and focus on this earth, can we see it’s majesty.

The appreciation of God’s majesty in His creation of mankind is also many times ignored. The story is told of a young child prodigy, Joshua Bell, who was, at the age of 39, an internationally acclaimed virtuoso. Bell had filled symphony halls where tickets sold for $100 each, but on January 12, 2017, he was just another beggar. Bell sat in the Washington DC subway station at 7:15 on that workday morning competing for the attention of busy people on their way to work.

The scene was set up as part of an experiment in context, perception,and priorities as well as an assessment of public taste. In a setting such as this, at an inconvenient time, would beauty and majesty transcend?

Joshua positioned himself against a wall beside a trash basket wearing jeans, a long sleeved t-shirt, and a baseball cap. From a small case, he removed a small violin, which was a Stadivarius worth over four million dollars. Placing the open case at his feet, he began to play. For the next 45 minutes, Bell played the music of Mozart and Schubert as people streamed by.

Most hardly noticed. In fact, only 27 people out of thousands who walked past stopped to throw in money. At the end of the day, Bell had a total of $32.17 in his violin case.

One man who was riding the escalator turned to see from which direction the music was coming. Of 40 people interviewed that day, John Picarello was the only one who recognized that “whoever is playing that violin is a superb violinist.” He knew Joshua Bell and his work, but he didn’t recognize him or his great musical ability.

Majesty or greatness is not always recognized. Even when the divine majesty of Jesus was shining through him the world did not see it or undersand it.

There is one beautiful composition written byTom Fettke and Linda Johnson entited The Majesty and Glory of His Name. Our choir can sing it so beautifully, and the words and music give me chills each time I hear it.

When I gaze into the night sky and see the work of your fingers; The moon and stars suspended in space. What is man that You are mindful of him? You have given man a crown of glory and honor, and have made him a little lower than the angels. You have put him in charge of all creation; the birds of the air, the fish of the sea.

Oh Lord our God, the majesty and glory of your name, transcends the earth and fills the heavens. Oh Lord our God, little chilldren praise you perfectly, and so would we, and so would we.

The majesty of God is all around us. All we need do is acknowledge it and allow it to transcend all the less important things in our lives.

He replied, “Peter, I tell you, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” Luke 22:34 The Message

I don’t know many of us who actually enjoy the sound of an alarm clock early in the morning. The wake up devices come in all kinds of different designs with different sounds. We can choose to wake up to sounds like an annoying beep, the radio, the sound of rain, the pounding surf, or even crickets chirping. In our small town, sometimes the rooster who lived down the street would wake the neighborhood with a loud cock a doodle doo!!

Years ago, when we traveled and stayed in a hotel, we would get a wake call from the front desk alerting us that it was time to get up and get going! Although most of us now set our wake up call to whatever program is on our phone, the purpose is still the same.

We have just recently passed through the Easter season in which themes of darkness and light, death and resurrection, despair and hope, fear and faith, and grief and joy have all been set before us. The season is a wake up call of sorts for many of us, as it forces us to take a look at our lives and re-evaluate all that God does and has done for us. We listen again to His story.

Peter also experienced a wake up call the night of the crucifixion. Jesus had told Peter that he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed, and he did. The Bible says that afterwards, Peter went out and wept bitterly. He had a wake up call.

Like Peter, we all have repeated failures. We promise not to give into temptaion, but we do. We promise not to judge, but we do. We promise not to forget the story of redemption and grace that we experience on Easter, but we do. We all need a wake up call in this life.

Theo of Golden, a wonderful book written by Allen Levi, gives the perfect scenario of a wake up call for two travelers on the road to Emmaus, and their experience with the risen Lord.

Jesus had been executed and news of his death had been widely circulated. The scene occurs on a road named Emmaus. Two strangers are walking together, we don’t know if they were friends, but their minds are full of thoughts and questions. The kind of thoughts and questions we all have whenever death or unexplained circumstances comes our way.

Those two were soon joined by a third. We don’t know if they welcomed him, but we do know that he joined them along the way. When he joined them, he asked what they were discussing. And so, they told him about the execution and death. The third man hijacked the conversation and told them a story -one they thought they knew already. He told them a story that we all think we know. One we think we have all figured out. The wonderful story that has, for many of us, lost any element of wonder.

The text says that Jesus opened the scriptures and told them about the everlasting God, about a world made good and beautiful, but now horribly ruined. He told them that story, and it reawakened wonder in those two travelers. They listened attentively and were so captivated, that when they reached their destination, they asked him to remain with them longer. Which he did.

At some point, those strangers realized that the mysterious walking partner was no ordinary man. He could tell them the story because He wrote the story. He was the story. We are told that their eyes were opened. They had a wake up call.

We all walk roads of different descriptions in life – the long and winding road, the road to ruin, easy street, the road less traveled, and along the way there are questions. There is news. There are concerns and fears. There are uncertainties that furrow our brows, trouble our souls, and break our hearts. That terrifies many of us, but God in his sublime goodness has always sent others, mysterious others, to walk with us to help us see clearly.

God does the same for us when bad news comes our way, when our heart is broken, or when sadness overwhelms us. He sends others to hold our hand, to walk with us, and pray for us.

After the worst night of his life, the sun came up for Peter. By God’s grace, he received a wake up call and ended up winning multitudes to Christ and building the church. Peter is proof that God will forgive, restore, and redirect our lives as well. All we need to do is listen for the wake up call to keep Easter alive in our hearts and lives all year long.

You don’t have to wait for the End (Last)! I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this? John 11:25-26 The Message

In the second chapter of John, the master of the banquet at the wedding in Cana says of Jesus, Everyone brings out the choice wine first and saves the cheaper wine until everyone has had too much to drink! You have saved the best for last!

I love the idea of that! About two weeks ago, Randy helped me celebrate my birthday by taking me to a really nice restaurant for dinner. When we were seated, the waiter came over to wish me a happy birthday and tell us what special items come with the celebration dinner.

First, he offered us a glass of champagne. Then he got down to business and began to describe the desserts from which we could choose at the conclusion of our meal! The choices were three of my very favorites! He saved the best for last!

We enjoyed a delicious dinner, and as he cleared away our plates, he asked, “Have you decided on your dessert?” Now, this was an extremely important decision for me because I do love dessert! I asked him to give me another minute to make up my mind.

We continued talking and enjoying, and the waiter came back again. I asked for just one more minute! The next time I looked up, he was standing at our table with not one, not two, but all three of my favorite desserts with a candle on each one!! In my opinnion, the best really was last!

We are in the midst of Holy Week where all the events of this week lead up to the crucifixion of Jesus. The Palm Sunday celebration and cheers of “Hosanna” are a distant memory, and they are being replaced this week with the words,”Crucify Him.”

During this week God brought His plan to a dramatic close. On Maundy Thursday, Jesus gathered his disciples together in the Upper Room for The Last Supper. It was during this time that Jesus told His disciples that one among them would betray Him.

When Jesus left the Upper Room on that night, He took his disciples and went into a Garden. Judas, the betrayer, skipped the garden, and went instead to meet a group of Roman soldiers and temple guards who represented Caesar.

Judas accompanied these soldiers and guards to the garden, and with a single kiss, he betrayed Jesus. In answer to their questions our Lord identified himself to them when He said, “I am the one you seek!”

Friday came and Jesus endured a mock trial, a crown of thorns, carrying His own cross to the hill, being nailed to that cross, and suffering a slow and excurciating death. Before His death, He uttered the words, “Father forgive them,” which offered us the hope of forgiveness.

The disciples said that he was dead, and they laid him in a borrowed tomb and sealed it with a stone. Mary arrived to prepare the body, but the stone was rolled away. The disciples came to see, and when they saw, they believed. They ran home and locked their doors in fear, but Mary stayed. At that time, Jesus appeared to her.

Mary recognized the voice of Jesus when He asked her, “Whom do you seek?” She went back and told the disciples who she had seen, and Jesus came and stood in their midst. He showed them His hands and His side, and said, “Peace be with you.”

In modern times, the Great Houdini promised he’d come back from the dead and talk to his friends. Some of his friends actually consulted medians to see if there was any word from him from beyond the grave! There wasn’t. Only one man who promised to rise from the dead kept His promise. Jesus!

After all the horrors of Good Friday, God sent Easter. It is His way of saving the best for last. Jesus rose for you and me, and He gave us the great gift of peace! On the cross, He offered us redemption and forgiveness. The resurrection gives us the power of His peace and the evidence that His love is a forgiving love that loves even the unlovable while His peace surpasses all comprehension. He has given us a sense of love and peace even among our fears!

Most of us would probably opt to skip the images of torture, pain, suffering. and death that comes with Good Friday, but without it, Easter would be hollow. We’d start to forget how much Jesus sacrified and even start to believe there can be victory without that sacrifice.

God’s definition of “good” far exceeds our own. It is the resurrection that gives us the victory! He always saves the best for last!

Happy Easter!

For you created my inmost being; you wove me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13

In our small town, the four siblings in my Daddy’s family all settled down with their families within blocks of each other. Our family lived next door to my Daddy’s brother Wallace, and his wife Joanne. They had three boys, and my mom and dad had us three girls!

Joanne was quite an accomplished musician and seamstress, but none of her boys wanted to participate in those activities, so she came looking for one of Daddy’s girls who would join her. I was the oldest, and thus, the obvious choice.

She began to give me piano, organ, and voice lessons, but one day she insisted that I learn to knit! I sat with those needles in my hand while she knitted across from me reminding me to knit and purl. As we “knitted” together, she decided that I should have a project! As a result, I attempted to make a sweater for Daddy for Christmas, and the saga began.

Let’s just say something horrible happened to the sleeves I wove, and one sleeve was exceptionally longer than the other. We had no time to adjust, so she put the project together, and I gave it to him “as is” for Christmas. As bad as it was, bless his heart, he wore it! Sometimes the things we weave don’t turn out as we expected.

When something is woven, it is made from a number of interconnected items, such as in a story or in a fabric. Just like a fabric that is woven together, the Palm Sunday story in the Bible is woven together according to God’s plan.

On that day, as Jesus rode a donkey through the streets of Jerusalem, everybody in the crowd had heard of him because he had just raised Lazarus from the dead. People were calling him Hosannah and King of Israel while laying their garments on the street at His feet.

The disciples were aware that something big was happening, and they wanted to be a part of it. They began to have discussions on who would sit on His left and who would sit on His right. Jesus tried to tell them that they had the wrong idea about the kingdom. He had come to create, but they continued to weave their own story.

In order to drive home his point, Jesus called them together and began to wash their feet, but “Kings don’t do that,” they said, so the disciples wove other theories about how this story should be told. He told them this His kingdom would be one of service, and then He served them communion. He began to weave the story of how He would be crucified, and on the third day, He would rise again. “That can’t happen,” they said, and they went on about weaving their own story.

Just like my knitting, sometimes the way we see things is not at all the way God has it planned. We are weaving, but we can’t see the entire picture.

In Corrie Ten Boom’s book, “Reflections of God’s Glory,” she tells a story about how God looks at things from an entirely different perspective than we do. In giving her talk to groups of people, she would slowly unfold a cloth with hundreds of different strings pulled through it and tied in knots. It all looked very random and didn’t make much sense. As the audience pondered the significance of the cloth, she would explain that we often see our situation in life just like this – a tangled mess!

We sometimes question God about how he is weaving situations in our lives. For instance, “why do we sin or falter, or why has He allowed bad things to happen to us?” In reality, Corrie would explain that we have a limited perspective of God’s plan, and we can’t always see what He’s weaving in our lives.

Corrie would then turn the cloth around to reveal the other side. There was a beautiful tapestry of a crown of gold with multicolored jewels. This is what God sees, a beautiful weaving of our lives. When our life is the messiest, we need to trust God the most. Both during the best times and the darkest times in our lives, God is present weaving a beautiful tapestry.

It is said that Jewish mothers traditionally wove one piece garments for their sons who were leaving home. These garments symbolized behavior and character. Jesus wore this robe, which was seamless from top to bottom, to Calvary to indicate that He had always been directed by the mind of God.

There are those all around us who can literally weave and knit items for others in need which remind them of God’s constant plan in our lives! The women of whom I speak are a group called “Woven in Grace” who have a mission of making “prayer shawls” for those of us who need to feel God’s hand weaving a course in our lives. Those who receive them are forever grateful for these weavers.

On this Palm Sunday, we can celebrate with the crowds the recognition of Jesus as King and Messiah. As we await the week ahead, God weaves the story of redemption and grace.

Jesus said to the blind man in Jericho, “What can I do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “On your way”, said Jesus, “Your faith has saved and healed you.'” In that very instant, he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road. Mark 10:51-52

Helen Keller was inspiring in the way she dealt with her blindness and deafness. She once wrote a magazine article entitled: Three Days To See. In that article, she outlined what she would like to see if she were granted just three days of sight.

On the first day, she said that she would like to be able to see her friends. The second day she said that she would like to be able to see the nature around her. Lastly, she said that on her final day, she would like to spend her time in her home city of New York watching the busy city and seeing the bustle of people going about their day.

She concluded her article with these words: “If I who am blind can give one hint to those who can see, it would be; Use your eyes today as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind.

I am convinced that being able to see is one of the greatest things we take for granted in this life. For those of us who have always been blessed to see, we don’t know what it’s like to live day to day without that blessing. Someone once said to Helen Keller, “What a pity you can not see.” She replied, “Yes, but what a pity that so many have sight but cannot see.“

It is said that if one cannot physically see, the other senses such as hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling become a way to “see”. I am convinced that a person who has lost their sight becomes more attuned to the feelings of others – they sense the pain, the heartache, even the joy of others, and they are some of God’s most perfect ministers.

Our friend, Will, is a great example of a person who sees with his heart. When Will was a young boy, a surgery for another condition left him blind. He could have become bitter, retiring, and withdrawn, but he did just the opposite. He’s funny, quick witted, and sincere.

I didn’t know Will then, but I’ve known him for the past thirty eight years, and he is a tower of strength. He loves His Lord, makes beautiful bracelets with a cross on each one, sings in choirs, and attends functions at church.

When you are with Will, you can’t help but feel his caring, his concern, and his love for the one speaking with him. It’s never about him, but rather, he always asks about the person with whom he’s speaking. He never fails to say, “It’s good to see you!” I believe he truly does see the heart of others. Can you see like that?

There are those in life who cannot see, but there are also those who refuse to see. The blind man in our scripture had been blind since birth. He probably heard stories of Jesus and knew that he was a great teacher and prophet sent from God. When Jesus came to Jericho, he simply said, “Jesus, I want to see.” His faith healed his blindness.

The story is told of a father who was trying to read a magazine, but he was being bothered by his little girl, Jessica. Finally, he tore a sheet out of his magazine on which was printed a map of the world. Tearing it into pieces, he handed it to Jessica and said, “Go into the other room and see if you can put this together.”

After a few minutes, she returned and handed him the map correctly fitted together. The father was shocked and asked her how she finished so quickly. “Oh,” she said, “on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where he belonged, the world came together.” Can you see like that?

The Lenten season is halfway over, and I wonder can we see? Can we see the things in our lives that need to be changed in order to see with our hearts and not just our eyes? Can we see physically but refuse to see the needs and hurts all around us? Can you see how to get Jesus back where He belongs?

I love the words of Amazing Grace that say: Amazing grace, how sweet the sound; That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, But now I’m found; Was blind but now I see. John Newton

Can you see like that?

If you’d like to see the talents of many, including Will along with his bracelets, come on over to Grace Resurrection and attend our Artisan Show on Saturday, March 28 from 10-4!!

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Without God it is utterly impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Mark 10:27

The story is told of a Father and his six year old son, Mickey, who were fishing near a bridge when a woman lost control of her car, slid off the bridge, and hit Mickey at a speed of 50 mph.

When the sheriff, who was also Mickey’s grandfather, arrived on the scene, he feared the worst. He left immedately and when he arrived at Saint Joseph’s hospital, he rushed to the emergency room. To his great relief, he found Mickey conscious and in relatively good spirits considering the severity of the accident.

“Mickey,” he asked, “what happened?” “Well,” replied Mickey, ” I was fishing with Dad and some lady runned me over. I flew into a mud puddle, broke my fishing pole, and didn’t get to catch no fish!”

As it turned out, the impact had propelled Mickey around 500 feet over trees, down an embankment, and landed him in a mud puddle. The only injury he sustained was a leg which was broken in two places and was repaired with surgery and pins. When he came out of surgery, all the boy could talk about was his broken fishing pole. In order to placate him, his grandfather went to Wal-Mart and bought him a new fishing pole to have while he was in the hospital.

The next day when the two were visiting in the hospital room, and Mickey was casting his new fishing pole into the trash can, he said matter of factly, “Gramps, did you know that Jesus is real?” Taken aback, his Gramps relplied, “Yes, he is real to those who believe in Him.” “Nope,” said Mickey,”Jesus is REALLY real. I know because when that lady runned me over and broke my fishing pole, Jesus caught me in His arms and laid me down in that mud puddle!” As the story spread through the town, the people there were in awe, and many were heard to say, “It”s a miracle!”

We hear a lot about miracles today, but sometimes we tend to use the term “miracle” loosely. We can call anything from a win in a close football game, to finding a lucky penny, to common everyday occurences a miracle. Conversly, sometimes we tend to take the everyday miracles all around us for granted. We ignore a rainbow, a hummingbird, a beautiful sunrise or sunset, a good health report, or a feeling of peace.

A true miracle is defined as a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws, and is therefore, considered to be the work of the divine agency.

During the ministry of Jesus, the Bible records many miracles perfomed by Christ. The story of Jesus turning the water into wine was the first recorded miracle He ever performed, and it was through this miracle that He shows us His unlimited power and strength in situations. Comedian Mark Lowry said, “I think that it is great that Jesus’ first miracle wasn’t raising the dead or giving sight to the blind, rather His first miracle was one ‘just to keep the party going.'”

The New Testament records 37 miracles performed by Jesus ranging from healing the sick and casting out demons, to calming storms, and raising the dead. He takes the most complex situations, transforms them, and accomplishes things beyond our conception.

All of us, at one time or another, have come or will come to a point in our lives when we need and pray for a miracle. It could be the miracle of physical healing for ourselves or someone we love. It could be the miracle of a new beginning in our lives. It could be the miracle of a career change when most needed, or it could be the miracle of relief from stress, worry, and frustration in our lives.

I find great comfort in knowing that nothing in our lives takes God by surprise. There is nothing that limits His ability to intervene in our lives and accomplish miracles beyond our conception.

Albert Einstein says, There are only wo ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. This perspective emphasizes choosing to see the wonder in everyday existence and His divine hand in our lives.

It is only because of God’s love for us that He sends miracles into our lives. Take time today to look around and see all that God has done. It’s a miracle!

So prepare. Roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that is coming when Jesus arrives! 1 Peter 1:13 The Message

The two most significant holidays in the Christians’s life are Christmas and Easter. Easter is considered the most important, holiest, and oldest Christian holiday as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after His crucifixion. On the other hand, Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, and it is the most recognizable, iconic, and popular holiday for Christians.

We spend a lot of time preparing for Christmas. We celebrate, send cards, bake, wrap presents, put on pageants and cantatas, set up nativity scenes, have parties, decorate our homes, visit relatives, and the list goes on. The preparation for Easter might include buying chocolate bunnies, fixing Easter baskets, having Easter egg hunts, and dying Easter eggs. We might attend an Ash Wednesday service, give up something, or do a Lenten devotional, but do we really prepare? The question is, “Why do we prepare so much for Christmas, and prepare so little for Easter?

When we prepare for something, we make ready before hand for some purpose. John Wooden once said, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”

The story has been told that Martin Luther King never prepared his sermons in advance, but rather always preached on what the Holy Spirit gave him to say. One day walking into a large cathedral to preach to a huge crowd, he asked God what he was to preach that day. The answer came, “You should have prepared.”

The disciples were asked to prepare or “to make ready” the Passover meal for Jesus. In order to prepare for the coming of Christ, John the Baptist declared that we should “Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.”

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” In order to prepare for Jesus this lenten seanson, I would remember three things. First, preparation involves self examination. We should take time to examine our conscience and evaluate the things we have done for the good of others.

Next, we should prepare by examining our prayer life. Do we take time to pray and spend time with God each day? If not, some changes are needed.

Finally, we can prepare by examining our repentance and forgiveness. Are we able to repent of the sins we have commited? If so, are we able to receive God’s forgiveness?

Forty days can seem like a long time to prepare, but when day 41 comes, are we prepared for what is coming. The Bible tells of many incidents where forty days are allotted. For example, Goliath defied the armies of Israel for forty days. The Bible says,”He came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.”

On the threshold of his ministry, Jesus was attacked by Satan for forty days. Noah tolerated forty days of rain, and afterwards,”God gave mankind a new beginning”. After forty days of Goliath’s threats, God gave David a spectacular victory. After forty days of temptation, Jesus returned to Galilee and “news of this spread throughout the countryside.”

On Saturday morning, America awoke to the news of the a new war. The forces of Israel and America have launched a major attack on Iran. It is safe to say that none of us had a chance to prepare for what we have seen and heard. As I write this, the sirens are going off in Israel as they prepare for a counter attack from Iran.

We will most probably be in this war for days, weeks, and even months of warfare. Just like Noah, Jesus, and David who endured forty days of different hardshps, day 41 will come and Jesus will triumph over evil.

In the meantime, our prayer is for God to bless all the military, government officials, and innocent civilians who are in harms way.

As we prepare for the arrival of our Savior, remember the words from the musical, Godspell. Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Stephen Swartz

Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat – I am. Don’t run from suffering – embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Luke 9:43

There are times when we all just need some humor interjected into our daily life. We get so burdened with bad news, health issues, financial problems, the state of the world, etc., that we just need to say I am giving it up for a while and just laugh.

One of my favorite comedies is Doctor Doolittle starring Eddie Murphy. In this movie, the Doctor can actually verbally communicate with the animals and they with him. No one else knows what’s going on, and it gets pretty hysterical. My favorite animal character is the monkey, Crystal, who has a bit of a drinking problem. Every time someone chastises him for it, he throws his little bottle of alcohol down and declares, “I give it up.” Unfortunately, the next day he goes right back to his old ways.

The season of Lent is upon us, and during this period of reflection, repentance, and prayer, many Christians make a commitment to give something up for this forty day period. We might choose different things, but usually, we promise to give up things such as sweets, carbs, coffee, scrolling, meat, cussing, nagging, or several other things. Usually, we struggle to keep our commitment, and more times than not, we just give it up.

God sent Jesus to the wilderness for forty days to teach him how to give up reliance on himself for things such as food, temptaion, and fear. In the Judean wilderness, Jesus fasted for forty days and nights, prayed, and was tempted by the devil. This period served as spiritual preparation for his public ministry, demonstrating his reliance on God, overcoming temptaion, and living among wild beasts. He reversed the failure of Adam and Israel by demonstrating His obedience to God despite extreme physical weaknesses. He was able to give up his own will and lean solely on God.

We tend to make a habit of giving up the same things for Lent each year. In the spirit of creativity, why not try a few things which might allow us to not only be more Christlike, but also, grow in our faith.

First, give up complaining. Rather than complaining when things aren’t to our liking, maybe we should focus on the good in our situations and in other people. This practice will help us cultivate a sense of gratitude and a positive outlook on life.

Next, give up procrastination. Each day is a gift from God. If we focus on diligence and using our time wisely, we will have more time to focus on the important things. We will live each day to the fullest.

Finally, give up worrying. Sometimes we take a situation and “think it to death” as my Mama used to say. We try to come up with different scenarios and solve it by ourselves. Worrying will kill your peace. Pray and leave it to God.

One teacher offered this suggestion for giving up things which tend to weigh us down. “Go to the hardware store and buy a flat patio stone that fits into your back pack, briefcase, or large purse. Then, take a marker and write on the stone all the things which are stopping you from enjoying life. Carry it with you wherever you go – eating, working, watching TV, sleeping, even showering.

Very soon you can feel how heavy it is. It’s hard to get anything done when your muscles are working overtime carrying all that extra weight.

At the end of the second day, sit down with your stone, review the list, and make a conscious decision to give up all those things which are draining you of the life you should be living. Then, go outside and set the rock down beside your front door. Before you leave home everyday take a second to look at your stone…then turn around and deliberately walk away.”

We humans think we have all the answers, but how can we really know what is best for us? We can only judge by appearancees, but God looks ahead to the outcome. It is only when we stop wrestling with our problems and give them up to God that His plans and purposes can be fulfilled.

As we continue through these 40 days, take a moment to look at the things on your stone, then, remember my friend Crystal, the monkey,and go ahead and just give them up!

You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athlete’s race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternal. Corinthians 9:24-27 The Message

This past week has been the week of champions! We watched as the Seattle Seahawks became the champions of Super Bowl XL in a less than exciting contest. If we got bored, the Winter Olympics began, and the race for the gold medal was taking center stage.

The USA, as of this writing, was in third place overall with a total of 17 medals altogether. I am always amazed at the amount of training, skill, and fortitude it takes to be on a championship team. Just making the Olympic team makes them all champions in my book!

A champion is defined as a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition, and/or a person who fights or argues for a cause on behalf of someone else.

When I think of a champion, I think of someone, (or a team), which has been tested by different kinds of battles. It could be the elements, the competition, or their own personal struggles. They have made it through the good times and the down times. They have persevered, pressed on, and never quit in their quest for the medal they seek.

Maxim Naumov, the U. S. figure skater whose parents were killed in a plane crash just over a year ago, fulfilled a dream they had shared by performing on Olympic ice. When his program drew to an end, he stayed on the ice, looked up to the heavens, and said, “Look at what we’ve done!”

Is he a medalist? No. Naumov came in 20th in the competition, falling twice, but he gave it his all. Is he a champion? Most definitely. During the interview after the program, he said, “I just feel proud of the journey it took to get to this point. The journey has been indescribable as it involved getting up every day when I didn’t want to and pushing through the difficult times and the uncertainty of it all.” Many of us can identify with this sentiment.

What does it take to be a champion, not only in the Olympics or a Super Bowl, but in our every day walk as a follower of Jesus? I can think of three things, but there are many more.

First, in order to be achampion, it takes a commitment to excellence. The olympic athlete has certain key traits such as unwavering self confidence, deep motivation, resilence, perserverance, and a love for their sport. The Christian champion makes a commitment to their faith, has the ability to focus on the words of God, a loving heart, and so much more.

The athlete and the Christian champions will be challenged in their journey. There will be good times and bad, things that test commitment, and sometimes even a lack of faith. However, if we persevere, we will come out stronger and more committed than ever.

Next, a champion needs discipline. Just as the athlete trains rigorously in order to stay in shape and be prepared, so the Christian has to train themselves to be focused, have self control, and reach their spiritual goals.

Finally, a champion shows faithfulness. The athlete is not only faithful to his/her sport, but also to the team. The reward for their faithfulness can be a medal. The Christian’s reward for faithfulness is eternal life.

Just as the athlete’s training and performance must seem like a marathon, sometimes the marathon of life can be hard and discouraging. We tire of looking for the prize. We get discouraged and overwhelmed. At these times, we need to remember why we follow Him. He is our champion, and He has done so much for each of us.

Our commitment to excellence, discipline, and faithfulness will lead us to victory!

O victory in Jesus, my Savior forever. He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood. He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him. He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood! Eugene Bartlett, Sr.

Congraatulations to all the champions!