Chain Breaker

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person; the past is forgotten. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

The men in Ryan’s life had two things in common – thirst and a lack of self-control.  Hence you might say that he was born to die young; destined for failure and a future bleak at best.

His grandfather was a raging drunk.  Years of alcohol abuse left him dull-witted.  He had no desire to get sober and was determined to stay drunk until he died.  With no love to share with his wife or children, the liquor bottle became his only friend.

As a result, Ryan’s father became a rowdy sort, who while smart and handsome, began to look for ways to fill the holes in his heart.  His mother fell in love with the rebel and they married.  But it didn’t take long for their relationship to suffer.  Anger from Dad’s youth divided the couple.  He filled the emptiness drinking alone in local bars.

Mom left home when Ryan was seven after one of one of Dad’s all-too-frequent beatings never to be heard from again.  His father sank deeper into the bottle until Ryan found him dead on the couch next to an empty whiskey bottle and an ashtray of cigarette butts days before graduation.

Ryan carried hateful anger towards his father in college.  But unwittingly, he repeated many of his Dad’s same destructive behaviors and partied heavily.

His first marriage lasted seven years and produced one son. Thrilled with fatherhood, Ryan vowed to be the best father ever; he’d never embarrass his kid, only make him proud, and always be there for him.

But the men in his past still haunted him.  So he sought help!

During a 4-day spiritual retreat, Ryan found himself at the foot of the cross, free from the fear of God’s punishment; He’d already paid the price for Ryan’s sin.

It wasn’t until he totally surrendered himself to God that the scourge of alcoholism that had littered his past melted away.   Despite struggling with self-worth, trust, intimacy, and more, the Lord’s blessing helped him break the chains handed down through generations. When he ponders how close he came to that path, Ryan thanks God for the will to persevere for a better life.

Sometimes we carry on family traditions that we shouldn’t and it affects our children.  So whether you have inherited certain propensities genetically or from exposure to regular family behavior, the Lord is able to overcome these battles and strongholds in your life as you determine to depend upon Him.

And pour yourself into this next generation - the purity you walk in will be a platform for your kids.  Decisions you make (both good and bad) will impact generations to come.

Beloved Child, I love it when you come to Me to confess your sin.  I’m your safe place and your salvation.  Let’s make it right together.  Let Me have the thing that’s holding you back from a new and fresh start.  ~ God

Limbo

“He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion.” ~ Philippians 1:6

Hurricanes and lava flows have something in common: limbo - literally the calm before a looming disaster.  Time for preparation, time for fear … and time for reflection.

For me (Elikapeka, Hawaiian name meaning Promise of God), it’s that space between insight and oblivion; when smoky gray becomes the brief color of one’s life.

I’ve experienced both the beginning and end of a massive volcanic eruption.  It’s a space where there are more questions than answers.

I watched helplessly as creeping rivers of molten rock slowly wiped out my entire neighborhood.  Our home burned to ash in less than 45 minutes and joined the lava flow with all but a few keepsakes from our past.  We moved into a Friend’s video rental store in nearby Pahoa town.

Limbo has defined our lives for the past few months; a seemingly stagnant space of uncertainty.  We’re anxious to move into a flowing, more vibrant period, but it rarely comes in the timeframe we want or expect.

Then came news of another potentially devastating storm.

The satellite images look so peaceful; a perfect swirl of white no more threatening than cream stirred into black coffee.  I pray Hurricane Lane doesn’t come our way; that it’ll leave the Big Island alone, but it has to go somewhere.

Last time, the hurricane came at night when the wind was as sympathetic as a tsunami; as forgiving as a drought.  Wanting it to stop was like pleading with a bullet.

But the key to forward movement is to embrace the limbo dance.  Balancing from such an awkward position prompts me to gaze skyward to the Lord for support, guidance and victory through it all.  He knows just how low I can go and still get back up.

His grace is sufficient during this transition.  We can accelerate or slow down the transition process to the extent that we relax and trust that “He has begun good work in us and will finish it.”

So here I sit in limbo, confident that I’ll have the power for our necessities when the trees sever our power lines, listening to the rhythmic patter of the pelting rain, and recalling the gorgeous sunset last evening before the storm.  Limbo’s invitation invites me to surrender to its timing, trust what’s unfolding, and wait for His healing calm.

Soon we’ll look for a new home and start again.

God’s Word explodes with answers to every problem, concern, and need we have.  Like Elikapeka, you’ll receive strength to conquer life’s limbo situations with His help.  He wants for us a fullness of life, not some shadowy half-way point stuck forever en route, through an abundance of mercy.

“Lord, thank You for being the God of the impossible.  You can do anything.  Help me to conquer the limbo dance by trusting in Your ability and not my own.  Teach me to see difficulties in my life from Your perspective, Amen.”  ~ Elikapeka

The Invisibles

“I have great plans for you,” says the Lord. ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Kelsey had big dreams ... big hopes for her last year in high school and poised for the future she’d prayed for.  She couldn’t wait to graduate … and change the world.

Standing in the lunch line, Kelsey noticed her immediately – a younger girl who looked so lost; so out of place sitting by herself.  Her eyes were fixed on her food.  She never looked up.  Behind the masked smile she attempted to wear on her face, there was sadness and isolation.

Sadly, in nearly every high school, there are ‘invisible’ kids sitting in classrooms and wandering the halls; invisible to most teenagers because their own sights are set on succeeding in school and in life.  They had their own problems to worry about.

Invisibility becomes a potent defense mechanism weapon and often a sign of depression, anger, anxiety, substance abuse, and much more.  Studies show that they’re more likely to become victims, bullies, homeless, addicts, and even criminals.

With love and faith Kelsey introduced herself and asked permission to join the girl for lunch.  She wanted her to know that there were people who knew she existed and, more importantly, that there was a God who knew and loved her.

Phoung, she learned, recently emigrated from Cambodia with her family.  She struggled with the little English she knew and was trying her best to blend in without attracting any attention.

Over the days and weeks that passed Kelsey greeted Phoung in the halls hoping to engage more conversation.   The small, dark haired girl responded with smiles, but still kept her head down and responded very little.  Kelsey knew that just spending time with Phoung was what God wanted regardless of her response.

One cloudless spring day, Phoung spotted Kelsey in the hall and did something amazing.  She looked up, actually taking both eyes off the floor.  From behind her back, she offered Kelsey an elegant lotus flower with two words: "Thank You."

For Kelsey, that was a life-changing moment but maybe not for the reason you might think.

She realized that instead of her changing the world, God was changing her - one flower at a time.

She may never become president, be famous, or have a million dollars to her name.   But she knew that Christ wanted her to love Him with all her heart so that she could spread that love to everyone around her – especially those cloaked behind the shield of invisibility.

Though a pebble is incredibly small compared to a pond, it still creates ripples that affect the water around it.  As Kelsey learned her senior year, so does every word that comes out of our mouths and every action we do for good - or for bad.

Lord, if we overlook these kids we become part of the problem.  Bless them with the love of caring people who assist them step into the spotlight and connect to a brighter future and the resiliency to bounce back from adversity.  Amen

Dancing in the Sky

“Help bear each other’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ." ~ Galatians 6:2

She was a person of uncommon gifts, like a bird in flight making something seemingly impossible appear easy and natural.  On the ward Nurse Miller calmed patients deemed "difficult" by other nurses.  One glance at her ivory skin against a stylish black uniform and their respirations eased to a more relaxed rhythm.

Miller never hurt them, never became impatient or belittled their pains, physical or otherwise.  She spoke to them like they were still vibrant people, people who mattered, not just withered old bones too stubborn to die any faster.

When the cancer claimed her patient Ellie, she was skin and bones.  Her ghostly face struggled to mask the torment inside.  Most days she asked Nurse Miller to read her a story, something whimsical to help her mind escape.  But the process of dying was more cruel than any fiction she'd ever read. The pain would be with her until the end; everyday a battle not to lose hope.

On this morning, Miller’s gaze fell on Ellie with the warmth of an adoring daughter’s eyes.  “How are you doing this morning, dear lady,” she asked in a deep yet honeyed voice.

“Sing me a song please,” Ellie pleaded, “something sweet, ok?

The nurse was taken aback.  She’d never sung in ‘public.’  No song immediately came to mind.  Need your help here Jesus she muttered to herself just before a thought came to mind.

Miller tenderly caressed Ellie’s hand and started singing Dani and Lizzy’s “Dancing in the Sky,” a song Ellie had mentioned that she wanted sung at her funeral.

Ellie began singing along, pausing in the middle of the song to wipe away her tears.

“Oh, I, I hope you’re dancing in the sky

 And I hope you’re singing in the angel’s choir

 And I hope the angels know what they have

 I’ll bet it’s so nice up in heaven since you arrived.”

Soon she grew too weak to continue singing, so Nurse Miller sang on her own.  Ellie’s body seemed to surrender, perhaps sensing the closeness of her Creator and sliding her into a serenity no amount of morphine could have achieved.

The song they shared together was exactly what Ellie needed during the last minutes of her life.

Nurses are God’s angels on earth.  Without them, patients are lost, often scared, confused and completely alone.  They seem omnipresent - no matter the time of night or how petty the request.  They hold a hand if needed, share a newspaper when sought, explain what is often unclear and disorienting, and even sing upon special request.  It’s a beautiful thing when a career and passion come together.

Healing Lord, give them strength to face the days ahead, and courage when assisting each aching heart.  Give them wisdom with every word they speak, and patience to comfort the sick and frail.  Finally, please give them assurance that they’ve given their best and done what’s right.  Amen

Something Good in Every Day

“No gift is too small if given freely." ~ 2 Corinthians 8:12

On a typical hot, scorching day in Chicago, Ed walked through the firehouse door for the last time.  His days as a firefighter had come to an end; one no smoke eater should ever have to experience.  Not from injury, disease, or even failure, but cynicism.  He’d gotten too old for this crap!

In the gear room that’d evoked 24 years of memories, he started clearing out his locker.

Since 911, firefighters had become the subject of a well-deserve public devotion.  They’re depicted on magazine covers.  Firefighter Halloween costumes frequently sold out.  NYC Department stores even honor them in window displays.

But for Ed, ‘rightsizing,’ ‘resource adjustments,’ and politics had taken their toll.  No matter what the label, it had the same demoralizing effect.  The hardship of missing out on special events and an inability to make firm plans with friends and family bled a little life each time.  Whether he’d ever admit it, PTSD hid just below his emotional crust.

As Ed packed the last of his personal items and stared back at an empty locker, the emergency alarm screamed to life.   A small fire had broken out in a downtown apartment building.  “Let’s do this one more time,” he thought, climbing into his gear.

By the time they arrived at the scene, the “small fire” engulfed the entire building.  Residents had likely escaped the blazing inferno and gathered at a safe distance.

But they needed to make sure.

Ed and his partners entered the building clad in their fire-retardant gear, busting down doors and checking for any remaining tenants.  When they saw no residents and heard no screams or sounds, they fled the building.  All were safe and accounted for.

Ed found a spot and sat down heavily on the sidewalk.  Only then did he realize the enormity of what’d just happened.  Heat from the fire’s intensity left him parched and dehydrated, over-whelming his body's ability to cool itself.

A small, pink-slippered, child approached.  Tightly braided hair revealed a thin layer of soot only broken by tear tracks.  Ed patted the ground next to him and motioned for her to join him.

“You look thirsty,” she said in a small voice and offered him her water bottle.  It was the freshest, coolest water Ed had ever tasted.  Instantly, all seemed right with the universe.

Some gifts offer sparkling delights, lasting no longer than the bubbles in champagne.  Others - a new tool, a wool sweater - provide pleasure for a season or two.  More durable gifts, like jewelry, offer an endless reminder of friendship and love.

And then there are those rare gifts that alter the courses of our lives.  Somehow he’d return his gear to his locker without anyone noticing his previous intentions.

Lord, grant me the energy to complete all that lies ahead today.  Allow the spring of living waters to burst from me so that I can be a beacon in this punishing world.  Help my thoughts, words and deeds reflect You daily.  Amen

An Unlikely Hero

“Meditate on His Word daily and act according to all that is written." ~ Joshua 1:8

Unless you actually live in a cave, by now you’ve heard about the successful rescue of 12 young Tai soccer players and their coach by a team of international Navy SEALs.  Their 25-year-old coach, Ekapol Chanthawong, led the boys into the cave when it suddenly flooded from torrential rains.  A pair of British divers found the group 10 days later.

Western media instantly criticized Ekapol for leading the team into such danger.  The entrance to the cave was clearly marked with warnings about exploring so close to monsoon season.

Not so in Thailand where the man is hailed as the boys’ guardian angel.

At the age of 10, Ekapol himself cheated death when a disease savaged his village, killing his entire family.  Relatives looked after the orphaned child, eventually sending him to a Buddhist temple to train as a monk.

After a decade of study, Ekapol left the monastery to care for his ailing grandmother.  A Divine force must have led him to join the Wild Boars as an assistant coach.  There he found kindred spirits in these boys, many of whom were poor or stateless ethnic minorities.

They loved and trusted Ekapol.

When the cave started flooding, their football coach quickly led them to the cave’s highest ground.  There they sat in the dark - cold, hungry and terrified for 10 more days.  He used guided meditations learned as a novice monk, to help the young boys stay calm through moments when excessive anxiety could have cost them their lives.

Instead of screaming or crying, the group sat quietly in the black cave, meditating.

Studies have found links between meditation and a measurable reduction in depression, anxiety, and pain.  Given that inadequate air and food created major difficulties for them, meditation produced a calming effect by slowing down their heart rates, breathing and metabolism.  It also lowered their levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), oxygen utilization, and CO₂ expulsion.

You all know the conclusion of this amazing story.

As we continue to marvel at the bravery, intelligence and help that graced the team, let’s not forget the importance of Divine intervention.  It’s really no coincidence that Ekapol was led to this team of disadvantaged youth and that his unique training helped saved them from certain death.  It's a God-thing!

There’s a long history of meditation in the Christian tradition (Joshua 1:8).  Meditation is nothing more than focused thinking – if you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate.

It takes serious effort.  You select a Bible verse and reflect on it over and over in your mind.  No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than daily reflection on Scripture.

Almighty Father, help me walk in the joy of prayerful meditation in spite of what’s happening around us. May it guide me into a closer walk with You, enabling me to pray on-target and understand more deeply Your loving ways.  Amen

Everyday Miracles

“Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed." ~ Number 14: 17

Morgan, a 20-something college student was the kind of young woman that made people feel good about life.  The sunshine in her smile and the buoyancy in her voice always seemed to encourage and inspire others.  That’s just how she lived, loving God and loving people.

Driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Morgan was feeling euphoric.  Early evenings along the Bay can be magical, especially when the sun was beginning its retreat.

She stopped her car for a bridge toll when she noticed a large tractor trailer truck approaching in her rear view mirror.  It showed no sign of slowing down.

With no time to escape, Morgan felt a thunderous crash when the 18-wheeler rammed into the rear of her car.  Its momentum began pushing her car forward.  She could see the jersey wall and the water far below as her brain raced frantically with prayers for the car to stop on the bridge.

Her fear quickly became a reality when Morgan’s car plunged 40 feet into the treacherous waters below.

Upon impact, the car tumbled beneath the water’s surface.  Her mind became a carousel of fears spinning out of control, each one pushing flight instincts to full throttle.   Hanging upside down and sinking into the abyss, Morgan struggled frantically to unhook the seatbelt that was rapidly deflating her lungs.

“Lord, don’t me die this way!” she pleaded.

At that very moment, she felt God’s reassuring touch.  Morgan unlocked the seat belt and pulled herself out the driver’s side window.  She swam to the surface and swam nearly a quarter mile to the Massachusetts shore.

Opening her eyes to the softening sun, Morgan gazed skyward waiting for help to arrive.  She'd never have survived that horrifying ordeal without divine intervention.  She wanted the whole world to know how God's supernatural power gave her superhuman strength to break free from that watery grave.

Sadly, the news organizations distanced themselves from any reference made about, God, Jesus, or miracles, even though it was germane to Morgan’s story.  They simply reported her dramatic escape from death but deleted Morgan's words of gratitude to God.  It’s a common problem.

So I’m telling you the whole story here.

Miracles happen every day.  When we change our perception of what a miracle is, we see them all around us.  Morgan’s story is an example about overcoming tremendous adversity through faith in God.   To Him be all the glory!

Your frightening ordeal may not be on a bridge over harrowing waters.  But suddenly, you might be going through something that causes you fear or doubt.  It could be unemployment, loneliness, bankruptcy, sickness, or countless other misfortunes.

Just know that while we all experience setbacks, God suddenly shows up at exactly the right time to turn our setbacks into comebacks.  Live your life expecting His miracles.

Lord, thank you for the miracles in my life – for family, friends, and puppies.  For sunrises, snowflakes, and mighty oceans.  And thank you for adversities too; challenges that bring me closer to you.  Amen