Month: September 2025

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23

There is an old proverb that says, “You are never too old to learn.” The proverb explains that people can acquire new knowledge and skills at any age regardless of their spiritual and/or mental limitations! It emphasizes that the human brain remains capable of forming new connections and learning new things throughout life which encourages a mindset of lifelong learning and personal growth rather than using the excuse that we might be too old to learn new things!

Just because we get older it doesn’t mean that God has relieved us of our responsibilities to Him and to others. There are so many ways that we can contribute to this world. Don’t be like the man who said, “I get up each morning and dust off my wits. I go out. get the paper, and read the obits. If my name is missing, I know I’m not dead. I eat a good breakfast and go back to bed.”

If we stay aware, there’s something we can do every day to make someone’s day. I love it when someone says or does something to or for another which can be very generic, but it seems to be just what they needed, and they respond with, “Thank you, that made my day.” I’ve had that happen to me on many occasions, and I never forgot the way it made me feel.

There are so many people in this world who could use a kind word, a simple kindness, a pat on the back, a hug, or just a smile and that makes their day. Andy Rooney once said, “I’ve learned that just one person saying to me, You’ve made my day, makes my day.

A couple of weeks ago, I had one of these experiences, and it was amazing the way it made my day. It happened on a shopping trip to Publix. The pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, and these new little pumpkin cream cheese bites had just been put out for sale. Of course, I had to buy one of these, so I decided on a package of the bites for my breakfast sweet.

As I placed those bites down with my other groceries at check out, they made their way from the cashier to the bag boy who was waiting. This young man has worked there forever, and I casually know him to speak and wave. However, when he saw those bites, his eyes lit up! He got so excited laughing, clapping his hands, and saying “I’ve never seen these. Boy, do they look good!”

His excitment was contagious and pretty soon all of us were laughing. As he was about to bag them, I said, “Would you like to open them up and taste one for me?” He stopped, looked at me, then at the cashier, and said “Yes!” He politely asked her if it was all right, she looked at me, I nodded, and he began to clap his hands.

We opened the package, he took one, his eyes rolled back in his head, and he laughed and licked his lips as he walked up and down by the cashier. By this time, we were all laughing, so I shared the rest with all those around. (I didn’t need them anyway.) The cashier smiled and said, that made his day and mine, too. It made mine as well..

As a Christian, how would God have us make someone’s day? First, in everything we do, it should be done to glorify God. There’s nothing in the Bible that says we should give up on a purpose for our lives. Those around us can see God through us as we strive to make their day through some unselfish act.

Next, we should listen to God’s direction and obey Him. When we feel God leading us to do something for others, listen. He’s showing us how to make someone’s day.

Finally, we should allow ourselves to enjoy the blessings God is putting before us. There’s nothing like the joy we get when we make someone’s day by being the person God has created us to be.

God is faithful. Whatever circumstances to make someone’s day that might arise each day, God is with you and smiling. So, go ahead, make their day!

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not. Thy compassions, they fail not, As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be. Thomas Chisholm

Judge not lest ye be judged. Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults – unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Matthew 7:1

There is precious little to watch on television these days, and so last week, I found myself returning to the old Matlock series. It was a bit refreshing to watch as Matlock, the defense attorney, matched wits with the prosecuting attorney and the judge. Of course, almost every episode ends the same way with justice prevaiing, and the defendant being proved innocent. The jury listened to the facts, and the judge ruled.

There are appropriate and inappropriate times and ways to judge others. Christ, however, in His sermon on the Mount instructs us to pay more attention to our own faults rather than judging the faults of others.

Judging is defined as forming an opinion or critical assessment based on limited evidence which often produces negative assumptions. The laws of our land proclaim that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but in everyday life, many times people falsely judged are never allowed that privilege.

Years ago there was a story of the “Gentleman Bandit” in New Jersey, a man who robbed many banks in the area. He stood out because he was so polite. He would pass a note to the tellers which read, “Please, place all your money in this bag. Thank you.”

The wide spread publicity led to a very unlikely arrest – a Catholic priest! His church was appalled, but they stood beside him because they knew him and his character. They signed petitions, protested, and came up with his bail. Meanwhile, the eye witnesses positively identified him, and the media began to dig into his past looking for anything with which to judge him.

People across the country and even those in his own church began to speculate that perhaps he had a sociopathic personality which allowed him to rob banks during the week and preach on Sunday with no guilt. Pretty soon, everyone, including his own congregation, had judged him to be guilty. The priest steadfastly, but confidently continued to proclaim his innocence.

Then, a funny thing happened. The real “Gentleman Bandit” was caught red handed. As it turned out, he was the spitting image of the priest. It’s just that he wasn’t the priest! The priest was released, the church threw him a big party assuming that he had forgiven them all, and the news media and those who had prematurely judged him went on to the next story!

Unfortunately, this story is all too common in this world of today. Without knowing all the facts, coupled with listening to unreliable sources, we make judgments about people. We, who call ourselves Christians, spread rumors under the guise of telling the truth as we see it. We destroy people’s character, and we question their integrity without ever having proof that they are guilty.

Since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, there has been a wave of judgment. There have been judgments on the rights of free speech and exactly how far that right goes. There have been judgments on the job security of airline personnel, teachers, and many others. There have been judgments on how late night hosts may or may not have gone too far with their comments. Who really sits in a seat of judgment?

One thing that can be said with certainty about judging others is that it then becomes more difficult to do an acceptable job of judging ourselves. Someone once asked, “Why is it that my dirt is never as dirty as your dirt from my perspective, and your dirt is never as dirty as my dirt from your perspective? “

There are three things to remember when we are tempted to judge others. First, remember that we will be judged by the same standards that we use to judge others.

Next, remember that each of us is accountable to God. He will judge us honestly, fairly, and truthfully. Finally, remember how merciful God has been to us with His forgiveness, His mercy, and His judgment.

When we are tempted to judge others, I would remind all of us of a saying my Grandmother loved even if she didn’t always practice it: “If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.” I would rephrase it: “If you can’t be fair in your judgment, try not to judge at all.”

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we will walk away and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps. A life or death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels. Be prepared, you are up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting, you’ll still be on your feet. Ephesians 6:12-13

This past week has been so terribly unbelieveable that it is almost impossible to put into words the emotions, the disbelief, and the anguish our country has experienced. A couple of months ago, a dear friend, Marion, used the acronym F.R.O.G in one of her writings. It stands for Fully Relying On God, and I can’t think of any better way for us to handle the tragedies of the past week.

The above scripture instructs Christians to put on the “full armor of God” to stand firm against the spiritual struggle, not with people, but rather against demonic powers like rulers and authorites in the heavenly realm.

It confuses me to read that scripture and yet be able to put a face to the person who has committed such unspeakable crimes. It is almost impossible to look beyond their faces and see the unseen enemy. It is what controls the person that is our true enemy. That’s when I repeat F.R.O.G. to myself, and I try to leave it in His hands.

When we Fully Rely On God, we trust His faithfulness and wisdom even in difficult times. Each time our nation faces a tragedy, it seems to enable each American no matter the differences, to turn to prayer, a moment of silence in remembrance, acknowledge a flag flown at half mast, and an acknowledgement of His power over our circumstances. We all bond together in Christian love and prayer, and in a few weeks, it is all forgotten.

Charlie Kirk was a deeply religious man, but also a man devoted to listening to the views, opinions, and beliefs of others even though they might be different from his own. He gained his inner peace, confidence, and endruance through His faith and recognition that God provides for all our needs through His unchanging and eternal nature. We must Fully Rely on God to deal with our confusion.

Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian immigrant, did nothing more than board a subway in Charlotte, NC, and she became the victim of a stabbing. She had survived in the Ukraine in a bomb shelter and made her way to Charlotte seeking nothing more than refuge and promise. Her only mistake was boarding a subway train. We remember to F.R.O.G.

As the unrest deepens and more social media sites stir up the political unrest in our country, our job is to be the voice of reason in an otherwise insane atmosphere. We are to Fully Rely On God.

Just like the young man, who instead of asking questions of Charlie Kirk, chose to climb up on a roof and with a single shot end a life, people are taking drastic measures when they disagree with others. As Christians, we have to be ready to defend our faith and political views in a way that mirrors Jesus while wearing “the full armor of Christ.”

In her remarks, Erika Kirk vowed to keep her husband’s legacy alive. She said, “If you think my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea what you have just unleashed across this entire country and this world.”

My prayer is that Christians can ignite an awakening that the battle is not physical, but spiritual, requiring divine power rather than worldly methods. Spiritual weapons such as prayer, the Bible, and relying on God’s strength are the things we need to win the battle.

We can be certain that Charlie Kirk is resting in the arms of his Savior. God bless the Kirk family.

The lot is cast unto the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. Proverbs 16:33

“Povidence is a permanent activity of God. He is never a spectator. He always directs everything toward fulfillment. Yet God’s directing creativity always creates through the freedom of man and through the spontaneity and structural wholeness of all creatures.” Paul Tillich

This Thursday is the twenty fourth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Our remembrance of that day becomes a little more muted with each passing year, and yet, most of us remember exactly where we were when we heard the news.

In the last generation, which includes ours, the assasination of President John F. Kennedy was the historical marker. Each of my peers can remember that day like it was yesterday.

To this generation, the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia, and the crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001 will be our historical marker. Again, most of us can remember exactly where we were.

Providence is defined as the protective care of God, or to see in advance and propvide for. When horrific things happen, we tend to question the providencial care of God, but as a believer there are three words that should not be in our vocabulary: luck, coincidence, and fate.

On that day, we were angry, confused, and fearful. We asked questions like, “Why God, have you abandoned us? How could this happen? Will it ever happen again? ” We want peace, and yet we want vengance.

There are stories of different people who were spared that day because they stopped for coffee, were running late, or changed flights. How do we explain it? Theologian Dr. R. C. had this to say, “God’s sovereign providence stands over and above our actions. He works out His will through the actions of human wills without violating the freedom of those human wills.”

On September 11, terrorists hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 after it left Newark intending to fly to Washington, D.C. The hijackers took over the cockpit on a suicide mission to create more devastation. Once the flight crew and passengers heard of the planes which crashed into the towers, they made a decision to fight back.

Todd Beamer, a passenger and one of the leaders of the group, is said to have said, “Let’s Roll” to the 911 operator and the other passengers just before they stormed the cockpit to stop the hijackers. His words became a symbol of courage and resilience inspiring others to join the effort which prevented the plane from reaching its target in Washington, D.C.

A total of 44 people died on that flight, 33 passengers, 7 crew members, and 4 terrorists. How do we explain those who gave their lives? Was it fate? Was it coincidence? Was it bravery? Was it providence?

We have many occasions in this life to ask, “Why God have you abandoned us?” We see unnecessary suffering, pain, and hardship. We endure many things which we might consider unfair. Everything from the untimely death of someone we love, to the horrific events in this world. Many of us could point to difficult times in our families, with our friends, in our community, and in our world.

The question rightly comes, “How are we to face such difficult times?” Simply put, we have to simply trust in the providence of God. None of the tragedies that we face have caught God by surprise, neither has God abdicated control of the situation. For some reason or another, God has brought these things into our lives. We need to trust Him through all of them

Hope and trust in the Lord will come as we learn to understand that God is providentially in charge of all things! A man once wrote to his minister after ahis wife’s visit with her doctor; “Tough news from our end, but God in His providence is on the throne.”

As we remember those who lost their lives, let’s also remember all the brave men and women of the police force, the fire department, the military and the emergency personnel, the doctors, nurses, and every person who gave “the last full measure of devotion.” Abraham Lincoln

Our country tis of Thee, sweet land of liberty, to thee we sing. Long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light, protect us by thy might, Great God our KIng. Samuel Francis Smith

Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confidant that you will get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Colossians 3: 23-24 The Message

Today we celebrate Labor Day which is thought of as the unofficial beginning of fall. It’s a bit of a strange holiday because even though we call it “Labor Day”, it’s a day where people labor as little as possible and most working folks have the day off!

Labor Day was first celebrated in New York City in 1882 to honor the nation’s workers stemming from the 19th century labor movement and The Industrial Revolution. In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation establishing the first Monday in September as a federal holiday to acknowledge the contributions of workers.

The holiday is different for different people. For example, for the person who works each day, it’s a day off, but for a Mom it’s a day with the kids and the spouse, so it can be a difficult day rather than a holiday. For the policeman, it’s a day with extra heavy traffic and more alcohol abuse, but for the farmer and the rancher, it’s just another day to feed the cattle and work in the field.

As much as we sometimes dread going to work, work is good for us. It’s actually a healthy thing to do because it exercises both the body and the brain. Most poeople don’t die from hard work or being overworked, they die from doing nothing!

God was a worker! He set about creating the heavens and the earth. On the first day, He gave light. The second day, He created the sky. The third day, He labored to create the land, seas, and plants. The fourth day, He put in place the sun, moon, and stars. The fifth day was the day He created the sea creatures and the birds. The sixth day, He made the land animals and humans. The seventh day, He rested!

From the beginning, God gave the humans that he had created work to do. Adam and Eve were charged with working to tend the Garden of Eden. Shepherds labored to tend the sheep in their care. When Jesus came, He had the job of being a carpenter, and He worked with his hands in Joseph’s carpentry shop.

Andrew, Peter,James,and John labored as fishermen. Matthew worked as a tax collector. Jesus also worked at choosing His disciples, and He called the disciples from their jobs to a new job being “fishers of men.”

Paul says that we are to consider our labor as a service to God no matter what we do. Whatever we do, we are to do it to the glory of God and not just to gain status or power.

As Christians, we can labor for the Lord by serving those who need us. Last week, we witnessed yet another senseless tragedy at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis which resulted in the death of two children. No one is immune to the horrors that unfold before us, and it is our job to reach out to our fellow man with the love of Christ.

We can also labor with dignity and intelligence in our daily tasks by praying and living a life of obedience while serving in our community and church.

Ultimately, any labor that we do that is focused on God, rather than self, becomes a way to bring glory to Him and advance His kingdom.

The hymn When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder expresses our hope and belief in being present for “roll call” when the roll is called in heaven saying that our job here is done.

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn to setting sun, Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care. When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there! James M. Black

Happy Labor Day!