Month: February 2026

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!

If I give up everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I do, what I believe, I am bankrupt without love. Love is patient, kind, non-envious,it does not boast, act proud, or insist on its own way. It is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, and rejoices in the truth. Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day.; Praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth now, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be cancelled. Matthew 13:4-8 from The Message

The month of love is here, and we are seeing red hearts, red roses, red balloons,chocolates, candy hearts and anything else that can be remotely connected with the holiday. It is a great time for businesses because Valentine’s Day ranks just below Christmas in consumer spending with cards, gifts, flowers, and candy.

I have a doctor friend who has recently announced her marriage to her long time boyfriend after years of being divorced. We began talking about love and what it means in this world of today, and she said, “We all just need to be sure we carry at least a cup of love with us throughout every day.”

Then she posed this scenario to me. “Picture yourself early in the morning in a crowded elevator. The door opens, and a man with a cup of coffee enters. Everyone has to move to make room for him. In the process of shifting, his coffee jostles, and he spills his coffee all down the front of your clothing. What do you say?”

I thought a minute, then said, I guess I’d say, “Uch oh!” She began to laugh and said, “Why on earth would you say that? Can you imagine the curse words, stony stares, and physical reactions that I would expect?” I said, “Well, I thought about it like this: I wouldn’t be going to work, so I would be dressed in my everyday clothes. I probably wouldn’t be in a time crunch because I’m usually early, so I’d have time to rinse off my clothes. But the main reason is, I taught kindergarten for 30 years!” She laughed again, and said, “That’s what a cup of love looks like to me!

A cup of love represents a profound and spiritual connection with someone or something. You have a love that never dies and never stops caring. Couples sometimes use the cup of love at their wedding because it has two handles so they can drink together. God represents this cup of love to us in His constant love and care.

This week the Olympics began in Milan, Italy. Athletes from nations all over the world have come together in search of winning a medal. Many of these nations are not particularly popular with each other in the world of today, but during this time, a cup of love is shared among them as they compete.

Friends can share a cup of love. This week has been unusually full of surgeries and sickness for a few of our friends. Thankfully, all turned out well. Friends came together with a cup of love and provided for those who needed it during these times.

It is especially hard when you lose a sweet friend which we did this week. She was a hundred years old, spry, sweet, active, loving, and Godly. When she went into Hospice and died soon after, I thought of the cup of love we have shared with her over these many years. So many laughs, chocolate chip cookies, and cinnamon rolls were such a part of our cup of love. I realized when she died, that we still love someone when they are gone. Love changes shape, but it never disappears. Love lives in our memory, and it does not end with absence.

Families share a cup of love with each other as well. The members of a family are there during stressful times, times of sickness, and they are there to get each other through the sad times and to celebrate the victories in life. This past week, we have watched as members of the Guthrie family has bonded together to find their Mom, Nancy. People all over the country have offered a cup of love and support for them through their thoughts and prayers.

This Valentine’s week is a great time to think of ways to share a cup of love with those who need it. God is the very essence of love, and He would have us remember that without love, we are nothing. God is love!

O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths, its flow may richer, fuller be. George Mattheson

Happy Valentine’s Day!

We don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. We are nothing but a whisp of fog catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the master wills it, and we are still alive, we will try to do this or that!” James 4:13-15

Ground Hog Day, held annually on February 2, is a North American tradition where the rodent, Punxsutawney Phil, emerges from hibernation in order to predict the weather. If he sees his shadow, supposedly, we will have six more weeks of winter; however, if he doesn’t see his shadow, we will have an early spring. Who knows if this little creature can really get this right?

According to data, Phil only has about a 39% chance of predicting it correctly. It’s rather like many conversations I heard this week about the snow that is coming our way. Some say “yes, we will get it,”some say “no, we won’t”, but who really knows?

None of us know what will happen in this new day, but some people think it would be wonderful to be able to see what will happen tomorrow and beyond. But, who knows? If we were able to see all the blessings and benefits waiting for us in God’s providence, we would waste our days yearning for the future.

On the other hand, if we could see all the trials, troubles, and tribulations awaiting us, we would live in dread of the future and miss or squander the opportunities of today.

Who knows what our health will be. Who knows how our unforseen needs will be met. Who knows where this life will take us. In our life in the ministry, we were required to go where sent, and we were sent to several different congregations. We didn’t know until about six weeks before we moved, where we would be moving, what our home would be like, or what unforseen problems and blessings would await us. Am I glad we didn’t know? Yes! Otherwise, we would have missed the surprise!

The good news is that there are things we do know! We know that God has all the wisdom, skill, and power to weave all our circumstances, good or bad, and allow them to work for our good.

We do know the peace that passes understanding when we let Him take care of all our fears, anxieties, and needs. We do know the love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, peace, promise and power of Jesus. We do know that He holds the future. I love the verse from a song which says, “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand; But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.”

James says that We are just a whisp of fog catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. In other words, we need to know that life is brief, and we should make the most of the brevity. We need to focus more on what is the right thing to do rather than on what not to do.

We need to know “to do all the good we can, in every place we can, to all the people we can, in every way we can, every time we can, for as long as we can.” copied

Because we know that God is with us in this life, we can look forward with assurance to whatever comes to us. The following poem by Annie Johnson Flint tells it all beautifully.

God has not promised skies always blue; Flower strewn pathways all our lives through. God has not promised sun without rain; Joy without sorrow, peace without pain. God has not promised we shall not know; Toil and temptaion, trouble and woe. He has not told us we will not bea , many a burden, many a care. God has not promised smooth roads and wide, Swift easy travel needing no guide; Never a mountain rocky and steep; Never a river turbid and deep. But God has promised strength for the day; Rest from the labor, Light for the day. Grace for the trials, help from above; Unfailing sympathy, Undying love.

There’s an interesting map on display in the British Museum in London. It’s an old mariner’s chart drawn in 1525 outlining the North American coastline and the adjacent waters. The cartographer made some intriguing notations on areas of the map that represented regions not yet explored. He wrote, “Here be giants,” and “Here be fiery scorpions,” and ” Here be dragons.” Eventually, the map came into the possession of Sir John Franklin, a British explorer in the 1800’s. Scratching out the fearful inscriptions, he wrote these words across the map, “Here is God!”

Who knows ? God does!

It is predicted that Punxstawney Phil will not see his shadow, but who knows?