A Cracked Phone and an Out-of-Tune Piano

God will use the imperfect to demonstrate His perfection - He will use the despised to demonstrate His glory.  1st Corinthians 1 addresses that way that God will work:
27But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;28and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,29that no flesh should glory in His presence.

God does not call us to be perfect before we come to Him and receive His salvation - no, He takes us just as we are, undeserving of salvation, and makes us like He is, giving us a new identity in Christ.  He will take imperfect people and shine His light in and through them, and He will take seemingly insignificant people - and things - and bring forth a work that will radiate His nature.   He specializes in bringing the extraordinary out of the ordinary - He is the God of transformation!

When and where God shines His light, wonderful things can happen.  And, the evidence of His hand is all around us.   Even through the imperfect, the touch of the divine can be seen.  That's a reminder from 2nd Corinthians 4:
6For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

On Easter Sunday this year, an 18-year-old high school senior from Minnesota took out her cracked I-Phone and began to play her grandmother's out-of-tune piano and sing.   Now, just over a month later, Molly Kate Kestner's video of a song she wrote a year ago called, "My Daughter," has gone viral on the Internet, racking up over 7 million views...and counting.  The song tells the story of an abused young lady, who then becomes pregnant in a moment of weakness, raises a son, and discovers the love and forgiveness of God.

In an ABC News story, Molly Kate is quoted as saying that, “I might have not experienced it but I talked to people that had been through it but they didn’t have the confidence to share it with other people...I was crying when I was writing it. … It’s a really profound song.”

Molly Kate has been playing the violin and singing for much of her life. A participant in the show choir and chorale group at Austin High School in Minnesota, Molly Kate told KTTC Television that she began posting her songs on YouTube to share with family and friends. Last year, she taught herself to play the piano and shortly after, was inspired to write "His Daughter."

The idea came to her while she was working at her dad's store. She grabbed a crumpled, old piece of paper and started writing. "Bursts of inspiration," as she described it, would come to her in class and in the middle of the night, so she used her smartphone to write most of her lyrics and song ideas.

In the interview with the television station, she said, "My biggest heart and passion is for people of my generation.  She said that her song starts out sad, but she used higher notes to inspire and give hope to others. At the beginning, the song's chorus repeats, "If there's a God out there, please hear my prayer...." and later changes to "There is a God up there, who heard my prayer".

"I don't think there's a person in this world who hasn't been lost or confused and that's why I feel this song can be that beacon of hope," Kestner said. "Even if you think there's no way to get out of that hole that you're in, there's hope and someday you're going to look back and realize this was all part of a reason and you just need to keep going."

The KTTC piece points out that Molly Kate's Christian upbringing plays out in most of her songs. She has aspirations of attending a Christian college and becoming a motivational speaker and youth development counselor.   She wants to be "someone that spreads that message of what you let define you does not have to be your circumstances or what you see in the world around you...It can be who you want to be, as long as you work hard and are true to yourself."

Molly Kate Kestner graduates in a couple of weeks.  She will represent Minnesota in the Distinguished Young Women national scholarship program in Mobile next month.

Lyrics.com has posted the words to the song.  The story is told of an abused young lady, seeking out love who, on one night, even after encountering the light of God...

...she decided one drink was alright,
and one thing led to another.
Next thing you know, 9 months go by,
she's a mother.

And as she laid there in that bed.
Stroking that small angel's head.
Tears streamed down her eyes.
She cried...

"If there's a God out there.
Please hear my prayer.
I'm lost and I'm scared,
and I've got nowhere else to run.
I've come a long, long way.
But I'm not sure I can be the best mother...
So if you're listening, could you give a helping hand.
To your daughter."

When the young lady grows to the age of 99, she tells the story of God's love to her son, saying:

"There is a God up there.
Who heard my prayer.
I was lost and afraid.
And I had nowhere else to go.
I had no clue, what to do
And then He sent me you."

So if you're lost and afraid,
and you feel so alone,
don't worry child,
cause there's a Father who will love you as His own.
Just like he loved his daughter.
Like he loved His daughter.

This song offers an incredible message of hope and forgiveness, telling the story of God's unconditional love. And, I don't want to ignore the pro-life element to it, as well - a troubled, pregnant young lady who decided to give birth to a precious baby boy.

There's so much you can take away from this story. The song, well, reminds us of what I was sharing yesterday - God does not forget us. Even in your darkest moments, even when you make mistakes - and we all do - the compassion of Christ is reaching out to us. Our Father's love is strong, and we can be strong in it.

Molly Kate can be a great illustration and inspiration to us about using the tools available to us. Of course, she has amazing talent in singing and writing songs. What is striking to me is that she did wait to go into a recording studio and have her songs professionally recorded, although that has now taken place, and "My Daughter" is now available on ITunes. She took what was at hand, and the strength of the song, and the Lord's anointing on it, caused it to connect with people. But, her resources included a cracked phone and an out-of-tune piano - but God uses those imperfect elements to express His truth. That is a lesson to all of us, and it's a lesson from the song: the Lord takes the imperfect that is surrendered to Him, places His stamp upon it, and reflects His glory.   

Sins - Forgotten. People - Not Forgotten.

God's nature is to remember us at all times, but to not count our sins against us.  In Isaiah 43, we read a reminder of God's faithfulness to forgive and forget:
25"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.26Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted.

The New Testament, in 1st John, tells us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us internally.   Our faithful God is holding out His hands, wanting to relieve the burden of sin from our hearts - He desires to set us free, offering us forgiveness, the opportunity for a fresh start.  We can experience His mercies and His faithfulness - call upon Jesus, who will lead us in the paths of righteousness, the One who loves you so much.  He has not forgotten you and has promised to never leave you nor forsake you.

God delights in forgiving our sins - we have been justified by faith, and He has declared us to be not guilty. By confessing our sins, we place ourselves in a right position with Him, aligning ourselves to receive that forgiveness.   Micah 7 gives insight:
18Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.19He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.

Recently, the European High Court of Justice ruled that people have the "right to be forgotten," in other words, under European privacy laws, individuals can have the right to request that search engines remove links to information they feel is no longer relevant.

And, apparently, according to a USA Today story, Google is planning to comply. In a statement, the company said, "this is logistically complicated — not least because of the many languages involved and the need for careful review. As soon as we have thought through exactly how this will work, which may take several weeks, we will let our users know."

The ruling only applies to information retrieved by searching on an individual's name, and requests would have to be by the individual, according to legal experts quoted in the article.

The ruling came out of a request by Mario Consteja Gonzalez of Spain about a legal notice that appeared in La Vanguardia newspaper in Barcelona about his home's repossession and auction in 1998.

He said "proceedings concerning him had been fully resolved for a number of years, and that reference to them was now entirely irrelevant" and so requested that the notices be removed from the newspaper's website.

The court ruled that while the paper could keep the page up on its own site, Google must remove the listing from its search index.

Here are some further examples of link removal requests Google has received:

-- A company wanted links about it in a forum discussing consumer ripoffs to be removed.

-- A former politician requested links to a news article about his behavior when he was previously in office be removed because he wants to run again.

-- A physician requested that links to a review site about him be removed.

-- A celebrity's child asked that links to news articles about a criminal conviction be removed.

-- A university lecturer who was suspended wants links to articles about the suspension removed.

-- A tax scammer requested that links to information about his crime be removed.

So, the information remains posted online, it's just that the search engine would remove the link to it.  Sort of a partial cleansing.

That phrase, "right to be forgotten" caught my eye.  I am thankful that we serve a God who does not forget us - even when we reject Him, He continues to hold out His offer for each of us to come to know Him.  And, even though we might disobey Him or turn our back on Him, He continues to be faithful, and will restore us and forgive our sins.   You are greatly loved by God, and since He is your Creator, you are not forgotten - no one is insignificant in His eyes.

But...in the eyes of God and through the blood of Jesus Christ, our sins can be forgotten.   The Bible tells us that when our sins are confessed, that they are totally forgiven and we can be cleansed.   This is not a partial cleansing - He is capable of making us totally whole.  And, while the enemy will remind us of our transgression, God's Word reminds us of our transformation.

Finally, even though a sin is forgiven and forgotten by God, there are still consequences of our wrong actions.  The sin is removed, but the consequences may still be in place.  If you have walked on a path of destruction, then there may be people who are hurt, there may be relationships that are broken. There might be financial or emotional suffering that takes place.   While God erases the sin, we still may face the consequences - and He will give us the grace to withstand those circumstances we face.

Pop Superstars and Idol Worship

The Word of the Lord is very plain - we are not to place anything, or anyone, in a position higher than our God.   In Psalm 81, we read God's declaration to His people:
8"Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me!9There shall be no foreign god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god.10I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

There are so many activities that are available for us to engage in - entertainment culture, sports, hobbies - and we have to be wise in the choices that make regarding these areas.   Many forms of entertainment or recreation are quite acceptable, but if anything consumes our time to a degree that it replaces the priority of spending quality time with our Savior, then we must make sure that we restrict our activities so that we do not end up making it an idol in our lives, an unhealthy "worship" of a god that is not our one true God.

The first of the 10 commandments is that you shall have no other god before the one true God.  In Isaiah 45, we read:
18For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the Lord, and there is no other.19I have not spoken in secret, In a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain'; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.20"Assemble yourselves and come; Draw near together, You who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, Who carry the wood of their carved image, And pray to a god that cannot save.

You somewhat have to hold your collective breath when another of those music awards shows comes around - whether it's the Grammys or the MTV Music Awards, or MTV's Video Music Awards, chances are you're going to find something that is designed to shock or to push an agenda that differs from the Christian worldview.

You could certainly find some of that material in last night's Billboard Music Awards.   While the Michael Jackson hologram was certainly intriguing, there were performances that could be termed offensive or just plain bizarre.  

And, these are really big names - the big winner at the Billboard Music Awards was Justin Timberlake, with 7 trophies on the night including Top Artist and Top Male Artist. Other winners included Imagine Dragons with five, and Pharrell, Robin Thicke and T.I. each scoring four apiece.

I do want to note that there are several Christian categories - Chris Tomlin, not surprisingly, won Artist of the Year. In a bit of a surprise, Alan Jackson won top album for "Precious Memories: Volume II".  I would have liked for nominee Third Day to have won for "Miracle," since I'll be featuring it today.  The top song? Matthew West's "Hello, My Name Is".

The real key, I think, to the BBMA's is that it is a pretty clear indication about where our culture is musically, because the results are determined by objective factors, such as what music we buy and listen to on the radio, with the exception of the Milestone Award - the fan award.   And, it's sometimes not a pretty picture. This is the music that is shaping our culture, and these are the artists who are influencing our ideas.  Popular entertainment can become so much of a fabric of a person's life that it consumes one's times and thoughts - it essentially becomes an idol.

Taken to extremes, you get a church devoted to an artist, such as the "National Church of Bey," that has made pop superstar Beyonce Knowles as some sort of deity.  According to the Christian Today website,
the National Church of Bey gathers in Atlanta to sing the former Destiny's Child member's hits every Sunday. The article states:

Known to have some of the most dedicated fans in the world, whom she refers to as 'Beys', Beyoncé has achieved not only global fame but a cult following. Most would agree, however, that considering the pop star a deity is taking fandom to a whole new level.

On the group's somewhat tongue-in-cheek website, founder 'Minister Diva' Pauline John Andrews criticises those who have condemned the church's views and calls for a willingness to be open to their unusual beliefs.

"We are very disappointed in the failure of the public to recognise the existence of a divine Deity walking among them. Deity's often walk the Earth in their flesh form. Beyoncé will transcend back to the spirit once her work here on Mother Earth has been completed," she writes.

The website also says: "As our congregation begins to swell, we ask that you consider what is more real; an invisible spirit on high, or a walking, talking breathing Goddess who shows you her true form daily...While we do not believe Beyoncé to be the Creator, we recognise that she still sits among the throne of Gods."

The group is apparently in the process of producing 'Beybles' which will be distributed to the public. The church adds, "After hearing the divine word written out in the Beyble, we assure you that you too can walk in the truth and reach a deep level of understanding. It may sound odd at first, but you just need a formal introduction to the word."

Since the website is described as "tongue-in-cheek," one might question the legitimacy of this so-called "church."  But it can serve as an object lesson, or a warning to all of us:  Be careful what you devote your attention to, for you may find yourself worshipping it.  Whatever we place on a pedestal in a higher priority than our love of Jesus, that becomes an idol to us and an object of our worship.  If our time is spent with connecting with and consuming entertainment culture, at the expense of our time with God, then we have to question our level of devotion to the Lord.   There are forms of entertainment that I believe we can experience and enjoy, but we have to be careful that our choices do not adversely shape our thinking and sap our time.

Entertainment consumption time may not be a problem for you, but we have to examine our own lives and evaluate if we are being good stewards of the time and emotional energy that God has given to us.  There may be activities in which we participate that have been prioritized to a level higher than our commitment to spending time with God - that or those activities have become an "idol" to us.  Or there may be inactivity that is a problem; we waste time doing nothing or nothing productive, when God is calling us to get up and get out in service to His kingdom.

Not Trash, But Treasure

In John 16, we are reminded that God's Spirit goes with us, and will guide us in His ways.
13However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.14He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

I tell you what, if we could just see through the Spirit's eyes, it would dramatically affect our perspective on the world around us and the people whom we encounter.  God desires for us to see other people as uniquely created in His image, and to be able to reach out to them through the love of Christ.  There will be times, when the Spirit will indicate the needs of those around us and direct us to take a certain step - it could be very simple, but it could pave the way to the work of God being accomplished in that person's life.  We have to be willing to set aside our human, selfish perceptions and allow God to help us see how He will use us as a vessel of compassion.

The Bible reinforces the notion that all of us are created in the image of God, and that He wants to form a relationship with us through His son, Jesus.  Psalm 139 offers this perspective:
13For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.14I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.15My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.16Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.17How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! 

Some 15 years ago, Nicki Benz watched a news report that focused on imprisoned women. She figured that most of them had probably been physically and verbally abused at some point in their lives. A guard yelled at one of the women, asking why she couldn't get her life on track.

"They are not trash," Benz said back to the television. "Those women are treasures."

According to a Baptist Press feature story, Nicki, a resident of Jackson, MS, thought that someone had to take action. She hadn't yet realized that God would choose to use her, a "senior citizen," to show hundreds of women and children that they are treasures in His eyes.   Her "action" at the time was a one-time visit to the local correctional facility in 1999.  It turned into a daily routine of doling out hugs, lending a listening ear and teaching about God's forgiveness and love. Benz's passion for the women was so contagious that it didn't take long for her husband Dick to join in on the visits.

Soon, an officer asked the couple if they'd consider taking in one of the girls. The woman had been in and out of 40 rehab centers and didn't have anywhere to turn. The Benzes had heard this type of story over and over. When the women left prison, they most often returned to the broken lifestyle that landed them there in the first place. The couple knew this cycle had to be broken, so they offered their four empty bedrooms to God and began an after-care ministry.

As more and more women wanted to be a part of what became Buried Treasures Home, the ministry expanded from one house to multiple cottages sitting on a 65-acre plot of land. Benz explained that the women don't just have a "bed but a family of God" when they come to the home. The women learn to be women of God and what it means to be part of a healthy family.

The ministry focuses on discipleship and learning what it means to be treasured. Because so many women have no place to go after being released, Buried Treasures Home gives women and their children a place to live for up to a year. During that time, women receive opportunities to earn their GEDs, enroll at nearby community college, study the Bible and reintegrate into society.

The Benzes estimated that only 20 percent of the women who register for the yearlong after-care ministry actually complete the program. Some stay for lunch and then return to the streets. But they never leave Benz's heart. The names of every woman who walks through the doorway are meticulously recorded in her Bible and prayed for each day.  Others graduate from the program and integrated back into the community.

15 years later, Buried Treasures Home continues to impact lives. Last October, the White House presented her with a Point of Light Award. The award honors individuals who strive to improve their community by responding to a need through volunteer service.   Nicki says, "We are in the business of bringing people to Christ and showing how they are treasured...We cry out in joy when that message takes off and grows in the heart of others. That's the real success."

The story of Nicki Benz and Buried Treasures Home reinforces a number of different principles.  First of all, every person is a creation of God and has potential in His eyes.   I think that can be helpful to us in our view of ourselves - that God has made us in His image, that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that He has a plan for our lives.   We are greatly loved, and God desires for us to come into a knowledge of Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.

That basic premise can also affect how we relate to others.   Nicki saw the television news report of women who had been incarcerated - she imagined what in their lives may have adversely affected them, and she had the mindset that these women had value, innate worth, and proceeded to take steps to reach out to them.  I think it honors God when we look at a person and see someone that needs to experience the love of Christ. There is a tendency to be put off by outward appearances or to turn away from people who are unpleasant or less fortunate than we are.   Christ died for all, so everyone we encounter is a person for whom He died.

Finally, Nicki didn't see the whole picture when she visited a local prison.  But, she took a step.   And, that's perhaps what God is calling you to do - to take a step, a simple act.  And, as you take that step of obedience, then the Holy Spirit will show you what to do next.   The unfolding of the plan of God in our lives comes as a result of our willingness to be used of Him and to follow His Spirit where He leads.

This Way to God's House

In Colossians chapter 2, we can see a passage that can reinforce the message of the cross and its significance for us.  In verse 13, we read that Christ has made us alive together with Him, having forgiven us for our sins...
14having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.15Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

What an amazing message for all of humanity - people can actually experience the life and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.   With a yearning for freedom in the hearts of individuals, Jesus offers a way for each of us to be truly free.  He experienced the humiliation and pain of death on a cross and was raised from the dead, so that we could be freed from the power of indwelling sin.  We can experience the forgiveness from past sins that only He can bring, and we have the power within us to overcome the tendencies of the flesh, which would ensnare us.   Through the cross and His resurrection, we can know what it truly means to be free.

In 1st Corinthians 1, the apostle Paul wrote about the message of the cross and how it is regard by believer and non-believer:
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."
Regarding the power of the cross, he goes on to say:23but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Several months ago, I highlighted the court case in progress concerning the large, cross-shaped beams that were discovered by construction worker Frank Silecchia in the rubble of the World Trade Center after 9/11. I wanted to revisit the topic, because earlier today, in New York City, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum was dedicated. It opens to the public next week.

USA Today had a very nice historical look at this powerful symbol.  It profiles Silecchia, who, at the time, was a laborer between union jobs. The next day, he arrived at Ground Zero to join the recovery effort and stayed for nine months to help with the removal of 3.6 million pounds of wreckage. Like many, he did not wear a mask to protect himself from the toxic fumes. Today, he says, "my health is shot.''

A month shy of 60, he has trouble walking and sleeping. He has had three operations for respiratory and sinus problems. He's on anti-depressants and sleep medication. At 350 pounds, he's at least 125 overweight. He says he still has nightmares about the 47 corpses he found 13 years ago.

There is a consolation – the memory of what he calls "my cross.''

When he spotted it that morning, he told other people and spray-painted arrows around the site pointing to "God's House."  Soon, recovery and rescue workers were coming by on their breaks; some wrote the names of the dead or their units on the cross. Silecchia used an ironworker's marker to write, "In Gods Hands.''

The second Sunday after the attacks, he encountered a man in a Franciscan's brown robe giving communion to cops, firefighters and hardhats. This was Brian Jordan, who'd lost his friend and fellow Franciscan, Mychal Judge, in the attack.

Silecchia tapped the friar on the shoulder and said, "Father, do you want to see God's House?"

Jordan said that, "This is what I've been looking for.''   Silecchia was afraid the cross would be hauled off, Jordan made a phone call - to Deputy Mayor Joseph Lhota.  Ten days later, a crane lifted the cross to a new perch on the western edge of Ground Zero.

Jordan held a blessing ceremony. "Behold the glory of the cross at Ground Zero," he said as he sprinkled holy water. "This is our symbol of hope, our symbol of faith, our symbol of healing." A bagpiper played Amazing Grace.  People gathered each weekend at the foot of the cross.   It was later moved to the eastern boundary of the site and placed on a concrete pedestal.   In 2006, there were plans to move the cross out of sight into a hangar at Kennedy Airport.   Jordan and Silecchia though that to be unthinkable - the pastor at St. Peter's church agreed to take it, and that is where it remained until 2011, when it returned to Ground Zero. It's been underground and out of public sight for almost three years - until today.

Sure, there's a lawsuit arguing that the cross has no place in a public museum. The museum says the cross merely shows how some people were affected by the attacks, and its presence is no more an endorsement of religion than any painting of the Virgin in the National Gallery of Art.

A federal district judge ruled for the museum; the atheists' appeal is likely to be decided shortly.

The USA Today story concludes this way:

Silecchia says that in the days after 9/11, people were drawn to the cross not as a symbol of Christ but something else: a sign that somehow, death — even the death of almost 3,000 innocents — was not the final word.

"My cross is not a symbol of religion,'' he says. "It's a symbol of faith.''

Today, in New York City, people are seeing the cross.   Frank Silecchia saw the Ground Zero cross, a symbol of hope and healing, and pointed the way to it.  

And, isn't that our calling as believers in Christ - to point the way to the cross?   Sometimes the cross can be hidden for people, and we have a great opportunity to show them Christ's light.   He gave His life for us on the cross, and as we live in a crucified manner - dying to self and living for Him - we demonstrate what He has done for us.  The way we live is a visible reminder to those around us of how Christ has transformed our lives.

We are charged to proclaim the power of the cross.   We have the ability to effectively communicate the powerful truth of redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  This is done through not only how we live, but also in the words we speak.

Also, we are called to preserve the message of the cross.   In a world that would dilute the powerful message of Christ and what He has done for humanity, the truth of the cross can penetrate through the clutter and produce clarity in the hearts of people.  

Frank Silecchia and Brian Jordan took great steps to take care of the symbolic Ground Zero cross; we can be reminded that we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the message of the cross on which Jesus died.

To the Least of These

We each have gifts and talents bestowed upon us by the Lord, and we have been called to use them for His glory.   In Romans 12, we see some words of encouragement about being faithful to exercise those gifts:
6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
This passage can help us reflect on our usefulness to God - you see, each of us has a special purpose, and we have been wired in a certain way so that we can bring glory to God by appropriating what He has entrusted to us.  We are not only called to serve, but there are certain ways in which God intends for us to serve.   We can be encouraged that we can discover incredible meaning in our lives as we are determined to bring honor to our Lord and King by walking in obedience to Him.

In Matthew 25, Jesus taught on obedience as it pertains to serving others, especially those in need of compassion and ministry:
34Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:35for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;36I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'37Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?38When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?39Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'40And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

Chico and Debbie Jimenez have retired from their management jobs.  She is 52 years old and was an auto parts store manager. He is 60 and a retired construction manager. Together, they now operate a ministry based in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.  For the past year, they have been feeding more than 100 people who are homeless in Daytona Beach.   According to an NBCNews.com story, every Wednesday, they have set up shop at Manatee Island Park to offer home-cooked meals.

Last week, they were each fined more than $300 each for violating a local ordinance. They have been threatened with arrest and incarceration if they offer any more meals. Debbie is quoted as saying that one of their homeless friends, "said that Wednesday is just not going to be Wednesday anymore...We were given 10 days to either pay the fine or tell them we're going to court. We’re going to court. The police don’t like it. But how can we turn our backs on the hungry? We can’t.”

Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood said the couple had been warned one week earlier to stop their weekly feeding sessions after some local residents complained.  He said that, "We as a city have spent millions of dollars to turn that park into a place for families, kids and dog lovers...We have an ordinance that says when people want to perform acts of kindness or charity that they must coordinate with our local social service agencies."

Hopefully, there is a solution here.  Chico said, “We've been down there a year, and the police have been around and not one of them has ever said one word...This time, the police said we are creating more homeless people by feeding them in the park, that we are enabling them by giving them one meal in a week. Does that make sense to you?"

There does seem to be national trend regarding how best to feed the homeless.  According to a report co-released by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, during the past seven years Gainesville, Fla., began “enforcing a rule limiting the number of meals that soup kitchens may serve to 130 people in one day;” Phoenix, Ariz., “used zoning laws to stop a local church from serving breakfast to community members, including many homeless people, outside a local church;” and Myrtle Beach, S.C., “adopted an ordinance that restricts food sharing with homeless people in public parks.”

And, in Birmingham, according to a story on the ChristianNews.net website about 2 months ago, two ministries who were feeding homeless people in Linn Park were told to stop their feeding activities, based on a new law requiring food trucks to receive a permit.  Mayor William Bell has said, according to AL.com, thtat the city isn't opposed to groups aiding the homeless, but it is working on a broader effort that addresses homeless issues that extend beyond providing meals.

He pointed out that the city is "trying to set up a system where we can track the food that's been given to the homeless and the health and safety of the homeless."

Bell said a coordinating agency has been established to provide holistic service by pooling all groups and efforts. The mayor said experts on homelessness prefer that groups work in unison rather than doing small feedings alone.

I think these stories do highlight the enormous need to reach out to the destitute in our communities, including the homeless.   There are ministries all across our land who are involved in this critical work, and I trust that solutions can be found that can effectively provide transformative services to those who are down and out.  
These stories do highlight some tension between ministries who desire to serve the Lord and civil authorities who are attempting to find solid solutions, as well.

And, the stories can also remind us as believers to think about how we are serving.   There are individuals and churches who are dedicated to serving in a variety of ways, including reaching out to the homeless, going into prisons, tending to medical needs of families, and so much more - we are seeing a literal manifestation of Matthew 25, when Jesus spoke about "the least of these."  And, as the world looks on and sees our compassion, we make a compelling case for the gospel.

I do feel for Chico and Debbie in Daytona Beach - I don't know if they'll be feeding today.   But, I do have to hand it to them - they are finding God's joy in retirement.  They retired early, apparently to do ministry.   And, I think their story can challenge all of us to be committed to serving Christ when our current season of employment is over.  Retirement planning is a critical area, and you'll likely hear Christian financial experts such as Howard Dayton discuss that topic.  But, beyond the physical, there are spiritual implications - and it is so gratifying to see those who have exited the workforce in their later years use the time that has been freed up to serve more effectively.

We can each be challenged to examine the way we are using our time and to go before the Lord, asking Him to direct our steps into the activity that He has ordained for us.

Enough!

The power to live an overcoming life comes from the One who resides within us, who gives us insight and inner strength and peace, and who invites us to rest in His power.   Here is what 1 Corinthians says:
57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

When we encounter adversity in our lives, when our circumstances seem hopeless, or when the power of temptation threatens to overwhelm us, it's important that we recognize the powerful resources that God has made available.   We cannot stand against the destructive devices of the enemy in our own strength - we must rely on God's power - He has promised to be with us, and we can abide in His peace when the trials come.  When the struggles ensue, through a knowledge of His presence, through prayer and the proclamation of His Word, we can know the triumph that He promises.

We have great assurance that we cannot be separated from the love of Christ.   Even though we face trials and temptations, He is the One who gives us strength to stand and overcome.   Here is a passage from Romans 8:
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

A construction explosion in Saugus, Massachusetts, caused a large boulder to come loose and almost roll into Grace Ministries Church.  According to a piece on the UPI.com website, Pastor Rick LeClair told WCVB that, "If it rolled another 12 inches, it would have gone right through the building...This boulder was probably 20 tons."

He related that, "We were standing across the street saying, 'Uh-oh. There it goes.'" He added, "I was thinking the church was going to get wrecked, but I had this peace about me where it really wasn't going to get wrecked. And it didn't. The Lord just kinda said, 'That's enough.'"

Grace Ministries has a food pantry that feeds thousands, which would likely have been shut down if the boulder had hit the church.

Amazing story - just a foot short of going into the church building.   A miraculous event!

The boulder represented a clear peril to the building and the ministry that had taken place there.   God intervened in a mighty way.   So, what do we do when the perils of life are coming at us - rolling seemingly headlong toward us?

First of all, it's important to recognize the attack.   In a situation involving spiritual warfare, there are certain resources that we have available to us - prayer, the armor of God, the power of the spoken Word. And, ultimately, we rest upon the power of our Almighty God, recognizing that greater is He who is in us than He that is in the world.

We can seek to abide in the peace of the Almighty, in the shadow of His hand, when destructive forces come our way.  Pastor LeClair was content in the midst of potentially devastating circumstances, and our reliance on God's peace can provide us with clarity of heart and mind when we are facing those anxiety-producing times.

Finally, we can trust God to say, "That's enough."   Jesus taught that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but He gives abundant life.  We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus, and are told that He always leads us in to triumph.   So, when temptation comes our way, rolling like a boulder to invade our lives, we can know that God has made a way of escape - in our reliance on Him, He says, "enough!"  When the trials of life steal our joy and we are hopeless and despondent, He says, "enough!"   We can stand strong in His power.  When we are weak, He is strong - He declares, "enough!"   He is more than enough for us.