The End is Near

Events are still unfolding in Boston.  One of the Marathon bomber suspects is dead and another, his 19 year old brother, is on the run with hundreds of police and military personnel working to apprehend him.

The end is near.

Either the brother will be caught, killed or will disappear.  But, one way or another this terrible saga will be over, at least for a time.  I am still convinced that we will not receive the answer we desperately want to understand - Why?  Nonetheless, we will all breathe a sigh of relief, even while grief still holds our hearts in its grip, that these criminals have been stopped.

But, what about the next enemy?  When will another individual choose terror and murder as the path for their life?  How do we protect ourselves from these enemies?

The importance of our well trained and courageous law enforcement can't be overstated.  I'm so thankful for the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe from our enemies.  We must always pray for them, for their safety, for their families.

But from a spiritual perspective, what are we to do about these enemies?  Scripture is clear.  We are to pray for our enemies.

In Matthew, Chapter 5, Jesus tells us:

"love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"

It seems absurd in this situation doesn't it?  The Alpha and Omega, the Word who has been present since the beginning of time and will be present for eternity, knew that we would need to hear and heed those words in this perilous time in history.  Why would Jesus tell us this?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

We pray for our enemies so we may be sons of God.  We pray for ALL because ALL are God's children and He grieves over the Lost.

If you believe in the power of prayer, then you should be committed to praying for our (and your) enemies.  I believe Jesus also knew that we would need to battle spiritually against the dark forces in this world that would threaten our very existence.  He knew there is no greater power than believers fervently praying to the Father for help, deliverance, protection and praying as interceders for the Lost.

We must pray for our enemies.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will enter their hearts and lives so that hatred and evil would be replaced by love and God's goodness.  Pray that those who are Lost and vulnerable to be used by Satan for evil would instead be found by the God who loves them so much He sacrificed His own Son for them so they might be saved.

That kind of prayer is the way to change hearts, and changing hearts is how we make the world better.

Pray for your enemies.

Be love and be blessed,

What Remains?

In the wake of yesterday's horrific tragedy we are plagued by questions, the biggest and toughest of which is Why?  Why do humans hurt one another in such senseless acts of violence?  Why would a person or persons think that to harm innocent bystanders, minding their own business and enjoying an American tradition, yields anything of value? 

In the coming days our authorities will analyze the mountain of leads coming in and will find those responsible for this act of terror, of this I have no doubt.  But, I am just as confident that even if those who are responsible tell us "Why" it will not answer the question.  We will still be left stunned and saddened and, unfortunately, perhaps a little more hardened ourselves.

So often we discover after an event such as yesterday that those responsible for the evil destruction upon others have in some way been impacted by hate, violence and bigotry in their own lives.  Don't jump to conclusions - I'm not defending these heinous acts or the perpetrators in the least.  I'm simply questioning on another level - Why?  Why do human beings, whether in the name of God or justice or plain hatred, decide that murder and maiming are ways to a better life or to positive change or even to furthering their agenda? 

I can't make sense of it.

How can so much evil and vileness exist in the same human heart that can respond with goodness, generosity and love? 

We are already hearing the stories of courage and selflessness that inevitably occur in the midst of tragedy.  Bostonians and visitors rushed to give blood that would save the lives of the injured.  The citizens of Boston opened their homes to complete strangers who had lost their belongings in the explosions.  Many of these stories will be nearly identical to those we heard after that fateful day in September that forever changed us and forever changed our nation.

We need to hear these stories of love because the question of Why hangs in the air like a shadowy noxious gas.  If that question was all we were left with, we would suffocate under the weight of the burden of knowledge that mankind can be so incredibly cruel. But, it's not all that remains.

1 John 4:16
We have known and have believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them.

Let us stand strong together.  Let us seek justice for these horrible crimes against innocent citizens.  Let us be courageous and resolute.  Let us always fight the evil that exists around us.  But, let us not forget that we are not just capable of great love in tragic times, but it is our responsibility to keep that love alive in us no matter the circumstances.  That is how we overcome evil and hatred, by allowing God to remain and grow where bitterness and hatred threaten to take hold.

Don't allow it.  Don't give up.  Don't lose faith.  Don't stop loving others.  Everything will end one day and strife will no longer be.  But, love never ends.

Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Be love and be blessed,

In case you don't know the meaning of my closing, I always use the same one, "Be love and be blessed".  Some have thought I meant "be loved", but I have intentionally used the phrase to mean that we are to be love in this world and by being that love we not only bless others but are blessed ourselves by showing and sharing our love.

Pelicans and Eagles, Oh my!

Yesterday, with 80 degree temperatures, blue skies and calm winds, we couldn't resist taking a boat cruise on the lake.  Oh, I've been craving an afternoon like that for months!  The simple bliss of feeling the warmth of the sun on my bare arms and legs was AMAZING!

There were other spectacular joys too, and that got me thinking about all the gifts we enjoy freely. (You were wondering when I was going to get to the free, frugal, saving money theme weren't you?)

Words can't describe the incredible sight of watching not one, not two, but three bald eagles soaring over our boat dock as they glided across the gleaming water on the lake and ascended high above the tall pine forest.  What a treasured moment to see these magnificent birds literally in our own backyard!

Oh, but God had more excitement in store for us. As we motored slowly north on the lake, we came upon a half dozen or so white pelicans, a common sight in the winter and spring months since they began migrating to our lake seasonally several years ago.

It was on the way back south toward home when we again saw the pelicans that we spotted one floating atop the smooth water right on the path we were taking. The picture isn't the greatest, but we didn't want to get too close and scare him away.  But, WOW! Another uniquely beautiful creature!

Our creator has fashioned a world of glorious beauty and unmatched artistry for us to behold. If you're struggling with ways to save money on entertainment, try spending afternoons and evenings in a natural park setting, on a lake, or sitting under the expansive arms of a giant decades old oak tree.  It's the perfect time of year in Texas to take those outdoor opportunities and develop an appreciation for nature's free "theme parks". 

Pay attention, listen, and meditate on the quiet and gentle splendor of creation. If you settle your soul and rid your mind of your day's worries, you may even hear the whisper of God, and that is a priceless treasure indeed.

Be blessed,