This is so good. And I believe there is a valuable spiritual lesson here as well. This is ballerina Marta C. Gonzalez Valencia. She is battling Alzheimer’s, but as she hears the music of Swan Lake, it all comes back to her. I have done ministry in nursing homes where I haven’t gotten much response–that is until I began to recite the words of a familiar Scripture passage or hymn. Blank stares became moments of strong lucidity. Scripture memory is such an underrated and underutilized spiritual discipline. If and when my mind is no longer functioning as it used to, I pray that it will be the Truth of God’s Word that remains until the end. “His Word have I hidden in my heart…”
Isaiah 5:20
[20] Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter! (ESV)
Tuesday Gratitude
I got to talk to Zac Cannon Friday. Zac and I served together at FBC Ojai. He had a profound impact on the spiritual development of my kids. What a great reminder Friday was of just how God has gifted me over the years with so many amazing ministry teammates. Apparently God knows I need lots of help and He has always provided the best. I am grateful.
HEARing Hebrews 9:28
Highlight – Hebrews 9:28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV)
Explain – Jesus is coming back! He took care of our sin problem with His first appearing (Thank you Jesus!) and will now take us home to be with Him forever with His second appearing. We should most certainly be those who are eagerly awaiting His arrival.
Apply – I’m doing better with the eagerly waiting part. Perhaps it is age and the accumulating tribulations of this life. Maybe it is preaching through Revelation. But I still can get lulled into focusing on the things of this world. I can still “forget” about what will ultimately be the greatest day of my existence.
Respond – “Father, I eagerly wait for the return of Jesus. Maybe today? I pray that you would find me to be ready and working diligently for the purposes of the Kingdom. I pray for those who are not ready for your return. May I be privileged to lead someone across the line of faith today.”
Anna Update
I posted an update on Josh a few days ago. Here’s the latest with Anna:
Thank you to so many of you who inquire about her health. We had a scare with thyroid cancer a year and a half ago. After surgery she has done exceedingly well with no sign of the cancer.
Anna will be graduating in May from Olivet Nazarene University with a degree in Civil Engineering. She will then be moving to Ashville, NC to work for the Eaton corporation. It is hard to imagine her living so far away, but I hear Ashville is a great place to visit. Excited for all that is in store for her.
Striving to Rest
Hebrews 4:11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. (ESV)
Strive to rest. In context the writer of Hebrews is writing about resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ as the atonement for our sins. But one evidence of grasping this reality in the spiritual is how we apply it in the physical. Do we trust that God’s got it? Or does my busyness and lack of intentional rest signal that I believe it is up to me? This was God’s wisdom in commanding Israel to observe a day of Sabbath. By striving to rest they acknowledged and practiced faith that God would take care of them in the many details of their lives. While I do not believe we are governed today by a law of Sabbath, I do believe we are intended to practice the principle of Sabbath. We are still meant to strive to rest. What would this look like for you?
Like the Apostle Paul, I want more than anything to know Christ (Phil. 3:10). I do not want to simply know about Him. I want to know Him-- personally, intimately, and experientially. It is not enough for me to hear about Him. I want to see Him with my own eyes.
With My Own Eyes 