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Homeless outside Starbucks

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I’d seen him eating breakfast at Starbucks several times over the past couple of months.

I stop in for coffee each Saturday morning.  He is always sitting in the same corner nursing a cup of coffee and a muffin.

We spoke last Saturday morning- both acknowledging that we had noticed one another with each visit.

His name is John.

He’s my father’s age.  John has a big smile, a hearty laugh and an engaging disposition.

And he’s homeless.

We talked at length last Saturday.  He confessed that he’s been living in his car since 2011.

A series of life events have led him to this situation.  He makes enough money through his social security checks to pay for a membership to the YMCA (for showering) and to keep a Post Office box for mail.  He budgets the remainder of his income to pay for gas, toiletries, washing clothes and meager meals.

His splurge each week is a hot cup of coffee and breakfast muffin at Starbucks.

John has simply fallen through the cracks.  He’s not completely on the street, but he’s awfully close.  He’d love to have a regular job, but his age and health have made employment difficult to find.

Despite all of this, John has a positive outlook.

And my God will supply every need of your according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

He has a vibrant faith.  He has hope for a home in Heaven.  He is optimistic for his future.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5

Pray for John to stay strong and to be safe.  Pray for those trying to help him get back on his feet.

And let me know how I may pray for you.  God bless.

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Convenience store billionaires

IMG_6800I witnessed false hope in a convenience store two weeks ago.

A disheveled, elderly man was patiently standing in line to purchase lottery tickets.  I knew that Powerball tickets were selling in record numbers, as everyone was consumed with the lottery excitement.  Millions of Americans- just like this gentleman- bought tickets for a chance to win $1.5 billion- the largest prize ever in the history of the lottery.

In all honesty, his chances to win were slim.  Odds were 1 in 292.1 million that someone would pull the correct combination of numbers.  He had a better chance of being struck by lightening or bitten by a shark.

But he had hope.  He pulled out a crumpled mass of dollar bills and bought $100 worth of lottery tickets.  He told me that he and his wife scraped together all they could in an effort to become instant billionaires.

I wished him luck.

My heart sank as I watched him pull away in an old car with a shattered back window.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?  Psalm 56:3-4

I prayed for the elderly couple that afternoon.  I prayed that they would find peace from their financial struggles and security for their remaining years.

And I prayed that they could be filled with the hope that can only come through a relationship with Jesus.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  John 10:11

There’s no luck or chance in our walk with Christ.  He’s here for us today and tomorrow.  We have that promise.

Please let me know how I may pray for you this weekend.  God bless.

 

 

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Are you bleeding?

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With three kids and a busy set of activities each week- someone is always coming home with a bump, scrape or cut of some sort. It may be caused by a fall or a skirmish on the field of play, but most of the time these accidents are unnoticed by our kids. Blood is a badge of honor from a hard-fought practice or game.

I was reading Matthew chapter 9 this week and recalled the story of a woman who had been bleeding for years.

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.  She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”  Matthew 9:20-21

We don’t know much about this woman…only that she had been struggling with a physical ailment for some time. She had probably tried countless remedies over the course of her lifetime. We can guess that she was exhausted, tired and had given up hope.

Until Jesus.

She didn’t know exactly what to do or how to reach out to Jesus. She simply knew He was nearby. She drew close to Him and reached out to touch his clothing.

Jesus turned and saw her.  “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.”  And the woman was healed at that moment.  Matthew 9:22

What faith. What hope. What courage.

When we are faced with adversity we often don’t know what to do. But Jesus knows what we need. We just need to reach out with that same hope…that same faith…and believe that He will help make us clean again.  He knows what we need before we even ask.

Let me know how to pray for you this week. And please pray for me.

God bless.

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Orphans on an airplane

California 2015

The boys had no home.

I recently sat next to twin brothers on a flight originating from the west coast.  Their names were Eli and Jonathan.  They had just turned 12 years old.

I could tell that they were nervous about the flight.  They confessed this to me as I attempted to settle into my aisle seat.  They also mentioned that they were traveling by themselves.

Over the next hour I learned that Eli and Jonathan were flying to see their dad.  They had not seen them in over 10 years- since they were mere infants.  They had lived in various places over the course of their lives.  Grandparents, uncles, cousins, their birth mother and other relatives had provided temporary homes.  They had moved around frequently.

They had seen their mother engage in some bad decisions, and it was clear that they worried about her ability to manage relationships.

Their dad had been a distant figure in their lives…an occasional phone call from across the country.  Eli reached in his backpack and produced an old photograph of the brothers with their parents- probably taken when the boys were about a year old.  It was a well-worn picture, but it was obvious that it was precious to those boys.  It was the reminder of happier days for their small family.

Their father had called earlier in the year to see if they would like to spend the summer with him.  He had found a good job and was in a stable situation for the first time in years.  Eager to see him- the boys jumped at the chance to travel across the country to see what might be in store.  Eli told me that they had been praying about it.

Eli and Jonathan had hope.  Hope that a better, more stable life was available seven states away.  Hope that their dad would somehow be the missing link to a normal life.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Romans 12:12

Eli and Jonathan had seen more hardship in their twelve years than most of us have seen in a lifetime.  Despite the trials, they had hope for better days.  Hope in a father.

We can learn a lesson from these twins.  Despite the pain and hardship of this world, we have hope through a Father that will never leave or forsake us.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

I pray that Eli and Jonathan had a great summer.  I also pray that their dad can provide stability and a good home for them.  Most of all, I pray for their future…for today, tomorrow and next year.

Please pray for me in my role as a husband, father and son.  And please let me know how I may pray for you.

God bless you.

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Everything that’s old is, well….old again.

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I’m going to lose 15 pounds.  I will read more and be more attentive to Hollianne and the kids.  I will sleep more and be more forgiving.  It’s also just January 2 and I’m already struggling with each of these goals…

The new year represents a time to put aside old habits.  A time to set new goals and create change in our lives.  The slate is clean.

Unfortunately, this is only temporary.  2015 will be filled with life events and occurrences that will disappoint us.  People will still hurt our feelings, obstacles will arise and trouble will come.  We can change our personal outlook toward life on this earth, but it won’t stop others, illness or unforeseen circumstances from derailing our best-laid plans for the new year.

This world is flawed.  Sin and despair abound on this physical earth.  It’s what happens when you place a large number of broken people in a cramped, crowded space.

For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions- is not from the Father but is from the world.  1 John 2:16

Trouble and strife, however, can serve as great reminders that this world- as we currently know it- is only temporary.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.  Proverbs 19:21

We are fortunate to have a great hope.  A promise of better days.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old is passed away; behold, the new has come.  2 Corinthians 5:17

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.  He does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life.  John 5:24

Jesus has given us this great hope.  His death has redeemed us from the pain of this world- and extended an invitation for an eternal, perfect life in Heaven.

So, while 2015 may be filled with disappointment, take heart.  We just need to adjust our focus to goals that are eternal and everlasting.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23

God bless.  I love you.

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Leftovers…

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If your house is like mine, you’ve got a refrigerator full of leftovers.  Thanksgiving day has come and gone.  We’ve acknowledged our blessings over three big meals with a fun mixture of family and friends.  With each celebration, however, we seem to have picked up more food to bring home.  Turkey, dressing, cheese-filled casseroles and a sweet array of pies and cakes line our refrigerator shelves.

Leftovers are good, but after a day or two of reheating turkey and dressing- our house is ready for something new.  Something different.

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:23

Ever felt like a leftover?  We sprint hard toward a new opportunity, only to find ourselves disappointed by others…disillusioned about our experience.  Instead of renewal, we often feel tired and defeated.  Left behind.

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  Romans 6:4

Our faith can give us hope, however.  We have an opportunity through Jesus to be born again…to experience a continual newness in our lives.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

Take comfort in the renewal that offered through our relationship with Jesus.  We don’t ever need to feel left behind.  We have a Father that beckons us to walk with Him daily.

God bless.

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Darkness followed by sunrise

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It’s not been an easy week.  Britton, our nine year old, has a friend that lost his mother to a long battle with cancer.  It was a difficult situation to explain to our young child.

Several good friends have experienced a loss these past few days.  Some were expected, while others were sudden and quite unexpected deaths.  Regardless of the situation, death is difficult to handle.  We experience a wild range of emotions.  Shock. Sadness. Anger. Loneliness.  We can barely reconcile our own sad thoughts, much less help others manage their grieving.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.  Philippians 3:20-21

But there is one sure thing we can know about death.  Death is followed by a new life.  We can be assured that Jesus died for us, so that we may have a hope for eternal life.  Death is a product of the flesh…of the earth.  Death is temporary for those who have faith and believe.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Jesus paid a sacrifice for us, as He committed himself to die the cross.  What a precious gift.  We are undeserving of this great act of grace and forgiveness.  I’ll never be able to fully understand the magnitude of this gift- but I am thankful for it.

And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.   Ecclesiastes 12:7

Death is temporary.  Life with our Heavenly Father is forever.

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?  1 Corinthians 15:55

Remember those in prayer who have lost loved ones recently.  The holidays can be difficult for all of us, but especially those dealing with a loss.  Let’s commit to reaching out to those in need this season.  Call them.  Invite them to your home.  Take them to dinner.  Be with them.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  Galatians 6:2

They’ll need it.  God commands it.

God bless you.

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