Point-Man

Posted on April 21, 2013 by dyuhas48

So my mom passed away at the end of January and God granted me a little time off before returning to the job market. Now I’ve hit the ground running in my new career and whew! I’m already tuckered out. But it is so good to be working again. I’m content and grateful to The Lord Who Provides.

Over the last month or so of my mom’s life, we were blessed to have the supportive care of Hospice, of which I cannot say enough good. They are truly experts at end-of-life care. They understood my fatigue, which curiously, ahem, did not extend to my mouth. Each member of the Hospice team listened thoughtfully as my words stumbled and poured out in a steady stream of verbal diarrhea.

The RN told me I should look into becoming a Hospice nurse (I’m a RN also). “No,” I said, “I don’t want to be around all that death and dying.” You know how that goes: Never say never. Guess what my new career is … you got it.

I’m a Hospice nurse. Actually I’m a Hospice Intake Nurse at a local hospital, which means I introduce patients and families to the concept of Hospice and assess them to gather evidence used to determine eligibility. It’s being the point-man for Hospice. I’m the first person patients and their families see when faced with the critical decision to switch from curative to palliative care. As you can imagine, that is an incredibly difficult time in a person’s life.

For me, it’s a deeply satisfying role. I’m reminded of the sweet tenderness of our God whose lovingkindness hovers over every single person, even those who hate Him, even at their final breath. What a mighty God we serve.

So God has called me to be His ambassador through Hospice. And while I don’t know where the Lord will take me through this calling, I trust Him because I know Him.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Amen. And thank you Lord Jesus.

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Happy Resurrection Week!

Posted on March 27, 2013 by dyuhas48

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

“Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

”Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.”

“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.”

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.”

“The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.”

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.”

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

HAPPY RESURRECTION WEEK!

These Scripture quotes can be found in Matthew 26-28, NIV.

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So How Are You Doing?

Posted on March 16, 2013 by dyuhas48

Thanks for hanging in with me folks while I processed my mom’s death. “So how are you doing?” has been the question of friends, family, and acquaintances alike.

“Fine. I’m fine.” And I really am. I mean, my mom was eighty years old and had suffered with Alzheimers for almost a decade. Now my mom is free, her mind is clear as a bell, and she’s dancing joyfully with Jesus her Savior. How can I possibly be sad about that?

I’ve been set free too. I no longer have to do for her what she could not do for herself, like bathing, feeding and toileting. I don’t miss that. I don’t miss disposable underwear, nutritional drinks, and waterproof pads for the bed.

But I do miss her. I miss her singing. I miss her smile. I miss her little jokes and the way she used to dance around the kitchen when we kids were kids. I miss her warmth. I miss hearing her crying out to God week after week at church in our teenage years. I miss the joy she took in her home and us. I miss her laughter.

But life goes on and that’s a good thing. I’ll be starting a new job soon and I’m very excited about the future God has planned for me.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Life is, after all, an adventure with the Lord and I choose to put on my Indiana Jones hat and get to it. Hi ho, Silver, and away!

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I’ll Be Back

Posted on February 13, 2013 by dyuhas48

Some of you may already know that my mom, whom I cared for over the last eight years, recently passed away. I am not ready to blog just yet, but hang in there… I’ll be back.

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Hi Folks!

Posted on January 10, 2013 by dyuhas48

Hi folks! I’m on a blog hiatus until sometime in February 2013 whilst I demolish a wall or two in my house, paint the kitchen and downstairs bath, build a couple of cabinets, and tear out some messed up tile, after which I shall clean up the mess and rearrange the rooms. Wahoo!

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Faith Is Belief

Posted on December 27, 2012 by dyuhas48

You’ve heard it said that seeing is believing, but faith is believing without necessarily seeing.

“Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

The Christian faith is not founded on a what (an ideology, a theory, or system), but a who: God Incarnate, Jesus Christ.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

In whom we place our faith is of the utmost importance. An individual may put his belief in anything or anyone, but only the sovereign, Almighty God is utterly trustworthy and completely capable.

“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12, emphasis mine).

Faith is belief and belief involves trust, without which there is no true faith.

“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!’” (James 2:19).

Faith is not based on circumstance. None of the Old Testament heroes of faith (described in Hebrews 11) received in their lifetime what God promised and in fact were mostly persecuted and killed, yet they committed themselves fully to the living God. Their faith was firmly founded on God, not circumstance. They didn’t say, “When God comes through on his promises, then we will believe.” Their belief was in the person and character of God himself, not his gifts and blessings. This is how they weathered the storms of life and heavy persecution.

Faith is trustfully believing God is good, no matter what. Faith is never like a fair-weather friend, but always trusts, always follows, always obeys. Faith is believing that what God says about himself and us is true. Faith is not only believing that God is intimately acquainted with each one of us, but cares about us deeply, so deeply in fact that He sent us Jesus.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

If you read this blog, most likely you already believe in God. But do you trust Him? Do you believe God is good, no matter the circumstance? Will you continue to trust Him throughout the mundanity of daily life as well as in the midst of pain, suffering, and death? This is the stuff of faith. This is belief. How will you respond to God today?

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All Have Sinned

Posted on December 17, 2012 by dyuhas48

I know I’m a sinner. How about you?

How do you measure up against the Ten Commandments? Check it out yourself:

“And God spoke all these words:

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before me.

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

“You shall not murder.

“You shall not commit adultery.

“You shall not steal.

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.’ (Exodus 20:1-17, The Holy Bible, New International Version).

Still not sure that you are a sinner? Listen closely:

“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40).

Can you state unequivocally that you have fulfilled these two commandments to perfection? Of course not. No one has, that is, except Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life and then gave his life for you and me.

Because he was sinless and perfect, he was able to be the ultimate sacrifice for sin. This is why his death on the cross was accepted by God as full payment for our sin-debt. Think about it.

Jesus is the reason we have the privilege to choose where we will spend eternity: with or without God. His death is the only acceptable payment for the unimaginable debt of sin that every one of us owes God. He has paid the debt in full; all we must do is believe and receive Christ. God writes our names in the Book of Life and we spend eternity with him.

There are those who have and will reject Christ and for them, there is nothing left but the judgment, which they will face on their own, utterly guilty before God. Make no mistake. Judgment is coming. “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20: 11-15).

Father, let your word go forth and accomplish that for which you sent it. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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What Is Faith?

Posted on December 7, 2012 by dyuhas48

What is faith? What does it mean to have faith? Is it a something we drum up within? Is faith a feeling?

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1, NIV, 1984).

Anything about feelings in that verse? No. Anything about psyching ourselves up? No.

Here’s the same verse in different Bible versions:

NIV: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

NKJV: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

NASB: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

KJV: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

JBP NT: “Now faith means putting our full confidence in the things we hope for, it means being certain of things we cannot see.”

NCV: “Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.”

From these various versions of Hebrews 11:1, we learn that faith entails:

surety
certainty
confidence
assurance
substance
evidence
conviction
knowledge

Faith is not a feeling or something we drum up from within ourselves. It is not dependent upon our circumstances, emotions, or whether we see the glass as half-full or half-empty. It never depends on our feelings. Faith is dependent on one thing in particular and that is the immutable, or unchanging, character of the sovereign God.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

The foundation of Christian faith is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the chief cornerstone upon which we build our faith with blocks like belief, trust, obedience, and surrender. These four building blocks are facets of the same gem – faith, in an unchanging God whose promises we trust because we know whom we have believed.

“I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).

So what is it that we hope for and what do we not see? What is it we have entrusted to him until that day? Let’s back up a little to the tenth chapter of Hebrews:

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, ‘In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.’ And, ‘But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.’ But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved” (Hebrews 10:36-39).

So we are sure of being saved and certain of the Lord Jesus Christ who saves us. This is stuff of faith. And because we have faith, we persevere in doing the will of God. We do not cringe or “throw away [our] confidence” in the midst of persecution and suffering, but continue to live by faith (Hebrews 10:32-35).

Friends, in what or whom have you place your faith?

Let’s pray: Father, we thank you that you who are true and unchanging sent Jesus Christ to the cross to die in our place, for our sins, to save us. Grant us faith to believe, trust, obey, and fully surrender to you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Have You A Flair For Despair?

Posted on November 29, 2012 by dyuhas48

Photo via dreamstime.com

Let’s face it. Sometimes life gives you lemons. The thing for which you’ve been hoping and praying was given to someone else on a silver platter. Your knight in shining armor turned out to have feet of clay, and smelly ones at that. Your friends all have wonderful, fulfilling careers, but you are just surviving from paycheck to paycheck.

Tell me, are there any lemons on your table right now?

We like to think we’ll simply get up on our feet and turn those lemons into lemonade, but too many times this doesn’t happen. Instead of making lemonade, we sit at the table staring at those lemons until they rot. They become a stinky, putrid mess and we grumble that life stinks-he stinks-she stinks-we all stink. Sound familiar? Left unchecked, this kind of pessimistic self-talk drags us down into a suffocating funk of self-pity.

“It’s not fair. Nothing ever works out for me. I’m such a loser. Why did I ever think I could do this/have this/be this? I don’t know why I bother to try; I always fail.”

Sound familiar? I suspect that you and I might have what I call a flair for despair.

When things go wrong, as they surely do, we don’t shrug our shoulders and move on. Instead, we get down and dirty, proclaiming war on ourselves. Our thoughts attack, reprimanding us not for not only failing to get what we want, but for even wanting the thing in the first place. We become depressed and want to give up. We go to our secret closet to comfort ourselves with food, chocolate, shopping, television, even books. We know this is wrong. We know this is not how God wants us to live, but we do it anyway.

Is there hope? Is change possible? God’s Word gives a resounding “Yes!”

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2, emphasis mine).

This verse gives us several important clues to partnering with God for real change:

1. DO NOT CONFORM: We have a responsibility to desist the ways of the world. Instead of continuing to follow the dictates of our sin nature, we must choose to go against the grain and follow God’s will as revealed in his word. This must become the new pattern of our life.

2. BE TRANSFORMED: The results of obedience are in God’s hands. He is the one who brings about true metamorphosis. It is not sufficient to simply mend our ways. The sin nature is what it is, but when we put our faith in Christ, God gives us a new nature. Day by day God forms within us a Christ-like character. The result is love for God and others.

3. BY THE RENEWING: Our minds must be continually filled with the fresh life of the Spirit that comes through a consistent, daily pattern of intimacy and loving obedience. As we continue in the word and in prayer, loving and worshipping God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, our minds are made new and the pattern of our behavior follows.

4. YOUR MIND: It is said that the battlefield is the mind. The way we think directly affects the way we act. Garbage in, garbage out. God does not want us to engage in self-pity because he knows it leads only to despair and ultimately, death. We must place our hope in him, not in circumstances, other people, or ourselves. It is the mind, soaked and cleansed by the water of the word, that exchanges despair for hope. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

5. TEST AND APPROVE: Transformation results in a new pattern for our lives. As we learn to obey God in all areas of our lives (testing his ways) we begin to exchange self-love for God-love. His way becomes our way and God is proved true and faithful.

6. GOOD, PLEASING, AND PERFECT WILL: Love for God is expressed through obedience. Doing his will out of love becomes the cry of our hearts and satisfies the deepest regions of our hearts. The one who walks in God’s way is the one who recognizes there is no more joyful way to live.

Change of this nature does not happen overnight. We’re in for the long haul if we want to be rid of that old flair for despair. It begins and ends with the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5).

Let’s pray:

Father, we love you and desire your best for us. Please renew our minds and transform us into men and women of God who love, trust, and obey you each and every day. Amen.

For discussion:

What verse(s) do you find especially helpful in getting rid of a flair for despair?

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