Sunday’s Blessing – 09/14/2025 – Surprised by Death

Sunday’s Blessing – 09/14/2025 – Surprised by Death

Many deaths are expected. People get sick, their condition deteriorates, and they die. Others are just old. One night they simply go to sleep and don’t wake up. These are not easier, but at least you have time to process what is happening and hopefully come to terms with the upcoming change in your life.

Other deaths are sudden; a car accident, workplace mishap, accidental poisoning, etc. When these things occur to the young, it is a double slam. Not only are they taken away from you with no warning, there is also the loss of future years you would have had together.

This week I was unexpectedly triggered by the senseless death of Charlie Kirk. I did not know him other than through reels on social media. He seemed to be in the prime of his life when someone decided they would take his life to make theirs seem more complete. He left behind a wife and two small children.

The thing that triggered in me was the reminder of how my father was taken from me. He was only a few years older than Charlie, but Dad left behind a wife and five children. At nine years old, I was the youngest. My father was also taken down by a bullet. Unlike Charlie, who was totally surprised by his assailant, my father was in pursuit of thieves who had stolen some property off a loading dock in North Birmingham. My dad was a police officer.

Several years ago, I went through a counselling session which helped me work through my father’s death and the tsunami it left behind in our family. The waters subsided, but the destruction was evident everywhere you looked. With the help of some great people, I found comfort and hope in my relationship with God, and His Son and my Savior, Jesus. I am grateful for that night of ministry.

But when I heard the news on September 10, so many of those same feelings came blowing back through my mind. I could see that grieving widow with those two little ones. I imagined all the brokenness they were experiencing at the loss of a husband and father. I remembered the confusion I had as a nine-year-old trying to process what had just occurred without really understanding the magnitude of the impact it would have on my life.

For my dad, he probably never had another thought after he heard the gunshot which took his life. For Charlie, even though death came quickly, he probably had a few minutes to consider what was happening. I’m sure that was something unimaginable.

Between the two, sudden death or expected, I think sudden would be preferred by the one dying, but not the ones left behind. We don’t have a choice about it. But still, it is something to consider. The bottom line is to live ready. Be ready if you are the one who dies, so you will experience the eternal life beyond the one on earth. But also, be ready if you are the one left behind. Don’t have regrets. Don’t have unresolved conflict with others. Develop a relationship with the One who can keep you from being shipwrecked in life after losing someone dear.

Now for today’s blessing:

May the Lord keep you in perfect peace, because your mind is steadfast and trusting in Him

So that if trouble comes you will already be familiar with the posture of submission

So you will not be destroyed by shaken foundations

And you may keep your joy and peace when all else seems lost

May the Spirit of wisdom guide you daily so when unrest comes you can keep hope alive

So you will not dread the night, knowing joy comes in the morning

So you can keep expecting good which God has promised

And you will still be able to pursue your purpose all your days

May you embrace each day as an opportunity to know more of God

So you will be strong and do exploits

And spend your life on purpose

With an expected end of life eternal

Sunday’s Blessing – 09/07/2025 – Seasons

Sunday’s Blessing – 09/07/2025 – Seasons

Fall is already in the air, even though it is still officially two weeks away. Changes come before the day we mark the event, which is very much like life. The major events we remember usually are preceded by changes which indicate a new season is near.

There are obvious ones, like a pregnancy, which for nine months, the mother knows something is coming, while the rest of the world really doesn’t notice for a few months. Even after the outward signs can be seen, like a growing belly, it still is not officially here until the birth.

What changes are you seeing in your life? Do you pay attention to your surroundings? The people in your life? The Spirit of God who abides within you? Usually, things change slowly like the seasons. Sometimes, things change rapidly, but those you have to take as they come. But the gradual changes which we experience can be accommodated or changed if we are aware they are coming. Pay attention. Take action. Prepare if unavoidable. Work on changes if preventable. Don’t wake up in thirty years and realized you missed it.

Today’s blessing:

May you live with the awareness of God’s presence in your life

So you will not be caught off-guard by events in your life

So when change arrives you can following the leading of the Spirit

And protect your heart from hurt and keep joy in your spirit

May you bury the treasure of God’s word in your heart

So when needed it will spring up as a well of Living Water

To keep you nourished through the season you are in

And bring you out on the other side full of life

Sunday’s Blessing – 08/31/2025 – Anticipation

Sunday’s Blessing – 08/31/2025 – Anticipation

I heard the results of a study done on nursing home patients to determine why some seem to maintain a positive attitude and others seem to spiral into depression. Their findings were surprising. Comparing two residents who both had regular visits from friends or relatives, the one who seemed to exhibit a better mindset had one difference in their experience, which was also verified by others in the study.

The one who was prone toward feelings of depression had visitors, but they were not consistent or would just show up unannounced. Even though the visits were appreciated, they didn’t seem to have any lasting effect on the patient.

The patient with the more upbeat disposition had about the same number of visits. But one major difference was found. Even though the visits were not consistent, they were always “scheduled”. The patient was told in advance when they were coming, and in like fashion, the patient would speak often of their arrival. “My son is coming this Thursday,” they beamed with pride. It gave them something to look forward to. This gave them reason to get up in the morning and gave them motivation to navigate the day, because “Thursday” was only two days away.

What are you anticipating? Even though the things you are seeking don’t have an appointment, like “Thursday,” you can still place your hope that change is coming, or the desire will be met. For the Christian, being able to place your trust in God can keep us clear of the doldrums, allowing us to continue our journey, even when there is no wind in our sail. Don’t lose hope because “Thursday” is coming!

Today’s blessing:

May the God of peace give you comfort in the waiting

So you may still experience joy, even in the midst of sorrow

So you may have relief, even when there is pain

And may you have rest, even in the turmoil

May your expectations always find roots in the Promise of the Father

Because He is ever faithful, never disappointing

He is able, regardless of the size of the mountain

And will never abandon you in the valley

Sunday’s Blessing – 08/24/2025 – Perspective

Sunday’s Blessing – 08/24/2025 – Perspective

I was sitting in an airport during a layover as I travelled home from a business trip. It would be a few hours before my flight, so I found a comfortable place to sit while eating dinner in front of a window that overlooked the tarmac. All the busyness below helped distract my thoughts while I waited. I became focused on something I was doing, reading or writing, and did not realize the sun had set. To my amazement, when I looked up the next time all I could see was myself and the room behind me in the reflection of the glass.

Even though the hustle and bustle below were still in full stride, because the light inside was brighter than the light outside, it caused a mirror-like effect on the glass. I had never moved, yet my perspective had totally changed. I had gone from Somewhere to Nowhere without even moving! Everything I could see was different than it had been just moments before.

I’m sure you have had similar experiences where the environment you were in changed without notice. It may be rather quickly, like the one above, or may take much longer, years even, like in a workplace, church, or home. You begin a new job with zeal of making a difference in your world, only to find after many years that your zeal is gone and you dread waking up in the morning to make the commute to a place full of people you really don’t like to do mundane tasks for owners or bosses who do not appreciate your talents.

You may start attending a new church because of the life-giving ministry it offers, fully expecting to experience personal and corporate spiritual growth, only to find later that much of it was just hype to keep you coming back each week so you could fill a seat and the offering plate.

God made you for more. Be like the Bereans who searched the scriptures themselves to see if what they were hearing from teachers and preachers was actually a true interpretation of what God had said. Or like the prophet with Elisha (2 Kings 6) who was chopping down a tree for a building to house the work of God. The axe head came off the handle and landed in water. Without the cutting edge of the axe head any effort would be futile until it was recovered.

Never let your effectiveness suffer due to monotony or influence of others. Stay true to what you believe and the purpose for which you were created. Regardless of the environment, be aware of change around you so you can maintain a proper perspective, never allowing what is outside of you to corrupt what is on the inside. You house a valuable treasure – your soul – which should never be allowed to go to waste through meaningless existence.

Today’s blessing:

May the lyrics of this prayer become your own as you pursue the Lord

So you may experience the eternal life of God today

So you may not waste years on the hamster cage, going nowhere

So you may live fulfilled, cherishing every day as the gift from God

A Prayer by St. Fracis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. 

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Sunday’s Blessing – 08/17/2025 – The Speed of Life

Sunday’s Blessing – 08/17/2025 – The Speed of Life

One of the curious things I remember from my time as a music major at Samford University was the meaning of Latin words used by composers to indicate the tempo of songs they wrote. Adagio is approximated as the BPM of the human heart. While the speed varies slightly from person to person, and even varies by circumstances, today it is generally thought to be around 72 BPM. However, music historians believe it was much slower several centuries ago; as low as 60 BPM. This means the performance of older works are played much faster than they were originally intended.

In like fashion, it is believed that relative pitch has also changed over time. Symphonic musicians tune to an A played by the first-chair violinist. Legend has it that in an attempt to keep a sharp, crisp tone, the actual tuning of A has increased. The first-chair violinist would push the tuning slightly sharp to improve the sound. Even in the past few decades, A has gone from a frequency of 440 Hz to 442 Hz in some cases. 

Classical composers played around with various tunings. A=415 Hz, a semitone lower than modern pitch, was common for French Baroque music. Other tunings ranged from around A=392 Hz (particularly in France) to A=422 Hz (a "classical pitch" used by Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven). Some organs even reached A=480 Hz. Those same compositions, especially for voice, are now performed at a higher pitch than originally composed; possibly a minor third higher.

The point of all this is the speed of life has increased. One of my favorite lines from Stephen Wright is, “I once put instant coffee in a microwave and almost travelled in time.” We are constantly looking for an edge to get more for less; primarily getting more accomplished in less time.

While productivity may have improved, it has taken its toll on the human body. Heart rates are up, blood pressure is up, stress and strain on muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves are up, creating bodies which are struggling to keep up. At some point, the body will eventually break.

This is why it is vital to find a place of rest. A few months ago I did a series of posts on Sabbath Rest. Go back and read some of them. We must find a way to slow the pace of life so we can breathe, relax, and actually enjoy living. What’s the point of increased productivity if we are broken or dead? There’s a reason we need to stop and smell the roses. This quote is often attributed to golfer Walter Hagen, who said, "Don't hurry, don't worry, and be sure to smell the flowers along the way." Regardless of the origin, the message is still true. Take note of the things around you so you can appreciate where you are, where you have been, and look forward to where you are going.

Now for today’s blessing:

May the Lord give you grace to slow down

So you can “be still and know that He is God”

So you will know you are not alone in the race you are trying to run

And come to understand there really is not a race at all

May you accept the mercies extended each day from the Lord

So you can receive forgiveness from the past

So you can have contentment in the present

And hope for the future

May you give yourself room to change, to slow down

So you can live the life God intends you to have

So you can fulfill the purpose God has placed in your heart

And find rest in being the child of the King

Sunday’s Blessing – 08/10/2025 – Pain

Sunday’s Blessing – 08/10/2025 – Pain

The human body is an amazing machine. It has built within it the ability to heal itself. If you cut the skin and it closes back up. If you pull or tear a muscle or tendon and it repairs itself in time. One caveat to this is pain. When these things occur, especially internal injuries which cannot be directly attended to, it results in pain which is sometime difficult to manage. One thing we try is to avoid activity or motion which irritates the injury causing more pain. This avoidance is sometimes accomplished by moving differently, in an unnatural way, such as limping if the injury is in the leg or foot; contorting a shoulder if the injury is in the arm; sitting or walking differently if the injury is in the back. These unnatural movements, although helpful at avoiding the current pain, sometimes leads to secondary injuries which cause even more pain.

Similarly, emotional pain can have the same unexpected outcome. Something or someone causes us pain through their words or actions. Instead of dealing with it directly we attempt to lessen or avoid the emotional pain through avoidance or changes in our own behavior. This can lead to even greater emotional turmoil.

The worst area in which we do secondary things to solve a primary problem is in the area of our spiritual health. When we violate the relationship we have with God, it creates feelings of guilt and condemnation. If left unchecked, or in this case, unconfessed, this guilt or condemnation can grow to the point of believing God no longer loves us, or worse yet, feel there is no way to ever get back to the relationship we once enjoyed.

Of all the pain we encounter, physical pain gets our attention much more quickly. But it’s the spiritual pain which can have the deepest effect on our life. An icepack or pain meds can usually manage the physical pain, getting us almost immediate relief. Spiritual pain, if left unchecked, can lead to an early death – not physical, but spiritual – leaving us alone and miserable. Do not allow spiritual pain to remain. Apply the instant remedy available to us, which is prayer. Simply ask God to forgive and He promised He would forgive. You can be immediately restored to fellowship and back on your way to pursuing that for which you were created – to become conformed to the image of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Now for today’s blessing:

May the God of Peace and Healing bring you comfort and restoration

So when you suffer physical pain you can be healed and restored to health

Or when you suffer emotional pain you can find peace and hope through His Spirit

So you may live an abundant life, full of joy and happiness

May the God of Grace and Mercy bring you forgiveness and restoration

So when you act against the Covenant God made with you through Jesus

You will quickly find a place of repentance, asking forgiveness from God

Who has promised to restore you back to a place of total rest in Him

Sunday’s Blessing – 08/03/2025 – Change

Sunday’s Blessing – 08/03/2025 – Change

One of the few things guaranteed in life is change. Change is constant. For one thing, time never stops (except for a few exceptions noted in scripture). Each second that ticks brings something different than was there before. Whether intentionally or passively, we change with every passing moment.

The environment (not necessarily the atmospheric conditions of the earth, although they are relevant) is another factor for change which influences us, causing change in our habits, behavior, beliefs, etc. I’m speaking specifically of the people around you, the places you spend time (work, pleasure, etc.), the things you consume (food, drugs, social media, literature, education, etc.), and the activities you engage (hobby, exercise, spiritual growth, etc.).

There are basically two ways to deal with change. You can embrace it by actively working to bring about positive changes (improvement) or you can simply allow things to degrade around you brought on by atrophy and indifference. Most find a sort of happy medium where our life never really bottoms out, nor does it ever reach the potential embedded within us.

For the Christian, we have been given the opportunity to experience a life of purpose and fulfillment by embracing all God has provided for us through the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ. He can so that we might have life and plenty of it. The New Testament calls this life “zoe”, which means “the God-kind of life.” Jeremiah 29:11 says, “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.” This is fulfilled in the New Covenant. By making available to us the forgiveness of failures, restored relationship with the Creator, and the Holy Spirit resident within, we can enjoy the experience of change for the good. We can grow in every aspect into all that God has created us to be by conforming to the image of Christ.

Now for today’s blessing:

May you embrace the process of being conformed to the image of Jesus

By allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us new truth to displace the false

By allowing your mind to be renewed to habits of growth and increase

So that we may reflect the glory of God in the earth

May you realize the restoration available to make all things new

So your mourning can be turned into dancing

So your youth may be renewed like the eagle’s

And you may live out your days with joy and gladness

May you learn to laugh again as you feel this new life overcome you

As the blessings of God begin to overtake you

As the release of bitterness and anger gives way to grace and peace

And you begin to see yourself through the eyes of the One who loves you most