John 16:27, 33 The Father himself loves you dearly . . . I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

I woke up this morning to the headline “New Report on 138 Coronavirus Cases Reveals Disturbing Details.” And to an email forwarded by our mission team leader, from a pastor in Wuhan requesting intercession from the global church. Here are excerpts:

Brothers and sisters, peace:

During these past days the Wuhan pneumonia has been at the center of my thoughts and life, always seeking the latest news, always thinking of how our family and the church should face this.

The situation is so critical, yet we trust in the Lord’s promises, that his thoughts toward us are of peace, and not evil (Jer. 29:11). He allows a time of testing, not to destroy us, but to establish us. Therefore, Christians are not only to suffer with the people of this city, but we have a responsibility to pray for the fearful people of this city, and to bring to them the peace of Christ.

Firstly, we are to seek the peace of Christ to reign in their hearts (Heb. 3:15). Christ has already given us his peace, not to remove us from disaster and death, but rather to have peace in the midst of disaster and death, because Christ has already overcome these things (John 14:27, 16:33). Otherwise we have not believed in the gospel of peace (Phil. 6:15), and with the world will be terrified of pestilence, and lose hope in the face of death.

We were all sinners, but Christ, because of faith, took our penalty, and gave us his peace. Christians may with the world face the same tribulations, but such tribulations are no longer punishment, but a new opportunity to grow nearer to the Almighty, to purify our souls, an opportunity to proclaim the Gospel.

In other words, when disaster strikes us, it is but a form of God’s love, and as Paul firmly believed, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger or sword?… In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35-39).

In words for this day, Wuhan’s pestilence cannot separate us from the love of Christ. These words are so comforting for us. We have a part in his sufferings, and we have a part in his glory. Christ is with us as we face the pestilence in this city. The pestilence cannot harm us. If we die, it is an opportunity to witness to Christ, and even more to enter his glory 

Thus, my brothers and sisters, I encourage you to be strong in Christ’s love. If we more deeply experience death in this pestilence, understanding the Gospel, we may more deeply experience Christ’s love, and grow ever nearer to God.

If in reading these truths you still have no peace, I encourage you to diligently read the above cited Scriptures, call on the Lord to give you insight, until the peace of Christ reigns in your heart. You should certainly know, that this is not just a visible disaster, but even more it is a spiritual struggle, and you should firstly be waging battle for your heart, and secondarily battle for the soul of this city.

The tone and even some of the words of this letter (I quoted only a part) are similar to what we hear from pastors inside Venezuela.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. John 14:27

P.S. My daughter Rachel brought this article to my attention, about efforts to help here in Pittsburgh: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/us/pittsburgh-wuhan-coronavirus.html

Isaiah 50:4-7, 9 The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting. Because the Lord God helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame . . . See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side! [The ESV and other translations say But the Lord God helps me in verse 7.]

Looking for comfort this morning in light of so much tough stuff going on in the world, in the lives of dear friends, and for this week of remembering Karis’s death, the Lord took me to this passage that meant so much to Karis. It’s a Messianic psalm, brought to life personally for Karis with her vision of Jesus bearing her scars, that I’ve written about before. Karis felt shame for the ways medications and all of her medical trauma altered her appearance. She felt shame that she was not “accomplishing anything” with her life, compared to her friends at Notre Dame. She felt shame that she required so much attention, care, and resources to support her “useless life.” Sometimes it was hard for her to view all this through the lens of grace.

But the Lord, Sovereign over her life as over the universe, helped her. He spoke to her with words of comfort and direction. He is the same Sovereign Lord we can run to in our weariness and weakness and shame and distress.

This week I watched an interview of James Comey, former director of the FBI. He spoke candidly about how difficult it was for him and for his family to be the object of distrust, misunderstanding and scorn from people on both sides of the political spectrum. He and his wife Patrice deliberately chose a path away from the shaming and anger and bitterness, asking the question, “How can we respond to this situation in a way that brings life to ourselves and to others?” He has given me a real-life model I will not soon forget, as well as some great teaching about leadership. You can watch the whole amazing conversation here: https://www.better-angels.org/james-comey-on-the-better-angels-podcast/?link_id=1&can_id=5b5162cf4dd7d2f83f82112485324def&source=email-james-comey-on-the-better-angels-podcast&email_referrer=email_712487&email_subject=james-comey-on-the-better-angels-podcast

And one other thing I want to share with you this morning is Zechariah 1:12-13. Zechariah hears an angel questioning God (!): The angel of the Lord prayed this prayer: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for seventy years now you have been angry with Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. How long until you again show mercy to them?” And the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

Even angels question! Even the angels need comfort, and God provides it!

Often, I too ask the Lord “How long?” about one situation or another. How long until Venezuela is freed from tyranny? How long until my friend can find relief within her so-difficult family situation? How long must my friend suffer intense pain and limitations? How long until true justice rules in our country? How long until light shines into another friend’s seemingly unresolvable challenges? How long, how long . . .

The kind and comforting words the Lord is speaking to me this morning are about his sovereignty, his compassion, and about his practical help. He walks with us.

Open my eyes today, Lord, to see your face. Open my ears to hear your voice. Open my mind to understand your will and the help you are providing for TODAY. Open my heart to grow in trusting you. Open my soul to receive your comfort.

Hebrews 12:10-15 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful. But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. . . Work at living in peace with everyone . . . Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

We are just home from the white beaches and relaxing waves of Natal, Brazil, their glow still warm on our skin, our long-time Brazilian friends’ laughter still gladdening our hearts. Four airplanes (one actually a prop plane) and twenty-eight hours of travel gave me time to consider what I was flying back to. So much joy! So much sorrow! So many delights, and so many challenges.

More than at the turn of the new year, I thought about last year and this. Reviewing my joy-filled “year chapter” from 2019, Isaiah 35, took me to this passage in Hebrews, which draws from Isaiah 35:3, “The Lord will display his glory . . . With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, and do not fear.’”

Interesting: Isaiah 35:3 is based on gladness, singing joy, loveliness, and God’s glory. Hebrews 12:12 uses the same words to cap a description of God’s discipline, and points forward to hard work, the work of living at peace with each other, free of bitterness.

What’s the connection between joy and discipline, peace and hard work? How have you seen this in your own life? How do you want the Lord to strengthen your tired hands and weak knees? What challenges do you face in living at peace with those in your life, and living free of bitterness? Please take a few minutes to let me know!

Ephesians 5:8-9 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Do you, like me, struggle against the darkness of winter? Waking up in the dark, coming home from work in the dark, feeling your energy sapped when it’s dark and gray and cold . . .

This morning, looking out into the darkness, I remembered the feeling of being closed in during long days sitting with Karis in the ICU. At that time God gave me the concept of spaciousness inside me, even when my circumstances confined me. Psalm 118:5 in the NIV says “When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.” That memory made me think, “God can give me light inside even when it’s dark and gray outside.” And there it is, in this precious Scripture in Ephesians, which reminds me of Revelation 22:5, referring to the new heaven and new earth, “And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them.”

I am NOT making light of seasonal affective disorder. I know how debilitating it can be. Nor of the winter blues that affect many of us in milder fashion. But I am praying that God’s light will flood my soul, giving me joy from the inside out.

More elegantly, I’m praying this week’s Epiphany prayer (epiphany means manifestation or revelation, like the star shining on the wise men—or more simply, light):

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.

It occurs to me to offer you as well a responsive reading I put together in Portuguese last year. I don’t have time right now to re-do it in English, but if you wish, you can follow the texts through the references, or try Google Translate. Say these verses out loud. They are encouraging!

(Note: Sl=Psalm, Mq=Micah, Ef=Ephesians, Ap=Revelation; I think the rest are self-evident.)

Deus Nossa Luz

Disse Deus, “Haja luz”, e houve luz. (Gên 1.3)

Durante o dia o Senhor ia adiante deles, numa coluna de nuvem, para guia-los no caminho, e de noite, numa coluna de fogo, para iluminá-los, e assim podiam caminhar de dia e de noite.

A coluna de nuvem não se afastava do povo de dia, nem a coluna de fogo, de noite. (Êx 13.21-22)

Tu és a minha lâmpada, ó Senhor! O Senhor ilumina-me as trevas. (2 Sam 22.29)

Tu, Senhor, manténs acesa a minha lâmpada; o meu Deus transforma em luz as minhas trevas. (Sl 18.28)

O Senhor é a minha luz e a minha salvação; de quem terei temor? (Sl 27.1)

Pois em ti está a fonte da vida; graças à tua luz, vemos a luz. (Sl 36.9)

Envia a tua luz e a tua verdade; elas me guiarão e me levarão ao teu santo monte, ao lugar onde habitas. (Sl 43.3)

Não foi pela espada que conquistaram a terra . . . foi pela luz do teu rosto, por causa do teu amor. (Sl 44.3)

Pois me livraste da morte e os meus pés de tropeçarem, para que eu ande diante de Deus na luz que ilumina os vivos. (Sl 56.13)

Escuta-nos, Pastor de Israel, tu, que tens o teu trono sobre os querubins, manifesta o teu esplendor. Desperta o teu poder, e vem salvar-nos! (Sl 80.1-2)

Restaura-nos, ó Deus! Faze resplandecer sobre nós o teu rosto, para que sejamos salvos. (Sl 80.3)

Restaura-nos, ó Deus dos Exércitos; faze resplandecer sobre nós o teu rosto, para que sejamos salvos. (Sl 80.7)

Restaura-nos, ó Senhor, Deus dos Exércitos; faze resplandecer sobre nós o teu rosto, para que sejamos salvos. (Sl 80.19)

Como é feliz o povo que aprendeu a aclamar-te, Senhor, e que anda na luz da tua presença! (Sl 89.15)

A luz nasce sobre o justo e a alegria sobre os retos de coração. (Sl 97.11)

Ó Senhor, me Deus, tu és tão grandioso! Estás vestido de majestade e esplendor! Envolto em luz como numa veste, tu estendes os céus como uma tenda. (Sl 104.1-2)

A luz raia nas trevas para o íntegro, para quem é misericordioso, compassivo e justo. (Sl 112.4)

A tua palavra é lâmpada que ilumina os meus passos e luz que clareia o meu caminho. (Sl 119.105)

A explicação das tuas palavras ilumina e dá discernimento aos inexperientes. (Sl 119.130)

Mesmo que eu diga que as trevas me encobrirão, e que a luz se tornará noite ao meu redor, verei que nem as trevas são escuras para ti. A noite brilhará como o dia, pois para ti as trevas são luz. (Sl 139.11-12)

A vereda do justo é como a luz da alvorada, que brilha cada vez mais até a plena claridade do dia. (Pr 4.18)

A luz dos justos resplandece esplendidamente, mas a lâmpada dos ímpios apaga-se. (Pr 13.9)

O espírito do homem é a lâmpada do Senhor, e vasculha cada parte do seu ser. (Pr 20.27)

Venha, andemos na luz do Senhor! (Is 2.5)

O povo que caminhava em trevas viu uma grande luz; sobre os que viviam na terra da sombra da morte raiou uma luz. (Is 9.2, Mt 4.16)

Farei de você uma luz para os gentios, para que você leve a minha salvação até os confins da terra. (Is 49.6, At 13.47)

Quem entre vocês teme o Senhor e obedece à palavra de seu servo? Que aquele que anda no escuro, que não tem luz alguma, confie no nome do Senhor e se apoie em seu Deus. (Sl 50.10)

Escute-me, povo meu: minha justiça se tornará uma luz para as nações. (Is 51.4)

Se com renúncia própria você beneficiar os famintos e satisfizer o anseio dos aflitos, então a sua luz despontará nas trevas, e a sua noite será como o meio-dia. (Is 58.10)

Levante-se, refulja! Porque chegou a sua luz, e a glória do Senhor raia sobre você. (Is 60.1)

Olhe! A escuridão cobre a terra, densas trevas envolvem os povos, mas sobre você raia o Senhor, e sobre você se vê a sua glória. (Is 60.2)

O Senhor será a sua luz para sempre; o seu Deus será a sua glória. (Is 60.19)

O Senhor será a sua luz para sempre, e os seus dias de tristeza terão fim. (Is 60.20)

Embora eu esteja morando nas trevas, o Senhor será a minha luz. (Mq 7.8)

Ele me fará sair para a luz; comtemplarei a sua justiça. (Mq 7.9)

No princípio era aquele que é a Palavra. Ele estava com Deus, e era Deus. Nele estava a vida, e esta era a luz dos homens. (Jo 1.1, 4)

A luz brilha nas trevas, e as trevas não a derrotaram. (Jo 1.5)

Estava chegando ao mundo a verdadeira luz, que ilumina todos os homens. (Jo 1.9)

Quem pratica a verdade vem para a luz, para que se veja claramente que as suas obras são realizadas por intermédio de Deus. (Jo 3.21)

Jesus disse: “Eu sou a luz do mundo. Quem me segue, nunca andará em trevas, mas terá a luz da vida”. (Jo 8.12)

Eu vim ao mundo como luz, para que todo aquele que crê em mim não permaneça nas trevas. (Jo 12.46)

Eu o envio para abrir-lhes os olhos e convertê-los das trevas para a luz, e do poder de Satanás para Deus, a fim de que recebam o perdão dos pecados e herança entre os que são santificados pela fé em mim. (At 26.18)

Vejam a luz do evangelho da glória de Cristo, que é a imagem de Deus. (2 Co 4.4)

Pois não pregamos a nós mesmos, mas a Jesus Cristo o Senhor. Pois Deus, que disse: “Das trevas resplandeça a luz”, ele mesmo brilhou em nossos corações.

Para iluminação do conhecimento da glória de Deus na face de Cristo. (2 Co 4.5)

Oro para que os olhos do coração de vocês sejam iluminados. (Ef 1.18)

Porque outrora vocês eram trevas, mas agora são luz no Senhor. Vivam como filhos da luz. (Ef 5.8)

Pois o fruto da luz consiste em toda bondade, justiça e verdade. (Ef 5.9)

Desperta, ó tu que dormes, levanta-te dentre os mortos e Cristo resplandecerá sobre ti. (Ef 5.14)

Brilhem como estrelas no universo, retendo firmemente a palavra da vida. (Fp 2.15-16)

O Pai nos tornou dignos de participar da herança dos santos no reino da luz. (Cl 1.12)

Pois ele nos resgatou do domínio das trevas e nos transportou para o Reino do seu Filho amado. (Cl 1.13)

Vocês, irmãos, não estão nas trevas. Vocês são filhos da luz, filhos do dia. (1Ts 5.4-5)

Nós que somos do dia, sejamos sóbrios, vestindo a couraça da fé e do amor e o capacete da esperança da salvação. (1Ts 5.8)

Jesus é o bendito e único Soberano, o Rei dos reis e Senhor dos senhores, o único que é imortal e habita em luz inacessível. (1Tm 6.16)

Vocês são povo exclusivo de Deus, para anunciar as grandezas daquele que os chamou das trevas para a sua maravilhosa luz. (1Pe 2.9)

Deus é luz; nele não há treva alguma.

Se afirmarmos que temos comunhão com ele, mas andamos nas trevas, mentimos e não praticamos a verdade.

Se, porém, andarmos na luz, como ele está na luz, temos comunhão uns com os outros, e o sangue de Jesus, seu Filho, nos purifica de todo pecado. (1Jo 1.5-7)

Pois as trevas estão se dissipando e já brilha a verdadeira luz.

Quem afirma estar na luz mas odeia seu irmão, continua nas trevas. Quem ama seu irmão permanece na luz. (1Jo 2.8-10)

A Cidade Santa, a nova Jerusalém, não precisa de sol nem de lua para brilharem sobre ela, pois a glória de Deus a ilumina, e o Cordeiro é a sua candeia. As nações andarão em sua luz. (Ap 21.23-24)

Santo, santo, santo é o Senhor, o Deus todo-poderoso, que era, que é e que há de vir.

Tu, Senhor e Deus nosso, és digno de receber a glória, a honra e o poder.

Digno é o Cordeiro que foi morto de receber poder, riqueza, sabedoria, força, honra, glória e louvor!

TODOS JUNTOS: Àquele que está assentado no trono e ao Cordeiro sejam o louvor, a honra, a glória e o poder, para todo o sempre! Amém. (Ap 4.8, 11; 5.12-14)

Psalm 9:6-10 The cities you uprooted are now forgotten. But the Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne. He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness. The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Psalm 9 is the appointed lectionary psalm this morning. How appropriate, in light of world events! It would seem not much has changed in the world in terms of violence in the thousands of years since David wrote this song. I am so glad today for this reminder that ultimately, God is in control. One day we will see everything put right, even in Venezuela.

The needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed. Arise, O Lord! . . . Let the nations know they are merely human (Ps 9:18-20).

Romans 5:15 There is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

“Please, sir. I want some more.”

The first minute of this scene from “Oliver” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tOkpntQtBM, could be seen as a caricature of an idea of God that some of us grew up believing. At the Bumbles’ orphanage, the best way to survive—to avoid wrath and punishment—was to keep one’s head down, follow the rules, be as invisible as possible, and express neither opinions nor needs. When Oliver drew the short straw in the “more, please” dare, the consequences he suffered were severe.

This picture—thank God! even when toned down—bears no relation to what our Father is like.

One of my friends often says, “Where there’s some, there’s more.” I’ve pondered this idea for years. What does it mean? I’ve noticed my friend using this phrase in two contexts, one in relation to personal need, and the other in relation to others’ needs. In both cases, the phrase expresses a life philosophy of abundance, in contrast with zero-sum, which does make sense if God is not in the picture. She would attribute her view to God’s inexhaustible nature and his openhanded care for his children.

My friend might say, for example, “I can share freely, because I can count on God giving even more abundantly to me.” Or “I can receive with joy, because there’s more where that came from—enough for everyone!” These are revolutionary thoughts for someone who grew up like I did, with a recurring nightmare as a young child of ending my life because there wasn’t “enough” of anything to go around to all eight of us kids.

This weekend I was caught off guard by strong words from several friends. I found myself thinking, “Where there’s some, there’s more. I love these people. Behind my love is God’s amazing, limitless love for them. I don’t need to become reactive. I can draw from the richness and depth of God’s love and respond gently.” A baby step toward living out of his unfailing “More.”

This morning I woke up with the wonderful words of this hymn by Don Moen filling my heart with gratitude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOhFfSFK7TQ:

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His pow’r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done;
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

              His love has no limit . . .

God’s greatest Gift, the Word made flesh—the precious Child we honor this sixth day of Christmas, visible image of the invisible God—shows us what our Father is like. John says God’s unfailing love and faithfulness come to us through Jesus, grace upon grace (1:16-17).

As I contemplate 2020, my deepest desire is to grow into this grace, to notice and actively embrace what leads to love. Will you join me? Tell me your story.

Alleluia, to us a child is born.

O come, let us adore him.

Psalm 68:3-6 Let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with his joy. Sing praises to God and to his name! . . . Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God . . . God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

I didn’t want to do Christmas. Grief caught me off guard, because last year was fine. I thought I was past that flood of painful feelings. Instead of “merry and bright,” I wanted to hide away somewhere by myself.

Added to missing Karis and her joy in this season, I’ve been lamenting (that’s not too strong a word) the story of our country, caught up with Nehemiah in confessing and mourning the sins and abuses of my people. Wondering what forgiveness looks like. Wondering what restitution looks like. Wondering what healing looks like.

Into all this sadness, God gave me Psalm 68, and he gives me Advent. Acknowledging our brokenness opens doors to true heart-gladness. (See this article published in the New York Times—Tish Harrison Warren is “author-in-residence” at our church: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/opinion/sunday/christmas-season-advent-celebration.html)

And God gave me a special experience of community. I risked sharing my sadness with some friends. Instead of judging me, they said “We’ll help you!” And they did. They laid aside their own busy-ness and came over for an evening to help me get ready for Christmas. Even the husband of one of my friends came! He cheerfully decorated cookies for me. Aren’t they cute?

Somehow my friends’ generosity helped me over my emotional hump. The experience reminded me of my sister Jan’s comment on the ButGod posting Nov 29:

I wondered if Caleb’s quick response to Val’s “you’re OK” was partly due to his already having been attended to by you. . . Maybe he would have responded just as well if Val had spoken to him in the midst of the initial meltdown . . . But it seems like a picture of our role in caring for each other in community. We can sometimes provide the immediate holding that allows the other to then perceive/receive God’s “you’re OK; I’m here.”

Isn’t that lovely? God recognizes our need for each other, not “just” for him.

I’m listening to Chris Tomlin’s “This Is Our God.” Yes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwfHkZOU1_o

John 18:33-38 Pilate called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him. Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked.

I thought of this intriguing passage when I read this opinion piece in the New York Times yesterday morning: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/us/politics/lies-damned-lies-and-washington.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_191210?campaign_id=2&instance_id=14319&segment_id=19468&user_id=4c581b5e2a85dc7aee8f698dd30213e0&regi_id=609579281210

The question “What is truth?” matters now as much as it did two thousand years ago. Jesus wasn’t afraid to address it boldly, despite strong reactions. See, for example, John 8:42-47 and Matthew 15:10-20. He clearly believed objective truth existed, and that it mattered. In fact, in his conversation with Pilate, Jesus made what seems like a leap in logic, from the question of being a king to this bald statement: “I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth.”

Here are some questions I’m thinking about:

• Is it possible to exercise political authority in this world while speaking only truth?
• Do we have any examples of absolute integrity among our political leaders, past or present?
• Was it possible for Jesus to speak only truth because his Kingdom is not of this world?
• If truth was so important to Jesus, yet so hard to find in our political arena, dare I align myself and the name of my holy Lord to ANY specific politician or political persuasion?

While I ponder, I do know for sure that God wants me to think and speak truth, as faithfully as I am able to discern what that is.

Psalm 78:17-25 Yet they [God’s people] kept on rebelling against the Most High in the desert. . . They even spoke against God himself, saying “God can’t give us food in the wilderness. Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out, but he can’t give his people bread and meat.” . . . For they did not believe God or trust him to care for them. But he commanded the skies to open; he rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them bread from heaven . . . God gave them all they could hold.

Sometimes it’s easier for me to trust God with big things than with smaller, ongoing, daily challenges. Do you find that true?

I’ve been remembering the fall of 2004, when after setting records for her recovery from intestinal transplant, Karis’s body rejected her graft and nothing the doctors could do was successful in turning that around. She received every medication available to reverse the rejection, which meant her immune system was wiped out. I was able to trust God through the ensuing Legionnaire’s Disease, which took her to the ICU for 75 days. God did AMAZING things to save her life. Big time miracles! (See story posted on 2/4/19.)

In mid-January 2005 Karis was released from the ICU. She was too weak even to push the call bell to request help from the nurses. She was told she might never walk again. She had ongoing horrible nightmares from the high levels of fentanyl she had required in the ICU. I was the only person she trusted. She had no intestine, since her bleeding, disintegrating graft had been removed. Her daily “bread from heaven” was called TPN, nutrition directly into her veins. She bounced back and forth from the rehab hospital to the “regular” hospital as she developed chronic pancreatitis, liver failure, and multiple episodes of sepsis.

One day I received an email from a friend telling me she knew someone “like Karis” who had been cured through a special diet. If Karis would only follow this diet, she would be fine. Umm . . . I guess my friend had missed the fact that Karis had NO INTESTINE. Therefore, she couldn’t eat ANYTHING. For some reason, that email made me inordinately angry. I guess it triggered the frustration that was building up in me day after difficult day. And I felt hurt. If my friend didn’t understand the basic realities of our situation, she really hadn’t been tracking with us at all. I told myself never to offer advice unless I had taken the time to be sure I correctly grasped what was going on in a given situation. (Good to be reminded of this again!)

Every single day of 2005 challenged me to trust God for what Karis and I needed for that day. Jesus’ words stood out in bold relief: “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Mt 6:34). And God provided the manna, one day at a time. Faithfulness to our needs for each day (Lam 3:23). Thank you, Lord.

Psalm 75:1-4 We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. God says, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked. The earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, but I am the one who keeps its foundations firm.”

Last night after a long and delightful Thanksgiving family day, our grandson hit his limit. A small thing (in my adult eyes) triggered a two-year-old meltdown. I held Caleb as he sobbed, his little head on my shoulder, his body heaving. Clearly, it was time for his parents to take him home to bed.

And then his mom entered the room. Still some distance away, she said calmly, “Caleb, you’re OK. Everything is fine.” Immediately, like turning off a faucet, Caleb stopped crying, turned around, reached out for his mom, cuddled for a couple of minutes, and then jumped on his Uncle Dan for more rambunctious play with Urso, his teddy bear. Caleb was cheerful and engaged the whole next hour until his family went home.

Last night, Valerie was the one who kept her son’s foundations firm. But I’ve seen the same thing happen with Caleb’s dad, Cesar. Reading Psalm 75 this morning, I found myself praying, “Lord, thank you that you are near, not far away. Give me trust in you like Caleb has in his parents. Help me to trust your promise and your plans. When my foundations seem to be giving way, I want to instinctively reach out to you.”

“When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay . . .” ALL other ground is sinking sand.