Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Tucker

I was born in 1958, so I’ve seen many versions of myself in the mirror since graduating from high school. In recent years, there have been times I’ve wondered, “Who stole my face?“ However, I’ve never looked into the mirror and thought, “Who is that?“ I still recognize myself, thanks to Revlon. After all, grandmas are just antique little girls!

I like the everyday language of The Message for James 1:23,24: “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.”

It’s one thing to read your Bible; it’s another thing to do your Bible. Your life as a Christ follower begins in knowing what God wants you to do. And then we glorify Him when we actually do it. “Not everyone who says to Me, ’Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21 NKJV).

With a new year ahead, may I suggest we look daily into the perfect mirror of God’s Word. This mirror accurately reflects every detail of your life in a clear image. Comparing yourself to other people will always give you a fuzzy image. The best way for you to have a “Happy New Year” is to obey God’s Word. The proof is in the pudding with this scripture: “But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it (James 1:25 NLT). God’s perfect law is love — plain and simple. The lifestyle of a real disciple is loving God and loving others. In a nutshell, be a doer of the Word and you will be blessed.

God’s Word is the only trustworthy mirror for our spiritual lives. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16,17 NLT). You will not find godly direction from reading your horoscope or consulting a psychic. In fact, if you’re participating in anything apart from God’s spiritual realm, you’re opening the door to a spirit of darkness.

Joel Hemphill composed the encouraging song “He’s Still Workin’ on Me” many years ago. As long as we continue in Christ, we’ll be transformed into His likeness. “In the mirror of His Word, reflections that I see make me wonder why He never gave up on me. But He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray. Remember, He’s the Potter, I’m the clay. He’s still workin’ on me to make me what I ought to be.” God loves you too much to leave you the way you are, so He will keep sculpting you into His image. Now that’s a happy thought for the year 2021!

The Key: Jesus is the fairest of all, and His Word tells you when you need to clean your mirror.

Little things matter. Need proof?

Ask the players on the Dallas Cowboys football team when the holder failed to turn the seams to face the kicker.

Ask me when I ignore auto-correct while texting and my friend reads “You look greasy” instead of “You look great.”

Ask my friend who trusted the pop-up thermometer on her Thanksgiving turkey and sliced into its bloody center.

Ask the bachelor who mistook salt for flour in the birthday cake he prepared for his date.

Ask the families of the Challenger disaster after a fifty-cent O-ring failed to do its job.

Ask my husband when, after I set off the fire alarm by burning mashed potatoes, he gave the security company the wrong password.

No doubt, you readers have your own tales of some minor issue escalating into a major problem. Hopefully yours are more on the humorous side instead of resulting in a more serious outcome like some I have mentioned.

Every day we can make little things matter. A smile to a stranger…perhaps even a “Good morning.” An offer to help a wheelchair shopper nab something on the top row. The will power to resist that chocolate chip cookie (so I’ve been told). A giggle.

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.” – Luke 16:10

Jesus addressed the crowd with a story of a rich man who had three slaves to whom he gave an amount of money, referred to as talents, and told them to care for what had been handed them. The first steward was given five talents, the second, two, and the third, one. The first two servants used the talents to trade and gain profit, returning to their master with double the talents. The third servant was fearful of his master and hid his one talent, returning only that to his master.

The story concludes in Matthew 25:29-30: For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Oopsie! No mere slap on the wrist for this guy. He did nothing to grow what he had been given, to improve someone else’s life. This master is ticked off because, according to him, little things definitely did matter.

Jesus took time for the little things. He chose 12 disciples, not 120. He always was willing to stop to heal one hemorrhaging woman, one blind man, one paralytic. He fed 5000 with two fish and five loaves of bread. Little things with big impact.

Not all of us will become preachers at mega churches or have a Grammy-winning album or translate the Bible into the Jieng language, but most of us will start 2021 with at least one resolution. Instead of setting large goals (I will lose 100 pounds this year/witness to everyone I meet), how about aiming for a pound a week or being in tune with God’s prodding? You know, attainable goals.

We just need to know that in taking care of the small details, we will be serving our Master well. In doing that, large things—God-pleasing things–can be accomplished.

Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Tucker

The Light of the World is Jesus

I appreciate and enjoy the annual Christmas light-and-music show on Margrave. The beautiful lights remind me of the star that shone above the stable where the Light of the World was born. Mary and Joseph saw, with their own eyes, the message from the angels come alive. The Messiah had come at last, but what a strange way for a King to be born! It makes sense that the first visitors at the manger were shepherds. For they were instructed by an angel to leave their flocks of sheep and go to Bethlehem to see the newborn Lamb of God. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11 NKJV).

Our heavenly Father loved the world so deeply that He sent His one and only Son as a baby to die for the sins of the whole world. The good news of great joy was for all people. The everlasting Light of Jesus is still shining in the dark streets of 2020. Jesus came as the Living Word to redeem and set everyone free from the harsh grip of sin. Jesus said, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46 NKJV). The blessed Redeemer wants the world to believe in Him and receive eternal life in Him.

God dearly loves people and He didn’t want anyone living in the dark with no hope. He designed a divine and perfect plan of redemption. “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine” (Isaiah 9:2 NLT). The Light that would shine would be God’s anointed King. God’s answer to an arrogant and lost world was a little baby. This Wonderful Mediator lit up the world with peace and goodwill to all men. And as the mighty Lion of Judah, He turned the world upside-down and set it on fire.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12 NLT). From my childhood, I remember singing the hymn, “The Light of the World is Jesus.” Philip P. Bliss penned these sobering lyrics: “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin. The Light of the world is Jesus. Once I was blind, but now I can see. The Light of the world is Jesus.”

As we celebrate the Prince of Peace, the Christian carols we sing are biblical doctrine in poetic verse set to music. Our Christmas hymns present the truths of the virgin birth, Christ’s deity, salvation, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in believers.

The Lamb of God was the only perfect sacrifice for our sins. John the Baptist confirmed who Jesus was: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29 NLT). In the last book of the Bible, The bright Morning Star is still shining His powerful Light. “The city [heaven] had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light” (Revelation 21:23 NKJV).

The Key: Jesus is the Light of the world, and He always will be.

(Thank you, Jim, for the following email.)

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art, including paintings from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire their collection. When the Vietnam-conflict broke out, the son went to war. He courageously died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day and was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart. He died instantly. He often talked about you and your love for art.” The young man held out this package. “I know this isn’t much. I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.”

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father’s eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.”

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before showing them any of the other collected works.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited to purchase one of the paintings. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?” There was silence…

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one” But the auctioneer persisted. “Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200.”

Another voice cried angrily. “We didn’t come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh’s, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!”

But still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The son! Who’ll take the son?” Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

“We have $10, who will bid $20?”

“Give it to him for $10. Let’s see the masters.” The crowd was becoming angry. They didn’t want the son’s picture. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!”

A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now let’s get on with the collection!”

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I’m sorry, the auction is over.”

“What about the paintings?”

“I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will… Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.”

God gave His son over 2,000 years ago to die on the Cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is “The Son, the Son, who’ll take the Son?”

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything!

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. John 3:16

Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Tucker

When there’s a challenging situation in your life, you’ll find Jesus at the front end prompting His compassionate servants into action. These kind people are the “givers.” And then you’ll also find Jesus at the back end, where hopeful individuals are the “receivers.”

God likes to use His children as givers to accomplish His plans. He does miracles without human assistance, but He also works through those who love and serve Him. Jesus was talking about compassionate believers with obedient servants’ hearts in Matthew 25:37-40 NKJV: “The righteous will answer Him, saying, ’Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, ’Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

God likes for His children to pray boldly and specifically ask Him for what they need (see Hebrews 4:16). As God moves in response, these believers become receivers. The scripture reveals, “And my God shall supply ALL your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NASB). Well, there He is again. Jesus is everywhere we turn. But we should already know that because He says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Revelation 22:13 NKJV).

Make sure you recognize Jesus when He shows up because He wears a lot of different faces. Here’s a partial list of what He’s done for us over the last several months: Jesus has baked a blackberry pie, shoveled gravel onto our lane, brought out Schwan’s meals, baked desserts, provided home-cooked meals, and sent cards. Jesus has changed the oil in our van, filled up our gas tank, cut hair, shared garden vegetables, mowed our yard and pasture, and cut and delivered wood. Jesus has been a chauffeur, changed the lawnmower oil, prayed for us, run the Weed Eater, given money, and even mailed a box of Queen Anne’s chocolate-covered cherries to us. The face of Jesus is beautiful — and He looks just like our family and friends! As humble receivers with grateful hearts, we count our blessings and thank God.

There are times when life lands you in a pit to slug it out with a vicious lion. In the Old Testament we read about Benaiah, one of King David’s mightiest men. He was a valiant warrior who did many heroic deeds. “…on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it” (2 Samuel 23:20 NLT). Humanly speaking, the odds were against him, but Benaiah won anyway. I don’t think it’s too far-fetched to believe that Benaiah looked up from the bottom of the pit and saw the offered hand of a friend to help him climb out.

Jesus is a chain breaker and a heart mender, and He’s not afraid of lions or hard work. So when you’re asking, believing, and standing for your breakthrough, rest assured Jesus will show up with His sleeves rolled up and His work gloves on.

The Key: No matter which end you’re on, Jesus is there.

The confused, American woman asked me to help her fill out the form needed for her passport permit. Her adult son was too busy, I guess, as he spent his time in line perusing his leather-covered folder which contained every possible document (including multiple copies) to make him legal in Mexico. “Dan and Ruth” told me that they were on a mission trip.

Dave and I were driving to Mazatlán and were crossing into Mexico at the Columbia, Texas, border, notorious for little traffic and hassle-free trips. Not this time. The line of cars was crazy- long, and since only one lane was open, we had no choice but to pull in behind the other hundred vehicles waiting their turn. After fifteen minutes of not moving, an impatient truck driver behind us zigzagged out of line, followed by several dozen other drivers, determined to squeeze in at the front. At this rate, we wouldn’t cross into Mexico until 2021.

All along the line, passengers began exiting their vehicles, paperwork in hand, so that while the driver waited to pull forward, they could be inside having their passports, etc. checked. I did likewise. The drivers who had cheated by pulling around us had created a monster.

(How is it that some people think they are above the rules?)

Once inside, I waited in line for my passport to be checked. That’s where I met Dan and Ruth. When my paperwork was completed, I was told that I needed copies and had to get into line #2 where, for a fee, all of our documents were copied and snacks were sold. Once finished, I noticed Ruth in the middle of the copy line. Overly-prepared Dan was meandering about, double-checking his multiple copies, and that’s when I sprang into action. “Dan, Ruth doesn’t have to stand in line. You have copies of everything, so you’re set.”

He excitedly told Ruth that they could bypass line #2 and go directly to Line #3. Once she exited the line, thanking me profusely, an official asked if they had a copy of the passport document they received in line #1. No, they didn’t have that copy. Only the original. Well, then, they needed to get in line #2 to get it. I avoided eye contact.

Line #3 had about 50 people ahead of me…definitely the longest line because that’s where all of our documents were checked and verified and where I noticed that the buddy system was alive and well. Waiting people who had bypassed the #2 line handed their paperwork to a friend who then joined the #2 group. Only they didn’t just join it. They crowded in the front of the people who had been waiting patiently (like Ruth). Not only did they get copies, they loaded up on bags of snacks. Seriously…were Dan, Ruth and I the only ones for whom the rules applied? Why weren’t more people like us? Examples of preparedness and patience.

After an hour wait, it was my turn to stand behind the plexi-glass window and pray that I had all the legal paperwork I needed. Title to car and copy of title. Check. Passport and copy of passport. Check. Permit to enter Mexico and copy of permit to enter Mexico. Check. Mexican insurance forms. Check. So far, so good.

“What is your license plate number?”

No check. “I have no idea.”

“Well, Senora, I have to have it.”

I phoned Dave who, I imagined, still had to be in the car line. He didn’t answer. I called again. Same result. I texted. He called me. I accidentally hung up on him. I refused to turn around, knowing I would be the recipient of well-deserved glares as I held up the line. Murmurs could be heard: “Why is it some people think they have the right to get in line before they are prepared?” Granted, it was in Spanish, and they could have been asking for some Cheetos, but I’m pretty sure that’s what they were saying.

In Matthew 7:1 Jesus told his followers, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged,” a scripture many people in line that day needed to heed. Just glad that didn’t include me.

Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Tucker

In the 60s and 70s, I had the privilege of growing up around country people in a small town (population 1,063) in Missouri. Thinking back to my roots, I’m especially fond of the rural dialect I heard and spoke everyday. These informal phrases were not found in a dictionary, but no one ever had to explain their meaning. For example: “ugly as a mud fence, skinny as a rail, big as a barn, two heads are better than one, a heart as big as a washtub” and the list could go on until the cows come home. Today I’m focusing on the colloquial slang of being “between a rock and a hard place.” Again, no explanation is necessary and I would imagine most every adult has been there, or is there right now.

This phrase gives the impression that you’re stuck and there’s no way out. But I want you to know there’s one adjustment to one word that can turn your situation completely around. If you’ll capitalize the letter “r” in “rock,” you have “Rock.” King David said, “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. He alone is my Rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken“ (Psalm 62:5,6 NLT). When you have God as your Rock on one side, it doesn’t matter what the hard place is on the other side. God is bigger than any “mountain” you will ever come up against. He’s not asleep at the wheel, He knows what’s going on, and He’s working in secret to bring you out in victory.

As a believer, you have a responsibility to exercise your faith and believe that your Rock will deliver you. God needs you to work with Him in cooperating with His Word (which is His will), purposes, and plan. If you’ve thrown in the towel and given up, you’re not giving God anything to work with! The Bible is full of powerful scriptures to help you through tough times. But if you don’t truly believe them as your own personal promises, you’ll continue to struggle with fear and doubt. God doesn’t want His children to be miserable, so He tells us, “Do not tremble; do not be afraid. …Is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock — not one!” (Isaiah 44:8 NLT).

I don’t know what your personal “hard place” is, but God does. You must learn to trust Him to do what only He can do. Jesus told His disciples, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible” (Matthew 19:26 NLT). The definition of everything is: every thing; all. Or if you prefer a country dialect, it means “the whole shebang.” “Now all glory to God who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think“ (Ephesians 3:20 NLT).

My favorite gospel songwriter, Dottie Rambo, composed the lyrics and music to “I Go to the Rock.” In 1996, Whitney Houston performed this song in the hit movie “The Preacher’s Wife.” Here are some of the lyrics: “Where do I go when there’s no one else to turn to? Who do I talk to when it seems no one wants to listen? Who do I lean on when there’s no foundation stable? I go to the Rock I know that’s able, I go to the Rock.”

The Key: If you’re between the Rock and a hard place, you can trust God that everything is going to be all right.

“We are blessed so that we will bless others.”

Jenn, a mutual fund expert, teared up when sharing that phrase that she had heard from a Colorado pastor. “Which is why we are here.”

I was in Kansas City for a workday to begin cleaning up a strip of buildings being converted to a shelter for prostitutes/trafficked women. For several months, my son, Adam, and his family have been involved with others like Jenn and her husband, Jared, in procuring a house to serve as a safe home for these women to be “loved on.” Just when they thought they had found the perfect place, doors would close and they would start searching again.

That’s when Jenn and Jared begin driving around Kansas City’s roughest neighborhoods where they observed prostitutes working. They wanted their facility to be in the heart of that area, so when they saw a “For Sale” sign on a group of dilapidated buildings, they got excited. A tour of the stores and apartments above reeked of danger, as floors were falling in and little was salvageable. To the trafficking team, it was loaded with potential, an opportunity for God to work.

Jenn spoke to me of the time when she and Jared were in front of their new purchase and watched a decked-out truck pull up to the curb; the driver kicked (literally) a woman onto the sidewalk, her pants around her ankles. A twelve-year old neighbor boy saw her lying there, battered and bruised, and ran inside his house to grab a blanket to cover her. She became one of the first people tended to and loved on by the young couple–confirmation to Jenn that God was blessing their dream and they were in the right neighborhood.

To Jenn, even Covid was a blessing. Normally she spends her weeks on a plane, flying around the country, but when she no longer could do that, she had time to spend on this endeavor. Jenn continued, “God did what only He does best.”

Volunteers began lining up to help, a church made a donation, a medical team signed on, and soon a “Christine’s Place” banner hung between two upstairs, painted windows. Literally, painted windows. When the glass broke years ago, instead of replacing it, the owner covered the holes with plywood and had windows painted on.

I met Christine yesterday. A recovering prostitute, she showed up, decked out in her Sunday finest and escorted by an elderly gentleman, her arm linked in his. Christine used to “work” that street until she was beaten so badly that she quit. She became pregnant, and her sight began failing. The doctor gave her a choice: use the medicine, save the eye but lose the baby, or lose the eye and save the baby. She chose the latter and gave her baby daughter up for adoption. Her second pregnancy offered her the same choice. Again, she chose blindness over abortion and today is completely blind. Her fourteen-year old son lives with her.

Some news stations were there to do a story on “Christine’s Place” and were amazed to see the number of men and women giving up their Saturdays to use their expertise to make this dream a reality. Christine was an instant hit, as were the carpenters, back-hoe drivers, donated clothes’ folders, and clean-up crew. From 10 years old to 84, people were there to help.

During this Christmas season, I pray that we all recognize that Jenn’s words are the formula for how we are to live our lives: “We are blessed so that we will bless others.”

May we all find a way to put those words into action.

Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Tucker

When Elvis Presley, American icon, concluded his concerts and exited the stage, Ed Hill, gospel quartet singer and stage announcer would say: “Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.“ This statement had to be made for the sake of the devoted fans. Otherwise, they would not leave their seats and go home because they were hoping Elvis would come back out and do an encore, or at least take another bow. Some still say, “Elvis may have left the building, but his fans are still there.“

I recently saw a t-shirt that read, “The Church has left the building.” That’s a powerful and scriptural declaration. The Bible repeats incidences of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day criticizing Him because He associated with sinners. He spent very little of His ministry preaching in the Temple. He went where the people were. Today, can we effectively proclaim Christ Jesus outside the walls of a church environment? I think so. Every concert Elvis gave would include some gospel music, confirming that Christ can be proclaimed in diverse venues. Thousands of people, who skipped out on attending church, were impacted by the gospel message of “How Great Thou Art.”

One day when Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw professional fishermen Simon Peter and Andrew casting their net into the water. They must have had a hungering in their hearts, for when Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men,“ they immediately hung up their nets and followed Him.

If you’re going to fish, you have to go where the fish are. You can’t catch a fish up in a tree, nor can you expect them to jump out of the water into your arms. If you’re going to fish for men, you must go where the people are. You shouldn’t expect them to come to the church building, although occasionally they do. And in that case, how do you treat them when they walk into the building? Do they leave thinking they’ve been loved by the Body of Christ?

Jesus fished for men everywhere He went. Scriptures reveal that He ate supper at the home of Simon the leper (Mark 14:30). He taught and ate dinner at the home of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42). He disrupted a funeral procession just outside the village of Nain (Luke 7:11-15). Yes, Jesus attended weddings and visited cemeteries and everything in-between. He preached in the synagogues, but the religious leaders usually wanted to kill Him, so he fished elsewhere.

Exiting the sanctuary is where the rubber meets the road. When the Church (believers) leave the building, they have a God-given responsibility to fish for men. When you’re around people, that’s your opportunity to fish. Jesus has left planet earth, but His followers are still here. So always use the bait of love, and remember that you catch ‘em and Jesus cleans ‘em.

The Key: Like the dead boy of Nain, get up, get out, and go fishing in Jesus‘ name!

This was a hard week. Two ZOOM Bible studies brought news no one wants to hear. Monday night’s group has prayed for Adam, a thirty-two-year-old husband and father, for months. Today, Karen, his mother and ZOOM member, forwarded the email he sent her: The tumor in my colon did not shrink nearly as well as the surgeon had hoped. So there will be no reconnection after my colon is removed. Additionally, the lesion is right up against my prostate, meaning my surgeon is unsure if just removing the colon will be enough, and potentially the prostate will need to come out as well, and if that’s the case, there is the potential that they may need to remove my bladder too. Finally, the liver will need to be addressed after all of this takes place.

Again, my surgeon said that she is going to do her best, and if the Lord wills it, I am more than willing to sacrifice my “quality of life” to spend more time with my wife and children.

“If you all could be praying for me and my family. This looks to be a very deep valley that we are currently walking through, but we know that God is good through it all.

Our current prayer is for nothing short of a miracle, as we move closer to surgery. At the very least, we are praying that the cancer can be clearly removed without touching the prostate/bladder, and that God halts the cancers growth and spread in the liver. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support of my family as we continue to walk with God through this. Praying that He blesses you all for the blessing you have been to us. We love you all.

Please pray for Adam and his family.

Tuesday’s ZOOM call had its own share of tough news. My dear friend’s beloved father passed away that morning. When she found out he did not have much time left, she booked her flight to Switzerland, only to be told that because of Covid, she would need to be quarantined for two weeks before visiting him, and if she stayed with her mother, her mother would not be able to visit her father. She canceled her flight and will have to settle for visiting her dad’s gravesite at a future date.

The same day, a text shared a Pet Scan revealing a friend’s esophageal cancer has spread.

We all have our stories, and through our tears, we cry out to God, the One who knows our beginning and our end, the One who can make a difference, imploring Him to fix things. Sometimes we see the miracle; sometimes not. Still, we know that Jesus lacks nothing in the miracle department. The book of John gives seven signs demonstrating Christ’s vast powers:

1. Water changed into wine—Jesus’ power over quality

2. The nobleman’s son healed—Jesus’ power over distance

3. The impotent man healed—Jesus’ power over time

4. The five thousand fed—Jesus’ power over quantity

5. Walking on the water—Jesus’ power over natural law

6. The blind man healed—Jesus’ power over helplessness

7. Lazarus raised from the dead—Jesus’ power over death

Of course, the fact that Jesus can does not mean he will. Our job is not to second-guess but to know that—for all of us– the end-game of this life on earth is death. Unless we are raptured, it is a certainty we cannot deny. We. Will. Die. The key for all of us is to be prepared. All three of the men mentioned above made Jesus the Lord of their lives, and because of that, they will spend eternity with him. I pray you do the same.

Keys to the Kingdom – Carolyn Tucker

My everyday routine occasionally triggers a childhood memory for me. I guess that’s a sign I’m getting older, but I really enjoy my trips down memory lane. While eating some canned peaches the other night, I remembered that when I was a kid I only liked to eat the sweet heavy syrup. There was no nutritional value in the syrup, and by refusing to eat the fruit I missed out on some protein, fiber, and vitamins. I eventually outgrew that silliness and now I eat the peaches and pour the syrup down the drain!

Occasionally, it appears that some Christians only want the limelight of following Jesus. You know, just the sweet stuff. But Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me“ (Matthew 16:24 NLT). Taking up your cross means to give your entire life to God. It’s a total dedication of your soul, spirit, and body given to His service in anything He says. You may be thinking, “God hasn’t told me to do anything for Him.” I think you better blow the dust off your Bible and read it.

Following Christ wholeheartedly means being a servant. At the Passover supper, scripture reveals the following account: “So He [Jesus] got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him. …And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them” (John 13:4,5,14,15, 17 NLT).

The Son of God and King of kings performed an object lesson in humility and servanthood. Since Jesus humbled Himself to do the lowly service of a slave, we should serve one another in the same way. Sometimes we want the blessing without the service or the dedication. We also need to realize that love is the motive for being a servant. If we serve out of duty, then there’s no blessing in helping others because it‘s just a “job.” But if we serve out of love and compassion, then we’re reaching out to others as Jesus commands us.

The road of unselfish service is pretty narrow. There’s no room for all the sweet stuff you think you need, so toss it out. Living a self-centered life will blind you to the basics of what Jesus taught. But once your selfishness is laid aside, you’ll be able to see those in need. You’ll be free to use your gift to bless others: “God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).

Servant living is not popular today because the focus of our culture is on personal happiness and comfort. Believers should pray for a bigger servant’s heart toward God and man. Since Jesus washed dirty feet, it’s fair to say there’s no act of kindness too lowly for Christ followers to perform.

The Key: If you want a blessed life, drain the syrup and follow Jesus’ example.