He Is Able

“For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could 

swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself”

—Hebrews 6:13—

Trust is difficult to obtain and keep. It’s like a treasure that we find and try to protect from corruption. Everyone has, at varying degrees, issues with trusting someone because once we lose that trust, it may take a lifetime to renew. Furthermore, we too often evaluate trusting God the way we would fallible people.

Men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:16–19).

The apostle Paul put it this way: “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). Read 2 Corinthians 11:16–33 and consider everything Paul endured as an apostle. And through it all, he trusted the One who does not change (James 1:16–17; Hebrews 13:8–9).

Reflections at the End of Another Year

The short story is this — time is running out for all of us.

I think the main reason why THE END of the year bothers me is that I realize more and more that THE END of everything is coming sooner now. We are a day closer to eternity than we were yesterday. And as I write these few words, I am mindful that tomorrow may not come for everyone. This is a sobering reality.

THE END of the year should not only be a time of looking forward. Our youngest daughter seems super-excited about 2015 and she's begun writing the number everywhere. Me? It takes me a few months to get used to the change — which is probably the point (she's young and therefore excited about the possibilities which lie ahead; and I'm old and therefore dreading the possibilities which lie ahead).

THE END of the year should also be a time of looking back and, hopefully, learning from past failings … our own, of course, but of others' too. True wisdom is not merely learning from one's own mistakes and sins, but seeing what others did wrong and learning from those things.

In all seriousness, we need to remember life is short. So be kind and rewind (a nod to yesteryear's VHS cassettes) … or maybe don't rewind: in other words, don't dwell on past successes or failures.

2015 — It's really just a number. TODAY is the day we need to think a lot about: How can we help someone today? Could we forgive more? Love more? Smile more?

I'm Not Ready!

I’ve been intending to sit down and collect my thoughts about my oldest daughter’s high school graduation. It’s been a bit busier than usual because of all the preparations being made for the event. Translation: my wife has been busy and I have been sitting around complaining about everything. But as with all things in life, “the time has come.”

The funny thing to me is that with all the family that came in, someone would have thought a wedding was about to happen! Thankfully, not yet … although that is another milestone in life that everyone but me will thrill over.

I’m more sentimental than I want to admit. Deep within me I am not accepting the changes well — and it’s probably not all that deep within (I’m actually more or less the kind of person who wears his heart on his sleeve).

The thing is: I’m having a tough time accepting the inevitabilities of life. I do remember when I was graduating high school and how desperate I felt to get out and do my own thing. I’m not sure how my parents felt, but I’m sure it’s a lot like how I’m feeling now.

The bottom line? I am not prepared!