The Lord is Near to the Brokenhearted

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.” 

Psalm 34:19

Nikki Cruz was one of the street-tough gang members from a ghetto in New York evangelized by Pastor David Wilkerson. Their story is told in the amazing book and movie, “The Cross and the Switchblade” starring Pat Boone. Nikki was saved from a life of drugs, violence, witchcraft, physical and emotional abuse, and a dangerous existence as warlord and leader of the dreaded street gang, the Mau Maus. 

Now he goes around preaching God’s wonderful news of love and salvation around the world. In his book, “One Holy Fire”, and many other best selling books, he shares about how God can change our lives in amazing ways. One day he was so down and depressed because he witnessed a terrible accident in Jerez Zacatecas, Mexico. He and two of his ministry coworkers tried to help but all their efforts failed. The people in the crushed remains of the jeep had just come from their very successful evangelistic meeting at a nearby stadium and tattered Bibles and crusade leaflets were littered on the street along with broken bodies. 

“Why, God, why?” Nicky cried out weeping, helpless and frustrated. After the exhilaration of a successful crusade at a 3000-seat stadium filled to capacity, Nicky was brought to despair. He continued to wrestle with God until morning, thinking it was time to quit. At 6 am, he went out for a run. He ran and ran until he got lost. A pickup stopped, and the man inside said, “Nicky Cruz! You’re lost! Get in!” 

Nicky got in, a little wary, but the man continued to talk to him. “Don’t be afraid. What happened last night was not your fault. Things happen that we don’t always understand, but we have to trust that God is in control, in spite of how it may seem. God knows you’re hurting and confused. He knows you’re tired and ready to quit. But I’m here to tell you He isn’t finished with you yet.” The stranger said much more and even prayed for Nicky. Before he knew it, he was at the entrance of his hotel. When Nicky looked back, the truck was gone. 

Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by what life throws at us. We should always be confident that God is looking out for us. Whatever it is we are facing, know that He just isn’t finished with us yet!

Stand in the Gap

“Moses, His chosen one, withstood him in the breach to turn back His destructive wrath.” Psalm 106:23

The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend, it says in Exodus 33:11a. He was chosen to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Then when the stiff-necked people angered God at Sinai, God said, “Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.” What did Moses do when God was ready to destroy all of Israel and just raise up a new nation out of Moses’ descendants? Did Moses just say yes, ok, do what You want, Lord? No, Moses “stood in the breach”.

Standing in the breach is a military metaphor, meaning to stand in a break made in a fortress or city wall where an army can rush in and invade. In Sinai, Moses heroically chose to confront God, standing in the gap, interceding like a warrior who tries to stop an enemy at the risk of his life. God relented in the punishment He had threatened to inflict on His people, it says in Exodus 32:14. 

We see clearly that we as Jesus’ friends (John 15:15), we may stand in the gap for others. We can plead earnestly like Moses for our family, friends, our nation, whatever we care about. Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote in a poem, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” We will never know how much evil has been turned aside, and how much good has gushed forth, when we are at our knees in prayer. We do not know if God really did intend on destroying the rebellious Jews, who made for themselves a molten calf and worshiped it, or if He was testing His servant Moses. 

What we must take away from this passage is we must never give up praying no matter how dire the situation. We need to stand in the breach like Moses, to intercede for one another, to fill in those gaps in one another’s spiritual armor. 

Another example is during the time of the prophet Ezekiel. God was angry because, “The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.” And we read in Ezekiel 22:40 that God “looked for someone among them who would ...stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” Today, will He find us standing in the gap for our nation, for our leaders, for our people, for our family and friends? 

I Will Never Forget You

“Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” Isaiah 49:15

There are numerous stories of a mother's unfailing love, but this one highlights a mother's love even in death.

36-year old Patsy Lawson left for her teaching job one morning, with her two children. She was planning to drop them off at the baby sitter’s, but they never got there. 8 1/2 hours later, her husband James found Patsy and their 5 year old daughter Susan dead inside their badly damaged car. The car was submerged, upside down, in a very cold mountain stream. James saw that even if Patsy was dead, she had been holding 2-year old Gerald's head above the 48 degree water. He was barely alive. For hours, his wife had held up the toddler's head so he could breathe, until she froze to death. 

Who can measure a mother's love? Who can measure God's love? How inconceivable is it that God, who created us in love, would give His only Son to die for us in love? That kind of love never forgets, always forgives, and is ever faithful.

Fountain of Life

“Where these waters flow they refresh..." Ezekiel 47:9

How good it is to make God a part of our life each day! Like a constant stream of water that passes through dry parched land, that is our God's touch on our lives! But it is also so easy for us to let the desert take over. In Israel, they have made their deserts bloom and they fight desertification, the desert’s continuing conquest of their land. The scientists learned that they have to direct the brackish water directly to the roots, not allowing the salt in the water to touch the green leaves. They use the drip-irrigation system which allows the nutrients to drip drip drip slowly soaking the roots and minimizing evaporation. 

We can liken this to our journey as Christian pilgrims. We too are constantly at the mercy of enemies who want to attack our faith in God, and our Christian lifestyle. This is why we need to be connected to the power of God and His Word. How? Day by day, drip by drip being connected to the Source of living water. 

In The Anawim Way, I read this passage: “Ezekiel’s vision of the abundant and life-giving water flowing from the Temple is clearly symbolic. He is describing, not a physical river which flows into a desert in the Middle East, but a spiritual river of grace which flows into the desert of humanity, giving life to the hearts of all who believe. St. John the Evangelist once had a vision of this same “river.” He speaks of it in the Book of Revelation: “Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Rev 22:1). On Good Friday, we will see the true Source of this river. It springs forth from the pierced side of Jesus on the Cross. All grace flows from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the “fountain of life and holiness.”

In Ezekiel’s vision in chapter 47, the prophet describes the water of life. “Wherever this water flows, everything will live” (v.9). Through the water of life from the wounds of Christ, Ezekiel’s vision is fulfilled.

Lord, by Your Spirit, may we, Your people, Your Church, be constantly connected to You, and may we bring new life, healing and transformation wherever we go. 

I Choose You!

“I create Jerusalem to be a joy...no longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there..." 

Isaiah 65:18

After a typhoon devastates parts of the Philippines, there is a lot of talk about how unprepared we are for it, especially the storm surges which are wave-like phenomena likened to tsunamis. "Why were we not informed?" people ask desperately. After a stock market crash, investors invariably ask the same thing. "Why were we not informed?"

But we cannot say the same about heaven and hell. We are inundated with warnings about what will happen after we die. In these days of wars and rumors of war, there is even more talk of the Second Coming. I am surprised how many people believe the end is near. Do we heed it? Do we believe it? Do we prepare for it? This is more devastating than any disaster and will have eternal consequences for us and our loved ones if we just push this "inside information" aside. It does not really matter after all if the end of the world is near. For each of us, we do not know when the Lord decides to bring us home and we should be prepared every day. 

Many stories in the Bible tell us that we are a people in exile. We do not belong here. There is a permanent home prepared for us. Jesus quoted Isaiah in Mark 9:48 when He described hell as a place where the worm which will eat those who go there "does not die, and the fire is not quenched."

We would definitely rather be in a place where there is unquenchable joy, and where weeping will be a thing of the past. But it really is a choice we make here and now! It’s never too late to put our lives in Jesus’ hands and say, “I choose You, Lord! You died for me on the cross. Please forgive me of my sins and save me. Help me to trust and obey You!” 

The Wind Blows Where It Will

“…whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” 

John 3:21

If we want to make a difference in the world, we need the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to Nicodemus in John, chapter 3, “You can hear the sound the wind makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born A of the Spirit.” We never know whom God will touch and move. 

I read the New York Times best seller “same kind of different as me”, a true story written by 3 people, an international art dealer, a modern-day slave and convict from Louisiana, and the amazing woman who brought them together. The art dealer, Ron Hall, had been unfaithful to his wife Debbie, and to make up for it, he joined her serving the poor in Union Gospel Mission located in the nasty part of Fort Worth. 

Debbie dreamt of the mission several times, and there was a man in it. “It was like that verse in Ecclesiastes. A wise man who changes the city. I saw his face.” That man was Denver Moore, a black man who kept mostly to himself, hardened by living on the streets for 22 years. When Debbie recognized Denver as the man in her dream, she made her husband promise to befriend him. He did. It wasn’t easy because Denver tried his best to avoid this do-gooder rich couple.

Denver Moore and Ron Clarke

Eventually, Denver would confide in Ron and Debbie, and they found beneath his thick hide, a strong spirit, a staunch loyalty and deep understanding. “He claimed in his solitude to have heard from God.” Through his friendship with the Halls, he was inspired to help in the mission and down in the Lot, one of the worst neighborhoods in the city. He would also sing in chapel service, and was “forced” to go on a retreat with what he called “white ladies”! 

Fast forward to when Debbie got a vicious form of cancer, and while fighting for her life, Denver would give them a Word from God. One of the last ones when Debbie was very weak and tired, Denver told her she needn’t fight any longer. God said she could lay down the torch and that Denver would take it up. During Debbie’s memorial service, Denver spoke and said Debbie was the “onlyest person who looked past my skin...” While he was speaking, people were crying and laughing and clapping, and after he left the podium, the entire congregation stood and applause thundered. 

The Deborah Hall Memorial Chapel, Union Gospel Mission in Fort Worth, Texas

A fundraising drive started for a new mission facility and new chapel. So much money was raised for the mission in a very short time. Denver and Ron went around telling their story around the country, and inspired people to donate about $70 million to causes related to homelessness. The wind blew where it willed!

Mercy Not Sacrifice

“For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6 

In Matthew 12:7, Jesus quoted this verse from Hosea 6:6 when the Pharisees were on the judgment seat again, declaring what His disciples were doing was unlawful. 

When I was in High School, I had to memorize and recite Portia’s famous lines in William Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice”:

“The quality of mercy is not strained. 

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 

Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: 

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. 

Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes 

The throned monarch better than his crown. 

His scepter shows the force of temporal power, 

The attribute to awe and majesty, 

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings. 

But mercy is above this sceptered sway; 

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings; 

It is an attribute of God Himself; 

And earthly power doth then show like God's 

When mercy seasons justice.”

Yes, mercy is an attribute, a quality of God, love being the foundation of what He does. We do not deserve everything God does for us, especially His ultimate sacrifice of His Son Jesus. “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Are we merciful like God? When we are in a more dominant, more powerful position, do we show compassion? I remember clearly when I did not. We had ordered a meal at a restaurant in El Nido, and I instructed the young waitress to separate the bill. When she came back, I got so irritated because she did not follow what I asked her to do. I berated her for it and I am still ashamed of my behavior. 

Mercy, as Shakespeare wrote, becomes the throned monarch better than his crown. We are all sons and daughters of the King of Kings. I believe we are here on earth to learn the ways of our Father, not only mercy, but goodness, graciousness, generosity and kindness. But most of all, love. Let us always remember to wear our invisible crown as we go about our day, and make sure that we wear it like a son or daughter of a gracious and loving God. 

Forgive Us Our Sins

"Take with you words and return to the Lord." Hosea 14:3

Sometimes all I do is talk, talk, talk to God, not allowing Him to say a word to me! What are the words that we should take to God? This passage from Hosea is always recited on the Sabbath preceding Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people.

The Jews usually observe this holy day with long fasting and prayer in the synagogue. It is a day of repentance, which consists of regretting the wrong done, resolving not to do it again and confessing the sin before God. According to the Talmud, the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the guide for the Jews’ daily life, "Yom Kippur atones for sins done against God, but does not atone for sins done against other human beings until the other person has been appeased." It is customary that the Jews repair their relationships before Yom Kippur, which is described as "a day of creating love and brotherhood, a day of abandoning jealousy and strife". The Jews believe that if one does not remove hatred from their heart on or before the Day of Atonement, “their prayers are not heard".

How about us during this season of Lent? Should we not also repent of our wrong doing against God and our fellow human beings? Perhaps the words we are to say are, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." If we are sincere, I am sure His grace will allow us to enjoy His presence in His peace beyond understanding! 

Listen

“If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” 

Psalm 95:8

It is indeed very seldom that people hear God’s audible voice, but there have been instances, and usually lives are changed radically. I was listening to the amazing testimony of Mike Shreve last night. He was a yoga instructor in four universities, and he even led an ashram. He thought these yoga disciplines would awaken the divine power within him, and he was earnestly seeking for the truth in Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism, and New Age spirituality. 

One day he received a letter from an old friend named Larry who told him he got born again. Mike was so intrigued because his friend said he had walked into a church and he heard an audible voice say, “Jesus is the only way.” Mike did not want to overlook anything that might be the truth so he decided to dedicate one day to Jesus. He knew that the god of Eastern religions was an impersonal life force but Larry was talking about a God who was personal. So he prayed, "If You are the Savior of the world, and if You rose from the dead and You are the only incarnation of God, then give me a sign today." 

Mike was not aware that there was a prayer group in town that read about him from an article in the Tampa Tribune. They tacked it to their prayer board and there were people praying and fasting for him at all hours of the day! On the day Mike decided to concentrate on finding the truth about Jesus, he had to hitchhike because he did not have a car, and he was continually praying, "Jesus, if You're the answer, this is Your day." In another side of town, one of the members of the prayer group was walking into a laundromat with an armful of dirty clothes, when God spoke to him to get back in his van. 

Obediently, the man stopped what he was doing and got behind the wheel, and just followed whatever God instructed him to do! He saw Mike hitchhiking and pulled over. Mike was still praying his prayer about asking Jesus for a sign. When he opened the door of the van, his heart jumped because on the ceiling of the van, there was a taped picture of Jesus! Within a few minutes, the driver of the van invited Mike to receive Jesus in his heart, and ever since then, Mike has been believing, evangelizing in the streets of America, and seeing miracles of conversion. Like what happened to the Jewish wife of his cousin. She ran out of the church in fear after Mike prayed over his cousin and his cousin got healed and started speaking in tongues. Right before she got out the door, she looked back and on the wall was a cross. She heard an audible voice, "I am Yeshua. I am Your Messiah. Surrender your life to Me," and ran to the altar instead. 

God can speak to us in all sorts of creative ways. This Lent, let us ask Him to show us His face and bring healing, restoration, and whatever we need to get closer to Him. He is Yeshua, our Redeemer and Lord. He gave His life for us! 

 

Not the Smallest Part

“Until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter of the law, not the smallest part of the letter, shall be done away with until it all comes true." 

Matthew 5:18

Verse 21 in the same chapter reads: “Whoever is angry with someone will be liable to judgement." We have all gotten angry with someone at one time or another. Anger is defined as a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure or hostility. It can go from rage to irritation or a slight exasperation. Before Jesus said this about anger, He gave this strong proclamation: "Of this much I assure you: until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter of the law, not the smallest part of the letter, shall be done away with until it all comes true." 

How much more emphatic can Jesus be! Does this not mean that every little yodh (the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet), and the tiniest serif (stroke at the end of a letter), is inspired by God and has His imprimatur, His official approval?!!! We definitely need to understand clearly what Jesus means by anger because He says that anyone and everyone who grows angry with his brother will be liable to judgment the same way that a murderer is liable to judgement. If we are abusive with our maids, if we belittle our employees, if we show contempt for others, feeling they are beneath us, this all falls under Jesus' definition of anger. 

I was listening to someone describing a woman in church. She knew her as such a nice and gentle person, she said, but she was shocked when she visited her at home. She treated her maids with disdain and would shout at them!  I suppose there are parts in our character we are not aware of, shadows that can't bear the light of truth.

Lord, during this Lenten season, make me see whatever there is in my life that is not pleasing to You. Help me to surrender all to You. It is impossible to obey all the yodhs and serifs of the law, but my hope lies in You. You are my righteousness! 

Eucharisteo

Then came Peter unto him and said: “Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” 

Matthew 18:21

What if it was God who offended us, will we be able to forgive Him? In the book, “One  Thousand Gifts”, author Ann Voskamp begins with the heartbreaking story of how her little sister Aimee was killed in front of their mother’s eyes when she wandered after a cat and was crushed by a delivery truck. For years the whole family was “closed to any notion of grace”. 

Ann asked her father if he ever used to go to church and he said he was done with all of it when Aimee died. That day branded all of their lives. But Ann, even while doubting God’s goodness and distrusting Him, desired a full life. She wanted to receive what God had to give, and she struggled to understand. As she lived through more heartbreak, she started to think that maybe, just maybe, there was “a way out of nightmares to dreams”. 

She got a hint of it in giving thanks. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. She read how Jesus took the bread and gave thanks, and then He was able to endure the cross. And it became rhema to her, an inspired Word from God, that ingratitude, our discontent with all that God freely gives, is how we fall, and fail. “We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks.” 

And Ann started a list of gifts from God. As her inventory of what she was grateful for grew longer, it felt like she was unwrapping His love. Ann learned the “secret to living joy in every situation.” And she was able to forgive, and to learn to live fully in gratitude even in the midst of sadness, despair or heartbreak.