Most importantly, as the verse above from Colossians reminds all of us, let’s stay plugged into God’s Word this summer!  May His truths “richly dwell within you” so that you’ll be encouraged—and you can inspire others in your life too.

But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love Me and obey My commands.
Exodus 20:6 (NLT)

The passing of Dr. Billy Graham in February hit many people hard. Yes, he had been in declining health for some time—but for those of us who grew up during the Graham years, his departure from this earth to his heavenly home marks the end of an era.

I happened to begin 2018 by reading Anne Graham Lotz’ book entitled Why? Trusting God When You Don’t Understand. Over the past several decades, I have had the privilege of attending various events where Dr. Graham and Anne spoke, so their voices seemed to echo in my mind as I poured over each page. Much like her famous father, Anne’s focus is always on Jesus: Jesus the Son of God. Jesus who loved us so much He was willing to die for us. Jesus who rose from the grave. Jesus who wants everyone to be with Him in Heaven one day.

You see, while Billy Graham may be gone, his legacy lives on, as was evident when his son Franklin tweeted these words on February 21st:

“My father Billy Graham was once asked, ‘Where is Heaven?’ He said, ‘Heaven is where Jesus is, and I am going to Him soon!’ This morning, he departed this world into eternal life in Heaven, prepared by the Lord Jesus Christ—the Savior of the world—whom he proclaimed for 80 years.”

Billy and Ruth Graham had five children who learned about the Lord as they were raised by this devout couple. They weren’t perfect (what parent is!), and they’d be the first to admit it was difficult balancing a ministry to hundreds of millions while raising their family. Traveling the world and sharing the good news about Jesus were important—but the most significant audience was the Graham children. In a sense, Billy and Ruth strove to fulfill what was written long ago by the psalmist:

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders.
(Psalm 78:4)

The Graham legacy continues in the lives of Billy and Ruth’s children grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The truths they taught about the Lord have allowed Anne to write a book like Why? that has helped countless people all over the world with words like these:

“Jesus died on the Cross, but praise God, He shed the grave clothes, and the Resurrection and the power and the glory followed! Don’t wallow in your ‘why’s?’ Don’t throw a pity party. Don’t remain in your misery. Don’t stop short of all God wants to do for you” (p. 133)

Dr. Graham has finally been reunited with his wife and so many other “forever family” members—and, best of all, with the Savior he served so faithfully for eight decades. My prayer is that each of us will take time this month to reflect and consider our personal legacies. What are we doing to leave behind truths of the Lord? Are there more ways we can share about His amazing gift of salvation? How are we impacting our most important legacy—our loved ones—so that they too can share this salvation message with generations yet to come?

Many blessings to you this month from the team at Sonkist Ministries!

Thought of the Month

 For You bless the godly, O Lord;
You surround them with Your shield of love.

Psalm 5:12 (NLT)

Have you ever come across a verse or concept in Scripture that just sticks with you—and maybe you’re not even sure why?  This is what happened weeks ago after reading the verse above. I have always believed that the Lord blesses those who strive to follow Him, but what on earth did the psalmist mean by a shield of love?  The two terms don’t seem to make sense together, especially in today’s modern world.

Then I got to thinking about the author of this psalm.  David had been a shepherd boy early in his youth, yet he was elevated to warrior status with one act of exceptional bravery when he defeated the giant Goliath (see I Samuel 17:32-51). As time passed, his father-in-law, King Saul, turned against him—so David became a soldier-at-large with his band of men.  Perhaps because of such life-threatening experiences, we find David penning these plaintive lines:

O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning.  Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but You. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly.

 (Psalm 5:1-3)

Like us, David no doubt dealt with the ordinary ups and downs of life.  And, as we’ve seen, he had seasons of extreme stress and uncertainty.  But David lived in very different times than we do today.  A sword and shield were everyday tools in his battle for survival.  These instruments of protection for himself, his family, and his fellow fugitives were not only familiar but also seemed fitting to explain his insights about God’s love.  For David, the Lord didn’t provide a soft, fuzzy kind of love.  It didn’t come with a Hallmark card or box of chocolates.  No, to this seasoned soldier, the love of the Lord seemed as real as his ever-present shield—capable of providing confidence as well as protection, even in the darkest hours of life’s journey.

While we may find it hard to imagine hiding out from enemy forces or facing armies like David did, we certainly can relate with other frustrations he expressed in Psalm 5: “For they cannot speak one truthful word. Their hearts are filled to the brim with wickedness. Their suggestions are full of the stench of sin and death. Their tongues are filled with flatteries to gain their wicked ends” (verse 9, The Living Bible).  It appears David also experienced the pain of dealing with deceitful people and the impact of sin in a fallen world.

Take a few minutes to consider similar feelings you may be experiencing.  Are you struggling with frustrating situations, unfriendly forces, or even fear? What problems are you facing right now that seem insurmountable? Here are a few dilemmas some of our friends and family members are battling with:

·         A drug-addicted child

·         An aging parent whose health is failing

·         Chronic back pain that medication isn’t relieving

·         Strained relationships with siblings

·         Income that’s reduced while expenses continue to rise

·         A business partner who didn’t keep his promises

And this list could go on and on.  Times may change, but the problems of living really don’t vary that much from millennia to millennia.

Perhaps that’s why the “shield of love” concept has stuck with me.  I like the idea of God’s love encompassing me, shielding me and those I care about from negative experiences that bombard us each day.  In addition, I appreciate David’s plea to the Lord as he closed out this captivating psalm: “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread Your protection over them, that all who love Your name may be filled with joy” (verse 11).

Oh, may this be true for you today! Whatever you are struggling with, ask God to help you with every aspect of it.  Whoever may be a challenge in your personal or professional life, pray for wisdom about how to handle the situation.  Not only will God give you the answers you need, but His presence and protection will also provide you much more joy in the days ahead.

Thought of the Month

And the One sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then He said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:5
(New Living Translation)

For those who are old enough to remember, May 18^th of 1980 proved to be an historically cataclysmic day.  After numerous warning signs, Mount St. Helens erupted with a fury—forever changing the landscape for miles around.  In the aftermath of the devastating event, researchers began studying the area, wondering if life would ever return to this seemingly post-apocalyptic world.

What surprised many, even these seasoned scientists, was how quickly restoration came to charred land, choked rivers, and debris-filled lakes.  As authors John Morris and Steven A. Austin explain, “Early predictions had claimed it would be over one hundred years before life could re-establish itself in the poisonous ash which covered everything.  Despite the predictions, in just a few years, rain and snowfall have broken the ash into nutrients and resurrected the buried soil beneath, allowing plants to reappear in abundance” (from their book, Footprints in the Ash:  The Explosive Story of Mount St. Helens, 2003).

As we begin this new year of 2018, the story of regeneration at Mount St. Helens pales in comparison to what the Lord can do in each of our lives.  Indeed, in Revelation 21 we find that He is the One who makes all things new.  Not a few items.  Not almost everything.  No, the Lord boldly proclaims, “I am making everything new!”

This transformative process begins when we accept God’s gracious gift of salvation by believing in His Son Jesus.  As II Corinthians 5:17 explains, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Despite whatever has happened in our past, the Lord changes all of that when we become part of His forever family.  Our old, damaged life is no more; instead, a complete renewal begins because of Him!

Of course, God also reminds us in Scripture that, along with this miraculous, life-altering development, we have a part to play:

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
(Romans 12:2)

While living in this tumultuous world, our job is to avoid acting in ways that are unproductive.  This verse in Romans 12 also encourages believers to “let God transform you.”  In other words, we must intentionally allow the Lord to work in and through us, looking for opportunities to learn His ways and will for our lives.

This part of the transformative process has been mirrored in the aftermath of Mount St. Helens’ eruption: “Perhaps even more starling is the rapid adaptation of certain animals … God designed His creation in such a way that it can adapt to a variety of conditions” (Morris and Austin, p. 108).

How awesome!  God has given His creation the ability to transform, no matter how awful the circumstances.  Despite an unimaginable past, current unsettling situations, or uncertainty about the future, the Lord can and will help us through it all if we so desire.  Even if you feel that the changes you need to make are insurmountable, the One sitting on the throne has already declared, “Behold, I am making everything new!”  This process is already in motion! The Apostle Paul reminded us of this fact in Philippians 1:6: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

So, another new year is upon us.  What will we do with the opportunities for growth and change that lie ahead of us?  Will we get stuck in the muck and mire of this world, focused on what was or what could have been—or will we allow the Lord of Lord and King of Kings to transform us in new, exciting ways that we can’t possibly imagine?

Like many aspects of life, the choice for a new beginning is ours to make—and we can be confident that He who is trustworthy and true will continue His work “until it is finally finished.”

Happy New Year to you and your family from all of us at Sonkist Ministries!

Thought of the Month