From The Desk Of Pastor Ben
I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,
 says the Lord Almighty.    (2 Corinthians 6:18) NIV

Love is a beautiful thing. But yesterday’s mystery of Henry & Bertha’s love letters wasn’t just a love story; it was a family story. When you marry love with family, it is powerful. That high school class could not wait to reunite those letters with Bertha & Henry’s family. They spent hours researching several possible leads. They hit dead end after dead end, until one of the students used her own mother’s genealogy account to access a much larger database. In a great moment of excitement, she shouted, “We found them!” The whole class cheered. Their joy grew as the class mapped out Bertha & Henry’s entire family tree; generation after generation, layer upon layer of love and history. Weeks later, coming full circle, they connected with Adam, Bertha & Henry’s great-grandson, via video call. The students couldn’t wait to share all they knew about his family. Adam couldn’t believe they found him, and he was excited too. With a huge grin, he said, “I cannot wait to share this with the rest of my family.” The students felt like they were a part of his family reunion, getting in on the love.
Family is a powerful thing. Connected by blood and spirit, we all want to know our history and where we came from. When we follow Jesus, we are adopted by our Heavenly Father. His story of grace becomes a part of our history. Connected by the blood of Jesus and His Holy Spirit, we are grafted into a new family tree, rich in mercy and rooted in love. We are sons and daughters of the Most High!

Faith Step:     Map out your spiritual family tree. How did you become a part of Jesus’ family? Know that you are rooted and grounded in His love and care.

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben
You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.         (1 Peter 1:23) NIV

This little story was shared with me by a high school teacher. Someone in their class had been cleaning out their attic and found an old suitcase. Inside was a large packet of early 1900s love letters with Norwegian and California postmarks between a couple whose names were Bertha & Henry. The family didn’t recognize the names so they tried to find something about them online, but they hit a wall. The letters had remained tucked away for safe keeping all this time. So, this high school class began to research the letters as treasured artifacts.
Who in the world were Bertha & Henry? Did they marry and have a family? Where was their family now? Each class was like a treasure hunt. The students archived the letters in chronological order. They researched ship manifests. They mapped the towns the letters hailed from. With their bright minds, they poured over the letters. There was a sense of excitement in the air. They were solving a mystery no one had ever solved before. Each letter was a treasure to be dug into. Henry & Bertha’s words were echoing through history.
Letters are powerful messages, connecting hearts across miles, sharing truth, hopes and dreams. Jesus’ words in Scripture are just that — powerful messages to our hearts. Each time we read the Bible, we are unraveling the great mystery of His love for us. With our bright minds pouring over His words, our hearts are linked to His across eternity. His Living Word, a 66 book love letter to humanity, endures forever and is a treasure worth searching out.

Faith Step:     Read John 17:6-26. Jesus’ heart for us is revealed in His prayer to His Father. Hear His enduring words of love echoing through eternity.

(To be continued tomorrow . . .)

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me.”     (Acts 9:3-4) NIV

Over the last several years, we have been given and purchased ourselves, rose bushes to plant in memory of loved ones we have lost. We planted the bushes and couldn’t wait to see the beautiful blooms. But they didn’t bloom. We nurtured them and fertilized them and watered them, bu no blooms. Each year, for 3 years we expected to see blooms, but none came. I got discouraged and wanted to dig them up & throw them away. But my wife said to be patient and just wait.
Then, after 3 years, for no reason I could understand, the plants began to blossom; not just one or two, but all 4 rose bushes began to bloom. I began to think, “What if I’d dug them up and thrown them out?”
A Pharisee named Saul had built his life around persecuting our Lord and His followers. Empathy for Christians and producing fruit for God’s Kingdom weren’t even on his radar. Spiritually, he was as barren as those rose bushes. But Jesus saw the potential and power hidden in Saul’s heart — the intense devotion that would grow inside him. He waited, and when the time was right, Jesus transformed this man into Paul, one of His strongest apostles. The faith that grew in this once cruel man was beautiful, even shocking, and it fuels believers’ needs to this day.
Jesus does the same for us, feeding and cultivating our souls. Whether we take a day or most of our lives to give our hearts to Him, He will never forsake us. He’s done His part. Now it’s time for us to bloom right where we are.

Faith Step:     Buy a slow-to-bloom flowering plant to remind you of those you know who are “slow to bloom.” Never give up on them. Jesus won’t.

From The Desk Of Pastor Ben
“… Trust steadily in god, Hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.”     (1 Corinthians 13:13) MSG

I really can’t remember when I first realized that Jesus expects us to love as He does — unconditionally, extravagantly, audaciously. It was probably a thought floating around somewhere within the pool of information I’d been introduced to in Sunday School and then further developed through Bible studies and sermons in my teens and early adult years. In my journey to understand Jesus better, I stopped imagining Him as simply really, really skilled at loving people and instead realized His brand of love was in a class all by itself.
Part of that dawning on the subject of Jesus’ love happened several years ago. My wife & I were at home alone, and I looked at her and I said, maybe for the millionth time “I love you.” She looked at me and said, “Thank you.” Her response startled me because she had never said that before. So, I said, “You don’t have to thank me for loving you.” She was silent for a moment, and then said, “There are some who wouldn’t.” The words came out as a whisper laced with experience.
I didn’t have to love her. But loving comes easily because of the way I’ve been loved by Jesus — lavishly, in spite of my failures. Reading about Jesus’ limitless love — for those who came to Him with nothing but their brokenness, their pain, and their unsavory past — has convinced me that defaulting to love is heaven’s expectation and my best option.

Faith Step:     Someone in your circle of friends and family or even a stranger needs to know he or she is loved outrageously and extravagantly. Are you the carrier Jesus wants to use to deliver that message?

From the desk of Pastor Ben
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.     (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) NIV

“Really, God?” I’ve wanted to ask . “Rejoice always?” Yet that’s what the verse says. Over 50 years of desperately seeking Jesus, I’ve learned to pray a lot, if not continually, and to find reasons to be grateful in even the most abysmal circumstances. Rejoicing was the last stronghold. How can I “feel joy or great delight” (as the dictionary puts it) in the face of the assorted mundane or massive trials we all face this side of heaven? Yet I continue to try — not in seeking joy but in seeking God. I think that’s the key to everything, really (Matthew 6:33).
I can hardly believe it myself, but as I’m writing this, I’m close to “rejoicing always,” something I was pretty sure was impossible. Right now, I’m in the middle a few different health issues — lung cancer and heart issues — and even though it’s a scary situation, I’m truly full of joy and peace.
Yes, my joy is fueled partly by the hope promised in Romans 8:28 and my own experience of Jesus making lemonade out of lemons. Mostly, I’m experiencing that inexplicable joy that defies explanation and is disconnected from circumstances. I wonder if this is a tiny taste of the joy we sense in Paul’s letters, which were written in prison or other hard places. Whatever it is, I really like it and pray that Jesus’ grace will let me linger here no matter what comes.

Faith Step:     Suspend your disbelief and set aside your resistance and praise Jesus for the very thing that’s bothering you, rejoicing intentionally rather than waiting for the elusive feeling.

From the desk of Pastor Ben
Behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”     (Matthew 8:24-25) ESV

Growing up in Pennsylvania, we had a lot of snow in the winter. One day, I was driving and got caught in a major snowstorm. I clutched my steering wheel so tightly my hands ached. Cars and trucks surrounded me as I drove on a traffic-filled highway. Suddenly, I hit some black ice, and my car started sliding. I tried to steer, but I had no control of the direction my car was going. A big truck was on my left but, thankfully, I was sliding to the right. I remember thinking, “Jesus, help!” — it was all I could think. Miraculously, no vehicles smashed into me. When I finally drove out of the worst of the storm, relief washed over me.
In crisis situations, sometimes, all we can manage is a desperate plea for help. The disciples had a life-threatening experience on the Sea of Galilee one day. They were in the middle of the lake, with Jesus sound asleep, when a massive storm rolled in. The huge waves toddled their little wooden boat like driftwood, and water gushed into it. They cried out to Jesus, “Help, we are perishing!” He awoke, spoke, and the winds calmed immediately. The storm I drove through didn’t instantly dissipate, but I drove through it, asking Jesus for help the entire way. He kept me safe.
In the midst of a crisis and chaos, many of us today would not use the words “Help me; I’m perishing,” but we would simply cry “Help.” Whatever words you use to pray urgently, things happen in heaven and earth when you call on Jesus. He will calm your storm. Don’t hesitate to ask Him for help.

Faith Step:     Are you in a storm? Write your version of a “Jesus, help me,” prayer and trust in the calm to come.

From the desk of Pastor Ben
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song, I praise him.     (Psalm 28:7) NIV

With permission, I share this story from Christian author, Grace Fox:

“The first winter living on a small house boat tested my grit. More than once I felt like my coping skills had been overstretched. Then circumstances stretched them more. The first challenge came when snow fell and turned the dock into a slippery, slushy mess. I’d fallen on the dock a couple of months prior, so I found myself in a state of heightened alert whenever I left the boat, especially when it was dark outside. Then, ice formed on the river. It flowed past, thumping and scraping the hull of the boat. My imagination entertained thoughts of the Titanic.
The tipping point came when my diesel furnace died. I layered clothes, wore jackets, and wrapped in blankets to stay warm. For 2 weeks, the repair man promised to come several times but kept canceling.
Expressing gratitude changes one’s perspective. More importantly, it’s a matter of obedience. I truly wanted to obey the Word, so I thanked Jesus for being my strength when I felt weak. I thanked him for helping me stay upright on the dock and for keeping the hull of the boat safe. I also thanked Him for jackets and blankets and hot tea. Giving thanks changed my thoughts from I can’t handle this to I can’t handle this on my own, but I can with Jesus’ strength. Adversity turned to adventure.
Winter will come again next year. No doubt it will bring challenges. No doubt it will test my grit. But I’ll make Psalm 28:7 a staple for my thoughts, and I know anxiety will turn to joy.

Faith Step:     What characteristic about Jesus makes your heart leap for joy?

From the desk of Pastor Ben
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
                    (Matthew 5:17-18) NKJV

I have some acquaintances who do transcription work from home. Their job is to transcribe notes from doctors or executives and put the down on paper. The work is very challenging because sometimes the audio they are transcribing is faint and crackly. Sometimes the various people speaking would be difficult to understand. Often the discussion would be packed with technical terminology that would have to be researched to be sure to get everything correct. Even though their efforts would be painstaking, every once in a while, they would be docked or reprimanded for making even simple mistakes.
The experiences of these transcriptionists remind me of Jesus’ words in today’s passage about the tiniest dot above a letter, or the smallest symbol. When it comes to God’s law, it’s easy to look at broad strokes and decide we’re not doing too badly. But the truth is, my smallest sinful attitude or weak moment shows that I can’t fulfill the law. Instead of frustration and despair, that realization floods me with new gratitude for Jesus’ grace and what He has done. Because He fulfilled every requirement, I am forgiven and free, no longer under the weight of chasing each jot and tittle. Instead, His love can grow in me, so that my actions align more and more with Jesus’ ways, and I can respond joyfully to His grace rather than trying to earn it.

Faith Step:     Notice all the dots, commas, and other tiny markings in this devotional. Thank Jesus for fulfilling each detail of the law for our sakes.

From the desk of Pastor Ben
We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.     (2 Corinthians 4:7) NIV

I lost both my mother and my father over the last 2 years. As we were going through all of their “stuff” after they passed, I realized all of the precious memories that were in that “stuff.” I reached inside a cabinet and found my mom’s favorite bowl. She used it for cole slaw. She made great cole slaw and she always used this particular bowl to make it. The pressed glass could almost pass for crystal, even though it was not, and the chipped edges hardly showed. What’s important was that it was able to hold the cole slaw, for which it was intended. It’s imperfections didn’t matter.
Just like that bowl, I’m a vessel. Not for cole slaw, but for Jesus. When the joy and love and life that Christ placed in me spills over my edges and slips through my cracks, that’s good. And as I glance around at friends during church this week, I see scratched silver trays ready to serve others and mugs without handles eager to warm hearts and hands. I see candles glowing with faith and wobbly chairs offering rest to the weary.
We’re all like the components of a cozy home, working in harmony despite our broken parts. Jesus has taken our cracks and shards and imperfections, the parts that life has broken, and mended them so they’re stronger than ever. And He cherishes us. That’s very, very good.

Faith Step:     Make a point to use one of the damaged items in your home. We all have them. And as you do, think about how much Jesus loves you, cracks and all.

From the desk of Pastor Ben
But Moses pleaded, “O Lord, I’m just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I’m not now, even after you have spoken to me, for I have a speech impediment.” “Who makes mouths?” Jehovah asked him. “Isn’t it I, the Lord? …”
                                (Exodus 4:10-11) NLT

For years, my wife had always shied away from public speaking. She often had very valuable insights on different things, yet her comfort zone was just to sit back and observe. This fear came from the fact that as a little girl, she would read in front of her father and he would make fun of her when she made a mistake. Sometimes, he would even slap her when she would read for him. It really affected her confidence to be I front of people.
Several years ago, she felt the call to minister to people in the name of Jesus as a speaker. She got an opportunity to speak to a ladies group and she was petrified. We prayed the night before, and she came home to share with me that everything went great. What had happened? When she stood up to speak, she remembered who had made her mouth and she allowed the Lord to speak through her instead of focusing on her past fears and failures — the same things Moses struggled with in today’s passage.
I on the other hand, have really never had any problem talking in front of people, but even as a minister over the years, I have found myself hesitant to share my faith, especially wit strangers. I never thought I had the right words or the right approach, and I greatly feared rejection. But over the years, I have learned that Jesus is the maker of my mouth — so I try to forget myself and trust Him to guide my tongue.

Faith Step:    Commit to listening to the Lord’s prompts in your spirit today as you go out into the world. Say what He tells you to say and trust that He will be with your mouth.