No matter how bad life can get, life is always worth living

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

When we become discouraged with life, or we don't see it as going the way it should we, like George Bailey wished we've never been born George received his wish and in the scene, after scene, he discovered that he really did have a pretty good life after all. Look around you and you will notice that one life touches another one.  That person you had coffee with the other day may have entertained thoughts of ending their life but that encouraging word you gave them was just enough to carry them through life's trials.

 When God created you, he made you in His own image and through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus gave you the gift of the Holy Spirit to give you the words to say to those who are hurting around you. 

Just think about that for a second. God uses our challenges in life to help others navigate their own challenges.  

Our God is truly an awesome God.

Be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father- to help carry the burdens of fear and help you live life victoriously!

Isaiah 9:6 [Full Chapter]

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The words from the prophet Isaiah rang in my ears tonight as I slept. Many years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah was given this prophecy to share with a hurting generation of people trying to find God.  Today's generation is no different from hurting people still searching for God.  Some are searching through new age methods thinking that if they put themselves into a meditative trance they will find God.  Still, others will overturn long deceased gods of stone believing they hold the magic formula for tranquility. Yet, as they do they fail to look in the very place for true peace, or listen to Isaiah prophetic proclamation from Isaiah 9:6

It seems too good to be true that we have a personal God through Jesus standing at the door of our heart, knocking, asking if you would open up that door so He might come in and be your guiding light in this world of pain and suffering, but it is true. John 3:16 reminds us that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. 

Today, we have a generation of people living in fear. Fear of the southern border. Fear of strangers breaking into their homes. Fear of unknown health crisis with strange sounding names. We try to carry the burden of those fears on our shoulders instead of bringing them to God our wonderful counselor, mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

It was in the late winter 1974 that a friend shared the wonderful news of God's salvation at a coffee house next to the Minnetonka Community Church that allowed me to say yes to Jesus and open up the door to my heart.  God has never disappointed me through life's trials and occasional tragedies that come along our way.

Jesus wants to do the same in your life so you no longer have to live a life of fear. and instead, live a victorious and abundant life knowing that Jesus is right beside you no matter what happens.

Amazing one armed violin women #2

9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:1-5

Where there is a will there is a way for someone to overcome their barrier and play an instrument they thought they never would.

Manami Ito is a woman of many talents. Not only is she a champion Japanese Paralympic swimmer and nurse by trade, she also plays the violin beautifully. This list of accomplishments alone would be quite impressive, but with Ito, it’s even more so because she only has one arm. Ito’s lack of limb doesn’t appear to present a problem as she uses a minimal prosthetic arm that moves and flexes smoothly with the bow.

For some folks, tragedy can really take a toll on them and change their lives completely. But for others, it's an opportunity to see what they're made of. Just ask Manami, a 33-year-old violinist who lost her arm in a horrible car crash in 2004. But just because life got in the way, Manami wouldn't let anything step in the way of her happiness. In 2004, 33-year-old Manami Ito was in a horrible car accident and lost her right arm. After such a terrible loss, most people would lay in bed and never get up. But she wasn’t about to let this stop her from enjoying life.

A lot has happened since the accident. Ito could have put her life on hold, but she didn’t succumb to the pain. She found a way to balance her physical rehabilitation with her studies. Eventually, her hard work paid off and she became a certified nurse.

She figured that if they could play sports, then so could she. In 2007, she took up swimming, and she made it to 4th place in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Then in 2012, she made it to 8th place in the London Paralympics.

She started playing the violin with a regular prosthetic arm. But eventually, she received a limb that was more lightweight and made playing the violin so much easier.

She's Japan's only one-armed violinist and she's really awesome. Her life might have hit a snag in 2004, but Ito found an inspiring way to turn an advantage into a disadvantage.

In John 9 Jesus and his disciples were passing by a blind man. One of his disciples asked who sinned that he was born blind. Was it him, or his parents. Jesus was quick to respond with these words, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. In other words, God can use anyone regardless of the barriers they have in this life. The violinist is one example of someone who defied all odds and through a combination of physical rehabilitation and determination was able to pick up the violin and play once again.

God can help you do anything you set your mind on doing, regardless of the physical, emotional or cognitive barriers you may be facing.

Planes Trains and Automobiles Ending Scene

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles are more than just a funny slapstick of the mishaps that come with travel.  Del Griffith and Neil Page are two businessmen, unlikely friends, tossed together in their quest to get home to their wives for Thanksgiving. One mishap after another happens that test their friendship. John Candy, aka Del Griffith, is a curtain ring salesman, with a brash sense of humor that rubs Neil Page, aka Steve Martin, the wrong way with each scene. Both are looking forward to seeing their wives once again. Fast forward and now these two characters are standing on the platform of the elevated train station saying goodbye and wishing the other person well. The train approaches and Neil Page steps onboard while his friend stands alone.  In this one scene, Neil is reflecting on the memories of their comical mishaps when he realized that both of them were standing on that platform, but only he got on the train.  Neil returns to the same spot he said his goodbye, but this time discovers his friend inside the station waiting area sitting forlornly with his trunk nearby.  It was then Neil discovers that his friend had nowhere to go because his wife died 8 years ago. So, he invites his friend to come to his home to meet his wife and his children for Thanksgiving.

So often we judge another person's character based on their brash outward appearances. or the negative vibes they set off.  We discard them because of their drama. This is human nature, but something that God cautions us from doing just that with these words from Matthew 25:
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

In other words, our Lord reminds us to learn to walk in another person's shoes before lambasting them and tossing them to the trash heap of undesirable friendships.  We must try to listen to the stories of those who are grieving.  As one immigrant from Liberia said to me, "why can't people understand that so many of my people are suffering from trauma after being forced from their life long homes for a new country willing to take us in?"

 The world wants us to hang out with those who make us feel good about ourselves, but God reminds us to get to know their stories and extend a hand out to help them up.

Tonight, I will begin a new 13-week Griefshare cycle helping those to walk through the pain, not around it. I'm looking forward to being the hands and feet of Jesus helping others recover from grief.