I know I’ve shared this with you all in the past, but it near to my heart. I still have my grandfather’s Bible. At least I have the one he had on the day he passed away back in early March 1996. That morning it lay open to the book of Micah, chapter 6 and verses 6-8 were underlined:

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?

Next to his underline, he penned the words, “Live by this…”

My Grandfather served as a minister his entire adult life, even well on into retirement. Though my grandmother, would be the first to tell you he was far from perfect, his life really did reflect the imperative of this verse.

His deep compassion for others, and humility before God, often led him to take actions that would leave the world around him a little better than he found it.

At first, I thought the note in his Bible was simply a reminder to himself; but I know now it was a final sermon to his family. And today it is a sermon for you.

Three simple – but profound imperatives: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with the Lord your God.

Let us pray: Loving God, we want to live in a world that is kind and not arrogant; where compassion and love flow freely; and where all your children across the globe are able to live a dignified life. Grant us your grace that we might work with you in this endeavor.

We lift up to you today, those who are carrying heavy, heavy burdens; those who have lost loved ones, those who lonely, and those who are searching for answers. Rest your loving Spirit upon them, and upon us, even now. Amen.

I have a friend who had a really rough childhood. His dad left when he was a child. His mom drank too much and had a series of boyfriends one of whom was seriously abusive. He said used to hide under his bed and pray – just pray.

What’s amazing to me is that my buddy seems to have come out of this relatively unscathed. Today he has a beautiful healthy family. He even has a relationship with his mother who has turned out to be a good grandmother.

I’m not sure I would have done so well. I’ve known plenty of other people who had it much better, and who still use their childhood as an excuse for destructive living.

What I notice is that when my friend talks about his past, he doesn’t romanticize it. He doesn’t gloss over the difficult parts. But he will say: I am not ungrateful… I am not ungrateful, because the experience I had, the childhood I had, shaped me into the person I am today. It not only made me stronger, it gave me a heart for those who suffer. And it gave me a heart for the underdog. He went on to say, “Early on, a wise counselor gave me this piece of advice, ‘Stop thinking about what’s been done to you, and start focusing on what’s been done for you.’”

Over the years, I also have known plenty of other people who have faced serious setbacks, who have somehow managed to live well in spite of it. They have not let the disease, the diagnosis, the failure, or the betrayal to have the last word… They’ve not allowed it to shatter their hope or eat away at their peace, or silence their courage…

I am often reminded that as human beings, we have this remarkable ability to retell or recast our stories, to somehow find meaning and hope in them, and even redemption. I am also more and more aware that the stories we tell about our past, the stories we tell about what we’re currently dealing with, shape not only how we view the world, but how we live. These stories we tell, open or close doors for the future.

I wonder what you see when looking at the events of your own life… What stories do you tell about yourself… your church… your family?

I pray today that you would take a second look at the story of your life, and see it through the lens of faith. I pray that even in the most difficult moments you would notice the gracious hand of God at work.

Let us pray: Open our eyes, Loving God, to catch even a glimpse of your Spirit moving all throughout the journey that is our life. As we see, help us to trust. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Today, I am deeply grateful for those of you who have supported the Dial Hope Foundation with a financial donation. So many people benefit from your giving!

There’s an old story, no doubt apocryphal, about a tightrope walker who stretched his line across the span of an enormous waterfall. After making an initial walk safely across, the stuntman asked a spectator, “Do you believe I can push this wheelbarrow across this same thin rope?” The spectator thought for a moment and said, “Yeah, sure.” “Great,” said the acrobat. “Jump in the wheelbarrow.”

While I might believe he could perform the feat, I know I wouldn’t trust the acrobat with my life. I hope you wouldn’t either. But I do hope that you trust God.

Sometimes God invites us to take steps that are scary: God may very well call you into the mission field, or to help feed the homeless at a downtown shelter. God may call you to give away more of your money or time than you are comfortable with. Or, God may call you make amends with someone who has wronged you. It may be hard to take that kind of leap of faith. It may very well feel like you are jumping in the wheelbarrow.

I remember a number of years ago now when my friend Charlie Landreth talked about his grandmother Celia. He said he could remember sitting on her lap in her rocking chair – her arms would be extended around him. She would read to him sometimes from the Bible and sometimes from a book. “Trust the Lord with all your heart”, she would say.

Charley said, “It’s been almost a whole lifetime since that early instruction and I am still learning to trust the Lord. You see, I’m a slow learner.

Aren’t we all, Charlie? Aren’t we all?

Let us pray: God of Grace, we know that you love us just as we are – but that you constantly invite us to grow. We also know that as we listen to your voice and respond to your call, our lives are filled with meaning and depth. O Lord we believe. Help our unbelief! Grant us ears to hear you even today. Grant us hearts to trust you, and the courage to respond. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

How does faith mend a broken heart? Sooner or later, heartache comes to all of us. Sadness, sorrow, disappointment, grief, rejection, hurt – whatever you wish to call it – rears its head and covers us like a heavy blanket. Let me suggest some resources of the Christian faith that can help us walk through the dark valley of sorrow. First, claim the fellowship of the church. Let the church family’s arms of love surround you and support you. Never forget that you are not alone. God is with you. Nothing, not even death, can separate you from the love of God. No matter how hurt you may feel, let the church be an integral part of the healing process.

Second, and this may surprise you, claim the power of helping others, which comes only from having gone through the grief pilgrimage. Those who have gone through sorrow of any kind have a new empathy, a new sensitivity, a new compassion, a new power to help others. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!” The word comforted comes from Latin words – cum, which means “with” and fortis, which means “strength.” So the word comforted means literally “with strength”! Thus, Jesus was saying “Blessed are those who have gone through sorrow, for they are with strength.” Someone once put it like this; “Whoever among us has, through personal experience learned what pain and anxiety are…. belongs no more to themselves alone; they are the sister, the brother of all who suffer.”

Friend of Dial Hope, claim that strength to help others which comes only on the other side of trouble, only from walking through the valley of grief. God needs you to share yourself with others. Memorize this verse: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Trust God…trust God….trust God.

Let us pray: God of love, some days there is so much pain, so much emptiness. And yet, you know what we are feeling. As we count our blessings, keep us from wallowing in self-pity so that we may encourage and comfort others. Turn our sadness to laughter, remembering that “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.’ (Proverbs 1 7:22) Through the grace of Jesus Christ. Amen.

There is a story about an old man who everyone thought was a little crazy. He had this habit of talking to himself in public and it was widely known that he believed that he could talk to Jesus and that Jesus would talk back to him.

A new pastor came to town and hearing about the crazy man, he thought he might be able to make him face reality. One day, as he saw this guy rambling down the street, he spoke to him and said, “I hear you talk to Jesus. Would you do me a favor?” The minister continued, “Could you ask him something for me?” “Why of course,” replied the old man. “Would you ask Jesus what the last sin was that I confessed to him?” “I certainly will,” he replied.

The next day the pastor saw the crazy old man just down the street and so he approached him and asked, “Well, did you talk to Jesus last night?” “Why, I sure did,” said the man. “What did he say was the last sin that I confessed to him?” The old man looked slowly up at him and answered, “Why, Jesus said he didn’t remember.”

Hmm. He didn’t remember… That is the good news of the gospel, isn’t it? In Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven. We are set free to begin again.

John writes in his first letter, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But, if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Let us pray: Loving God, we have all done things we wish we could take back, said things that have hurt others. We’ve all missed opportunities to do the right thing and we’ve all needed a second chance. So we thank you for your forgiveness, for your mercy and love. Wash over us again this day with your grace. Cleanse us and renew us to live as free and forgiving people. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.