Posts Tagged ‘life’

14 May

Enduring Truths for Recent Graduates

Posted by Zachary P. Hubbard in Adversity, advice, Choices, christ, Christian, Christianity, Consequences, discipline, Education, Fault, graduation, Hope, jobs, regrets, Self-discipline, simplicity, Words, work. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Across the country it’s graduation time. Here in South Dakota some schools have already closed for the summer. Most of those that remain open will close in the coming days. Everywhere one turns there’s another grad party. What awaits all these new grads? A decade ago I wrote an article  for my newspaper column with some advice for recent graduates. While it was aimed at high school graduates, it is also highly relevant to recent college grads. The article has become one of the most popular pieces I ever wrote. I’ve received hundreds of emails thanking me for taking the time to share it.  Therefore, I decided to  republish it annually around graduation time.  I hope some of you might find it useful.  You can view the original article in the Tribune-Democrat news at this link: http://goo.gl/LtN72

For those who are graduating high school this year and beginning the long transition into adulthood, I’d like to offer you a gift. Here are five enduring truths I have learned. They will help you through life’s journey.

Choices

“If you decide to just go with the flow, you’ll end up where the flow goes, which is usually downhill, often leading to a big pile of sludge and a life of unhappiness. You’ll end up doing what everyone else is doing.” ― Sean Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

 Life will deal you an endless string of choices along the way.  Some will be trivial, like deciding what to wear today.  Others will be weighty and their outcomes will affect you forever.  Weighty decisions should always be preceded by much thought and soul searching.  This includes decisions about who you date or marry, what you put into your body, bringing children into the world, what you do for a living, how much debt you incur and who you associate with.

All of these decisions will have a lasting effect on your life. Therefore, make them slowly and deliberately. Often you’ll discover that the right choice is not the easiest one.  A habit of making poor choices will, as the Sean Covey quote suggests, drag your life downhill.

I was recently contacted by a young man who had just received a bad conduct discharge from the Navy.  He asked me how the discharge would impact his future employability.  His mistake was choosing to drive a car while intoxicated and hitting a pedestrian. Fortunately, the victim wasn’t seriously injured. Had it been otherwise, the young sailor would probably be in prison.  It was my sad responsibility to inform him that with some employers the discharge would be a black mark for life. Choices matter!

 Learning

“Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.”    ―Vernon Saunders Law, former professional baseball pitcher and Cy Young Award winner

Some of you will go on to college or technical school.  Others will enter the workforce.  Even if your formal education is over, don’t quit learning. Make learning a lifelong adventure.  I did my undergraduate work at the University of Kentucky.  The school offers a fellowship program for individuals aged 65 and older to attend classes tuition free. Every year numerous senior citizens walk the stage to receive degrees ranging from Associate of Arts to Doctor of Philosophy.  It’s never too late to learn.

Even if you don’t choose to continue formal learning, make it point to learn from life. Observe others; note their successes and failures; then learn from their experiences.  More importantly, learn from your own mistakes.

Some of the greatest lessons I’ve learned, particularly those while serving in uniform, were the result of having made a terrible mistake.  This sort of lesson sticks, like the first time you grab the handle of a hot iron skillet with your bare hand.  The key to learning from mistakes is owning them.  Admit your mistakes and then move on, having learned something from the experience.  Don’t let, “It wasn’t my fault,” be part of your vocabulary.

 Work

“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”  ―Colin Powell, retired U.S. Army four-star general and former U.S. Secretary of State

Work isn’t always fun. If it were, they’d call it play.  Work can be downright unpleasant, but it’s an essential element of life! Along the way you’re going to have jobs you won’t like. Note what you don’t like and make it a point to improve yourself, so you’ll never again have to work at such a job.

Accepting a job means submitting to the authority of those placed over you.  Learn to work within this system.   You’ll inevitably have bosses you don’t like.  Learn to respect the position, if not the individual.

Fairness

“Life is not fair; get used to it.” ―Bill Gates, founder and former CEO, Microsoft Corporation

You will hear much discussion about fairness in this life. It’s all hot air.  Life isn’t fair.  Some good people die young, while some bad people live a long life.   Disease sometimes strikes arbitrarily, for no apparent reason.  Some people prosper while others suffer failure. A death or accident can change your life forever.

There is randomness to life that can’t be avoided.  Don’t expect kindness to be returned with kindness.  Don’t expect generosity to be returned with generosity.  The best choice is to be fair and kind to others and learn to accept what they return to you.

A wise man named Harry Browne ran for president of the United States on the Libertarian Party ticket. On Christmas day in 1966, Browne wrote his young daughter a letter aptly titled, “A Gift for My Daughter.”  I encourage every graduating senior to read it and digest it. In the letter, he explains to his daughter that, “Nobody owes you anything.”  Understanding what Browne meant can truly bless you. You can find it here. https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2015/12/harry-brownes-christmas-letter-to-his-daughter/

Faith

“A faith is a necessity to a man. Woe to him who believes in nothing.”  ―Victor Hugo

I once had a senior Army officer tell me he preferred to work with men who possessed spiritual values, regardless of their religion.  He explained that having faith in a power higher than one’s self was an indicator of how one will perform under pressure; in this instance, the pressure meant combat.

Too many people place their faith in all the wrong places.  It might be in wealth, celebrity, good looks, talent, or even government.  Whatever the case, misplaced faith leads to disappointment after disappointment.

To avoid these disappointments, put your faith in God alone.  You, your loved ones and your friends will all inevitably let you down, but God will never fail you.

17 Mar

Forgiveness

Posted by Zachary P. Hubbard in Adversity, advice, christ, Christian, Christianity, Easter, Faith, forgiveness, Grace, Hope, Jesus, Martin Luther, Passion, Penitence, Religion, Sin, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

I recently read a book that poses the question, “What about your life before you were a Christian has changed since you became a Christ follower.”  I can think of so many responses, but two stand out. First of all, as a Christian I have a profound sense of personal sin that wasn’t previously there. Note that I speak of “sin,” not “sins.”  My personal sins are a countless laundry list of bad, harmful things I have done during my life. Many people are repulsed by being called a sinner.  Yet sin (without an “s” on the end), is a condition we all live in. Martin Luther described it eloquently in a letter to Philip Melanchthon on August 1, 1521:

 “Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world.  We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides.  We, however, says Peter (2 Peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign.  It suffices that through God’s glory we have recognized the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day.  Do you think such an exalted Lamb paid merely a small price with a meager sacrifice for our sins?  Pray hard for you are quite a sinner.”

My second response to the question is that as a Christian I have a tremendous sense of gratitude that God has forgiven all my sins through Jesus Christ. Before becoming a Christian, I didn’t recognize my need for forgiveness. Now I understand that Jesus suffered, bled, and died on the cross as an atonement for not only my sins, but the sins of the entire world.  Hebrews 9:15 tells us that Christ’s blood inaugurated a new covenant. Through His sacrifice, He became the mediator between God and humanity. The old system of blood offerings through sacrificing animals could only cover sin temporarily, but Christ’s blood provides complete forgiveness. His death on the cross bridged the gap between the holy God and fallen humanity. Jesus the risen Lord is now seated at the right hand of the Father, where he intercedes on our behalf, our great High Priest.

The process of forgiveness begins with repentance. Acknowledging our sins, we turn to God, seeking His mercy. Acts 2:38 stresses baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. More than a mere ritual; it symbolizes our identification with Christ’s death and resurrection. Through faith in Jesus as the risen Son of God, we receive forgiveness—the slate is wiped clean and our sins are remembered no more.

As the season of Lent winds down and Easter approaches, let us all consider Christ’s atonement for our sins. Through His death on the cross, Jesus atoned for the sins all mankind, satisfying God’s demand for justice, and accomplishing reconciliation for all who seek redemption through Him. The obedience and selfless sacrifice of Christ, who felt human emotions and pain just like you and me, serve as the foundation of our salvation. The shedding of Jesus’s blood on the cross symbolizes the ultimate atonement, restoring us to God’s favor and demonstrating the Father’s divine love and mercy. Jesus willingly gave His life for our sins, bridging the gap between humanity and God. His sacrifice on Calvary’s cross paid the price for our transgressions, conquered sin and death, and brought about the resurrection from the dead, not just for Jesus, but eventually for all of His followers.

God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’ –Billy Graham

5 Feb

Debt relief

Posted by Zachary P. Hubbard in Adversity, advice, Christian, Christianity, consumerism, Grace, Jesus, materialism, Poverty, Salvation, Self-discipline, Simple Living, simplicity. Tagged: , , , , , .

The United States is a debtor nation. The US Congress regularly borrows money to keep the government running.  The national debt is the grand total of money the government owes, either to investors or to itself (source: USAfacts.org). The current national debt is approaching $35 trillion. That’s 35 followed by 12 zeros! 

There is an intriguing concept of debt forgiveness in Jewish law that relates to the Shemitah year, which occurs every seven years. According to the Torah, in the Shemitah year, all personal loans between Jews are canceled, and lenders must release their debtors from their obligations. This is known as Shemitat Kesafim, or “release of money.” The purpose of this law is to foster generosity, faith, and social justice among the Jewish people, and to remind them that everything ultimately belongs to God. Imagine how different our lives would be if this form of debt relief were practiced in America today.

Average American citizens are debtors. Per the website Statista.com, the average American had $21,800 in non-mortgage debt in 2023. Much of this amount was accrued on credit cards used to fund consumer spending…I just had to have that new iPhone!  Unlike older generations, younger consumers today often buy on credit those things that older generations would have saved up for and purchased in cash, like a new car…Why wait, you can have it now.  You deserve it!

Today, the idea of saving enough money to buy a new car is as outdated as the idea of working one’s way through college.  While not impossible, the skyrocketing cost of new cars and attending a four-year college make paying cash as one goes out of reach for most people.

According to a July 2023 article on Forbes.com (https://www.forbes.com/advisor/student-loans/average-student-loan-debt-statistics/), total student loan debt was $1.75 trillion.  Around 55% of students from public four-year institutions had student loans. The average student loan debt for students coming out of public four-year institutions was $28,950.   

There’s an old adage that says, “The borrower is slave to the lender.” There’s a lot of truth in this. The Bible describes our sins as debts to God. Sin debt to God is a concept describing the moral obligation that humans have to obey God’s law and the penalty that they incur when they fail to obey. Sin is disobedience to God’s will and commands. King David acknowledges in Psalm 51:3-4, that his sins are offenses against God, not man:

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

Sin separates humans from God’s presence and favor. The consequence of sin is death, both physical and spiritual, which means eternal separation from God.

The Bible teaches that God is merciful and gracious, and He has provided a way for humans to be forgiven and reconciled to Him. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross as a substitute for sinners, paying the debt that they could not pay themselves. By trusting in Christ’s death and resurrection, sinners can receive God’s forgiveness and eternal life. This is the Good News (Gospel), of God’s salvation for sinners. God cancels the sin debt of those who believe in His Son and restores them to a right relationship with Him. While you may not receive government relief from your student loans or other debts, thanks be to God that forgiveness for our sin debt against Him is available.

Ephesians 2:1-10   As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

*All Bible quotes are NIV

15 Dec

Walking alongside a friend

Posted by Zachary P. Hubbard in advice, Anglican, Bible, christ, Christian, Christianity, Christmas, discipleship, Faith, family, Jesus, Liturgical Calendar, Messy Christianity, Prayer, Religion, Risk, simplicity, spiritual. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , .

During this church season of Advent, Christians anxiously await the celebration of Jesus’ birth. We commemorate His arrival in this world on December 25, the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we await the arrival of the Christ child, my wife and I recently said goodbye to a departing friend who moved to another state to be near family. I’ll call him John for the sake of privacy. John was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) about two years ago, but has displayed ASD symptoms most of his life. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 5,437,988 (2.21%) adults in the United States have ASD.

For the past three and a half years my wife and I walked alongside John, providing him companionship, counsel, and a small lifeboat to climb into during frequent storms he encountered. John first came into our lives by means of our church. One day our priest asked us if we would be willing to help a single man who had recently arrived in our community. We said yes without really knowing what to expect. I share the details below not to glorify my wife and me; give all the glory to God! I share this to make a point which I’ve discussed before—being a follower of Jesus Christ can be messy.

We answered 2 a.m. phone calls so John could rant about whatever was bothering him at the time. We shared meals with him and checked periodically on his welfare and the state of his small apartment. We tried to help smooth the situation when John irritated his neighbors. We helped him move to a new apartment.

We drove him to appointments and to help him tend to his local business affairs when something needed fixing. We provided in-person support when John’ family could not contact him because his phone was (frequently) broken or lost, or when he was simply not answering calls or emails. 

We invested many conversations with some of his family members who are active stakeholders in John’s life–over lunch, dinner, coffee, phone calls, and Zoom meetings. We supported John and these same family members during the complex endeavor to have him evaluated for ASD. We coordinated the dedication of funds from our church’s rummage sale to help defer the costs of the evaluation; printed forms and obtained John’s signatures; and prayed for the process.  We coordinated with our church members to provide overnight accommodations for John’s family members when they periodically visited the area to check on his welfare.

Walking with John was not easy, but it was very spiritually rewarding and has made us three new friends, including John and two very special members of his family—they know who I mean. As we anxiously await the Feast of the Nativity and the celebration of the Christ child’s birth, Christians should recall that following Christ can get messy—Just read the book of Acts and see. 

In June, 2019 I published a blog piece titled “Messy Christianity.”  I invite the readers to read it again or discover it for the first time. https://divine-simplicity.com/2019/06/08/messy-christianity/

I wish you all a very blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year. –Zack

23 Nov

Now thank we all our God*

Posted by Zachary P. Hubbard in Bible, christ, Christian, Christianity, Faith, family, Gifts, Jesus, Prayer, simplicity, spiritual, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Harvest moon near Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Thanksgiving Day 2023 – Pause for a moment today and thank God for all His blessings!

1. Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom God’s world rejoices,
who from our mother’s arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

2. Oh may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
and keep us all with grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
in this world and the next.

3. All praise and thanks to God
who reigns in highest heaven,
the Father and the Son
and Spirit now be given,
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore,
for thus it was, is now
and shall be evermore.

*Nun danket alle Gott (Now thank we all our God), BWV 192 is a church cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1730. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quYd7qJzsAE

19 Nov

Heavenly homes

Posted by Zachary P. Hubbard in Aging, Bible, christ, Christian, Christianity, family, forgiveness, Holy Spirit, Jesus, marriage, Religion, Simple Living, simplicity. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

“You can’t take it with you” is an adage often used in discussions surrounding money and death. Similarly, if you’ve been a church going Christian for a while, you might have heard a preacher say something akin to, “You never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer.” Well, perhaps the person in the photo never got the word, but the spirit of the idea remains valid. Naked we were born and naked we will stand before God’s judgement seat after we depart this world.

I recently heard a sermon where the preacher suggested that maybe there is something we can take with us when we die—souls. By this, he meant that in heaven we will see the one’s we’ve led to faith in Jesus Christ. I believe the preacher got it right. In death, we can take something with us after all.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. –1 John 4:11

God has surrounded each of us with people we ought to love and want to take to heaven with us—family, loved ones, friends and other acquaintances. This got me thinking about how can we make our homes a little more heaven-like for our children.

I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was eight years old. For the next 10 years I did my best to follow Him as I was able. Then came college, where I drifted away from the church. I married just before graduating and continued my journey “in the wilderness” with my then non-Christian wife. 

My period of wandering away from Christ ended abruptly some seven years after it started.  It happened on the occasion of the birth of my wife’s and my first child. The first time I gazed at this tiny new human that God had gifted us was a wakeup call from the Holy Spirit. I literally heard, “she’s your responsibility.” I took this as a commission to raise our new daughter in a Christ-centered home. Like the Prodigal Son, I had come to my senses. My new insistence on raising the child in a Christian home came as a shock to my wife, but thanks be to God she slowly became a believer herself, as did our daughter.

Now I understand our greatest responsibility as Christian parents is to raise children who are Christ followers. How to go about that differs from family to family.  As Christian author and radio host Susie Larson has written, “Refuse the temptation to form your children into your own image.  They are the handiwork of God. He will show you how to love them, lead them and pray for them.” My advice would be that you should make decisions for your children based on Godly principles. You need search no farther than the Holy Bible to find sound child rearing instruction.

For many Christian homes, the concept of Sunday as the Sabbath has fallen by the wayside.  Sundays have become days for children’s sports league competitions, watching NFL football games, doing household chores, and almost anything but worshiping our Creator. The fast-paced life found in many modern-day households is a challenge to living Christ-centered lives. Observing the Sabbath establishes the perfection conditions for enjoying the Christ-centered, fellowship that God desires for each of our families.

Be forewarned! Deciding to create a “heavenly” home environment, one that is Christ-focused, won’t come without a price. It’s almost certain to create conflict. This can be extremely challenging, as those we love the most are often the ones who hurt us the worst. Fortunately, God has given us the perfect example of forgiveness in Jesus Christ. God so loves us that he forgave all of our sins through the death and glorious resurrection of his beloved Son. The pathway to building heavenly homes begins and ends with the Son.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it. –Proverbs 22:6

*All Bible quotes are NIV

12 Aug

Separation Anxiety

Posted by Zachary P. Hubbard in Adversity, advice, Apostle Paul, Bible, christ, Christian, Christianity, discipleship, Fear, Holy Spirit, Jesus, peace, Religion, Simple Living, simplicity, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Canine separation anxiety is a complex psychological disorder affecting many dogs and their owners. When left alone, the otherwise wonderful pets affected by the disorder experience overwhelming distress, displaying a wide range of associated harmful behaviors. These range from incessant barking and destructive chewing to house soiling, total home wrecking and attempts to escape. Dogs are social creatures that thrive on the human companionship, which can make the absence of their owners highly disturbing.

My wife and I live in a multigenerational household comprised of grandparents, parents, children, and grandkids. It’s not uncommon for our daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons to be away for a weekend or longer vacation. When this occurs the family dog Mars, a large Labrador, is visibly moved. Mainly, he lies motionless on the floor or bed, and lets out big lonely sighs. My wife and I say that he “misses his humans.” While Mars doesn’t display destructive behaviors, family separation clearly makes him lonely for those he loves.

Loneliness is a key element of separation anxiety. It is not simply the absence of company, but rather a deep sense of isolation that can envelop practically anyone. It’s possible to feel lonely even while surrounded by a host of others. As a career Army officer, I endured multiple long deployments to Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans.  In addition to the deployments, there were many other extended periods of family separation when I was required to attend training, exercises, and formal schools. In each instance, I suffered bouts of loneliness caused by being separated from those whom I love most, my wife and children. I sometimes became increasingly anxious as anticipated periods of separation approached.

The Apostle Paul looked forward to death, but not because he was depressed.  He simply wished to again be in the physical presence of his first love, Jesus. In the first chapter of his letter to the Philippians (v. 21-24*) he wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”   

In Mark chapter 14 the disciples eat the Passover meal with Jesus and then go to the garden of Gethsemane. In Gethsemane, Jesus went off by Himself to pray. As fully man and fully God, He knew exactly what was in store for Him—torture, crucifixion, and death. Just a few days prior to this Jesus had told his disciples plainly, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” (Matthew 20:18-19)

Despite this foreknowledge, Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane shows He was not distressed over any of the coming physical violence. He was in agony knowing that when the sins of the world were laid on Him, God the Father would turn away. Jesus dreaded the coming separation from God!  We are reminded of this later when we hear His impassioned cry from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

After the crucifixion, Jesus’ disciples suffered with separation anxiety. John 20:10 describes them hiding in fear of the Jewish leaders. No doubt they feared the Romans too!  After all, they’d been hanging out with this “criminal” who was perceived by some as a threat to Roman authority. Their teacher and master had, by all practical appearances, made a bunch of empty promises and then left them alone. But it was not so.  Behind the locked doors where they hid, the resurrected Jesus appears to His disciples in the flesh (John 20:19-20).

During his ministry, Jesus devoted a lot of time and effort to preparing His disciples for the day when He would be physically absent from them. He reassures them in John 14:15-18, saying “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” Jesus final reassuring words to his disciples in Matthew 28:20b are, “and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Isaiah 26:9 – “My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.

Psalm 42:1-2 – “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

Psalm 143:6 – “I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.”

Psalm 73:24 – “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.”

Thank God for leaving the Spirit of Truth with all believers. We need only to listen for His still, small voice to find Him. Thank God that He loves all of us so much that our foolish fears and anxieties don’t upset Him. Thank God He’s so patient with me, and that He is patient with all of us, even when we are impatient with Him. He loves us unconditionally, so much that he stretched out His arms on the cross to suffer and die for all of us. He will not send us anywhere He is not going; and when it comes to death, He’s been there and done that already. No matter how anxious, frightened, and lonely we may become, the Holy Spirit will keep us in His grip until the day Jesus bring us safely home. We are never alone.

*All Bible quotations are NIV

10 Jun

A breath of life

Posted by Zachary P. Hubbard in advice, Bible, christ, Christian, Christianity, depression, Holy Spirit, Jesus, peace, Prayer, Religion, Simple Living, simplicity, spiritual, Words. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Anyone who has spent some time in a deep swimming pool probably knows the feeling of diving a little too deep and then having to hold their breath while struggling towards the water’s surface, lungs aching for oxygen. The urge to breathe in such a situation is nearly irresistible. Breathing is such a natural part of life that most healthy people do it unconsciously.  Breath and breathing hold a special place in the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” i.e., Scripture comes straight from the mouth of God!

In Genesis 2:7, God’s breath equates to life, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

We see this again in Ezekiel 37:9, the story of the Valley of Dry Bones. We read, “Then he said to me (Ezekiel), ‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’”

In Luke 23:46, the absence of God’s breath equates to death. We read, “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” Many places in the scriptures tell us someone “breathed his last” and died.

John 20:21-22, in a passage we call the Great Commission, equates the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ breath. It reads, “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”

 There’s no denying that there is power in the breath of God!

Breath Prayer

I have a friend who recently took a new job in counseling. A lot of his work is done via phone calls. Yesterday he told me, “I finally have a full case load and so I’m frequently very busy… but relearning to breathe and talk to the Lord as I’m dialing a call.”  My friend is on to something. Wittingly or unwittingly, he has learned the value of breath prayer. I only learned this lesson recently.

Nancy S. Wiens wrote this about breath prayer:

Within the Orthodox tradition, Breath Prayer appears perhaps as early as the 3rd century. Known as the “Jesus Prayer” or “Prayer of the Heart,” it draws from Mark 10:47, where a blind man, Bartimaeus, calls Jesus to heal him. A common form is, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” By placing a few words on the inhale and a few on the exhale, it unites the prayer with the body. (Breath Prayer: An Ancient Spiritual Practice Connected with Science. As found at biologos.org)

Breath prayer focuses on speaking, aloud or silently in one’s heart, a short phrase or prayer while coordinating it with one’s breathing. It can be useful in reducing anxiety, cultivating mindfulness, centering, and forming a deeper connection with God.

To engage in breath prayer, one typically chooses a brief phrase or prayer that is personally significant to them. It can be a simple affirmation, a biblical verse, or a sacred word or name. For example, in Christianity, a common breath prayer is “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” Below is a beginner’s list of breath prayers. I highly recommend you give them a try.

As we breathe without ceasing, so should we pray!

*Peace. Be still. – from Mark 4:39

Speak Lord. I am listening. – from 1 Samuel 3:9

You are the Potter. I am the Clay. – from Isaiah 64:8

You, Lord are my shield. And the lifter of my head. – from Psalm 3:3

I am anxious for nothing. I give thanks and make my needs known to you. – from Philippians 4:6

You satisfy me with good things. And I am renewed. – from Psalm 103:1-5

I serve with the strength God provides. To God be the glory. – from 1 Peter 4:11

My flesh and heart may fail. But God is my strength forever. – from Psalm 73:26

You are doing a new thing. Let me perceive it! – from Isaiah 43:19

Keeping my eyes on what is unseen // I do not lose heart. – from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Lord, shine your face on me. Lord, give me peace. – from Numbers 6:25-28

When I am afraid // I put my trust in you. – from Psalm 56:3

My heart trusts in God alone. I have no fear of bad news. – from Psalm 112:7-8

* I hope that some of my readers will find this list useful. Thanks to Rachel Mayew for providing it in her “Holistic Faith” blog. 

5 Mar

Jesus: God of the Impossible

Posted by Zachary P. Hubbard in Adversity, advice, christ, Christian, Christianity, Daily Devotional, depression, Hope, Jesus, loneliness, Oswald Chambers, Prayer, Religion, Simple Living, simplicity, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Jesus raises a young girl from the dead (Luke 8:40-42)

“Never let an impossible situation intimidate you.  Let it motivate you—to pray more, trust more, expect More.” —Pastor Rick Warren

Have you ever felt like you were in an impossible situation? Maybe it was a scary medical diagnosis.  Or perhaps a loved one died. Maybe a job was lost and it took a long time to find the next one. Or perhaps a child was gravely ill. Regardless of the cause, countless people have experienced this feeling. I have certainly been there.

This feeling can be scary and may lead to any number of problems, including sadness, depression, loneliness, and feelings of isolation. Left unchecked, it can lead to thoughts about harming oneself or others, and even suicidal thoughts.   

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. —Philippians 4:13*

Fortunately, God has the perfect way of dealing with impossible situations.  Jesus Christ is the God of the impossible. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “miracle” as, “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.” The Gospels have numerous accounts of miracles performed by Jesus.  Here are a number of them.   

Early in his ministry on Earth, Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee (John 2). He calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee (Luke 8) and walked on water (Matthew 14). Following a long day of preaching, Jesus fed a crowd of 5,000 with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish (Mark 6). He healed the lame (John 5) and cleansed Lepers of their disease (Luke 17). Jesus cured a woman suffering with a fever (Matthew 8) and he cast out demons (Luke 8). He gave sight to the blind (John 9) and cured a woman with a bleeding disorder (Matthew 9). Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead (Matthew 11). And finally, on the third day following his own death by crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead, defeating sin and death forever.

Jesus was and remains the God of the Impossible for those who come to him as their Lord and Savior. I believe this in my heart.  Believing is easy when things are going my way. I am trying to learn how to put this into action when the going gets too tough for me to handle. Every morning I meditate on Psalm 143 as part of my daily devotion time. I find verses 8 – 10 to be a great source of encouragement and comfort, especially when I feel overwhelmed by life. I hope you might find them equally useful.

 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
    lead me on level ground.  

God can do nothing for me until I recognize the limits of what is humanly possible, allowing Him to do the impossible. —Oswald Chambers

*All Bible quotes are NIV.

16 Feb

A longing for God

Posted by Zachary P. Hubbard in Adversity, advice, Bible, christ, Christian, Christianity, Culture, Faith, Happiness, Hope, Jesus, simplicity, spiritual, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

The following people have something in common: Cleopatra, Pontius Pilate, Ernest Hemingway, Adolph Hitler, Marilyn Monroe, Freddy Prinze, Kurt Cobain, Anthony Bourdain, and Naomi Judd. Can you guess what it is? If you said all are famous dead people you would be correct, but you would be omitting a key detail. All died by suicide! The number of celebrities who kill themselves is truly astounding.

Clearly, wealth and fame do not come with a promise of personal peace or happiness. Neither does good looks or talent. Yet many people pursue all these.  Some people are attracted to celebrities like flies drawn to a sweaty horse.  Whether it is Megan and Harry, the Kardashians, or one of the seemingly countless reality shows that fill the nation’s television screens. Speaker of the Lutheran Hour, the Rev. Dr. Martin Zeiglar, writes, “Some people who bemoan our celebrity culture long for the old days. But were the old days any different? Modern mass media has changed our expectations for knowing others and being known by them. But our core human problem is the same. We expect humans to give us what we need-whether we are delivering ourselves to a celebrity in a crate (as a Burt Reynolds fan purportedly did) or asking for a selfie with them, whether we’re looking to fans and friends for recognition or looking to ourselves for fulfillment, the problem is the same.”

In addition to celebrities, humans are naturally drawn to feel-good experiences; the wealthier one is, the more these experiences are available. How we love to spend money on a fun week at Disney World, or going on a cruise, or basking in the sun and surf on Waikiki Beach, or maybe you would prefer a week of skiing in the Austrian Alps. Maybe your feel-good definition is a big shopping spree with credit card in hand. Perhaps you follow music, television, movie, and sports celebrities in the media and seek vicarious pleasure from following their lives. Unfortunately, many people who take so-called dream vacations experience feelings of sadness or emptiness as soon the vacation ends when they are thrust back into the realities of their daily lives. Shopping sprees may satisfy for the moment, but bring trouble when the bills come due.  And following the lives of famous celebrities is as likely to make one sad as happy.

At the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ (Luke 9:28-36), Jesus’ disciples Peter, John and James did not want to their experience on the mount to end. They had just seen Jesus’ countenance transfigured, his skin and clothing taking on a radiant glow as He spoke with Moses and Elijah. And they had heard the voice of God proclaim that Jesus is His beloved son.  They wanted to extend their own mountaintop experience, saying to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah (verse 33).”

Unlike vacationers depressed and saddened at their end of vacation, the Apostles on the mount of transfiguration understood that God is the true source of happiness, not feel-good experiences, or certain human beings.  In 2 Peter 1:16-18 we read, “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.”

To be certain, all people are born with a natural longing that only God can truly satisfy. Putting one’s faith and hope in anything besides God and His son Jesus Christ will ultimately end in disappointment; and it is a form of idolatry. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Are you chasing feel-good moments that fade? When one becomes mired in idolatry it impairs their ability to see God, rendering them powerless in the midst of adversity, when their soul most longs for God. Turn to God and find true fulfillment for all your inner longing.    

Isaiah 26:9 – “My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.

Psalm 42:1-2 – “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

Psalm 73:24 – “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.”

Psalm 143:6 – “I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.”

*All Bible quotes are NIV

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