The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“…Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood…” (Revelation 1:5).

I absolutely love that designation of the Lord Jesus!

He is the “first begotten of the dead.” How awesome is our Lord Jesus in every way. Please understand that He is not the first to ever rise from the dead. You can remember several accounts of people being resurrected. HOWEVER! Christ was the first to rise from the dead never to die again! He arose and is alive evermore. He loves us and has redeemed us. If we have placed our faith in Him alone for salvation, then we are His people. We serve the risen Savior. He is not still hanging on the cross. He is alive. He is alive for evermore.

So, whatever you are facing today, without minimizing your situation, may I have the privilege of pointing you to the One and only One Who can redeem you! Or, if you already have trusted Him to be your Savior, He is the One Who did redeem you! Risen and reigning – that surely wonderfully describes our great Lord.

For today: I am so glad to belong to Him. Don’t you wish everyone knew Him?

Today I have a wonderful Scripture passage, an encouragement, a smile with a dear couple and then a question. Thanks for spending a few moments with me.

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

With the cast on her fractured leg, Meg needed help getting from the wheelchair of her local hospital into the front seat of the minivan. Looking into the face of her distraught husband, Meg said, “Honey, remember two or three weeks ago we heard our pastor preaching from the book of 1 Peter. He said something like, ‘It is not a case of if troubles are going to come. It is a case of when they are going to come. It is what we do in those troubles that will make us better or bitter.’ Remember that, Honey?”

He did.

As they pulled out from the hospital, Meg quietly spoke to her husband. “First, I thank the Lord for sparing my life. Second, the police call it an accident. I like to call it an incident in which the Lord is working. Third, I am going to trust Him more now than ever. Fourth, I am going to ring a bell and expect you to wait on me hand and foot!” and with that both burst out laughing.

“Seriously, Honey,” Meg continued, “this hasn’t taken the Lord by surprise, and I have chosen joy knowing that you and I both, as well as our children, are going to learn some really precious things about the Lord in these few weeks ahead. I want to look up that passage in 1 Peter 4 when we get home.”

For today: So, what are you facing today? How will this impact your response to it?

Memorial Day, quoting History.com, “is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.”

Remembering. Honoring. Appreciating.

That’s what Memorial Day should be. It really should, when you stop and think about the price that our soldiers have paid for our national freedom. All paid a price. Some paid the supreme price with their lives. This brings me back immediately to the supreme sacrifice that the Lord Jesus made for us.

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:8-9). That was a tremendous sacrifice indeed.

In the midst of family time and parades, I want to be sure to stop and remember, honor and appreciate on a national level the price of my freedom. Daily I want to remember the supreme sacrifice of my risen Savior.

For today: We are blessed people, indeed. May you and yours remember, honor and appreciate today.

“Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven” (Psalm 148:13).

They couldn’t be any more in love, or so they thought. With very little of this world’s goods, Marty and Karis sat on the dock overlooking the beautiful colors of sunset over Lake Erie. The breeze from the lake was telling them that the night air was coming on. A little chilly gust gave Marty the great excuse (as if he needed one) to take his light jacket off, put it around Karis and hug her. Looking off to the west and seeing the incredible sunset, Marty spontaneously quietly said, “Lord, this morning in my Bible reading, I read that Your name is to be praised. It said that Your glory is above the earth and heaven. Lord, Your glory and Your name must be awesome because from our vantage point tonight, this sunset You are painting is pretty spectacular. I thank You that my wife and I not only appreciate the creation, but we worship the Creator. Thank You, Father, for the beautiful sunset over the beautiful lake with my beautiful wife. May Your name be praised. Amen.”

For today: You don’t need such a romantic setting to praise the Lord. Appreciate the beautiful creation, but worship, adore, and love the Creator.

You’ve used the term “mixed emotions and so have I.”

Those who know me well know that I am an emotional person. I can be moved to tears at times and at other times laugh until I nearly choke. Let me share a verse with you and then a thought or two today. Thanks for stopping by Dr. Mike’s Daily Prescriptions.

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep” (Romans 12:15).

There are times that I feel like I have opposite emotions flying through me. I am being very honest with you. Shifts from a broken heart to a heart that is full to overflowing with joy have been happening to me lately. The constant missing of my wife Karen who went Home to be with the Lord eight years ago along with the tears about the heartaches others are experiencing that at times just won’t stop are a very large part of my day. But then at almost the same time, I will hear a special song on the internet, or read a verse of Scripture, or hear from a friend, or talk with my family, or think about Heaven and what it will be like, or get to preach somewhere, and the joy floods my soul. You might not experience such dramatic emotional shifts, but as you walk with the Lord Jesus and His fruit is growing in your life (Galatians 5:22-23), you will indeed be able to rejoice with those who are in a joyous season. You’ll care about those who are going through hard times and with these you will weep. It’s rather amazing, isn’t it?

For today: Lord, please help me to walk with You and respond properly to people and their situations.