Reach Out to Jesus

In Acts 17, Paul travels through ancient Greece, a region known as Macedonia. His travels take him from Thessalonica to Berea, and eventually into the region of Achaia and the great city of Athens. There he speaks to people of varying backgrounds and philosophies about the gospel of Jesus Christ. He preaches to Jews and other devout people, as well as to Epicureans (followers of Epicurus) and Stoics, who believe that happiness consists of man becoming one with, or being in harmony with, the universe.

The Epicureans and Stoics took Paul to the Areopagus (a rock in Athens known as Mars Hill by the Romans, where philosophers met to hear new ideas). They wanted to hear more of what Paul spoke. And Paul did not disappoint.

As he spoke to them the gospel of God, he said, "From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us" (Acts 17:26-27, NIV).

God made man, and after the Flood, He made all the nations of the earth from Noah. He even determined their "appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands" (v. 26b). And He did all of this for a purpose: "so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him" (v. 27a).

To "seek him" (v. 27a) is self-explanatory. Every day, in whatever circumstances you find yourself, seek Jesus. "Reach out for him" (v. 27a). If you do, you will find Jesus. In Jeremiah 29:13, God says, "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart" (NKJV).

God has promised. When you seek Him, you will find Him, and He will take care of you and meet your every need. Amen.

A Special Tribute

I would like to thank everyone who reached out to comfort and encourage me at the passing through the portals to heaven of my precious wife of thirty-five and a half years, Barbara. She went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ just after 2:00am on Wednesday, February 6 and was laid to rest in the Aurora Cemetery, Aurora, Nebraska on Wednesday, February 13, following services on Tuesday, February 12 in Stuart, Iowa.

She was greatly loved as seen from all the gracious words that people shared with me and our son, Tim. To quote a few such comments: "Her kindness and love was shown to all of us and she was a living testimony of her deep love for the Lord. Barbara spoke of His faithfulness, love, mercy, and grace to encourage all she came in contact with." "Barbara was a blessing and an inspiration to all of us." "To the end of her life she thought of others, prayed fervently for others, sending cards and making phone calls." "Barbara's life was a life well lived and we thank the Lord for her."

Others added: "Barb was beautiful inside and out!" "Barb was a very special, compassionate and inspiring person. She will be greatly missed." "I'm thankful I got to know Barb. She was so much an example of trusting and resting in the Lord." "We will miss her humor and love for the Lord."

Another commented: "A very special lady has left this earth. We will miss her so much—a very special pastor's wife!" And another: "Barbara was sooo special." And yet another: "She was a special person—one who is definitely going to hear from the Lord, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'"

Psalm 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Barb was used mightily of the Lord throughout her life of faith, but especially so in these last days as she suffered with various illnesses and battles with cancer. Even when first informed of having terminal cancer and perhaps only months to live, all she could do was to testify of the Lord, and the doctor's need of Christ. To the end, the Lord Jesus was her sole focus.

Peter adds: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7). Such was the life and testimony of Barbara. Throughout her times of suffering, the genuineness of her faith was proven and "praise, honor, and glory" was given to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May that be said of our lives!

As another dear friend of her's wrote: "Barbara was a true friend and the ultimate caregiver! She was a true example of how God wants us to be. She will be missed!" May we all so serve the Lord. Amen.

In His Presence

Time has been getting away from me with Barb's situation. Here is where we are: Barb is getting quite sick again. Her tumor seems to be growing fast, closing off the stent that had been placed between her stomach and small intestine. As a result, she cannot eat or drink very well again. She has also been retaining fluid to the tune of forty pounds of weight gain. To do a tap and drain the fluid would be a daily thing. She chose not to return to Des Moines, but rather to return home and start hospice care. She is home now, and the hospice nurse should be coming today.

Tim is on his way from Oklahoma. Pray for safe travels for Tim, and pray for a miracle for Barb. Pray for God's complete healing and restoration. But whatever God chooses in His sovereign reign in her life, Barb is ready to see Jesus and to join Him in eternity where she will await our arrival.

In Philippians 1:21, Paul said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." This is the point to which Barb has arrived in her life-long journey with Christ. Paul continued, "But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you" (vs. 22-24).

These are Barb's feelings, precisely! She too knows that to live on in the flesh would mean more fruit for her labor in your lives. She also would like to continue on for Tim and me. Yet, like Paul, she is "hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better" (v. 23).

Though she hates to leave us behind, she looks forward with eagerness to seeing Jesus. That is her heart-felt desire—to be in His presence for all eternity. She just wants all of you to know how much she loves you with the precious love of Jesus. Amen.