Month: November 2023

Tornado Lessons

DrJayCook Adversity , , , , ,

Where were you on Monday evening (November 20, 2023)?

I was driving on Highway 16 and reached the Farmhaven community a little after 6:00 p.m.  It was raining.  Then the winds picked up and hail began to fall.  Suddenly, the interior of my truck was filled with the sound of something like a loud whistle.  I later discovered that what I thought was happening WAS happening: a tornado was very close.

I grabbed the steering wheel tightly with both hands.  I became hyper-alert as limbs began to fall.  I wished for the 18-wheeler ahead of me to speed up.  I prayed.

Since I am writing this article, you probably gathered that I came out of the situation unscathed.  However, it did make me think about the trials we face in life.  Perhaps we all can learn a thing or two from the storms.

I grabbed the steering wheel tightly because I knew that I had to be careful; trials make us realize that we must be careful to not do things we should not do out of fear.  I became very alert because I knew that I must be focused; trials drop lots of “limbs” around us that must be navigated around.  I wished to go faster because I wanted to get out of the area as soon as possible; trials lead us to look for solutions to get out of the trials quickly.  I prayed because I knew that I must; trials help us realize that we really do need God’s help in the trials and in between the trials.

You probably knew those things.  I did, but I was reminded of the importance of them Monday night.

It is moments like that that make certain verses stand out to me.  What came to my mind was Philippians 4:6-7: “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

We cannot avoid the “tornadoes” of life, but we can trust the One who loves us.  God knows.  God sees.  God cares.  And He will help you through the storms when you place your faith in Him.

Consider the following resource to go deeper. Click the picture to find out more…

Yes, You Can Be Thankful!

DrJayCook Thanksgiving , , , ,

I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoy a time of rest and celebration.  However, I really hope that you are experiencing a thankful heart.  I also hope that your thankful heart continues to guide you every day.

I realize that continually being grateful is not easy, but it is what God expects of us.  We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  And we are told in Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

The story is told of a young boy who did not speak.  Naturally, his parents believed that he could not speak, but one day they discovered the truth.  His mother tried a new recipe for supper and called everyone to the table.  When the boy tasted it, he pushed it away and said, “This is awful.  I won’t eat it.”

The family was overjoyed to hear him speak, and they wanted to know why he had never spoken before.  He told them, “Because up ‘till now, everything has been OK.”

Sometimes it seems like there are people who only speak when they want to complain.  And gratitude is the furthest thing from their mind and their conversations.

Does that describe you?

If you had a good night’s sleep, know that there are millions of people who did not.  If you had a bed, know that there are millions who do not.  If you have a job or a car or a house, know that there are millions of people who do not.

AND – if you have accepted God’s salvation, know that your sins have been forgiven, that He is with you, and that He has a home for you.

Yes, you can be thankful – no matter what.  And we should be thankful – no matter what.  Remember the cry of Psalm 103:2: “My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all His benefits.”

Happy Thanksgiving!  You have more than enough reason to be thankful.

Want to know more? Click the picture below for a great resource…

What Do People See in You?

DrJayCook Christian Life , , , , , ,

John Hess-Yoder was a missionary in Laos.  While overseas he discovered some historical facts about the area that pictures the Kingdom of God.

Before the colonialists decided where the official boundaries of Laos and Vietnam would exist, the kings of Laos and Vietnam agreed on how to choose who would pay taxes to which kingdom.  Those who ate short-grain rice, built their houses on stilts, and decorated their houses with Indian-stye serpents were considered Laotians.  Those who ate long-grain rice, built their houses on the ground, and decorated their houses with Chinese-style dragons were considered Vietnamese.  That is how they decided to which kingdom taxes would be paid.

Nationality was not decided by where a person’s home sat.  Nationality was decided by the cultural values that they exhibited.

That also is true for those of us who are Christians. We all live in this world, and our world has certain beliefs and patterns.  However, if you are part of the Kingdom of God, there is a different standard by which we must live.  We must live for our King.

Philippians 3:20 states: “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Our goal is not to amass stuff.  Our goal is not to amass power.  Our goal is not to garner popularity.

Our goal is to live for God and His Kingdom.

Yet, we still live here surrounded by other ideas and ideals.  We are tempted to follow along with the culture, but we have an important job that we should be doing instead.  We read what that job is in 2 Corinthians 5:20: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us.  We plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God.’”

Instead of allowing a culture in opposition to God to guide us, we must (as ambassadors of God’s Kingdom) encourage others to realize what is truly important.  We must share the hope of Jesus.  We must help others see how they can become part of God’s Kingdom.  We must help others see they need to be reconciled to God.

Consider the following classic to learn more – just click the picture…

Veterans Day 2023

DrJayCook Patriotism, Veterans Day , , , , ,

World War 1 ended on November 11, 1918.  They thought it was going to be the war to end all wars.  On the anniversary of that day, our nation remembered.  And that eventually turned into the national holiday known as Veterans Day.

Everyone seems to know that Memorial Day is for remembering those who died in service to our country, and we should remember.  However, it seems like few really think about the sacrifices made and memories held by those who faced the harshness of war and live to tell about it.

But we should.

The Bible makes it clear that we should give honor to whom honor is due.  And those who put their lives on the line for us deserve honor.  They deserve our thanks.

We may not agree with certain military actions that politicians have put into motion.  But our men and women who serve in the armed forces do not make those decisions.  They decided to protect us.  They decided to put their lives on the line for us.  They decided to take a road that many of us have not walked.

I still remember (as a child) standing on the square in Oxford when the veterans of World War 1 marched by.  My great-grandfather was one of them.  Each year that number dwindled until there were no more.  They (and other veterans) faced atrocities that we cannot imagine.  They saw the worst side of humanity.  They saw what happens when Jesus is not the center.

Today, we seldom hear the unvarnished accounts of our soldiers.  One political side or the other tends to slant things to benefit themselves rather than just give the facts.  Perhaps that is why the “honor” often seems missing amongst us.  Perhaps that is why many people will not even think about what November 11 is.

I am grateful to live in a country where opportunities abound.  I am grateful to live in a country where we enjoy freedoms that so many others do not experience.  I am grateful that many of our citizens are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure those freedoms.

Our veterans deserve our thanks.  They deserve our honor.  They deserve to be remembered on November 11.

I urge you to remember – to thank – to give honor.  And be sure to thank God for those willing to stand for us.

Are You Upset about Chandler?

DrJayCook Christian Life , , , , , ,

Many of us remember the hit TV show “Friends.”  It not only had incredible ratings when it was first aired, but 20 years after its finale, one can still find it on some channel every day.  It was and is a cultural phenomenon.

Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) died recently at the young age of 54.  I say “young” because that is how old I am, and I definitely am not old – ha-ha.  It was a surprise and garnered many emotions.  Did you know about it?

Many people felt like they knew Matthew, so his death seemed like the loss of a “real” friend.  However, we see that a lot – don’t we?  Celebrities die.  Politicians die.  People that we have never met but have watched from afar die, and we feel the loss.

But what about those who are physically in your life?

Life is short.  Life is chaotic.  Life takes unexpected turns.  Psalm 39:4 reminds us of this by stating: “Lord, make me aware of my end and the number of my days so that I will know how short-lived I am.”  Also, Psalm 90:12 states: “Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.”

With each passing year, we recognize how quickly life moves ahead.  Christmas is almost here, but I feel like I just put the Christmas decorations up a few weeks ago.  My adult son and teenage daughter were toddlers a few months ago (in my mind).

And what about those “real” friends we have?  It is easy to think that we will get together in a few weeks even though it rarely happens.  It is easy to think that we will catch up on the phone in a few days even though life throws something else at us that causes us to put it off – again.  How are you helping, enjoying, and investing in those friendships?

And what about the most important relationship in life?  What about your relationship with God?  It is easy to think that we will get things right with Him when life calms down – though it never does.  It is easy to think that we will get more involved in things that please Him when we have more time – though time seems to be moving faster and faster.

Perhaps it is time for us to stop letting life dictate OUR lives.  Perhaps it is time for us to begin doing and being what we should do and be.  Perhaps it is time to allow a wakeup call to actually wake us up.

Let us enjoy life the way God intended.