Healing Rays of Righteousness

Precious Memories

Another year, another May 1, another Memorial Day has passed. And again, I am grateful to J.B.F. Wright for putting words and melody to the thoughts and feelings that I experience annually during the month of May.

My wife and I experienced the sudden, unexpected death of our first-born, only son, on May 1, 1983. The rest of that month was a painful blurring of time and Memorial Day at the end of the month was simply another day of painful grief and “why” questions.

But in the months and years since that “mayday” crisis, Memorial Day observance has taken on a new focus and meaning for me. And J.B.F. Wright’s hymn, “Precious Memories” has frequently lifted me above death’s painful grief in losing son, parents, siblings, friends, and toward the precious gift of memories they gave me. Sing the words with me.

     Precious mem’ries, un-seen angels, Sent from somewhere to my soul;

     How they linger, ever near me, And the sacred past unfold.

              Refrain:   Precious mem’ries, How they linger, How they ever flood my soul,

                                In the stillness of the mid-night, Precious, sacred scenes un-fold.

     Precious father, loving mother, Fly across the lonely years,

     And old home scenes of my childhood, In fond memory appears.  (Refrain)

     In the stillness of the midnight, Echoes from the past I hear;

     Old-time singing, gladness bringing, From that lovely land somewhere.  (Refrain)

     As I travel on life’s pathway, Know not what the years may hold,

     As I ponder, hope grows fonder, Precious mem’ries flood my soul.  (Refrain)

I agree with Dietrich Bonhoeffer who wrote, “Nothing can make up for the absence of someone whom we love. …It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap. He doesn’t fill it, but on the contrary, he keeps it empty and so helps us to keep alive our former communion with each other, even at the cost of pain.  …The dearer and richer our memories, the more difficult the separation. But gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy. The beauties of the past are borne, not as a thorn in the flesh, but as a precious gift in themselves.”

Contrary to a popular myth, bereavement grief is not a process of forgetting, but rather a process of reconciling ourselves to the loss of relationship with a loved one while also reliving the good memories of that relationship.

Establishing the significance of the life lived in our midst is key to the healing of the pain suffered in the loss. And significance is established as we remember and share memories of that relationship with one another. And to not talk about our relational memories of the person who died is to rob ourselves of good grief work and healing, as well as to rob significance from the one who died.

In his booklet, The Gift of Significance, Doug Manning writes, “The grieving process is a gradual change from the physical presence of a loved one to the sense of presence provided by the memories. The goal is to learn to live with the person not being here. Coping without their presence happens when we begin to find comfort in the memories.”  

One of the most priceless gifts that God gives us through the life of another person is the memory of our relationship with that person. Those memories are ours to keep, to hold, and to cherish. It is a treasure that no one can rob from us, a treasure that never needs to be locked up or buried.

Memories are gifts that take us by the hand and lead us back through the mists of the past to the happy scenes and experiences of yesterday. And when a life has been lived constructively for God and others, the memory of that life is like a beautiful walk through a pleasant garden.

Yes, the Godly memories given us by those now separated from us are very precious gifts. Let us rightly cherish them and freely share them with one another. In doing so, we will both bless and be blessed.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 31, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com Ray M. Geigley

Adopted and Adored

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1-2).

Even though we are God’s creation, we are not naturally born as God’s children. Becoming a child in God’s family is a gift of divine grace and becomes realized only as the Spirit of God leads us.

The apostle Paul clearly states that we have received a great gift, a tremendous gift, when God adopted us into His family. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. …the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:14-15).

I believe you will agree that one of the most blessed privileges we will ever experience is to be a part of a loving family. So, what does it mean to be adopted into God’s family? I do not think there is a more beautiful image of God’s love for us than the image of adoption as portrayed in this story.

Tina was an adopted child. One day, while at school in the second grade, Tina was teased by her classmates about being adopted. Tina went home that day in tears, not knowing how to react to the other children telling her that her parents were not her real mom and dad. With tears flowing down her cheeks, Tina walked in the back door of her home and was greeted by a worried mother. “What is wrong?” her mother asked. Tina told the story of being teased at school about not having real parents and not being as good as the other children because of it. Tina’s wise mother took Tina into her arms and told her that all of those other children were born into their families and their parents had absolutely no choice about the child they got.  “But” said her mother, “we got to choose you because you were so special.”

In his several letters, the apostle Paul repeatedly reminds us that each one of us is incredibly special to God, and for that reason he chose and claimed us as his very own child. However, we are not naturally born into God’s righteous family but are adopted into it by God’s choice in Jesus Christ.

Since child adoption was not a Jewish practice, Paul uses the image of “adoption” from the Greek and Roman society to describe what happens to the Christian believer. The adopted child had no natural or legal claim of membership in the adoptee’s family, but received a gift of full, family membership through adoption.

Likewise, we have no natural claim in God’s family. Yet in his divine love and grace, God extends a legal and loving hand toward us, inviting us into his family. As adopted children, we are given all the rights, freedoms, and responsibilities of family membership. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.”

Words and phrases like “children of God, sons of God, heirs of God, co-heirs with Christ” indicate that we belong to God. We belong to God in every way. Our sin debt is canceled. God’s home is our home, and we can address the infinite creator God as “Abba, Father.”

Thus, we can say those words and mean them, relating to God as father because we are family. This is an awesome privilege! To be passionately loved by a Father who desires an intimate relationship with his children, is a precious gift of amazing grace. How can we not say, “Thank you, Jesus!”

Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him be-long, they are weak, but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.

Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.

Let that truth enter into, overflow, and propel your worship today and your work tomorrow. You know who you are. You know that God’s Spirit within you testifies with your spirit that you are a member of God’s family. (Rm. 8:16). Look closely and see yourself in this bigger picture. Amen!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 24, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The One Thing God Will Never Do

The well-known speaker began his seminar presentation by holding up a new twenty-dollar bill. In the room of two hundred persons, he asked, “Who would like this twenty-dollar bill?”  Hands were slowly raised up. He continued, “I am going to give this twenty-dollar bill to one of you, but first let me do this.”  He then proceeded to crumple up the bill. He then asked, “Who still wants it?”  Again, the hands went up in the air. “Well,” he asked, “what if I do this?”  Dropping the crumpled bill to the floor, he ground it beneath the heel of his shoe, until the bill was not only crumpled but also dirty and torn. “Now who still wants it?” he asked. And again, the hands went up.

“My friends,” he said, “you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth twenty dollars. Many times in our lives we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what happened or will happen, you will never lose your value in the eyes of those who love you. You are special, and never forget it.”

I totally agree with this speaker and believe the biblical record of God’s LOVE relationship with his people consistently confirms his message. You were born great, unique, and full of potential. And now, years later, you are even greater, more unique, and still full of value and potential.

In his book Experiencing God, Henry T. Blackaby writes, “God is far more interested in a love relationship with you then He is in what you can do for Him.”

Some of the most profound teaching regarding God’s love is found in the third and fourth chapters of John’s first letter. In verses eight and sixteen of the fourth chapter, John tells us that “God is love.” 

Those three little words get to the heart of what John believed about God. They tell us that God is pure self-giving love, and that God cares deeply about you and me and covets our love relationship with himself. The character of God is love and his greatest desire is that we be in a daily love relationship with him as our loving Father, caring Mother, and glorious King. Yes, I said it. You are a child of the King, loved and cared for in the family of God.

It seems to me that John’s thinking about God’s love causes him to gush with joy in proclaiming how much God loves and cares deeply about us. Read slowly and let your mind and heart fully absorb John’s message. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! … This is how God showed his love among us; He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 3:1, 4:9-10).

How deep is God’s love for us? Read those verses again. Such remarkable, amazing love is at the very core of God’s character and at the very center of God’s heart of love. And nothing we can ever do will stop or hinder God from loving us.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”  (1 John 3:1).

We are children of God, who is LOVE. And there is nothing that can stop God from deeply loving us. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39).

Yes, God will never, can never stop loving you. He created you in your mother’s womb and breathed life and love into you. You are his amazing and glorious creation of eternal purpose and potential.

And so, you may feel as though you are worthless. But no matter what happened in your past or may happen in your life, you will never lose your value in the eyes of your Heavenly Father and those who love you. You are special, and never forget it. You are loved, today and always.

Let us pray and sing with the psalmist!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 18, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

GODLY MOTHERS and a MOTHERLY GOD

Each year on Mother’s Day we give special recognition and honor to our mothers, both living and dead. Truly, the world has been significantly blessed by Godly women who view their role as a mothering parent to be a special privilege and ministry from God. I was blessed with such a mother.

Speaking of “Godly Mothers” the writer of Proverbs says that “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”  (Proverbs 31:30-31).

I heard it said that “Mother” is not simply a title, but a divine function. In other words, “To mother” is to create and birth life into a new human being, and then to provide, nourish, protect, and shape its being and character toward maturity of adulthood. And to accept this awesome privilege of mothering is often a difficult, frustrating, and disappointing challenge, but it can also be a very rewarding experience.

From the very first sight and cry of each of our four children, from the very first cradling of their tiny body, my wife and I were head over heels in love with them. I loved them simply because they were ours. They did not earn our love. They did not necessarily deserve it. Furthermore, they demanded a lot from us and were very costly in terms of both time and money.

They would get sick and grouchy. Many a night they interrupted our needed sleep. They prided themselves in spitting baby food on our clean shirt or skirt. They could be noisy, messy, and smelly all at the same time. But above and beyond all of that, they were our children. And nothing they could do or say would ever, ever stop us from loving them.

Eventually, growing up in the environment of love we maintained for them, their love for us as parents took root and deepened. And now, being matured adults when they say they love us, we know from their hugs that they truly do love us.

In his first letter, John says God’s parental relationship with us is just like that. We love (God) because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). AND NOTHING WE CAN EVER DO WILL STOP GOD FROM LOVING US.

The one word that characterizes both our “Motherly God” and “Godly Mothers” is LOVE. This amazing truth is confirmed in the following verses regarding God.

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” (Isaiah 49:15-16).

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:13).

“One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: Power belongs to you, God, and with you , Lord, is unfailing love;” (Psalm 62:11-12)

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

Maybe you heard the story of a three-year-old who climbed into her mother’s lap and said, “Mommy, I love you.”  As she felt her mother’s face and touched her mother’s nose she said, “I love your nose, Mommy.”  She said the same thing about her mother’s ear, chin, cheek, hair, and finally she said, “Mommy, show me your heart.”

Her mother hesitated for a moment and then said, “Honey, look into my eyes and see what you can see. Look way down deep.” The little girl got very close and looked intently into her mother’s eyes. Then she said, “Mommy, I can see way down and the only thing I can see is myself.”

That is the kind of deep love for which every child hungers. And that is the kind of love we discover when we look way down deep into God’s eyes. He loves us with a love greater and deeper than the best of mothers could ever love.

To be a noble, wise, and loving mother is an awesome challenge, and we need always to respect and honor their good influence in our life. And probably the greatest tribute given to a mother was found on a cemetery headstone. Below the name and date of the deceased mother, is this simple phrase, “She made home happy.”

No other word was needed. What a testimony to a mother who was gifted, enabled, and committed to her calling and mission in life. May their numbers increase in our world today, and may all of us, both mothers and fathers, daily endeavor to make our home happy.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 11, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Living Hope – The Wonder of It All

The apostle Peter begins his first letter to the suffering, scattered church of his day by addressing them with awesome descriptive words as being God’s elect, scattered exiles, chosen, and sanctified. He then blesses them with “Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”

Peter than launches into a hymn of thankful praise to God for the gifts of hope and inheritance given them through the resurrection of Jesus. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5). Thus, Peter reaffirms the basics of salvation for both them and us.

Peter’s statement “In his great mercy” is key to grasping the fullest meaning of our salvation. With these words, Peter reminds us that “new birth” comes to us not as a reward but as a gift, a gift we do not deserve. The writer of Lamentations earlier wrote, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  (Lam.3:22-23).

Peter experienced this truth in his own life and declared that “new birth” gifts us into a new relationship with the resurrected Jesus Christ. And the most obvious benefit of this new birth is the “living hope” of eternal life.

But Peter also teaches that God’s gift of “salvation” also invades our present everyday life with some very enjoyable benefits” such as:

               1. A living hope (v.3). In Jesus Christ, God has given us a “living hope” that is not dependent upon our environment or outward circumstances. The word “living” denotes that which is dynamic, vital, alive. In other words, this hope is like living waters flowing from a perennial spring which never runs dry. We need to remember that the word “hope” is a uniquely Christian word because it makes no sense without the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is more than wishful thinking and beyond “I think I can, I think I can.”

               2. A heavenly inheritance (v.4). This inheritance is indestructible, nonperishable, unpolluted, and shining. It is a guaranteed inheritance, kept and guarded in heaven for each of us who believe and received Christ’s resurrection gift of new birth.

               3. A powerful shield (v.5). Until the day we claim our heavenly inheritance, God has promised to provide us with living hope and shielded with His power. This powerful shield is ours if we live by faith in the living resurrected Christ. The apostle Paul instructs us to use this shield of faith to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16).

In verse 8, Peter portrays “salvation” as a life of experiencing “inexpressible and glorious joy” living in a relationship with Jesus of loving and believing in him.

Peter concludes his hymn of praise in verse twelve by saying that our salvation is such an amazing event that “Even angels long to look into these things.” The New Living Translation is even more descriptive. “It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.” 

Can you imagine that? The angels in heaven are in the very presence of God’s heavenly glory and majesty and yet they “long to look into these things” concerning our salvation. The Greek word for “look into” means to “stoop down to take a peek.”

Let your mind ponder the truth that God’s “salvation” gift to us is so great that it amazes the heavenly angels. With eager curiosity, longing, and desire, they continue peeking into this wonderful salvation which had been declared by the prophets, revealed by the Holy Spirit, and is now available for all who will believe by faith in the resurrected Jesus and receive his gift of a “new birth into a living hope.”

It is a certainty for Peter in believing that Jesus’ resurrection is crucial. Everything that he says in his letter regarding salvation hinges on God’s act of raising Jesus from the dead. And he urges us to believe with the same certainty and amazed wonder.

The writer of Hebrews summarizes the situation well, “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For … how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? (Hebrews 2:1-3).

As I reflect on the salvation that is ours because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, my thoughts are expressed in a hymn that George Beverly Shea wrote and beautifully sung during my earlier years.

The Wonder of It All

(1) There’s the wonder of sunset at evening, The wonder as sunrise I see;

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul – Is the wonder that God loves me.

(Refrain)

O the wonder of it all, the wonder of it all – Just to think that God loves me!

O the wonder of it all, the wonder of it all – Just to think that God loves me!

(2)  There’s the wonder of spring-time and harvest, The sky, the stars, the sun;

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul – Is a wonder that’s only begun.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 3, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley