Healing Rays of Righteousness

God Is Always For You

What is readily visible to us during difficult life experiences is extremely limited in comparison to what God knows, sees, and purposes for us. God knows every little detail about us because he created us and breathed life and purpose into our bodies. And so, it is only reasonable to believe that his perspective of every event or situation happening to us would be much different and more accurate than ours.

In Romans 8:26-28, the apostle, Paul, encourages us with this reassurance; “… the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. … the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

In verses 31-39, Paul asks two questions. His first question is, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us,who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”    

Paul is convinced that written on the underside of every experience in our life, both the good and bad, is the holy seal of assurance, “God is for you.”  Unfortunately, some have misread verse twenty-eight and, being disappointed, have become confused and discouraged. Thus, a helpful corrective to understanding what the verse is saying, is to thoughtfully consider what it does not say.

     1. It does not say God causes everything that happens. He does not.

     2. It does not say that everything that happens is “good.”  It is not.

     3. It does not say that all things are working for the “good” in terms of health, wealth, and success.       They are not.

     4. It does not say that everything is going to work out for “good” for all people. For God can do some     things for those walking with him that he cannot do for those running away from him.

Verse 29 clearly identifies the “good” promised in this scripture as the ability “to be conformed to the image of his Son.”  To accomplish this, God uses all things, the good and the bad, the joys and the tears, the successes, and the failures to shape us into the likeness of his Son, Jesus. And we can be assured that God does not waste any events or experiences in our life toward accomplishing his purpose of transforming us into the person he created us to become.

“God is for us.”  Pause and think about what you just read. “God is for us (you).”  It does not say that God “may be” of “has been” or “was” or “will be” for you, but rather “God is for us (you).”  Can you, can I fully believe that at this very minute and every minute, God is for me? The biblical answer is “YES”!

Paul’s second question is this, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”  Remembering his personal experiences of hardships and sufferings, Paul lists those things that can cause us to question God’s love for us and declares that none of these things can ever separate us from Christ’s love.

Rather than separating us from the love of Christ, Paul declares that these difficulties and sufferings make us “more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (v.37). Our sufferings do not separate us from the love of Christ, but rather they are intended to strengthen our relationship with Christ as the dearly loved, adopted children of God.

In verse 38 Paul answers his own two questions, with a powerful, all-inclusive declaration regarding the love of God for 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.”  This is Paul’s testimony of faith from his own life of many difficult, life-threatening experiences.

In recalling my various journeys through times of difficult and painful sufferings, I can thankfully affirm that God is always present with us. He always keeps his promise “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Yes, he is by our side, cheering us on, applauding our accomplishments. He is there to pick us up when we stumble and fall, and he puts his arms around us to comfort us when we hurt and cry. God is always for us, and in every situation of life “working for our good.”  Thanks be to God!

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com– (6/26/24)

Music is Healing Medicine

I always loved relaxing on the patio of our previous residence after sunset and listening to the evening music of God’s little creatures, watching the flickering lights of lightning bugs, and following the fast turns and dives of bats and swallows as they catch an evening meal of mosquitoes. And this was often an evening highlight during our many travel-trailer camping experiences.

Now retired from active ministry, I continue to enjoy relaxing on our back porch glider at our present residence, even though the nearby traffic noise overwhelms much of the creaturely music and flight entertainment.

I was enjoying such an evening when my thoughts turned to the important role of song and music in our lives. To live in a world without music would be so depressing, so hopeless, so much like hell, which the Bible describes as a place of eternal great sorrow and weeping. And in contrast, the Bible describes heaven as a place filled with great gladness, joy, and singing.

Music is often said to be a universal language that awakens feelings and thoughts in people everywhere and crosses all cultural and geographical boundaries. Music evokes joy and sadness, praise and petition, memory, and hope. It is both the song and the cry of the heart.

Music has the power to quiet and energize the heart and mind, influencing our thoughts and actions. Music is healing therapy to the weary, the hurting, or the despondent soul.  Martin Luther wrote that music is even effective in driving the Devil away.

In her book, A Deepening Love Affair, Dr. Jane Marie Thibault writes, “Music, secular as well as sacred, can bring many of us into the presence of God very quickly and powerfully. Music affects the limbic system of the brain, the center that has control over all of our feelings. …which in turn affects the temporal cortex, a section which seems to be sensitive to the spiritual.” 

Dr. Thibault continues, “Think about the role music plays in your spiritual life. What kind of music moves you to tears? What makes you joyful, hopeful, peaceful, repentant, and happy? What kind of music draws you into yourself? What pulls you out of yourself?”

I often experience music as the means whereby my soul is ushered into the presence of God with joyful praise and/or loving prayer. There have been many times that my walk outside, appreciating the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, that I am inspired to sing “My God, How Great Thou Art.”  Even a cloudy and rainy morning may stir within me the melody and words of “There Shall Be Showers of Blessings”and on a snowy morning the hymn “Whiter Than Snow.”

A hymn that has become a meaningful prayer of petition for me is “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.”  I have often found renewed courage and strength during difficult days or uncertain circumstances by singing that prayer hymn in my thoughts.

I could continue with a long listing of music that has stirred my emotions and aided my spiritual journey, but the above is sufficient to illustrate the potential music can have in drawing us into a closer relationship with God.

Yes, God created the hills, and the valleys, to be alive with music for that very purpose. I cannot listen to a mockingbird singing his seemingly endless repertoire of songs without my spirit being lifted and encouraged.

I encourage you to think about what music and songs you may have been listening to and singing or humming during the past months. Can you say that they are inspiring and encouraging you in your life journey? If not, maybe you need to change your choice of music.

Dr. Thibault concludes, “Other kinds of music may be more important to you. Classical pieces have enormous power to evoke spiritual feelings and remind us of God. Even jazz, which was one of Merton’s favorite forms of music, can do this for some. …How about the love song from West Side Story – “One Hand, One Heart”? Some hymns could not come as close as this to being prayer. So, try experimenting with music as a medium for prayer – it may quicken your spirit more than any other way of being with God.”

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 6/19/24

Jesus Promises Stress-Free Rest

Beverly Sills was a superb and popular soprano opera singer, who died on July 2, 2007. She was also known to be a very joyful and giving person. This is clearly evident in the following story.

Beverly had just completed an outstanding matinee performance, and according to the program, she would give another performance that evening at 8:00. Backstage her loyal fans were congratulating her, when one of them said to her, “You must rest now, because I see that you have to give another performance tonight.”  “No,” said Beverly Sills, “I don’t have to give another performance tonight.”  “Well,” said her fan, “it says here in the program that you have an 8:00 p.m. performance this evening. Did you forget?”  Beverly answered, “Yes, I do have a performance tonight, but I do not have to give it. I get to give it.”

Beverly Sills always felt it was a privilege to be co-laboring with Jesus in blessing people with her singing, and so every musical performance was always a “privilege” and never a “duty.” She never considered it a task to do or a burden to endure. She believed her performance to be co-working with Jesus because she believed that “SINGING” was what God called her to do. And so, always feeling privileged to be yoked with Jesus, she gratefully lived her life SINGING.

In Matthew 11:28-30 we read, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

With these words, Jesus compassionately invites you and me to come to him and find rest, wisdom, and strength for the often difficult and pain-filled journeys of living in a world that frequently challenges our commitment to being faith-filled disciples of Jesus.

It is easy to forget that every difficult situation is also an opportunity to deepen our relationship with Jesus, and to strengthen our trust in him. Yes, Jesus knows our limits of strength and our weaknesses, and invites us to find needed rest by being yoked together with him in our living.

The Greek word for “easy” means “well-fitting” and so I hear Jesus saying, “My yoke fits you well; your work or situation is tailor-made to fit you. Yoke yourself with me, and I will labor with you, making your life easier and your burden lighter.” 

Jesus’ invitation to rest is not the promise of an easy road, but rather of a difficult road made easier because of his being a traveling companion whose wisdom and strength makes the journey more stress-free and restful.

The story of Beverly Sills feeling privileged to be co-laboring with Jesus in blessing others with her SINGING, rightly reminds me that I do not have to love my neighbor. I do not have to share what God has given me. I do not have to feed the hungry, visit the sick, and be a friend to the lonely and dying. I do not have to be kind, compassionate, and considerate of others. As pastor and chaplain, I do not have to preach the “Good News” or minister pastoral care to hurting people at any hour of the day or night.

I do not have to do any of these things, but I am invited to do them as a privilege of being yoked with Jesus in his ministry of loving and serving others. And being yoked with Jesus, God’s gracious love transforms my life and attitude, making my labor and ministry a privilege to do. With the apostle Paul, I now say “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” 

I confess that I have not always viewed my work as being a privilege. My life journey has had its share of dark, difficult, and discouraging times, and my work as pastor and chaplain seemed at times more wearisome obligation than privilege.

But I also can affirm that whenever I would remember Jesus’ invitation and that I was yoked with him, the healing rest I needed flowed into me, making lighter the burden, and transforming my work into a joyous privilege.

I am so grateful to Jesus for his amazing grace in my life and ministry. I now reflect on my many years of being yoked with Jesus in ministry to others as a joyous privilege. And so, I say to you, stay yoked with Jesus. Trust him with your life, and you will forever be glad you did.

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 6/12/24

Enjoying Peace or Stressed to Pieces

In many ways “being busy” is a blessing. But too much of a good thing often causes life to become pressured and stressful. We may need to slow our pace or increase our “down times” to live relaxed and enjoy living a busy life. But most importantly we need to discipline ourselves to keep in step with Jesus, not racing ahead or dragging behind. This ability is not automatic, we must intentionally practice being fully relaxed and trusting while sitting, walking, or running with Jesus.

I agree with Chuck Swindoll when he said that “A relaxed, easy-going Christian is far more attractive and effective than the rigid, uptight brother (or sister) who squeaks when he walks and whines when he talks.”

I believe the first step toward living a relaxed life with it many expectations and demands, is to regain and strengthen our confidence and trust in God’s presence and purpose. This comes through frequent conversation (prayers) with Him.

Yes, we are often tempted to think we are too busy to pray. But I say that it is in the “being too busy” times of life that we most need to pray. I have learned that no matter how busy I may be there is always time for the “arrow prayer” which is a few words of praise or petition shot like an arrow into the heart of any situation, need, or uncertainty when and wherever it occurs.

It seems to me that many Christians fail to appropriately value the rich resource that prayer is for us. We glibly “say a prayer” at mealtimes and begin our meetings and special event with prayer; and yet, in doing so, we are often more motivated by tradition than by a sincere, genuine desire for God’s presence, wisdom, and power in our midst.

Prayer is one of God’s majestic gifts to us, a gift of gracious privilege, and a gift of tremendous value toward enabling us through life’s busy, uncertain, and often difficult journey. To be privileged to come into the presence of God Almighty and speak with him about what is on our hearts and minds, is a gift of grace. And to be privileged to come into God’s presence as his children, and to have conversation with him as “Our Father” is a privilege of unimaginable worth.

Furthermore, praying opens the gates of heaven for God’s “will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Prayer connects us to the wisdom, power, and energy of God. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isa. 40:31).

Yes, it is the privilege of every child of God to have this super-natural power and energy of God’s Spirit in their every-day life and work. The biggest challenge for us is to keep our eyes open, our minds alert, and always focused on Jesus. And this can only be accomplished as we give time to diligent, informed, and focused prayers with thanksgiving.

We have many moments throughout every day that could be used as prayer moments for self and for others. Such “in the moment” praying will teach us how to be both busy and relaxed; how to be in flesh the God of peace among a people stressed to pieces.

William Temple is quoted as saying, “When I pray coincidences happen, and when I do not pray, they don’t.”  Mother Teresa said, “Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of Himself.”  And Leonard Ravenhill wrote, “The self-sufficient do not pray, the self-satisfied will not pray, and the self-righteous cannot pray.”

Let us always remember Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” God’s love for us and his desire to be in relationship with us is so awesome that it is utterly amazing that it is being offered us. Why then are we so reluctant to come to Him in any busy or stress-filled moment and enjoy the rest and peace He offers us?

John Greenleaf Whittier wrote a beautiful prayer-hymn that I find helpful as my own prayer.

     Dear Lord and Father of mankind, Forgive our foolish ways! Reclothe us in our rightful minds;    

              In purer lives Thy service find;  In deeper reverence, praise.

     Drop Thy still dews of quietness  Till all our strivings cease. Take from our souls the strain and stress  And let our ordered lives confess   The beauty of Thy peace.

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 6/5/24