Heartbreaking

Heartbreaking may be one word that sums up our last week. Just heartbreaking. So many stories. So much sadness. Just now, I watched on Twitter a father in Ukraine saying goodbye to his kids as he sent them aboard transportation to safety. He was staying behind to fight for his country. The love that was exchanged in that 43-second clip and the tears shed literally broke my heart. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this clip. How I pray that this conflict will end soon and he will be reunited with his beloved family.

But what if he’s not reunited? What if there’s more destruction, death, and heartache? How will this affect the whole world? How will it affect our own lives? As we watch on a TV screen, our hearts ache too. We ache for the precious people of Ukraine. We can’t do much, but one thing we can do is pray.

Would you join me in taking these moments with God to recite scripture pray and worship God?

What do we learn about God during a conflict? God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…..He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:1-3, 9-10

A Prayer for those in Ukraine: Father in Heaven, We pray for Ukraine. We pray for your most swift divine intervention. God, the people of Ukraine need your miraculous protection. Give them hope in their situation. Give them a way out. We pray for your presence to give peace in the midst of this craziness. We pray for all those families who are separated and ask that You reunite them. For all those remaining behind in Ukraine to fight, serve, pastor, and care for people, God, be their constant protection. Rise up in them with a strength that is not their own. May they know that they are there serving for such a time as this.

Take time to pray each day:  Pray for the people of Ukraine. Pray for the people of Russia. Pray for children, leaders, soldiers, citizens, missionaries. Pray for peace. Pray for the needs of those still in Ukraine...food, water, gas, and funds. Pray for the helpless, innocent, and vulnerable. Humble the proud. Provide all the resources they need and keep them safe. Pray for protection, peace, comfort, and safety for the people of Ukraine. Give wisdom to President Biden and all global leaders. May unity abound in their decision-making.

God offers help and hope for the future. Make this Psalm your prayer for Ukraine:  “The LORD is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me they will stumble and fall. Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear; though war breaks out against me, even then will I be confident.” Psalm 27: 1-3

Our God is a God of Justice: “The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the LORD in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name- he is holy. The King is mighty, he loves justice;” Psalm 99:1-4

May this be your personal prayer: “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:4-5      

A Hymn of Worship in times of strife: “In Christ alone, my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song. This cornerstone, this solid ground. Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace. When fears are stilled, when strivings cease. My comforter, my all in all. Here in the love of Christ. I stand.” Adrienne Camp (In Christ Alone, Adrienne Camp) (Link below sung by Shane & Shane)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2ld1wI2hT8

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

I Can Do Everything?

I was swimming next to a lady this last week and I found myself wondering why I couldn’t keep up with her. She was flying through the water with flip turns at each end. I was just doing my same old speed with no flip turns. Oh, I could do a flip turn. I just don’t. Anyways, I was comparing her ability to my own…. “She’s a stronger swimmer than I am.” Woe is me. I’m slow. Sigh……..

How do we measure strength? Strength is defined as “the quality or state of being physically strong.” (Oxford Dictionary) I guess the lady in the pool is “stronger” than I am, right?

It’s funny how we compare ourselves in this category of “strength.” We want to appear strong, whether it’s our fitness abilities, our work, our accomplishments, raising kids, or anything else important to us.

I’ve been thinking about this verse tucked away in the book of Philippians all week long. It’s written by the Apostle Paul and his circumstances are grim. He’s in prison. Yet, for being in prison, he’s a pretty chipper guy. In fact, I would say, he had a ton of joy and gratitude. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Everything? What in the world did Paul believe?

In Christ, we have His power. He is sufficient to provide the power we need and to face the challenges that come our way. Now, I will say that doesn’t mean I can beat the fast lady swimming next to me. What it does mean is that as we partner with Jesus, we face our troubles, pressures, and trials with Him. As they come into our lives, we invite Christ’s strength to help us.

Strength when we get a bad medical diagnosis

Strength to help in making decisions. 

Strength when the pressure at work won't stop

Strength in relational pain and loss

Strength with conquering an addiction

Strength through a crises

Strength in the midst of domestic abuse

Despite being in awful circumstances, Paul was not discouraged because he had discovered his sufficient strength was in Christ. He could live a joyful and triumphant life no matter what troubles surrounded him, not because of his own human strength or a great talent or charismatic character but through Christ in Him.

I’ve lived a lot of life and gone through way too many situations where I tried to manage the situation in my own strength. I will tell you from a voice of experience, it doesn’t work. Why is this verse written on the walls of so many of our YMCAs in San Antonio? It’s a call to recognize the One who provides the strength and wisdom we need in EVERY situation that comes into our life.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

The Way of Love

 I’ve always been a bit sensitive about Valentine’s Day. Being single for many years, it was such a tough day for me. Instead of moping around and wishing for what I didn’t have, I would proactively look for ways to bless others, married or single. It truly was God’s immense and perfect love for me that saw me through!

I’m not here to criticize the fact that we have this day devoted to love and romance. I just think there’s so much more to consider on Valentine’s Day! God is love and showed the most perfect love by the beautiful words written in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” That, my friends, is perfect love.

We, humans, are far from perfect love. Just when I think I’m gaining traction in loving my husband better, I get out of sorts and fail miserably to love him the way he deserves. Just when I think I’m cool, calm and collected on the freeway, I come across a not-so-nice driver that does something beyond stupid, and I find myself far from a spirit of love. I’ve come to realize I fail miserably at loving well, but when I ask God for help, He freely helps me learn to love as He loves.

God gives us a model of what love looks like. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 (The Message) it says:

“If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut. Doesn’t have a swelled head. Doesn’t force itself on others. Isn’t always “me first.” Doesn’t fly off the handle. Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others. Doesn’t revel when others grovel. Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth. Puts up with anything. Trusts God always. Always looks for the best. Never looks back. But keeps going to the end. Love never dies.”

Wouldn’t you like to love like this? I’m thinking all of our relationships and interactions would do so much better if this was our model. Here’s the kicker: God very much wants to help you and I love as He loves. This way of love is beautiful with God as our Guide.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Matters of the Heart

Right before Christmas, I had a friend from Dallas who had to have two emergency open-heart surgeries in two days. Her heart went into cardiogenic shock and for some time, she was in very critical condition. So many people were pleading with God for her healing and on the day before Christmas, we learned there was a Christmas miracle! My friend was responding to the treatment!

Since then, I’ve been praying so much for my friend and that God would heal her heart. I’ve been thinking about the fact that God knows ALL of our hearts perfectly, and how important the heart is to life itself, both physically AND spiritually.

In the Bible, the heart is considered the seat of life. It is one’s entire emotional nature and understanding. The heart is said to have the ability to reason, question, meditate, motivate, and think. (Merriam Webster)

To think that God knows our hearts perfectly can be a bit quite unsettling. What does He see when He looks at our hearts? What parts of our hearts would we prefer to hide from God? Does He know the stupid things we’ve done in life? Does He see the way we judge others wrongly? Does He know our innermost thoughts and feelings?  Does He know if we’re angry with Him or even hate Him?

Let’s look at a few “heart verses” that give us insight into these questions:

“O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise, you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in behind and before, You have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me and too lofty for me to attain…"
Psalm 139:1-6

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139:23-24

“Lord, you know everyone’s heart.” Acts 1:24

"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct according to what his deeds deserve.”  Jeremiah 17:10

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; Don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG

God is the heart-knower. No matter how near or far you are from God, God knows you and me completely and loves us perfectly. God is near and cares deeply when our hearts are damaged physically AND spiritually.

How do I personally respond to this? I want to trust the Lord with ALL my heart and realize I can't do life on my own. I want to seek God with ALL my heart! I want to care more about what He thinks about me than seeking approval from others. Why? Because He knows my heart and loves me perfectly. 

Will you consider these matters of the heart today? God wants ALL of your heart.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.