Matthew Loomis

Winds of Change

Descendants of Jacob, I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I never change. (Malachi 3:6 CEV)

There appear to be only three constants in this world that can be described as firm, fixed, steady, and faithfully consistent: God, His Word, and change are the three I’m noticing.

Besides God, everything all around us is in a state of change. The street I grew up on looks different than when I was a child. My physical appearance keeps changing the older I get—no matter what I try to do to stop it.

Some changes in our world take place so slowly that you don’t notice the changes happening in real time, like the slow decay of an Egyptian pyramid. Other changes occur suddenly—like an unforeseen tornado changing the landscape.

Your seacoast will be changed into pastureland and sheep pens. (Zephaniah 2:6)

In 2007, I experienced a whirlwind of dramatic change. The changes were positive, but they made my head spin.

In a nutshell, I was living in my hometown as a single guy in an apartment, working in a completely different line of work than what I do today. One year later, I was in a new city, working in a new career, newly married, and living in a freshly built house.

What an exciting period of change!

Recently, I hit some unwanted yet unavoidable changes with my parents—both are octogenarians and experiencing the changes that come with aging.

Last Friday, my family visited my parents after a special event. My mom looked great and was in good shape for her age. We immediately drove back home—a five-hour trip that can make situations complicated, as I quickly experienced.

The following evening, we received a call from my parents’ next-door neighbor, informing us that mom had fallen and broken her leg.

Now, she faces many unwelcome changes, including a recovery from surgery and three weeks of physical therapy.

Her accident also changed my life—I’ll stay at my parent’s home for the next few weeks to help my dad and mom get through this tough time. I’ll be away from my wife, the kids, and the dog.

I already miss them.

We don’t always know when changes are coming. But we know that change is an inevitable part of God’s plan.

Some people experience more change in life than others. However, we all face one extremely significant change at the end of our lives—the death of our physical body and the transition of our spiritual body.

As surely as there are physical bodies, there are spiritual bodies. And our physical bodies will be changed into spiritual bodies. (1 Corinthians 15:44)

Prayer for Today: Dear heavenly Father—thank You for Your Word that says You never change. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever, and we praise You for that. We know we can turn to You when surprising changes come—harsh and unwelcome changes included. Thank You for Your love, grace, and compassion that sustain us through all forms of change. Please help us not to be too rigid when changes come. We ask Your Spirit to enable us to bend but not break when the winds of change blow through us. Amen.

~

The Winds and Waves Obey Him

I watched a storm roll into my backyard this morning. Chaos ensued as the serene cluster of trees at the back edge of my property went from standing motionless to swaying and bending violently in every direction.

I’ve grown to love these trees over the years. It’s a privilege to live here and watch them grow. The tallest of the bunch—the sycamores—sprang up next to a creek that runs through narrow woods. The morning thunderclap was not this forest’s first rodeo. I’ve witnessed oaks, cedars, and sumac trees weather many storms. During one storm, the creek quickly rose several feet, completely immersing the entire forest floor with water. (My backyard was spared, praise God!)

The book of Psalms is full of reminders of how the Lord controls all the natural beauty in this world.

The entire earth—including every little nature sanctuary nearby that we can access—is a gift, and I’m grateful to live next to this slice of nature that the Lord made.

Heaven belongs to the Lord alone, but he gave the earth to us humans. (Psalm 115:16 GNT)

As the designer of nature’s beauty, God is sovereign over the storms of life.

When a storm blows up our peaceful existence, we must ensure our roots are deeply embedded in God’s Word.

If you are in the midst of a storm, take heart! In the book of Psalms, we read how God controls nature and wants to deliver you from whatever scary disturbance you face.

His sovereignty over nature was fully displayed when He helped the Hebrews escape the clutches of slavery in Egypt.

This Psalm illustrates God’s omnipotence over nature by reminding us of His incredible parting of the Red Sea:

When the people of Israel left Egypt, when Jacob's descendants left that foreign land, Judah became the Lord’s holy people, Israel became his own possession. The Red Sea looked and ran away; the Jordan River stopped flowing. The mountains skipped like goats; the hills jumped around like lambs. What happened, Sea, to make you run away? And you, O Jordan, why did you stop flowing? You mountains, why did you skip like goats? You hills, why did you jump around like lambs? Tremble, earth, at the Lord's coming, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who changes rocks into pools of water and solid cliffs into flowing springs. (Psalm 114:1-8)

Our Sovereign Lord can lead you out of harrowing situations by making the winds and waves obey Him!

The Red Sea is no small pond. It is not known exactly how long it took for the Israelites to walk across one side of that sea to the other.

If you are facing a crisis today—or feeling like you are sinking in quicksand, unable to reach your goals or escape whatever troubles are chasing you—be encouraged that the God who controls the elements of nature loves you and wants to help you find your “Promised Land.”

Jesus got into a boat, and his disciples went with him. Suddenly a fierce storm hit the lake, and the boat was in danger of sinking. But Jesus was asleep. The disciples went to him and woke him up. “Save us, Lord!” they said. “We are about to die!”

“Why are you so frightened?” Jesus answered. “What little faith you have!” Then he got up and ordered the winds and the waves to stop, and there was a great calm.

Everyone was amazed. “What kind of man is this?” they said. “Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27).

~

Wisdom Wins

During family time, we’ve been watching television game shows. Recently we checked out a TV program called “Idiot Test”: a challenging series of mental tests thrown at contestants. Also, players must avoid overthinking because the answer could be right in front of them.

At the start of each episode, the game show host asks contestants to share why they think they are qualified to be on the show. One young man responded matter-of-factly, “Because I’m a member of MENSA.”

If you don’t know, MENSA is a society for people with high IQs.

What happened next surprised me: this young man with a high IQ did not breeze through the game and win. Frankly, he didn’t do well at all — he performed poorly and left the game early.

Watching this game show reminded me that intelligence and wisdom are beautiful gifts from the Lord, yet they alone do not bring guaranteed success in everything we do.

One might also glean that when you are sharp, talented, or an expert in something that takes brains—keeping some humility is wise.

One great example of this is the story of King Solomon. In the Bible, his story shows that wisdom and intelligence are blessings but do not replace God in our lives. When someone is smart, they must be careful not to become overly confident in their own mental acuities.

In 1 Kings, we get an overview of this playing out with King Solomon. In Chapter 10, Solomon is at the zenith of his reign as king. His intelligence is so high that royalty from other nations would come to Jerusalem seeking his wisdom (1 Kings 10:23-24. What happens in the next chapter is more shocking than a genius losing a TV game show: Solomon — the wisest man on earth at the time — stopped listening to God. That’s not a smart choice for any of us.

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. (1 Kings 11:1-4 ESV)

Although Solomon didn’t hear a game show buzzer go BZZZZ: WRONG ANSWER—maybe he felt pain and frustration for getting so close to “winning” it all but ultimately coming up short?

We are unsure how he responded personally, yet we know his “incorrect” answers late in life brought division among the twelve tribes of Israel. Nothing more of his life gets mentioned besides his death and burial in Jerusalem.

With his immense wisdom from God—King Solomon knew better. Yet he chose to defy the Lord. He married into forbidden cultures—becoming unequally yoked with 700 wives and seeking other gods! God warned this would lead him spiritually astray, but Solomon did it anyway.

When Solomon was a young man starting out, he didn’t ask God for the great wealth and honor eventually given him as king. Instead, he asked God for a wise and understanding heart (1 Kings 3:7-9). Good answer, Solomon! That was a brilliant request.

But his inability to continue following the Lord throughout his life shows us how much we need God. If Solomon couldn’t stay on the righteous path, who could? Other than Jesus, no one.

We all need God — no matter how high our IQ or how many questions we can answer on a game show. Our wisdom can never supersede God’s wisdom.

Father, we seek your wisdom today — the same understanding Solomon requested. Please help us stay humble, so we receive your omnipotent direction and never forsake your guidance. In every decision we face, we ask for Your wisdom and discernment. Amen.

~

Springtime Is Renewal Season

On a recent morning drive to school, my two children, ages 11 and 13, noticed the sudden plethora of wild daffodils popping out along the roadside and across hills and valleys. These yellow flowers are one of the earliest signs of spring where we live in eastern Missouri.

The stunning display of beautiful wildflowers seemed to give the kids and me an energy boost—snapping us out of a morning routine that had grown stale over the winter.

During spring, God’s renewing power is on full display.

While the warmer days and spectacular scenes of nature’s rebound play a significant role in the joys of spring, we also get to celebrate the holidays of Passover and Easter. Passover is also called Chag Ha’Aviv, which translates in English as “the spring holiday.”

What a perfect time of year to celebrate the Hebrew’s emancipation from four centuries of slavery and Christ’s victory over death. Both holidays fit perfectly with God’s renewing spring season—when dormant trees come back to life, their flowery buds transforming into lush, green leaves.

Jesus celebrated Passover right before His crucifixion. The meal He shared with the twelve disciples—called a Seder meal in the Jewish tradition—set the stage for one of the Bible’s most dramatic scenes: the Last Supper. Once Judas leaves that upper room, the stage is set for Christ’s death and resurrection—a glorious moment that Christians celebrate on Easter Sunday.

You can see God’s resurrection power everywhere this time of year.

It’s Not Too Late

I don’t know who needs to read this: Don’t give up. God’s resurrection power is alive and well.

Your hopes and dreams may seem dead, but God wants to renew your heart and spark a new sense of wonder. You must keep your faith and trust God’s plan for your future—like Hannah, the mother of Samuel. She was childless for many years and suffered depression and cultural humiliation. Yet, her faith persevered:

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” (1 Samuel 1:10-11 NKJV)

The Lord “remembered her,” and Hannah became the mother of Samuel, one of the Bible’s greatest heroes of the faith!

Don’t Lose Hope

In the book of Luke, we read about a man named Jairus, the leader of a synagogue. His daughter suddenly became deathly ill, and Jairus searched for Jesus, believing in His healing ability. After finding Jesus, the two of them were heading back to Jairus’s house, but a messenger arrived and told Jairus the worst news he could hear:

While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” (Luke 8:49-50)

Jairus listened to Jesus, ignored the negative report, and kept believing.

Our Lord took the girl’s hand and said, “Arise,” and she returned to life! Jairus’s daughter resurrected, becoming completely whole again!

Are you at the end of your rope and need God’s renewing strength? Is there something that looks hopeless in your life that only Jesus can restore?

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your resurrection power today. Over the coming days, as we observe Passover and Easter, renew me like you renew the trees each spring. Please give me a fresh start in my body, mind and spirit. I thank You for Your restoration and rejuvenation. Amen.

~

Easter Reflections on Jesus' Resurrection Power

On Easter Sunday, at age 10, I remember sitting in the church pew, filled with nervous excitement. The service was wrapping up, and the pastor was about to do an altar call. “Little Matty” was determined to walk up to the front of the church to make a public confession of faith for the first time. The timing wasn’t intentional—my decision fell into place on a Sunday that happened to be Easter.

Bible verses like Matthew Chapter 10, verse 32 must have inspired the sacred practice of altar calls:

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32 ESV)

I learned Bible verses like this from faithful Sunday school teachers. Looking back on this Easter from many years ago, I can see that the seeds of God’s Word sown into my heart began to sprout that day thanks to the precious Sunday school teachers of my childhood.

I walked down the aisle and sat on the front pew, then told my pastor I wanted to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. When everyone finished singing, we stood up together and faced the crowd.

I don’t know how many people were at church that day—maybe a hundred faces were looking back at us. But one face stands out in my memory: my Sunday schoolteacher, Mrs. Bartmess.

While the pastor shared my exciting news, I could see Mrs. Bartmess sitting in the back, smiling brightly. She was the happiest person in the room—so excited to see one of her kids making a declaration of faith.

What makes her stand out so vividly in my memory is that on this Easter day, she did not look like the healthy, energetic Sunday School teacher I knew. Instead, I noticed Mrs. Bartmess sitting in a wheelchair with a wig covering her head. Unable to walk, she was in the final stages of bone cancer.

That Easter was the last time Mrs. Bartmess attended church. She died a week later.

For the first time in my youth, I saw the reality of mortality—our bodies are temporary.

I’m thankful that God’s Word promises us that death is not the ending and that we have eternal life through Christ Jesus. His resurrection power awaits you and me.

In John 11:25-26 we read,

Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'

Easter day approaches soon—a day most Christians agree to be the holiest of all days—a time to commemorate Christ’s resurrection from the dead and His promise of eternal life to those who believe in His divinity and surrender their life to Him.

As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday—also known as Easter—I’m filled with joy when I think about God’s promise of resurrection. All believers in Christ—including Mrs. Bartmess—will one day receive a brand-new resurrected body that is healthy, strong, and will never break down. No cancer, heart disease, or even a cold virus will exist!

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21 ESV).

This Easter, I’m grateful to God for placing a faithful servant like Mrs. Bartmess in my life. She taught my 4^th grade friends and me that Easter is more than colored eggs and bunnies. Through her gifts, she shared the Bible and the incredible promises of God’s resurrection power in ways that reached young hearts.

If you are a Sunday school teacher, be encouraged—your efforts are making an eternal difference!

I’m looking forward to one day thanking Mrs. Bartmess for the example of godly faith she modeled for her Sunday school students.

And most of all, I’m grateful for the Lord’s resurrection power that will enable us to one day meet again to worship Him for eternity.

~

Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Unique Salvations

When I was 24 years old, I remember feeling an unexpected desire to pray for two childhood friends I had not seen in years. Six years after high school graduation, the Holy Spirit gave me this intense evangelical impulse to pray for their salvation. We had little contact after high school, but I would hear updates on their lives through mutual friends. (This occurred right before the internet took off, so there was no email or social media at that point.) I gathered that my two friends were generally doing fine, but I did know that neither one knew the Lord or attended church then.

So, I started including these two former classmates in my daily prayers.

For a couple of years, nothing seemed to be happening. One old friend was living down in Central America at that time. The other was climbing his career ladder several hundred miles away.

Three years later, my friend living overseas returned to town for an extended visit. During his time back home, we reconnected and spent time “hanging out.” I also began sharing my faith with him. It’s hard to recall what I said during those weeks of catching up. All I know is that I invited him to church, and one night after an evening service—we were talking in my car, and the next thing I knew, I’m leading my friend in the salvation prayer!

Praise God! He answered my prayers! My friend even returned to my church several days later and got baptized! He’s been living for the Lord ever since.

Meanwhile, 25 years later – I’m still praying for my other classmate.

As far as I can tell, he doesn’t seem any closer to God than when my prayers started. Two-and-a-half decades in, I cannot see any progress from my perspective.

I’m sure the Lord is teaching me many things through this experience: patience, faith, and respecting the individual. In the tenth chapter of Matthew, we read through the names of each disciple:

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. (Matthew 10:2-4 NKJV)

When you think about how Jesus went about calling His twelve disciples—He didn’t call them all at once. Jesus called each disciple in His own time.

Each disciple had a unique personality, a different background, outlook, and various skill set. Since His earthly ministry, for over 2,000 years, Jesus has called billions of individuals—some folks respond quickly, while others may take years—or decades—to accept Christ into their hearts.

Sometimes God tests our faith. I know that the Lord can do anything. My unsaved friend is neck-deep in worldly matters and cares and has displayed contempt for Christianity. His salvation will be a miracle indeed.

Although the results are out of my hands, my God can make anything possible.

When Jesus sent out the twelve to spread the Good News, He said,

And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake the dust from your feet. (Matthew 10:14)

The decision to follow Jesus is up to my friend. However, I will continue to stand in faith and pray for his salvation. The Lord wants me to pray—not preach at him in person or email him Bible verses. Sometimes God does use those approaches. But in my case, the Lord wants me to pray. So, I am still asking the Lord to orchestrate my old friend’s salvation however He sees fit. Yes, I’ve been praying a long time for this. But I trust that the timing—and the results—are God’s will.

Sometimes we don’t know why the Lord asks us to do things His way. But we should follow His lead anyway—because the Lord is omnipotent. Trust His plan.

~

Matthew

Loomis

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