Yesterday I stood and looked in wide-eyed amazement at the beauty of my oldest daughter, Maricela, who is getting married in August. She was standing in the bridal shop with her beautiful white wedding gown and veil, modeling for me and her sisters. She was astonishing – she truly took my breath away. Just for a moment, I remembered the day I saw her when she was 18 months old at the top of a stairway, filthy from head to toe. My first thought was to run and get her so that she didn’t fall head-first down those stairs! You see, nobody was caring for this child.

That’s the way it is in the ghetto. Almost from birth, you’re on your own except maybe for an older sibling’s attempt to do what they can to feed and clothe the younger ones. At four years old, my son, Ricky (now 13), cared for his little sister, Jenny who was 2 years old, the best he could. He stole food for her and hid it to have something to give her to eat later. He found a place underneath a porch to hide her from the rain and storms. You see, in the ghetto, all that matters is the drugs and the next high or fix. The children are a nuisance until they are old enough to contribute to the lifestyle – that is, in some useful way.

So, tiny Maricela had stood at the top of the stairs that day in complete abandonment. She was alone to fend for herself at 18 months old! Hungry, filthy and in danger!

What a total contrast she was today in her beautiful white wedding gown, glowing in the peace of her life in Christ, preparing for her Bridegroom!

My heart was so full of love and thanksgiving to the Lord for this beautiful child, now grown up into a lovely and happy woman, soon-to-be the wife of the absolute most wonderful man in the entire world for her! I was overcome with gratitude to the Lord for the opportunity to raise her, love her, and see her married to a Godly man.

Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

Only God can give beauty for ashes! Only God can take the circumstances of a little girl’s life and change them so dramatically for her good!

Jim and I are so very thankful that God trusted us with Maricela. We are humbled that He gave her to us for a reason (her well-being), a season (until she is given to her husband) and a lifetime (always to be our daughter!).

Has anyone ever heard this old saying? It’s fairly common among the ‘full-gospel’ or ‘spirit-filled’ denominations. It means, in essence, that some people are so consumed with high and lofty spiritual behaviors and ideals that they can’t come down to earth long enough to take care of necessary practical matters.

Do you remember in Acts 1 where in verse 11 the angel of the Lord asked, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? It is referring to one focusing just on going to heaven instead of doing the work of heaven. It is saying why are you looking for heaven to come when there is work to be done? It does not ridicule spiritualism, in fact, the opposite. We must work until Jesus comes, but too many have the cart before the horse. Too many sit on the pews of churches week after week and never do anything for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom. They are led to believe that because they have stated that they are believers, and maybe they do mentally accept that Jesus is the Son of God, and have done all that the Bible claims, but never live their faith, believing that they are saved.

Faith is the tool of God by which we carry out what we believe. Faith without works is dead! People are not being taught the right way to worship God, and prepare for the coming events. We need to stir people up with the love of Jesus that they will share His love with a lost world. Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work.”

I found out long ago that you will never be able to minister to anybody’s spirit until you have fed their hungry stomachs. If they need clothes, you need to clothe them. If they need a bed, you need to help them find one!

Most believe that work is something that can be overlooked. If Jesus said, “HE MUST WORK,” then I believe that we must as well. Is a servant greater than his master? Not many mind saying, “I must be born again,” thinking once born again, God cannot deny them. Born again means to become spiritually born making one spiritual. And if you are truly spiritual, you are not satisfied with only your own salvation. You take seriously the great commission to “go ye into all the world and make disciples”. That commission requires more than just spirituality, it requires work.

On a recent show, my brother, Mark Graham, was reading the news headlines of tumultuous world events to our listening audience when he made a very profound ad-lib statement. He said “it’s frightening for some – encouraging for others.”

Isn’t it true? The times we are living in are frightening for those that don’t know Jesus. But for those who know Him, they are anticipating His return with great joy! Mark spoke from his heart, a heart that knows Him and delights in his soon-coming King!

Be comforted in the knowledge that the Lord reigns even in the midst of all the turmoil in this world. Be joyful that we know, by all these things which are happening around us, that He is soon to return and we will be with Him forever!

For the Christian, this is the good news! As Jim likes to say “the good news is the bad news is the good news”. In light of the events in the world recently, that statement is so true!

Luke 21:25 “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

“My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

“I trust in You, O Lord…. My times are in Your hand.” Psalm 31:14-15

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Tim 1:7

“And I heard … the voice of a great multitude… saying “Alleluia! For the Lord god Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.’” Revelation 19:6-7