Tag Archives: the Lord

Big Brother

Initial thoughts of this title may lead people to images of the CBS reality show created by John de Mol.  The political savvy will likely be drawn in a different direction, thinking of the nickname for the federal government in the United States.  However, for the sake of brevity, today’s blog will address the idea that God is like a big brother.

Bully’s exist in every shape and form.  Whether this individual is a class mate, co-worker, neighbor, stalker or world power, from time to time, everyone needs a helping hand.  Psalm 125:1-2 suggests the Lord serves as a mountain of protection.  When your back is against the wall, pinned down by the travails of life, you need a big brother to come to the rescue.

When I was a 6th grader, I was a minority, attending an inner city Elementary with 90 % of the students either African American or Hispanic.  Since I was only 4’11” certain days were a living hell.  On a rough day, one of several bully’s attempted to shove me into a locker, in the process of closing the door on me.  Seeing my dire situation, God intervened sending a living giant to my aid.

Andre, one of my basketball friends during recess, 6 feet tall and close to 200 pounds in stature, easily put this bully in his place.  Throwing this student around like a rag doll,  Andre continued this drubbing until the boy vowed to never touch me again.  While your prayers might not be answered as direct as this one, don’t forget that God is like big brother, waiting to defend his younger siblings.

by Jay Mankus

The Blind Side

Based upon the real life of Michael Oher, the Blind Side reveals a feel good story.  Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy take in a large homeless African America boy whose life had been a living nightmare prior to their meeting.  Seeing Michael’s potential, their love, guidance and motivation helped pave the way for a career in football.  This dream became a reality as Michael was chosen in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft as a left tackle, protecting the blind side of the Baltimore Raven’s quarterback.

Psalm 124 refers to a spiritual blind side.  The author, King David, reflects upon his life, looking back on how he survived the attacks of King Saul and other nations.  What he discovered was life altering as the hand of God had been an invisible force watching over him time after time.  This chapter serves as a tribute to the Lord, a reminder to all that God is in the back ground protecting our blind side.

Unfortunately, most individuals like me doubt God when things appear to be going against them.  Somehow the miracles of the past get lost, escaping my memory, erased by time, trials or a wavering faith.  Therefore, the next moment you feel like God is leaving you out in the dark, clueless about your future, read Psalm 124:1-8 to calm your fears.  Although your sight might be blurred by unanswered prayers, the Lord has your back!

by Jay Mankus

Look Up; Not Within!

As a coach and teacher, the me, me, me mindset can become tiring.  Former NFL running back Ricky Watters became infamous in Philadelphia following his post game comments, “For who, for what?”  More concerned about his own health than stretching out to make a play, a generation of professional athletes have adopted this motto.  Yet, Psalm 123 provides a different philosophy, looking beyond yourself.

While professional athletes do have a shorter shelf life than blue collared workers, it is the Lord who preserves one’s life, Psalm 123:2.  Although free will does exist, the Lord is ultimately in control, ushering his angels to protect God’s people.  On the other side of the spectrum, naturalism claims truth comes from within.  The attractiveness of this worldview has led many into relying on science and knowledge.

The famous painting known as The School of Athens created by Raphael in the early 16th century articulates this internal battle.  As Plato points toward heaven, affirming the principles of the Bible, Socrates seeks gnosis, a secret wisdom from within.  Today, this debates continues, with public opinion slanting things in Socrates favor.  However, I still believe in the God above, whom calls people to look up, not within!

by Jay Mankus

The Breath of the Lord

Norway rat

During the dark days of the Black Plague, sneezing was an early indication of this disease.  Thus, the expression, “may God bless you,” was aptly spoken, hoping the individual who sneezed would not die.  This spoken prayer was the only line of defense people had, since scientists were initially baffled by this outbreak.

In the beginning of this world, God created Adam to live forever, breathing life into his body.  However, like the Black Plague, sin’s influences and presence after the fall, gradually sucked the life out of mankind.  The toll of this spiritual disease eventually forced God to limit human life to 120 years.

Today, there is a different kind of threat, the absence of the presence of God.  Just as in the decay of the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, America is experiencing a similar power outage of God’s blessing.  Disobedience, idols and worldliness has eliminated the breathe of the Lord in many regions of the world.  Like the words of the prophet Isaiah 40:7, America and other dying nations are overdue for the breathe of the Lord.  May desperate souls rise from the ashes, made whole again by the Holy Spirit!

by Jay Mankus

Lifting Up Friends

starbucks coffee photo: starbucks-coffee starbucks-coffee.jpg

On Friday, I met a good friend for coffee for nearly 2 hours.  Though I tend not to be a big talker, God compelled me to respond to his questions.  While I may not have eased his concerns, deep within my soul came an urge to lift up this friend up in prayer.  Therefore, I took a few moments before I began working, asking the Lord to bring a glimmer of hope to the uncertainty within his mind.  A few hours later, I received a text which  revealed an open door, a potential full time position and free college tuition for his 2 children.

Listening to Casting Crowns after an 11 hour shift brought this idea to light, lifting up friends in prayer,  The lyrics of their song, Prayer for a Friend is a simple remember of what asking God for something in Jesus’ name can do, John 14:13-14.  The skeptic will say, “its just a coincidence, mere chance that your friend received good news.”  Yet, this is the second time in a month that God moved in a matter of hours after meeting together.  Any way you attempt to explain this, lifting up friends in prayer is one of the few remaining solutions to turn your life or a friend’s around.

The last 2 years has been a struggle for me and my family on numerous levels.  When you and your spouse lose your dream jobs, most of your friends through a church split and are left with an ever increasing financial crunch, doubt, helplessness and frustration blew in like a spring storm.  After the bitterness, complaining and whining cease, lifting up my wife and kids in prayer is my only option.  Thus, while pain and regret still exist, its time to fall down on my knees, look up to heaven and cry out to God, lifting up to my best friend to the One who can alter our future.  In Christ alone, help is on the way, Philippians 4:13.  Call on Him today!

by Jay Mankus

Eclipsed by Glory

Inspired by the first woman to swim the English Channel, a California swimmer attempted a similar feat, trying to make the 22 mile journey from Catalina Island to the California coastline.  Swimming for 15 hours, with a boat on either side of her for safety, a thick Marine layer prevented this woman from seeing the finish line.  Exhausted and swimming blind the entire time, she gave up only a few hundred yards from the beach.  Thus, the fog, as thick as pea soup, eclipsed her glory, failing to make history.

From January 1st, 2012 through March 23rd, 2013, I was living in a dense spiritual fog.  During this 15 month stretch, there were moments, even a day or two, when I thought, finally these clouds are dissipating.  To my disappointment, another layer of fog rolled in, more dense than the one before.  My career path became like a yo-yo, slinky and a series of one hit wonders, showing hope and promise one day, yet gone the next.  As a result, I was ready to quit, as my plans kept coming up empty, Proverbs 19:21.

From an astronomy perspective, an eclipse occurs when there is an obscuration of light as a moon or planet intervenes momentarily.  From a spiritual point of view, human beings often seek fame for themselves, stealing God of the glory He is due.  Despite these efforts, the Lord’s purpose always prevails, using the weather to steer you in the direction, toward His will.  Therefore, move out of God’s way, let Jesus take the wheel, Ephesians 2:10 and submit to the Creator’s commands in Philippians 2:13-14.  Then, you can experience the eclipse of God’s glory!

by Jay Mankus