Born To Die

Dr. Mike Murphy

November 24, 2023

I keep looking out my window for the snow!  I could almost smell the fir and the pine. The fragrance and taste of the wassail filled my imagination. As I opened my e-mail and already saw all the Christmas ads, I just figured it had to be cold outside, with snow on the ground.  It seems like each year the Christmas ads come earlier and earlier.  I do like to joke about it, but it really does not bother me.  I love the Christmas season.  The feeling that fills the air, family and friends coming together, a time each year to remind us Who and what is important in our lives. As I glanced at the ads, I could see all the new decorations.  I saw trees of every shape and color.  And I could see the nativity scenes that covered the pages. It seems that with each glance of Mary, Joseph, and the manger, a favorite song of mine echoed through my mind, and soon I found myself humming the words.  Each year, Christmas gives me a chance to listen to the touching words of that song, a song few may have ever heard.  In the fall of 2007, Bebo Norman released the album Christmas...From The Realms Of Glory.  On the album was a little known song, that carries a powerful message, the song Born To Die.  It is impossible to hear this song and not be moved, to not read the lyrics and begin to feel the tears swelling up in your eyes.

They never knew a dark night

always had the Son's light

on their face

Perfect in glory

Broken by the story

of untold grace...

come that day

Majesty had come down

Glory had succumbed now

to flesh and bone

In the arms of a manger

In the hands of strangers

that could not know

Just who they hold

And the angels filled the sky

All of heaven wondered why

Why their King would choose to be

Be a baby born to die

And all fell silent

For the cry of an infant,

the voice of God

Was dividing history

For those with eyes to see,

the Son would shine

From earth that night

And the angels filled the sky

All of heaven wondered why

Why their King would choose to be

Be a baby born to die

Be a baby born to die

To break the chains

Of guilt and sin

To find us here

To pull us in

So we can join in Heaven's song

And with one voice around the throne

All the Angels filled the sky

And I can't help but wonder why

Why this King would choose to be

Be a baby born for me

Be a baby born

Be a baby born to die

I once heard Bebo say he wrote this song from a heavenly perspective. Writing what a strange and wondrous moment it must have been for those above to watch the God of all Creation enter this world in such a simple and lowly form, knowing they already knew the whole story of the Gospel.  To watch as the One who lit the heavens, would come to this world with one true purpose in mind, to die.  How curious of a way they would see the events of this story play out.  They would watch as tragedy would be turned into a beautiful love story.

The song reminds us of the Lord’s perfect plan to save an imperfect world, through the birth of a perfect child, who would grow into a man who was destined to die, so death itself would permanently be defeated.  But even as many hear these words, others will still ask, “Why did Christ have to die?”.

As we answer this question, we must remember that not one word of the New or Old Testament takes the position that Christ’ death was accidental, or was created by the treacherous hands of mankind.  Not one word tells us that Christ died because of man’s plans.  Every word of the Bible tells us just the opposite, it tells us that His death fulfilled a divine purpose.  Jesus told these very words to His disciples, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”(Luke 24:46-48).  Through the very words of Christ, we know that the necessity of Christ’ death and suffering was in accordance with the definite and foreknowledge of the Lord’s plan.  Christ did not die as the result of foul play, or in an accidental way, He did so with a divine purpose, as part of a divine plan.

Although the worst of mankind found its’ way to crucify Christ, God’s plan of mercy and redemption still shined through.  Mankind may have crucified Jesus, but our Lord made and planned His death as a way of salvation, as an act of redemption.  The Lord took the tragedy of Christ’ death, and turned it into the greatest love story this world would ever know!

Many will follow this up by asking, “Why would the Lord allow His Son to die in such a terrible way?  Why would not the Lord just choose a different plan?” To ask this question is to not understand the Lord.  To question as to whether the Lord could have chosen another way, is to question whether the Lord set into action the best plan to start with.  It is to imply that we, man, might have done better.  What we see as better, is a way that looks right to us.  A way that only includes what we see in the now, and what we choose to remember from the past.  But our ways are not God’s ways, our thoughts are not God’s thoughts(Isaiah 55:8).  Simply put, our ways and our thoughts are flawed. Mankind cannot know perfection unless we first look to God.

Once man knew perfection, as the Bible tells us that God created this world and man perfect.  But when Adam and Eve disobeyed the word of God, the perfection of man became flawed.  A flaw we know as sin.  As a result of their disobedience, God had to punish Adam and Eve.  Now many may ask, why would God “have” to punish man?  The answer is simple, because God is just! To overlook sin would be to make God unjust. Adam and Eve’s disobedience required a punishment, a punishment because of the consequences of their sin. Death is the consequence of that sin.  Since that original sin, every person that has walked this earth has also been guilty of disobeying God(Romans 3:23). Each of us face that same judgment, and through our guilt, a deserved death separates us eternally from the Lord.

But in the just of His judgment, God did not leave us without hope.  God promised He would send a way for man to overcome the punishment that comes from sin.  A sacrifice that would overcome death, and restore mans perfect relationship with the Lord(Genesis 3:15).  Until that day, man would sacrifice innocent animals, showing the Lord they sought His forgiveness, seeking repentance for sin before Him.  They also did this to show their faith, faith in the True Sacrifice that would one day come, and forever restore our perfect relationship with our Lord.  Many times throughout history and in His Word, we watched as the Lord reassured man of that promise.  Many times we read of how the Lord showed man how that promise would be fulfilled.  He gave us detailed descriptions of that promise, and of the One who would fulfill that promise. Then, on one promised day, the Lord brought that promise into this world, and placed that promise in a manger in the city of Bethlehem. God’s perfect Son, fulfilling God’s perfect plan, who would be God’s perfect requirement to forever restore God’s perfect law(2 Corinthians 5:21).  So simple, but yet so perfect!  

In the very nature of God we see that perfect plan.  In the very nature of God we see His devotion, we see His strength, we see His hope and His glory, and we see in Him a love, a love that is willing to suffer with and for each of us. From His very first word, we read as God made that love vulnerable.  He created mankind in His own image, giving us free will and the ability to make independent decisions.  God knew the risk that came with giving us free will.  He knew with the freedom He gave us, we would have the ability to choose Him, and follow the path He has set before us.  But He also knew that with this gift of free will, man could choose to ignore Him, seeking our own path, a path that can take us far from the ways of our Lord.  But each gift of free will was surrounded by His love. A love that was present long before the Cross.  A love that suffered with us as we wandered from His path. A love that wept as He watched us reject His proven ways.  And a love that agonized each time we turned away from Him.  When we look at the Cross, we see that love, because that Cross bears the very heart of our Lord

So we look at our original question again,  “Why did Christ have to die?” Did Christ have to die?  No.  He could have left us in our disobedience, forever distant from our Lord, suffering an eternity at the hands of His just judgment.  But in every word,  in every action our Lord has shown us, we see His desire to have that eternal relationship with us.  We see His desire to keep His promise to us. We see the love in the plans He has for us.  And we see why He sent His perfect Son to us. We see His perfect relationship with us, where we find ourselves forever in His presence, forever as His merciful arms surround us.  In the answer to this question, we see the very definition of love.  

Each year, I make out my Christmas list.  A list I make out to the Lord, asking Him for things I long to see in the coming year.  This year, much like the Christmas ads that fill my e-mail, I find myself making out my list a little early.  But this year, my list is very simple. A single item is all that makes up my list, a list that I will share with each of you.  I pray that the words of Bebo’s song will hold true in each of your hearts.  That each of you will marvel as the angels did that night at the promise the Lord fulfilled for each of us.  That each of you will know and desire to be a part of that promise, and share with Him in the love of that perfect relationship.  I pray that each of you will find that love in the One who came into the world that night.  One who was born to die!

Praying each of you will fill my Christmas list!

The Table(A Story For Thanksgiving)

Dr, Mike Murphy
November 23, 2023

She rubbed her hand gently across the grain, feeling every crevice of the oak boards. As she looked across the table, she could see the mess that awaited her.  A table filled with semi-empty bowls and partially cleaned plates.  A table that had about as much food on it as had just been served in the bowls and platters that covered it.  It would take her hours to ever get to where she see her table clean again.  But as she looked at the mess that faced her, she did not mind.  The mess would just add to the memories.

Of all the gifts she had ever been given, she cherished the old table that was now covered in food above them all.  It had been a wedding gift from her in-laws.  A gift she had always dreamed of, a formal dining table with two leafs and twelve chairs.  She had grown up in a large family, with brothers and sisters always around. But with all the mouths to feed, she had also grown up very poor. Her family could never afford a large table, one that everyone could sit around and have a meal on together.  Meals at her house consisted of finding a place to eat that all her brothers and sisters had not already taken.  And as the youngest of ten, that usually meant she ate on the floor.  

When her husband and her had gotten married over forty years ago, her in-laws asked her what she wanted as a wedding present.  Of all the gifts she could have asked for, a large dining table was on the top her list.  A table where everyone would always have a place to sit. A table the family she wanted would grow in to.  

Although they questioned her request many times, two days after they were married a brand new table arrived.  Her husband and her could barely afford the little house they had just bought, and had chose to put a down payment on the house instead of taking a honeymoon. She still remembered the day the delivery truck brought the table to that small house.  It was all they could do to get it through the door.  The table was almost larger than any of the rooms they had to place it in.  Only one room in the old house was large enough for the table to fit, but fit it would!  She thought to herself, they would just have to adjust.  The master bedroom would just have to be known as the dining room.  Another room would just have to become the bedroom now.  In her mind, the table was not just a part of her home, it represented all she wanted from a home.  So the large table took center stage.

As they purchased larger houses, their family grew also.  Soon four children came into their lives, three daughters and a son.  And with each year, the gift she had asked for, she now cherished more.  The table had been nothing short of becoming a part of her family.  That table had seen her family grow, and had been a part of their lives as much as she had.  The table had seen it all. High chairs and booster seats had found their way to the table.  Many a diaper had also been changed on the table.  Two of her children had spoken their first words from the table.  ABC’s and 123’s had been learned while sitting at the table.  Countless school projects had been built at the table.  Tears had been shed on the table as boyfriends and girlfriends had past through their lives. Checks for college tuition had been paid from the table.  Weddings had been planned on the table.  The arrival of grandkids had been announced at the table. And now she held those precious grandchildren at the same table.

Even after the kids had grown, and bought their own tables, her table still played an important part in her life.  Her husband and her had planned their future retirement at the table. Each week, the Bible study she loved so much gathered around the table.  And twice each week, two of her daughters met her for coffee around the table.

As she looked again at the mess, she said an extra prayer.  She thanked the Lord for sending her the table, and for all He had brought into her life through the table.  And before she finished the prayer, she thanked the Lord for all He would still be sending her way, all she was still to see around her cherished table.

As each of us gather with family and friends around our table this Thanksgiving, I hope that each of the things the Lord has placed around us will remind you of all we are thankful for. That each of us will come to know just what it means to be “thankful”.

So what does it mean to be thankful?  And just what do each of us have to be thankful for?  The Bible tells us, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”(James 1:17).  God’s Word reminds us of where everything comes, and to Whom we are to be grateful for everything we have. Without thankfulness, our lives become self-contained and self-centered.  We begin to give ourselves credit for all we have, instead of turning to the One who gives us all.  It is the humbleness of being truly thankful that keeps us on solid ground with the Giver of all. Paul warned us of what our lives would be like without thankfulness, and of a day that would come when men would no longer be thankful.  “For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy”(2 Timothy 3:2).  Without grounding ourselves in thankfulness, and submitting ourselves to all we have to be thankful to the Lord for, we quickly forget all the Lord is, and desires to do in each of our lives.

“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”(1 Thessalonians 5:18).  When we are thankful to the Lord for all things, we give God the credit for all good that is happening in our lives.  When we are thankful, we push aside the spite, the resentfulness, the grief, and the pain that this world is so quick to show us, and we replace it with the love and mercy that the Lord desires for us.  It is in our thankfulness that strength can be found, and it is in that thankfulness to the Lord that no evil can ever be present(James 1:12). Paul tells us, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”(Romans 8:28). It is for that good, for that purpose, that should bring us to our knees each day, thanking our Lord for all He does for and through each of us.  It is through this good, and this purpose, that we can be thankful despite any situation we may find ourselves in.  That although the situation around us may cause us to grieve, to feel pain, we can still praise God, knowing without doubt He is right there with us. Holding us tight in His arms through every situation.  Offering to us a hope that extends beyond the pain and the grief.  A Hope that leads us to be thankful for all tomorrow promises.

We so easily forget each day all we have to be thankful to our Lord for. We should be thankful to God for the goodness and love He shows us(Psalm 136:6).  Without the Lord, we quickly sink in our own depravity, and only know the death that this world extends to us.  It is only through the steadfastness of His love that life can be offered to us, and that life can be found in us.  We should be thankful for the deliverance He brings us, and for the faithfulness He alone has shown us(Psalm 30:1-12).  We should be thankful for the mercy, the protection, and the justice He has for us(Psalm 28:6-7).  We should be thankful of the worthiness He shows us(Revelation 4:11).  We should be thankful for His Hand covering us, even at times we do not know that Hand is there(Deuteronomy 31:8).  We should be thankful for the promises He has brought us, and the future He alone has created for us(Ephesians 1:3).  And we should give Him thanks for the table He has prepared for us(Psalm 23:5).

On this day of Thanksgiving, we reflect back to the origins of this day, and to that first table of thankfulness that was celebrated so many years ago.  Like the Pilgrims, we have a choice today to honor the Lord for all He has done this past year, and for all He is doing for us today.  And as we sit to consume the feast that has been prepared in front of us, and unbutton the top snap on our pants to make room for a few extra bites, let us not forget what this day brings to us.  A day that is less about the feast, and far more about the praise.  May the Lord find us grateful for all He has done for us, and all He is presently doing through us.  And in our prayers and praise, may we also find ourselves thankful for all He has planned for us tomorrow. Let us not forget all the Pilgrims were grateful to the Lord for on that day. They praised Him for all He has done to save them.  They praised Him for keeping His hand over them, and bringing them to that day.  And they thanked Him for the promises that He had showed them, promises that gave them a hope for tomorrow. They thanked him for the table He had placed in front of them, and for all that table would bring to generations of children after them.

As you gather around your table for Thanksgiving, may each of your prayers be as thankful as the prayers of those Pilgrims so many years ago. Do not let the prayers you give from your table just thank the Lord for all He has done in your life yesterday, and all He is doing today.  Let those prayers also be filled with thanks for all He will do in your life tomorrow.  Thank Him today for all the opportunities to glorify Him that He will bring your way, and for all His Hand will guide you through in the days to come.  Thank Him for the blessings that you are yet to see, blessings that will soon fill your days and your nights.  And thank Him for all the precious memories that He still plans to bring to each of your tables.

I pray the Lord will always leave your table full! Full of the Hope that tomorrow brings! Full of all things you will be thankful for!

The Grateful Blessing(A Story For Thanksgiving)

Dr. Mike Murphy
November 22, 2023

It had been a trying year.  Retirement had not brought the golden years that are promised.  Her husband, Bill, had faced heart problems.  And although his health was now great again, the medical costs had eaten away at their retirement nest egg.  What had once been envisioned as a time of travel and enjoyment, had now become a time of budgets and counting pennies.

But through it all, she was grateful.  The love of her life was still with her, and every dollar in the world could not bring her the happiness she found each day as she looked into his eyes. But today, the budget was on her mind.  It was now Thanksgiving week, and everyone in the family would soon be coming to her house.  She loved each minute her children were there, and every second of hearing her grandchildren running through the house.  But she worried today about how she would pay for it all.  How could she possibly stretch the dollars far enough to fill the stomachs of all who would soon be sitting at her table?  

As she headed out the door, on her way to shop for all the groceries she would need, she made sure her coupon pouch was in hand.  But as she opened the door, she heard the voice of her husband calling, “Are you going to the store?”

“I was heading there now.”, she quickly replied.  “Did you need something?”

“Sue, there is a family I heard about at Bible study yesterday.  A family that has fallen hard on their luck, and all six of their young kids are not going to be able to have a Thanksgiving this year.”, he quickly told her.

“What did you have in mind, Bill?”

“I know we cannot afford a lot, but while you are at the store, do you think you could buy something for them Sue?  I cannot quit thinking about that family having to do without. More than anything this year, my prayers are for their family.  I so wish that family could have a Thanksgiving dinner.”

“I will see what I can do Bill.”, was all she could think to say.

As she arrived at the store, she could not get the family out of her mind either.  But no matter how hard she tried, she could not figure out how she could buy much for them with her budget.  The few dollars she had could only be stretched so far.  As she exited her car, she said a prayer, asking the Lord to show her a way.

As she grabbed her shopping cart, she saw an ad on the wall.  “Today only!  Turkey half price!”.  So with the discount of the coupon she already had, she knew that she could at least get a turkey for the family.  But as she got to the cooler the turkeys were in, she soon discovered one problem.  In small print, at the bottom of the ad, were the dreaded words, Limit One Per Customer.  Just as she thought her heart would drop, she saw a manager and explained her situation.  He asked her to wait for a second, while he returned with a solution. Soon she saw him pushing a second cart, and he told her to put one in each and to see him as she checked out.

As she tossed a turkey in each cart, she soon found herself pushing one cart and pulling another.  As she made her way down the aisles, she was amazed as just how many items she needed were buy one, get one free.  So with each, she would place one of the items in her cart, and them toss the other one in the cart she had started for the family.  As she looked over her coupons, she was amazed as just how many she had.  Some that she never remembered clipping, but was able to use nonetheless.  And if her coupons were not enough, she soon found that pushing two carts had drawn the attention of others in the store. Others that also had coupons, and also wanted to help.  One man, who had heard her talking to another woman, brought a container of cranberry sauce, and a large package of dinner rolls.  He handed her both, and the money to pay for each.  “It is just not Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce and rolls”, is all he said, with the biggest of smiles on his face.

As she reached the checkout, she looked at both of her two carts.  Seeing how full each now looked, she again became concerned, wondering if she had overdone it.  As each item was rang up, she watched the total rise.  Then with each coupon, she watched as it fell again.  When all was totaled, and the bill was paid, she had exactly one dollar left.  As she made her way out of the store, she saw a stand collecting funds for the children’s hospital.  Without even thinking twice, she knew exactly where that last dollar had to go. And as she filled her car with the groceries, a smile came to her face.  A smile that just would not go away.  A smile that stayed on her face the rest of the day.

The next morning, Bill and Sue made a very special delivery to a house that was not to far away.  As they pulled into the drive, they were quickly greeted by eight smiling faces. And with eight smiling faces, came eight sets of hands. Two grown set of hands, that would not let Bill and Sue lift a single bag.  Six small sets of hands, that could not hug them enough.  And as Sue looked into the face of a fellow mother, see only saw eyes that were so filled with tears of joy, that her mouth could not find the words to thank Sue enough.

A day later, Sue, Bill, and their whole family gathered at their house for Thanksgiving.  And as the whole family gathered around the table to pray, Sue decided she wanted to start a new Thanksgiving tradition.  She picked up her Bible, and turned the pages to John, chapter six, and began to read the story of how Christ had taken five loaves of bread and two fish, and feed a crowd of five thousand.  And as she finished reading the story, she shared with her family the events of the last couple of days.

As Sue looked at the faces of the precious members of her family, all sitting around the table sharing a meal, her mind wandered to another house not so far away.  And in her mind she pictured another family, a family of eight just as precious faces, also sharing a meal.  It was at that moment that Sue realized what the word blessing truly meant.  When we are willing to step out on faith, God steps in, and the blessings begin to flow.  Blessings that are far more precious, far greater filling of the mind, than all our worries and concerns. And as the familiar smile came again to Sue’s face, she realized that she would be “stepping out” a lot more often.

This Thanksgiving, step out on faith.  And watch the Lord step in with the most amazing of blessings!

Thankful(A Story For Thanksgiving)

 Dr. Mike Murphy

November 21, 2023

Roaming the halls of the hospital was not the place he thought he would find himself on Thanksgiving Day.  But living the life of an emergency room surgeon, often led him to situations he never thought he would have ever found himself in.  The emergency room was the last place he planned on being that day. He had planned to take the holiday off, as for the past two months he had been planning to share his faith at a special service his church was having.  In the last year, he had come to Christ, accepting Him as his Savior, and now seeking to follow Him each day of his life. And with his faith, had came the call to bring His Word to others. An undeniable drive to share all the Lord was showing him, and to express to others all the Holy Spirit was teaching him.

As the holiday approached, the pastor of his church came to him.  Their church was holding a special service on the evening of Thanksgiving, a time for all to come together, and remember each thing they had to be thankful for.  The pastor was going to be out of town for the service, and had asked if he would be willing to deliver the sermon that day. To share his testimony with all there, and to witness to them about the difference the Lord had made in his life. For two weeks, he prepared for the sermon every day. Carefully going over and over every word he would say, and asking the Lord to give him each perfect word to speak. And as that Thanksgiving approached, he was beyond excited, he was on fire. Ready to serve the Lord in a way, he just know would place him in a position to share his faith even more.

Two days before Thanksgiving, his plans for that day suddenly changed. The head of the ER at the hospital he worked at, called to inform him he would have to work a twelve hour shift that day, as one of the doctors scheduled had suddenly come down with the flu. No matter how much he pleaded, no matter who he asked, he could not find another doctor to cover his shift. And he soon realized, standing at a bedside, not at a pulpit, would be where he could be found that day.

No matter how hard he tried, he just could not understand it.  And the more he thought about it, the more he began to question it.  Questioning whether he had heard the call right. Had the Lord really called him to take His Word to others?  Or had he simply wanted to take that Word to others so badly, that he had, in reality, called himself? With each doubt, he began to question more why the Lord would take this opportunity away, why the Lord would not just create a way for him to be able to speak His Word to others that day?

As his twelve hour shift began to start that day, he quietly whispered to himself, “Well, the opportunity to witness to anyone today could not happen. Because the only ones who find their way into the ER on a holiday, are those who have tried to find friendship in a bottle.” And in the early hours, he found his words being self-fulfilled, as he made his rounds from one who had partied the night before to another, helping them to recoup from the affects the alcohol had on them.

As mid-morning approached, he found his situation had suddenly changed.  The call came to the ER from the paramedics, that a young family of three were being rushed in, and their seven year old son was in critical condition. They had been in a bad car wreck, and the impact had crushed the lungs of the young boy, who was barely holding on to life. He gathered the staff, and prepared the operating room for the situation he knew would soon be coming his way.  And as the sirens rang, he could see on the faces of the paramedics just how desperate the situation was. The lungs had not only been crushed, but a rib had pierced one of the pulmonary arteries. A heart surgeon was greatly needed for what this young boy was facing.  But being a holiday, he was the closest thing to a specialist the young boy would soon have. And to delay, ensured this young boy would simply not make it.

As the surgery quickly began, he prayed.  Not having the time to bow his head in silence, in that moment, he spoke the words out loud.  Asking the Lord to guide his hand, and to help him save this young boy’s life. And as he approached the operating table, he realized the situation was far worse than he could have imagined, unlike anything his training had prepared him for.  Before he could even begin, he could hear the monitor begin to sound, telling all that the boy’s heart had stopped. And no matter what they tried, they could not get his heart to start again. In the matter of a moment, he tried everything he medically knew, then found himself turning to the One thing medicine could not teach him. He called out to God, screaming out the words with all the passion his voice could sound. Asking the Lord to please reach down, to take this young child in his arms, and to save this young boy’s life.

As if on cue, all in that emergency room, could hear the monitor begin to beat again.  And the only thing that could suddenly be heard louder than the beat of the monitor, was the shocked quietness of the staff in that operating room.  But the silence passed quickly as his hands began to work, as he repaired the artery the best he could, and restored the lungs to working order. Two hours later, as he finally pulled the mask from his face, he could feel the smile starting to form, as he knew the Lord had answered his prayer.

What he could not know, was not that the Lord had answered his prayer, but how the Lord was about to use his prayer.  Several who had been present during the surgery found their way to him. Many with tears in their eyes, unable to explain what they had just been a witness to.  Knowing that what medically could have never been done, the Lord had just suddenly performed. A miracle, a true miracle. One they did not just hear about secondhand, but one their own eyes had been a witness to.  One that made them more than just take pause, but one that made them look to the Lord for the first time. One that allowed him to explain to each the power that rested in the Lord’s hands, and how those hands had changed his life.

For six more hours that day, he talked to the staff of the hospital about Christ.  Witnessing to many, praying with others, and sharing Scripture with even more. And as he shift ended, the Lord suddenly placed another thought in his mind.  On a day when he was disappointed he would not get to share his faith with many at his church, he suddenly found the Lord had a different audience in mind that day for him to share his faith with.  A faith, that would change the heart of many that day, at a place he did not think he would see that day. And in the middle of his thought, it suddenly became clear, this had been his greatest Thanksgiving.  A day that let him see everything he had to truly be thankful for, and to be shown the glorious hope that others would soon turn to. Finding that true thankfulness is always found in the opportunities He gives us.  Opportunities that do not always find us where we want to be, but always where He needs us most.

Praying this Thanksgiving brings countless opportunities your way!

The Day The Lord Made An Appearance At The Thanksgiving Parade

Dr. Mike Murphy
November 20, 2023

“It is all I want, Grandpa!  Just once I would like to see the parade!  All the floats and the excitement. Please, Grandpa, please!  Can we just find a way to go see it this year?”

Bill was like most grandparents.  It was hard enough for him to tell his granddaughter “no” on the best of days.  But as he watched her growing weaker with each passing day, he realized the word would just not form on his lips.

For the past two years, the care of his granddaughter had been placed in his hands.  Bill’s daughter and son-in-law, Jessica’s parents, had served as missionaries, and had been led by the Spirit to a remote area in Southeast Asia.  For three years they served the Lord there, spreading His Word to people who had rarely even heard a single word of the beauty and truth that the Scripture holds.  Much of Jessica’s earliest memories had come from there, as her parents faithfully served the Lord each day from the remote area.

On a fall day, over two years ago, Bill received a call from his daughter that he never thought he would ever hear. The village that Bill’s daughter and her husband served, had suddenly grown very ill.  An illness they soon learned was far more concerning than the flu-like symptoms they now felt. An illness that left them as a part of an epidemic, not just under the care of a simple cold. An epidemic there was no cure for.  And an epidemic, that within days, would soon take from them their lives.

Although Jessica had been exposed to all this, she did not show the earlier signs of being caught up in this. Not devastated by this the way so many in the village were now.  As Bill’s daughter told him of this tragic news, she asked of her dad the greatest of favors. Asking him if he would raise Jessica. If he would care for Jessica, and help bring to her life a love for Christ that he had helped nourished in her own.  Four days later, Bill found himself standing at the airport, welcoming two caskets home, and staring into the eyes of a granddaughter that he barely knew.

As the days passed, Bill found no way to imagine how he had lived a day of his life without Jessica.  Without the excitement she brought to life each day. Without the laughter that consistently filled their home.  And without the hecticness that came with each hour of looking after a five year old girl. Soon days began to turn into months, and months turned into more than a year.  As each passed by, Bill began to realize that he could not imagine what his life would have been like without Jessica at the center of it.

Two months before Jessica’s seventh birthday, Bill began to notice a persistent cough.  And as the doctor checked her for a simple infection, they soon found that the blood work showed them so much more.  The epidemic that had taken Jessica’s parents, had laid as dormant in Jessica’s system. Now festering, destroying her young body, without a known cure in sight.  The doctor’s told Bill that they could slow its progress, but could not stop the damage it would soon do. Telling Bill, now was the time for him to prepare for what would happen in the months that would soon come.

Preparing for what was to soon come, had become Bill’s focus.  And preparing for what both Jessica and him would soon face, is what had brought Bill to hear the words Jessica had spoken that day.  Growing up the daughter of missionaries, Jessica had not seen the many things that most kids thought as ordinary. Never having the opportunity to experience the excitement that came with each holiday.  But the love for the Lord she had grown up with, drew her like a moth to the flame, when it came to the town’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was the pride of the town, and a parade unlike any other. Each float, each appearance, each song the band played, not only called all to be thankful, but pointed all to a month ahead.  To the night that Christ came, reminding us all, of what that night had left us thankful for. A parade, not filled with cartoon characters, but with images of that Holy Night.

Although Bill and Jessica lived only a block away from the parade route, Bill realized just how hard it was going to be, bringing Jessica the few steps necessary to travel that simple block.  But Bill did everything he could to make her wish a reality, to allow her to experience the one thing she wanted to see most. With each obstacle that came his way, Bill found himself not willing to take “no” for an answer.  And as the day approached, Bill put everything in place to give his granddaughter what she wanted most.

On the morning before the parade, Bill found Jessica unable to get out of bed.  Her body having grown to weak to now lift itself up. And as the nurses came that day to do all the could for Jessica, Bill realized that it was him who was in need of being “lifted” up the most.  As Bill prepared for the disappointment he was going to see in his granddaughter’s eyes, he began to tell her how she would just not be able to go to the town’s parade.

So hard Bill prayed, so much he called on the Lord to give him the words, and to be with his granddaughter as he knew his words would soon disappoint her.  And as Bill explained to his granddaughter, and saw the tears of disappointment in Jessica’s eyes, Bill found it was his heart, that probably wept even more that day.

As Bill woke on the morning of the parade, he could hear the commotion outside.  People moving frantically, blocking streets, and setting up rows of tape to block the crowds.  Bill soon found his way out the door to find out exactly what was going on. And as he did, he soon found his eyes filled with tears again.  Bill learned there had been a water break overnight, and the parade route had to be altered. Altered a block over, for a short stretch, that would now take the parade route directly in front of where Bill and Jessica lived.

For an hour and a half that day, Bill never stopped smiling.  Because for an hour and a half, from the bed of her second story room, Jessica weakly sang every song each band played, watched wide-eyed as every special appearance was made, and had her face glued on each float that made its way by.  

Jessica would only live a few days after the parade, but each day as she grew weaker, she still found a way to tell her grandfather all she had seen that day.  And now, some time later as the day of Christmas approached, Bill still found himself thinking back to that day. Realizing the “early Christmas present” the Lord had given him that Thanksgiving Day.  A gift far greater than one of just finding a way for his precious granddaughter to get her last wish. Bill realized that in that wish, the Lord had given Bill the most amazing of gifts. The gift of showing Bill just what His grace and His love truly means.  The Lord showed Bill, that what He had done for Jessica with the parade, He had done for him that first Christmas night. Because on that night, the Lord had not found Himself waiting on man to find an impossible way to Him. On that night, the Lord did the impossible.  He created a way to come to man.

For the rest of Bill’s life, he would never miss a single moment of the town’s Thanksgiving Day parade each year.  And Bill was sure that the people of the town worried about him as they watched him look on the parade and cry. But with each tear, Bill not only thought of his granddaughter, Bill cherished the gift the Lord had given him on that Thanksgiving Day. The day Bill had seen the Lord make a special appearance at the Thanksgiving parade!

Praying today, as you celebrate this Thanksgiving, you also look forward to the gift He gave us that night.