One morning, as I was getting ready to visit Jasmine, one of her doctors called and said, “Mr. Isara, the results of the MRI revealed that Jasmine has had several strokes resulting in damage to both sides of her brain.” After a brief discussion to clarify what that meant, the doctor [...]
In an intimate relationship, and there is none more intimate than marriage, whatever is hidden will come to the surface. Jasmine and I had a solid relationship built upon the foundation of our faith in Jesus Christ. But we are all uniquely different from one another, and if we are [...]
Driving the Road to Hana on the northeast coastline of Maui, Hawaii, can be treacherous. There are 617 hairpin turns and fifty-nine one-lane bridges. Carefully navigating this narrow winding road for sixty-four miles creates constant tension for the driver. It is hard to enjoy the tropical scenery while being transfixed on [...]
Many who have lost their spouses are familiar with Nora McInerny’s Ted Talk on moving forward vs. moving on. Her theme is that we do not move on from grief but move forward with it. (If you have not seen it, it is a must. It can be found on YouTube). This [...]
Why am I feeling so emotional? I am watching a video of Iam Tongi's duet with James Blunt from American Idol, singing Blunt's song "Monsters." Watching it live brought me to tears along with everyone else . . . and it is bringing me to tears again. Three months ago, I [...]
Mass shootings have reached epidemic proportions in the United States. It felt personal when it reached the Allen Premium Outlet Mall in Texas last Saturday afternoon. We have shopped there and have friends who live nearby. We mourn the eight innocent victims and pray for their family members, some of whom [...]
The most well-known verse in the Bible is John 3:16. Every believer knows it, and everyone watching an NFL football game at least knows about it as "John 3:16" signs appear in the end zones. One could argue that the second most well-known verse is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all [...]
(Many years ago, I wrote a monthly devotional, "Consider." Perusing the files on my computer, I stumbled upon this post from May 12, 2004. Although dated, the message is timeless.) When the little boy’s dog died, he asked his mother, “Do dogs go to heaven?” His mother replied, “Yes, all dogs go to [...]
Three months ago, my mom said half-jokingly, “You better finish that book before I die!” Monday was a holiday, and mail is not delivered on holidays. So I was surprised to find a padded envelope on the walkway leading to my front porch. I was puzzled; I didn’t recognize the sender. [...]
If you have been around young children over the past year or two, then you are very familiar with the tune “Baby Shark.” It does not matter if you love it or hate it. Whenever you hear it, your head immediately starts bobbing, your body moves with the rhythm, and you [...]
Which boxes define you? This is just a partial list of categories that divide us. If we think long and hard enough, we can fill up the rest of this page. But this is enough to make my point. Our world is fractured, and we can clearly choose where we stand [...]
We live in a politically-driven, divided culture faced with conflict on every side, and it is becoming increasingly fractured. Allegations of racism, the sanctity of life vs. abortion rights, Judeo-Christian ethics vs. “woke” ideology, the list goes on and on. You get the picture. We cannot help but be concerned about [...]
Photo Credit: Michael Belk 6 Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." John 4:6-7, ESV Photo [...]
3 He left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. John 4:3-5 Photo Credit: Michael Belk Have you ever found yourself at a particular place and time [...]
“I see myself in the mirror. I wanna love the person looking back at me.” On January 6, 2020, I was awestruck by 13-yr-old Angelina Jordan singing Bohemian Rhapsody on America’s Got Talent (AGT). In addition to her stunning voice, she displayed poise and confidence well beyond her years, earning the [...]
“Dreams and aspirations motivate us. They give us focus and fuel to move forward. But what happens when those dreams and aspirations are crushed by an excruciating loss beyond our control? An unwanted divorce? Losing a child? Losing a spouse? I don't know which is the hardest; I suppose it is the [...]
"We have an anchor that keeps the soul, Steadfast and sure while the billows roll, Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love." Priscilla Jane Owens (1829 - 1907) Growing up in church, we sang this old hymn above. I can still picture [...]
“What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4:14b (ESV) Jasmine was only 70, yes, only 70. She was a "young" 70-year-old. I will never forget the time she was "carded" while purchasing a bottle of wine with our groceries. If there [...]
When I pastored a small church with limited resources, I struggled to prepare an Easter sermon. How do I present the most significant event in human history in a fresh, creative way that will captivate the listeners' interest who have heard the story since childhood? Large churches might enlist a Christian [...]
"Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good for man to be alone." Genesis 2:18 Jasmine was first admitted to the hospital at the height of the COVID pandemic and placed in isolation, which meant no visitors were allowed. Through a unique set of circumstances, I was permitted to visit [...]
"How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?" (Habakkuk 1:2) "The LORD is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18) When the doctor said, "She will never recover," it felt like a punch in the gut! I never expected to hear [...]
The house is quiet now. The sound of Fox News or Asian dramas from the television is no longer flowing from the family room. The quietness reminds me that she is no longer here, and my sadness surfaces yet again. We spent a lot of time together at home. She was [...]
“If I had only known the last time would be the last time, I would’ve put off all the things I had to do.” From Scars in Heaven by Casting Crowns Amid the chaos in her hospital room, Jasmine was confused. I said to her, “They are transferring you to a [...]
“Faded photographs, covered now with lines and creases Tickets torn in half, memories in bits and pieces.” I am dating myself by bringing up the lyrics of this song, Traces, which was released in 1968 by The Classics IV. The song reflects upon memories of a love that has been lost, hoping [...]
"We don't 'move on' from grief. We 'move forward' with it." Nora McInerny Nora McInerny is an author and speaker who experienced grief first-hand by losing her husband and father and miscarrying a child within several weeks of each other. I counseled people who had lost loved ones, and now [...]
The previous post closed with the epitaph on Jasmine’s urn, “Her heart of surrender left an imprint on the hearts of others.” Her journey through COVID and death brought out the breadth of the imprint that she had on the hearts of others—from high school friends to neighbors, to friends from [...]
Throughout this journey, I shared things about Jasmine with those who prayed for her. I shared about her spiritual transformation as she grew in her faith . . . her outgrowth of love for God and for people. Even as her husband who knew her most intimately, my words are inadequate [...]
God did not choose to raise Jasmine up by the miracle for which we all prayed. He made it clear that His will was to call her home at the exact time of His choosing, and on September 8, 2021, at 12:09 p.m., Jasmine heard Jesus say, “Come,” and she ran [...]
Moving from the ICU to inpatient hospice care, the atmosphere in her room was peaceful. No more whirling sounds of the ventilator or beeps from monitors. The only sound was the cadence of Jasmine’s weak breaths as she transitioned to breathe on her own. God sustained her long enough to enable [...]
My visit with Jasmine the next night was the most difficult. For over two hours the medical team had difficulty stabilizing her and when I finally left, well beyond visiting hours, she still was not at a comfortable place. I witnessed her oxygen level drop from 92% (which is okay) down [...]