March 18, 2020
Dear Allen Temple Family and Friends,
Our Lenten Series continues this week with the theme of It's Never Too Late To Live with Reverend Dorothy Taliaferro Staples, Allen Temple Associate Minister and VA Chaplain.
Forward Together by Faith,
Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson
Senior Pastor
Senior Pastor
It's Never Too Late To Live!
John 11:1-26
John 11:1-26
As a Chaplain, one of the questions that I frequently asked patients, especially hospice patients, is, “What do you regret most about your life?” Almost 85% of patients respond, “I don’t regret the things I did; I regret the things I did not do.” You see, everyone dies, but not everyone lives.
Finding new life is not easy. We have all been in places where we have been so spiritually sick that we felt we could not reach our destiny, the place where God has ordained us. We’ve all faced disappointments, regrets, troubles, and tribulations, challenges so great that it seems that the newness of life appears far out of reach. Jesus says, “This sickness will not end in death.” (v.4)
It’s never too late to resurrect your dreams. Through prayer, God will resurrect the dreams that once fueled your life and make them live again. Sometimes, Jesus delays for a reason. (v.6) The ways of the divine are truly unlike those of the natural world. When there is a feeling of despair, God gives us hope. We must grow spiritually through our faith and trust in God. Through prayer, our relationship with God brings us closer and closer to new life. However, with total humility and submission, we must come before God empty pleading to be filled. Pray for God to reveal your destiny. Ask God to put you back on track. Ask God to cleanse your dark and rough edges so you can clearly see the path of righteousness. It’s never too late to be redeemed, regenerated and reborn. We only need to believe In the healing powers of Jesus. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies. And whoever believes in me will never die. (v.25-26)
As I reflect on my service as a Chaplain, I have ministered to many veterans from various periods from World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of these Vets have faced life-threatening situations and did not believe they were going to make it. It was only when they sought God seriously and called upon the name of Jesus, did their lives begin to take a turn for newness. You see, God will show up when God sees our power is gone. It was only after God showed up that these veterans were able to “Let go and let God.”
One young veteran who is in charge of his unit, tells of his “new life” experience with God on the battlefield in Iraq. He reflects on the many injured servicemen and women whom he held in his arms at the end of life as they called on their mother or God. The young Vet continues his testimony by saying, “I know about Mother, but who is this God?” The Vet spent many hours researching, praying and calling on the name of the Lord until he had an encounter with God. He reports that this experience was so powerful that he has become a believer in Jesus Christ and spent the remainder of his time being an evangelist on the battlefield handing out Bibles and crosses. The veteran says, “Because of my new life, I’m now able to pray and be present with my people in their last moments.”
It has been 20 years now since my Spiritual transformation, my new life. I have nothing to regret about being courageous enough to live again. I have only joy and love in my heart. I stand on tip-toe anticipation waiting in silence with God for my next spiritual assignment. With God, it’s never too late to live again. Follow your passions and your dreams! Through this Lenten season, start your day in prayer and seek new life; there is always so much more than what we see now! START LIVING!!
Finding new life is not easy. We have all been in places where we have been so spiritually sick that we felt we could not reach our destiny, the place where God has ordained us. We’ve all faced disappointments, regrets, troubles, and tribulations, challenges so great that it seems that the newness of life appears far out of reach. Jesus says, “This sickness will not end in death.” (v.4)It’s never too late to resurrect your dreams. Through prayer, God will resurrect the dreams that once fueled your life and make them live again. Sometimes, Jesus delays for a reason. (v.6) The ways of the divine are truly unlike those of the natural world. When there is a feeling of despair, God gives us hope. We must grow spiritually through our faith and trust in God. Through prayer, our relationship with God brings us closer and closer to new life. However, with total humility and submission, we must come before God empty pleading to be filled. Pray for God to reveal your destiny. Ask God to put you back on track. Ask God to cleanse your dark and rough edges so you can clearly see the path of righteousness. It’s never too late to be redeemed, regenerated and reborn. We only need to believe In the healing powers of Jesus. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies. And whoever believes in me will never die. (v.25-26)
As I reflect on my service as a Chaplain, I have ministered to many veterans from various periods from World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of these Vets have faced life-threatening situations and did not believe they were going to make it. It was only when they sought God seriously and called upon the name of Jesus, did their lives begin to take a turn for newness. You see, God will show up when God sees our power is gone. It was only after God showed up that these veterans were able to “Let go and let God.”
One young veteran who is in charge of his unit, tells of his “new life” experience with God on the battlefield in Iraq. He reflects on the many injured servicemen and women whom he held in his arms at the end of life as they called on their mother or God. The young Vet continues his testimony by saying, “I know about Mother, but who is this God?” The Vet spent many hours researching, praying and calling on the name of the Lord until he had an encounter with God. He reports that this experience was so powerful that he has become a believer in Jesus Christ and spent the remainder of his time being an evangelist on the battlefield handing out Bibles and crosses. The veteran says, “Because of my new life, I’m now able to pray and be present with my people in their last moments.”
It has been 20 years now since my Spiritual transformation, my new life. I have nothing to regret about being courageous enough to live again. I have only joy and love in my heart. I stand on tip-toe anticipation waiting in silence with God for my next spiritual assignment. With God, it’s never too late to live again. Follow your passions and your dreams! Through this Lenten season, start your day in prayer and seek new life; there is always so much more than what we see now! START LIVING!!
For further reading:
John 12:17-18; Mt. 9:24; Psalm 17:15; 1Thes.4:13; Daniel 12:1-3
Rev. Dorothy Taliaferro Staples is an Associate Minister at Allen Temple Baptist Church, a retired Educator and VA Chaplain.
John 12:17-18; Mt. 9:24; Psalm 17:15; 1Thes.4:13; Daniel 12:1-3
Rev. Dorothy Taliaferro Staples is an Associate Minister at Allen Temple Baptist Church, a retired Educator and VA Chaplain.
