After
having lunch with my husband the other day, a very special treat in
itself, I headed back to work under a clear blue sky with the sun
shining on a beautiful autumn day. I had a very conscious thought
that I am very happy with my life. I sighed contentedly and thanked
God for blessings totally undeserved. I was suddenly overwhelmed
with how good God is to me always. Psalm 16:6 came to mind. The
psalmist says, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant
places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” In the verses
preceding, David pledged his loyalty to the Lord, denouncing idolatry
and those who run after and sacrifice to other gods. Charles
Spurgeon said that “David believed in an overruling destiny which
fixed the bounds of his abode, and his possessions; he was satisfied
with all the appointment of the predestinating God.” David was
rejoicing as I did in the largeness of God's goodness to him.
However, as I looked at this passage more closely and read verse 5,
which says, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup...”, I
surmised that David's joy was more in the Giver God than in the gifts
given. Yes, my life is so very good, and its boundary lines have
fallen for me in pleasant places, but my contentment is and always
will be in God my Father, my Savior, my Holy Spirit. Be encouraged
and contented today in Holy God.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Joy
I
have been thinking about joy a great deal lately, especially as I am
studying Philippians once again. Paul's writings are filled with the
theme of joy and rejoicing. He is writing this letter as he is under
house arrest, chained to a Roman soldier day and night. Yet he
begins by telling the Philippians that he is thankful for them and
makes every prayer for them with joy. The very fact that he is
thinking of others over himself is amazing, but even more astounding
is that he is doing so with joy. A few verses down he tells them, "I
will rejoice." Why? Because no matter what is going on with
him and around him, Christ is being proclaimed. His joy comes from
his attitude "to live is Christ and to die is gain." He
begins chapter three with the admonition to rejoice in the Lord
before he gives them some strong warnings about false teachings that
might rob them of their joy. He picks up the theme of joy again in
chapter four, saying once again, "Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I say, Rejoice." As Paul ends this letter to the
Philippians, we are shown where he finds this joy. It comes from his
focus on the Lord. "I rejoiced in the Lord greatly..." He
has joy because he is content with his lot in life. "I have
learned in whatever situation I am to be content." He has joy
because he is totally dependent on Christ. "I can do all things
through Him who strengthens me." Again, he has joy because he
looks to God alone. "To our God and Father be glory forever and
ever." Be encouraged today in the joy of the Lord, and may "the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit."
Monday, April 9, 2012
Overwhelming Blessing
God's blessings are constant; as constant as the air we breathe. As constant as the dawning of each new day for His mercies are new every morning. As constant as the changing of the seasons. As constant as His faithfulness to forgive our sins when we confess them. My thankfulness is not as constant. I often drift into a taking for granted mode.
Sometimes God overwhelms us with blessing. I have just experienced one of those overwhelming blessing times. Last Wednesday, our ninth grandchild was born. What a huge blessing and how very grateful we are for her. This was a high risk pregnancy for our daughter-in-law so we had covered these last nine months with extra prayer, and were so very thankful to have our granddaughter so healthy and normal at birth and our daughter -in-law so healthy. However, we were overwhelmed with gratefulness for the safe but abnormal delivery of the baby. Things happened so quickly there was no time to get to the hospital, so our son delivered her at home with the help of a 911 operator. Overwhelming blessing!
Our daughter and son-in-law, who have been in an adoption process and waiting for a baby, received a call Saturday night from their agency in Mississippi that they had a newborn baby girl. So, Laurie, Dax, and children came to our house from Florida last night on their way to Mississippi today to meet and bring home their daughter. We will get to meet grandchild number 10 later this week. Overwhelming blessing!
All of this, along with the season of Easter, has me evaluating and meditating and being immensely humbled. I deserve nothing my God chooses to give me, not the air I breathe, not one more new day's dawning, not His faithfulness, and certainly not the forgiveness of my sin. Yet He chose me before the foundation of the world to be His child and joint heir with His only begotten Son, to be the recipient of the imputed righteousness of this Son through his death and resurrection, and to have the promise of eternal life with Him. Overwhelming blessing!
Sometimes God overwhelms us with blessing. I have just experienced one of those overwhelming blessing times. Last Wednesday, our ninth grandchild was born. What a huge blessing and how very grateful we are for her. This was a high risk pregnancy for our daughter-in-law so we had covered these last nine months with extra prayer, and were so very thankful to have our granddaughter so healthy and normal at birth and our daughter -in-law so healthy. However, we were overwhelmed with gratefulness for the safe but abnormal delivery of the baby. Things happened so quickly there was no time to get to the hospital, so our son delivered her at home with the help of a 911 operator. Overwhelming blessing!
Our daughter and son-in-law, who have been in an adoption process and waiting for a baby, received a call Saturday night from their agency in Mississippi that they had a newborn baby girl. So, Laurie, Dax, and children came to our house from Florida last night on their way to Mississippi today to meet and bring home their daughter. We will get to meet grandchild number 10 later this week. Overwhelming blessing!
All of this, along with the season of Easter, has me evaluating and meditating and being immensely humbled. I deserve nothing my God chooses to give me, not the air I breathe, not one more new day's dawning, not His faithfulness, and certainly not the forgiveness of my sin. Yet He chose me before the foundation of the world to be His child and joint heir with His only begotten Son, to be the recipient of the imputed righteousness of this Son through his death and resurrection, and to have the promise of eternal life with Him. Overwhelming blessing!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Meditating on the Cross
It is the week before Easter. I have been reading Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross, a wonderful little book edited by Nancy Guthrie and containing parts of sermons and works of 25 classic theologians and contemporary communicators. These meditations focus on the sacrifice Christ made on the cross. I have been overwhelmed in my reading, once again, knowing the sacrifice my Savior made for me on the cross
One of the most meaningful works to me was, "He set His Face to Go to Jerusalem" by John Piper. Luke 9:51 tells us, "When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem." This is Luke's theme for the next 10 chapters. In chapter 19 we read of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and the multitude that greeted him, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:37-38) They all thought they had their Messiah but their understanding of what this meant certainly missed the mark at this time. Piper says, "...if Jesus had taken his throne on that first day of palms, none of us would ever be robed in white or waving palms of praise in the age to come. There had to be the cross, and that is what the disciples had not yet understood."
He goes on to say that "the misunderstanding of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem results in a misunderstanding of the meaning of discipleship. This is why it is important for us to see, lest we make the same mistake." We know that when Jesus "set his face to go to Jerusalem", it had a very different meaning for him than it did for his disciples. They had great expectations of what it would mean for Jesus to reign on an earthly throne. For Jesus, the destination of Jerusalem meant certain death.
Piper says, "the surprise about Jesus the Messiah is that he came to live a life of sacrificial, dying service before he comes a second time to reign in glory. And the surprise about discipleship is that it demands a life of sacrificial, dying service before we can reign with Christ in glory... When Jesus set his face to walk the Calvary road, he was not merely taking our place; he was setting our pattern. He is substitute and pace setter."
One of the most meaningful works to me was, "He set His Face to Go to Jerusalem" by John Piper. Luke 9:51 tells us, "When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem." This is Luke's theme for the next 10 chapters. In chapter 19 we read of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and the multitude that greeted him, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:37-38) They all thought they had their Messiah but their understanding of what this meant certainly missed the mark at this time. Piper says, "...if Jesus had taken his throne on that first day of palms, none of us would ever be robed in white or waving palms of praise in the age to come. There had to be the cross, and that is what the disciples had not yet understood."
He goes on to say that "the misunderstanding of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem results in a misunderstanding of the meaning of discipleship. This is why it is important for us to see, lest we make the same mistake." We know that when Jesus "set his face to go to Jerusalem", it had a very different meaning for him than it did for his disciples. They had great expectations of what it would mean for Jesus to reign on an earthly throne. For Jesus, the destination of Jerusalem meant certain death.
Piper says, "the surprise about Jesus the Messiah is that he came to live a life of sacrificial, dying service before he comes a second time to reign in glory. And the surprise about discipleship is that it demands a life of sacrificial, dying service before we can reign with Christ in glory... When Jesus set his face to walk the Calvary road, he was not merely taking our place; he was setting our pattern. He is substitute and pace setter."
Sunday, March 25, 2012
A Case for Contentment
Since being diagnosed with breast cancer last September, undergoing surgery,
then radiation treatments, I have had a good bit of time to meditate and
contemplate. I have spent much of this time meditating on contentment.
God has impressed on my heart the need to be content and has given me the
desire to be content. However, contentment is not a state that just
happens. As we learn from the apostle Paul, it is a heart attitude that
is learned.
In Philippians 4:10-13, Paul states, "I rejoiced in the Lord greatly
that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed
concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being
in need, for I have learned whatever situation I am to be content. I know
how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every
circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance
and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Paul was
thanking the Philippians for their support but he wanted them to know that he
had learned to be content. How did Paul learn to be content? It was
under the most difficult circumstances: being ship wrecked, being imprisoned,
being beaten, wanting to go to Spain
to spread the gospel and not being able to. We learn contentment or
discontentment from life lessons.
The children of Israel
chose to be discontented in their difficult circumstances. Remember how
they looked back to Egypt
and grumbled and complained about not having what they wanted to eat or not
having water or about Moses' leadership or about being afraid to follow the
Lord's leading? They were discontented because they did not trust God and His
sovereign plan for their lives. They were discontented because they were
ungrateful for the provisions God had given them. They were also discontented
because they were disobedient. They broke God's laws again and again, which
caused them to be out of fellowship with Him.
Paul said, "I have learned the secret of facing hunger, abundance and
need." That secret was trusting God so absolutely that he was able
to say, "I can all things through Him who strengthens me."
Contentment brings joy, and Nehemiah tells us, "… for the joy of the Lord
is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10b) Psalm 28:7 tells us that a
thankful heart exults. "The Lord is my strength and my shield; in
Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song, I give
thanks to him." The third verse of the wonderful hymn, “He Leadeth Me, O
Blessed Thought”, says, “Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine, nor ever murmur
nor repine, content, whatever lot I see, since ‘tis Thy hand that leadeth me.”
I am convinced that a lack of trust in God's sovereign plan for our lives,
an ungrateful heart, and a disobedient spirit keep us from being content.
So, I challenge us today to trust God completely in all the circumstances of
our lives, give thanks always and for everything, act in obedience to His word,
and learn to be content.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Abiding in God's Word
I become more and more convinced of the
importance of hiding God's word in our hearts. This was brought to
mind again yesterday as I was teaching of Jesus'
temptation by Satan from Luke 4. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
to come face to face with Satan. Three times Jesus comes against
Satan's temptations with quotes from the Old Testament. This gives
us an example directly from our Savior, who was tempted in every way
as we are, yet without sin, how we are to come against the
temptations we face. Ephesians 6:11 tells us. “Put on the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of
the devil.” A very important piece of that armor is “the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Another reason for being
in God's word and knowing it is to be able to come against the lies
of Satan, discouragement, and despair with the truths of the word.1
Corinthians 10:5 says, “We destroy arguments and every lofty
opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought
captive to obey Christ...” The Holy Spirit uses God's word to
convict us of sin and bring us to repentance. Hebrew 4:12 says, “For
the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and
of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
God's word gives us guidance. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and
a light to my path,” Psalm 119:105. We go to God's word daily for
comfort, assurance, peace, and strength.
Finally, I love the
admonition and promise in Joshua 1:8, “This book of the Law shall
not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and
night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is
written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then
you will have good success.” Spend time in God's word this week.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Grumbling and Complaining
I am always amazed when reading Exodus at how quickly the Israelites lost their joy at being a freed people and turned from thanksgiving and rejoicing to grumbling and complaining. Exodus 16:1-2 tells us “They set out...on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness...” Just six weeks after God had miraculously parted the waters of the Red Sea, killed the Egyptians pursuing them, and freed them from slavery, they are grumbling and complaining. True, they are hungry, but rather than praise God for His mercies in the past and ask Him to please provide for them now, they go into drama mode saying it would have been better to have died in Egypt by the meat pots and with stomachs full of bread than to die in the wilderness of hunger.
Grumbling comes from an ungrateful, untrusting heart. When my children were young and began complaining about this or that, I would challenge them to give me a list of what they were thankful for. Of course, that usually generated more grumbling, but I persisted, making my point with them. Paul admonishes the Philippians in 2:14 to “Do all things without grumbling or questioning...in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...” In this passage, Paul is telling them to work out their salvation by demonstrating their faith daily, growing spiritually, and therefore showing a sinful world what Jesus Christ looks like. He is cautioning them against being like their forefathers whose spiritual progress was hampered by grumbling and questioning. Christians are to be marked by thanksgiving, not grumbling and questioning. We see the admonishment to be thankful in Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians.
So, this week I challenge us all to take every complaining thought captive, replacing it with rejoicing and thanksgiving. I challenge us to not allow our joy to be stolen or to rob someone else of joy by grumbling. Let’s honor our Lord and be a blessing to others as we “givie thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1Thess 5:18)
Grumbling comes from an ungrateful, untrusting heart. When my children were young and began complaining about this or that, I would challenge them to give me a list of what they were thankful for. Of course, that usually generated more grumbling, but I persisted, making my point with them. Paul admonishes the Philippians in 2:14 to “Do all things without grumbling or questioning...in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...” In this passage, Paul is telling them to work out their salvation by demonstrating their faith daily, growing spiritually, and therefore showing a sinful world what Jesus Christ looks like. He is cautioning them against being like their forefathers whose spiritual progress was hampered by grumbling and questioning. Christians are to be marked by thanksgiving, not grumbling and questioning. We see the admonishment to be thankful in Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians.
So, this week I challenge us all to take every complaining thought captive, replacing it with rejoicing and thanksgiving. I challenge us to not allow our joy to be stolen or to rob someone else of joy by grumbling. Let’s honor our Lord and be a blessing to others as we “givie thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1Thess 5:18)
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Keeping the Faith
When I am driving to work on Atlanta Highway each morning, just as I pass through the Dalraida Road intersection, I spot the steeple of Morningview Baptist Church rising above the tree line. I think, that is where I am going. However, just a ways ahead, as I begin going downhill, I lose sight of it. Does this mean the church is no longer there? Of course not. I have every confidence that when I turn onto Calhoun Road, I will find the church with its steeple at the end of the street, just as it has been for over 60 years.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” How important it is to maintain our faith in God when we lose sight of the steeple in our lives; when illness occurs, or our finances take a down turn, or our children become uncontrollable, or people disappoint us again and again. Matthew Henry says that “faith proves to the mind the reality of things that cannot be seen by the bodily eye.” Our heavenly Father has proven Himself faithful over and over again and we can trust Him, knowing He is the same yesterday and today and forever. Proverbs 3:26 tells us, “the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.”
Rest assured the steeple is still there, even when you lose sight of it.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” How important it is to maintain our faith in God when we lose sight of the steeple in our lives; when illness occurs, or our finances take a down turn, or our children become uncontrollable, or people disappoint us again and again. Matthew Henry says that “faith proves to the mind the reality of things that cannot be seen by the bodily eye.” Our heavenly Father has proven Himself faithful over and over again and we can trust Him, knowing He is the same yesterday and today and forever. Proverbs 3:26 tells us, “the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.”
Rest assured the steeple is still there, even when you lose sight of it.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Looking for Bad Peas
It is Independence Day and we are waiting for our daughter and her family to drive down from north Alabama. I have a Boston butt on the grill and am cooking fresh purple hull peas, creamed corn, and okra, and will make peach ice cream later. As I was washing the peas in preparation to cook, I was flooded by memories of the years when my mother taught me how to cook fresh vegetables.
Much of my younger growing up years was spent in Birmingham and New Orleans but after my daddy graduated from seminary, we moved to Baldwin County. There we began having a garden and I learned to can, freeze, preserve, and pickle all kinds of vegetables. I can remember my mother's instructions so clearly about preparing the peas after we had shelled them. We washed them carefully, and I was cautioned to "look" them carefully to be able to find the bad ones and throw them away. We threw out the ones that were badly discolored or shriveled up or that had a worm hole on it. These would spoil the good peas.
As I was "looking" my peas today, I thought of spiritual applications for this memory. David told his son, Solomon, in 1 Chronicles 28:9 to "...know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts." In Psalm 26, David entreated God to examine him and try him. In Psalm 139:23-24, he said, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." David was asking God to "look" his heart and root out the unrighteousness there. Paul tells the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11:28 that before coming to the communion table, a man is to examine himself. He says in verse 27 that "...whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord." Unconfessed sin in our lives is a serious matter, according to scripture.
My challenge today is that we all search, examine, "look" our hearts and ask God to do so to convict us of sin and bring us to confession and cleansing.
Much of my younger growing up years was spent in Birmingham and New Orleans but after my daddy graduated from seminary, we moved to Baldwin County. There we began having a garden and I learned to can, freeze, preserve, and pickle all kinds of vegetables. I can remember my mother's instructions so clearly about preparing the peas after we had shelled them. We washed them carefully, and I was cautioned to "look" them carefully to be able to find the bad ones and throw them away. We threw out the ones that were badly discolored or shriveled up or that had a worm hole on it. These would spoil the good peas.
As I was "looking" my peas today, I thought of spiritual applications for this memory. David told his son, Solomon, in 1 Chronicles 28:9 to "...know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts." In Psalm 26, David entreated God to examine him and try him. In Psalm 139:23-24, he said, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." David was asking God to "look" his heart and root out the unrighteousness there. Paul tells the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11:28 that before coming to the communion table, a man is to examine himself. He says in verse 27 that "...whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord." Unconfessed sin in our lives is a serious matter, according to scripture.
My challenge today is that we all search, examine, "look" our hearts and ask God to do so to convict us of sin and bring us to confession and cleansing.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Our Ever Present Help
Psalm 46:1-2a: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear...”
This Psalm is the inspiration for Martin Luther’s great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” The first line of this hymn states, “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.” Look at these words: refuge, fortress, bulwark. Those are places of safety and strength and defense and rest.
We usually think of those as places we run to in times of attack or trouble. However, look at the second part of verse 1 - “a very present help in trouble”. Last week we talked about God being in the midst of our lives. Well, here He is described as not only being present but being very present in times of trouble. We don’t have to run anywhere. Our ever present God is providing stability as only He can in a world that is so unstable.
I am not sure what today holds for you, but I am sure that God is your refuge and strength and your ever present help no matter what.
This Psalm is the inspiration for Martin Luther’s great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” The first line of this hymn states, “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.” Look at these words: refuge, fortress, bulwark. Those are places of safety and strength and defense and rest.
We usually think of those as places we run to in times of attack or trouble. However, look at the second part of verse 1 - “a very present help in trouble”. Last week we talked about God being in the midst of our lives. Well, here He is described as not only being present but being very present in times of trouble. We don’t have to run anywhere. Our ever present God is providing stability as only He can in a world that is so unstable.
I am not sure what today holds for you, but I am sure that God is your refuge and strength and your ever present help no matter what.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday Devotional Thought
Zephaniah 3:17 has become one of my favorite verses. It states, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”
There are several points about which to be excited. God is in our midst, not on the periphery or outside of our lives. He is a victorious warrior, having already defeated Satan and sin. He delights in us and rejoices over us with shouts of joy. In the midst of a chaotic world, He draws us to a quiet, calm place with His love.
When discouragement threatens, turn to this verse and marvel at how very much God loves you.
There are several points about which to be excited. God is in our midst, not on the periphery or outside of our lives. He is a victorious warrior, having already defeated Satan and sin. He delights in us and rejoices over us with shouts of joy. In the midst of a chaotic world, He draws us to a quiet, calm place with His love.
When discouragement threatens, turn to this verse and marvel at how very much God loves you.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The Glad Game
When my daughters were young, one of our favorite movies was Pollyanna, the 1960 Hayley Mills version. It is based on a book written in 1913 about a girl who was orphaned at a young age and had to come live with a very dour but wealthy aunt. Pollyanna had been taught by her missionary father to always look for something good in every situation. She called this "the glad game". Her aunt was critical of this game and attitude and, in essence, told Pollyanna her optimism had nothing to do with reality. Actually, the term, 'pollyanna', has come to mean an excessively or blindly optimistic person or as being unreasonably or illogically optimistic.
Long before Eleanor H. Porter wrote Pollyanna, God inspired writers throughout the Bible to issue imperatives about being glad and rejoicing in all situations. Psalm 32:11 tells us to "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart." Paul writes in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice!" James instructs his readers to, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."
Today we can play the glad game with confidence, knowing that we are not being excessively, blindly, unreasonably, or illogically optimistic, but that we are obeying biblical commands to be glad and rejoice. As believers, we can do this because we know the truth of Romans 8:28, "...that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Long before Eleanor H. Porter wrote Pollyanna, God inspired writers throughout the Bible to issue imperatives about being glad and rejoicing in all situations. Psalm 32:11 tells us to "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart." Paul writes in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice!" James instructs his readers to, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."
Today we can play the glad game with confidence, knowing that we are not being excessively, blindly, unreasonably, or illogically optimistic, but that we are obeying biblical commands to be glad and rejoice. As believers, we can do this because we know the truth of Romans 8:28, "...that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Distractions and Choices
Martha was distracted. There was so much to do. Jesus was there with many others. The food had to be cooked and served and peoples' needs had to be seen to. Mary sat at Jesus' feet with an attitude of worship, listening to His words with an open heart and mind.
So many everyday things tend to distract us from worship. Doing good things can be distraction - we can even become too busy doing things for the Lord. Psalm 27:4 tells us, "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple." If you could choose only one thing to ask of the Lord, what would it be? We see where the Psalmist's priorities were.
Most of our choices for the use of our time are not between good and bad but between good and better. Time with the Lord, in His word is essential.
To lessen distractions and choose the best thing:
1. Choose God's way at every opportunity
2. Commit yourself daily to God before you even get out of bed.
3. Cultivate a "hot heart" for the Lord.
In Luke 10:41, Jesus said, ..."Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Choose wisely today.
So many everyday things tend to distract us from worship. Doing good things can be distraction - we can even become too busy doing things for the Lord. Psalm 27:4 tells us, "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple." If you could choose only one thing to ask of the Lord, what would it be? We see where the Psalmist's priorities were.
Most of our choices for the use of our time are not between good and bad but between good and better. Time with the Lord, in His word is essential.
To lessen distractions and choose the best thing:
1. Choose God's way at every opportunity
2. Commit yourself daily to God before you even get out of bed.
3. Cultivate a "hot heart" for the Lord.
In Luke 10:41, Jesus said, ..."Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Choose wisely today.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Light
I love light. I think this is one reason I like my house so much. It is so open and has so much light. Every morning I start opening blinds at the first hint of daylight. I want the morning light to come in.
I do notice something, however, as the light begins to grow and become brighter. I see the dust I missed on the sideboard and on the hardwood floors in the living room. I can clearly see where the paint is nicked on the wall going into the kitchen. As the light shines through my front windows, the smudges become obvious. Light shows the dirt and imperfections and scars.
This is what happens in our spiritual life. The brighter the light of God's truth shines on us, the more we see our sin. The closer we grow to the Light of the World, the more obvious are the dark places of our soul. John 3:19 shows us that evil is uncomfortable (to say the least) with the light and prefers darkness. Ecclesiastes 2:14 tells us that fools walk in darkness while Isaiah 2:5 calls the Israelites and us to "walk in the light of the Lord."
In 1John 1 we learn that "God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." Wow! That is a lot to get our heads around. God's word speaks much of light and darkness. Jesus declared Himself to be the Light of the world and said that "he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life."
We must choose light. Matthew tells us that we are the light of the world and we are given the command to let our light "shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." So, as this new day dawns and begins to reveal the dust on my floor and the smudge on my window, I pray for God to shine His light on those places in my heart that need cleaning up so that I might go out to bring glory to Him.
I do notice something, however, as the light begins to grow and become brighter. I see the dust I missed on the sideboard and on the hardwood floors in the living room. I can clearly see where the paint is nicked on the wall going into the kitchen. As the light shines through my front windows, the smudges become obvious. Light shows the dirt and imperfections and scars.
This is what happens in our spiritual life. The brighter the light of God's truth shines on us, the more we see our sin. The closer we grow to the Light of the World, the more obvious are the dark places of our soul. John 3:19 shows us that evil is uncomfortable (to say the least) with the light and prefers darkness. Ecclesiastes 2:14 tells us that fools walk in darkness while Isaiah 2:5 calls the Israelites and us to "walk in the light of the Lord."
In 1John 1 we learn that "God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." Wow! That is a lot to get our heads around. God's word speaks much of light and darkness. Jesus declared Himself to be the Light of the world and said that "he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life."
We must choose light. Matthew tells us that we are the light of the world and we are given the command to let our light "shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." So, as this new day dawns and begins to reveal the dust on my floor and the smudge on my window, I pray for God to shine His light on those places in my heart that need cleaning up so that I might go out to bring glory to Him.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Easter
It's the week of Easter, Holy Week, if you will. I find myself introspective and contemplative. I was studying the 53rd chapter of Isaiah last week and was absolutely amazed that Isaiah accurately predicted the first Holy Week over 700 years before it happened with incredibly specific details. And yet, the Jews, who had Isaiah's prophesies, still didn't believe.
Isaiah vividly described Jesus as one who "was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief". He was "like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers." The verses that get to me the most are 5 and 6."But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray,, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."
This is the heart of the gospel. Christ was my substitute; He took my place; He stood in my stead. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God Himself." Christ justified me by becoming sin for me. I have the righteousness of God Himself because of what Christ did at Calvary. I deserve the wrath of a holy God because I am a depraved, sinful being. The wages of my sin is death.
However, Romans 8:1 tells me, "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Isaiah 1:18 says, Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow."
I am overwhelmed.
It is the week of Easter. I am a chosen child of God. I have been justified by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. I am being sanctified daily through the work of the Holy Spirit. I will be glorified when I see my Lord and my Savior face to face. Amen and amen!
Isaiah vividly described Jesus as one who "was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief". He was "like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers." The verses that get to me the most are 5 and 6."But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray,, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."
This is the heart of the gospel. Christ was my substitute; He took my place; He stood in my stead. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God Himself." Christ justified me by becoming sin for me. I have the righteousness of God Himself because of what Christ did at Calvary. I deserve the wrath of a holy God because I am a depraved, sinful being. The wages of my sin is death.
However, Romans 8:1 tells me, "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Isaiah 1:18 says, Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow."
I am overwhelmed.
It is the week of Easter. I am a chosen child of God. I have been justified by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. I am being sanctified daily through the work of the Holy Spirit. I will be glorified when I see my Lord and my Savior face to face. Amen and amen!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The Fall
Recently I fell on the concrete in my driveway while putting away toys my grandchildren had been using. I didn't fall gracefully. I landed on both knees then toppled over awkwardly. It was not a pretty sight. And it hurt. I had to sit some moments squeezing my eyes tightly and biting my lip. Finally I was able to get up, go inside and share my humiliation with my husband, my daughters and all my grandchildren. The grands were fascinated and wanted to see Grandmama's skinned knees.
The knees were very sore and messy and oozy for some days. Then the scab began to form. Now the knees felt some better but still tender and developing an ugly dark thick scab. Eventually this began to go away and was looking like my knee again, but it was still a little tender. After many weeks, this healing process seemed to be completed, but I noticed something interesting and little disturbing. I have a scar. Now it may lessen with time but it looks as though this is what my knee is going to look like. How much better it would have been if I had never fallen.
Those two paragraphs were written to make my spiritual application. Sin is painful, humiliating, messy and awkward. Because God's word tells me if I confess my sins God is faithful and just to forgive me, I know my sins won't be fatal. However, the healing process may be long, with pain lasting for a while, possibly forever. In many cases, the scars of sin will last a lifetime. How much better it would be if I avoid those sins that will pain and ooze and scar.
1John 2:1 says, "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin." We are not powerless against sin. Romans 6:14 tells us, "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace." The Holy Spirit within us gives the power to avoid the fall into sin, the injury of sin, and, ultimately the scars of sin.
The knees were very sore and messy and oozy for some days. Then the scab began to form. Now the knees felt some better but still tender and developing an ugly dark thick scab. Eventually this began to go away and was looking like my knee again, but it was still a little tender. After many weeks, this healing process seemed to be completed, but I noticed something interesting and little disturbing. I have a scar. Now it may lessen with time but it looks as though this is what my knee is going to look like. How much better it would have been if I had never fallen.
Those two paragraphs were written to make my spiritual application. Sin is painful, humiliating, messy and awkward. Because God's word tells me if I confess my sins God is faithful and just to forgive me, I know my sins won't be fatal. However, the healing process may be long, with pain lasting for a while, possibly forever. In many cases, the scars of sin will last a lifetime. How much better it would be if I avoid those sins that will pain and ooze and scar.
1John 2:1 says, "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin." We are not powerless against sin. Romans 6:14 tells us, "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace." The Holy Spirit within us gives the power to avoid the fall into sin, the injury of sin, and, ultimately the scars of sin.
Friday, March 13, 2009
"Catching" Spring
Every year for as long as I can remember, I have been determined to "catch" spring. I want to know exactly when it arrives, when the first robin is out looking for worms, when the tree in my backyard has the very first bud on it and when the azaleas first begin to pop. Well, in all these years, spring has managed to surprise me. It seems I wake up one morning and the tree is full of buds, there is a whole colony of robins in the yards on Calhoun road and the azaleas down my driveway have hundreds of buds and one or two blooms. I can just depend on this.
I know that I had better put out more feeders filled with Nyjer seed for the goldfinches that will soon be here and clean and fill the hummingbird feeders. It is time to find the best price on ferns and get two big ones to hang outside my sunroom. Daylight savings time is already here and spring seems to have arrived. I want to go buy every bedding plant the nursery has and start digging in the dirt. I want to pull weeds. I want to sit outside and read and feel the warm breeze on my face. I want it to stay spring forever.
It won't. Summer will come and I will love the fresh vegetables and the cicadas' symphony and the long daylight hours. Then when I think I cannot endure the heat any longer, the cool breezes of fall will come with the brilliant colors of dying leaves and planning for Thanksgiving family gatherings. Then on to winter and rainy days and Christmas and bare trees. Then, before you know it, I am trying to "catch" spring again.
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1.
I know that I had better put out more feeders filled with Nyjer seed for the goldfinches that will soon be here and clean and fill the hummingbird feeders. It is time to find the best price on ferns and get two big ones to hang outside my sunroom. Daylight savings time is already here and spring seems to have arrived. I want to go buy every bedding plant the nursery has and start digging in the dirt. I want to pull weeds. I want to sit outside and read and feel the warm breeze on my face. I want it to stay spring forever.
It won't. Summer will come and I will love the fresh vegetables and the cicadas' symphony and the long daylight hours. Then when I think I cannot endure the heat any longer, the cool breezes of fall will come with the brilliant colors of dying leaves and planning for Thanksgiving family gatherings. Then on to winter and rainy days and Christmas and bare trees. Then, before you know it, I am trying to "catch" spring again.
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Correction
As I was hurriedly typing in Microsoft Word the other day, I kept getting words underlined in red. Of course this meant I had misspelled, so I had to go back and correct. The Holy Spirit is our "red underline" when we misstep in our daily walk. If we are sensitive to His leading, we will note that check in our spirit, tug by our conscience or the recall of convicting scripture. In Job 37, Elihu describes some things that God might use for correction. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells that God's word is for correction. Jeremiah 5:3 tells of a stiff neck, rebellious people who refuse to take correction.
As I type and have words underlined in red, I can choose to go back and correct or I can finish my document with misspelled words. Someone reading it will notice that I have misspelled words. These will distract and my document will not be as effective as it would have been had I made the corrections. The same is true with our lives. We cannot serve and glorify our God effectively if we allow sins in our lives to go unconfessed and uncorrected. David said in Psalm 51, "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." May this be our constant prayer today as we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, sensitive to His correction.
As I type and have words underlined in red, I can choose to go back and correct or I can finish my document with misspelled words. Someone reading it will notice that I have misspelled words. These will distract and my document will not be as effective as it would have been had I made the corrections. The same is true with our lives. We cannot serve and glorify our God effectively if we allow sins in our lives to go unconfessed and uncorrected. David said in Psalm 51, "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." May this be our constant prayer today as we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, sensitive to His correction.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Heeding Warnings
The storm sirens went off multiple times last Friday and Saturday. I have heard many express their annoyance at these repetitive warnings when the threat didn't materialize. Yes, it was particularly inconvenient for those in institutions caring for children or the elderly. It was inconvenient to continually check to determine if the storm was imminent or merely possible. It was inconvenient to head to our "safe place" one more time.
I remember the time when there was no warning system. I remember when the system was less sophisticated and the warning sounded only when a tornado was spotted in the area and possibly right upon us. Then it was almost too late. I remember eight years ago when a storm with straight line winds of 100 miles per hour came through our town without warning, caught me in my car out on the highway, and blew five large trees down on my house causing great damage.
Warnings are often unpleasant, inconvenient and often not applicable. Most of the product warnings nowadays don't apply to me because I don't use most of the products named. However, I don't need to allow my sensibilities to these to become dull and unresponsive. The very next warning could seriously impact me.
I'm studying Isaiah. I think the Old Testament prophets were probably looked upon by some then as the tornado sirens were last week - as an annoyance, often causing an angry reaction. The prophets were ignored by many, just as were the sirens. When Isaiah began his vineyard parable in Isaiah 5, many of those to whom the message was given did not have a clue he was preaching to them. Their sensibilities had become dulled. Then in verse 7, the "radar" zoomed in when Isaiah identified Israel and Judah as the definite, without a doubt targets for the warning. The next verse begins the "woes". The storm of God's judgment was coming and Israel and Judah were in the path.
God's word is full of warnings that are as applicable for us today as they were over two thousand years ago. We can choose to ignore, to be annoyed, to be angry, or to have no reaction at all. Or, we can choose to heed the warnings and find our safe place of blessing and peace in repentance and obedience to God's will.
I remember the time when there was no warning system. I remember when the system was less sophisticated and the warning sounded only when a tornado was spotted in the area and possibly right upon us. Then it was almost too late. I remember eight years ago when a storm with straight line winds of 100 miles per hour came through our town without warning, caught me in my car out on the highway, and blew five large trees down on my house causing great damage.
Warnings are often unpleasant, inconvenient and often not applicable. Most of the product warnings nowadays don't apply to me because I don't use most of the products named. However, I don't need to allow my sensibilities to these to become dull and unresponsive. The very next warning could seriously impact me.
I'm studying Isaiah. I think the Old Testament prophets were probably looked upon by some then as the tornado sirens were last week - as an annoyance, often causing an angry reaction. The prophets were ignored by many, just as were the sirens. When Isaiah began his vineyard parable in Isaiah 5, many of those to whom the message was given did not have a clue he was preaching to them. Their sensibilities had become dulled. Then in verse 7, the "radar" zoomed in when Isaiah identified Israel and Judah as the definite, without a doubt targets for the warning. The next verse begins the "woes". The storm of God's judgment was coming and Israel and Judah were in the path.
God's word is full of warnings that are as applicable for us today as they were over two thousand years ago. We can choose to ignore, to be annoyed, to be angry, or to have no reaction at all. Or, we can choose to heed the warnings and find our safe place of blessing and peace in repentance and obedience to God's will.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
A Lesson from Chinese Checkers
I visited with my oldest daughter and her family last week. The plans were for me to keep her four children while she attended a conference with her husband. Two of the children became sick the night before I was to go, so my daughter needed to stay home with them. I went anyway to help her in any way I could.
I played a number of games with my grandchildren and had several opportunities to make spiritual applications. As we were playing Chinese checkers, my grandson, my daughter and I were methodically moving our marbles in a direct path towards the other side by moving one step at a time or jumping one or more marbles to move several places at once, always keeping our "home" in mind. My three year old granddaughter, however, moved at will, either several places at once or in a direction other than her opposite "home". The three of us made it "home" in an orderly fashion, but her marbles ended up all over the board with few of them making it to "home". Of course, as she gets older, she will learn to play this game.
I did think, though, about how we go through life. When you notice someone going about erratically, making unwise choices, misstepping repeatedly, you have to wonder if that person will ever make it "home". The Bible tells us in Psalm 37 that the steps of a righteous man are ordered by God. One evidence of our salvation, even though we misstep in sin, is that we don't exhibit habitual erratic behavior. We can see our steps are headed towards "home". We are told in Proverbs 3:5-6 to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Herein lies the key to being methodical and orderly in our journey.
1 Peter 2:21 tells us, "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." We will certainly arrive at "home" with our journey being direct and orderly if we follow in the steps of our Lord and Savior.
I played a number of games with my grandchildren and had several opportunities to make spiritual applications. As we were playing Chinese checkers, my grandson, my daughter and I were methodically moving our marbles in a direct path towards the other side by moving one step at a time or jumping one or more marbles to move several places at once, always keeping our "home" in mind. My three year old granddaughter, however, moved at will, either several places at once or in a direction other than her opposite "home". The three of us made it "home" in an orderly fashion, but her marbles ended up all over the board with few of them making it to "home". Of course, as she gets older, she will learn to play this game.
I did think, though, about how we go through life. When you notice someone going about erratically, making unwise choices, misstepping repeatedly, you have to wonder if that person will ever make it "home". The Bible tells us in Psalm 37 that the steps of a righteous man are ordered by God. One evidence of our salvation, even though we misstep in sin, is that we don't exhibit habitual erratic behavior. We can see our steps are headed towards "home". We are told in Proverbs 3:5-6 to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Herein lies the key to being methodical and orderly in our journey.
1 Peter 2:21 tells us, "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." We will certainly arrive at "home" with our journey being direct and orderly if we follow in the steps of our Lord and Savior.
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