Thankfulness

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WHEN TROUBLE COMES

(John 16:33) I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.

(James 1:2-4) Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

A young man, taking in the wonders of nature, runs along a secluded path through a beautiful forest.  The early morning sun shoots rays of light through the budding new leaves of spring. Ahead there is a bend in the path, and he wonders what delights he will find there.  As he approaches the bend, a stirring in the brush draws his attention to the right just as he starts his turn to the left.  His distraction causes him to miss the large branch across the path, and down he goes.  He reaches out to catch himself with his left arm, and he hears the snap of his bone breaking.  Then his head hits a rock, and it all goes black.  Now imagine as he begins to regain consciousness, feeling the throbbing of his head and the excruciating pain from his left arm, his first thought is “Why did God let this happen to me?”

Jesus tells us, “In this world you will have trouble.”  It is part of living in this world.  This world is what we humans have caused by our sinfulness.  Death and decay are a part of our life.  Decay probably caused the fallen branch that tripped our young man.

Now James reminds us that the troubles we face test our faith and help us mature in faith.  This leads me to believe that there is genuine value in our struggles.  The counting it all joy probably comes toward the end of trouble, for then is when we can see the value more clearly.

I am saying these things to myself because I am facing trouble.  I have had cancer in the past, and I was about to celebrate seven years of being cancer free when a new type of cancer invaded my body.  It is curable, but a series of what has turned out to be rather torturous chemotherapy is required.

 Facing this again has caused me to be on my knees and in the Bible looking for strength to endure the process.  Looking for answers has led me to this conclusion.  God has not forsaken me.  He is right here with me.  I have been reminded to take it one day at a time and to not fret about the future.  I am very grateful for all my family, friends, and prayer warriors supporting me through this.  I am very blessed.  Gratitude goes a long way in enduring the struggles.  I spend a lot of time remembering God’s continual blessings throughout my life.  Troubles come, but we never have to face them alone.  I feel encouraged to carry on.

I will close with Jesus’ enduring reminder, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

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LIVING IN THE PEACE OF GOD

(Philippians 4:4-7) Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I love the challenge of these words that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians.  Over the years, I have found an ever-increasing understanding of what he was saying.

Paul starts with the word rejoice; then he emphatically repeats the word, rejoice!  Our rejoicing is in the Lord, how often, always.  Our Lord has forgiven our sins and provided us with eternal life.  This is worth always rejoicing in the Lord.  As we walk with the Lord, he continually blesses us with reasons for rejoicing.

Paul next tells us, “Let your gentleness be evident to all.”  What I gain from these words is that we don’t have to get riled up when circumstances aren’t going our way.  Why, because: “The Lord is near.”  Now this could mean because God is watching our every move, and we don’t want to mess up, but what I think it means, is knowing The Lord is near provides us with comfort and peace in all situations.  We never have to face difficult times alone.

Paul adds the instruction, “Don’t be anxious about anything.”  Well, being anxious and worried seems to be inherent to us humans.  How can we learn to be calm in the storm?  Paul tells us, “but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  We mature in Christ Jesus as we surrender ourselves to him.  Walking with him opens the door for God to increase our faith.  As our faith increases, our trust in God grows.  The more we put out trust in him, Our peace increases, and our hearts and minds are content, guarded in Christ Jesus.

 Eventually, we find ourselves at peace during a time when we could have been scared, worried or deeply distressed.  Ah, that’s when we are experiencing the peace that goes beyond understanding.  Within God’s peace, we don’t respond to situations as those who don’t know Jesus might respond.  That makes us a light shining brightly to those around us.  Being content, especially in times of trouble, is quite appealing.

When we rejoice in what God has given us, give thanks to him, and call out to him in all circumstances, that is when we find the peace of God that transcends all understanding.

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GOD REALLY LOVES US

(Psalm 139:13-17) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  How precious to me are your thoughts, God!  How vast is the sum of them!

From the very beginning of creation, God took great interest in bringing forth mankind. He bent down and formed man with his own hands, and then he formed woman.  Each one was formed from the earth he had created.  King David recognized that God involves himself in the creation of each one of us as he knits us together in our mother’s womb. And isn’t it interesting that he has knowledge of each day of our lives from the beginning of our existence.

There is an intimacy between us and God that transcends our understanding, but his great love for us was revealed when he sent his Son to redeem us.  When we consider these things, it becomes apparent that God is continually working on his desire to have a relationship with us.  Remember, God did not create us and then walk away.  We walked away!

In my own life, I stayed away from God in those early years.  I wanted to do life on my own terms.  I had an awareness that he was there, but I kept my distance.  When the realization of how badly I had messed up my live came crashing in, God, who was waiting patiently, received me with open arms.  I deserved punishment, but through the work of Jesus, I was granted grace.  From that moment on, I began to live a life of blessing in the arms of my God.

I now know that the greatest foolishness in this life is to try to live it without the one who created us and loves us.  The greatest fulfillment in this life is to seek God and his will for us.  Nothing is better than a relationship with the one who calls himself Our Father.

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EVERYDAY CHRISTIANITY

 (Colossians 4:2-6) Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

When I was a newly committed Christian, I was often perplexed about how I should act.  As time went on, how to act as a Christian seemed to fall into place.  Here in this scripture the Apostle Paul gives clear instructions of how a Christian should conduct life each day.  Don’t worry, most of us fall painfully short of these challenges.  However, these challenges do guide us to a more Kingdom of God consciousness and away from the cares of the world.

It’s easy to get lost in the cares of our everyday life, but let’s begin to break down what Paul is calling us to do. “Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  My take on this is to begin each day by having a special time with the Lord.  Prayer after all is talking to the Lord.  Then, throughout the day, pray for those we know are in need of prayer and pray as we encounter situation that call for prayer.

As an example, This morning I was sitting on the patio at Starbucks, enjoying my coffee, when I noticed a young couple having what appeared to be a very stressful conversation.  I was drawn to pray for them.  When I left, I stopped by their table.  I said to them, “Pardon the interruption, but I noticed that there was some distress here at your table, so I prayed for you.”   Not knowing what response to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at their reaction.  They both lit up with big smiles and thanked me.  I smiled back and said, “God bless you.”  I continued on to my truck and headed home.

On the way home I was reliving the scene, and it occurred to me, this encounter is what Paul meant by being watchful.  I thanked God for the opportunity and prayed some more for that couple.

I think that devoting yourself to prayer is something we all do as Christians.  Are we perfect at it?  Well, since we are not perfect, let’s stay ever increasingly alert for opportunities.  In our everyday life as Christians, God will guide us into situations that need our prayers.  We need to be watchful and thankful.

I have posted the complete section of this scripture with the idea to continue focusing on what the Apostle Paul reveals to us in this passage. I’m looking forward to digging into his words for the treasures they hold.

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THE CORD OF THREE STRANDS

(Genesis 2:18) The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Throughout our 44 years of marriage, there have been times when my wife and I have spent time away from each other.  We are currently in one of those seasons. My wife is away tending to a sick brother. I find it emotionally painful to be apart, but it is somewhat beneficial in that our desire for each other is heightened.  From the beginning God acknowledged that man has need for a companion.  Though not clearly stated, our companionship was never meant to exclude God.

Forty-four years ago, two sinners came together to form an intimate relationship.  Would this relationship last?  Ah, they had a distinct advantage.  They both had recently formed a strong relationship with their creator. From the start, God was at the center of their union. What that meant is that in hard, difficult times, they had God to turn to.  When times went well, they knew who to thank. 

So here I am sitting alone at my desk, and what is on my mind?  Gratefulness to God for this beautiful, wonderful woman he brought to me those many years ago.  God has been so good to us.  I am thoroughly convinced that God has been at the center of our successful marriage.

(Proverbs 18:22) He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.

(Ecclesiastes 4:12) Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

God’s presence in any relationship is vital, because with him you can form a strong bond. Thus, “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” In marriage his presence makes all the difference. 

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CHOOSE THE GOOD

(Psalm 64:1-6) Here me, my God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy.  Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers.  They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.  They shoot from ambush at the innocent; they shoot suddenly, without fear.  They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it?”  They plot injustice and say, “We have devised a perfect plan!”  Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

Since mankind rebelled against God, we have known the difference between good and evil.  God encourages us to do good; who encourages us to do evil?  Ah, we remember the snake.  He, the devil, and all his cohorts work very hard to lead us away from God and his goodness.

Because we have all inherited the rebellious nature of Adam and Eve, we must continuously battle between good and evil.  If evil wins, we see the fruit of it in our choices and actions.  In Psalm 64 David describes what evil looks like in those who choose to perpetrate it.  The people who David calls his enemies show no consideration to the consequences of their actions.  In fact, they delight in the devastation they inflict on others.

In Psalm 65 David talks about those who choose God’s goodness. (Psalm 65:1-4) Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.  You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.  When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.  Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!  We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.  In these people, we see God honored and praised; thankfulness is in their hearts and on their lips, and they are filled with the good things of God.

What a contrast between those who choose evil and those who choose good.  Yet, even If you have immersed yourself in evil, God has made a way to repent and turn to him. All his children have come to the moment of repentance, and they have been renewed by God’s perfect solution to overcome sins hold. He gave his only Son.  Now is the time to repent, humble yourself, and turn to God.  He will welcome you with open arms.  If you choose not to receive God’s salvation, you will be punished for all your sins.

Choose the good and live in the goodness of God.  Choosing evil always leads to destruction.  Living life the way God intended will lead us to loving others and ultimately eternal life.  Following the ways of evil leads to exploiting others and finally punishment.

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THE SEVENTH DAY

(Exodus 34:21) Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.

(Galatians 5:1) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

I chose these two scriptures for contrast.  From Exodus God says you shall rest on the seventh day.  In Galatians, the Apostle Paul tells us that we have been set free in Christ.  So, do we have to rest on the seventh day?

My answer to this question is: It’s no longer a “have to”; It’s a “get to”.  What I mean by that is the Law was a way to identify disobedience; we now live by faith.  In faith, I trust that God loves me.  His ways are now my desire.  I trust that when he says take a rest, it is advantageous for me.

The benefit of a seventh day rest is the opportunity to get closer to God and closer to our brothers and sisters.  There are many ways to get closer to God and our fellow believers.  Church is an obvious choice, but how about a walk in the park or down a country road with Jesus.  Maybe a cookout with friends and neighbors for fellowship.  The important goal of a seventh day rest is to first honor our creator.  He alone deserves our worship, and he alone loves us enough to die for us.  The other important purpose is to clear away the stresses and exhaustion of the other six days.

Observing the seventh day is not always possible, but it is always helpful.  I’m remembering that Jesus said the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.  God established six days of work and a seventh day for rest because he designed us and knew exactly what we would need. Mainly, he knew that we needed him.  He set aside a day of rest for us, so we could have the time to be nearer to him.

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THE PROPHECIES THAT PREDICTED OUR REDEMPTION

(Isaiah 42:6-9) “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.  I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.  I am the Lord; that is my name!  I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.  See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”

Isaiah wrote around the years 740-700BC.  The accuracy of his prophecies has been proven time and time again, and he is considered to be the greatest of the Old Testament prophets.  Here in this passage, he quotes the words of the Father about the coming of Jesus his Son.  Our Easter celebration is about the fulfillment of the Father’s plan of redemption. 

As Isaiah predicted, Jesus brought to us the new covenant for the people.  He brought light to us who live in this sinful world, and he has set the captives free.  We have been released from the dungeon of darkness.  All this has been offered to the whole world.  And we are celebrating with our whole hearts.   

Jesus carried the sins of the world to the cross.  He died for our sins, and on the third day, the Father raised him to life in victory over death.  I can’t think of anything more worthy of celebration than this.  May our gratitude overflow as we celebrate our Savior, Christ Jesus – the Son of God.

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OUR WORTH IN GOD

(1Peter 1:3-5) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.  It is reserved in heaven for you, who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

I am a common person.  I am not of wide renown, but just one of billions of people who are currently walking the earth.  My distinctions are that I’m a male of considerable age who has led an average life. That is my earthly existence. 

The one distinction I didn’t mention is that I am a Christian, a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ.  I am a child of the living God sealed with his Holy Spirit.  I have been granted eternal life through the redemptive action of Jesus Christ the Son of God.  I have an inheritance from God my Father reserved for me in heaven.  This distinction is not exclusive; it is offered to all who will receive him.

(1 Peter 2:9) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Our worth as the common people of the earth may say we are of little consequence, but in contrast we are of great worth to God. Christians are God’s children, a people of his own, destined to live with him in his eternal kingdom.

Knowing our true worth, let us walk with confidence as we negotiate this new year, and let us proclaim the virtues of the one who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.  

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MOMENTS OF WONDER

(Psalm 139:13 & 14) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

I love those moments when I take the time to look around with amazement at the wonders of God’s creation.  The human body in its intricate design always fascinates me, the beauty of a flower reaches deeply into my heart, and each day both sunrise and sunset are like masterpieces painted by our Father for our enjoyment.  At these times, praise just naturally pours from my soul, and worship flows forth without reserve, as I recognize the majesty of our God who created this world.  David must have been immersed in one of these moments when he wrote the words of Psalm 139.

Unfortunately, like David, we don’t get to stay in those moments.  There is life to live with its responsibilities and distractions.  Sometimes, we stray far from those moments and indulge in sinfulness.  David’s life, like ours, displays this tendency.  Coming to our senses, we repent and seek God’s mercy and forgiveness (see Psalm 51).  That’s when we experience his love for us which leads us back to times of praise and worship.

I think that in heaven we will live continuously in wonder of our God; praise and worship will forever be on our lips. We will experience an eternity filled with wonder.