"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (I Pet.1:6-7)
You know, this life can be wonderful...but it can also be mighty hard. I have dear friends whose children are struggling with illness. Other dear friends who are sad and disappointed that their beloved child has to move to a distant country for her husband's work. Other friends and family dealing with different, but equally difficult, challenges and losses.
Oh my, haven't we all been there? In fact, aren't we all there now in some shape or fashion? Yep, the disappointments, the hurts, the losses, the failures vary...but the pain is just as real, just as sharp, and just as universal.
But for this we have Jesus.
I love these verses in Peter, for they remind us that our trials are temporary--as my Daddy used to say, "We're going through a rough patch." Love that--patches don't last...but persistent people do. We all eventually come out on the other side of a rough patch, praise God. And we find ourselves a little wiser, a bit stronger, and a lot more thankful. Nothing like a rough patch to remind you of what's really important and to exponentially increase your gratitude for life's simplest but most profound gifts.
Yes, trials are temporary, but our faith lasts forever and is revealed, refined, and strengthened by those struggles. And the ultimate result? Glory and praise to God. That sure helps me when it feels like I'm stuck in a deep ditch with no way out in sight. To know, know, know that somehow, someway, God will use my struggles and persevering faith to bring glory to His name.
Bu the key is, right in those hard moments, to counsel our hearts not to think or act based upon our feelings but based upon our faith. Feelings come and go based upon anything and everything from changing circumstances, to the weather, to what we ate for lunch, to how others treated us that day, to how much sleep we got. Totally unreliable! But not our faith. No, our faith is grounded securely upon rock solid Truth. Feelings vascillate. God's Truth is eternal, unchanging, supernaturally powerful, and supremely reliable.
Here's what A.W. Tozer says:
"I think all of us meet Christian men and women who always seem to look on the gloomy side and are never able to do anything with life's problems but grumble about them! I meet them often and when I do, I wonder: 'Can these people be reading and trusting the same Bible I have been reading?' The Apostle Peter wrote to the tempted, suffering, and persecuted believers in his day and noted with thanksgiving that they could rejoice because they counted God's promises and provisions greater than their trials! We do live in a sinful and imperfect world, and as believers in Christ we acknowledge that perfection is a relative thing now--and God has not really completed a thing with us, as yet! Peter testified that the persecuted and suffering Christians of his day were looking, in faith, to a future state of things immeasurably better than that which they knew, and that state of things would be perfect and complete!"
So today, I'm thankful for the solid ground of God's Word--both His written Word and His living Word, the Lord Jesus. God's Word will never fail us nor those that we love. No matter our circumstances, let's choose gratitude over grumbling today...we've got God's never-failing Word.
To God be the glory.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Thankful for grace...and friendship!
A little food for (thankful) weekend thought--
Do you ever wonder why God puts up with you and your foolishness? Or even more remarkably, that your friends and family do as well?
Grace. All grace--start to finish, up and down, front to back. Grace for foolishness. Grace for failure. Grace for falling down.
And grace for forgiveness. Grace for forever loving. Grace for finding a way to pick us up, dust us off, and set us back on course again.
Oh thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord Jesus for the priceless gift of Your grace...and for the treasure of friendship grace as well. Oh how I need them both, every day and every hour.
Just yesterday, yours truly (once again) lost her perspective. How on earth can it take so little to cause me to veer off the safe path of trust and hope and into the dangerous oncoming traffic of doubt, frustration, disappointment? One minute I'm happily walking along beside Your "still waters" and in Your "paths of righteousness." Content. Satisfied in You. Grateful. Trusting like a little child.
And then the next moment, something as trivial as a poor tournament golf round for our oldest son can momentarily throw me off kilter and cause me to forget You are in control and all Your ways are ultimately best. Yes, I can say that I believe it (through clenched teeth), but my heart and attitude betray my doubt and disappointment. Actually, let me call it what it really is--sin.
It took God's Word and the words of a dear friend to bring me back into line with the Truth.
So thank You for Father for the gift of Your Word that returns and restores our wayward hearts and emotions back into Truth...the true Truth. Not the truth of our vacillating feelings but the true Truth of Your Word, Your promises, and Your never-failing faithfulness. Your sovereign goodness and grace...even when we least deserve it.
And thank You also, Father, for the treasure of our friends and family who provide the "skin face" of Jesus in our lives by modeling Your grace when we fall down...and who lift us up by reminding us of Your true Truth. Who remind us of the true Source of our Hope.
Hope not born of success...but of the Savior. Hope born not of perfect circumstances...but of our perfect Redeemer. Hope born not of possessions or power or popularity...but of the Person of the Lord Jesus who is "our sure and steadfast Anchor of the soul." (Heb.6:19)
Sometimes we forget, Abba. Thank You for refusing to give up on us, but instead for reminding us of the Truth and for bestowing upon the gift of friends and family who do the same. We are not worthy--I am not worthy--of You or them. But that's grace, isn't it? "God's riches at Christ's expense." And that grace is beautiful beyond measure.
"Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Heb.13:15-16)
So again, I offer up my simple sacrifice of praise to my God. Today, it's for His gifts of grace--both in Himself and in our family and friends. And what an appropriate day to do this--November 1st--the day we haul out our "Family Thanksgiving book." It's simply a little notebook we bring out every November and record things for which we're thankful on most days. (Notice that word "most"--we've missed plenty of days over the years...but grace, people, grace!)
Here's an example from one of the days and years past--
The children's thanksgivings have ranged from "birthdays" to "clowns" to "cotton candy" to "a new brother" to "grandmama is in heaven with Jesus now."
Thankful for everything. From the lips of babes. How often I need the reminder that we are "to give thanks in ALL circumstances." (I Thess.5:18) Not necessarily give thanks for all things, but in all things.
You know what? I can do that. Thankful even in adversity or struggle or whatever, because it's all filtered through the loving, gracious hand of my Heavenly Daddy...and He makes no mistakes. Will you join me in choosing at least one thing each day in the month of November for which to be thankful...truly thankful? And then, don't just tell God thank You (though, of course, do thank Him first!), but also share your gratitude with someone else as well. Joys shared are multiplied...just as sorrows shared are divided. Let's do some multiplying this November! God, after all, is the Creator and Giver of it all.
Today, thank You, Father, for grace...and thank You for friendship.
To God be the glory.
Do you ever wonder why God puts up with you and your foolishness? Or even more remarkably, that your friends and family do as well?
Grace. All grace--start to finish, up and down, front to back. Grace for foolishness. Grace for failure. Grace for falling down.
And grace for forgiveness. Grace for forever loving. Grace for finding a way to pick us up, dust us off, and set us back on course again.
Oh thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord Jesus for the priceless gift of Your grace...and for the treasure of friendship grace as well. Oh how I need them both, every day and every hour.
Just yesterday, yours truly (once again) lost her perspective. How on earth can it take so little to cause me to veer off the safe path of trust and hope and into the dangerous oncoming traffic of doubt, frustration, disappointment? One minute I'm happily walking along beside Your "still waters" and in Your "paths of righteousness." Content. Satisfied in You. Grateful. Trusting like a little child.
And then the next moment, something as trivial as a poor tournament golf round for our oldest son can momentarily throw me off kilter and cause me to forget You are in control and all Your ways are ultimately best. Yes, I can say that I believe it (through clenched teeth), but my heart and attitude betray my doubt and disappointment. Actually, let me call it what it really is--sin.
It took God's Word and the words of a dear friend to bring me back into line with the Truth.
So thank You for Father for the gift of Your Word that returns and restores our wayward hearts and emotions back into Truth...the true Truth. Not the truth of our vacillating feelings but the true Truth of Your Word, Your promises, and Your never-failing faithfulness. Your sovereign goodness and grace...even when we least deserve it.
And thank You also, Father, for the treasure of our friends and family who provide the "skin face" of Jesus in our lives by modeling Your grace when we fall down...and who lift us up by reminding us of Your true Truth. Who remind us of the true Source of our Hope.
Hope not born of success...but of the Savior. Hope born not of perfect circumstances...but of our perfect Redeemer. Hope born not of possessions or power or popularity...but of the Person of the Lord Jesus who is "our sure and steadfast Anchor of the soul." (Heb.6:19)
Sometimes we forget, Abba. Thank You for refusing to give up on us, but instead for reminding us of the Truth and for bestowing upon the gift of friends and family who do the same. We are not worthy--I am not worthy--of You or them. But that's grace, isn't it? "God's riches at Christ's expense." And that grace is beautiful beyond measure.
"Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Heb.13:15-16)
So again, I offer up my simple sacrifice of praise to my God. Today, it's for His gifts of grace--both in Himself and in our family and friends. And what an appropriate day to do this--November 1st--the day we haul out our "Family Thanksgiving book." It's simply a little notebook we bring out every November and record things for which we're thankful on most days. (Notice that word "most"--we've missed plenty of days over the years...but grace, people, grace!)
Thankful for everything. From the lips of babes. How often I need the reminder that we are "to give thanks in ALL circumstances." (I Thess.5:18) Not necessarily give thanks for all things, but in all things.
You know what? I can do that. Thankful even in adversity or struggle or whatever, because it's all filtered through the loving, gracious hand of my Heavenly Daddy...and He makes no mistakes. Will you join me in choosing at least one thing each day in the month of November for which to be thankful...truly thankful? And then, don't just tell God thank You (though, of course, do thank Him first!), but also share your gratitude with someone else as well. Joys shared are multiplied...just as sorrows shared are divided. Let's do some multiplying this November! God, after all, is the Creator and Giver of it all.
Today, thank You, Father, for grace...and thank You for friendship.
To God be the glory.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Halloween...naah, Reformation Day!
Happy Reformation Day!
Yes, yes, it's also Halloween, but Halloween's one of those holidays I can't help but resent. Sorry if that makes me sound like Wendy the Whiner. But I remember the good old days--back before cell phones, color TV, and electricity--when Halloween simply meant figuring out how (on the afternoon of Halloween) to assemble your "hobo" costume by rummaging around your daddy's closet.
Today, forget the jack-o-lantern. That's for losers like the Fountains. Now, people decorate their yards, buy or make elaborate costumes, cook complicated spooky treats, and spend--wait for this--350 MILLION dollars on pet Halloween costumes. Are you kidding me? Have we lost our minds? For the record, Mr. Bingley is going this year as...um, a character from Pride and Prejudice dressed up in a large black dog costume and carrying a log for the fireplace. You know it gets drafty in Merry Old England in the early 1800's.
I'll tell you my biggest problem with Halloween--it totally crowds out the best holiday of the year--Thanksgiving! The stores go from thanksgiving paraphernalia (beginning in about July, it seems) then head straight to Christmas. Trust me, when you go to Target tomorrow morning, the Christmas trees, ornaments, plates, lights, knick knacks, you name it, will be out in force.
So, yes, have fun on Halloween. After all, there's a lot of chocolate floating around today, and that's always a good thing. But don't forget it's also Reformation Day--the day Martin Luther, then an obscure monk, bravely nailed his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg church in 1517. Luther courageously confronted the church over widespread corruption involving things like the selling of "indulgences" that promised forgiveness of the sins of deceased loved ones. He insisted that salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone. The Protestant Reformers believed that Scripture alone--not church rulings or human traditions--should guide our lives and that every person should be able to read God's Word for themselves.
Thank You, Father, for our brave forefathers and mothers who were faithful to You all the way to the end--many of them willing to give their lives so that others might know the truth of the Gospel. Might we be live this day thankful for their sacrifices and faithful ourselves all the way to the finish line. To God be the glory.
To God be the glory.
Yes, yes, it's also Halloween, but Halloween's one of those holidays I can't help but resent. Sorry if that makes me sound like Wendy the Whiner. But I remember the good old days--back before cell phones, color TV, and electricity--when Halloween simply meant figuring out how (on the afternoon of Halloween) to assemble your "hobo" costume by rummaging around your daddy's closet.
Today, forget the jack-o-lantern. That's for losers like the Fountains. Now, people decorate their yards, buy or make elaborate costumes, cook complicated spooky treats, and spend--wait for this--350 MILLION dollars on pet Halloween costumes. Are you kidding me? Have we lost our minds? For the record, Mr. Bingley is going this year as...um, a character from Pride and Prejudice dressed up in a large black dog costume and carrying a log for the fireplace. You know it gets drafty in Merry Old England in the early 1800's.
So, yes, have fun on Halloween. After all, there's a lot of chocolate floating around today, and that's always a good thing. But don't forget it's also Reformation Day--the day Martin Luther, then an obscure monk, bravely nailed his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg church in 1517. Luther courageously confronted the church over widespread corruption involving things like the selling of "indulgences" that promised forgiveness of the sins of deceased loved ones. He insisted that salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone. The Protestant Reformers believed that Scripture alone--not church rulings or human traditions--should guide our lives and that every person should be able to read God's Word for themselves.
Thank You, Father, for our brave forefathers and mothers who were faithful to You all the way to the end--many of them willing to give their lives so that others might know the truth of the Gospel. Might we be live this day thankful for their sacrifices and faithful ourselves all the way to the finish line. To God be the glory.
To God be the glory.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Comparison...or Commitment?
Good night, it's been a week since I was last here. File this one under "Oh well."
My plan was to return to this subject within a day or two. Can I just say, planning and plans have never been my strong suit? That's what you might call an understatement. Not quite sure how my family has survived my organizational challenges, but it's all just positive proof of our Lord's amazing and infinite grace. He somehow fills in the gaps of our failures, smooths out the wrinkles of our shortcomings, continues to love and teach us through it all, and, remarkably, uses it all--every last shred of it--to His glory. Oh how I love Him.
Soooo, here's what I started to say: "Let's pretend I'm one of those organized, amazing people you read about in books on "How to be the best mom ever!" or "What you need to have the perfect family...in 127 easy steps!" or "You, too, can have an organized, beautiful, restful home with absolutely no clutter!"
But then I thought, "Naah. Don't think so." Never much liked those kinds of books, since all they ever did was cause me to flame out after an excited paroxysm of initial enthusiasm...often resulting in a crash and burn of failure. The mythical, perfect "ideal" can sure fuel frustration and discouragement. And you know why? Because we tend to compare ourselves (never, ever, ever a good thing to do anyway) with others. And we often compare our weaknesses with their strengths. No wonder we grow downhearted!
First and foremost, we need to jettison comparison. Period. All comparison ever results in is either discouragement because we're not "measuring up." Or, alternatively, pride--again, always, always, always a terrible thing--because we perceive that at least we're doing way better than old so and so.
Nope. Forget comparisons. Let's go for commitment.
Commitment first and foremost to God. To daily seeking Him. To loving Him. To following Him. To enjoying Him.
Secondly, commitment to giving our best effort and doing it all to God's glory. "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (I Cor.10:27) Or, as one of my favorite verses puts it: "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of an inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." (Col.3:23-24)
Not commitment to perfect. Not commitment to performance. But commitment to a Person--the Lord Jesus and His glory.
If we mess up a billion times today...if we fail in every possible way in the world's eyes, but we succeed in the Savior's eyes because we're seeking to pursue and please Him? Well, then, count this day a blazing success!
Finally commitment to loving one another. Loving, forgiving, forbearing, encouraging the imperfect, but created-in-God's-image people in our lives. No, I can 't offer my family the perfect home. The perfect meals. The perfect organizational system.
But I can offer them my utter and total complete commitment to loving them with every fiber of my heart. To loving them well...not perfectly. To loving them in the power of the Holy Spirit rather than trying perform like an idealized Martha Stewart.
Yep, I've shared it a billion times, but as Mother Teresa once said, "All our troubles come from looking around rather than up." Looking around spells comparison. Looking up fuels commitment. Time to look up to the Father rather than around at the world. He's our Model. He's our Standard. He's our Empowerment. He's our Enabler. He's our Savior. And He is infinitely worthy of our commitment.
We're committed, Father. Keep our eyes trained upon You, rather than the world, so we might live this day by Your power and for Your glory. To God be the glory.
My plan was to return to this subject within a day or two. Can I just say, planning and plans have never been my strong suit? That's what you might call an understatement. Not quite sure how my family has survived my organizational challenges, but it's all just positive proof of our Lord's amazing and infinite grace. He somehow fills in the gaps of our failures, smooths out the wrinkles of our shortcomings, continues to love and teach us through it all, and, remarkably, uses it all--every last shred of it--to His glory. Oh how I love Him.
Soooo, here's what I started to say: "Let's pretend I'm one of those organized, amazing people you read about in books on "How to be the best mom ever!" or "What you need to have the perfect family...in 127 easy steps!" or "You, too, can have an organized, beautiful, restful home with absolutely no clutter!"
But then I thought, "Naah. Don't think so." Never much liked those kinds of books, since all they ever did was cause me to flame out after an excited paroxysm of initial enthusiasm...often resulting in a crash and burn of failure. The mythical, perfect "ideal" can sure fuel frustration and discouragement. And you know why? Because we tend to compare ourselves (never, ever, ever a good thing to do anyway) with others. And we often compare our weaknesses with their strengths. No wonder we grow downhearted!
First and foremost, we need to jettison comparison. Period. All comparison ever results in is either discouragement because we're not "measuring up." Or, alternatively, pride--again, always, always, always a terrible thing--because we perceive that at least we're doing way better than old so and so.
Nope. Forget comparisons. Let's go for commitment.
Commitment first and foremost to God. To daily seeking Him. To loving Him. To following Him. To enjoying Him.
Secondly, commitment to giving our best effort and doing it all to God's glory. "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (I Cor.10:27) Or, as one of my favorite verses puts it: "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of an inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." (Col.3:23-24)
Not commitment to perfect. Not commitment to performance. But commitment to a Person--the Lord Jesus and His glory.
If we mess up a billion times today...if we fail in every possible way in the world's eyes, but we succeed in the Savior's eyes because we're seeking to pursue and please Him? Well, then, count this day a blazing success!
Finally commitment to loving one another. Loving, forgiving, forbearing, encouraging the imperfect, but created-in-God's-image people in our lives. No, I can 't offer my family the perfect home. The perfect meals. The perfect organizational system.
But I can offer them my utter and total complete commitment to loving them with every fiber of my heart. To loving them well...not perfectly. To loving them in the power of the Holy Spirit rather than trying perform like an idealized Martha Stewart.
Yep, I've shared it a billion times, but as Mother Teresa once said, "All our troubles come from looking around rather than up." Looking around spells comparison. Looking up fuels commitment. Time to look up to the Father rather than around at the world. He's our Model. He's our Standard. He's our Empowerment. He's our Enabler. He's our Savior. And He is infinitely worthy of our commitment.
We're committed, Father. Keep our eyes trained upon You, rather than the world, so we might live this day by Your power and for Your glory. To God be the glory.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Pilgrims, fall, and thanksgiving this day!
It's pilgrim time again! Truly the best time of the year if you ask me. Nothing beats the beauty of fall. Yes, yes, we all love showy spring, resplendent with fragrant flowers and budding trees. But there's just something about fall, with it's vibrant blue skies...pumpkin pie, cake, bread, ice cream (just call me Forest Gump when it comes to anything pumpkin)...sweaters (but not yet coats, praise God)...and the nip in the brisk, clean air that revives even the weariest soul.
Not to mention the bittersweet reminder--which makes fall all the more alluring--that summer's warmth has fully yielded to what will soon be the season of runny noses, frigid fingers, and blazing fires. Winter's okay, I guess, but it's generally the season many of us simply endure until spring's entrance. But, hey, winter's not yet here! Today it's fall...so rejoice in this day that the Lord has made and stop borrowing trouble and worry about tomorrow.
But surely the very best part of fall is Thanksgiving and pilgrims. Don't we all need constant reminders to be thankful? To be grateful for all God has blessed us with rather than grumbling over the little that we lack. To be focused on the abundance of gifts from the Gift-giver rather than the absence of extras we think we need to be happy.
Oh forgive us, Father. Forgive me--I should be walking around all day long praising You and Your boundless generosity in my life. That I don't, reflects the fact that I truly don't understand Your unfathomable and infinite grace. Contemplating the grace poured out upon us through Jesus Christ should make us indefatigable thankers and praisers!
The pilgrims truly got this thankfulness thing down pat. What a reminder they are to all of us that gratitude doesn't depend on perfect circumstances but upon a perfect Savior. Whenever I start to feel overwhelmed or fretful or discouraged, I often think of those pilgrims. Doggedly hanging on to their hope in God while they battled freezing, miserable weather, constant sickness, and death.
Over half their numbers died in that first winter. Can you imagine? What would it take us, I wonder, to pack it in and say, "This is totally not worth it." Or to start despairing and doubting God. Or even simply to default to widespread grumbling and complaining. We so quickly get upset over the littlest slights or the smallest inconveniences.
Not the pilgrims. They persevered...oh my how they persevered. Like the writer of Hebrews exhorts us, they held "fast to the hope set before" them, for they knew that "We have this sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain." (Heb.6:18,19) And so even in the face of devastating losses, they chose to rejoice and give thanks to their never-failing God.
May we be quick to do the same.
After all, our Hope and Anchor--the Lord Jesus--has gone before us, and He is, even this very moment, at the throne of the universe, praying and interceding for us. (Heb.7:25)
Continual prayer by our Savior. Consistent provision for each day's needs. And the certain promise of an eternity in heaven. How on earth could we not be a grateful, thankful people?
More on pilgrims to come. In fact, Mr. Bingley has a little contribution to make in this department. But for today, let's choose to rejoice not only in fall's gifts, but also in our gracious and good Gift-giver. Pack away the worrying about tomorrow--what good will it do anyway? All that fretting does is rob you of the joy and strength God wants you to enjoy today. Tomorrow He will still be just as powerful and faithful--His provision of grace will be sufficient for tomorrow's needs too.
Today, Father, thank You, thank You, thank You. Thank You for prayer, provision and the promise of heaven. And thank You for this glorious day of fall.
To God be the glory.
Not to mention the bittersweet reminder--which makes fall all the more alluring--that summer's warmth has fully yielded to what will soon be the season of runny noses, frigid fingers, and blazing fires. Winter's okay, I guess, but it's generally the season many of us simply endure until spring's entrance. But, hey, winter's not yet here! Today it's fall...so rejoice in this day that the Lord has made and stop borrowing trouble and worry about tomorrow.
But surely the very best part of fall is Thanksgiving and pilgrims. Don't we all need constant reminders to be thankful? To be grateful for all God has blessed us with rather than grumbling over the little that we lack. To be focused on the abundance of gifts from the Gift-giver rather than the absence of extras we think we need to be happy.
Oh forgive us, Father. Forgive me--I should be walking around all day long praising You and Your boundless generosity in my life. That I don't, reflects the fact that I truly don't understand Your unfathomable and infinite grace. Contemplating the grace poured out upon us through Jesus Christ should make us indefatigable thankers and praisers!
The pilgrims truly got this thankfulness thing down pat. What a reminder they are to all of us that gratitude doesn't depend on perfect circumstances but upon a perfect Savior. Whenever I start to feel overwhelmed or fretful or discouraged, I often think of those pilgrims. Doggedly hanging on to their hope in God while they battled freezing, miserable weather, constant sickness, and death.
Over half their numbers died in that first winter. Can you imagine? What would it take us, I wonder, to pack it in and say, "This is totally not worth it." Or to start despairing and doubting God. Or even simply to default to widespread grumbling and complaining. We so quickly get upset over the littlest slights or the smallest inconveniences.
Not the pilgrims. They persevered...oh my how they persevered. Like the writer of Hebrews exhorts us, they held "fast to the hope set before" them, for they knew that "We have this sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain." (Heb.6:18,19) And so even in the face of devastating losses, they chose to rejoice and give thanks to their never-failing God.
May we be quick to do the same.
After all, our Hope and Anchor--the Lord Jesus--has gone before us, and He is, even this very moment, at the throne of the universe, praying and interceding for us. (Heb.7:25)
Continual prayer by our Savior. Consistent provision for each day's needs. And the certain promise of an eternity in heaven. How on earth could we not be a grateful, thankful people?
More on pilgrims to come. In fact, Mr. Bingley has a little contribution to make in this department. But for today, let's choose to rejoice not only in fall's gifts, but also in our gracious and good Gift-giver. Pack away the worrying about tomorrow--what good will it do anyway? All that fretting does is rob you of the joy and strength God wants you to enjoy today. Tomorrow He will still be just as powerful and faithful--His provision of grace will be sufficient for tomorrow's needs too.
Today, Father, thank You, thank You, thank You. Thank You for prayer, provision and the promise of heaven. And thank You for this glorious day of fall.
To God be the glory.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Pleasant inns along the journey
Fall is the best, don’t you think? The brisk, refreshing air, bright blue skies, carpeting of leaves on the greenway path, and sprinkling of trees wearing dresses of orange or red almost make you ache with the glory of creation. I often find myself taking deep gulps of air and then rejoicing in the simple joy of walking amidst such wonder. If someone made us pay to enjoy such a choice privilege, we'd be willing to shell out the big bucks. Yet it's all for free. Day after day of glory and wonder. Amazing.
Isn't it funny how often joy surprises us in these simple, small moments? Laughter with a dear friend. Watching a football game over pizza with your family. Singing a beloved hymn. Sitting by a fire on a cool evening...better yet, with a good book in hand. The lovely bittersweet taste of really dark chocolate. The embracing warmth of a steaming bath. Sharing and bearing burdens with those you love. Listening to your child's concert. Eating a great meal with dear friends or family. Counting your blessings and giving thanks to God.
So many seemingly "small" incidents that add to an incalculable weight of joy and contentment and peace. Like little surprising gifts one after the other--the unfolding of life's ordinary but-oh-so-precious moments. Help us Father not to miss them...not to let them slip by unrecognized and unheralded. I don't want to miss the astounding glory of fall...or my family...or my friends...or any of Your good, good gifts.
This reminded me of something I read the other day by C.S. Lewis: "The Christian doctrine of suffering explains, I believe, a very curious fact about the world we live in. The settled happiness and security which we all desire, God withholds from us by the very nature of the world: but joy, pleasure, and merriment, He has scattered broadcast. We are never safe, but we have plenty of fun, and some ecstasy. It is not hard to see why. The security we crave would teach us to rest our hearts in this world and oppose an obstacle to our return to God: a few moments of happy love, a landscape, a symphony, a merry meeting with our friends, a bath or a football match, have no such tendency. Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home."
Yes, I'm so thankful for the gifts of all those "pleasant inns" along life's journey...to strengthen, refresh, and renew us. Enough so that we can keep our heads lifted and our hearts revived, but not so continual and unrelenting that we grip too tightly to this world and lose sight of heaven.
These inns--these often simple but sweetly profound moments of love or laughter, of friendship or food, of sharing or seasons--are all the tiniest foretastes of that great and glorious eternal joy of heaven. Little sips of glory along the way, not only to quench our thirsty hearts but also to whet our appetites for what's ahead.
Keep us thankful, Father, for all Your gifts, Your "pleasant inns" along life's sometimes wearisome journey...but keep us mindful that we're only passing through, for the best is yet to come. Might we never chase the gifts, but ever seek the Source, our glorious the Gift-Giver.
To God be the glory.
Isn't it funny how often joy surprises us in these simple, small moments? Laughter with a dear friend. Watching a football game over pizza with your family. Singing a beloved hymn. Sitting by a fire on a cool evening...better yet, with a good book in hand. The lovely bittersweet taste of really dark chocolate. The embracing warmth of a steaming bath. Sharing and bearing burdens with those you love. Listening to your child's concert. Eating a great meal with dear friends or family. Counting your blessings and giving thanks to God.
So many seemingly "small" incidents that add to an incalculable weight of joy and contentment and peace. Like little surprising gifts one after the other--the unfolding of life's ordinary but-oh-so-precious moments. Help us Father not to miss them...not to let them slip by unrecognized and unheralded. I don't want to miss the astounding glory of fall...or my family...or my friends...or any of Your good, good gifts.
This reminded me of something I read the other day by C.S. Lewis: "The Christian doctrine of suffering explains, I believe, a very curious fact about the world we live in. The settled happiness and security which we all desire, God withholds from us by the very nature of the world: but joy, pleasure, and merriment, He has scattered broadcast. We are never safe, but we have plenty of fun, and some ecstasy. It is not hard to see why. The security we crave would teach us to rest our hearts in this world and oppose an obstacle to our return to God: a few moments of happy love, a landscape, a symphony, a merry meeting with our friends, a bath or a football match, have no such tendency. Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home."
Yes, I'm so thankful for the gifts of all those "pleasant inns" along life's journey...to strengthen, refresh, and renew us. Enough so that we can keep our heads lifted and our hearts revived, but not so continual and unrelenting that we grip too tightly to this world and lose sight of heaven.
These inns--these often simple but sweetly profound moments of love or laughter, of friendship or food, of sharing or seasons--are all the tiniest foretastes of that great and glorious eternal joy of heaven. Little sips of glory along the way, not only to quench our thirsty hearts but also to whet our appetites for what's ahead.
Keep us thankful, Father, for all Your gifts, Your "pleasant inns" along life's sometimes wearisome journey...but keep us mindful that we're only passing through, for the best is yet to come. Might we never chase the gifts, but ever seek the Source, our glorious the Gift-Giver.
To God be the glory.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Keep the flame burning
Today, October 16th, 1555, Bishop Hugh Latimer and Bishop Nicholas Ridley were burnt at the stake in Oxford, England.
Latimer was a renowned preacher throughout King Edward's reign, and he greatly encouraged the daily reading of God's Word by all people as well as the need for inward love and dedication to Christ rather than a merely outward show of religion. Ridley had been chaplain to King Henry VIII and bishop of London. He, too, was a beloved preacher with a tremendous love for God's Word, and he was known for fully and faithfully living out the truths of what he professed.
After King Henry VIII's death, his son, Edward, became king, and many of Edward's advisors (including Latimer and Ridley) encouraged him to move the English church away from the abuses of the Roman Catholic church at that time and instead to more toward true Bible-based Christianity. When Queen Mary ascended to the throne of England in 1553, however, she was determined to return England to the Roman Catholic Church and embarked upon a program of persecution that martyred at least 200 people. Two of the first men she arrested were Ridley and Latimer.
Both men refused to back down from their beliefs, their insistence in salvation by faith in Christ alone, and their insistence in the veracity and supremacy of God's Word.
As Latimer said, "Christ made one oblation and sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, and that a perfect sacrifice; neither needeth there to be, nor can there by, any other propitiatory sacrifice."
I couldn't help but think of Hebrews. Oh my, what a wonderful book we've been studying this year in Bible study! "But when Christ appeared as a high priest...He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His won blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." (Heb.9:12) "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footstool for His feet. For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Heb.10:12-14).
Bottom line--Christ has done it all...for all time...for good. When Jesus called out in His dying breath on the cross, "It is finished!" He meant He had dealt with, and defeated, all sin, for all time. Period. It. Is. Finished. For all His beloved children--those He has chosen and called and who come to Him by faith--the work of redemption is finished, complete, forever. God's Word tells us we are forgiven, redeemed, renewed. Oh might we live like it!
Ridley and Latimer knew that great truth--and all the glorious truths of God's Word--and they were willing to die for the truths of the Gospel. So over 450 years ago, on October 16th, they gave their lives for their Savior. As they were being tied to the stake, Ridley prayed, "Oh Heavenly Father, I give unto Thee most hearty thanks that Thou hast called me to be a professor of Thee, even unto death. I beseech Thee, Lord God, have mercy on this realm of England and deliver it from all her enemies."
As the flames quickly rose around them, Latimer exclaimed to Ridley, "Be of good comfort, Mr. Ridley, and play the man! We shall this day light such a candle by God's grace in England, as I trust shall never be put out."
And that flame still burns.
Just one small reminder of the terribly dear price that has been paid so that we might worship our Savior in spirit and in truth. Think of how many countless others have given their lives--and are giving their lives this very day--for the cause of Christ. Oh forgive us our shameful tendency to take our Bibles and our faith for granted.
Thank You, Father, for these godly and courageous men who gave their last full measure on this day so many years ago in order that we might freely and fully live out the truths of what we believe. Thank You for those who are doing so this very day and everyday. I think of those brave believers who this very hour face unimaginable horrors in places like Syria and Afghanistan. Give them Your peace, Your strength, Your love, and Your grace, Father, as they endure to their last breath...and open their eyes in glory.
As we sit in comfort and safety here in America, forgive our sinful complacency. Remind us daily, hourly, to pray for those struggling under horrific persecution. And help us to hold Your Word this day with hearts overflowing with gratitude and with a renewed wonder for it's supernatural power to change lives and destinies.
Lord, thank You for men and women willing to give their lives for You...help us to be willing to live ours for You, this day and everyday...and to be willing to be obedient unto death if You call us to do so. You are infinitely worthy.
Keep that flame burning, Father...in our hearts, in our nation, in our world. To God be the glory.
Latimer was a renowned preacher throughout King Edward's reign, and he greatly encouraged the daily reading of God's Word by all people as well as the need for inward love and dedication to Christ rather than a merely outward show of religion. Ridley had been chaplain to King Henry VIII and bishop of London. He, too, was a beloved preacher with a tremendous love for God's Word, and he was known for fully and faithfully living out the truths of what he professed.
After King Henry VIII's death, his son, Edward, became king, and many of Edward's advisors (including Latimer and Ridley) encouraged him to move the English church away from the abuses of the Roman Catholic church at that time and instead to more toward true Bible-based Christianity. When Queen Mary ascended to the throne of England in 1553, however, she was determined to return England to the Roman Catholic Church and embarked upon a program of persecution that martyred at least 200 people. Two of the first men she arrested were Ridley and Latimer.
Both men refused to back down from their beliefs, their insistence in salvation by faith in Christ alone, and their insistence in the veracity and supremacy of God's Word.
As Latimer said, "Christ made one oblation and sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, and that a perfect sacrifice; neither needeth there to be, nor can there by, any other propitiatory sacrifice."
I couldn't help but think of Hebrews. Oh my, what a wonderful book we've been studying this year in Bible study! "But when Christ appeared as a high priest...He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His won blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." (Heb.9:12) "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footstool for His feet. For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Heb.10:12-14).
Bottom line--Christ has done it all...for all time...for good. When Jesus called out in His dying breath on the cross, "It is finished!" He meant He had dealt with, and defeated, all sin, for all time. Period. It. Is. Finished. For all His beloved children--those He has chosen and called and who come to Him by faith--the work of redemption is finished, complete, forever. God's Word tells us we are forgiven, redeemed, renewed. Oh might we live like it!
Ridley and Latimer knew that great truth--and all the glorious truths of God's Word--and they were willing to die for the truths of the Gospel. So over 450 years ago, on October 16th, they gave their lives for their Savior. As they were being tied to the stake, Ridley prayed, "Oh Heavenly Father, I give unto Thee most hearty thanks that Thou hast called me to be a professor of Thee, even unto death. I beseech Thee, Lord God, have mercy on this realm of England and deliver it from all her enemies."
As the flames quickly rose around them, Latimer exclaimed to Ridley, "Be of good comfort, Mr. Ridley, and play the man! We shall this day light such a candle by God's grace in England, as I trust shall never be put out."
And that flame still burns.
Just one small reminder of the terribly dear price that has been paid so that we might worship our Savior in spirit and in truth. Think of how many countless others have given their lives--and are giving their lives this very day--for the cause of Christ. Oh forgive us our shameful tendency to take our Bibles and our faith for granted.
Thank You, Father, for these godly and courageous men who gave their last full measure on this day so many years ago in order that we might freely and fully live out the truths of what we believe. Thank You for those who are doing so this very day and everyday. I think of those brave believers who this very hour face unimaginable horrors in places like Syria and Afghanistan. Give them Your peace, Your strength, Your love, and Your grace, Father, as they endure to their last breath...and open their eyes in glory.
As we sit in comfort and safety here in America, forgive our sinful complacency. Remind us daily, hourly, to pray for those struggling under horrific persecution. And help us to hold Your Word this day with hearts overflowing with gratitude and with a renewed wonder for it's supernatural power to change lives and destinies.
Lord, thank You for men and women willing to give their lives for You...help us to be willing to live ours for You, this day and everyday...and to be willing to be obedient unto death if You call us to do so. You are infinitely worthy.
Keep that flame burning, Father...in our hearts, in our nation, in our world. To God be the glory.
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