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The Truth of the Matter

Posted in Bible Study, Encouragement, Faith, God, God's Love, God's Promises, God's Wisdom, Seeking God, Uncategorized, Wisdom, tagged 1 Peter 5:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Colossians 3:22-24, doesn't God want me to be happy, God helps those who help themselves, Philippians 4:19, Psalm 103:4-5, Psalm 115:11, Psalm 119:165, Psalm 119:173, Psalm 119:18, Psalm 119:35, The Bible a precious gift, Understanding what God does, Understanding who God is, Where can we find truth, Will God take care of me no matter what on August 31, 2015| 8 Comments »

“I don’t understand why this is happening,” Kelly cried. “Doesn’t God want me to be happy?”

* * *

“I’m not sure what God is doing, but business is bound to pick up soon,” Dave asserted. “I’m working harder than ever—like seventy hours a week. God helps those who help themselves, right?”

* * *

“I thought I was where God wanted me to be, but that loser job was not a good fit—such boring work and for such a lousy salary,” moaned Erika. “I just had to quit! But I’ll be OK. God loves me; he’ll take care of me.”

* * *

Ever hear comments similar to these? Each one represents a misunderstanding about God. The truth is:

God’s primary concern is our welfare, not necessarily our happiness (Philippians 4:19). The two are not synonymous.
God has not promised to help those who help themselves. That proverb is not in the Bible.
Neither has God promised to take care of us if we live irresponsibly (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

So, I’m sorry, Kelly, Dave, and Erika. Somewhere along the way you’ve heard these ideas about God’s ways which were misrepresented as truth.

But how can we know the truth of how God works in our lives? (They might ask!)

By becoming better acquainted with God’s Word. Within its pages we find such wonders as perfect wisdom, inspiring encouragement, hope-giving promises, and practical instruction.

For example:

Kelly, God loves you too much to grant everything you want. Over-indulgence leads to spoiled children. Discipline demonstrates true love; permissiveness demonstrates foolishness. Sometimes God exercises tough love in order to develop our characters, grow our faith, and prepare us to serve him in greater capacities.

(“The Lord disciplines those he loves”–Hebrews 12:6a).

Dave, God is compassionate and good to his people (Psalm 103:4-5). He has promised to be our help, but it has nothing to do with our effort prompting him to come alongside. It’s the person who trusts in God wholeheartedly and follows his ways who may anticipate divine help:

“You who fear him, trust in the Lord—

he is their help and shield.”

–Psalm 115:11

and…

(“May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts” –Psalm 119:173.)

Erika, God certainly does care for you (1 Peter 5:7), but he does not condone irresponsibility. A wise course of action would include prayerful assessment of the current job as well as other possibilities, while asking God for his guidance. Meanwhile:

“Do your best.

Work from the heart for your real Master, for God,

confident that you’ll get paid in full

when you come into your inheritance.

Keep in mind always that

the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ.”

–Colossians 3:22-24 (The Message)

To all of us: When our corner of the world is rocked by challenges and disappointment, our best strategy is to turn to God’s Word. We can steady ourselves with the truth about his character and his ways, even experience joy and peace as those truths soak deep into our hearts (Psalm 119:35, 165).

“It is only when we understand who God is

that we begin to understand what he does.”

– Selwyn Hughes

* * * * * * * * * *

Thank you, Father, for the precious gift of your Word, for the way it continues to minister afresh, day by day, year after year, with reliable truth and uplifting encouragement. As if that wasn’t enough, you reveal yourself through its pages, allowing us to know you, the King of the universe. Open my eyes that I may see even more wonderful things in your Word (Psalm 119:18)!

(Art & photo credits: www.med-health.net; http://www.kristamcgeebooks.com; http://www.biblepic.com; http://www.pinterest.com.)

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Grace and Peace

Posted in Bible Study, Encouragement, God's Grace, Uncategorized, tagged 1 Corinthians 13, 1 Corinthians 16:23, God's Grace, God's peace, Romans 1:7 on August 20, 2015| 11 Comments »

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father

and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

–Romans 1:7b

With those words the Apostle Paul greeted the Christians of Rome in a letter.

Turn a few pages in your Bible to Paul’s next epistle, 1 Corinthians, and you’ll read:

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

–1 Corinthians 1:3

Notice any similarities?! In fact, all thirteen letters written by Paul and included in our New Testament begin with the same or similar greeting. Sometimes the wording changes a bit, but he always expresses the desire for God’s grace and peace to be upon his friends.

Was there purpose behind his choice, or was he simply following polite protocol for the day, much as we might say, “Hello, how are you?”

GOD’S GRACE

Perhaps Paul’s intent was to highlight for his readers, first and foremost, the foundation-truth of God’s grace. It is only because of his loving kindness toward us that he:

Draws us to himself (Jeremiah 31:3)
Offers the way to heaven (John 3:16)
Provides for our every need (Philippians 4:19)
Blesses us in spite of our failings, even beyond what we hope for (Ephesians 3:20).

“Grace is the overflow of God’s total self-sufficiency.”

–John Piper

And I would add, toward those with no sufficiency in themselves.

We deserve none of his benevolence.

“We’ve compiled a long and sorry record as sinners and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us” (Romans 3:23, The Message).

And yet, his goodness to us, his grace, is mentioned 104 times in the NIV translation of the New Testament—that’s how overarching it is–woven throughout scripture; woven into every day of our lives.

GOD’S PEACE

In addition to grace, Paul includes peace in his greetings—peace that indicates a state of untroubled tranquility, harmony, and well-being.

Peace is surely an aspect of God’s grace, one of the blessings he bestows upon us out of his loving kindness. So why did Paul choose to mention it separately?

Perhaps because we fail to appropriate it. Paul wanted to remind his readers that God’s precious gift of peace is always available:

Peace with ourselves as we place our wills, our hopes, and our futures in his capable hands (Philippians 4:6-7).
Peace with circumstances, as we affirm that his perfect peace is available to those who think on God and trust in him (Isaiah 26:3).
Peace in our relationships, as he provides the grace to love as he loves (Romans 14:19).

GOD’S GRACE WITH YOU

As already mentioned, Paul began his letters with “grace and peace to you.” Turn to the end of each letter and you’ll read his signature closing: “Grace be with you.” For example:

“The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

–1 Corinthians 16:23

Now why would Paul make that slight change? Is it important?

Perhaps he wanted his readers (including us!) to be mindful that God’s grace is always with us—day and night, in trouble or triumph, through the ordinary as well as the extraordinary. Maybe Paul chose the phrase as a worthy send-off. After his listeners and readers had paid careful attention to the instructional content of his letters, came the time to apply it…

…by God’s grace, which was always with them. And just as surely, God’s grace is always with us.

* * * * * * * * * *

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the unmerited favor of your grace that has brought us salvation, strength, kindness, and incredible riches in the spiritual realm. All of your grace is always with us—no matter who we are, no matter where we find ourselves. In fact, you long to be gracious to us, to rise and show us compassion. You astonish us!

(Titus 2:11; 2 Timothy 2:1; Ephesians 2:7; Isaiah 30:18)

Art & photo credits: www.suggestkeyword.com; http://www.knoxchristian.com; http://www.www1.usw.salvationarmy.org; http://www.inbetweenthepinesamightyoakgrows.files.wordpress.com.)

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Provision and Pursuit

Posted in Bible Study, Encouragement, Excellence, Faith, God, God's Faithfulness, God's Provision, Joy, Maturity, Perseverance, tagged 2 Peter 1:3, God enables us to obey him, Hebrews 12:1, persevering toward maturity, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:12, Philippians 2:13, Psalm 119:32 on August 17, 2015| 10 Comments »

Many people these days hire personal trainers to help them achieve their fitness goals. The benefits they site include:

Motivation and encouragement
A personalized routine, designed to produce maximum benefit for the time and effort invested
Injury prevention
Up-to-date information on health, nutrition, and fitness

Actually I have a Personal Trainer (you do, too) but for a far more important aspect of life than physical fitness. God is at work to “enlarge my heart.”

“I shall run the way of your commandments,

for you will enlarge my heart.”

Psalm 119:32, HCSB

In other words, God is working in me (Philippians 1:6) and with me (Psalm 23:4a) to develop my faith and mold my character into his likeness.

I do need his help to “run the way of [his] commandments,” just as the psalmist wrote eons ago (quoted above). Too often I’m side tracked onto self-chosen paths.

But how does God enlarge my heart to run his way?

First he initiates a change of heart.

And one day he will complete the process. We will be like Jesus (1 John 3:2). Can you imagine? One day we’ll finally become the holy and perfect people we’ve always wanted to be!

In between initiation and final transformation, we run:

To work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12),
With perseverance (Hebrews 12:1),
That we may obtain the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24).

The Christian life involves effort on our part, much as physical fitness requires effort. Just hiring a personal trainer won’t get us healthy and strong; we must take responsibility to follow the trainer’s instructions.

Similarly, while being responsible to exercise diligence and discipline in order to become spiritually mature, we also depend completely on what God supplies.

“We must work out what God has worked in.”

–John MacArthur

And what has God worked in? Everything we need for life and godliness:

Knowledge of him and his Word (2 Peter 1:3)
His Holy Spirit, our Enabler (Romans 8:9)
Wisdom (James 1:5)
Power (Colossians 1:29)
Strength (Psalm 73:26)
Faith (Ephesians 6:16)

Yes, even our faith comes from him (Hebrews 12:2).

Now perhaps you’re one of those who have experienced the euphoria of being in “the zone,” during your workout. Once your heart rate is up, the blood is pumping, and your muscles are executing every move with precision, you experience a surge of energy and great pleasure in the activity.

I have never experienced that zone. My daily workouts involve uncomfortable huffing and puffing, aching muscles that beg me to “Stop with the push-ups already!” and downright boredom. (After decades of jumping jacks, they’re getting a bit old.)

But it’s the results we’re after, isn’t it, including better heart health.

The function of our spiritual hearts is also improved by the application of exercise in the form of difficulties, hurt, illness, discouragement, and more.

Wait a minute! How does hardship improve spiritual heart health?

God uses such circumstances to produce such results as fully developed maturity.

“When troubles of any kind come your way,

consider it an opportunity for great joy.

For you know that when your faith is tested,

your endurance has a chance to grow.

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,

you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

James 1:2-4, NLT

I may never experience the euphoria of the zone during physical exercise, but James’ assurance here promises a zone of joy as I allow God to enlarge my heart and choose to persevere through the challenges of life his way.

Talk about perfect results!

* * * * * * * * * *

Heavenly Father, I praise you for working into my life everything I need in order to become “perfect, complete, and needing nothing.” With your gracious provision, may I pursue the way of your commandments, and experience your euphoric joy!

(Art & photo credits: www.tampabayathletics.com; http://www.successandfailure.net; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.knowing-jesus.com; http://www.321delish.com; http://www.pinterest.com.)

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The Glory of Here and Now

Posted in Bible Study, Blessings, Encouragement, God's Goodness, God's Grace, God's Love, tagged 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Colossians 1:10, Ephesians 1:18, Glorification of God's People, God's Glory, Reflecting God's Glory, Romans 8:30 on August 6, 2015| 11 Comments »

At least one verse in the Bible achieves a remarkable feat. It covers the entire expanse of eternity—from before the beginning of time into the infinite future—with just eighteen words (in the NIV):

“Those [God] predestined, he also called;

those he called, he also justified,

those he justified, he also glorified.”

–Romans 8:30.

That verse also includes four heavy-duty theological concepts. Thick volumes of commentary have been written about each one: 1) predestination, 2) God’s call upon a life, 3) justification, and 4) glorification. But Eugene Peterson has explained each with brevity, wisdom, and simplicity:

“After God made the decision of what his children should be like” (predestined*),

”he followed it up by calling people by name” (called).

“After he called them by name, He set them on a solid basis with himself” (justified).

“And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end,

gloriously completing what he had begun” (glorified).

–Romans 8:30, The Message

Part of that completion will occur when Jesus presents us with our new bodies and abilities, once we reach heaven (Philippians 3:20-21).

But note that those key verbs: predestined, called, justified, and glorified, are all past tense—even the last one.

Some Bible scholars make the point that our glorification in heaven** is so certain, Paul chose past tense.

But there are at least several aspects of glorification that are available to us now. That’s because God’s glory—the sum of his majesty, splendor, and wondrous attributes—gleams brightly in the hearts of those who know Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Think of it. Everything he is, he offers to us in the present, including his wisdom, grace, and kindness; goodness, mercy, and strength; truth, power, and love. Of course, that’s just a partial list. Our God is infinite; so are his glorious attributes.

And as we make ourselves available to God, we begin to experience God’s glory in our lives.

We begin to recognize his goodness in every provision, his mercy and power each time we’re shielded from harm, his wisdom when events unfold for our growth, his love in every blessing, great and small.

We begin to make choices that reflect God’s glorious presence within. Out of love and appreciation, we desire to lead a life worthy of him and pleasing to him in every way (Colossians 1:10).

We also begin to reflect God’s glory to others.

In 1852, a small band of miners discovered gold in Montana. Knowing that the gold rush in California (1849) had caused cutthroat competition and gross inflation, they decided to keep their find a secret. But not long after they returned to town, word spread of their discovery.

Who let the secret slip out? No one. The townspeople knew they had found gold because of the joy on their faces.

We, the glorified children of God, have found greater wealth than gold in our Heavenly Father. And as we contemplate his glory, we become transformed into his image. Joy radiates from our faces, just as it did from the miners’ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Even more wondrous? As we seek to know him, the Almighty God of the universe is pursuing us. He longs for us to be close to him, where we can experience more of his glory—here and now– and “the glorious riches of his inheritance among the saints” (Ephesians 1:18 HCSB).

Praise to our glorious God for his overflowing love, kindness, and generosity!

* * * * * * * * * *

*Predestination is a confusing concept. I appreciate Warren Wiersbe’s explanation in Be Right (Victor Books, 1976). He says the concept only applies to Christians. Nowhere in the Bible do we find evidence that God has prechosen certain people to be forever condemned. He’s given each person the choice to follow him or not (John 1:12).

** a thorough transformation into holy radiance (Ephesians 5:27)

(Art & photo credits: www.pinterest.com; http://www.faithgateway.com; http://www.egoldprospecting.com.)

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Precious and Highly Cherished

Posted in Bible Study, Blessings, Encouragement, God's Love, Self-Esteem, tagged 1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 2:8-9, God treasures us, God's love for us, Isaiah 43:4, Psalm 139:17, We are cherished by God, We are precious to God on July 30, 2015| 15 Comments »

On my right hand I wear a ring–just a small ruby solitaire, set in a narrow gold band with a bit of delicate embellishment on either side.

I’ve owned the ring since I was a young teen—a long time ago! Yet the ring is even older than I am, passing its one hundredth birthday back in 2004.

The original owner was my grandmother. Great Grandpa and Grandma gave her the ring in 1904, on her fourteenth birthday. On my fourteenth birthday, she surprised me by passing the ring on to me.

All these decades since, the presence of that little band continually reminds me of her—a kind, soft-spoken woman of deep strength and enduring faith. (I wrote about her a couple of years ago. You can access that post–“The God of Rachel, Clara, and Henry, Part 1”– here.)

Perhaps you, too, own a cherished possession that may not appear significant to others, but is highly valuable to you. In fact, you treasure it.

On a much grander scale, God treasures you. You are dearly beloved and precious to him.

Oh, no, some will say. Not me. I’m not good enough, smart enough, or talented enough to be highly valued.

That’s not what scripture says:

(“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ,the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

God paid a very high price with the precious blood of his own Son, in order to make you his treasured possession. Evidently goodness, smarts, and talent have nothing to with it (Ephesians 2:8-9)!

And God doesn’t view you as ordinary, anymore than I consider my ruby ring ordinary.

Here are several indicators of the high value he places on you:

You are precious and honored in God’s sight simply because he loves you (Isaiah 43:4). Just as God went to great lengths to bring his precious children of Israel out of captivity, so he has gone to great lengths to bring you into his family.

He is constantly thinking about you (Psalm 139:17)–preparing for your welfare, providing for your needs, guiding and guarding until it is time for your final journey to heaven.

He blesses you with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). It is not the material stuff of the outer life that satisfies; it is the wealth of spiritual blessings of the inner life. God offers: forgiveness of sin, freedom from guilt, peace of mind, joy of heart, wisdom, comfort and strength—to name a few.

God has prepared for you an eternity of absolute bliss (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Think of it. God Almighty sees and appreciates your value, your beauty.

He speaks affirmation and restoration to your soul through his Word (Psalm 19:7).

He listens with wrapt attention when you call to him (Psalm 145:18).

He enfolds you in his wings of protection and comfort (Psalm 36:7).

He is with you, for you, and in you.

Accept it, embrace it. Send your roots down deep into the truth:

You. Are. Highly. Cherished.

(Photo and art credits: Nancy Ruegg; http://www.pinterest.com; http://www.winterpastfinally.blogspot.com; http://www.faithgateway.com; http://www.thelovelyscribe.com.

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The Power of Song

Posted in Bible Study, Praise, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged Antonio Stradivarius, Ephesians 5:19-20, God Sings, Job 35:10, Nature Sings, Psalm 32:7, Psalm 42:8, Psalm 66:4, Sing praises to God, The Power of Music, Zephaniah 3:17 on July 27, 2015| 9 Comments »

Music.

It has the power to thrill our hearts, calm our fears, and strengthen our resolve.

Music energizes, encourages, and inspires. It even augments our connection to God.

So it’s no wonder that, in the Bible:

There are more than 400 references to singing.
There are fifty direct commands to sing.
The longest book is a collection of songs.

It would seem that music is important to God. In fact, God himself sings.

GOD SINGS

David proclaimed,

(“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble

and surround me with songs of deliverance — Psalm 32:7”)

Granted, we may not hear an actual melody, but the power of his Word sings comfort, hope, and strength into our spirits., much as we can “sing high praises” of someone, without a tune.

The sons of Korah, who were temple musicians, composed Psalm 42. In verse eight they state, “At night his song is with me.” Job also spoke of God “who gives songs in the night” (Job 35:10). In other words, even when we face dark circumstances, God gives his song of help, salvation, and deliverance.

One more affirmation that God sings is found in this uplifting verse from Zephaniah:

(“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing”–3:17.)

His songs can inspire courage, like a rousing march. His songs can be like sweet lullabies, expressing peace and love. And they can be joyful and upbeat, expressing delight in who we are becoming.

The power of God’s songs is in his attributes expressed.

NATURE SINGS

An anonymous psalmist wrote:

“All the earth bows down to you, [God]; they sing praise to you,

they sing praise to your name–Psalm 66:4.”)

Other scriptures offer more specificity:

Trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:33).
Meadows, flocks, valleys, and grain shout for joy and sing (Psalm 66:13).
Birds of the air sing among the branches (Psalm 104:12).
The heavens sing for joy (Isaiah 44:23).
Mountains burst into song (Isaiah 49:13).

Did you notice a theme? All creation sings for joy to their Maker.

Perhaps the biblical poets were speaking metaphorically, giving musical voices to creation where none really exist (except for the birds, of course). However, is it not possible that a choral symphony is wafting on the wind–it’s just that our human ears cannot hear that particular range of decibels? (Just like we can’t hear a dog whistle.)

Imagine:

Trees providing sweeping arias
Meadows and valleys echoing the refrain
Birds creating the grace notes
The heavens resounding in a mighty chorus of melody and harmonies
The mountains booming deep, rich bass notes

The power of nature’s song may very well be ringing around us this very moment.

WE SING

Praise God he has given us the ability to sing also. What a precious gift to fuse melody, harmonies, and rhythm that augment the meaning of our words—sometimes even supersede the necessity of words—as we express our praise, gratitude, devotion and love to God.

But what if we can’t sing or play an instrument? What then?

Meet Antonio, a lover of music who lived long ago. Imagine his bitter disappointment as he grew from boyhood to youth and realized he would never sing or play an instrument well.

But a wise friend told him, “There are many ways to make music. What matters is the song in the heart.” That friend happened to be a violin-maker. And because of his influence, Antonio was encouraged to become a violin-maker himself. Perhaps you’ve heard of him. Antonio Stradivarius?

We would all do well to remember his friend’s wise words:

What matters is the song in our hearts.

“Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Ephesians 5:19-20)

The power of our songs is to touch God’s heart.

(Art & photo credits: www.dreamstime.com; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.cards.ccojubilee.org; http://www.etsy.com; http://www.christianitymalaysia.com; www,denisehighes.com.)

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The Heavens Declare

Posted in Bible Study, God, God's Power, Uncategorized, tagged God's Creative Genius, Psalm 19:1, Psalm 84:11, Sun Facts on July 16, 2015| 14 Comments »

Tuesday afternoon, our older son, Eric, held up his iPhone so I could see the screen. On display was an unimpressive image of a sphere, various shades of beige to brown against a black background. Not much of an attention-grabber.

“What am I looking at?” I inquired.

“Get ready to be amazed,” he teased. “It’s Pluto. The New Horizons spacecraft just arrived there after a 9 ½-year flight, and sent this photo back to NASA.”

First, I was impressed by how far the spacecraft had traveled: over three billion miles. Even at thousands of miles per hour, it took New Horizons almost a decade to reach Pluto. Incredible.

Then I noticed how well-lit the dwarf planet appeared, considering its distance from the sun (3.6 billion miles). Also astounding.

And I marveled how a tiny sphere of rock that far-distant, is still controlled by the sun’s strong gravitational pull, keeping it in orbit within the solar system. In fact, there are even more dwarf planets beyond Pluto that are maintained in a stable, elliptical orbit around the sun.

It’s no wonder David proclaimed:

“The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

–Psalm 19:1

We’d be smart to consider the heavens with David. Our attention is so often focused on to-do lists, calendars, and bank accounts, we forget we’re just specks in the cosmos. Even Planet Earth is less than a tiny pinhead of matter, when compared to the universe.

Yet we view the sun as playing a supporting role in our lives, giving us light and keeping us warm. In fact, the sun is the star (pun intended!) of the Solar System Show. It occupies center stage, and accounts for 99.8% of the mass in our planetary system.

In actuality, the sun is the most important influence to our existence. It is perfect in size, perfectly distanced from earth, burning at the perfect temperature and brightness in order to sustain life here on our little planet.

Yet another sun is even more perfect. “The Lord is a sun” (Psalm 84:11).

Just as the physical sun is a glorious object in creation, so our God is glorious in light and splendor (Psalm 104:1-2).

The sun has existed since time began, and will continue to exist until time (as we know it) ceases. God, too, spans all of time (Isaiah 40:28).

The sun is a source of incomprehensible power. To produce the same amount of energy as the sun, 100 billion tons of dynamite would have to be detonated every second! Yet our God is even more powerful. He is the Creator of our mighty sun, the sovereign Lord of the universe (Jeremiah 32:17).

The sun provides light; the Lord provides the light of his presence and understanding (Psalm 44:3; 2 Corinthians 4:6).

The sun provides warmth; our God provides the warmth of comfort and consolation (2 Corinthians 1:3).

Without the warmth and light of the sun we would soon die. Without the Light of Life (Jesus) in our lives, we would forfeit eternal life (1 John 1:5-7).

The sun’s glowing beams shed beauty and joy; our God sheds beauty and joy into our hearts (Isaiah 61:3).

* * * * * * * * * *

Thank you, Father of the heavenly lights, for illuminating our lives from without and within. We praise you for your dazzling splendor! May we walk in the light of the Sun of Righteousness, and reflect his radiance to those around us.

James 1:17; Malachi 4:2, 1 Corinthians 3:18

(Photo credits: www.earthsky.org; http://www.youtube.com; http://www.suddenlinkfyi.com; http://www.allposters.com.)

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What Contributes to Greatness

Posted in Bible Study, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Grace, God's Love, God's Provision, God-Given Abilities, tagged God's Gentleness, Psalm 18:35 on June 29, 2015| 8 Comments »

“You have given me the shield of your salvation,

and your right hand supported me,

and your __________ made me great.”

–Psalm 18:35 (EST)

What word would you put in that blank?

Power?
Grace?
Mercy?

The word chosen most often by translators* may surprise you. It certainly surprised me.

“Your GENTLENESS made me great.”

In addition to being surprised, I was puzzled. How can God’s attribute of gentleness make a person great?

A good place to begin our search for understanding is the background of this psalm. It was written by King David, perhaps during his later years. He may have been pondering the incredible progression of his life from lowly shepherd boy to exalted king.

Surely young David never even daydreamed of becoming the most powerful man in Israel, as he sat on the hillsides of Bethlehem watching over his father’s sheep.

Neither could he have known at least fifteen years would pass between his anointing as king (a ceremony indicating a setting apart) and his actual coronation.

And contrary to human logic, those intervening years would not be spent as a student in preparation, but as a fugitive and outlaw, running for his life. Seems like such a waste of time, doesn’t it? As David hid from King Saul in the Cave of Adullam, did he wonder, Lord God, what ARE you doing?

In hindsight we can see that God was gently teaching and preparing David his way, with practical, hands-on lessons such as:

The Lord hears the prayers of the afflicted and encourages them (Psalm 10:17).
The Lord’s unfailing love can be trusted (Psalm 13:5).
The Lord gives wise counsel (Psalm 16:7).
The Lord is like a rock. His people can take refuge in him (Psalm 18:2).
There is no need to fear evil, because the Lord is always present with his own (Psalm 23:4).

One definition of gentle is “considerate or kindly.” God certainly demonstrated gentleness of this nature by endowing David with certain character traits–traits that would serve him well as monarch over Israel:

Courage—most obvious, perhaps, when teenaged David took on nine-foot-plus Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
Perseverance—when he spent those years waiting for God’s plan to be fulfilled, all the while fleeing from Saul’s vengeful rage (1 Samuel 19-2 Samuel 1)
Cleverness—on display when David pretended madness in order to avoid death at the hands of the Philistines (21:10-15)
Restraint—when he twice resisted the opportunity to kill Saul before the king killed him (chapters 24 and 26)
Respectability—During his years as a fugitive, six hundred men gathered in support of David and fought with him (27:3-4).

Another definition of gentle is “tender hearted.” No doubt it was with a tender heart that God:

Bestowed upon David the gifts of poetry and music (1 Samuel 16:18)
Demonstrated his wonderful love (Psalm 31:21)
Forgave David (32:1-2)
Remained faithful to him (57:3)
Protected David in the shadow of his wings (61:4)

But here’s even better news about God’s gentleness: It wasn’t reserved just for David or other Bible heroes. God displays his gentle nature to all of his children, every day.

In hindsight, we, too, can often see God’s gentle teaching and preparation for what he has called us to do. (If you’re in the middle of that process, rest assured those tough life-lessons you’re enduring now will not be for nothing!)

Second, with kind and gentle consideration, God has bestowed upon each of us specific character traits that qualify us to accomplish his plans. (And that plan isn’t complete until we hear the angels sing!)

Third, God has surely demonstrated his gentle, tender-hearted love for us, beginning with the death of his Son on a cross and ending with…

…well, there is no end to his faithfulness, grace, mercy, attentive care, peace, joy, and more. How glorious is that?

And though it’s very doubtful you or I will ever be great monarchs like David, we can aspire to greatness in God’s eternal kingdom.

How? By serving him wherever we are with the specific gifts and traits he has given us.

Jesus spoke that truth very clearly:

(“The greatest among you will be your servant.” –Matthew 23:11)

* * * * * * * * * *

I praise you, God, for your gentleness that tenderly prepares us for our purpose, kindly endows us with attributes for that calling, and graciously showers us with the benefits of your character, all throughout life.

Help me, I pray, to be compliant under your tender hand, ready and willing to follow your gentle lead, and generous to bestow upon others the graces of your character which I have enjoyed. Amen.

(Photo and art credits: www.panoramio.com; http://www.pinterest.com; http://www.donnarios.com; http://www.plusii.blogspot.co.uk; http://www.pinterest.com.)

* www.biblehub.com provides easy access to twenty translations of the Bible. Fifteen out of twenty include the word “gentleness” at the end of Psalm 18:35, or a synonym: humility, lowliness, or meekness.

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YOU Are the Apple of God’s Eye

Posted in Bible Study, Blessings, Encouragement, God, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Love, God's Protection, God's Provision, God's Salvation, Salvation, Uncategorized, tagged 1 Peter 5:7, Deuteronomy 32:10, Deuteronomy 32:11, God cares for us, God guards us, God our Shield, God's Protection, God's Provision, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 92:4 on June 25, 2015| 14 Comments »

In a desert land he found him,

in a barren and howling waste.

He shielded him and cared for him;

he guarded him as the apple of his eye

(Deuteronomy 32:10, italics added).

Notice the verbs: found, shielded, cared for, and guarded. Just as God watched over the Hebrew nation in the wilderness, God is surely watchful over each of us. See if these stories trigger memories of your own–when God found, shielded, cared for, and guarded you.

FOUND:

Growing up in a Christian home, I learned about Jesus before taking my first steps. At age four, after hearing the crucifixion story, I asked Jesus to be my Savior and constant Companion. Even as a preschooler, I understood my need for Someone to take the punishment I deserved for my naughtiness, so I could receive God’s gift of eternal life. If Jesus was willing to suffer and die in my place, how could I say, “no?”

Praise God he seeks after lost sheep—even the little ones (Luke 15:4)!

Where did God find you?

SHIELDED:

Numerous times over the years I have felt shielded from harm, including serious car accidents.

One time while approaching a stoplight, I hit a rain-slicked patch of city street, with cars in front of me and a bus to the right. My car began to slide and swerve; I started pumping the brakes. But there was no way to stop soon enough and avoid collision with the slowing line of vehicles ahead.

I took a chance and turned a bit to the right, hoping beyond hope there would be enough room for me to squeeze ahead of the bus, where the lane was open. Surely God intervened and created the needed space. (I think he also alerted the bus driver to apply his brakes and leave room for me!) My car did come to a safe stop, with room to spare.

God has shielded me in other important ways, too. He’s protected me from life-choices that would have led me down treacherous paths. He’s saved me from unhealthy relationships.

Praise God he is our shield! We can trust in him, and receive the help we need (Psalm 28:7).

How has God shielded you?

CARED FOR:

I couldn’t find the dental insurance form I needed to drop off at Dr. H.’s office. Jeremy (our younger son and a middle schooler at the time) assisted me in a thorough search. No form. While out on my walk, it suddenly occurred to me the form may have been gathered up with the newspaper. Sure enough, that’s where it was. Being Wednesday, those papers—and the dental form—should have been long gone in the recycling truck, but Jeremy was saving newsprint for his art teacher. God not only revealed to me the location of that form, but kept it safe, saving me the hassle of getting a new one and filling it all out again.

Praise God for his loving attention, even in small matters like dental forms (1 Peter 5:7)!

How has God cared for you?

GUARDED:

One spring day in 1985, an elderly gentleman hit the gas pedal instead of the brake, at the stop sign on our corner. He drove his station wagon right through the garage wall. Several feet more to the right and he would have plowed into our daughter’s room, and she was playing there at the time. The driver was protected, too, sustaining only minor injuries.

Praise God he guards us like an eagle, hovering over its young (Deuteronomy 32:11).

How has God guarded you?

THE APPLE OF HIS EYE:

The last phrase of Deuteronomy 32:10 explains why God is so attentive to his people. We are the apple of his eye. Some translations replace apple with pupil. God protects us as the pupil of his eye.

Just as our eyesight is precious to us, so we are precious to God.

As we’re careful to provide protective care for our eyes, shielding them from danger, for example, so God provides loving, protective care of us.

May we continually praise our God for all he is to us. First, he found us, and then became our attentive Shield, Provider, and Guard.

(“You make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands” — Psalm 92:4.)

In the Comments below, please share your personal stories of how God found you, or how he has proved himself as your Shield, Provider, and Guard. Let’s celebrate together God’s powerful deeds on our behalf!

(Art and photo credits: www.biblewalks.com; http://www.pinterest.com; http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.com; http://www.imagefriend.com; http://www.slideshare.net; http://www.pinterest.com.)

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The Life in Your Years

Posted in Bible Study, Decision-Making, God's Wisdom, Wisdom, tagged A meaningful life, Ecclesiastes 1:2, Proverbs 11:28, Proverbs 14:27, Proverbs 16:20, Proverbs 19:23, Proverbs 21:21, Proverbs 22:4, Proverbs 3:4, Proverbs 8:35 on June 22, 2015| 11 Comments »

‘Cracked open a fortune cookie not long ago and discovered this bit of wisdom:

“It’s not the years in your life,

but the life in your years

that counts.”

Come to find out, that’s not from Confucius or any other Chinese sage. It’s from a beloved, former U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln.

Many folks might interpret this proverb to mean:

Live each day to the fullest; a full life is a meaningful life.

But what brings fullness to the day? And what makes a life meaningful?

The answers to those questions lie in another collection of proverbs, not found in fortune cookies, but in the Bible:

A meaningful life comes from finding favor with God and with others (Proverbs 3:4; 21:21).

Proverbs 3:3 names the qualities that garner favor: faithfulness and love.

It’s true. Those two character traits play out in goodness, generosity and grace. Without fail, that kind of person experiences great satisfaction in her relationships. After all, that’s how God designed us (Acts 20:35).

“A full life cannot be measured by the quantity

but rather the quality of one’s relationships

with others and with God.”

–Warren Mueller

A meaningful life comes from living wisely (Proverbs 8:35).

And just how do we do that? By applying integrity to our actions, discretion in our conversations, and prayerful, Spirit-led discernment in our decisions.

“Wisdom is the power to see

and the inclination to choose

the best and highest goal,

together with the surest means of attaining it.”

–J. I. Packer

And wisdom leads to peace of mind, contentment, and a clear conscience—important foundation stones for a meaningful life.

A meaningful life comes from internalizing God’s ways (Proverbs 11:28, 21:21).

These proverbs, (11:28 and 21:21), provide a corollary to the previous one. A wise person follows the course of conduct established by the Father of Wisdom and revealed in the Bible. He made us; he knows the best way for us to live.

Countless millions have devoted their lives to the accumulation of stuff, the pursuit of fame, and the climb to a position of power.

Yet King Solomon (who had it all) proclaimed: “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Did you notice that four words out of seven in that verse are the same? “Meaningless!” I hear a bit of frustration in Solomon’s voice, don’t you?

Wouldn’t it be wise for us to avoid the mistakes he made? Maybe we should post that verse on the fridge, to keep us grounded in what really matters: God’s purpose for our lives.

“No real meaning exists

apart from linking our lives

to God’s purpose.”

–John Maxwell

A meaningful life comes from reverencing God (Proverbs 14:27; 19:23).

And reverence includes honor, respect, adoration, and awe. Embracing these attitudes toward God leads to deep satisfaction, complete peace, and true joy, because:

“The man who has God as his treasure

has all things in One.”

–A.W. Tozer

A meaningful life comes from trusting God (Proverbs 16:20b).

God alone knows me better than I know myself. He alone is aware of what’s going on in the lives of those around me. And he alone can see into the future. Why do I think I’m capable of moving ahead on my own?

Even when trouble comes to call, I can rest assured that such experiences have purpose and meaning (Romans 8:28).

I would do well to remember:

“Relinquishment is a prerequisite to fulfillment.”

–Eugene Peterson

A meaningful life comes from an attitude of humility (Proverbs 22:4).

Humility is the proper perspective of oneself, especially in relation to God. He is all-powerful, all-wise, all-seeing, and more. Reminding ourselves of his magnificence is one way to foster humility.

Another way is to be thankful. A full, satisfied life is grounded in humble gratitude.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving,

turn routine jobs into joy,

and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

–William Arthur Ward (italics added)

M-m-m. Living thankfully, joyfully, and blissfully aware of each blessing. Yes, that does sound like a highly satisfactory way to live.

* * * * * * * * * *

Service, Wisdom, Obedience, Reverence, Trust, Humility, and Gratitude. That’s a long list, Lord. Perhaps the full, meaningful life is out of reach for me. Oh, but if I consider the interrelatedness of these qualities, the reach is shortened considerably. Obedience includes service, and reverence naturally leads to humility. Humility includes gratitude, and trust leads to wisdom. Most important of all, YOU want all of your children to experience life to the fullest. Oh, how I praise you for your direction and provision to make that happen!

(John 10:10; Philippians 1:6; 2 Peter 1:3)

(Photo credit: www.kitchendaily.com.)

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