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Post-Holiday Hope

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, God's Promises, God's Provision, God's Salvation, Hope, Salvation, Uncategorized, tagged Blessings, Encouragement, God's Promises, God's Provision, Hope, Salvation on January 2, 2014| 8 Comments »

The holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day fills our senses with:

Sights of Christmas trees, candles, Santas, and angels.

Sounds of carols, from the light-hearted “Frosty the Snowman” to the heart-stirring “O Holy Night.”

Textures from prickly pine to plush velvet.

Aromas of cinnamon, spice, and gingerbread.

Tastes of iced sugar cookies and egg nog.

But the seasonal pleasures are over for another year. And the uncertainties of our times—political, economical, as well as personal—that we set aside for a few weeks, are coming to the forefront again. If we’re not careful, troublesome thoughts can raise our blood pressure and take away restful sleep!

What to do? Take comfort in God’s Word. “Great peace have they who love your law,” said the psalmist,” and nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:165). I suppose that would include uncertainties, don’t you?

Two verses have ministered to me lately, Romans 8:30-31:

“Those he [God] predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified, those he justified, he also glorified. What then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Of course, those key words in the first sentence beg to be examined more closely.

Predestination has been the subject of entire books and sometimes causes controversy. I like the way the Living Application Bible explains the concept, in a footnote to Ephesians 1:5. “Predestined” means marked out beforehand.

God knew each of us and loved us before we were even born. He provided the way of salvation so we could be in relationship with him. That does not negate our responsibility to believe in Jesus, in order to bring to pass God’s predetermined plan.

Called means we have been divinely summoned or invited. Some Christians are divinely summoned for specific tasks. Peter (John 21:15-17) and Paul (Acts 9:15) are perfect examples.

Most of us are called to love, obey, and serve God right where he’s placed us—in our homes, churches, business, schools, and neighborhoods.

Whatever our task, he cheers us on to work heartily because we’re doing it for him—to please him and bring him honor (Colossians 3:23-24).

And with his call comes hope, peace, joy, and blessing!

Justification is God’s way of making us right with him. Out of his gracious love for us, he declares us “not guilty” for our sins. We deserve harsh punishment, but he treats us as righteous if we put our trust in Jesus. Then the perfect sinlessness of God’s Son is credited to us (Romans 3:22-25).

Imagine standing before a mighty king who’s dressed in elegant robes. And there you are, wearing ragged, smelly clothes, staring at the floor, and wishing to be anywhere else but in this imposing throne room.

Suddenly the king’s words break through your embarrassment. He’s calling for one of his son’s perfect robes to be brought for you. He doesn’t just want to trade your rags for a beautiful, pristine robe—he’s eager to do it! And then, even more amazing, he welcomes you to his banquet table.

That’s justification—being treated as if we weren’t soiled by sin. Being treated like a royal son or daughter of the king, though it’s the last thing we deserve.

Full glorification will occur when we arrive in heaven. It refers to that moment when you and I will become like Christ (1 John 3:2.) It is so certain, Paul uses past tense. Our glorification is taken care of; it’s just a matter of when.

But the process has already begun. Our glory—that is, anything that brings honor and praise to God—is developing day by day as we allow the Holy Spirit to have influence of our thoughts and choices.

* * * * * * * * * *

Now consider the magnitude of these four processes which God lovingly, even anxiously, works within us. I like the way Ken Taylor expresses verse twenty-nine in The Living Bible:

“Having chosen us, he called us to come to him; and when we came he declared us ‘not guilty,’ filled us with Christ’s goodness, gave us right standing with himself, and promised us his glory.”

And last, in light of whatever you may be facing in 2014, please take comfort in these joyous words:

“What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:30, The Living Bible).

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New Meaning for “Merry Christmas”

Posted in Blessings, Christmas, Encouragement, God's Provision, Jesus, Prayer, Salvation, Suffering, tagged Appreciation, Blessing, Christ, Christmas, Encouragement, God rest you merry gentlemen, Hebrews 4:16, Jesus, John 14:27, Merry Christmas, Psalm 46:1 on December 12, 2013| 8 Comments »

When some folks say, “Merry Christmas” they mean, “I hope you have a fun and festive holiday.”

That would be in keeping with the definition of merry: full of high-spirited gaiety, delightful, entertaining, joyful, and mirthful.

But centuries ago the word merry denoted peacefulness and blessedness. “Merry Christmas” meant, “May you have a peaceful Christmas” and “May Christmas bring the blessing of God to you” (Christmas by Charles L. Allen and Charles L. Wallis, Fleming Revell Co., 1977).

An old carol highlighted this idea:

“God rest ye merry, gentlemen;

Let nothing you dismay.

Remember Christ our Savior

Was born on Christmas Day,

To save us all from Satan’s pow’r

When we were gone astray.”

Did you pause after the comma in the first line? Without it, the meaning changes. The anonymous poet was wishing peaceful, contented, joyful rest to others, as they remembered Christ their Savior.

“Merry Christmas,” then, can be a prayer within a greeting. Something like:

Oh, Lord, may your spirit of peace rest upon the life of this person. May he/she experience the blessing of your presence and your joy.”

There are many people around us who need a divine touch, especially during the Christmas season. The merriment around these folks seems a mockery of their despair. Perhaps that includes you. May the prayers below speak a Merry Christmas blessing to you, especially if you are:

Lonely. Oh, God, wrap a loving embrace of your comfort around those who do not have family or friends with them this Christmas. I thank you for the promise that you are our refuge and strength, always ready to help when we need you (Psalm 46:1). Be a warm solace, I pray, to the one who feels alone.

Enduring hardship. Oh, God, may the blessing of Christmas include grace and mercy for your children who are suffering through difficulty. Out of your compassionate mercy, ease their burden, and out of your unfailing grace, grant them strength and favor (Hebrews 4:16).

Struggling with painful memories of Christmases past. Oh, God, shower your tender, loving care upon those with hurts from the past, hurts that cast a shadow over the joys of the present. Grant them liberating freedom from emotional distress. May your peace cover those memories, so they no longer cause anguish (John 14:27).

For all of us, Heavenly Father, may the blessing of Christmas include renewed wonder for the indescribable gift of your Son. Thank you for providing through him the way to eternal life. Such peace and blessing are ours in that single assurance!

(art credit: www.christmasgreetingsmessages.com.)

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The Believer’s Pace

Posted in Encouragement, Faith, God, God's Power, God's Presence, God's Strength, Godly Character, Maturity, Perseverance, Uncategorized, tagged Colossians 3:23-24, Encouragement, Exodus 15:11, Exodus 19:4, Faith Journey, God, God's Power, God's Presence, God's Strength, God's Ways, Godly Character, Isaiah 2:5, Isaiah 40:31, Perseverance, Philippians 1:6, Psalm 23:3, Psalm 89:15 on November 18, 2013| 6 Comments »

Those of us who believe in Jesus are on a faith journey.

Sometimes we fly.

He carries us on eagles’ wings.

One example from scripture is God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. He said, “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself” (Exodus 19:4).

The Israelites had done nothing to secure their release from Pharaoh. God caused the plagues, God opened the Red Sea for the Israelites’ escape, and God destroyed the Egyptian army.

Moses and his sister, Miriam, sang a song to the Lord, to celebrate their deliverance.

“Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you–majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11).

Has your heart soared on the euphoria of an awesome and glorious miracle?

We have. A number of times. One day D. called to announce she wanted to buy us a car. Arrangements were made with a dealership; all we had to do was go and pick one out.

“Oh–and get leather seats,” she insisted. “They’re so much more comfortable.”

Can you imagine? What an incredible blessing! Our hearts soared for weeks on that miracle. Even now, more than thirteen years later, that car is a constant reminder of God’s supernatural provision. (Yes, it’s still running smoothly!) Through D., God proved unequivocally his love and power.

Sometimes we soar; sometimes we run—on supernatural strength.

We feel the supernatural power of the Spirit coursing through our veins, providing strength and passion for the task at hand. It is a spontaneous sprint, energized by omnipotent God.

New Christians are often empowered for a running start in their burgeoning faith. Eagerly they soak up Bible knowledge in small groups and personal Bible study.

In other cases, God places a special call on someone’s life to fulfill a need. And with the call comes supernatural strength to meet the challenge.

That’s what happened to J.B. God infused him with a passion to upgrade the sound system of our church. Night after night, he worked at rewiring the sanctuary. Much of that time was spent climbing about in the rafters. This after working each day at his business.

When I asked J.B. about exhausting himself, he assured me he was having fun! He didn’t feel worn out at all. God was giving him the strength to complete the project.

Yes, it’s exhilarating to fly on eagles’ wings of miracles and run on supernatural strength. But…

…most of the time on our faith journey, we walk.

Step by step. Choice by choice. Slowly approaching the destination—the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6). Sometimes the path is uphill and rocky. We strain with effort to make progress. Some days the path is winding, and we cannot see ahead.

Yet in spite of struggle and uncertainty, the walk can still bring much pleasure to the heart. “Blessed are those…who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord” (Psalm 89:15). You see, we do not walk alone. The Company we keep makes all the difference.

Walking in faith involves plenty of ordinary tasks and days without miracles. Children to care for. Laundry to do. Meals to cook. Calls to make. Students to teach. Sales to close.

But! Whatever needs to be accomplished, we can walk through it and not collapse under the repetition and frustration. How? By inviting God to walk with us.

Years ago, when our three children were young, my life was a routine of laundry, cleaning, cooking, errands, and child care. I was not one of those mothers who derived great fulfillment from these tasks. Instead of walking joyfully through each day, I often plodded.

Then I came across Colossians 3:23-24. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

In the margin of my Bible, next to those verses, I wrote, “including housework!” I wanted Who I served to be more important than what I was doing. Plodding didn’t end once and for all, but I learned to walk at a believer’s pace more frequently, as I invited God to cook, clean, and launder with me!

Those verbs–soar, run, and walk–are found in Isaiah 40:31, in that order:

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Perhaps soaring is first because the euphoric wonder of flying on eagle’s wings seizes our attention with intensity.

Running is second. Adrenalin runs high during spurts of divinely inspired growth and service.

And walking is last. Did God save the most important until the end? Because it’s in the persevering that we become strong. It’s in the trusting that our faith grows deep. And it’s in practicing his presence that we learn consistency of character.

So revel in occasional soaring. Rejoice in periodic running. But take deep satisfaction in the day-by-day walk on the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3).

“Come…let us walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5)!

(photo credits: www.betterphoto.com; http://www.linksterdiversions.blogspot.com; http://www.BlackburnNews.com; http://www.foxnews.com; http://www.photobucket.som/user/jamiesolome/media.com; http://www.faithgateway.com; http://www.pinterest.com)

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The Face of God

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, God, God's Goodness, God's Love, God's Power, God's Strength, Uncategorized, tagged 1 Chronicles 16:8-34, Face of God, God, Numbers 6:25-26, Proverbs 16:15 on November 14, 2013| 6 Comments »

“The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:25-26).

Lovely, poetic words. But what do those phrases about God’s face mean? Even if God’s face did shine upon me, or turn toward me, how would I know? I’ve never seen God. No one has (1 John 4:12).

A little research turned up this explanation: God’s face represents his character.

Read those verses from Numbers again. But this time replace the word face with the word character. The meaning becomes clearer.

The Lord make his character shine upon you

And be gracious to you;

The Lord turn his character toward you

And give you peace.

How many of God’s character traits can you name? David named seven in a psalm of thanksgiving found in 1 Chronicles 16:8-34. God is:

Powerful (v. 9)
Strong (v. 11)
Trustworthy (v. 15)
Majestic (v. 27)
Holy (v. 29)
Good (v. 34)
Loving (v. 34)

This brief list is just the beginning of descriptors we could name about God. He is infinite; His attributes are infinite!

All of those character traits and more are shining upon our lives, as he cares for us, lives in us,and participates with us every moment of our lives.

His power works miracles.
His strength carries us through difficult times.
He can be trusted to always do what is best.
His supreme majesty speaks of his authority over the universe.
He is righteous and holy in all he does.
Out of his goodness he provides countless blessings.
And all of this is graciously given, not out of a sense of duty because he made us, but because he loves us.

God’s face shining upon us represents God’s radiance.

If we insist on following our own way, as Israel did, He may choose to hide his face from us (Isaiah 1:15).

But.

“When a king’s face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring” (Proverbs 16:15).

When the King of the universe shines his approval upon us, what more could we want? Life for us is not mere existence. It is a rich, full life. Rich with blessings, and full of satisfaction, peace, and joy!

* * * * * * * * * *

Thank you, Almighty God, for manifesting your character in my life. I have seen you work miracles and give strength to the weak. I have watched as you engineered circumstances to accomplish your plan. (And it always turns out to be a hundred times better than anything I could dream up!)

I marvel at your power and majesty on display in creation. I have recorded hundreds of blessings you’ve provided for our family. Your radiance shines brilliantly all around me!

And now, as a thank you gift back to you, dear Father, may my life reflect your radiance to others—with ever-increasing glory (2 Corinthians 3:18)! Amen!

* * * * * * * * * *

How has God shone his face upon you? Share in the Comments below!

(art credit: www.christianwordart.com)

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A Chain of Unlikely Events

Posted in Courage, Encouragement, Faith, Heroes of the Faith, Suffering, Uncategorized, tagged Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Boris Kornfeld, Boris Nicholayevich Kornfeld, Encouragement, Faith, Kornfeld, Suffering, Witnessing for Christ on October 28, 2013| 10 Comments »

Boris Nicholayevich Kornfeld, political prisoner of the former Soviet Union.

Incarcerated in the late 1940s at Ekibastuz, a forced labor camp, in Siberia.

A doctor.

Because of his medical training, the camp authorities put him to work in the hospital.

Dr. Kornfeld was Jewish, but a Christian prisoner attracted his attention. The man evinced a quietness of spirit, in spite of the horrors, deprivation, and hopelessness of their situation. Often the doctor would hear this fellow prisoner reciting the Lord’s Prayer.

One day, a guard was brought into the surgery. An artery had been cut during a knifing incident. As Dr. Kornfeld began to repair the artery, he thought, I could make the sutures in such a way that this horrid man would slowly bleed to death later. The authorities would ever know.

But no sooner did the idea cross his mind than Dr. Kornfeld’s stomach turned at the cruelty of his own thoughts. Words from the Lord’s Prayer came to his mind, and he spoke them silently in his heart: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Day by day, Dr. Kornfeld sensed change occurring in his spirit. He wanted to speak to the Christian prisoner about his experience in the surgery, to discuss what was happening within himself, but the fellow had been transferred to another gulag. The doctor told no one about his growing faith in Jesus.

As he was being transformed on the inside, Dr. Kornfeld’s character began to change. He started saying “No” to some of the sordid practices of the prison camp. Once he reported on an orderly who had stolen food from a dying patient. Such misdeeds were actually quite common. After all, why waste food on someone who was going to die anyway?

But telling the authorities what was going on put Dr. Kornfeld in danger. No one was going to appreciate his sense of fairness and kindness. Every prisoner lived for himself, doing whatever was necessary to survive.

One evening, Dr. Kornfeld examined a patient named Alex, who had undergone surgery for cancer. He felt compelled to describe to Alex his journey toward faith in Christ. The words came in a flood. For at least several hours, Kornfeld spoke to the young cancer patient.

The next morning, Dr. Kornfeld was dead. Someone had beaten him in the head with a mallet.

Alex thought long and hard about the doctor’s story and his life-changing faith. He, too, decided to become a Christian. Miraculously, Alex survived the gulag and wrote about his experiences there. The book was smuggled to the West and published.

More books followed, all revealing the cruel and disastrous results of the Soviet system under the leadership of Stalin. (At least sixty-five million Russian citizens were murdered in the gulags.)

That prisoner-become-author was Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1970. The Gulag Archipelago and One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich were two of his most famous works. Many credit his writings as the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union.

Photo of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in 1953, right after his release from the special Gulag camp at Ekibastuz (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But certainly Dr. Boris Kornfeld also deserves credit. His influence was an important catalyst. And what about the nameless Christian who introduced Dr. Kornfeld to Jesus?

He also was used by God in a chain of events to achieve great impact upon the world.

But no one knew, including himself. He very likely died in the gulags.

Oh, but consider his home-going to heaven. Think of Jesus, wrapping his arm around the shoulders of this saint, saying “Well done, my devoted one. Have I got a story for you! Come and let me share what you have been a part of!”

We must not allow fear or anonymity to dissuade or discourage. God may use any one of us to change the world, but he may very well wait to reveal our impact until he can tell us all about it — face to face!

* * * * * * * * * *

Heavenly Father, may I never miss an opportunity to be a part of your grand, over-arching plan. May the legacy of Dr. Kornfeld, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and millions of nameless martyrs compel me to be courageous and passionate for you. I have nothing important to lose and everything worthwhile to gain.

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A Selah Interlude

Posted in Encouragement, God, Meditation, Praise, Renewing the Mind, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged Encouragement, God, Meditation, Praise, Selah, Worship on October 21, 2013| 6 Comments »

“You are a shield around me, O Lord;

You bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

To the Lord I cry aloud,

And he answers me from his holy hill.

Selah”

(Psalm 3:3-4, NIV).

Seventy-one times in psalms we find that word, selah.

And no one can say definitively what it means, because the Hebrew root word is uncertain. One humorist suggested it was a word spoken by David when a string broke on his harp!

Here’s a review of what more serious Bible scholars have proposed.

One possibility: selah is related to calah which means “to hang” or “to measure or weigh in the balances.”

Or, selah may come from three Hebrew words, s_lah (to praise) and s_lal, (to lift up), or salah (to pause).

Selah may have been a musical direction, for a pause in the vocal music and an interlude of instruments only.

I personally like how the Amplified version translates Selah: “pause and calmly think about that.” An instrumental interlude would certainly lend itself to meditation on what was just sung, to weigh in the balance of the intellect the value of the statement, to give praise for its certain truth.

For a bit of practice, I skimmed through the psalms looking for the word, Selah, and quickly discovered places where pausing and calmly thinking about a passage could have heart-changing results:

Feeling alone and powerless against difficulty? Pause and calmly think about Psalm 24:10.

“Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory. Selah.”

I’m reminded that nothing is too hard for our splendorous God. He is all-powerful and all-wise.

Feeling worried? Pause and calmly think about Psalm 32:7.

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.”

The hiding place of God’s presence is in the spiritual realm, where he makes his sweet peace and gentle comfort available. Troubles may come, but they cannot destroy me. My soul is secure for eternity because Jesus has delivered me from the consequences of my sin. And one day I will live with him forever!

Feeling frightened? Pause and calmly think about Psalm 46:1-3.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah.”

Whatever calamity I might have to face, God will supply the necessary strength. Again, God is my refuge—a personal retreat. I can go to him for peace and comfort He is always present, as close as a whispered prayer, not just ready to help, but eager.

Feeling useless? Pause and calmly think about Psalm 57:2-3.

“I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends his love and his faithfulness. Selah.”

God doesn’t waste his time making useless beings. Every one of us has purpose, and as I cry out to him and make myself available to him, he has promised to fulfill that purpose. He will also put passion and joy into my heart for his plan. He “is too gracious to ask [me] to do something [I] hate” (Max Lucado, Just Like Jesus).

And so, a Selah interlude, I find, affirms, uplifts, and strengthens.

It can also be a moment of worship as I turn my thoughts into praise.

* * * * * * * * * *

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the capacity to think deeply, to meditate and discover. Truly, Selah interludes provide for the renewal of my mind and the transformation of my state of being. Help me to remember to pause and calmly think about your Word—often!

(Photo credits: www.flickr.com , http://www.marthaspong.com , http://www.ministrylift.ca )

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Blogs I Follow — Part 1

Posted in Courage, Decision-Making, Encouragement, Excellence, Faith, God's Power, Humility, Perseverance, Uncategorized, Waiting on God, Wisdom, tagged Abraham Lincoln, Christian Service, Courage, Encouragement, Faith, God, God's Power, Hope, Humility, Perseverance, Waiting on God, Wisdom on October 14, 2013| 14 Comments »

Last fall I read there were more than 150 million blogs on the internet, with approximately 175,000 new ones being launched daily. At that rate, cyberspace now includes over 213 million blogs!

After much shopping, I have found twelve devotional blogs which I follow regularly. I’ll introduce six today and six on Thursday–in no particular order. After reading these sample bits, you might want to visit these blogs yourself, and discover fresh insight from…

…Jennifer Dukes Lee (www.jenniferdukeslee.com), wife of an Iowa farmer, mother of two daughters, professor of journalism, and author of a new book being released in early 2014. Recently she wrote about “How to Talk Back to Fear:”

“I believe that bravery looks a lot like…believing. And I believe that there’s really no such thing as failure, because there’s nothing unredeem-able in the hands of Christ.”

Smart woman, that Jennifer.

…Holley Gerth (www.holleygerth.com), life coach and author, tackled the topic, “When You’re Worried What People Think.”

First, Holley quoted 1 Corinthians 4:3 (MSG): “It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion…Comparisons in these matters are pointless.”

Holley says. “When I care very little what other people think of me then I’ve suddenly got room to care a lot about other people.”

Quite insightful, don’t you agree?

…Unshakable Hope (www.unshakablehope.wordpress.com), written by Bill, married more than twenty-five years, father of two daughters, diagnosed in 1996 with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Bill has very little mobility, yet his spirit is more vibrant than ever.

On February 21, 2013, Bill wrote about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3). They were about to be thrown into King Nebucadnezzar’s furnace and boldly proclaimed, “The God we serve is able to save us…, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not…we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up (vs. 17-18).

Bill says, “For me, this is more than a great example of strong faith. I believe this is a pattern of faith that all Christians should emulate regardless of challenges we might be facing. We can proclaim that, ‘Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from [insert your trial here]. BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT…we are not going to serve…doubt, fear, worry, hopelessness or anything else that destroys faith, hope, joy and peace.’

Strong words from a man of deep strength.

…Morning Story & Dilbert (http://www.morningstoryanddilbert.wordpress.com). Kenny gleans thought-provoking posts from many sources and serves them up with a Dilbert cartoon — something for the mind and heart; something for the funny bone!

Recently Kenny included an anecdote about Abraham Lincoln, highlighting the president’s humility. Although Lincoln was wise, responsible, and persevering, surely humility was one of the supreme qualities that contributed to his strong leadership.

Here’s the story Kenny shared:

“After the Battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee and his Confederate forces were withdrawing to Virginia, and Lincoln felt that they were vulnerable. Eager to get the agony of the war over with, President Lincoln sent word to General Meade to attack.

“With his message, Lincoln also sent a personal note. ‘The order I enclose is not on record,’ said the note. ‘If you succeed, you need not publish it. Then, if you succeed, you will have all the credit of the movement. If not, I’ll take the responsibility.’”

Taking responsibility for failure, but giving others the credit for success. Now that’s humility.

…Jean Wise of “Healthy Spirituality” (www.healthyspirituality.org), is a former nurse, but now focuses her time on writing My Photo and speaking.

On September 24, 2013, she shared the story of second-string quarterback, Kenny Guiton, of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Opportunities to get in the game have been few for this senior, but Kenny is always prepared. Then, on a recent Saturday, he not only had a chance to play, Kenny scored a record six touchdowns!

In contemplating Kenny’s story, Jean said, “My job is to be faithful. To enter each day relying on God’s love and guidance. To show up every morning with an open mind and heart. To say to our heavenly coach, ‘Here I am, Lord. What position do you need me to play today?’ To be ready when He calls me off the bench. To wait and let God form me as He wills till His time is right.’”

Jean’s prayer resonates with my heart, too.

Diana Trautwein …Diana Trautwein‘s musings at “Just Wondering” (www.dianatrautwein,com). She’s the mother of three, grandmother of 8, and a graduate of seminary in mid-life. Currently Diana serves as a spiritual director. Her post on October 11, 2013 was titled, “Giving Permission to Say No.” Her words of wisdom include:

“Saying ‘yes’ is central to a full, rich challenging life. We need to say yes to lots of different things over the course of our [life] journey.”

But! “Try as we might, we cannot do everything. (Because God already has.) We cannot save the world. (There is only one Savior.) And we must not work ourselves to death. (We are meant to enjoy God, and glorify God, not assume responsibilities we were never designed to bear.)”

See what I mean? Wise woman.

Please return on Thursday to meet six more outstanding bloggers!

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Crowns of Glory

Posted in Encouragement, Holiness, Service, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 1 Peter 5:4, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Crowns of Glory, Heavenly Crowns, James 1:12, Matthew 9:15, Revelation 19:6-8, Revelation 2:10, Revelation 4:9-11 on September 12, 2013| 11 Comments »

Can you remember back to your childhood Sunday School days? Did you ever make crowns of yellow construction paper, symbolizing the crowns we’d someday wear in heaven?

In my class, we were encouraged to add colorful cut-out jewels, to represent all the good deeds we would do for Jesus. The idea was he would reward us for our obedience. And didn’t we all want beautiful, sparkling crowns to wear when we got to heaven?

My teachers may be commended for encouraging us to make wise choices. But I’m not sure where the scripture supports jewel awards for righteous behavior. Was it inferred from Isaiah 61:10b? “As a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

You probably remember: the bridegroom is an image used several times in scripture to represent Jesus (Matthew 9:15), and the bride represents God’s people (Revelation 19:6-8). But that still doesn’t explain decisively what the jewels are.

On the other hand, there are passages that mention crowns. Crowns that…

…will last forever, won by running the race of the Christian life with perseverance (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

…represent those believers who are in heaven as the result of our efforts. They will be our crown—our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

…God has promised—a crown of life to those who love him (James 1:12). Revelation 2:10 also speaks of this crown.

…we’ll receive when Jesus appears—crowns of glory (1 Peter 5:4)!

But nothing about jewels in those passages. And to be honest, the crown references are more than likely imagery and metaphors—not actual crowns.

As I’ve gotten older, even the teaching that “crowns await us in heaven” has bothered me. Striving for obedience and bringing others toward commitment to Jesus for crowns seems so selfishly motivated, so mercenary. Jesus has already given me eternal life, his loving care, his Word, and countless other blessings.

How dare I say, “Oh, and one more thing. Please honor me for my good deeds with some lovely gold crowns, alright?”

I don’t want to be like the child who sits under the Christmas tree, surrounded by mountains of crumpled gift wrap and new toys, who says, “Is that all?”

Then I came across Revelation 4:9-11 and discovered…

IF we receive crowns, we won’t be wearing them.

And we won’t be needing lovely showcases in which to display our crowns either.

Instead, perhaps we will be privileged to follow the example of the twenty-four elders:

“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him…and worship him…They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

This totally changes my motivation for earning crowns. They aren’t trophies at all. They may become objects of praise, with which to honor our Savior!

That moment will be the epitome of worship–total immersion in the awesome presence of holy God. Our hearts will be bursting with ecstatic joy, way beyond any former worship experience, as we reverence Jesus supremely.

And cast down our golden crowns for his glory.

Can you picture it?

* * * * * * * * * *

(photo credits: http://www.collaborationenglish.com ; http://www.flickr.com ; http://www.baby.marry.vn )

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Let It Go!

Posted in Appreciation, Encouragement, Praise, Renewing the Mind, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged Appreciation, Contentment, David, Encouragement, Gratitude, Praise, Psalm 104, Psalm 57:7, Psalm 71:8, Renewing the Mind, Worship on September 2, 2013| 17 Comments »

I don’t listen to my car radio anymore. The fuzzy sound coming from the twelve-year old speakers is annoying.

But the silence has turned into a gift, a time for prayer and worship.

As I leave our neighborhood and pass the ponds and large live oak trees draped with Spanish moss, I praise God for the beauty of creation, within steps of our home:

The glassy surface of the ponds, reflecting blue sky and mounds of clouds
The stately trees, with branches spread wide, as if to praise God with me
The family of sandhill cranes, stretching their graceful necks to the ground in search of breakfast
The rich green grass, arrayed in dew-diamonds

And with the psalmist I want to add my enthusiastic voice.

“Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty…How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all, the earth is full of your creatures. I will sing praise…as I rejoice in the Lord (Psalm 104:1, 24, 33-34).

Oh, yes!

On the way to my hair appointment the other day, that’s exactly what I was doing: praising God for the beauty around me.

And then, boom. My mind veered off to a troubling event that happened years ago. Before I even realized what was happening, my thoughts were swirling around in a cesspool of negativity.

When I caught myself, I said out loud in a firm but frustrated voice: “LET. IT. GO!”

And just as suddenly as that cesspool opened up, I found myself singing an old chorus from my childhood, but with new words. Do you remember:

“Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord?”

My altered rendition went like this:

Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go now!

Praise ye the Lord! (Repeat.)

Praise ye the Lord! Let it go, now! (Repeat three times.)

PRAISE YE THE LORD!

Did you figure out the tune? Do you remember this song?

Well, no sooner did I start singing that silly song, than I was smiling to myself. My spirit was downright laughing!

And the cesspool drained away.

I don’t know how ugly matters can flood into my mind, even as I’m praising God. I don’t know how to keep the mess out once and for all.

What I am learning is this:

As soon as I recognize that the floodgates of negativity have opened, my best offensive move to close them up again is praise and gratitude.

And why does it work?

“Satan so hates genuine praise that his fiery darts of discouragement are not effective against us when we respond in praise” – Bill Thrasher (A Journey to Victorious Praying, Moody, 2003, p. 206).

Evidently, Satan hasn’t given up on me yet; he’s still firing darts of discouragement to render me ineffective. You know–reduce me to one of those people who revels in self-pity and the pity of others.

I do not want him to score a single point, much less win the victory!

My aim is to adopt David’s attitude:

“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast: I will sing and give praise” (Psalm 57:7).

Note that David wrote this psalm when he had to flee for his life from murderous King Saul (1 Samuel 22-24).

M-m-m. Surely David had to avoid a few cesspools of negativity under such circumstances. Those words, “My heart is steadfast,” may have been spoken through gritted teeth.

But even when praise is more of a forced discipline than a natural delight, God is undoubtedly pleased. Perhaps even more so. Like a parent especially appreciative when the teenager loads the dishwasher. Even when he doesn’t want to.

* * * * * * * * * *

So, here I am, Lord –my toes a bit soiled from getting too close to that cesspool again. But thanks to you, thanks to the power you’ve given me through praise, it’s only my toes! Thank you for pulling me away from the brink. Thank you for turning me around and refocusing me on your glorious wonders. May “my mouth be filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long” (Psalm 71:8)! Amen.

(Photo credits: www.rajschoolofmotoring.co.uk ; http://www.laradunning.wordpress.com ; http://www.istockphoto.com ; http://www.ourhealingmoments.com )

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Happiness

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, Generosity, Hope, Joy, Service, tagged Appreciation, Blessing, Contentment, Encouragement, Gratitude, Happiness, Hope, Joy, Thanksgiving on August 15, 2013| 16 Comments »

On January 17, 2005, this title emblazoned the cover of Time Magazine: “The Science of Happiness.”

On December 5, 2008, the Associated Press released this article: “Smile! Study Says Happiness is Contagious.”

And the entire January/February 2012 issue of the Harvard Business Review was dedicated to: “The Value of Happiness.”

For over a decade now, a large group of scientists and researchers have turned their attention to the study happiness.

Some of their findings are valuable to know:

Happy people live longer. In one study, the happiest group lived nine years longer than the unhappiest group. When you consider that cigarette smoking can shorten one’s life three to six years, depending on how much a person smokes, it becomes clear the effect of happiness is huge.

Once the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter are taken care of, extra riches do not make people happier. Scientists think it’s because we adapt to pleasure, and it quickly wears off.

Relationships are key. The wider and deeper the relationships, the happier we’re going to be.

As the researchers have studied happy people, they have discovered common characteristics. Happy people tend to:

A. Notice more of the positive details of their lives. These people have learned how to savor the small, joyful moments as well as the memorable, euphoric ones.

B. Appreciate more. Grateful people even sleep better!

C. Think optimistically. Those who have a sense of purpose, who look forward with hopeful expectation to the future, are more satisfied with their lives.

D. Give generously of their time and resources. Researchers discovered that it was the giver who actually reaped more benefits than the receiver.

E. Empathize with others. They have learned to put themselves in the place of others, in order to understand their situations. They genuinely care about others and demonstrate compassion. Researchers found that compassion contributes to health and more productive living. The side effect? Happiness.

As I’ve perused these findings, I couldn’t help but smile. Everything secular research is “discovering” about happiness is already laid out in scripture!

Take the three findings mentioned above.

1. Happy people enjoy a longer life. God says, “With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation” (Psalm 91:16). Also, “Do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity” (Proverbs 3:1-2). In other words, long life and prosperity come to those who know God and obey his Word. In fact, as his children (those who have received Jesus into their lives), we have eternal life to look forward to!

2. Riches do not guarantee happiness. Solomon figured that out eons ago. “I denied myself nothing,” he said. “Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done, and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11).

3. Relationships are key. The most important and valuable relationship we can have is with Jesus. When we accept him into our lives, he calls us friends (John 15:15). Jesus wants to give us life to the full (10:10) so that our joy may be complete (15:11). Relationships with other Christians can also be highly gratifying. The bonds of faith and friendship forge a deep familial connection (Proverbs 18:24b).

Scripture also verifies the five characteristics of happy people:

A. Attention — to the positive details of life. The psalmists were masters at drawing our attention to the beauty and grandeur of creation, God’s amazing ability to engineer circumstances, and His glorious attributes at work in our lives. We would be wise to do the same.

B. Gratitude. Paul instructed us, “Rejoice in the Lord always…In everything, by prayer…with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God…will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7). Is not peace of mind closely related to happiness? Surely we cannot have one without the other.

C. Optimism. The Christian’s optimism is not based on wishful thinking. We have a strong foundation for our hope: God himself. David affirmed that truth when he wrote, “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him” (Psalm 62:5). And what is the result of that hope? “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God…the Lord, who remains faithful forever” (Psalm 146:5-6).

D. Generosity. The researchers almost echo word for word what Jesus taught: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

E. Empathy. Compassion is an extension of generosity. As we give attention, understanding, and care to others, we experience a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in our spirits. It is not only more blessed to give money or material goods, it is more blessed to give of ourselves.

One neuroscientist involved in the study of happiness said…

… happiness could best be described as a state of contentment.

And A.W. Pink, author of Comfort for Christians wrote…

“Contentment is the product of a heart resting in God.”

That, my friends, is the key to happiness: resting in God.

(Photo credits: newpathwaytohealing.com ; lifeingeneral.blogspot.com ; rncentral.com ; zazzle.com ; my.opera.com)

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Crowns of Glory

Let It Go!

Happiness

Nancy Ruegg

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