God’s Faithfulness | From the Inside Out

Archive for the ‘God’s Faithfulness’ Category

Father of Lights

Posted in God, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Grace, God's Love, God's Power, God's Presence, God's Salvation, God's Wisdom, Uncategorized, tagged 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, God is Light, John 8:12, Numbers 6:24-26, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 27:1, Romans 13:12 on June 2, 2016| 9 Comments »

You, oh God, are resplendent with light

As if full of fire—

Blazing with power, dazzling in majesty,

shimmering in an aura of glory (1).

You are the Father of lights—

The Creator of sun, moon, and stars.

From the moment You spoke them into being,

The heavenly lights have never ceased to shine (2).

Neither has your Light of Goodness

Ceased to shine upon your people.

You are loving and patient, generous and gracious,

Always seeking the brightest, highest good (3).

You are the Light of my Salvation,

Showing me the way to heaven through your Son, Jesus,

Guiding me home through the twists and turns of life,

The dark shadows of uncertainty and fear (4).

You are the Light of Life,

Providing Son-lit days of peace, joy, and contentment

As I avail myself of your calming presence,

And celebrate your gifts (5).

You are the Light of Truth,

Who graciously shares his omniscient wisdom with his people.

Through your Word you expose falsehoods and evil.

You show me the best way to live—side by side with You (6).

You are the Light of Holiness—

Pure and perfect, completely separate from all else in the universe.

Through Jesus you already see me as perfect,

Yet day by day you are molding me to be holy, like you (7).

You are the Light of Blessing,

Making your face shine upon me

With grace, mercy, and compassion,

Lovingly exercising your power for my benefit (8).

You provide the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God.

I find it when I seek your Son, Jesus.

His earthly life gives me a glimpse of your glory in human form–

A form I can more easily understand (9).

And now, you have made me a Child of the Light,

Called to reflect your glory to others,

Shining brighter, I pray, as the years pass,

Till the full light of day–inside heaven’s gates (10).

I praise you, oh God, that your Light shattered the darkness

Of evil that first Easter morning—and for all time.

I praise you for the privilege of living in that Light,

Now and into eternity!

Psalm 76:4; Ezekiel 1:28
James 1:17
Psalm 89:15, 34:8-9
Psalm 27:1; 23:4
John 8:12, 14:27; Psalm 16:11; Hebrews 13:5
Psalm 43:3; 119:105; Proverbs 6:23; Ecclesiastes 2:13
Isaiah 5:20; Romans 13:12
Numbers 6:24-26
2 Corinthians 4:6
Philippians 2:15-16; Ephesians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Proverbs 4:18

Read Full Post »

A Boat That Floats

Posted in Encouragement, Faith, God's Faithfulness, Hope, Perseverance, Success, Suffering, Uncategorized, tagged 1 Corinthians 1:9, Bouncing back from defeat, Dealing with setbacks, disappointment, Failure, Handling Difficulty, Hope, Hope in God, Psalm 145:13, Resiliency, Romans 15:4, satisfying life on May 30, 2016| 12 Comments »

My knowledge of boat parts is limited, but this much I know: throw an outboard motor in the water; it will sink. Throw a propeller in the water; it, too, will plunge to the bottom. So will seats, cleats, and other parts. But when they are assembled together on a strong hull, the boat floats.

Similarly, our lives are comprised of a variety of experiences: some heavy and hurtful, others light and joyful. When properly assembled as a whole, they create a life that floats, and one that’s headed on a course toward worthwhile purpose.

Proper assembly of negative as well as positive events requires the trait of resiliency—the ability to press on through setbacks again and again.

Do those words, press on, sound familiar? The great missionary-adventurer, Paul, said he pressed on toward the goal of becoming what God intended for him (Philippians 4:12-14). Paul is a worthy case-study for resiliency.

(The apostle Paul by Rembrandt)

He suffered plenty of hurt, disappointment, and failure. For example, Paul was:

stoned (Acts 14:19),

flogged and imprisoned (Acts 16:23),

unjustly charged with treason (Acts 18:13),

nearly killed on at least several occasions (Acts 21:30-31), and

rejected by many, even after brilliantly preaching about God and his Son, Jesus (Acts 17:16-34).

How do you bounce back from such defeats? Researchers have identified the following ways to cultivate resiliency:

Get real.

No one sails through life problem-free. Accept the reality that troubles will come, then apply those strategies that provide relief, strategies such as: exercise and proper nutrition, sufficient sleep, laughter, and meaningful activity, including acts of kindness each day.

Get hope.

Be watchful for God’s blessings in spite of the circumstances, and thank him for his loving attention. Gratitude does indeed transform attitudes.

Find fresh strength in God’s Word, especially in his promises and assurance of his faithfulness to keep those promises (Romans 15:4; Psalm 145:13; 1 Corinthians 1:9).

We can ask God to help us set new, worthwhile goals, then look forward to the day when those goals will be met.

Researchers have noted that resilient people do not strive for riches, fame, power, or recognition. Instead they are focused on their legacies—what contributions their lives will make to those around them. Hope in God—in all circumstances—is in itself an invaluable legacy.

Get in community with other Christians—not just by being present, but by actively participating.

Years ago while I was dealing with an ongoing disappointment, Sunday morning worship on the praise team and mid-week rehearsals did much to recharge my spirit. (Not that all was smooth sailing in between! I still struggled to stay on an even keel; but with God’s help I didn’t stop trying.)

In addition, when we contribute hope to others through listening and encouragement, we find our own outlook much improved.

* * *

A boat that floats is not built by just lining up the various parts in the boatyard. It requires the hands and expertise of a master boat builder, to craft a skiff of beauty, function, and purpose.

A satisfying, meaningful life cannot be achieved by mere acceptance of the various events in our lives. It requires the hands and expertise of the Master. He takes all of it—the delightful and the demoralizing—to craft a life of beauty, function, and purpose.

(The boat metaphor idea came from Ralph W. Sockman, author of The Higher Happiness (1950).

Art & photo credits: www.inland-boats.com; http://www.slideplayer.com; http://www.wikipedia.org; http://www.pinterest.com (3).

Read Full Post »

Wholeness

Posted in Encouragement, Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Grace, God's Provision, God's Strength, God's Wisdom, Godly Character, Holiness, Uncategorized, tagged completeness, healing, Holiness, John 1:16, Luke 17:11-19, Luke 17:19, mind body and spirit, restoration, wholeness on May 19, 2016| 4 Comments »

After more than a week of full-blown cold symptoms—painful sore throat, totally stuffed-up nose, throbbing headache, and complete lack of energy–I finally woke up feeling more like my old self.

Such euphoria! I could swallow without pain, take in glorious gulps of air through my nose, and function without the tight hat of sinus pressure on my head or the virtual suit of heavy armor on my body. Throat, nose, head, and limbs were once again operating in unified wholeness!

But what if I still carried deep heartache, suffered from depression, or continually dealt with on-going stress at work? Relief of cold symptoms would be a small matter by comparison.

Unified wholeness must include mind and spirit as well as body.

This was the kind of completeness Jesus was referring to when he told a healed leper, “Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole (Luke 17:19, King James 2000 Bible).

You no doubt remember him, the one-out-of-ten healed lepers who took an extra step beyond healing, returned to Jesus, and expressed his gratitude.

Such effort demonstrated a spirit of humility and righteousness as he set aside his own agenda and did the right thing. His faith had impacted his body, yes, but also his mind and spirit.

The leper’s wholeness* manifested holiness—not perfection or proud piousness—but completeness and health of the total person as God fully intended.

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) explained it like this:

“The old word for holy in the German language, heilig, also means healthy. And so Heilbronn means holy-well, or healthy-well. You could not get any better definition of what holy really is than healthy—completely healthy.”

Wholeness is holiness, and God is our example. He is the picture of complete perfection with the sum of his glorious attributes: love, joy, peace, wisdom, and more.

By contrast, we are pictures of imperfection, with our deficient condition and inability to perfect ourselves on our own.

Yet God comes to us, arms outstretched in welcome, and says, “Your faith can make you whole.” We can turn to him like that one leper did, and he will begin the work of making us like him.

Oh, that sounds wonderful! Just as I desperately want to be made whole when a cold wreaks havoc in my body, so I want to be made whole as sin wreaks havoc in my spirit.

But such transformation involves choices.

During a cold, the choices of rest and plenty of fluids will speed the healing process toward wholeness.

My mental and spiritual wholeness this side of heaven will also require at least two choices:

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (1 Chronicles 16:11, NIV).

Distill the positive out of the negative—goodness out of evil, peace out of pain, joy out of sorrow.

And from the fullness of Jesus’ grace we will receive one blessing after another (John 1:16)—beginning with his power and wisdom to make these sound choices toward wholeness.

* * * * * * * * * *

Oh Father, sound choices are easy to talk about, not so easy to live out. Remind me that from your wholeness, you provide grace upon grace—if only I look to you. Help me turn away from fear, self-pity, and anger, which lead to brokenness, not wholeness. How I praise you for your good will toward me and the good work of restoration you continue to develop within me!

*Synonyms from Webster’s New College Dictionary include: health, restoration, healing, and completeness.

(Art & photo credits: www.families.com; http://www.youtube.com; http://www.verseoftheday.com; http://www.ourdailyblossom.com; http://www.verseoftheday.com.)

Read Full Post »

Desires Granted

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Power, God's Provision, God's Strength, God's Will, God's Wisdom, Praise, Uncategorized, tagged Delighting in God, God's desires vs. our desires, God's enablement, God's Goodness, God's guidance, God's Strength, God's trustworthiness, God's Wisdom, Jeremiah 26:14, Psalm 37:3-5, Trust in God on May 9, 2016| 6 Comments »

(a personalized psalm)

“Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

–Psalm 37:3 NIV

I praise you, oh God, that you are trustworthy. Your motives are always pure, your guidance always wise, your actions always righteous. Everything you do in my life is for my good.

Now, Father, I want to do good for you. May I dedicate myself each day to fulfill the to-do list you’ve designed. Remind me that interruptions may be divine appointments, ordained by you to accomplish a specific purpose.

I praise you that I can “dwell in the land and live securely” (v. 3, HCSB). How comforting to know my dwelling place is in you (John 15:5), where I find:

Refuge (Psalm 46:1)
Good things (Psalm 65:4)
Rest (Psalm 91:1)
Enjoyment of all your glorious attributes (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Delight yourself in the Lord

And he will give you the desires of your heart.

–Psalm 37:4 NIV

At first glance it would appear this verse teaches that as long as I’m worshiping you, you’ll grant what I want. But that would discount your wisdom, compelling you to do only what’s good for me.

No, undergirding this verse is an important truth: the more I delight in you, the more I’ll want what you want. Your desires become my desires, as I’m influenced by your infinite wisdom.

I praise you, Father, that steadily over time you have molded my spirit to be more accepting of your delights. Jeremiah’s words are more readily becoming my prayer: “As for me, I am in your hands, do with me whatever you think is good and right” (26:14*).

I praise you, too, that when a particular delight of my heart does not come to pass, you ultimately cause it to melt away!

Commit your way to the Lord;

Trust in him and he will do this.”

Psalm 37:5 NIV

I praise you, oh God, that you provide guidance in what I should do, wisdom for how to accomplish that plan, and strength to see it to completion. I can depend upon your enablement for success in the endeavors you have ordained.

How comforting to know:

This is your world (Psalm 24:1). That includes the little corner where I live and work and love. I can relax, knowing that Someone much wiser and stronger is in charge.

You’ve already planned out the events of my life in advance (Psalm 139:16). You don’t make decisions as you go along, nor do you leave everything to chance.

Your plan is good (Jeremiah 29:11). No matter what happens, good will come out of it.

With your goodness that desires my highest welfare, your wisdom to plan it, and your power to achieve, I. Lack. No. Good. Thing!**

All praise to you, my loving Heavenly Father!

___________________________________________

* These words of Jeremiah were not a prayer to God, but a response to the officials of Judah who wanted the prophet sentenced to death. However, when addressed to God, they do communicate heartfelt trust and submission to Him.

** Based on a quote from A. W. Tozer: “With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack?”

(Art credit: www.pinterest.com; http://www.holy-bible.org; http://www.indulgy.com.)

Read Full Post »

I Could Have Had V-8!

Posted in Decision-Making, Encouragement, Excellence, God's Faithfulness, God's Grace, God's Promises, God's Provision, God's Strength, Godly Character, Maturity, Perseverance, Renewing the Mind, Uncategorized, tagged Controlling our thoughts, Dealing with Annoyances, Galatians 5:22-23, Improving a negative attitude, James 1:4, Luke 6:28, Ways to battle frustration on May 5, 2016| 17 Comments »

Oh, boy. Here she comes again. ‘Seems like she seeks me out every week. Lord, help me.

As Mrs. T. approached me after church, I braced myself for a lengthy, one-sided conversation. Mrs. T. loved to talk, usually about herself, her pains and struggles. As annoyance and frustration would build within me, all I could think about was how to get away without offending.

Now I realize there is a remedy for such situations.

I could have had V-8!

No, not the fortified tomato juice—the VICTORY x 8!

I can win over annoyance and frustration—when faced with situations I cannot change—even those circumstances much bigger than aggravating people.

The “times eight” refers to eight ways the battle can be fought. By implementing the following actions, victory can be mine:

Confession and repentance provide the best place to begin. Lord, my attitude toward Mrs. T is negative and unloving; bitterness and self-pity have taken root. Help me to abandon those roots so they shrivel up and die.

Forgiveness. You, oh God, have forgiven me of so much; how dare I withhold forgiveness from Mrs. T? Help me to remember that forgiveness is not a feeling; it’s a commitment to lay aside the offense—as many times as necessary.

Prayer for the person(s). Father, my first inclination is to pray you reveal to Mrs. T. how annoying her self-centered chatter can be! But your wisdom dictates I pray blessing upon her (Luke 6:28). Ease the distresses and frustrations in her. Show me how I can help, beyond providing a listening ear.

Thought Control. Those resentful, self-pitying thoughts in my mind want front-and-center attention, Lord. Turn my focus instead to gratitude. Thank you for the privilege of being your ears and perhaps your voice for Mrs. T.

Attitude Adjustment. Oh God, help me keep a proper perspective. On a “Scale of Measurement for Difficulties in Life”, Mrs. T rates only a 1 or 2. Forgive me for allowing such a small annoyance to steal my joy.

Affirmation of God’s sovereignty and attributes. It is well within your power to redeem this situation, Lord. Help me to embrace the fact you may have a different plan– that redemptive change take place within me rather than in the situation. May I avail myself of your strength, determination, and wisdom for that change.

Expectation. As Mrs. T. approaches, Father, remind me that you are working for my good and hers. My good undoubtedly includes growing the fruit of the Spirit. But it’s also possible you have planned an additional positive outcome that will surprise and delight—at the proper time.

Perseverance. Thank you for that glorious promise in James 1:4–that perseverance in faith principles produces maturity and sound character. Thank you for the joy and peace that results—so much more satisfying that allowing frustration to fester!

Since those days of listening to Mrs. T, have I always applied V-8 to difficult situations? No. Annoyance, bitterness, and a host of other negative emotions can still crop up as challenges arise. This post was much more for me than anyone else.

When the next problem occurs and I feel weak to handle it, I’m serving up some V-8!

(Art & photo credits: www.quotes.gram.com; http://www.faithmessenger.com; http://www.pinterest.com; http://www.indulgy.com; http://www.pinterest.com.)

Read Full Post »

Ignorance Is Bliss

Posted in Encouragement, Faith, God's Faithfulness, Uncategorized, tagged child-like trust in God, Isaiah 26:3, Psalm 9:10 on April 21, 2016| 12 Comments »

“This is the best salmon I’ve had in a long time,” commented my husband, Steve, after taking the first bite. He quickly forked another. “How’s your salad?”

“Delicious!” I enthused. “’Love this combination of turkey, feta, and cranberries!”

After a morning of shopping for the granddaughters (birthday gifts and summer clothes), we had stopped at a familiar café for a late lunch. The host graciously seated us in a back corner.

Patrons were leaving; our waiter chatted pleasantly with us, no longer responsible for multiple tables waiting to be served. Soft jazz played in the background, adding more charm to the experience.

Halfway through our meal, a waitress seated herself at the empty table across from us, a caddy of flatware and napkins in tow. She proceeded to polish the former and wrap sets with the latter.

Clunk-clunk-ka-clunk, the knives, forks, and spoons clattered on the table after each piece received its shine. (Why couldn’t she at least spread out some of the cloth napkins from her caddy to absorb the racket?)

But the clamor wasn’t the worst of it. She had not disinfected the table. And two gentlemen had been sitting there when we first arrived. That tabletop received no more than a precursory wipe. I had to wonder about her hands, too—touching fork tines, spoon bowls, and knife blades as she polished.

If only the host had taken us to another corner. We’d never have witnessed this breach of sanitization-protocol, and our ignorance would have been bliss (unless we got sick, which we didn’t)!

Sometimes ignorance is a good thing.

I, for one, am glad the future is unknown to me, protecting me from worry. In my opinion, we’re better off not knowing everything that will happen next month or next year.

Our lack of knowledge—even about tomorrow–draws us to trust in God more intently. And growing trust allows us to delight in him more fully.

Think of a young child holding Dad’s hand while crossing a busy street. He revels in this one-on-one time with his hero, enjoying the security of his small hand in Dad’s big, strong one. He happily chatters on about what color sneakers to purchase when they reach the shoe store.

The boy doesn’t see Dad’s watchful eye on the traffic light, on the car that might turn into the lane where they’re walking, or on the texting teenager–heading straight toward them.

But Dad has the situation under control. All possible mishaps are avoided.

Ignorance is bliss for the little boy. He trusts his father to care for him and protect him, because Dad has proven himself over and over again.

And hasn’t our Heavenly Father repeatedly proved himself to us?

He has provided (Psalm 23:1). All of our needs are met.
He has led (Psalm 23:3). God guides us in the way we should go.
He has been trustworthy (Psalm 9:10). He never forsakes his own.

We can live in ignorant bliss of the future when we embrace child-like trust in God.

A child knows he is weak and helpless, lacking in knowledge and wisdom. He recognizes his dependence on adults.

In the spiritual realm, that translates to an attitude of humility, receptiveness, and neediness before God.

And the final result of ignorant bliss? Peace.

(“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,

because he trusts in you.” –Isaiah 26:3)

(Art & photo credits: www.cookdiary.net; http://www.pinterest.com; http://www.quotesgram.com; http://www.bibleverseimages.com; http://www.pinterest.com.)

Read Full Post »

Hints of Heaven

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Love, God's Presence, Hope, Joy, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged 2 Corinthians 2:9, Glimpses of Heaven, Heaven, heaven on earth, Psalm 16:11 on April 18, 2016| 17 Comments »

Picture great cloudbanks gathered to the west, blocking the late afternoon sun except for several small openings. Through those fissures, glowing beams of ethereal light stretch earthward.

Have the windows of heaven actually opened so God’s celestial Light could burst forth?

So it seems.

Other glimpses of heaven present themselves, too.

Think of a perfect morning with a cloudless azure canopy overhead, soft, silken breezes brushing against your skin, and birds in every tree praising God with their songs. Heavenly, you might sigh. And no one would argue otherwise.

Consider standing atop a mountain for a long-distance view of God’s majestic creation—ridge upon ridge, as far as the eye can see, covered with countless trees, and teeming with wildlife.

Consider cradling a newborn infant for the first time—peering into a pixie face with Daddy’s eyes and Mommy’s chin, coaxing tiny fingers to grasp one of your own.

Consider embracing that long absent loved one, finally returned home safely, and seeing happy tears in his eyes through tears of your own.

Such euphoric moments surely provide us glimpses of heaven, a preview of the splendor to come that God has so lovingly prepared.

Yet there are more hints, when:

We sense God’s presence in the midst of a prayer, the melody of a song or the message of a timely scripture. “Heaven and earth are filled with his glory” (Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 8:1). Surely one hint of heaven is God with us now—everywhere and at all times.

We experience bona-fide God-enhanced moments, and holy God-bumps rise up on our skin. Perhaps you receive a phone call from someone you were just thinking about and praying for, or a thoughtful gift turns up on your doorstep the same day you received disheartening news. These are more than coincidences; they’re God-incidents.

We enter a peaceful, uplifting sanctuary with other folks who genuinely care about God’s ways and each other. Just entering the door lifts our spirits and warms our hearts. (The Church ought to offer the most brilliant glimpse of heaven.)

We revel in the sheer pleasure of worship, focused on celebrating our gracious God—a hint of the euphoric adoration of our King that we’ll enjoy in heaven.

We sing with focused passion and the angels seem to join us. The classic, “Total Praise” by Carolyn Cymbala, inspires just that kind of singing. Do you know it?

https://youtu.be/xCsJyzm83W0

We witness a healing. Who has not been moved to joyful tears when the illness abates, the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear?

https://youtu.be/3m3r5xoYod8

We join with the Holy Spirit to introduce someone to Jesus, and the person accepts him into his/her life. There. Is. No. Greater. Joy.

These twelve circumstances, some repeated frequently throughout our earthly lives, prove* that “heaven-on-earth” experiences are not rare.

As Psalm 16:11 makes clear:

In God’s presence (here and now) is fullness of joy. In his right hand, (held out to us daily) are pleasures forevermore.

But, these wondrous events we enjoy in the present are just hints of what God has prepared for us in the future, for those who love him (2 Corinthians 2:9).

Just think:

What is to come will be

more breath-taking,

more joyous,

more miraculous,

more exciting

YET!

*In my humble opinion!

(Art & photo credits: www.outdoor-photos.com; http://www.freebigpictures.com; http://www.pinterest.com (2).

Read Full Post »

Old Folks Can Still Fly

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Strength, Hope, Maturity, Praise, Uncategorized, tagged 1 Corinthians 15:58, Aging, Artur Rubenstein, Benefits of growing older, blessings of aging, Isaiah 40:31, Positive attitude about aging, Psalm 103:5, Psalm 92:14, Renewing our strength, soaring like eagles on April 4, 2016| 21 Comments »

Back in the early 60s when I was a young teen, Dad took me to an Artur Rubenstein concert. For those of you too young to recognize that name, Mr. Rubenstein was a well-known pianist of the last century.

You’d think a thirteen-year old would be bored at a classical performance. Far from it. Mr. Rubenstein’s flying fingers held me spellbound. Sometimes he’d even come up off the bench, putting body and soul into the piece.

One selection in particular Dad and I will never forget. While performing “Ritual Fire Dance” by DeFalla, Mr. Rubenstein’s arms beat up and down like hummingbird wings, from head level to keyboard, in rapid succession. How could he possibly bring his fingers down to the right keys from such a height and at such speed? It was a marvel of power and precision—from a man who was seventy-five at the time.

(You can access a video of Mr. Rubinstein playing “Ritual Fire Dance” here: https://youtu.be/3SDeN9ZrRRI . To view just the DeFalla piece, skip ahead to minute #11; to see just the portion described above, skip to 11 minutes, 30 seconds.)

Yes, older folks can still fly—maybe not physically like Mr. Rubenstein’s fingers, but certainly attitudinally and spiritually.

Our youth can be renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:5).

The eagle enjoys a long life compared to many other animals–up to thirty years in the wild and fifty years in captivity. Each year its feathers are renewed, providing new strength for flight.

We can renew our strength attitudinally by focusing on the benefits of growing older.

Yes, research has uncovered a number of advantages, including:

Improved self-esteem, self-control, and selflessness.
Decreased sadness, anger, fear, and other negative emotions. Stress and worry also decline.
Less concern for the trivial; more focus on what’s important.
Increased wisdom, due to a wide base of experience and a broader perspective on life.
Less attention on the negative, more focus on the positive.

As a Christian senior, I’d have to add:

Increased faith in God as I’ve seen more evidence of God’s faithfulness.
Greater appreciation for the simpler things of life—each one a precious gift from my loving Heavenly Father.
The glorious hope of heaven as it grows closer to becoming reality. John Newton said:

(“I am still in the land of the dying;

I shall be in the land of the living soon.”)

I like his perspective.

We can also renew our strength spiritually with the help of God.

Just as the eagle rides on the wind high above the earth, we too can ride above our infirmities on the wind of the Spirit. He provides renewal of faith, strength, and passion in numerous ways—through scripture, song, other biblical reading, strong teaching, mature Christians, and more. Then we can:

flourish and be fruitful (Psalm 92:14).
stand firm and immovable (1 Corinthians 15:58).
always give ourselves fully to God’s work (same verse).
run and not be weary (Isaiah 40:31).

Here’s an idea: Let’s start a list of advantages we observe in growing older, to help keep us uplifted on wings of praise.

What “blessings of aging” have you noticed? Please share in the comments section below. (If you’re still enjoying the first half of life, tell us what you’ve observed in others, or what you’re looking forward to.)

“The last chapter in life can be the best!” – Vance Havner

(Art & photo credits: www.youtube.com; http://www.freeimages.com; http://www.azquotes.com; http://www.wildlifeworkshops.com; http://www.pinterest.com.

Read Full Post »

Stone Query

Posted in Encouragement, God, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Grace, God's Power, God-Given Abilities, Jesus, Service, Uncategorized, Wisdom, tagged 1 Peter 2:5, Lessons from stones, Living Stones on March 28, 2016| 14 Comments »

Yes, the title is a bit of word play, generated by the discovery of this quote:

M-m-m. Spiritual lessons in the woods are relatively easy to extrapolate. The Bible offers several inspiring metaphors/similes from trees (1).

But stones—lifeless, drab stones? What can we learn from them?

So began my query into stones, and a bit of research turned up the following:

There are at least 120 different sub-categories of rocks, within the igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic groupings. Another thirty-one types make up a group of their own, not fitting those three common categories. One website stated there are over 700 varieties of igneous rocks alone.

Geologists and rock collectors will tell you:

There is delight in diversity.

That goes for people, too, doesn’t it. A planet inhabited by identical beings would be painfully boring.

But even similar, ordinary stones can generate interest. For example, take this little pebble:

Rather dull and ordinary, right?

But what if you put it with numerous, similar stones? What then?

water_landscapes_rocks_pebbles_ocean_beaches_cool

We discover that:

Many ordinary stones together can provide breathtaking beauty.

Within the church that truth applies to people. Regular folks become remarkable as we join together and serve under the power of God. Someone put it this way:

When a river sings, it is thanks to the stones.

Now some stones appear dull and plain on the outside. The casual observer passes them by. But the trained eye detects a hint of the splendor within. And when such a rock is split open, a colorful, gleaming wonder is revealed.

You have to open up some stones to discover their treasures.

Agates of a different nature are all around us—in our neighbors, coworkers, church acquaintances, etc. What if we reached out with a friendly question or two and gave them opportunity to open up? Perhaps gleaming treasure awaits.

Beauty in stone can occur in other ways, too. For example:

A stone in the hand of a master sculptor becomes a new creation.

The genius of Michelangelo gives us a glimpse of such transformation. Out of nondescript marble he chiseled exquisite, life-like statues.

Praise God that even dull, ordinary people of stone can become works of art when we give ourselves over to him.

God, our Rock, is Lord of stones.

* * * * * * * * * *

I praise you, oh God, for being a Rock of constancy, stability, and protection. You graciously build us into a spiritual house—individually and corporately– where the Holy Spirit can reside. As “living stones,” we too become everlasting and durable, united together with the One Living Stone, your Son, Jesus (1 Peter 2:5).

(1) For metaphors/similes of trees, see Psalm 1:3, 52:8, and 92:12; Jeremiah 17:8; Micah 4:4.

Photo Credits: www.pinterest.com; http://www.free-pictures-photos.com; http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.freephotosbank.com; http://www.hdwallpapers.com; http://www.bhmpics.com; http://www.d.umn.edu; http://www.flickr.com.

Read Full Post »

Rock Pillows

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Presence, God's Promises, God's Protection, God's Provision, Perseverance, Uncategorized, tagged Genesis 35:3, God's Assurance, God's engineering of circumstances, God's Promises, Handling stress, Jacob of the Bible, Perseverance, Reliance upon God on March 14, 2016| 10 Comments »

Ever try sleeping on a rock pillow? I, for one, can’t imagine actually falling asleep on such a hard surface.

The only person I know who had to try was Jacob of the Bible. (The story of that night is found in Genesis 28:10-22. It was also the subject of a previous post, which you can access here: Surely God Is in This Place.)

The scene above of Jacob resting on his rock pillow provides a worthwhile image for a Spurgeon quote I encountered recently:

“Use the Lord’s words as your pillows.

Lie down and [rest] in Him.”

Indeed, resting on the rock-solid assurances of God’s Word is wise advice, fostering peace within our spirits.

Just reciting scripture can provide effective comfort.

A good place to start? In the book of Beginnings. This example comes from Jacob himself:

“Let us go up to Bethel where I will build an altar to God,

who answered me in the day of my distress

and who has been with me wherever I have gone.”

–Genesis 35:3 (NIV)

Notice this excerpt is seven chapters and many years past the “rock pillow” event. Jacob is no longer a young man; he’s seventy-seven as he embarks for Bethel. And during those intervening years, Jacob has experienced many days of distress as he:

ran away from home (Genesis 27-28),
worked for his Uncle Laban who took advantage of him (chapter 29 and 31:7), and then
set out on his own through enemy territory to return to Bethel, the home of his father, Isaac (chapters 35).

But in the verse quoted above, Jacob recognizes that through all those challenges, God demonstrated his favor, because with the Lord’s presence comes his guidance, provision, and protection.

I, too, have experienced distressing days. Who hasn’t?

But God has been with me through them all—circumstances such as these:

When my husband’s boss caused turmoil for us week after week,
When we received the unwelcome news (five times) that we were being moved to another church*, and
When pressure from certain administrators and parents caused ongoing stress at school (during my twenty-six years in the elementary classroom).

Yet now, looking back, I see that in each situation God was teaching me patience, perseverance, and reliance upon him. In fact, some distressing experiences were undoubtedly designed specifically to accomplish those benefits.

From the advantage of hindsight, I can see the pathway God prepared, to get us/me through those stressful days, and how he richly blessed on the other side.

As Charles Udall observed:

(“In life you will always be faced with a series of

God-ordained opportunities

brilliantly disguised as problems and challenges.”)

I wish I could say that through all of life’s challenges I’ve rested completely on pillows of promise and statements of faith. That wouldn’t be true. But I know that scripture-promises, prayer, and faith-statements have made a positive difference. And the strength of my faith did grow through each experience.

Notice Mr. Udall says we’ll always face challenges. I can give in to the distress of that fact or choose to rest on the pillow of promise that God is preparing me for what lies ahead as well as preparing the way through it.

* * * * * * * * * *

I praise you, Father, for being an all-knowing God. No event catches you by surprise; you know every challenge I may yet face. Like Jacob, I think back upon stressful days of the past and affirm your comforting presence, attentive provision, and wise guidance through it all. May I be mindful to rest on your rock-solid pillows of promise from this day forward.

Art & photo credits: www.keyway.ca; http://www.pinterest.com (2).

*For those who may not know, my husband was a pastor for forty years.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

From the Inside Out

Impressions Becoming Expressions

Archive for the ‘God’s Faithfulness’ Category

Father of Lights

A Boat That Floats

Wholeness

Desires Granted

I Could Have Had V-8!

Ignorance Is Bliss

Hints of Heaven

Old Folks Can Still Fly

Stone Query

Rock Pillows

Nancy Ruegg

Follow Blog via Email

Recent Posts

Blogs I Follow

Categories

Archives