God’s Goodness | From the Inside Out

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Is Your Dream Too Small?

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Dreams, Encouragement, God's Goodness, Joy, Praise, Uncategorized, tagged Abundant Living, Bring God Glory, Ephesians 1:12, God's Plan for Us, John 10:10, Live for the Praise of God's Glory, Personal Fulfillment, Personal Satisfaction on September 11, 2014| 14 Comments »

“Jesus hasn’t brought us into the family of God just to make our dreams come true.

Our dreams are always too small.

We are here to fulfill God’s dream:

That we will bring Him glory through a remarkably abundant life.

That’s how we find our greatest personal fulfillment, now and for eternity.”

–Bruce Wilkinson

(Secrets of the Vine, Multnomah, 2001)

No wonder some folks have been dissatisfied. They thought the abundant life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10 meant an abundance of enjoyment – free from problems and pain, and a life of plenty – free from want.

God just wasn’t big enough, not big-hearted enough, to make it happen – or so they thought.

Turns out their dreams of personal satisfaction or success are not too big for God to fulfill. They’re too small. He has grander plans for each one of us.

In fact, God has one over-arching vision statement that applies to all his children. Paul explained it like this:

“We who had already fixed our hope on the Messiah might live for his praise and glory” (Ephesians 1:12, ISV).

God wants us to live for the praise and glory of himself. That’s God’s bottom line.

Now someone is going to say, “That sounds rather self-serving to me!”

Truth is, when God created us, he put a craving for himself within us. To know him and be known by him, to experience him is a God-given pleasure that nothing else can satisfy. That’s the gateway to the abundant life–the God-enhanced life.

“OK,” someone else may say. “But spending all day praising God and giving him credit for everything isn’t my idea of abundant living. Where’s the satisfaction, the adventure, the fun in that?”

I’d ask, “Have you tried it?”

Gratitude would be a good place to begin. Gratitude for what God has already done satiates the soul. We start to realize how much we already have.

Gratitude becomes an adventure. How many things can I identify today for which I’m grateful?

Gratitude becomes fun because it fills the heart with joy, which naturally leads to praising him and giving him the credit for everything positive.

His blessings do provide an abundant life:

Eternity in heaven (John 14:2-3)
Access to God at any time, through prayer (Hebrews 14:6)
His loving care through life’s ups and downs (1 Peter 5:7)
Wisdom to determine right action from wrong (James 1:5)
Joy that is independent of circumstances and defies logic (Psalm 16:11)
Freedom from worry and fear (John 14:27)

Of course, that’s only the beginning of a long list. Each one is a wondrous and precious gift. Our Heavenly Father most certainly deserves continual praise for all he has done.

In addition to gratitude, each of us–no matter who we are, where we live, or what we do–can display the excellencies of our God – his loving kindness, grace, mercy, wisdom and more – to those around us. Each of us can be obedient to his Word, helpful and generous to others.

And all the while we are giving God the glory–the credit–for who we are becoming and for what we’re able to do. We’re expressing gratitude for all his benefits and praise for all his attributes, which he pours into our lives.

This is how we fulfill God’s dream and, as a natural, God-engineered consequence, we also find great personal fulfillment.

* * * * * * * * * *

Heavenly Father, I do not want my attention side-tracked by small dreams. I want to fulfill your grand dream for me: that I might bring you glory through an abundant life of enthusiastic worship and service. You are majestic, holy, all-powerful, completely trustworthy, good and loving to your people. You are more than worthy of every word of praise and every kind deed accomplished in your name—period. But you grant us deep, satisfying, personal fulfillment as we bring you glory. We stand in awe of your magnificence and grace!

(Photo credit: http://www.fromhispresence.com.)

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Sunshine in the Dark

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, God's Goodness, God's Love, God's Provision, Hope, tagged Encouragement, God is Light, God's Goodness, God's Provision, Hope, Psalm 18:28, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 36:9, Psalm 89:15-17 on September 4, 2014| 8 Comments »

We sat on the runway, awaiting take-off clearance for our flight. Low, thick clouds hung above us, shrouding the area in gloom. Folks in the plane sat quietly in their seats. Really quiet. Not very many smiles either. The oppressive bleakness outside seemed to cause a depressive state inside.

Finally we felt the plane move, pick up speed, and lift off the ground. In seconds the view out our windows was obliterated by the gray-white clouds. We could see absolutely nothing, as if curtains had been drawn outside the windows. Was the plane even moving? There was no way to tell, except for the loud drone of the engines and the upward angle of the plane.

Suddenly we escaped the cloud bank and were almost blinded by the brilliant sun. Some people turned off the overhead lights, others closed their window blinds against the glare.

As a result of the bright light, the atmosphere changed inside the plane. The dark mood of moments before turned to cheer. Some passengers shifted in their seats, sitting up a bit straighter. Soft chatter, even a few chuckles, peppered the air.

What a difference sunlight makes.

The physiological connection between sunlight and mood has been studied by scientists. They’ve determined that sunlight increases the production of serotonin in the brain, which is tied to wakefulness and feeling happy.

Those of us who know God can experience another source of light – his light — even when the dark clouds of trouble roll in (Psalm 18:28). The benefits are incredible.

1. “In [his] light we see light” (Psalm 36:9b). As we practice God’s presence and live according to the directions of his Word, we see the wisdom of his ways. We also become more aware of God’s glorious attributes shining into our lives—his power, loving kindness, grace, and more.

2. “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness. For you are their glory and strength” (Psalm 89:15-17a).

Take note. God is righteous. Everything he does is good and right, absolutely perfect.

Did you catch that amazing statement at the end? Our God of Light is our glory. He is magnificent, full of splendor, and grandeur, yet he is our Heavenly Father! Could any state of circumstances be more incredible?

God is the source of all strength. Think of it. The all-powerful, all-knowing, sovereign God of the universe is on our side—all the time. He is completely, forever committed to us, until that day we see him in all his glory, our King of kings!

3. “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear” (Psalm 27:1)?

Consider what dark clouds might symbolize in our circumstances: stress, problems, fear, and sorrow.

Now consider what the Lord of Light brings to us: guidance, wisdom, joy, provision, comfort, grace, and peace.

He is light within us and around us.

Sometimes when a thick cloud bank of difficulty settles over our lives, we think God has abandoned us. But take note of these wise words:

“Measure not God’s love and favor by your own feeling.

The sun shines as clearly on the darkest day as it does in the brightest.

The difference is not in the sun,

but in some clouds which hinder the manifestation of the light thereof”

– Richard Sibbes (Anglican theologian, 1577-1635).

Praise God for his glorious constancy!

(Photo credit: www.vision.cs.uiuc.edu.)

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Slow and Steady

Posted in Encouragement, Excellence, God's Goodness, Maturity, Perseverance, Uncategorized, tagged Christian Maturity, Colossians 2:6, Encouragement, God's Goodness, God's Ways, Godly Character, Isaiah 61:3, James 1:4, Perseverance, Psalm 92:14 on August 21, 2014| 8 Comments »

Elena, almost eighteen months old, loves to collect acorns. A grand oak tree on the church property across the street from her home provides perfect hunting grounds. She trundles along the edge of the sidewalk, her eyes on the grassy edge. Now and then she bends over, chooses a prime specimen, and clutches it tightly to her chest.

Yesterday was a banner day for acorns. Way too many shiny nuts with perfect caps. Her little hands couldn’t carry them all. I was given the honor of transporting a few of her treasures home. And this opportunity became the starting point for a train of thoughts.

You’ve no doubt noticed this yourself: acorns do not appear capable of producing oak trees. They’re too small and too hard. How can the seeds inside even escape those tough shells? Yet given the right soil, the right climate, and plenty of time, the miracle of growth occurs. White oak trees can reach the height of 150 feet, growing twelve to fourteen inches per year. Acorns do not appear until the twentieth year. In the end, the majestic giant provides hundreds of benefits (www.arborday.org and http://www.ehow.com).

Now a few tall plants, like bamboo, grow very quickly. But not tall, strong trees. I wonder why?

We humans are also slow-growing–in body and spirit. And I wonder about that, too. Why didn’t God make us more like bamboo, able to reach maturity quickly? Instead, we progress through a protracted, sometimes painful learning process to become “mature, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4).

Perhaps God willed our development to happen slowly so we have many opportunities to follow his chosen path and fulfill the potential he’s especially prepared for each of us. A false step in the wrong direction can be corrected, just as a crooked tree can be straightened if attended to promptly.

Yes, there are those who choose not to mature, not to participate with God.

But we know that God is good, that what he does is good. I want him to train and teach me (Psalm 119:68). My guess is you feel the same.

Day by day, choice by choice, we can progress along the spectrum from self-centered to selfless, from impatient to patient, from lesser to greater. But we have to realize: it happens slowly over time.

Here’s another possibility, even better than just accepting slow progress. Let’s embrace it.

You see, our culture tends to look at time as a thief who steals away our youth, worth, mental acuity, and energy.

But what if we view time as a gift–a gift of countless opportunities provided day by day, choice by choice–to grow into the mature and gracious people God ordained? Instead of regretting the passage of time we can celebrate:

Our progress to become rooted and built up in Jesus, strengthened in our faith (Colossians 2:6).
The growing ability to bear fruit (the fruit of the Spirit, exemplary living, glorifying God to others)–even into old age (Psalm 92:14).
Becoming “oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord, for the display of his splendor” (Isaiah 61:3).

Oh, I like that last verse especially, don’t you?

And it can happen through slow and steady perseverance, with God as our guide.

(Photo credits: www.bio.brandeis.edu; http://www.treetopics.com; http://www.awesometools.com.)

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Unexpected Blessings

Posted in Blessings, God's Goodness, God's Grace, God's Love, tagged Blessings, God's Goodness, God's Grace, God's Love, God's Provision on August 14, 2014| 13 Comments »

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Eric, our older son, and I were chatting on the phone.

“Mom, did you happen to save my old Uncle Wiggly book from when I was little?”

Uncle Wiggly? Goodness. I hadn’t thought about that old rabbit and his adventures for years.

“I doubt that we have it,” I responded. “Didn’t each of you kids already take the children’s books you wanted? I think all we have are the leftovers we’ve saved for the grandchildren.”

“No, I don’t have it either,” he replied.

“Well, maybe it was just too worn out to save,” I offered.

“Could be,” Eric said. “I was hoping to find a copy because it would be such fun to share with our Elena when she gets a little older.”

He paused for a moment. “Remember the picture of Uncle Wiggly in his car?”

No, I didn’t remember.

“The wheels were made from big, fat sausages. That was my favorite page. But every illustration was full of imaginative detail like that,” he reminisced.

That would explain why Eric, our artist, would have such fondness for this particular book.

“I even checked on Craig’s List to see if anyone might have a copy, but didn’t find one.”

Wow. He did have a big soft spot for Uncle Wiggly. And I had a big case of guilt for getting rid of it. Why hadn’t I remembered that book was his favorite? How could I have thrown it away, even if it was tattered?

Months later, my husband, Steve, and I were sorting through boxes in the garage. Two of the boxes contained the children’s books we still owned.

Maybe we could pare down to one box, I thought.

I started unloading the books and organizing them into piles. At the very bottom of the second box was—you guessed it–Uncle Wiggly. And it wasn’t in such bad shape after all.

I whispered a prayer of gratitude for this small but precious gift—a blessing that I hadn’t even asked for.

Does it seem to you that unexpected blessings bring the most joy? Perhaps that’s true because they give us glimpses of God’s love and grace–love and grace that is:

Undeserved. Just as he “gave” me a book I had not searched for nor prayed for, God loved and provided for us before we ever searched for him or prayed to know him.

Personal. Surely there are not many folks who would delight in finding Uncle Wiggly. The blessing of discovering its whereabouts was, it seems, personalized just for me (and Eric).

Similarly, God’s love and grace is personal. Remember the parable of the lost lamb?

“God loves each of us as if there was only one of us”—St. Augustine.

Lavish. It is doubtful a copy of Uncle Wiggly will turn up at a Sotheby’s auction. It is not a valuable antique volume for which collectors will pay thousands of dollars. But for me, finding that book at the bottom of the box was like finding buried treasure, placed there by God himself. It was an unnecessary but perfectly lovely gift from my Heavenly Father.

I couldn’t wait to call Eric and share with him the good news.

* * * * * * * * * *

What unexpected blessing have you received that caused you great joy? Please share your story in the comment section below!

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God Is My Portion

Posted in Blessings, God, God's Goodness, God's Power, God's Presence, God's Provision, God's Strength, Uncategorized, tagged Asaph, God's Attributes, psalm 73, Psalm 73:26 on July 31, 2014| 13 Comments »

Have you met Asaph? He was one of the worship leaders appointed by King David. Twelve of the psalms are credited to him or his sons, including #73.

Read that particular psalm in a modern translation or paraphrase, and you’ll think Asaph is a present-day poet. He writes about pretentious, arrogant people who wear the latest fashions–how they’re pampered, overfed, and full of hot air.

“People actually listen to them—can you believe it?” he complains (vs. 6-10, The Message).

Asaph found his attention drawn to these people who seemed to have it made. He lost sight of true reality for a moment–until he refocused on God and his ways. Asaph realized that many who appear confident and successful are actually on a slippery slope toward disaster. They do not know God.

Tucked at the end of Psalm 73 Asaph celebrates a number of glorious blessings we enjoy as children of the Most High God:

He is as close as a father holding his son or daughter by the hand
With perfect wisdom he guides us through life
When our earthly lives are completed, he’ll take us to heaven to be with him
He is our strength—dependable and empowering
He is our portion forever (vs. 23-26)

These are precious gifts that money cannot buy. God—our constant companion, our perfect guide, our omnipotent strength. Simply affirming such attributes can energize my spirit and provide new resolve.

But one concept does leave me puzzled: “God, my portion.”

A bit of research revealed that the statement, “My portion forever,” is a metaphor taken from an ancient custom of the Jews. When the patriarch of a family died, they would divide the inheritance among the sons. Each would receive his allotted portion, and have his basic necessities taken care of.

The psalmist is proclaiming that GOD is his portion. That portion includes the Lord’s presence, power, strength, peace, joy—all supplied in generous measure. And those are just a few of his many attributes, blessing us with sublime goodness.

Unlike the inherited portion of ancient times, all of God’s children receive all of him, not just a part.

And God as our portion will never diminish. Never could we exhaust all of these attributes. He will be our gracious, caring, empowering Heavenly Father forever.

“As for me, it is good to be near God,” the psalmist continued (v. 28). He’s saying, to live with God is good for us.

Oh, yes. To rest secure upon him as our foundation is the epitome of peace.

To allow him to work through us to fulfill his perfect plan is the essence of fulfillment.

To know that heaven awaits is the height of security.

God as our portion means complete wholeness and absolute contentment.

Who could want anything more?

* * * * * * * * * *

Like Asaph, Father, I can lose my focus on what is truly important and valuable. Thank you for this timeless psalm that draws me back to you and the splendorous gifts you offer. Thank you for nurturing me so that I may affirm with Asaph: “ Earth has nothing I desire besides you” (v. 25). Amen—so be it.

(Photo credit: www.susancady.com.)

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I Shall Not Want

Posted in Blessings, God's Goodness, God's Provision, Godly Character, Jesus, Joy, Praise, Uncategorized, tagged Blessings, Contentment, God's Goodness, God's Provision, Gratitude, Jesus, Joy, Matthew 11:28, Praise, Psalm 119:130, Psalm 23:1 on July 10, 2014| 14 Comments »

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1, KJV).

Many of us memorized those words as children. And many of us may have thought, “Wow! That means, God will give us whatever we want!”

So we prayed for new bicycles, the latest gadgets, and swimming pools in our backyards—absolutely certain that if God gave us these heart desires, we’d be completely satisfied.

Some of our prayers were answered affirmatively. A new bicycle with sparkling spokes actually materialized under the Christmas tree. Or Aunt Louise heard the pleas for Mattell’s Magical Music Thing, and sent it as a birthday gift.

But the wise and introspective among us may have realized early on that:

1. When one desire is fulfilled, another quickly takes its place.

Years ago I heard that a famous actress had accumulated seven houses, each one decorated differently from the others. Why? Because changing locations eased her boredom. ( I wonder how long after each home was completed she decided to purchase another?)

2. God isn’t in the business of making wishes come true.

Some desires become reality; some do not. If he did provide our every whim, we’d become spoiled and self-centered.

So how are we to make sense of David’s introductory statement? It sounds like a whopping exaggeration. “I’m one of God’s flock! I’m gonna live on Easy Street!”

Hardly. David is saying, “God is my loving Care-Giver. What I enjoy in my relationship with him far outweighs anything else this world has to offer. I really don’t want. Another. Single. Solitary. Thing.”

Now there’s an attitude of devotion to cultivate! How can we become that contented?

One place to begin is with gratitude and praise.

Think of all we enjoy as a result of our relationship with God. Peace, joy, and provision, quickly come to mind.

Here are a few more:

Companionship with a perfect Friend—every moment of every day–into eternity. He is always listening, always watchful, always diligent.
Hope. No situation is beyond the abilities of our Almighty God.
Settledness, because he is in control, and “makes good things even out of hard times” (Erica Hale).
Truth. We don’t have to muddle through life like a do-it-yourselfer with no instruction manual. “The unfolding of [God’s] words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).

The truth of the matter comes down to this:

No possession or position, no person, and no place will fill our hearts with satisfaction.

Peaceful, joyful contentment is the outcome of one determination: affirming that in God we have all we need.

Perhaps Jesus was teaching us the way to contentment when he said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Are you weary of the dissatisfaction that results from striving for the next desire? Are you burdened by unfulfilled wishes and dreams?

Come to Jesus. Count the scores of blessings he has already provided in the past, is currently providing this very moment, and has already prepared in the glory of heaven yet to come!

Rest in contented gratitude and praise–free from want.

* * * * * * * * * *

What helps you rest in contented gratitude? Please share in the Comments section below!

(Photo credit: www.kingjamesbible.org.)

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Splashes of Joy

Posted in Blessings, God's Goodness, God's Provision, Joy, Uncategorized, tagged Blessings, Deuteronomy 26:11, God's Goodness, God's Provision, Gratitude, Joy on July 2, 2014| 20 Comments »

(Very similar style to our new home–only ours is even prettier!

Photo credit: www.houzz.com)

Two weeks ago today we arrived at our new home in Ohio, to begin retirement near our sons and their families. Steve’s forty-year chapter of pastoring churches has been completed.

Times of transition almost always prove challenging. The month of June was no exception for us. Saying good-by to our loving, supportive congregation in Florida was difficult. I wanted to split myself in two, leaving half of me there, and moving the other half north to be near family. Either that, or convince the whole church to move with us. Alas.

And then there are all the questions such as:

Will the family still be as enthused about our close proximity a year from now? In ten years?
Will we be able to find a loving, supportive church, where we can make friends and enjoy new opportunities for service?
Will we be able to tolerate winter again, after four decades in the South?

But I already know the answers—in part.

If the family loses their enthusiasm for our presence, whose fault is that?!
I can trust God’s leading to the church home he’s already hand-picked for us. He wants us to grow and serve even more than we do.
Of course we can survive winter! Billions of people do it every year. Besides, the warmth of family will more than compensate.

And warmth of family is just one of many joys proffered by this new chapter in our lives. In fact, I’ve become “misty-eyed from splashes of joy”* a number of times in this process:

Last get-togethers (at least for a while) with old friends, accompanied by much reminiscing and laughter.
A surprise party and reception where love permeated the very air we breathed.
The dozens of thoughtful cards, notes, and gifts received.
A real estate agent and moving company representative who both turned out to be Christians.
The ride from Florida to Ohio with our younger son, Jeremy. (He’s a very funny guy!)
The first glimpse of our new home, especially the spacious, newly renovated kitchen. (We had made decisions from Florida, trusted our son, Eric, with the details, and had seen the process only in pictures.) Just like the homeowners on HGTV, I cried.
The stunning tree-top view out the kitchen/sitting area windows and from the deck, because the house was built into the side of a hill.
A raccoon we’ve named Ralphie, whose home is clearly visible from our back windows and deck. We’ve chuckled at his antics.
Friendly neighbors—one of whom works at Home Depot and has already helped us with an electrical problem.
And of course, the privilege to pop over to Eric’s and Hilja’s—to enjoy their delightful cooking and company and Baby Elena.

I could list more, but you get the idea. Perhaps the phrase “splashes of joy” isn’t quite accurate. It’s been more like a flood.

+ + + + + + + + + +

Oh, Father, how I rejoice in all of the splashes of joy, the good which you have given to me and my house (Deuteronomy 26:11)—INCLUDING the house!

* (Someone else’s expression–not mine—though I wish it was.)

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Part of the Process — Revisited

Posted in Blessings, God's Goodness, God's Power, God's Promises, Perseverance, Praise, Uncategorized, tagged Blessings, God's Goodness, God's Power, God's Ways, Perseverance, Prayer, Psalm 113:9 on June 12, 2014| 4 Comments »

(As most of you know, Steve will soon be retiring from the pastorate, after serving forty years in Florida. Mid-June we move to the Midwest, to be close to our sons and their families. If our daughter and her family would just move east from Washington State, life would be near-perfect!

No doubt you’re also aware that packing and unpacking are time-consuming tasks, so I’m putting the blog on hold for a few weeks. But please continue to visit! I’ll re-blog some previous posts, and hopefully you’ll find them meaningful again, or perhaps for the first time.

The following post was first published 11-7-13.)

Before my friend, Elizabeth, said a word, I knew something was wrong. The slump of her shoulders, the wrinkled brow, the tears welling up in her eyes–they spoke loud and clear.

“You know how Michael and I would like to have a little brother or sister for Ashley,” my friend said, dabbing her eyes with Kleenex. “Well, it’s become more than just a desire for me. I so desperately want another child.” Her voice became tight. “The waiting and uncertainty are becoming unbearable.”

We stood together, in the emptying sanctuary after church, arms entwined. And I prayed for Elizabeth and Michael.

Psalm 113:9, a verse which had ministered to me years before, came to mind. I included the promise in my prayer: “God, you’ve promised ‘to settle the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children.’ We are claiming that promise today for Michael and Elizabeth. Even now we look forward to the day when they are holding a precious, new baby in their arms.”

Note the verse says children, not child.

The prayer came out of my mouth with certainty and brazen expectation, not in keeping with my cautious personality at all. I have to admit, the thought crossed my mind, What if God intends for Elizabeth and Michael to have just one child? You’ve gone way out on a limb with that prayer!

But I voiced no disclaimers. I let the prayer stand on its foundation of conviction–conviction that didn’t come from my spirit as much as from the Holy Spirit.

For the weeks that followed, I continued to pray that God would bless this couple with another child.

Weeks later, Elizabeth approached me once again. Before she said a word, I knew what she was going to say. Her outspread arms, wide grin, and sparkling eyes spoke loud and clear.

“I’m pregnant!” she cried.

We hugged each other tight and noisily exclaimed our jubilation.

Would I have been as excited had I not been praying for this family? Delighted, yes. But jump-up-and-down ecstatic? Probably not.

My joy was greatly expanded because I had invested myself in the outcome—with the effort of prayer.

Yes, there are many reasons to pray, including these benefits:

Our wills are aligned to God’s will (Psalm 37:4).
Strength of character is developed through the discipline of perseverance (Luke 11:5-8).
We have the opportunity to bring glory to God (John 14:13).
Prayer is a means of fighting against evil (Ephesians 6:10-18, especially verse 18).

But the wonder of prayer, for me, is the privilege God gives us to be part of the process, as he engineers circumstances to accomplish his will.

Every time God moves in situations for which we’ve prayed, he is giving us a precious gift: the gift of participation with him–in a miracle.

Maybe two.

Michael and Elizabeth had twin girls!

* * * * * * * * * *

Heavenly Father, thank you for the splendid privilege of participating with you in the healing, protection, provision, and guidance with which you bless others. May I never get tired of bringing my requests to you, knowing that the joyful conclusion will be worth every moment spent in prayer!

(Photo credit: www.saveourschoolsnz.files.wordpress.com; http://www.etsy.com.)

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God’s Delight — Revisited

Posted in Encouragement, God's Delight, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Grace, God's Love, God's Provision, Godly Character, Uncategorized, tagged God's Goodness, God's Grace, God's Love, God's Provision, Godly Character, Obedience on June 9, 2014| 4 Comments »

The following post was first published 11-29-12.)

Breathe in this truth, long and deep:

God delights in you.

“That’s impossible,” you may say. “I can be downright self-centered, lazy, and prideful. Some days I can’t seem to do anything right. How could God possibly be pleased with me?” (I am quite familiar with this train of thought myself!)

Listen carefully.

(“The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love (Psalm 147:11).”

Fear, in this case, does not refer to terror. Fear refers to these attitudes:

reverence
trust
respect
awe
appreciation

The second half of the verse above makes clear that God rejoices in those who turn to him with faith.

If you fear God, as described here, and wholeheartedly hope in him, then the following statements are true of you:

He smiles upon you as you express appreciation for his blessings.

His eyes glisten with love as you pray for guidance and strength.

He revels in the time you spend immersed in his Word.

His heart fills with joy as you exult in creation.

He beams with pleasure when you help a stranger.

He rejoices when your heart is filled with peace and joy.

Yes, there are going to be moments when we stumble back into selfishness and pride. We’re not perfect—at least I’m not. But hallelujah! God does not leave it up to us to work through the perfecting-process alone.

Consider this good news the writer of Hebrews shared:

“May the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Wow. God not only makes clear what pleases him, he works in our hearts and minds to mold us into those kind of people.

Meanwhile, I think he takes great pleasure in progress, just like human parents do.

You know how it is. Mom and Dad practically shiver with excitement when their tyke takes his first step and speaks his first word.

But did they expect their little one to learn these skills on his own? Hardly. With loving attention they held the little guy upright so he could practice taking steps. They repeated words countless times until their toddler could form them on his own.

Now relate this situation to our Heavenly Father. Isn’t it probable he experiences the same joy as we rely upon him to take faltering steps toward spiritual maturity?

* * * * * * * * * *

Thank you, Lord, for being a gracious God who actually delights in his children. Thank you for loving us in spite of our failings and for smiling upon our efforts, meager as they may be. Our hearts are filled with awe and gratitude to realize you, the ultimate, all-powerful King of the universe, not only care about each step of progress we make, you are right beside us, enabling. You are magnificent—I can never praise you enough!

(Photo credits: www.crosscards.com; http://www.gettyimages.com.)

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God Is Our Refuge–Revisited

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, God, God's Goodness, God's Presence, God's Promises, God's Refuge, Uncategorized, Worry, tagged Encouragement, Faith, God, God our Refuge, God's Goodness, Hurt Feelings, James 4:7, Negativity, Psalm 119:114, Psalm 31:19-20, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 9:9, Worry on June 2, 2014| 4 Comments »

(As most of you know, Steve will soon be retiring from the pastorate, after serving forty years in Florida. Mid-June we move to the Midwest, to be close to our sons and their families. Now if our daughter and her family would just move east from Washington State, life would be near-perfect!

The following post was first published 12-3-12.)

When I was a little girl, my parents kept a large garden in the backyard. They grew corn, beans, tomatoes, strawberries, lettuce, and more.

Among all that produce grew something else: garter snakes. I was petrified of those snakes, in spite of assurances from Mom and Dad that they could do me no harm.

So what was my reaction if, while playing in the yard, I noticed the slightest bit of slithering? I RAN while emitting eardrum-splitting shrieks. No doubt those snakes took off just as rapidly in the opposite direction, but I never looked back to find out.

Those experiences make a good word-picture of what my response should be when snakes of negativity, worry, or hurt feelings invade my mind. RUN!

James recommended exactly that: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (4:7b).

But where should I run to? As a child, when seeking escape from the garter snakes, I often ran into the house, a safe and secure refuge. (Although I did have the occasional nightmare about smart snakes, who knew how to slither under doors and up stairs, so even the house wasn’t safe!)

As an adult, facing “snakes” of a different nature, where should I run?

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

That means, when my thoughts begin to turn to the negative, I need to run to God, my refuge of hope and help (Psalm 119:114).

When people speak or act unkindly and my emotions are bruised, I need to run to God, my refuge of comfort (Psalm 31:19-20).

When worry overtakes me, I need to run to God, my refuge of peace (Psalm 9:9).

Once my attention is focused on him, I must:

Look into his eyes and see the great everlasting love he has for me (Jeremiah 31:3).

Sense his strong arms around me, holding me close to his heart (Isaiah 40:11).

Hear him reminding me of all his promises and all the times he has blessed me in the past (Psalm 77:11-12).

Taste his goodness (Psalm 34:8) in all the flavors of his attributes: power, wisdom, holiness, loving-kindness, grace, and more.

And what will be the end result? “Let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy” (Psalm 5:11a). That sure beats cowering, fretting, and flustering, doesn’t it?

* * * * * * * * * *

Thank you, Father, for availing yourself to us as a refuge, a person-place we can run to for help, protection, and peace. We love you, O Lord, our strength, because you are our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer (Psalm 18:1).

Thank you for caring for us, those who seek to trust in you (Nahum 1:7). May we avail ourselves of your gladness and joy rather than let the snakes of negativity, worry, or emotional hurt get the best of us!

(Photo credit: www.wikimedia.org.)

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God Is Our Refuge–Revisited

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