The tree. Unwrapping gifts. Cooking. Santa. Family. Travel. Stockings. Services at church.
Amid all the excitement, sights and noises, and the pressure of the Christmas “To Do” list, take time today to meditate on the True Gift of Christmas – Jesus our Savior who came as a baby to a poor family to bring hope and salvation to your family.
Merry Christmas!
Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. Luke 6:20-23
When I was a child there was a wonderful hymn we sang in church titled “Count Your Blessings.” You may remember it; we don’t sing it much anymore because its words are a bit antiquated, but the premise of the song is an important one. When we are discouraged, when we are weighed down with the cares of this life, when we see others flourishing while we are barely getting by, or when we are embroiled in conflict, we do not need to let these thoughts consume us, depress us, or make us doubt God’s love for us.
What do we need to do? The song title says it all. We need to count our blessings.
A favorite author of mine, Anne Voskamp wrote a wonderful little book, One Thousand Gifts. It documents a year long effort she made to keep a journal of things for which she was grateful. Finding things to be grateful for in every situation of life, can be a challenge for me. I think that is why I loved her book and also why I love the song “Count Your Blessings.” They both remind me to look for the good, the blessing, the unexpected moments of joy in even the worst of times.
So, this Thanksgiving if you are struggling to find God’s goodness and grace to you in the trials of life, drag out a journal or a piece of paper and start a list. I’ll give you three things to start your list:
Now it’s your turn. Go for it! Add to your list. Intentionally think through and seek out things worth giving thanks for no matter how small they are. Good things come in small packages you know!
Listen to the hymn. Mull over its words. Count your blessings and be blessed!
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. [Refrain]
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. [Refrain]
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. [Refrain]
Baptist Hymnal, 1991
We live in this tension between eternity and the brevity of this temporal life. Between what is and what will be. Between living for God in a way that impacts future generations while at the same time realizing that time is short and this could be the last generation God allows to inhabit this earth. We live in this cocoon between physical birth and physical death, yet those of us who are Believers are eternal beings. Oh, the complexity of the life with Christ!
We exist in this world as “new creatures” while at the same time we feel the tug of the “old creature” pulling back like a shadow permanently attached to us, yet with a weight that tries to drag us back to the past, back to who we once were. We sense the freedom of our new justified state (forgiven and made right) in our relationship with Father God while we are still in the process of being sanctified (made holy) day by day. The dichotomy is almost too much for this human mind to grasp.
We live our daily lives in the balance too. We waiver between holiness and sinfulness on any given day. We waffle between glorifying God and self-glorification from one moment to the next. We make wise choices and selfish, evil choices within minutes of each other every single day. As the apostle Paul said, “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” Romans 7:18-19
I am so glad that God is infinite, because my finite mind cannot comprehend all of these opposites that go hand-in-hand in the Christian life. So for today I will fully live in the in-between: the world of spirit and flesh, temporal and eternal, for the present and future, life and death, new creature and old, holy and sinful, godly and selfish, wise and foolish.
God is in the in-between. Worship and praise is in the in-between. Growth is in the in-between. Seeking holiness is in the in-between. A pathway to purity and righteousness is in the in-between. A valley is in the in-between, and God makes a way in the in-between and leads us through the valley of desperation to the place where we will live with Him forever.
Authors: Brea Burelle & Debbie Stovall
The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. ~ Psalm 103:15-16 NIV
At first glance these verses seem gloomy for mortal man – a reminder of the transitory nature of life. In two short verses we can see a person born, grow up, wear out this human frame, dry up, and blow away never to be thought of again. Sadly, that is the fate of those who do not know the Lord. An early morning fog that burns away and is gone is the metaphorical picture we get in James 4:14.
But God.
God enters the equation for Believers. This wisp of a life, that all of us over a certain age realize is much briefer than we could comprehend in our early years, is not just evaporating mist or a withering flower. When God enters the picture, when Jesus becomes our Savior, our lives become eternal. And Eternal life doesn’t just start when we die. It starts from the day we accept Christ. Instead of dried up weeds to turn crispy-brown in the heat, to be trod upon and forgotten, there is an eternal significance, a purpose for the rest of our mortal life on earth.
When we read these verses maybe this dandelion image above is more accurate of the Believer’s life. A dandelion doesn’t just dry up and return to soil. It sends out its delicate floating pappi like tiny little hot air balloons into unknown places. It’s not just beautiful and intriguing to little children. It’s spreading its seeds for a purpose, to create a future, to carry on with its mission.
One reason we love this little weed is because of the joy and hope it gives as it sheds its crown of seeds and becomes a bare stalk when the wind blows. As the wind of the Spirit blows through our lives, are we simply drying up and dying as the verse above indicates of mankind? Or are we releasing seeds, sending them out for the future?
What about your life? Is it releasing seeds of faith, hope and love? Is it sending out the Gospel message to be carried on long after you are gone? It is not important for people to remember you or me when we are gone. What is important is that the seeds of our life make a positive impact for the Kingdom of God in the places they land. Are you living life today in a way that accomplishes that? Are you allowing Christ to grow fruit in your life that will develop and be ready to soar carrying the message to unknown people and places down through generations even after you are gone?
After growing up as the compliant, follow-the-rules kind of girl, I’ve arrived at late adulthood with a deep desire for grace, to understand God’s grace, to experience it, and to give grace to others.
It’s funny, not humorous funny, but odd funny, how when God is teaching you something He comes at you from a dozen different directions: scripture, people you encounter, podcasts, books you read, sermons, daily devotional articles, as well as other more unusual angles.
About a year ago our Sunday women’s class studied boundaries. At the end, I realized that I, we, probably needed to balance that out with some grace. It’s much too easy to set boundaries with harsh tones and heavy-handedness, but much harder to do it with grace. Thus began a journey of me seeking Grace and God tossing it in my face almost daily.
After scouring the online Christian bookstores I ordered four books on grace and have been reading them slowly this year. God began His work. He started pricking my conscience at every un-grace-filled behavior, word, or attitude I had. He randomly dropped into my life grace scriptures, grace podcasts, grace quotes on kitchen towels, a new friend named Grace, and a great little gift book from a friend on Grace and Truth…and then came the UPS debacle.
On the 4th of July, my husband stumbled upon an online sale at our favorite clothing store. We were planning a short trip for just us and the grandkids right before school started back, so he ordered a few things and suggested I do the same. I found time to do that later in the day – so we had two separate orders coming in about a week.
My husband’s order was delivered right on time, but I got an update that mine was delayed. I eagerly checked the tracking number each day for over a week. I looked at the doorstep every time I drove up to our home. Nothing. I had been so excited. After dropping a few pounds since last summer it was exciting to think of adding something new to the wardrobe!
After another week with no new updates coming I called customer service only to find that my order couldn’t be located. Sigh. So what then? The UPS guy suggested we file a claim.
I was sure they would locate my precious clothes. So once again I looked at the doorstep and checked the tracking info. Still nothing.
It was then I began praying.
Father, I know this is a stupid thing to pray over, but I do need something to wear that fits, and I really liked what I picked out. Could you just let it show up? But if it doesn’t, I choose to be content either way.
Another week passed. I got a notice that the claim was closed. I wouldn’t be getting what I ordered. I resolved to call on that Monday to see what I needed to do to have my money reimbursed. I must admit, I was sad. Content with what God had allowed, but disappointed.
When I called on Monday, and gave the lady my name and order number, she said, “Oh yes, we’re sorry. UPS could not deliver because your address label had gotten damaged so that they didn’t know where to send it. Let me see if we have all these in stock and we will ship you a new box.”
At that moment God decided to give me a grace gift. A silly little temporal trinket of clothing I had chosen. Nothing holy or wise or necessarily godly. Just something I desired. He was going to make a way. As the lady typed in each number she commented, “Yes, we have that still in stock in your size.” Only one was unavailable, but they had it in another color which worked! In His grace, God chose to show me His kindness and love by giving me something I wanted.
I immediately thought of several verses:
Luke 11:13 – If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
James 1:17 – Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Romans 8:32 – He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Ephesians 1:3 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Every gift. Not just the spiritual gifts, but every gift comes to us because of God’s grace: that house you live in, that job, that car… . He is generous and kind and loving in His giving. He gives and blesses us with every spiritual blessing, but also with daily kindnesses and physical blessings. God’s grace is abundant! It is prodigal – He always overdoes it in the giving! And His gifts are Grace-gifts; they are given not as a reward or a payment, but just because He loves us so. As we learn to see these Grace-gifts for what they are, may we first be grateful. But second, may we come to live lives that overflow with abundant grace to others. As writer Max Lucado calls it – let us live Grace-Shaped lives!
Fireworks, watermelon, American flags, cookouts, and patriotic music – these are just some of the things that make up the Fourth of July for many Americans. As we prepare to celebrate, my mind wanders back to those Independence Day celebrations of my formative years….
I recall the warnings to be careful with sparklers and firecrackers and the cold refreshment of hand-cranked homemade ice cream at the end of a sweltering July day in Alabama. I also vividly remember as a kid the first time I heard the joke “Do they have a 4th of July in England?” After thinking No, of course not, and then Why would England celebrate our independence from them; I finally realized Oh yeah, July 4th is just a date on the calendar. (I’m slow. I know.) That little moment woke me up to the rest of the world. Suddenly, I was a child of the world, not just an American. In a similar way, we as Christians in America need to wake up to the world.
As an elementary school kid, patriotism and love for our “dear ole USA” was encouraged. And as a Christian, honoring and respecting our country and its laws went hand in hand with the godly values taught. Prayers were said at school (back then) and the pledge of allegiance to the country was recited at the church Vacation Bible Schools. It was all meshed together in my mind – the whole “being an American and being a Christian” thing. Somehow faith and nationalism became mixed in the minds of many. And now we find ourselves as adult Christians who serve up Western culture right along with Christianity at times.
This Independence Day as we ooh and aah over fireworks displays set to our favorite patriotic tunes, let’s plan to do some self-evaluation.
Enjoy celebrating America’s birth! Examine your perspectives. Let’s live out Scripture even when our walk is oddly out of sync with American culture. And take some time this holiday to demonstrate Christ’s love to all the folks you encounter at the fireworks display!
Did I tell you about the time we drove to Virginia to stay in a rental cabin at the peak of the Blue Ridge Mountains and arrived after dark,… in a brand new place,… down a winding gravel road,… and one of the kids happened to mention, “I hope there are no bears or snakes when we get out of the car”?
Or how about the time we went exploring down a rutted dirt road near a lake,… after it had been raining,… right as dusk was falling,… spun our wheels trying to climb the hill to leave,… were afraid we were going to be stuck there overnight, and took an hour packing the ruts with logs and sticks to be able to climb the hill out?
Or maybe the time at the beach when this novice beach driver parked a huge Chevy sedan in soft sand?
No? I haven’t told you these?
Ok, then surely I’ve mentioned camping in a tent with kiddos when it snowed that night,… followed by rain all the next day,… a flooded tent,… and having to find a hotel and leave 4 kids age 13 and under in the hotel alone while we parents went back and broke camp, threw the tent away, and came really close to cursing! #@&*%#$
Or the time we blew an engine moving between cities at 10:00pm and had to abandon a vehicle loaded with stuff at a rest stop?
Or the time…
Well, you get the picture. Let me just say, that these are just the tip of the iceberg.
Our family has had many unexpected adventures through the years – some of them frightening at the time, some frustrating, and all anxiety producing. The first few were jolting and ramped up our fears and frustration. But over the years a truth has become clear, no matter how difficult and scary these times were, they each became a favorite story for our family to reminisce about.
We survived everything we were sure we would not. And you know what else, we learned to find humor in the hard times, to zip our lips and not accuse fellow family members, to be patient and kind, and NOT to worry, nor curse.
And my favorite lesson, we learned to get some perspective in the moment. When our family is having an unwelcome adventure these days, inevitably one of the group will say, “This is gonna make a great story one day!” It breaks the tension. We are reminded of all those hard, scary times God has already brought us through. The heart rates slow and we are able to breathe.
Now why did it take us years to learn those lessons? Because somehow we did not believe the truth of the Word of God that says:
All I can say is, learn from our mistakes so you don’t have to make your own. Father God is trustworthy. We can count on Him. We are His beloved. Take a breath in the middle of the chaos and tell yourself, “This is gonna make a great story one day!” Then trust God for your every need and fear.
It looked likely to become a dark and stormy night. Suntanned and a bit tired from the day’s outing in the mountains, our family felt cheerful as we drove through the valley, trying to beat the impending bad weather to our cabin. Our chances of that began to look bleak. As Murphy’s Law would predict, anything that could go wrong did.
We had started up the west side of the Blue Ridge Mountains when we realized we’d forgotten to get gas. We turned around for the town we had passed through a few miles back, understanding that we were losing time against the rolling clouds. At the gas station it was not only fuel, but a restroom that was needed. With a family of six, that takes a bit.
After the quickest possible stop for fuel, we once again headed up the two-lane road over the mountains. Dusk was coming quickly for us on the unfamiliar winding highway. About ten minutes into the climb we drove into a wall of cloud. Not just a gentle lowland fog like we were used to, but an honest-to-goodness, totally opaque cloud. Immediately, we had to slow down. Headlights couldn’t penetrate the fog bank; in fact, they made visibility worse as our headlights reflected back off the water droplets of the fog.
We were traveling in a rather new vehicle and had no clue how to turn on the fog lights. After creeping along a quarter of a mile or so, we caught a glimpse of a sign for a scenic pull-off. Cautiously wrangling the car into the pull-off, we parked and grabbed the User’s Manual to figure out the fog lights.
We managed to get them on and pulled back onto the road hoping the fog was temporary and would have abated some. But no, if anything it was getting more dense. Even with the fog lights to help visibility, I had to slow down to 5-10 miles per hour. My husband, concerned about a low shoulder or drop off, rolled down his window and stuck his head out to make sure I was within the line marking the edge of the pavement.
It was a tense period of time. The kids were hushed in the back seat sensing our tension. I had a white knuckle grip on the wheel, and my husband spoke only as necessary to give me driving warnings or encouragement as we crept higher into the mountain fog. Some relief came as we felt ourselves top the mountain and begin our descent into the valley on the other side.
Although it seemed like hours of creeping through the fog, in reality it was probably thirty minutes or less until we broke out of the fog when we were several hundred feet down the other side. As suddenly as it had come the fog was gone. The tension in the car broke with exhaled breaths, and a bit of lighthearted chatter picked back up.
Why do I tell this long story? I’m glad you asked.
In life we may be cruising along having a happy time – then suddenly, we are hit with the unexpected. It often feels quite like my trip through that fog bank.
The Problem.
The Solution.
Our only recourse in those foggy life adventures, is to do what we know to do. That includes:
As you face your next crisis, storm, or trial, remember these steps, and the following verses. The Father will guide you through your fog bank.
Isaiah 64:4 – Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
Psalm 139:1-5 – You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
Genesis 50:19-20 – But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Romans 8:28 & 32 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. … 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
He is risen indeed!
Praise to the One who died for our sin.
Praise to the One who raised Jesus as the firstfruit from the dead so that we may live forever with Him.
Hallelujah! Praise God!
“This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” John 11:4
Sometimes a single word can light up your brain with a whole story or a huge lesson. Names especially can do this: Nemo… DeSoto… Madame Curie… and from scripture, names like Zaccheus… Lazarus… You could give me The Story on each of these most likely. I thought I could too. At least until yesterday when I saw something new in the Lazarus narrative I had never seen before. Studying through the book of John, something leapt off the page of God’s Word.
Last week, in preparation for Sunday, I had read John 11 in its entirety, read some commentary on it, and was sitting in Sunday morning Bible class participating in a discussion pretty familiar with the chapter. As we reflected on details, we flipped back and forth observing verses that fleshed out the basics we can all re-tell so easily. We had looked at every kids’ favorite memory verse in John 11:35 – “Jesus wept.” Now, the focus of the moment had turned to Jesus’ behavior at the first part of the chapter when He received word that His friend was sick, before Lazarus had died. The part where Jesus didn’t rush to Bethany and prevent Lazarus from dying!
As I flipped back to look at what happened, verse 4 caught my eye.
“This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” John 11:4
Right here, at the beginning, Jesus had told His disciples that this wouldn’t end in death. Then he lingered before He went, and Lazarus died. BUT this was only the middle of the story, not the end. You know the end: stinky four-day-old corpse, opening of the tomb, Jesus speaks a command, and out walks Lazarus, Zombie-style in grave clothes – Alive! It was a Hallelujah ending!
What began with sickness and a plea to the Messiah for help, proceeded through death, burial, and grieving, but ended with Glory!
Ladies, I wish I could tell you to just follow Jesus and your life will be rainbows and sunshine. But we all know “No rain, no rainbows.” What I can tell you with assurance are these things:
So take heart this week. If it seems Jesus is delaying in doing something you are asking Him to do, or if He isn’t preventing death from entering your story, remember that He has Glory for the End of Your Story! Hope in the Lord!
Priceless 