Faith and Gratitude

 What has God done for you lately?

We know God loves us. We've been told this from childhood. We accept as if we deserved it and may become unaware of His intervention and watch care. And since He is omniscient, we believe that He knows in our hearts that we love and appreciate His many gifts (beginning with our existence). So why is it important to acknowledge His role in our lives?

Let's look at this from another angle. You have a friend who is always in hot water, struggling to stay afloat, and who asks for your help. You quickly agree because this is your dear friend and you drop everything to assist in finding a way out of this current trouble. Your friend is grateful and you feel relief that all is well.

But before you get your own life back on schedule, your dear friend calls again; again you rearrange your schedule and rush to help. And soon this pattern is established; your friend seems to expect you to drop everything when you get the 911 call. And if you are not instantly available, you sense a little impatience or resentment implying that you are unfeeling and selfish, and a distance grows between you. Your friend begins to resent your failure to rescue and may even blame you for the latest pit he or she has fallen into. She seems unable (or unwilling) to learn how to avoid the bumps in her road.

You begin to feel hurt as you realize your friend hasn't taken your advice in the past and doubt she deeply appreciates your sacrifice of time and energy you have given her. You doubt she will ever stop depending on you to solve her problems. The gap in your relationship grows wider until she stops seeking your companionship; clearly the breach is beyond repair. Both of you have lost a friend. Do you really want to be the needy friend described above?

A little genuine gratitude affirms our relationship with others (and with God) and prevents our growing complacent, assuming that God is like Santa Claus, existing to fulfill all our wishes. For our relationship to flourish, love and gratitude must be expressed by word and deed—our willingness to heed His Word and testify to His faithfulness before others  who don’t know our Savior.

Also, gratitude shown before fulfillment of a prayer demonstrates our faith in His provision. In the story of the ten lepers, Jesus told them they were healed and to go show themselves to the priest to be declared clean. They began walking toward the temple before they saw evidence of healing. Only one of the ten turned back to thank Jesus before proceeding to the temple. Jesus's comment on this shows He values our gratitude.

Ten Lepers Cleansed     Luke 17:11-19  

      11While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; 13and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18“Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”    

Why Do Christians Have Problems?

When things are going good, we forget we need God’s protection or that we need to return His love and attention. He may, gently or otherwise, send us a reminder that we cannot handle everything headed our way without His help. He yearns for our love and obedience. 

We’ve misbehaved, made a choice that carries a penalty which must be enforced, yet His promise is to go through our day with us, whether good or bad, easy or difficult, peacefully or in pain. He doesn’t punish us by sending trouble our way—the trouble we receive may be of our own making. “Do the crime. You do the time.”

Others, who don’t know God, are watching to see how we handle the same problems they endure.  God may use our attitude in time of trouble to get their attention. (Let’s try not to give them the wrong impression.)

In His greater plan, we may be bit players in His complex plan for someone else’s life. 

News Flash!!! None of us is the center of the universe, yet He is fully aware of every fleeting thought, our kindnesses, our failures, and all of us individually are the apple of His eye.

In order to grow confidence in His provision for us, He may allow Satan to test our resolve and faith, enabling us to exercise our faith muscles, strengthening our determination to fulfill His purpose for us without demanding He first explain before we consent.

We’ve forgotten we inherited Adam’s sinful nature. We do not live in Eden, folks. We live in a fallen world, where things go wrong, even if we’re not misbehaving. Our problems are not punishment; troubles rain on the just and unjust. (Once a man said this to me when he took away my job, along with several other unfortunate folks, and I thought at the time he didn't even look damp! But in God's time I was soon blessed with the best job I ever had and somehow, when I began work at the best workplace I had ever experienced, my bank balance was very like it was on that scary day two months earlier. God had been watching after all.) While Satan is free to wreak havoc in this world, evil exists and disease and there will be victims.

No matter what the reason for the tenor of our day, we must remember we are not alone. Our Holy Father is right beside us, His Spirit within us, to keep us from fear and failure.

It’s true this world is not fair but the next one is.

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

Psalms 139:16

Following Jesus, whether through blessings or burdens, has the same result: being conformed to His image.       (Romans 8:28-29).

Knowing God

Throughout my life, I managed from time to time to get a new glimpse of this great God who created me. Each new insight seems to overwhelm me for a time. Until I get used to this new kernel of knowledge. Before long, I seem to file away that new aspect of my Holy Father, and too often begin waiting expectantly for another crumb to drop from His table. In a way, it's as though I'm climbing a ladder, except I tend to doze off instead of reaching for the next level.

On looking back, I can see myself slumbering through daily life on autopilot when I should have been eagerly looking for the Lord’s next revelation and praising Him for the blessings already filed. When I actually take time to inventory the riches from His bounty, my eyes are filled with images proving His provision,

                                   His power,
                                               His passion
                                                           for His creations: a bird in spring bringing food to her hatchings, a bee who somehow knows to collect pollen from a flower which results in honey, a busy ant working in concert with its army as an example to me to be more industrious. These things remind me of His loving care and make me feel safe in His arms. I’m comfortable and familiar with this God.

Other images remind me of His mighty power and my heart thuds in my chest to see displays of God’s power: a mighty waterfall roaring over a cliff, a lightning streak burning anything it touches, crashing thunder vibrating in the pit of my stomach, a tsunami (thankfully experienced only through film), the nothingness left behind a tornado, the comets whizzing through space toward earth, which He diverts and saves our world while we’re not even aware of danger.

And yet most days I drift through my day, barely remembering to say hello to my Heavenly Father and forgetting, ignoring the great punishment this same God could have brought to me (which I deserve) and the horrific punishment Jesus suffered so I will not.

I startle in horror when I am suddenly aware of Almighty God. How dare I ignore His presence, His ownership of this world and its inhabitants? I cringe as I comprehend anew that this same God controls my very existence, my next breath of air, and His great love is equaled by His standard of perfection. How can I daily live as though ignoring Him is an option?  Our next world, whether a palace in His presence or locked away forever in an eternal fiery darkness, will depend on whether we honor and obey, or turn away from His hand reaching to bring us to safety.

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  Psalm 46:10 New American Standard

Notice He doesn't say exalted "by My people", He's talking about all of us on that day, believers or not prior to Judgment Day. He is a fierce God, an awesome. fearsome God to those who don't answer His call. Ready or not, judgment will come!

It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.     Romans 14:11, New American Standard

He says give me your heart now;  don't wait for Judgment Day, you will be left behind!

Hosanna to the God of All There Is!

Who, What is Your God?

 When I read that NASA sent men into space and back using a huge roomful of computers less powerful than the one in my cell phone, I started thinking about the intelligence of men and their choices.

During my lifespan we have gone from bicycles, cars, and single-engine aircraft to jet airplanes, the internet, rocket ships, and each innovator bringing something new looked at the previous generation as primitive, ignorant, out of date. I wonder though, didn’t it require just as much ingenuity and genius to invent the first wheel, wagon, or car? Or to progress from sign language to the quill, the first printing press, telegraph, telephone, internet? Each new invention was built upon knowledge of some previous machine serving mankind. And that’s important to remember.

Many scientists say man is master of this world; there is no God. They will tell you firmly, as if they were there, that the world just happened. No plan, no creator, just BANG! This wonderfully coordinated, complex, beautiful world just happened? I find it interesting that of the various branches of science, there are more Christians among astronomers than in any other field of science. They have looked beyond this world and have seen the vastness of space and its many universes, all so beautifully created to work in harmony and therefore many astronomers dismiss the big bang theory.  

Psalm 19:1 says The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Many people worship the creation rather than the Great Creator. They say man is the ultimate authority, in control of his fate. They say they can create life, meaning cloning, but that's not creating; it's reproducing/remodeling. Throughout my 8+ decades, I have learned to know and trust my Creator, my Savior, my Father in heaven. If I'm wrong, oops. At least I enjoyed the relationship I believed I had. Although, if I'm right, these other folks are quite probably in trouble, big trouble.

Father's Day

As small children we learn that our father’s awesome strength has power over our lives, whether to protect, teach or discipline.

Remember when we were very young, how we would look forward to his coming home after work? How we would run to him and he would scoop us into his arms and hold us close? And he always brought a surprise when he returned after a trip, some little thing. Just something to show he was thinking about us when we were apart.

Sometimes in a bad mood or just plain cross with our world, we weren’t eager to run to his arms when he came home, dreading to face the punishment we had earned. Sometimes he would have to search for us, to make us face his discipline and forgiveness before we were ready for the hugs we longed for.  

As we became older, that fear morphed into anger at not being allowed to do what we want. We made excuses and pouted when disciplined. We didn’t yearn for his company—we blamed his rules for our misery. He was old-fashioned, out of date. We might grudgingly acknowledge shame at our misstep. Perhaps not until we became parents did we fully appreciate the love behind the discipline, the reasons behind “Because I said so”. 

But some of us learned early in life not to trust our imperfect father and yearned for the relationship we saw in other families. We may have found impatience or indifference instead of love. Avoiding his homecoming became routine; we would grow bitter. Life isn’t fair.

God gave us human families so we could see a picture, though dimly, of the relationship He seeks with each of us. For those of us without parents able to provide this image of love, God planted the yearning for perfect love in our hearts for that something missing that only our Heavenly Father can freely give. A love we can trust to provide discipline and guidance if we look beyond the momentary discomfort with which He draws our attention to Him.   

                                         FATHER’S HANDS                         

             My Father’s hands, so big and strong

Lift me up when things go wrong;

When His hands hold me near,

I know there is naught to fear;

His hands so gently, without wrath,

Nudge me firmly back onto His path;

My Father’s hands hold me tight

And keep me safe throughout the night.

For it is God who works in you both to will and
to do for His good pleasure.   Philippians 2:13

                                            

Christians and Politics

Sometimes we feel like we shouldn’t even get involved—politics is a dirty game.

After watching the news, we often feel like we need a quick shower. Other times we feel like we’re invisible, our voices are ignored when we express disapproval at some of the decisions made by our leaders.  If one of our Christian brothers tries to get involved and, heaven forbid, runs for office, he’s suspected of selling out; because we should be above all the sleazy backroom deals required to succeed. 

There have been many demonstrations of disrespect and hostility surrounding our last presidential election, to the point of public disturbances. Saddened by the disorder and outright hatred expressed so publicly, what is our responsibility as Christians?  And when we disagree with morality of a law, what are we to do? Avert our eyes or protest? And if we protest, we may break the law and there are consequences. What are we supposed to do? I confess the only word I had read on the subject was Jesus's remark in Luke 20:25. "Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's."

 Dr. Robert Jeffress, Dallas First Baptist pastor,  spoke on the subject last Sunday and Romans 13 gives a complete idea of our response to government, and our answer to these questions is very plain:

Romans 13:1-5 says: Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.  3For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4For it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’  

Dr. Jeffress pointed out that leaders, good or bad, are placed as God sees fit. Like him or not, we must realize God had a reason for placing us under this authority.  And happy about His choice or not, I plan to stay on the winner’s side of that disagreement! So what can we do as God’s people to make our situation better? Pray for our leadership. If you’re praying for someone, you'll find it difficult to condemn him. You can’t do both!

1^st Timothy 2:1-4, 8 says: 1First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and  dignity. 3This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,   4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

Purity: Is It Optional?

When have you heard anyone use the word purity except in describing water? Purity of water is a life or death matter worldwide. Why should we be surprised to see how important purity is to our heavenly Father?

I heard Andy Stanley ask that question recently and was surprised to realize that the word seems to have gone the way of horse collars, blacksmiths or the Elizabethan ”thee and thou” of the King James Bible.

I saw an illustration on Face Book about the transition of coal to diamond. All it takes is great pressure (which I’m sure the coal never voted for) and time—lots of time. I remembered other images I heard of years ago about allowing God to perfect, or purify, our lives, but somehow it never occurred to me that the process could be painful.

Matthew 3:12 describes God sifting out what is not good and useful to Him. “His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." That doesn’t sound like gentle handling, but it's not optional in His view-- it's necessary. (I don't want to be considered chaff!)

And take clay for instance. I had in mind the image of nice, cool clay, gently caressed and coaxed into shape, but no.   First the Potter slaps it onto a wheel and twirls it and twists it and shapes it into the form He desires and then to make sure the change He created is fixed, He puts it into the fire. Ouch! The result is something useful, often a thing of beauty.

A sword is traditionally a necessary or lifesaving tool for a Warrior, as is a knife to a Hunter. Base material is alternately softened by fire and shaped with hammer and anvil to temper the metal, make it strong. The result is an effective, dependable tool He can trust.

A Gardener carefully separates and destroys weeds from His crops. He places a protective fence and guards His cultivated garden from birds or animals, thieves who come to steal or destroy.  

Most cities have museums or parks with beautiful sculptures honoring someone whose memory is respected by figures in stone, shaped by an Artist from rough, jagged, muddy stone dug from the ground and transformed into His vision of beauty, not gently changed, but with hammer and chisel.

Deep within the earth’s surface, mixed with common soil and gravel, A miner finds gold, powder or tiny bits, not all that attractive, but He knoss how to purify it. You guessed it: after washing the mixture to separate the impurities, He uses fire to refine the yellow matter into something beautiful.

One thing all these products have in common is that their destiny is in the hands of their Creator and discomfort or pain is usually involved to create something of great value. Why should we not expect some discomfort--or sadness--in our lives? We can trust our Creator and allow Him to form us into the image of His Son, ridding us of our blemishes and brokenness, revealing our true nature as children of our King.                                        

                                                            THE SUN

Fire melts butter, so they say;

Why does the sun then harden clay?

Now the question comes into play,

Does the sun pity butter, or hate the clay?

Does it bestow its heat upon a whim,

Or is the difference in the two of them? 

What mystery is held in the sun's kiss?

I suspect the truth is merely this:

Clay resists the Son's presence,

While butter yields its essence;

O Lord, create in me, I pray,

A heart of butter, not of clay.