Then, because so many
people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he
said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31
Going into this week I knew that it would be busy with obligations to family, friends and to you as readers. I’m also trying to get yard work done early so that I don’t get so far behind that I wear myself out trying to get it all done before I do some traveling or get so stressed that I inflict stress on my wife. In fact, I had so many tasks on my mind that I forgot that I was supposed to get my grandsons off of the bus Monday. (They were safe as their parents have great neighbors; their parents kindly extended gracious forgiveness to me.) There was no room in this week for allergies, a sinus infection, a cold or whatever I have come down with. I already struggle with my normal health concerns and I just don’t need another layer of illness, but there it is and I’ve been battling it for three days. Even worse, when I thought it was getting better, I decided to work in the garden for an hour or so. It was probably not the wisest choice as I have asthma and am allergic to dust, pollen and grass. The point is that I didn’t listen to my body and tried to do everything…now I’m falling short and this isn’t the post that I started working on.
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But now, O LORD, You
are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work
of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8
As I write, facilitate support groups, council, and discuss
my own situation, the subject of God’s work to refine, shape and equip is always
a significant topic. While I certainly
don’t enjoy the pain and suffering associated with my health issues or the
negative impacts of them on my family members, I rejoice in what I have endured
due to the changes that they have brought in my life…especially my spiritual
life. Whether it is physical, spiritual
or mental pain, I know that God is at work refining me and perfecting
me…especially when I choose to cooperate with the process rather than fighting
it. I rejoice because God desires that I
be more like Christ and adequately equipped for each task that He has planned
for me. God in His love and mercy is
continually at work to mold me into the man that He envisioned before
time. (Ephesians 1:4) I also trust that He is doing the same for
you.
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Reading God’s Word and meditating on its truth will have a purifying effect upon your mind and heart, and will be demonstrated in your life. Let nothing take the place of this daily privilege.
To know wisdom and
instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in
wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity; to give prudence to the
naive, to the youth knowledge and discretion, a wise man will hear and increase
in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, to
understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their
riddles. The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:2-7
Well the New Year has begun and as I discussed in the last post of December (“Joy Mixed with Sorrow”), the year is already shaping up with a mix of ups and downs. God has blessed me with new opportunities to serve Him, traveling mercies, daily provisions that meet spiritual and physical needs as well as celebrations with family. However, we have already had some stressful situations as well as being concerned with significant challenges facing family and friends. One concern is that we must decide what to do with our dog who has outbursts that prevent us from trusting her to be good-natured (if interested, see “Animal Instincts and Obedience School”) and present concerns for liability. I really love this dog, but she snarls and snaps for no apparent reason. Further, in the back of my mind is an upcoming visit to a new doctor. There is the hope that after 28 years of significant illness there might be an answer which helps manage my health issues more effectively. However, past history suggests that it is likely another vain attempt. The mantra that I apply to difficult situations and uncertainties is “God remains on His throne and is in control”. I don’t say that lightly as it reminds me of both where hope lies and that my experiences have ramifications beyond my finite ability to understand. As helpful as that is, I also need to work on how I react to the ups and downs of life. So as I progress through the year, my goal is to focus on four things: a soft heart, discernment, joy and gratitude.
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It is good to renew ourselves, from time to time, by closely examining the state of our souls, as if we had never done it before; for nothing tends more to the full assurance of faith, than to keep ourselves by this means in humility, and the exercise of all good works.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
I was reading a devotional by John Piper recently that stressed how we should prepare our hearts during Advent in order to celebrate Christmas properly, i.e. Advent is to Christmas as Lent is to Easter. Too often, we get so caught up in the preparations and parties associated with Christmas that we fail to settle our souls and worship Christ for His priceless gift freely offered. That offer, or rather our Savior’s invitation, is the basis of our celebration for without it, there is no peace, joy or forgiveness. While Matthew 11:28 is not a passage normally associated with Advent, it does speak to the heart of Christ’s mission as He came to earth and dwelt among us so long ago.
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Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
For several years after I became seriously ill, I didn’t plan any events in my life. I had no confidence that I would be around for the long haul, therefore, planning was out of the question. The problem was a lack of hope. While I still had the hope of eternity, I had no hope that God would sustain my body or that I could endure. Eventually, that lack of hope made my soul sick. Thankfully, God sustained me and slowly began to educate me on the finer points of living well before Him. One of those lessons was that there seem to be two kinds of hope: jubilant hope and steadfast hope. While I had witnessed plenty of examples of jubilant hope e.g. the hope that comes with: salvation, marriage, or a healthy newborn child, and the like, I had no living images of steadfast hope to lean on. The culture in which I was raised didn’t deal kindly with people who openly discussed their problems and therefore, was devoid of discussions regarding God’s use of trials to mold, shape and equip them. In that light, let’s consider a few images of steadfast hope, specifically hope that is: teachable, observant, patient, resilient, faithful trusting that God is enough.
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We never grow closer to God when we just live life. It takes deliberate pursuit and attentiveness.
O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror. Psalm 10:17-18
As I stated in the last post (Pride and Humility Part 1 – Pride Renounced), we live in a culture that promotes autonomy, independence and self-assuredness. When controlled, these characteristics are useful tools in life. However, left unchecked, they will likely lead to pride. Prideful arrogance impedes a relationship with God, inhibits relationships with others, multiplies guilt, brings dishonor and insures judgement. Alternatively, humility is often despised by our culture because it appears to be the weaker trait. However, it is desired by God because it yields rewards in both this life and the one to come. Following are a few of the benefits.
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I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master.
