Listen, my son, and be
wise, and direct your heart in the way. Proverbs 23:19
I have just returned from a trip that included driving 2,000
miles. I was a bit apprehensive about
the traveling that far alone as I didn’t really feel well. This was compounded by the fact that recently
Satan seems to be raising many doubts and fears. However, as I look back, not only did God
sustain and protect me, but He was also speaking to me. Throughout the trip, He was working to reshape
my thinking through instruction, discipline and reassurance. The elements were all there, I just had to
listen. Most certainly I heard and
understood the messages provided through the sermons that I listened to while
driving; however, it took a near accident at the end of the trip to really get
me to notice how much God had been speaking to me throughout my travels. Honestly, I’m not sure I have gotten it all, however,
over the next three posts I’d like to share how God used each of these to
mature me in my faith.
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We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. James 5:11
Yesterday was a beautiful day so I went for a run. While I managed to endure to the end, it wasn’t
easy for several reasons. In addition to my normal health concerns, a couple of
weeks ago, I had a respiratory infection that has left me with a nagging cough.
I have asthma and forgot to use my
inhaler before the run. I also have a
knee that isn’t always the most cooperative as well as a wart being treated on
one foot that can be uncomfortable. I
could go on, but you get the idea…there were obstacles that had to be endured
to finish running the course. Today it turned
cold and rainy causing my body to ache significantly. Further, it was one of those days when fatigue
and lethargy set in. Today’s form of
endurance had a different nature, but was endurance nonetheless. In fact, every day seems to require a fair
amount of patient endurance. I must
accept undesired changes in my lifestyle and abilities as my body often seems to
be my worst enemy. It can be rather
trying at times. However, each day I do
my best to: stand, run the race, endure with grace, and to live well. Some days that goes fairly well while others
see limited, if any, success. I struggle
daily to endure because of God’s involvement in my life. From my perspective, here are three of the
many encouragements to endure.
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The Lord’s
lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your
faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
As we study scripture, we learn about God. It is one thing
to intellectually understand God’s faithfulness, His promises, His character, the
sacrifice and intercession of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, etc.; however,
it is something altogether different to experience them. Knowing that Christ died for our sins does
not save us…it is accepting His atoning work on our behalf that provides
salvation. Similarly, knowing about God
intellectually does not develop a relationship with Him. Rather, it is through reliance on Him throughout
our life experiences, recognizing His work in our lives, and seeking to live
for Him alone that we develop a relationship.
It is experiencing God that takes us from an intellectual understanding
to a relationship that allows us to mature in faith. Further, when we acknowledge God at work in
our own lives, we provide edification and encouragement to others. To experience
God and not share that fact with fellow believers would be remiss. Consequently this week’s post is about
testifying to God’s faithfulness as an experience.
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God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Christian Quotes
When Jesus came into
Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He
touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.
Matthew 8:14-15
This week celebrates the 93rd anniversary of my
mother’s birth; the 98th anniversary of my father’s birth; and the
the 73rd anniversary of their marriage. Yes, they packed it all neatly into one
week…with Mother’s Day thrown in for good measure regularly. As I take time to remember them and what they
meant to me, I am grateful for them and thankful that they pointed me to Christ
from the time I was born. Further, I am
grateful for what they taught me through example. A significant gift that they each exhibited
regularly was their servant’s heart which caused them to be helpful and
compassionate in a variety of circumstances.
It is a desire that was passed on to me.
As I prepare to make a lengthy drive to visit and help my mother-in-law,
I am reminded of the honor and privilege it that it was to help my parents and
my father-in-law at the end of their lives.
Now I have the opportunity to assist Ma as well. When we help others whether through acts of
service, encouragement, teaching or some other form, it is a blessing to both
parties.
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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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Cast your burden upon
the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be
shaken. Psalm 55:22
As I was going into the groomer’s shop this week to pick up
our dog, our groomer was going to her car and looked at me but didn’t acknowledge
me. Later when she came back into the
shop, she apologized for making me wait and stated that she thought I was a
teenager using one of their parking spots and admitted that she was frustrated
that a non-customer might be using their allotted parking space. Given my age, salt and pepper hair, and a few
extra pounds, the thought of me looking more than 40 years younger was
laughable, but I took the “win”. In her
defense, I had on a hat, sun glasses and gym clothes making her quick glance
less than informative. Similar
misconceptions may arise for those of us with invisible illnesses. It can be challenging when people make
assumptions regarding our health based on how we look. When we make the effort to attend events and
do our best to look good, others often fail to understand how ill we are, how difficult
daily tasks can be, or how challenging it is for us to engage in social
activities. Those struggling with grief
or various trials may face some of the same challenges with respect to the
understanding or expectations of others as their struggle is not readily
visible. Even those with visible disorders
may be challenged by the expectations and assumptions of others if they strive
to present a strong demeanor. Consequently,
the phrase “you look good” can quickly crush our spirits. This was certainly true for me for many years
until I was shown a more biblical perspective that involves the impact of God’s
sustaining grace.
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A man may be perfected through suffering or be made worse through suffering; it depends on his disposition.
Oswald Chambers
The Quotable Oswald Chambers
(Grand Rapids Michigan: Discovery House Publishers, 2008), 281
The LORD has made
everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil. Proverbs 16:4
“Right time, right place” is a phrase commonly used to indicate good fortune. Conversely, “wrong time, wrong place” is often used to describe an unfortunate outcome or tragedy. Both of these imply coincidence, luck, or fate rather than direction at the hand of our sovereign Lord. When it comes to God’s sovereignty and planning, people readily accept that our Creator is directly responsible for placing us in circumstances that we view as a blessing or useful service to God and man. However, there is a great reluctance to include the difficult circumstances in life as God ordained placement, equipping, refinement, or calling home. To put it another way, God is often seen as decidedly directing blessings, but assuming a reactionary role in trials. Nevertheless, while God does not perpetrate evil, He resolutely creates each person, actively directs the course of their lives and decisively places them to accomplish His purposes. Therefore, as the verse above indicates, we (both God fearing and wicked) are all created with purpose and equipped accordingly and Esther was no exception.
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Jesus spoke these
things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come;
glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You.
John 17:1
Once again
the celebration of Easter is upon us.
This often entails Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter services that
include special choral numbers and solos. While I have participated in the past, appreciate
the artistry, and do not doubt the faith or the worship of those involved, I’m
not a fan of those services. I much
prefer more quiet times of worship that offer opportunities of introspection, a
greater understanding the sacrifice of our Savior and of God, or a call to draw
near to God in unified worship. It’s not
that I am opposed to celebrating Easter, it’s just that I prefer to do it by focusing
on the need for salvation, the reconciliation that Christ’s sacrifice provides,
the broader scope of redemption, and the glory of God.
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