Walking with a Heart of Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!!!

On this wonderful day, may each of us take time to reflect on the goodness of our God and His care (protection and provision) for us. II Samuel 7:18 begins David's prayer of gratitude. Just the opening verse is so powerful, as David basically asks, "How did I deserve such wonderful care?" As I sit here on Thanksgiving Day, I ask the same question. Why has God chosen to bless me, for He has so greatly blessed me and my family in soooo many ways.

PROVIDENCE
God has been so good. In a world of turmoil and a time of transition, God is immutable. He does not change, and so I know that I can trust Him regardless of what we are facing or enduring. He may not reveal the next step, but He is still sovereign. He is worthy of our adoration and devotion that should result in our obedience.

PEOPLE (family)
God has given me such a wonderful family, from my wife to my kids, to my parents and siblings, to my in-laws. The family that I have is so incredibly wonderful in so many ways.

• God has given me such a marvelous wife. She is a blessing in every way imaginable. Thanks for all that you do in and for the family.
• I have three great kids. The two adults are fantastic young people and the tiny one is high energy. All three are GREAT!
• My parents (both Mom & Dad and the in-laws) are such blessings. They are encouraging and supportive. I couldn't ask for better parents.
• I have some wonderful siblings. Even as they go through the ups and downs of life, they are supportive in comment and prayer. 

PROVISION
(1) In the midst of this time of transition, we have jobs to help pay the bills. (2) Many have given us gifts to help offset the difference of income/expense. They have no way to know how much of a blessing that those gifts have been and how they have helped to meet needs. (3) We have food on the table and a roof over our heads.

PROTECTION
(1) The family has been pretty much healthy for the last year+. (2) With the miles traveled, we have been safe. One minor accident, but the only injury was to the car.

Do we have anything for which to be thankful -- ABSOLUTELY!

Walking and Learning

I return to the early portion of Mark's gospel, this time to chapter 2, for a simple yet profound thought. The story of the paralyzed man who was let down into the room by his friends. The thought that lodged in my heart today was that the men, both the paralyzed man and his friends, desired to see the paralyzed man physically healed, but Jesus first addressed his spiritual need of forgiveness. I was reminded that often we do not realize the true need that we have. We may focus on physical, financial, relational, etc. needs, but the greatest need that we have is always a spiritual need. When we have addressed our walk with Christ, then all other needs will fall into place. Those needs may be great, but the spiritual need to walk with Christ with adoration and obedience is always the greatest need.

As we read the account given on Mark, we see that Christ addressed both the spiritual need and the physical need. Often we will see that happen, but not always. Sometimes the way to have the primary need met is to allow the secondary needs to continue. Paul experienced that as described in II Corinthians 12 when he discusses his "thorn in the flesh." He prayed that God would heal him, but God chose not to do that. God understood that the issue Paul was dealing with had a greater purpose. Now, as we consider our lives, are we willing to allow God to be sovereign and continue to follow Him even when He does not "solve our problem"?

If I believe that God is truly sovereign, then I must accept that He is sovereign in every instance of life. He knows the needs that I am facing and He knows what they can/will accomplish in my life and in the lives of others. I may pray and ask for God for help, but He may choose to address a completely different need that His greater purpose might be fulfilled. In all things and at all times, I must trust Him. That can be a tough lesson to learn, but one that we must learn indeed.

Walking with the Savior

In reading the opening chapters of Mark's gospel today, I was reminded of a couple of very important truths. (1) Our God is the God of the miraculous. He healed the sick and raised the dead and when he called the fishermen they dropped what they were doing. He can do whatever He chooses to do. (2) The key word in the Gospel of Mark is "immediately." Not only can our God do what He chooses, He does it when He chooses. Just as wonderful as it is that He can do what He will is the fact that time is no obstacle for God. Not only does the word "immediately" apply to God, it applies to us and our obedience. When we understand from God's word something that He want us to do, God expects our obedience immediately.

So, we serve a God that can accomplish what He wants when He wants and he expects our immediate obedience (what He says, when He says, the way He says, with a right attitude). The God that we walk with is such a wonderful God that loves us and protects and provides for us. Let us walk faithfully, just as He is so faithful toward us.

Walking on Our Knees

While preparing for church this past Sunday morning, I heard again one of my favorite songs -- "Bow the Knee." At a time when I have no sense of direction and no idea what is around the corner, I know that I can trust my God to do what is best. We have gone through 2+ months of job limbo with no end in sight. FedEx Ground is helping to meet needs and Bec's work at the dealership helps to round out the needed income, but neither job is our long-term goal. We do not know what the next step is, so we continue to "plow the field we are in," to use a simplistic analogy. And so, FedEx each night and Freysinger's each day. Even as we wait on God for leading and direction, we know that we have things so much better than many others. There are so many who are suffering or enduring through far more than our job uncertainty.

I am reminded of Abraham and how he was led by God, but did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). I kind of feel that way -- not like Abraham, but like one who is following while blindfolded. What makes it manageable is that we know we can trust God in all things at all times. Abraham did not know where he was headed, but he did know who was giving the directions. When God gives directions, He can be trusted.

My, how we have seen God work during this time. Again Sunday, someone handed us an envelope with some money in it. God has used these gifts to meet our needs and to demonstrate to the family how even in challenging time, He continues to provide. We indeed serve an awesome God. As we await God's direction, it is encouraging to see God continue to provide for the needs of the family. He is faithful at all times in all things.

And so, even as we go through this time of uncertainty, I know that we can trust God to do right. All He asks of us is simple child-like obedience as we faithfully obey and follow His leading.

Walking without a Map

I am slowly reading a book about life and those times when it "goes off the rails." The book is titled "Off Script" and is written by Pastor Cary Schmidt. It is a biographical work that recounts lessons learned during his bout with cancer.

All of us encounter those periods of life when things do not go as planned, or at least not the way we expected. Some questions to consider include "What is God trying to accomplish" and "How will I react and respond."

Here are the main points from the first four chapters.

1. Love God, Trust God, Live for God
2. Be of good cheer
• See Jesus
• Be cheerful
• Be not afraid
• Come
3. Be the clay
• Sit still
• Stay soft
• Let God work
4. Cherish the secret places
• Walk with God in the private moments
• Cherish the treasure of His presence in the darkness of life

When we encounter those times when life "throws you a curve-ball," we have need to keep a close focus on Christ and develop a stronger relationship with Him. The difficult times have a purpose; sometimes it is to push us to the place where we should have been all along. In many instances, we need more than a nudge and so God uses the "Off Script" times to cause us to refocus. What can I learn and how do I put those lessons into practice? 

Those "Off Script" moments could be in any facet of life. Perhaps they are the result of physical problems, such as health issues. Maybe they come from financial upheaval due to job loss or change. Sometimes it is social change, like the loss of a close friend or a move to a new area. Whatever the cause of the life change, we need to live with the understanding that regardless of what we face/endure, God is still God. He is still sovereign and worthy of our trust and worship.

Walking through (so-called) Upheaval

Well, election night has come and gone and there is so much to reflect on. First and foremost, we are reminded that our trust is in the Lord and not in man. We know that with man, we shall be disappointed, either sooner or later -- if not both. We do have a high calling to pray for our leaders, whether of our political persuasion or not. We need to pray that the president-elect will choose wise advisers and not only choose them, but listen to them. The country is in need of healing, but the healing needed cannot be accomplished through politics or policies. There is so much in the media about "dealing with the results of the election" and how to manage the disappointment. The only way that we will see real healing is when Christians get real with God and allow Him to work in and through them. Then and only then, we will see healing begin. The general populace is divided, but the greatest cause of the division is spiritual, not financial nor cultural. Natural man wants nothing to do with a God that convicts of sin and carnal Christians want the love and grace of God without the holiness and justice. When I see God for who He is, then I will have opportunity and desire to minister to my neighbors. I also need to present myself in a way that is appealing to them; they will never be impacted by my message if they find me strange. I do not need to be like the world, but I do need to be liked if I am to impact their lives.

Now, back to the election (results). It is obvious that there is a divide in America. We are divided on so many fronts that some would say we are fractured, if not even shattered. The only way to heal such a problem is to address it honestly and present Christ to the lost. Our purpose in sharing the gospel is not to solve our political problems, but to solve the genuine problems that afflict our land. Only when we love God and live for Him will He bless our land.

So, let us pray for our leaders and and live for God as we seek to spread the gospel to the lost world, especially those across the street, down the block, or across the fence.

Walking with Contentment

This will not be a daily occurrence, but I put forth another devotional thought, this time from Philippians 4.

Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Often we spend an excessive amount of time worrying about things that we cannot change or control. We claim that we trust God and that He is able to do whatever He wills, but then we try to do His job for Him. When we worry, we are actually demonstrating that we do not really trust God completely. We want think that we can manipulate the factors to accomplish a prescribed outcome, yet through it all, God wants our complete dependence and trust. He is good at His job. All of our concerns need to be taken to God, but remember, prayer is not simply for telling God what we want Him to do. We need to make sure that we regularly tell God why we love and trust Him.

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Philippians 4:9

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

This to me is an amazing statement. Paul was confident that he had lived in such a way that he could use his life and teaching as a standard for others to follow. He know that he was not perfect, as evidenced by other statements he made. However, he knew that he was passionately devoted to his God and that others needed to be devoted in the same way. We need to put into practice the lessons that God has for us to learn. When we practice the biblical principles we are taught, we can have true, God-given peace.

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Philippians 4:11

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

We often pray and ask God to meet our needs and then we try to find a way to solve our problems with no regard to what He wants to accomplish and how He wants to accomplish it. Contentment is something that people rarely experience. The world we live in pushes us to want more and more and more. Whether we have peace or persecution, plenty or nothing, God wants us to be content with what we have. Contentment shows that we trust that God knows what is best and is doing what He deems best. A lack of contentment reveals that we believe our plan is better than God’s. If I believe that God's plan is perfect and that He will accomplish His plan, then I need to be content with my situation, whatever it is.

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Walking through Trials

2 Corinthians 4:8-18 (KJV)

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

As I was reading for devotions this morning, I came to this passage. It struck a chord with all that my family, both immediate and extended, is going through. So, I went about a quick study and then put down some thoughts.

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The trials of life are often incredibly weighty. The burdens that we bear, though differing from one person to another, can cause us to stumble under the load. Often, while under the burden of the moment, we lose focus and look to ourselves and not to God. Instead of looking up to see Him, we look to our path to see what is before us or to our feet to see where we should step next. Yet, our understanding of our situation is flawed, as we can see only the very moment in time that we are in. We cannot see the future and, indeed, our view of the past is flawed -- remember the “good old days” that were not really so good.

We have two promises (and many others) from our God that go well with these verses.

1. God has promised to never leave us nor to forsake us.
2. He has declared that He will never put more on us than we can bear.

So, when we are called on to bear great trials, tests, and/or burdens, we can have 100% certainty that our great and loving God is with us all of the time. He will empower us to accomplish what He wants to see done. Romans 8:28 is still a true declaration; a conditional promise, but true nonetheless. He has stated “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” we may not see how the pieces fit together, but when it is over (perhaps in eternity), we will see the completed puzzle and marvel at the omniscience of God as He knew the beginning from the end and marvel in His omnipotence as He was able to accomplish what we thought impossible.

We may be knocked down, but He is still working. We may be in the midst of impossible circumstances, but God is still God. We can trust Him. We may not be able to see our way our, but He has a plan. He can be trusted to do right by His children. Our role is to trust and obey. Regardless of what we face and are called to endure, He will see us through to the other side and He wants to be glorified in us and through us as we follow the path He has put us on.

Psalm 129:2