Kindness ~ Day 2

Spiros Zodhiates’ dictionary defines this fruit that the NIV translates as “kindness” as, “the grace which pervades the whole nature, mellowing all which would be harsh and austere…The word is descriptive of one’s disposition and does not necessarily entail acts of goodness…”

MacArthur says, “Kindness relates to tender concern for others. It has nothing to do with weakness or lack of conviction but is the genuine desire of a believer to treat others gently, just as the Lord treats him.” (emphasis added)

How has God treated me? “It is the kindness of God, expressed in Christ and revealed to us by His Spirit that supplies my salvation. His kindness makes provision for my pardon from sins and selfishness at the cost of His own laid down life. It is His kindness that forgives my faults and accepts me into His family as His dearly beloved child. His kindness enables me to stand acquitted of my wrongdoing, justified freely in His presence. God’s kindness removes my guilt and I am at one with Him and others in peace. It is the kindness of God that enables Him to share Himself with me in the inner sanctuary of my spirit, soul, and body. His kindness enables me to be re-made, refashioned, re-formed gently into His likeness. His kindness gives enormous meaning and dignity to this life and endless delight in the life yet to come.” (Phillip Keller)

The realization of this kindness that God has lavished on me, especially against the backdrop of my stubborn rebellious attitude toward Him, fills my heart with a deep sense of gratitude. In turn, my heart cries out to Him to work in me and produce a disposition that shows others that same kindness.

Lord, I fall so far short of showing the kindness that you have lavished on me. I can only cry out, “Help me, Father”.

Kindness ~Day1

Webster's defines the adjective "kind" as being of a sympathetic, forbearing or helpful nature. Tender and gentle are two other synonymns. We often think in terms of acts of kindness. We can probably unanimously agree that there is not enough kindness in this world. Most people just are not naturally kind. I live with a child who is naturally kind. This child is my mentor and teacher in the area of kindness. By observing this child, I have learned several things about kindness that I'd like to share.

First, kindness requires humility. To be a person who acts in a consistently kind manner, one must put others first. Second (and related to the first), is that the biggest hurdle to acting kindly toward others is generally pride. If I am unwilling to be kind to a person, it is usually because I think they don't deserve it (implying that I'm qualified to judge, ha!) Third, kindness is contagious. The commercial that shows one person's kindness being passed on and ultimately reciprocated is a bit sappy, but I believe it contains alot of truth. Fourth, kindness is free and pays huge dividends, here and in heaven. Fifth, although kindness costs nothing, it is not risk-free. We take a risk in obeying God and acting kindly toward others. The principle risk is the risk of rejection.

God talks all throughout His word about kind acts. The things that divide the sheep from the goats in Matthew 25 are essentially acts of kindness. Jesus was all about being kind. His ultimate kindness was, of course, laying down His life for lost souls. His kind act still bears dividends and He still risks rejection.

Have you ever been the receipient of an undeserved act of kindness? For me, there's nothing that makes my heart lighter than being treated kindly, especially when it is unexpected. I can remember an occassion eight years ago when a young Megan Roth spotted me from the other end of the long church corridor. I had my hands full and was struggling to carry everything. She RAN down the hall to help me. I have never forgotten how special that act of kindness made me feel.

I love the verse from Luke, below. When you think of all the truly evil dictators who have ruled over the ages and imagine that God has displayed kindness to them, it makes it a little easier to discipline ourselves to demonstrate kindness to the people God places in our path.

Luke 6:35
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men."

Lord, help me to follow your example this week and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, treat everyone with simple kindness.

Peace & Patience - Day 5

Last week was a wild one even for me...

First, we discovered that our home had been invaded by freeloaders.

They found an opening between the roof and chimney, came on in and set up house. The evidence was a lot of mess on our deck... and a few tiny carcasses. Our new housemates are called "little brown bats." After doing some research on the internet, we learned a lot more about their habits, likes/dislikes, and--one night sitting in the rocker on the deck looking up --I counted them as they flew out for their evening activities (we are hosting 23+). I learned that they are protected (it is prohibited to kill, handle or forcibly evict them. Until breeding season is over-- That is the end of August!--they are not supposed to be messed with), they nurse their young, can eat 1000 mosquitoes per hour, have one pup a year, can bite you if you handle them, can -but seldom do- transmit disease to humans. (Let's see, 23 x 1000 ... that is potentially 23,000 mosquitoes gone per hour... another estimate was each bat eating 3000 insects a night -- 69,000 total per night). After learning all of this, we have put up two bat houses (on poles away from our house) to encourage the bats to relocate.

Then, Thursday, the late afternoon thunderstorm's lightning hit near our house and took out the phone, the internet/modem, the fax machine, Jesse's TV, totally blew out a breaker... even this week we are still discovering the various affected things in our home. Wild week.

Peace.

I don't know about you all, but it is hard for me to really, truly be at peace, when things are all out of whack at home. The last couple of weeks for me have been full of physical issues with our home. It is even more difficult to be a peace when the troubles at home involve people we care about. Our God is the only true source of peace. Sometimes I confuse a cease-fire with peace. II Cor. 13:11 "Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." II Timothy 2:22 "Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." Notice that it is "the God of love and peace" and we are to "pursue righteousness, faith love and peace". God is there. He is peace. He is characterized by peace. In knowing Him more deeply, we can experience His peace. In ourselves, there is no peace because peace does not exist apart from Him.

Patience.

I am very task oriented. Especially about my home. Once a problem is identified, I like to figure out and implement the solution. Now. Today. Oh, and I do not like waiting for repairmen. I found that our problem with the phone was not on the phone company's side... yes, I took the phone outside, plugged it into the outside box and the dial tone was good to the house... just no dial tone inside. My phone system installer was unavailable by phone until Monday. After several phone calls of "now try this", running back and forth from the basement to the upstairs, there were still no answers, so the appointment was made to come and do the repairs on Tuesday. He came Tuesday, discovered the problem with the phone line, fixed it, and additionally diagnosed a fried modem and fax machine. After two calls with the phone company, complete with duplicate conversations, they agreed to "overnight" a new modem which did not come overnight, but instead arrived Thursday. After installing the modem, I discovered that the router is not working right--it may need new setup procedures, or it may be fried as well. Today I am waiting for a call from the computer network repairman.

Now, that is just my house... how much harder is it to have patience with myself, my husband, my children, the folks around me? I fail over and over. When I experience victory in one area, another failure presents itself. My training ground -- family life -- (being a wife and mother)-- supplies opportunities galore. It usually works that my victories are private and my failures are noticed by all!

I have a garden this year. I admit it, I am hovering. Every morning I go out and check and see if the plants have grown overnight (don't say it), and if they need more water to get through the day. James 5: 7-11 reads, "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 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." This is challenging for me -- I don't think I anticipate eternity so much that I could characterize myself as being impatient for the coming of the Lord. I get way too distracted with today...

How much more patient is God? Think about time--how much time He continues to allow us to repent and come to Him before His return. Romans 2:4 "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"

It is impossible to "outpatience" God.

There is a purpose to enduring. There is a purpose to this life. There is a purpose to the problems that we face. James 1:2-5, 12 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom (who me?) let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him... Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

So what are my plans for this weekend? I think tonight I am going to take Jesse out on the deck (after I clean up the bat poop again), tip him back in his chair, listen to the bat chatter, and watch the bats take off. Some people go to airports to watch the planes, we can watch the bats...

Patience ~ Day 4

Hurry up and wait.

Sunday afternoon the kids and I left to go to TN to visit my family. I was making great time. Caught every green light here in town. Was always in the lane with the steadily flowing traffic. Nobody had needed to stop yet. Until…until I noticed the van wasn't driving quite as smoothly as it should. Until I realized…uh, oh, flat tire.

Yep, there I was parked on I-75 just below Chattanooga on a part of the road that had the smallest shoulder imaginable. I called Richard. While he called a friend there in Chattanooga, I called my dad. Then I waited. I kept thinking of what a waste this was. I had been doing so well on time. Now what? Well, about the time I accepted that I should stop fretting (because, after all, what good does that do?), God sent someone to change my tire--an angel named Herbert.

Except that Herbert had never had to find a temporary tire that Toyota had hidden from him.

More impatience.

We found the manual, had Richard on the phone the whole time trying his best to help me understand, and even though we thought we did everything right, still, that elusive tire would not be found.

Twenty minutes later, Rachel and Melissa figured it out. Herbert put on the temporary tire, and we were on our way.

Except that Richard and Dad both told me I had to keep the speed down to about 50 mph.

WHAT?

Impatience reared her ugly head, yet again.

We continued our trip. Of course we had to stop to check the tire pressure and add air. And use the bathroom. And eat. And…

So instead of getting there around 11:00pm, we got there at 2:00am. UGH!

I'm sure you have similar stories of frustration.

Terry shared Piper's thoughts on patience.
"Impatience is a form of unbelief. It’s what we begin to feel when we start to doubt the wisdom of God’s timing or the goodness of God’s guidance. It springs up in our hearts when our plan is interrupted or shattered."

I'm certain that part of God's plan was to teach me, yet again, to be patient, to trust God's sovereign plan, however uncertain or scary it seems. (Those big trucks were driving mighty close to us while we were parked on the side of the road.) God's plan was also to use us to provide a few extra dollars to Herbert so he could fill his gas tank this week.

Melissa reminded us of Paul's instructions to "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Lord, Thank You that You give us hope despite our circumstance. Thank You that that hope is what makes patience make sense. Please develop in me patience in my affliction whether it's something as little as a flat tire and a late night or as big as…as anything that truly might seem hopeless. Please help us to be faithful in prayer. And please bless Herbert extra this week.

Patience ~ Day 3

Proverbs 19:11: "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."

Colossians 1:10-12: "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."

Colossians 3:12-14: " Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Proverbs 15:18: "A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel."

Romans 12:12-13: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

1 Corinthians 13:4: "Love is patient, love is kind."

Ephesians 4:2: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

1 Thessalonians 5:14: "And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone."

Father, I pray that you would enable me to be patient in any and all circumstances. Thank you, Lord, for being patient with me!

Patience ~ Day 2

The following are excerpts taken from of John Piper’s book, The Purifying Power of Living by Faith in Future Grace:

Impatience is a form of unbelief. It’s what we begin to feel when we start to doubt the wisdom of God’s timing or the goodness of God’s guidance. It springs up in our hearts when our plan is interrupted or shattered. It may be prompted by a long wait in a checkout line or a sudden blow that knocks out half our dreams. The opposite of impatience is not a glib denial of loss. It’s a deepening, ripening, peaceful willingness to wait for God in the unplanned place of obedience, and to walk with God at the unplanned pace of obedience – to wait in his place, and go at his pace.

The key to patience is faith in the future grace of God’s “glorious might” to transform all our interruptions into rewards. The story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 is a great lesson in why we should have faith in the sovereign grace of God. Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers, which must have tested his patience tremendously. But he is given a good job in Potiphar’s household. Then, when he is acting uprightly in the unplanned place of obedience, Potiphar’s wife lies about his integrity and has him thrown into prison – another great trial to his patience. But again things turn for the better and the prison-keeper gives him responsibility and respect. But just when he thinks he is about to get a reprieve from the Pharaoh’s cupbearer, whose dream he interpreted, the cupbearer forgets him for two more years. Finally, the meaning of all these detours and delays becomes clear. Joseph says to his long-estranged brothers, 'God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance…And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive' (Gen 45:7; 50:20)

So the lesson of Joseph – and the whole Bible – stands: when delays and detours and frustrations and opposition ruin our plans and bode ill for us, faith in future grace lays hold on the sovereign purpose of God to bring something magnificent to pass. That is the key to patience.

Lord, by your grace, help us to wait in your place and go at your pace.

Patience~Day 1

"The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will."
2 Timothy 2:24-26

We went camping this weekend. On Saturday night, the campground had a hay ride and two of my kids participated. After the hay ride, I drove up the hill to pick them up. As I was turning the truck around to go back to the campsite, I hit something. The horrible sound of the truck scraping on what sounded like wood or metal rang out. That excruciating sound was followed almost immediately by the wail of two women who came running and screaming around the bend, one of them shouting "you've hit my child". Within seconds there were people gathered, looking and shouting for someone to call 911. One of the women screamed "you've killed my child!" Time stood still, but my mind raced. My thoughts cycled through the spectrum of emotions from denial: "there's no way"; to blame: "what was a child doing right there, anyway"; to acceptance: "this is going to be the hardest thing I've ever faced"; to a plea: "Lord Jesus, help!"

In all the comotion, something didn't seem right. Why wasn't anyone telling me what to do? Was the child pinned? Should I back up? Move forward? What was going on down there below my line of vision? I finally opened my door and stepped out of the truck to try and figure out what I should do. I asked one of the men if the child was ok. He looked at me funny and his wife muttered "I thought you hit my child, but you didn't - sorry" and then they turned and nonchalantly walked off. I was left there all alone, with my truck lodged on a stump, reeling with the emotions of a person who had just killed another person's child. Evidently, the parents had been drinking so when they heard the sound of me hitting the rather large stump and didn't immediately see their children, their minds took wild leaps and arrived at a conclusion that just wasn't aligned with reality.

Needless to say, I was in no condition to drive at that point - some other campers helped Wade get the truck loose. It took me several hours and lots of hugs from my family to settle down. When I was trying to sort it all through in my mind, I knew that being angry because I had been falsely accused wasn't an option. God is pretty clear on that one. Nevertheless, I was frustrated that the women had come up with such a far flung scenario without any good reasons.

Eventually, a glimmer of compassion for these women crept up. I don't know their personal stories, but by their actions (in this situation and a couple of other situations we observed during the course of the weeked), I think it is probably safe to say that they do not have the peace of Christ in their lives. I was not presented with an opportunity to talk with them after the whole thing occured, but I was thinking about these verses and how God probably uses circumstances like this crazy one I faced to work in other people's lives. God gave me an opportunity this weekend to demonstrate patience when I was wronged. I certainly could have done better --Kennedy Smartt would have walked over to their campsite, hugged them and invited them to church. Ultimately, I think God would like us to take Paul's perspective and see our exercise of patience and kindness as an avenue for Him to extend His truth which leads to repentence and faith.

Lord, help me to be your bond-servant and demonstrate patience, peace and love in tangible ways, regardless of the personal cost.

Peace~ Random

Sign seen on sign outside of church in Franklin County, GA.

"No Jesus. No peace.
Know Jesus. Know peace."

Peace ~ Day 4

"How can he let that happen? Doesn't he know it would be better done this other way?"

These were the words I heard from a friend who criticized how another friend was running things. She was incredulous that he would put up with things done a little less than perfectly.

That's when it hit me: He valued peace over perfection.

He saw the overall picture. He saw that although another person might have done the job better, that a different style might have been a good idea, the truth was that ministry was still strong, the gospel was still being taught, love was still being demonstrated, and no one was hurt--no one except my frustrated friend.

How about us? Are we so determined to do things our own way that we risk the general peace of the situation? Is our pride so full or our self-image so shining that we are sure that our way is the only good way? Yes, we should offer our best to God, but sometimes, our best is to put aside our pride and allow God to be glorified in our humility and in the pure efforts of others. Isn't this one of the ways in which God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise? I Corinthians 1 says:

26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him.

Umm…what does this have to do with peace? Is this way off topic?

I see peace as affecting us in three ways. First, we who were enemies of God are now at peace with God because of His selfless gift of grace. Second, we Christians now have the peace of God in the midst of all things uncomfortable, inconvenient and undesirable, a gift that surpasses all understanding. Third, we have the responsibility to grace others with that same selfless love, that same un-understandable gift of peace that God demonstrated to us. In all things—perfect or otherwise—God gets the glory. He will use it all for His Own purpose, and we get to enjoy watching His plan unfold. His "foolishness" confounds the "wise" right before the world's watching eyes.

And I get reminded, once again, that I don't need to try to control anything—because God is in control! Ahhh—peace.

Peace ~ Day 3

Peace- Day 3

My first thought was "no"! The stress level around here is too high
already- caring for our 86 year-old mother, eleven for lunch today,
appointments and traveling this week....NO, I cannot write a devotional
blog for Wednesday. Definitely not. The blog topic I don't have time
for? Peace....

Since I am not one who believes in coincidences, I pause. Perhaps God
wants to gently remind me- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4: 6,7)

Not surprisingly, the sermon this Sunday was on "The Godly Life: Just How
Much Do I Want It?" To simplify the sermon a great deal, the key to
leading a Godly life is /practice!/ In other words, I must spend time in
God's Word- /lots of time. /I pray- often; /I practice praying. /Because
I was already meditating on peace, my mind immediately moved to
/practicing peace./ I thought of verses from Philippians:

3:14- I press on toward the goal...
4:11- I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances...
4:13- I can do everything through him who gives me strength...
4:9- Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in
me (Paul)- /put it into practice! /(Punctuation mine.) And the God of
peace will be with you!

As we sang "Not What My Hands Have Done", verse three really ministered to
me:
Thy grace alone, O God, to me can pardon speak;
Thy power alone, O Son of God, can this sore bondage break.
No other work, save thine, no other blood will do;
No strength, save that which is divine, can bear me safely through.

O God, who never gives more than we can bear- I praise you! I am
thankful for the trials you've given me- knowing that you use these for my
good, for my growth. And I thank you that you see me all the time, you
know my struggles, and you go through it all with me- for then I can
experience that peace which transcends all understanding.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Peace ~ Day 2

For some odd reason my husband decided that our two remaining ducks – that had started out as a group of eight, but, over the years had dropped off one by one – just wasn’t enough. So, he went out and bought 50 more!! They make quite a racket out there in the yard (not to mention quite a mess). They are noisiest when they are in search of food or when someone or something is chasing them (lately that’s been Andrew walking behind the whole flock saying “cack, cack”). There are times however, when they are quiet and peacefully resting under a shade tree.

This picture reminded me of a book that I once read where the author, who had been a sheep rancher for about eight years, was going through Psalm 23 and making analogies between the care of the shepherd for his sheep and the care of The Good Shepherd for His sheep. When he got to the chapter devoted to the second verse, “He makes me lie down in green pastures”, he said that in order for a herd of sheep to be at rest (peace), there had to be a definite sense of freedom from four things: fear, tension, aggravations (from things such as flies and parasites), and hunger. The chapter described the tremendous amount of energy and devotion on the part of the shepherd required to provide his sheep with this sense of freedom from these things, but, how in turn, the contented sheep could then lay down in rest.

I’m sure you can see where this is going. Our Good Shepherd has provided and continues to provide all that we need to be free from not only fear, tension, aggravations and hunger, but anything that causes us to stop short of a sense of complete rest in Him (to lie down in green pastures). It doesn’t mean, of course, that trouble won’t come to the sheep. What it means is that because of the presence and the promises of the shepherd, the sheep can have peace in the midst of the trouble. In John 14:27, Jesus was comforting His disciples before He was going to leave them and He told them, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” Jesus left his disciples, and that includes you and me, His peace. That peace is the same deep, rich, peace that stilled His heart in the midst of mockers and haters and murderers and traitors and everything else that He faced. This same peace Christ desires to characterize us who are His disciples. How do we grab hold this peace? “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Is. 26:3) Peace will rule our hearts when we focus on Christ and trust the truth of His Word.

Lord, thank you for leaving us with your peace. Help us to stay focused on You and Your promises.

Peace ~ Day 1

Before I get started talking about today's topic, I want to recommend listening to Pastor John's sermon from Sunday if you weren't there or if you had your mind on other things. His text was from Isaiah 33, but the topic has much to do with Galatians 5:22-23 and what we are discussing in this blog. We are learning about the fruit of the Spirit and, hopefully, how good fruit is cultivated and what it looks like in real life. Pastor John reminded us that growing as a Christian takes both the grace of God through the work of the Holy Spirit AND our own diligent effort to live a godly life. In case you missed it, he mentioned (once or twice or fifty times) that becoming more Christ-like takes PRACTICE. Here is the link to the sermon. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
http://www.cmpca.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=101&Itemid=200


Now, on to peace... Phillipians 4:6-7 tells us "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Living in modern America with our constant access to information, we are continuously made aware of every tragic and terrible event that occurs anywhere on the globe. In an effort to create interest, media sources usually deliver this horrible news in a manner that makes the viewer, listener or reader feel that the same danger is imminent and inevitable. Not surprisingly, there is a diagnosable condition in modern medicine called "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" or GAD. Generalized Anxiety Disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it. When our focus is on what untoward event "could" happen, GAD is inevitable! I know, I am a recovering GAD-girl.

Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to be anxious for nothing. Thankfully, Paul doesn't leave us hanging. He tells us how this can be accomplished. Through prayer and petition, talk to God about EVERY thing that you are facing, thanking Him all the while for the situation you are struggling with and the opportunity it provides to draw you closer to Him (personal paraphrase). To me, this means that an ongoing dialogue with God is essential. In practice, this plays out when I hear a terrible news story (or get that dreaded phone call) and I take it --right then-- to the Lord, thanking Him for yet another opportunity to trust Him and asking Him to be glorified in and through it. This is not easy, but it gets easier as I see Him work in difficult situations and my faith increases. There is blessed relief in knowing I can take anything, ANYTHING to the One who can actually do something about it. I can let go of all of my contingency plans (and contingencies for contingencies) and leave it with Him. My GAD has turned to GLAD and with that, peace is possible.

Joy ~ Day 5

Galations 5: 22 & 23:  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 

Monday's post raised the question of who do we know that is characterized by joy.  I know someone that I can say 'look at her' because she really helps me to understand joy.  Many of us have read her biography, heard her speak, listened to her radio show, read her books, followed her devotionals.  Our family attends the JAF Family Retreat every summer and over the years we have been privileged to listen to Joni Tada and see her up close, hear her talk about her life, her marriage and see her JOY in her Lord and His plan for her. 

I remember one day she and her husband Ken had a session with the parents and caregivers present at the Retreat.  She candidly talked about a typical day in her life:  the friends who came each morning to get her up, bathe her, brush her teeth, to dress her, to get her into her chair, to get her where she needed to be...the folks feeding her meals, taking care of her bathroom needs, the driver, the team that helps her prepare for bed at night--and this is EVERYDAY.  Everyday.   I mean, what do you talk about every day to the folks who are bathing you? -- while they are dressing you?  Joni uses it as a time to fellowship with her friends, find out what is happening with them and pray right there with them, for them.  Everyday.  She chooses to minister to them even as they minister to her.  She chooses to spiritually care give to those who are physically care giving for her.  She chooses joy.

As Christians, we have the capacity for joy.  Through the Holy Spirit, we have joy.  Joy is not because of the situation.  Joy is because God sees fit to seek us out, prepare a way for us, forgive us, and love us beyond all measure.  When our focus is on Him, Joy -- real joy is possible.  When you listen to Joni talk, it is as if she - on the one hand - has this totally encompassing disability that has entirely changed her life's path but - on the other hand (and what a bigger, more beautiful hand this is), she would say that she has been privileged to experience a body broken that is used for Him for eternal purposes.  No self pity there; Awareness of loss, yes.  But So much more awareness of God, His Power and His purposes that are so much more than we can imagine.

Terry wrote this week (and I have been rereading it everyday trying to let it sink in deeper):  "God's design is that deep, abiding joy be found in Him alone.  The essence of sin is that we turn from this God-designed satisfaction in Him to satisfaction in other things...The very essence of faith is the admission of our sinful helplessness in the quest for eternal joy, and looking away from ourselves to God through Christ for the help and the joy that is in Him alone.  Faith admits our helplessness to produce the fruit of joy and believes the truth that the sinful nature with its passions and desires have been crucified, and walks trusting God through Christ, by His Spirit to produce the fruit in us."

Father, help us to keep in front of us that you are the reason for and the source of Joy.  Help us to keep our eyes and our hearts focused on You no matter the circumstances.

 

Joy ~ Day 4

Jesus, the Joy of our Desires

I imagine most of you are familiar with the beautiful song, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." Most of us know it as that beautiful piece often played at weddings. Bach is credited for having written this. Actually, a man named Johan Schop wrote the melody and words as a church hymn, and Bach included it in one of his cantatas, adding harmony and orchestration. Incidentally, because of the theme of joy, he intended it to be played and sung joyfully. At weddings, however, we often play the song with a slow reverence. Either way, it's beautiful.

Notice this English translation of the German hymn.
Jesu, joy of man's desiring,
Holy Wisdom, Love most bright;
Drawn by Thee, our souls, aspiring,
Soar to uncreated light.
Word of God, our flesh that fashion'd,
With the fire of life impassion'd,
Striving still to truth unknown,
Soaring, dying, round Thy throne.
Through the way where hope is guiding,
Hark, what peaceful music rings!
Where the flock, in Thee confiding,
Drink of joy from deathless springs.
Theirs is beauty's fairest pleasure;
Theirs is wisdom's holiest treasure.
Thou dost ever lead Thine own
In the love of joys unknown.

Jesus, the One Who is the center of all that we desire, the only One Who gives joy and contentment, draws us to Himself, giving us the further desire to be bathed in His light, to live a life of passion, to desire His truth. He is the only One Who gives hope. Without Him, all is lost. We can drink of joy from springs that will never dry up. And knowing all of this, we have peace.

At the link below you will find a performance by Celtic Woman singing the first half of this hymn. I hope you, too, will enjoy the beauty of the song and the richness of the words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPeVIuRjUi4

Joy ~ Day 3

It was Thanksgiving...the cooking underway, the pies baked, the tables being set, the family gathering together, the TV set to the football game. The day was going to be filled with family, food, football, and wonderful fellowship. There was such a sweet sound and a delicious smell and it was an exciting time to all be together again. The thing I was looking forward to the most was the delicious Thanksgiving meal of which we would partake in an hour. We would have turkey and ham, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, corn and green beans, stuffing and dressing, casserole upon casserole, bread and butter, not to mention the desserts!

And there it was...the large bowl of Peanut M&M's on the table in the living room. So sweet, so yummy, so full of NO nutrition! As I was trying to help with the preparation of the Thanksgiving feast, my steps kept taking me by this table, each time grabbing a handful of those Peanut M&M's. Knowing that there was a gratifying meal an hour away, I kept thinking that one more handful would never ruin my appetite.

The time was approaching. It was almost time for us to all gather together from different parts of the house and join in eating the "most looked forward to" meal of the year. So satisfying, so fulfilling, so incredible. We began calling the family together. As we joined hands to give thanks and say the blessing, I suddenly realized that I wasn't a single bit hungry for the spread of food set before me! In fact, I was feeling a bit sick to my stomach.

Why wasn't I hungry? Why was I feeling ill? It was because I had had no self-control before supper. Because time and time again I had walked by that table and given into the temptation of the Peanut M&M's. It was because I settled for those non-nutritious little candies that would immediately satisfy my sweet-tooth instead of waiting just one hour until the REAL, satisfying, nourishing food was ready to be eaten.

Do you get where I am going with this? This didn't really happen to me. In fact, it is a story that I have heard a couple of times, the most recent being in youth group last week. When I heard it, I really felt it hit home. It got me thinking about the numerous times that I settle for Peanut M&M's when SO much is waiting for me in Christ! I ruin my JOY in Christ when I settle for the things of the world, that only make me sick and do little to truly satisfy. So often I think I will find joy in things, people, and circumstances other than Christ. Each time they fail me. But God, as personal as He is, continues to work on me. He continues to show Himself to me and grow me in mighty ways. He continues to show me that He is the only source of true JOY! Praise Him for never giving up on me, even though I so often settle for Peanut M&M's!

Lord, thank you for being My God. Thank you for being the only source of true JOY! Please help me to find my JOY solely in You.

Joy ~ Day 2

“Don’t worry. Be happy.” “Do whatever makes you happy as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else.” These thoughts are the modern air that we breathe. Much like the desire for food to satisfy the stomach, God has put in us a desire for happiness to satisfy the soul. God has given Himself to satisfy this desire. God’s design is that deep, abiding joy be found in Him alone. The essence of sin is that we turn from this God-designed satisfaction in Him to satisfaction in other things. My indwelling sin stands in the way of my full satisfaction in God. Sin is not just something I do; it is a power deeply rooted in my nature. The natural heart is so corrupt in its desires that it cannot see the beauty of Christ and thereby be satisfied with Him. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that when we are converted to Christ, the Holy Spirit is given to us, and by his power we begin to overcome our fallen, sinful nature. The grace that is given in our initial salvation (justification) is the same grace that will give the power to progressively overcome this fallen, sinful nature (sanctification). This is where faith comes in. The very essence of faith is the admission of our sinful helplessness in the quest for eternal joy, and looking away from ourselves to God through Christ for the help and the joy that is in him alone. Faith admits our helplessness to produce the fruit of joy and believes the truth that the sinful nature with its passions and desires have been crucified (Galatians 5:24), and walks trusting God, through Christ, by His Spirit to produce the fruit in us.

Heavenly Father, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may be glad all our days” (Psalm 91:14)

Joy ~ Day 1

In researching the topic of joy, I found that there aren't as many verses on "joy" as I would have imagined. Webster's isn't much help either with its definition of joy being an "emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires" (?!?). Joy may be one of those things, like beauty, that you know it when you see it.

I was having a conversation with someone at church this morning and asked them to give me a short list of names of people characterized by joy. The list they provided was VERY short, indeed. We can all "practice patience" and "demonstrate love", but joy is something that is either there or not. Everyone knows right away if someone is trying to "fake" a joyful heart.

So, what is the formula or recipe for joy? I can't think of anything better than the handy dandy acrostic I learned years ago.

JOY = (J)esus First + (O)thers Second + (Y)ourself Last

Obviously, this acrostic is not taken directly from scripture, but it sure is scripturally based! Here are just a couple of the many examples of scripture that reinforce this concept: Jesus First - Philippians 3:14, Matthew 6:33-34; Others Second - Colossians 3:13-14, John 13:34; Yourself Last - Galatians 5:24, Philippians 2:5-8.

For me, putting myself last is hardest and failure to do it is generally my greatest impediment to joy! Yet, putting myself last is the very way that I can identify most with Christ who, "for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:2-3).

I will close with one of my favorite quotes on joy by Mother Teresa. "Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls."

Love - Day 5

God loves perfectly.  It is His nature, His very character.  His word is full of examples of how He loves His people.  In the following verses, God teaches us how to love as He loves.

Leviticus 19:18 -- "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself:  I am the Lord."  (Notice that we are absolutely forbidden to get even!  He did not say, If we are truly unjustly wronged, we can pursue damages for pain and suffering!  We are not instructed to love our neighbor as we love our spouse, our children, our parents, our friends; He knows that we are an  indulgent self-centered people and the real idol we struggle against is self.)

Deut. 6:5-9 -- "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.   And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.   You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."  (If we really loved God this way -- all of our heart, soul, and strength -- would not love for Him just seep from our very pores?  Wouldn't love for Him and thus thankfulness for His unfathomable choice to continue loving us be something we could not help but shout from the rooftops?)

Micah 6:8 --  "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly.  To love mercy.  And to walk humbly with your God?"  (I don't know about you, but loving mercy would not be how I would be described.)  

Mt. 5:44 --  "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."  (I guarantee you that there is no other religion that encourages this.  The world's teaching is "Hate your enemies, laugh when they fall, curse them, do evil to those who hate you, use them and persecute them with no mercy.  Get even.")

John 13: 34 & 35 --  "A new commandment I give to you that you love one another, as I have loved you; that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."  (The way that God loves us is so distinctive, so unusual, so beyond the way unregenerate man loves, that God states "By this (love for one another) ALL WILL KNOW that you are my disciples"... it seems here that the goal here is that our love directs folks to know we serve Him and that gives God glory...)

Ephesians 5:22-30 -- "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church, and He is the Savior of the body.  Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.  So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.  For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones."  (God knows us.  He knows that for us to unequivocally follow the leading of our husbands is one of the most challenging things He could ask.  Never mind that we love them, we agreed to be married to them -- hmm, any arranged marriages here?-- it is just hard to be married to a man (!) and then be told to also submit to him as we would to Jesus.  But look at what else we see...  the way husbands are taught to love us, the goal of which is our sanctity--to be holy and blameless...  And then God shows how well He knows men--to ask them to love us more than they love their own bodies.  Lets be real--men are born loving their bodies; they take great pride in fitness, strength, & endurance.  Think about men and --  gym equipment, working out, playing golf, tennis, protein shakes/smoothies...  Then look at women.  If God had said "Love your husband more than you love your body" that would be easy...no challenge because most women are not happy with the body that they have...  The last piece of this passage "we are members of His body, of His flesh, of His bones" is important to keep in mind because the parts are different, but are designed to work as a cohesive whole.)

I John 4:18-21 -- "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us.  If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has see, how can he love God whom he has not see?  And this commandment we have from Him; that he who loves God MUST love his brother also."  (To love with fear is to love expecting a certain response.  Sadly, many marriages could be described this way.  To love as God loves is to love freely with no expectation.  He didn't wait till we were worthy--Thank you God.  He didn't wait to love us and then prepare a Way for us.  He loved first.  Without fear.  He didn't selectively love only the ones He knew would love Him... "For God so loved the World..."  John 3:16.  He chose to love stinky, undeserving, disobedient, unthankful, desperately evil sinners knowing that some would come to Him and some would reject Him.  Amazing love.)

It is not our nature, it is not in our repertoire to love as God loves us.  This can only happen as we submit more of ourselves to Him.  Scripture memory, prayer, daily Bible reading keep these commands (of who to love, how to love, and what the goal of love is) at the forefront--readily available to practice.  And God promises that if we Love as He loves, "all will know that we are His disciples."  

Father, help us to learn to love as You do.

Love ~ Day 4

"To blave." Ahhh, those potent words spoken by Westley to Miracle Max when he asked this "mostly dead" man why he should be resuscitated. "To blave." How heartwarming.

For those who don't recognize this quote, it's from "Princess Bride," one of my favorite movies. Miracle Max misinterpreted Westley's words. What Westley offered as the most honorable reason for living was really "true love." Of course being "mostly dead," it stands to reason that he wasn't speaking clearly.

In August, Richard and I will have been married for 24 years. One of the things that I have realized in hind sight is that in some of the years where we were trying very hard to have a good marriage, the result was not always a good marriage. But during those times when we each focused more on God and our relationships with Him, it was amazing how our relationship with each other deepened in respect. Broadened in understanding. Lightened in patience. Overflowed with happiness. Flat out got better. Why? What defines "true love"? If you will indulge me, I'd like to recommend a lengthy quote from an essay written by John Piper in October 2000 as a explanation. Be sure to read the final paragraph.

"Do people go to the Grand Canyon to increase their self-esteem? Probably not. This is, at least, a hint that the deepest joys in life come not from savoring the self, but from seeing splendor. And in the end even the Grand Canyon will not do. We were made to enjoy God.

"We are all bent to believe that we are central in the universe. How shall we be cured of this joy-destroying disease? Perhaps by hearing afresh how radically God-centered reality is according to the Bible.

"Both the Old and New Testament tell us that God's loving us is a means to our glorifying him. "Christ became a servant ... in order that the nations might glorify God for his mercy" (Romans 15:8-9). God has been merciful to us so that we would magnify him. We see it again in the words, "In love [God] destined us to adoption ... to the praise of the glory of His grace" (Ephesians 1:4-6). In other words, the goal of God's loving us is that we might praise him. One more illustration from Psalm 86:12-13: "I will glorify your name forever. For your lovingkindness toward me is great." God's love is the ground. His glory is the goal.

"This is shocking. The love of God is not God's making much of us, but God's saving us from self-centeredness so that we can enjoy making much of him forever. And our love to others is not our making much of them, but helping them to find satisfaction in making much of God. True love aims at satisfying people in the glory of God. Any love that terminates on man is eventually destructive. It does not lead people to the only lasting joy, namely, God. Love must be God-centered, or it is not true love; it leaves people without their final hope of joy."

If you'd like to read the rest of John Piper's essay, you can find it at http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/2000/1515_The_Goal_of_Gods_Love_May_Not_Be_What_You_Think_It_Is/

Love ~ Day 3

1 Corinthians, chapter 13 comes to mind when I think of the word Love. Verses 4-7 say, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Several summers ago, before John and I got married, I memorized this Love chapter. Memorizing Scripture is something that all of us can do to help us "live out" God's Word. It never fails that every time I am memorizing a passage, the Lord puts a circumstance/dilemma/situation in my life that applies perfectly, just as He did this particular time. I know that it is because, when I am memorizing, I am so focused on the words of the passage and connecting meaning with it, that I am more aware of how it relates to me. His Truth is amazing in many ways. It is so powerful that it speaks personally to all ages and stages. Wow!

As I said, I was memorizing this wonderful passage, praying that the Lord would help me to apply it to my life, and asking Him for ways that I could display Love to my family. And He absolutely did just that. And I failed miserably, as I do quite often! I was sitting in the kitchen with my brother and sisters and maybe a few friends when my brother did something to me. This action was so humiliating and embarrassing that I immediately blew up at him! I remember saying a few VERY unkind words to him and storming out of the room to put it mildly.

I proceeded to go back to my room and it was then that it hit me. God knocked me to my knees at this point. It was like He was saying, "Here you are memorizing My Word and asking me for ways that you can show love to those around you! I just tried to give you that and you failed!" I began to see that what I was memorizing and my action in that situation didn't quite match up. "Love is patient, love it kind...it is not easily angered." Well, my reaction to my brother was completely the opposite! I prayed for forgiveness and of course went to my brother to apologize and ask for his forgiveness too.

Loving others is a continuous struggle for me. I am not good at it. In fact, I am completely the opposite of 1 Corinthians 13 most of the time. I continue to persevere and learn through His Word.

The more that we know God and His Word, the more we will desire to pattern our lives after it. We are to love others. We can only do so by loving Him first.

Love ~ Day 2

I’d like to piggy back on what Chris said yesterday. Like Chris’ situation with the stranger, I had a situation with a relative. Over a period of time I was becoming frustrated over an ongoing “inconvenience” that I perceived this person to be causing. Of course the inconvenience elevated to an injustice. Unlike our example yesterday, I felt resentment welling up until finally some ugly words were spoken. God showed me the ugly heart behind the words (Mt. 12:34). I finally did what I needed to do from the start, “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb. 4:16). I gave up trying to handle the situation in my own strength and asked God to do through me what I could not do.

I recently read an example in Watchman Nee’s book, Sit, Walk, Stand that illustrates what happened. “Have you ever tried to save a drowning man? The trouble is that his fear prevents him trusting himself to you. When that is so, there are just two ways of going about it. Either you must knock him unconscious and then drag him to the shore, or else you must leave him to struggle and shout until his strength gives way before you go to his rescue. If you try to save him while he has any strength left, he will clutch at you in his terror and drag you under, and both he and you will be lost. God is waiting for your store of strength to be utterly exhausted before he can deliver you. Once you have ceased to struggle, he will do everything. God is waiting for you to despair.”

It gives God true joy when we just let him give and give and give again to us. Spurgeon said, “We shall bring our Lord most glory if we get from Him much grace.” I shudder to think where my situation would have gone, but by the grace of God. God has brought to light in a new and fresh way, my desperate need for His grace. I join with John Newton in saying “Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home”.