When things seem to be declining

 I was reminded by God this week that He is in charge.  Not in any one major event.  Not in a special urgent message or vision or anything like that.  But in the small things.  In the times when things did not seem to be going my way a reminder that even then God is in charge.  In the cold that I got that meant that I missed a Bible study but then got to spend a few extra moments talking with a friend that I might not have had if the sickness was not present.  It was the visit from the in-laws where I still was able to accomplish the tasks because I was not able to go with them due to the cold.  Of course I was not really excited to get the cold.  But the cold led to a few things I was not expecting - a few blessings that I was not expecting.  And sometimes that is the way we need to think - each difficulty is a chance for a blessing we were not looking for.  But we have to be willing to look for it!  May God help us see His glorious hand even when the events of our life are not ideal.

Fun

 I think that sometimes we make a false dichotomy between doing things God's way and fun.  But perhaps that tells us that we are defining fun incorrectly.  If we define fun by what brings us the most pleasure than the truest definition must involve doing things God's way.  

I remember back when I was in college I would go to work and talk with people who "had fun" over the weekend doing various things that God prohibited.  In nearly every circumstance that I can recall the "fun" they had was temporary and the consequences longer lasting than the moment of enjoyment.  Alcohol led to long hangovers, headaches, poor choices, loss of monetary resources and many other things.  Getting high led to much of the same.  Sex often led to broken relationships and sometimes even children.  The fun that was had was always tempered by the consequences.  

When we do things the way that God intends we can not only enjoy the moment, but know that the consequences will be positive.  Yes it is sometimes hard and yes it sometimes requires self sacrifice, but the joy that we receive both in the here and in the here-after are immeasurable.  So I guess if you want to trade your eternity for a moment you can have at it.  But I would rather trade this moment for eternity - I think that is not only the better deal - it is a lot more fun!

Wisdom

 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

 (Proverbs 1:7, NASB)

I am getting a wisdom tooth removed.  It will be the second time I have had wisdom teeth removed - and the joke always comes that of course I will not be as wise after I have this one removed.  Which would be bad - I do not have too many left!  Of course we know that wisdom does not actually come from our teeth - but many of us live in such a way that searches for wisdom in some very foolish places.  Wisdom is not found in our television set - or online - or in the opinions of people.  Wisdom is not found in pursuit of money.  Wisdom is found in only one place.  Wisdom is found in God.  In the fear of God.  In obedience to God.  In doing what God wants.

We all want to be wise.  But most of us want to be wise on our own terms.  Or we want to be wise in our own eyes.  Or in the estimation of our friends.  Few of us want to be wise in the sense of fearing God and surrendering our lives to His will and purpose for us.  And yet this is where true wisdom lies.  

So if you are starting school, or going back to work this week, or taking one last vacation, remember that your wisest course of action is to follow and seek after God in all that you do.  Hopefully I will be able to do that this week too.  Even if I am missing a tooth!

Growing Up

 I was thinking on birthdays the other day.  Every year, on the same day, one comes around to let us know that we are one year older.  And we tend to mark these days by moments of progress.  Our first birthday we are somewhere near crawling and maybe even walking for those really fifth birthday we are getting ready for school.  By 16 we are driving.  And then sometime we stop counting because the milestones become less enjoyable - things start hurting and breaking down.  But we mark the passage of these milestones by inviting others to celebrate with us.  

I wonder if we viewed Christian growth in this way if it would help us - to think about what maturity looks like and to aim for that.  To mark progress toward maturity by celebration and joy with those who have gone before us and after us.  To give thanks for our growth and maybe even have a little cake. Instead we simply think of this kind of maturity as something that just happens and it goes without fanfare.  

So if you see someone growing in Christ - tell them you want to celebrate with them.  And even enjoy some cake with them if it helps!

Being thankful for what I am not good at

 I am so thankful for all of the things I cannot do well.  I am not a mechanic.  I am not a computer tech.  I am not a doctor.  I am not an artist.  I am not a poet.  There are lots of things that we are not.  We are told from a young age to focus on the things we are good at - and it does build in us a sense of confidence to do so, but the more I age the more I realize the benefit of what I do not know.  

What I do not know draws me toward a deeper dependance upon those who know.  I cannot fix things naturally, but I can learn from those who do.  I do not have a lot of tools, but I can utilize the tools of my friends.  This allows me to recognize how connected I am to those around me.  My strengths can do that too if I am willing to share my abilities with others, but when we are mutually sharing there is a strength and a bond that is deepened.  And I  need to learn to be dependent upon others because it deepens my relationship with God.

I think that sometimes we forget limitations are a blessing.  They are a constant reminder of how much we need our Lord to rule and reign for us and over us.  He can do all things, and he tells us that in Him we can also face all circumstances.  But we need to recognize that He is in charge and we are not - and that is much easier to do when I am thankful for what I am not good at!  

Vacation

 Rest is something that is hard to truly find this side of eternity.  I just got back from a week and a half vacation.  But I did not get back from a week and a half of rest.  Even vacation is work.  You have to pack the right stuff, remember the right stuff, move the right stuff in and out of the car into and out of the places you will be staying, you have to work hard to organize all of the details to make sure you have a place to stay.  Sure it is less work than working (or maybe different work than working) but when you get back all of your work is still there.  

Even resting can be exhausting at times.

Which is why I am so thankful that God promises us rest.  Not temporary rest.  Not slightly better rest.  But rest.  Where we will no longer have to put out energy to make our lives liveable.  A rest that allows us to spend our time and energy where it ought to be - in worship, adoration and praise of the God who made us.  I do not think this means an absence of work - but an absence of difficult, unrewarding, unfulfilling work.  The work that we do will be accomplishing the purpose for which work was designed - to image God properly.  And that work will be work we need no rest from!

May God haste the day when we can rest, truly rest, in Him.

Summer

 Summer is almost officially here.  I am not talking about the actual start of the summer season on June 21.  I am not talking about the first warm day of the year.  I am talking about the absence of school for all of the kids!  I remember that when I was in their shoes, the beginning of summer was always marked by the end of the school work.  Summer really started when the school work was done.  

I think that in many respects, this is a good way to think about the return of Christ.  When Jesus comes back, the work that He has left us here to do for His glory is over and we get to enter the rest and eternal joy of being in His presence for all eternity.  I wonder if we think of His return like that.  Do we anticipate it like we looked forward to end of school?  Do we relish the thoughts of the endless possibilities of joy as we serve our Savior for all eternity?  Do we anticipate and hold fast the reality that we will spend an eternity worshiping God and living in His presence?  Perhaps we ought to think about the return of Christ a bit more like summer!