Forgetfulness

 I am not sure the exact reason - the onset of age or chemotherapy - but I am losing my mind.  This past weekend I lost my air pods.  I searched everywhere.  I did eventually find them but I still felt a little crazy.  I am also forgetting things other than household items.  I am forgetting things on my to-do list.  Missing small details.  Missing some medium details.  I could not remember a name during a meeting that I know I know.  All of this is frustrating.  But it is a reminder to me of my frailty.  

It also helps me think on a God who does not forget.  He knows and remembers me.  And He cares.  And this to me is astounding.  His realm of dominion is huge, mine is small, and I cannot keep charge of my small little realm.  And to think that God not only manages, but perfectly brings about all things to His intended goal without fail is an amazing thought.  We serve an amazing God!

The importance of Scripture

 Sometimes I think that we forget that the Scriptures are infallible, inerrant and authoritative but our understanding of the Scriptures is not.  If we assume that we understand Scriptures correctly in things that the Scripture is not clear on we will be in danger of making something authoritative that is just simply our opinion and not actually the Word of God.  Worse yet, we sometimes try to make our opinion the standard by which others are bound because we have mis-equated the Word of God for our words about the Word of God.  

We must caution ourselves against this with at least three cautions.

    1. The caution of humility.  - We must always approach God's Word humbly.

    2. The caution of study - We must always study hard and allow God's Word to speak for itself, not proof-text our way through the Bible.

    3. The caution of community - our interpretation should not stand alone against the history of biblical interpretation or even in the midst of our own contemporary community.  If you think it means something that no one else thinks it means you should probably be overly cautious and study extra hard!

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!