Thought #15

“Walking by faith means being prepared to trust where we cannot see.”  John Blanchard

Thought #14

“God’s Word is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind” (M. Unger).  It is more precious than the finest gold.  Oh how we would scramble to pick up a gold nugget, but neglect our Bible lying on the shelf and collecting dust.

Thought #13

My sacroiliac has been giving me excruciating back pain.  I recalled my father lying out in the sun for a similar infirmity.  I tried it and had relief.  I have been using Unger’s O.T.  commentary along with my study in Psalm 19:5 in which he referenced me back to Gen. 1:16.  How beautifully applicable is the reference to the sun.  Its enormous power rules over the day with healing power and prefigures our blessed Savior Who will come forth with healing in His wings “to usher in the Kingdom age.”   Don’t you get restless with that blessed hope?!

I WONDER AS I WANDER -- PART 1 ~ The Magnificence of God’s Mercy

How can God put up with my inconsistent prayer life, laxity in Bible study, lack of concern for the lost? How can He listen to my big promises to  do better when time and again He has seen me fail? How can He? How can He? Why doesn’t He write me off as a bad debt? A failure?

Have you ever been there? Is that the way you are thinking right now?

It is at such times I run to the Word and He reminds me that as His child He still cares for me. He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. I am the apple of His eye. My Father reminds me that He adorns each lily of the field. He notes a tiny sparrow’s falls. God is so concerned for me that He has the hairs of my head numbered. He will keep on caring for me until He calls me home when His whole scheme of things will be revealed. Hallelujah!

I’m reminded of God’s continued love for unfaithful Israel (Exodus 32:9-14). Because of His people’s unfaithfulness, God was going to destroy them. But He must be true to His promises with the patriarchs; therefore He relented of the punishment that He would have inflicted on His people.

We born-again-believers have a magnificently greater basis for forgiveness than the Old Testament saints. Yes, we are undeserving. We are inconsistent. We are undependable. God and His Word are low on our priority list. We grieve our Father God. It is then that Jesus is at the Father’s right hand pleading for us. God is grieved, disappointed, perhaps even angry with us to the point of casting us out, but  Jesus is at the Father’s side interceding for  us.   He opens His garments and says, “Look Father, at this deep scar in my side. Blood and water flowed out of this wound for Norma (put your name here). Forgive her again.”

It is because of the incomparable price that was paid, that God reaches down, folds me in His arms of love, binds me to Himself, and forgives. Instead of casting me away, He begins another renewal program. He puts another building block on my pyramid of life. What form does that block take? Perhaps the form an experience -- just the kind He knows I need. If I take careful steps to get the most out of that correction, I learn and I grow.

Here is an example of what I am talking about. On January 8, 1991, while living in our motor home in Florida a severe thunderstorm hit. I remarked to my husband, “We are undoubtedly in the safest place one can be since we have six rubber tire to ground us.” Later that evening we noted that our electrical outlets were not working. I remarked to friends that I could see no reason for such inconvenience. A few days earlier I had spoken at a ladies’ meeting with two points. #1 - God is in control even in the minutest details. #2 - God has a learning purpose for every detail He brings to us. When we pass lightly over them or we ignore them we miss the purpose of God’s planned lesson. Think of it! I had put my confidence in the security of six rubber tires instead of God’s protection! Hard to imagine! God could have burned down the motor home and its valuable contents. Instead He extended merciful protection as well as mercifully and one more time giving me an experience that would set my mind on Christ. God is ever faithful!
                                                                                                             (to be continued)

CULTIVATING CONTENTMENT IN CHRIST -- PART 5

Will we ever be totally contented? Not on this earth! God is daily growing us for earthly good. And He is preparing us for Heaven.  “Whom the Lord loves He chastens” (Heb. 12:6 ). “Crosses are not curses.” I used to call God’s disciplines “dark strokes” on my canvas of life. Not at all! As I have drawn closer to my heavenly Father and have more carefully absorbed His Word and His love for me, I have come to realize that His acts of discipline are “love strokes.” I thank Him for every one of them even though they excruciatingly hurt at the time. “Whom the Lord loves He chastens.”The Lord chastens us because He loves us!  This should help us to not mistake the purpose of our afflictions. Our afflictions are really mercies that often blossom and bear fruit. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness ( Heb. 12:11). “With God it is alright. He is really very kind.” He sanctifies us through pain.

We considered Psalm 37:5 last time. Commit, trust, wait, do not fret, delight yourself. Have you applied that to your personal life situations this past month? If you did, without doubt you have paeans of praise to give to your heavenly Father. Do you have a wayward child? Or a needy husband? Are you worn with grief over the thoughts of their destiny? Has it helped? No! Of course not. You have not committed the matter to the only One who can handle it. Think of it this way. Yes, you bore your child and he/she has your blood flowing through the veins to sustain the body. That child is yours, but your influence is limited. That child is on Christ’s mind to a greater concerned and loving degree than on yours. He shed His blood to save that soul. Your child is more His than yours. The Father loves him/her more than you do. Don’t you believe that He can do the better job? Without doubt He can! That is practicing/fleshing out the Word. “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

God warns teachers of His precious Word to be extremely cautious that they practice what they teach. But teachers don’t live on the mountain top all the time. The enemy goads them just like he does everyone else. Scripture tells us that he is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet.5:8). God has reasons for allowing him to attack us. I have a confession to make. I started my day with a discontented heart a while back. I knew I could not remain in that condition after all I have been saying to you. Furthermore, my discontentment was extremely grievous to the Lord. I was leaving Him out. What did I do?  My first thought was, “What have I been saying to those women out there?” I knew I had been directing you to the Word, so I went back to Part 3 of this series to find out exactly what I said to you.There it was -- Isaiah 40:28-31; also 41:10. It is not easy to relate this, but I want you to know that I’m not on a spiritual pedestal. Our Father deals with each of us for several obvious reasons. Always for His glory.

“I will call upon Thee; For Thou wilt answer me”  (Psalm 86:7). “For Thou art great and doest wondrous things.” David prayed this with complete confidence and with full assurance in the Lord. Confidence in Him is contentment. Be assured that God is and that He will answer for our good and for His own Name’s sake. For His own honor and glory. He knows your heart cry even before you utter it. He longs to hear and to answer.  Jesus groans for your need.

“Day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here.” Because He victoriously lives.

What have you been learning about contentment in your life?

CULTIVATING CONTENTMENT IN CHRIST -- PART 4

Someone has said, “Remembrance is the hallmark of gratitude.” Gratitude is the back bone of contentment. It is profitable to look back and consider what the Lord has done for us. We were slaves of sin and under the curse of God. But God, who is rich in mercy loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, saved us by His amazing grace. The days of our first love were delightfully exuberating. Our blood-bought hearts basked in God’s love. We were cleansed and made pure for the Master and we indulged  in that. In fact, it was such a delightful experience that we could not keep quiet. Others just had to hear. Perhaps your zeal has declined, perhaps your joy has faded, perhaps your prospects have overcome you. You are discontented. Of course! That is to be expected! God’s Word gives us answers to finding peace and contentment.

In Hebrews 10:32-39 God counterbalances our dilemma with grave warnings. Our new-found faith gives us new joy and anticipation. We recall those precious former days when we were illuminated to such a degree that in the midst of great struggles and sufferings we didn’t “cave  in.” We sang, “O God, our help in ages past, our hope in years to come. Our shelter in the stormy blast, and our eternal home.” God has not changed.

Let’s take a look at Psalm 37:5-7, as I said we would do in our last session. “Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him . . . wait patiently for Him . . . Do not fret.” That is a BIG chunk when we are in the middle of the muddle!  First of all, God advises us and reassures us in the powerful words of verse 4. “ Delight yourself in the Lord.”  The battle is not yours, but God’s. Don’t attempt to figure or fight. He will take care of you and do for you what you can’t do for yourself, even if you try. On top of all those care packages He still has more.  He looks inside and gives you“the desires of your heart.” Assurance! Take God at His word! What an awesome God is He. “Immortal, invisible, God only wise.”

We would do well to flesh out verses 5-7.When you are slandered, misjudged, falsely accused, misunderstood, or misquoted, commit the entire matter to the Lord.  Roll the weight onto Him. Let Him act in your behalf. Leave it there. So trust. Now, having done the above, rest in Him.
Since He is carrying your burden, it is not necessary for you to bear it also. That is exactly what we too often do. We take our burden back. How foolish! It is God’s will that you should cast on Him your every care. He also bids you not to cast your confidence away. But oh, we are so foolish when taken unawares. We cast away our confidence and carry all our cares.  Verse 8 tells us not to fret because it only causes harm. Health advisors list the devastating effects that worry, fear, anger, and such have on our bodies. The Lord tells us what they will do to our hearts, minds, and souls. God has the remedy (Philippians 4:6). Read it, pray, ask, be thankful. He gives peace.

Did you note the one more pearl that we must add to our string of contentment? Wait.There’s more.  Wait patiently. More. Wait patiently for Him. Yes. Waiting is the thing we find hardest to do. Waiting is the thing we do least. God has a time table that will precisely fit not only our need, but will importantly accomplish His purpose in us and for us. Note that our resources, as believers, are in the Lord.  “Trust in the Lord (v.3). Delight in the Lord (v. 4). Commit your way to the Lord (v.5) Rest in the Lord (v.7a). Wait patiently for Him (v.7b).”
                                                                                                                                 (to be continued)

Cultivating Contentment in Christ ~ Part 3

I am an octogenarian who would like to share with you the blessed experience of  cultivating contentment in Christ in our senior years of  life. No, I'm not telling you that I have worked out all of  it and am ready with all the answers. I'm finding it to be a daily learning experience accompanied by  victory as I dig ( and I do mean dig) into God's Word for answers. God has wonderfully blessed my years with health, strength, and vigor, which He has channeled into multiple venues of  service for Him.  I had found it hard to ever realize my age -- until recently. I can now begin to identify with many of  you who have been telling me what it is like. So, let's think together positively about the "glory of  aging."

It goes without saying that the first answer to this phase of  life is found in God's Word. Do open your Bible and  carefully/reflectively read the comforting words found in Isaiah 40:28-31. Oh yes, you are familiar with it, but as you read it, claim it for how you feel right now. Now,  ip over to 1 Corinthians 4:16 where we are told that although our outward [person] is decaying our inward [person] is being renewed each day. My husband, John, reminds me that God does not do for us what we can do for ourselves. "Renewal is not automatic, it is major life activity" (Francis Grubbs, The Glory of  Aging, p. 93).

How and where do we start to be daily renewed? It starts with the mind which affects our heart. Yes, and it involves the will, as well. Our sinful mind, heart, and will must be transformed. We may deeply/desperately yearn and even try to be better and to do better. Our efforts will fail. Only God, by the power of  His Holy Spirit, can effect this change. He is our overcomer. He gives victory. He has promised, "Commit your way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass" (Psa. 37:5). We will go deeper into this study on our next blog post.

Let's take a lesson from an eight-year-old girl who was blinded at birth by a quack physician. "Oh what a happy child I am, although I cannot see! I am resolved that in this world, contented I will be! How many blessings I enjoy that other people don't! So weep or sigh because I'm blind, I cannot -- nor I won't." (Frances Jane Crosby)

It is our unfailing hope in God and our ever present blessed hope of  spending eternity with Him in glory that floods our spirit with unspeakable joy.  Joy is fulfillment!

To " Set your mind on...Christ" (Col. 3:2) and His promises, is a dictate that serves us well in our declining years. He is our refuge. Underneath are His everlasting arms. He will faithfully carry us through every stormy blow, every weakness, every fear! He will never fail! He has promised!

" Even to your old age , I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! Even I will carry, and will deliver you." God is speaking directly to you and to me through the pen of  Isaiah (46:4).
                                                                                                  (to be continued)