The Good Day

Some folks speak of the "good old days" when life was simpler and slower ... seemed better. Those days, of course, may have lacked some dearly-beloved conveniences. I suggest there's enough considerations to tantalize us into longings for other times. In Exodus, we read how God utterly exposed and crushed all of Egypt's false gods through a series of plagues; He left little doubt about His sovereignty and power! After the Hebrews left Egypt set free of slavery - as promised - God continued to care for His people; the miracles witnessed at the Red Sea and throughout their wilderness journey further proved His power, love and faithfulness. It wasn't long before the people began to grumble and complain; perhaps the height of their disgruntling they said, "Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.'" (Numbers 11:4-6 NASB). Their ingratitude had caused them to slip into a longing for the land of bondage and slavery ... the "good old days?" Perhaps one of the earliest psalms, a prayer of Israel's leader Moses, he says: "O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." (Psalm 90:14 NASB). Ingratitude always leads to discontent; gratitude, however, fulfills the longing heart - a satisfaction of the soul itself! "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 136;1 ESV). Unless we understand and acknowledge The Lord as eternally good - knowing "good" is His nature - we too will find ourselves longing for other things. Don't fall into the enemy's trap of longing for what was or what might be. This day - today - with all that is in it is the best day to be glad "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24 ESV). Today is ... the good day!

Hope of Every Season

Bicycling was something the younger-me enjoyed! The best part was coasting downhill but every downhill coast had an uphill return - not so much fun. Life is much more pleasant when free of the struggles! Perhaps you're in a season of peace and joy right now; I suggest you enjoy it while it lasts. For the child of God, these may be times when The Father knows we may be weak or timid in our faith. While momentarily coasting, the time will come for some serious peddling uphill - a rougher season when we may struggle to see Him at work in us. During a solar eclipse when the light is hidden from view, the sun remains. So it is with God during the uphill treks, those times when we can't seem to see the light of His face upon us. Charles Spurgeon wrote, "We need winds and tempests to exercise our faith, to tear off the rotten bough of self-dependence, and to root us more firmly in Christ." (Morning by Morning). While the ease of coasting was the preferred way of biking, to get back home, there was some hard peddlin' necessary. Jeremiah reminds us, "[God] You are my hope in the day of evil" (17:17 KJV). Both the season of ease and the season of struggle are necessary to grow us in Christ. Let us find Him - the ... Hope of every season.

Sah No to Uh-Oh

As parents of twins - particularly Dustin - when we heard the words "uh-oh," we knew it was time to drop whatever we were doing and see the cause for the "uh-oh." Sometimes it was a minor infraction but ... not always. This well describes life when we choose foolishly, making choices to suit ourselves. One of the oft forgotten conversations of God is with Cain: God said, "If you ignore My instruction, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it." (Genesis 4:7 AMP). To "master" something requires some willful intention to choose "my way" or "God's way." Paul David Tripp gives a list of how we often alibi for what we do: "I can handle this; it will be okay" - "I'll only do it once" - "It's not really such a big deal" - "It's not like I do it all the time" - "I didn't really have much of a choice". (New Morning Mercies). It's been said an excuse is often a lie wrapped in a shell of reason. Paul wrote, "Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts ... as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves ... as instruments of righteousness to God. (Romans 6:12-13 ESV). I know this: I want less uh-ohs and more oh-yeses.  Let us live with more willfulness and intent as we seek righteousness - say no to uh-oh.

The Lovely One

The psalmist's song says, "How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts!" (Psalm 84:1). Our minds typically go to breath-taking sights of creation: a morning frost, sunsets, spacious skies,  painted canyons, snow-capped mountains, the soaring eagle. Oh, what shallow thoughts we have of God! "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" (Romans 11:33). Make no mistake, where God is, there is nothing lacking. He is The Lovely of any and all habitations. The psalmist continues, "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside." (V.10). Just one day! Wherever you are - Wherever you go - The Lovely One is there. Enjoy Him. 

The Great Promiser

We may not care to admit this but we are mostly consumed with ourselves. Oh, we may do our best to keep Jesus and others first in our lives, but the me-factor of cost and convenience is pretty weighty! During seasons of weariness, we turn to the promises of Scripture: "He gives strength to the weary and to him who lacks might He increases power" (Isaiah 40:29 NASB). Such wonderful words to encourage us - words that meet us where we are. No matter how wonderful His words to us are, I suggest we tend to focus more on the promise rather than the One Who promises! We know our God is able and willing to supply every need of ours "according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19 ESV). And there is no way, of course, to separate The Promiser from the promise but it is God Who is the Securer of every promise we hold so dear. It is God - the trustworthy One - upon Whom we trust and savor every precious word of His promise. Let us never forget He is ... The Great Promiser.