Living Gratefully

When spent at your favorite place with your favorite people, vacations are greatly anticipated!   But what about the non-vacation days – those routine, humdrum days of life?  King Solomon wrote, “Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him; for it is his portion … For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18, 20). The challenge here is to live gratefully all the days of life. While we may describe the day-to-day as routine or humdrum, in truth, each day is a Gift from God, and should be lived-out with anticipation and thanksgiving.  Yes, I know it’s hard to compare vacation-days with non-vacation-days, but it’s easy when we hear the Giver-of-Days’ voice and know His Joy in our hearts!  I’m headed to my “favorite place” with some of my “favorite people,” and yes there is much “anticipation.”  I have one week to ponder the wise king’s words, and return to non-vacation life with an [in Pastor Tony’s words] “attitude of gratitude.”  Until Monday 06-10, I challenge you to practice living gratefully the Gift of each day!

Reflector

Mr Bill uses these cool reflectors to mark a pathway [in the dark] to his hunting spots. One of my boys thoughtlessly placed one of these reflectors on my bedroom wall; the sheetrock was not forgiving!  As Believers, we must never forget it is Christ Followers who reflect Him to a darkened world.  Perhaps you, like me, have not always been an effective reflection of Christ – oh my.  Peter asked a relevant question for Christ-centered living: “what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness?” (2 Peter 3:11). What a deeply probing question every Believer should ponder.  Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16). God’s Salvation comes not through works but our works are what reflects His Glory and His Goodness before others. Admit it or not, you will reflect something today: something of the world or One not of this world. Let us consider this and … reflect Christ!

 

Lived-In

The kitchen table is a catch-all, dirty dishes are in the sink, and shoes are in the living room floor – if these scenes make a house look “lived in,” mine certainly qualifies!  While these sights may confirm earthly inhabitants, so do we learn much about the inhabitant of our hearts. To confirm it is Christ Who dwells in one’s heart, there will be outward evidence of His inward rule. Romans 1:21 says, “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God” – ah, there is the puzzling disconnect. Genuinely knowing God always produces Godly honor – can’t help it!  Jesus said, “The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” (Matthew 12:35, ESV). Yes, it is the heart that is the source of all we are and all we do. How we respond to life-stuff tells much about what the heart treasures and who occupies the heart.  Truly, our hearts are “lived-in” and they look “lived-in.” The question for each of us is: who’s living inside?

All You Do

Have you ever looked at your plans for the day or week, and just groaned?  What foolishness for Believers to fill their days without respect to God’s purpose and timing!  Solomon said of mankind, “I know there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good as long as they live.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12).  How can we possibly rejoice and do good when our Godly purpose is an after-thought or a no-thought!  I’m convinced one of Satan’s greatest tools in the Believer’s life is time: he will use the time we’ve been given against us, stealing it away from rejoicing and doing good. How many times have you said to yourself, where did my time go or there’s not enough hours in the day? It happens to all of us, and it is the crazy-cycle and a terrible rut!  We are often left with this looming thought: there must be more to life. It’s critical we know this: the problem is not full calendars or long to-do lists; no, the problem is who we are in relation to Christ Who should Master our lives – yes, every moment-day-week-month-year.   In his book, Rut, Rot or Revival, A. W. Tozer wrote, “If we feel that we are what we ought to be, then we will remain what we are.” Paul steers us in how we are to use our time: “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23).  Let us embrace the Truth of God’s Word by committing the times of our lives to The One Who measures all we do as it glorifies Him.  Do all you do for the Lord!

Pattern People

Cookie cutters are fascinating. I suspect there’s a cutter for about every shape imaginable.  What little baking I do, I’m quite content with whatever shape happens when the dough drops on the pan! Believers are pattern-people!   Spoon-dropped cookies don’t really have a shape; they just fall into whatever conglomeration or blob that plops down.  It’s sad but many who profess to be followers of Christ are best described as a hodgepodge of ideas, principles, and behaviors.  Much like a landslide that gathers whatever debris in its progressing path, some Christians’ beliefs and behaviors are spattered with the world’s influence.  It’s estimated there are some 4,300 different religions in the world; can you imagine the varying truths!  “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21).  Jesus calls us to walk the Way of Holiness (Isaiah 35:8) as modeled for us by His sinless, perfect life.  Jesus Christ is the Way – the Truth – the Life (John 14:6) – not a pattern for living but the Pattern for living. Yes, we are called to Its practice in what we believe and how we behave.  Following and living such a life isn’t quite as simple as cutting cookies BUT there is hope, however, by His Grace and in His Power, we can genuinely be … pattern-people!

 

Times of Life

My Mom’s parents lived in the city; when I stayed OVERNIGHT with them, the night sounds of the city were very different than the frogs and crickets of home. Another distinct sound at Pop and Granny’s was the ticking of the wind-up clock that sat by their bedside. I remember well that sound of time ticking. In Ecclesiastes 3, King Solomon describes the seasons and times of life here: birth and death, destroying and healing, building up and tearing down, weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing, gathering and throwing away, embracing and rejecting, finding and losing, keeping and letting go, separation and togetherness, speaking and keeping silent, loving and hating, war and peace. (V.2-8). That covers every time of life, and of it all Solomon writes, “I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.” (V.10).  I suggest it is good to hear and acknowledge the ticking of time and to acknowledge every moment, every experience, every circumstance is in the control of Sovereign God. Make no mistake, God isn’t the author of the world’s evil (that’s Satan’s work), however, God is the Author and Giver of Supreme Grace for each moment-experience-circumstance! To Paul with his personal affliction, God said,  “My Grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).  Yes, I know the ticking of Pop’s clock would have been annoying to many, but as I recall that sound this older-me admits I’ve heard [and hear still] a lot of time ticking. I’m so glad the seasons and time of life are in the hand of The One Who “is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17). I pray you take comfort in Christ with all your time of life.

 

Perfectly Aligned

Misalignment doesn't even sound good.  I've watched Mr Bill use his magic bubble tool (a leveler, I believe it's called) to make sure something is level.  Now, I would have “eyeballed” it but [in more cases] been wrong. His remark is always, "that's why they pay me the big bucks." God may or may not chuckle but if He does, I'm sure what we think certainly is cause to!  To be opinionated is one thing, to be opinionated and loud is another, but to be opinionated and loud and wrong – well, that’s just terrible!  Several years ago, Mr Bill and I learned to be very cautious when anyone says, "I think."  Truth is, what matters most is not what "I think” but rather what God says in His Word.  We do well to consider if what we believe and say (our align (match-up) with Scripture.  Psalm 119:13 says, “With my lips I declare all the rules of Your mouth.” When our opinions don't line up with God's precepts, guess Who trumps who?  The voices of this culture will continue to be opinionated and loud and [very often] wrong, offering yet an enticing buffet of positions on every moral-ethical-social-spiritual issue.  Perhaps there's never been a grander time to bear testimony to the Truth of God's Word than right now: God said it – That settles it!  Truth is, the world doesn't need any more opinions unless those opinions are one with The Word -- perfectly aligned!

 

Redeem The Time

When did you last ask yourself, “where did the time go?”  Perhaps as you blinked, your children or grandchildren were [suddenly] performing at her first piano recital, or things you pushed out-of-reach were no longer out-of-reach to little hands, or little ones outgrew their car seats.  We sometimes neglect to consider the slipping away of our own days: to-do lists undone, books unread, gardens untended.  Solomon’s conversation with himself in Ecclesiastes 2:18-23 is an examination of his life-work and its relevance, to which he concludes: “There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and assure himself that there is good in his labor. Even this, I have seen is from the hand of God.” (V.24).  Every Believer must agree with King Solomon that all good is located only in God. In the midst of the daily stuff, we must be able to seize the moment in joy from God; only He gives the key to life’s meaning! Genuine purpose, satisfaction and enjoyment are found only in God. Paul expresses beautifully the Christ-worldview of our days: “See that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity, and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, AMP). Today, Mr Bill said it took his work-computer 13 minutes to start – oh me oh my – what a waste of valuable time!  The time of our lives is from the hand of God, and we are instructed to be conscious and deliberate with how we spend it.  Let’s not, like King Solomon, look back on life and find we whittled away our days carelessly.  Redeem the time!

 

Just Say "Yes"

One thing we don’t have to teach children is to say the word “no.” Instinctively, they know “no” – no to obedience, no to sharing, no to eating what is good for them, etc.  Well, it shouldn’t be surprising that we [adults] have the same problem – that is, saying “no” to harmful and destructive things both in-and-outside the body. King Solomon laid out quite a repertoire of things he had explored, provided, granted, built, accomplished for himself: fine food and wine, impressive buildings and pools of water, lush vineyards and gardens and orchards, entertaining and pleasurable experiences, immeasurable amount of wealth (Ecclesiastes 2:1-10). Sounds like the “American dream,” huh?  YET, he wrote: “Then I considered all which my hands had done and labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and chasing after the wind and there was no profit (nothing of lasting value) under the sun.” (V.11, AMP). Momentary passings – mopping the floor, taking a bath, fueling the car, a good night’s sleep – all temporal, necessary but to be done over again. Jesus taught us to consider the worth of worldly gains in relation to the eternal: “”For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26, AMP).  The real value of saying “no” to the temporal and “yes” to the eternal will not be fully realized in this world but for certain in the next.  I suggest we know this: when we say “yes” to God, life’s about to get really good and sweet!  Just say “yes” and hold on!

 

True Satisfaction

DNA testing seems to be the rage these days, and I get it: some testing has resulted in exciting findings of long-lost, even unknown biological family members as well as ancestral history. King Solomon penned these interesting and enlightening words: “In much [human] wisdom there is much displeasure and exasperation; increasing knowledge increases sorrow.” (Ecclesiastes 1:18, AMP).  Of all men in Scripture, Solomon was most certainly not discouraging mankind from gaining knowledge; why, Solomon asked God for wisdom [which He gave to him].  However, the pursuit of knowledge is not an end unto itself!  History has recorded many brilliant and knowledgeable men and women who in-the-end found themselves still searching for “something.” It was also Solomon who wrote that God has “planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing, which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, AMP).  All man’s searching and pursuit of anything will not bring the Satisfaction God intends for each of us: Solomon referred to it as “chasing the wind” – Sam Cathy called it “plowing water.” Nonetheless, True Satisfaction need not escape us; Jesus said, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). Furthermore, we have this great promise, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, Who gives generously to all.” (James 1:5).  For me, I’m skipping DNA testing – I might find out something I really don’t want to know … LOL. True Wisdom that leads to True Satisfaction in The One True God, however, I’m ALL about that!

 

Small Faith

Common sense – there’s been much written about one’s lack of it and never is it flattering!  Aunt Sue used to say, “he ain’t got the sense God gave a billy goat.”  I wasn’t totally sure what that meant, but it didn’t sound good for the man or the goat! Faith and sensibility aren’t exactly friends!  It’s true, of course, certain principles govern what we do: common sense dictates we shouldn't gather snake eggs or burn wet wood.  It's equally true, God gave [most of] us basic perceptions and ability to think rationally.  Oswald Chambers presents this clarification: "The danger we have is that we want to water down what Jesus said to make it mean something that aligns with our common sense."  The Truths Jesus taught and continues to reveal are supernatural, and must not be "watered down" or rationalized by man.  The Bible tells of numerous occasions when common sense was simply laid-to-rest: David (the young shepherd) defeated a seasoned and armored giant with a sling, and Gideon (a farmer) led Israel to defeat an army of 135,000 with only 300 men.  Do tell, what trumped common sense in [just] these two accounts? It was faith -- being sure of what we hope for, and confident of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1).  Jesus said even the smallest amount of faith, the size of a tiny mustard seed, moves mountains (Matthew 17:20).  Frankly, common sense can be one of our greatest spiritual enemies! Christians must replace common sense with simple (even small) faith -- "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5).  It’s not wise to abandon all common sense, but be careful it doesn’t push even the smallest of faith aside. Embrace faith, and watch God do wonders!

 

Keep Stirring

Although I rarely cook anything new, I occasionally look at new recipes.  One thing that makes me turn-the-page are the words “constantly stirring.”  Necessary as it may be to the success of the dish, those instructions are a game-changer for me! Honestly, there are times when I sit down to write MWB and I’m just not inclined to do so.  Since retirement, I often ponder when I will retire from writing as well.  Then I read Apostle Peter’s words as he wrote to fellow Believers near the end of his life, “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities … I think it right as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder … And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” (2 Peter 12, 13, 15). Every Believer should consider this: is there really a time when we can justifiably lay aside our spiritual gifts while on earth?  Even from a cross, in agony, Jesus prayed for and forgave His persecutors then spoke words of promise to a dying thief; Christ was faithful to His ministry until He breathed His last breath! You may have heard that preachers don't retire - they only re-fire; well, that's a good slogan for each of us.  To our very end or the Day of Christ’s Retu8rn, we must persevere not only in right-living and well-doing but in speaking the Gospel in-and-out-of-season, ready at all times, preaching the Word of Truth.  I have no idea how much longer I will do this but to the very end, I pray I am faithful and "constantly stirring" others to be faithful.  Let us all … keep stirring!

 

The Answer

Back “in the day” I went every few months for a permanent in my hair.  As I explained to my boys one day it was that time, Dennis (Twin  A) asked, “Mama, if you have to get a new one every few months, why do they call it a “permanent?”  Good question – no answer!  The Preacher of Ecclesiastes – King Solomon – reflectively examine the non-permanent things of his life: “’Vanity of vanities,’ says the Preacher. ‘Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless – a wisp of smoke, vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].’” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, AMP).  When you study the life of King Solomon, son of David and Bathsheba, you see he lacked nothing – he had it all: prestige, power, wealth and all that accompanies those earthly accolades.  Yet, after much of life spent, Solomon delivers the most profound and brutally honest summation: all is vanity. We learn from Scripture that God created us to be in fellowship with Himself, which includes all the benefits of His Love and Power and Care.  Never did He intend we live independently of Him, in [self] sufficiency nor satisfaction apart from The Creator.  God’s words through Solomon may be ancient but they certainly aren’t irrelevant to today. He adds, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done and there is no new thing under the sun.” (1:9).  I wonder [of myself] if I am living within the scope of my own life-design, or am I resting even relishing the life God has put before me.  Even King Solomon cannot answer this question for me or for you.  The answer comes from within each of us!

God Of The Wave

Everybody wants to be boss, or so it seems.  Personally, I prefer to be pointed in the right direction and told what to do!  I’ve found [in general] its’s less stressful but not always as easy as it sounds.  There’s a fundamental giving-up of sovereignty, which is contrary to our nature.  One Bible hero whose life was completely out of his own control was Joseph; he must have surely wondered how betrayal, slavery, rape charges and imprisonment came to him!  Joseph’s end-story words reflect a sound Godly principle: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present.” (Genesis 50:20).  God’s ultimate control over the circumstances of our lives is never suspect: “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28).  When we come to love God as we should – with all heart, soul, mind – then we learn to love our circumstances no matter what they are.  Love my circumstances – you’re kidding, right?  You see, God is The God of our circumstances, and nothing threatens that!  Spurgeon said, “I’ve learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” I’ve “kissed” a few ocean waves in my life and ended up upside down and spitting sand.  That just won’t happen when we love and devote ourselves to The God of life’s waves.  Do your circumstances seem dire, hopeless or beyond an imaginative good end?  Remember Joseph who never lost sight of The Sovereign God!  Let us learn to kiss the wave.

Take Care

There are some things you can do with stale bread, but no one [I know] wants to eat it!  The Lord has things to say about hardened hearts, and we are wise to take heed: “”Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts …” (Hebrews 3:7-8).  There’s an implied change that occurs in the spiritual heart, and a dire warning to the Believer: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” (3:12).  The upkeep of the spiritual heart is a continual matter, and we have a responsibility to one another in this matter. “But exhort one another every day, as long it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (3:14).  See, I told you – stale is no good!  Let us take care in this matter!

 

Acquaintance or Friend

What’s the difference between an acquaintance and a friend?  By definition, an acquaintance is a person only slightly known.  I fear many Believers can merely name Christ as an acquaintance when He should be a trusted friend! In the midst of his suffering, Job’s friend, Eliphaz said, “Acquaint now thyself with Him.” (Job 22:21).  There is much to know of The Three-In-One God.  We will not plumb God’s depths nor dare to call Him Friend by a casual reading of His Word, prayer, worship, fellowship or service. I’m sure there were others whom I “met” in the church nursery a few days after my birth, but there’s one whom I know as a long-time and close friend. She’s not an acquaintance; no, she’s a friend. because we talk about shallow-and-deep things and we spend time together. You see, in the same way we develop earthly friendships, we come to knowing God instead of just being acquainted with Him. “Be not satisfied unless you know much of Jesus Christ as your Friend, your Brother, your Husband, your All.”  Acquaintance of Friend – it’s your call!

 

Reaching

Without the assistance of a chair or one of my guys (all taller than me), the highest of my kitchen cabinets are out of reach.  At first glance, the commandments of God may seem impossible to follow.  Jesus said this was the greatest command: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37).  Heart and soul and mind – the sum of a person!  What the LORD said to the Hebrew people is also true for Christians today: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life … That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life … ” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).  It’s a tall order, a real challenging, but not out-of-reach.  Christ says, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for My Power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).  His commandments always come with His All-Sufficient Power, making all of them possible, well within reach.  Here’s the question: are we reaching toward Him?

True Wisdom

Does true wisdom sometime escape you?  Oh, my, let me count the times!  I feel it is a safe conclusion that everyone-who-breathes lacks true wisdom sometimes.  Proverbs 16:20 says, “He that handles a matter wisely shall find good; and whoso trusts in the Lord, happy is he.” The real struggle is most often applying wisdom toward the “good” in a circumstance of life. Interestingly, even in the right application of true [Godly] wisdom, we don’t always witness immediate good; that’s why we “trust” in the Lord – it is He Who brings about His purpose both in circumstances and in life of Believers. The notable end-result is “happy is he.”  Spurgeon says, “He who trusts in the Lord has a diploma for wisdom.”  The “diploma” doesn’t come from just how wisely we perform – the right handling of a matter – but on how we “trust in the Lord.” That’s where we know genuine happiness in any circumstance!  Of course, we can trust God with the circumstances but we also trust Him with our own peace and happiness. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, Who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5, ESV).  Ask God for true wisdom, apply it rightly then trust Him completely with the outcome!

 

Little Sprouts

Gardening is not my strength, nonetheless, I have a small garden of potted plants.  Just like tender shoots of a plant, according to God’s purpose, spiritual seeds take root.  A word spoken or a deed done for Christ is never wasted! “I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before Him.” (Ecclesiastes 3:14).  The wasteful tragedy is when we fail to speak and fail to do, that is, plant spiritual seeds for God’s kingdom.  Scripture makes clear we plant and God grows the seed (1 Corinthians 3:6).  How delightful when God gives sprout to seeds He has used us to plant!  Are you speaking and doing for the Lord?  Let us faithfully plant, diligently pray then watch for little sprouts!

 

Practice Praise

Rehearsal is critical for singers and choirs!  Those are the times to hear the notes, smooth out the rough spots and [hopefully] banish bad sounds to never be heard again.  I’ve looked into the faces of God’s people during times of worship, and strained to see [what should be] joyful praise. Let’s face it: we’ve all had times when joyful worship alluded us!  The song writer asks relevant questions for us all: “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become restless and disturbed within me?” (Psalm 42:5a, AMP).  The implication is that the soul has lost hope and anxious thoughts have interrupted its calm.  The musician continues, “Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His Presence.” (V.5b).  Ah! The Anchor of all hope is God and as we wait expectantly, we praise Him! The hymn writer penned it well: “My hope is found in nothing less than Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness!” He is our Confident Expectation (Hope)!  This is why we can rejoice in our waiting, rehearsing for The Day when we’ll stand before The Father “dressed in His Blood and Righteousness.”  We do not praise Him for just what He has done [for us] but because of Who He is!  “It’s amazing what praising can do – Hallelujah.”  Our days seem to get busy and full, but no day is too busy-full for some real praise practice.  Whatever you’re “into” this weekend, chase away soul-despair – practice praise!

Worth The Wait

Have you ever waited expectantly, even wished time would hurry-up?  The anticipated moment comes: the wait is over and you’re thought are “I waited for this?” or “what a waste of time!”  You know, we spend a lot of our lives waiting: in checkout lines, in traffic, in waiting rooms, for beach trips, etc.  We don’t mind waiting when we’re fairly confident the wait is worth it.  David wrote, “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Strong Tower; I will not be shaken or disheartened.” (Psalm 62:1-2).  David’s words are not only words of great confidence in God but of deep trust in Him Who he waits.  While he is waiting, the writer is at rest – at peace – at ease.  No twiddlin’ of thumbs or wringing of hands or biting of nails!  No, just a quiet confident patience in God Who never disappoints, is never late and never fails those who hope in Him.  That’s Adonai (The Lord, My Great Lord), Elohim (The All-Powerful One, Creator), El Roi (The God Who Sees Me), El Shaddai (The All Sufficient One, God Almighty), Immanuel (God with Us), Jehovah (“I AM”, The One Who Is).  His promise is for strength here and now, and for an eternal home with Him some day.  In Him we hope and wait with All Confidence, knowing He alone is worthy and worth the wait!