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.

It Matters Much

A little here, a little there - a pinch here, a pinch there ... that seemed to be how my Nanny and my Mama measured ingredients. That hasn't worked so well for me! God said "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deuteronomy 6:5, ESV) then He repeated Himself "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37, ESV). I suspect it's at the word "all" where we get lost! Satan convinces us we're doing pretty good - we're mostly obedient. Oswald Chambers writes, "Beware of the thing of which you say — 'Oh, that does not matter much.' The fact that it does not matter much to you may mean that it matters a very great deal to God" (My Utmost for His Highest). Scripture is clear: it's the little foxes that spoil the vine (Song of Solomon 2:15) ... A little folly outweighs wisdom and honor (Ecclesiastes 10:1) ... The one who keeps the whole law but fails in one point is guilty of all of it (James 2:10). With God, "nothing is a mere detail" (Chambers). That little-here and little-there is a spiritual-life killer! Perhaps a good rule to remember is when we think it matters little, to God ... it matters much!