The word good seems one note compared to words like grand, super, best or better.
Today was a good day when my wife and I travelled north to visit a small town. We took in the sights along the way. Enjoyed an afternoon in antique stores. The weather was gloriously bright and very warm. Over all you might say it was a very good day.
When it comes to describing God as good we often fall back on our own definition based on good experiences and delightful moments. Psalms 145:9 says, "The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works." (KJV). The word good in the original means pleasant, agreeable, and good.
Can we say God is agreeable when someone we love is suffering from cancer? Or if we lost our job and face a mountain of bills? When the questions are too many and answers so few? Can we say in those painful moments like Gwen Wilkerson whose last words were, "God is good."? The same woman who battled cancer her entire life and lost her husband in an accident a year before her death.
We are not agreeing to death, destruction or pain but we acknowledge by faith God is good. Nothing can truly compare to God's goodness. It's not an emotion or based on some effort of our own. Too often what the world calls good is temporal, conditional and requires energy to maintain a euphoric state of feeling good about themselves.
Let me leave one Scripture for your thoughts.
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalms 34:8 (KJV).
Taste?
Yes, because Scripture tells us His word is like honey to our lips (Psalms 119:103). When we taste His goodness those painful moments and harsh experiences can't leave a bitter taste in our mouth. We can say sincerely and sweetly, "God is good."
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Extraordinary Trust For Simply Things
For the most part, my father and I handle major problems or crises with a measurable patience and tact. My father once worked in a hospital where this served him very well. He had to manage a variety of health conditions and reactions of those walking into the emergency room. Once a friend broke his leg in our back yard. Calmly, he asked for two pieces of flat wood and some cloth which he made into a splint to keep the leg from moving to prevent more damage.
But when it comes to the smallest (yet still important) things in life I fall apart! When the system fails at work, traffic jams or feeling boxed in by every daily living - I have a melt down.
I can usually tell the little things bother me because I often repeat it to others around me. And in prayer it becomes a major complaint for God to help.
I better understand over the years a lack of certainty in God's promises for the smallest things matter between having a restful heart or anxious driven mind.
Jesus tells us, "Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth much more than birds?" (Matthew 6:26 CEV). Perhaps that's why I find myself staring out of my kitchen window when the birds rest on the trees. I'm a bit jealous that these creatures don't work like us. Seconds later the birds take flight and I say with the Psalmist, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. (Psalms 55:6).
Faith is living (not some magical or ritualistic thing we create) because the substance of faith comes from the Lord. Our faith is not built to the measure of storms and trials we experience but the assurity that God's word never fails us. We enter every trial - small or big - with the measure of faith that will sustain us. On the other side, our faith increases because God is faithful to help us.
Small things do matter.
The ordinary things can be like a fleck of sand in the eyes causing irritation or it can be the mustard seed that grows our faith!
But when it comes to the smallest (yet still important) things in life I fall apart! When the system fails at work, traffic jams or feeling boxed in by every daily living - I have a melt down.
I can usually tell the little things bother me because I often repeat it to others around me. And in prayer it becomes a major complaint for God to help.
I better understand over the years a lack of certainty in God's promises for the smallest things matter between having a restful heart or anxious driven mind.
Jesus tells us, "Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth much more than birds?" (Matthew 6:26 CEV). Perhaps that's why I find myself staring out of my kitchen window when the birds rest on the trees. I'm a bit jealous that these creatures don't work like us. Seconds later the birds take flight and I say with the Psalmist, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. (Psalms 55:6).
Faith is living (not some magical or ritualistic thing we create) because the substance of faith comes from the Lord. Our faith is not built to the measure of storms and trials we experience but the assurity that God's word never fails us. We enter every trial - small or big - with the measure of faith that will sustain us. On the other side, our faith increases because God is faithful to help us.
Small things do matter.
The ordinary things can be like a fleck of sand in the eyes causing irritation or it can be the mustard seed that grows our faith!
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Anoint My Eyes To See
Everyday our prayer should be "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." (Psalms 119:18, NIV).
Our focus can become so narrowed by what we do or where we live. Over time, most Christians have adapted a survival mind set. As long as they are healthy, able to work and are well fed; there's little to ask the Lord, except to be rescued from an occasional crisis.
Psalms 73 gives an example how some of us view those around us.
The wicked prosper while we are in lack (verse 3). Strength abounds and the fear of death seems to have no hold on them (verse 4). We like Paul are plagued by fears within and without. And it seems they avoid trouble even when they are the cause of it.
Then the perspective dramatically changes in verse 17.
Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked (NLT).
There's something that happens when we stand in the presence of God in the congregation of the righteous. We see things differently though many saints have differences in spiritual age and understanding.
Corporately, we see clearly heaven and hell - there's a place beyond this limited life. We understand there's a day of reckoning when we will give an account of what we did in this body. And we see clearly the end of those who persistently refuse the gospel of salvation.
When God opens our eyes we don't want anything the world offers. It may appear to be shiny and attractive but like pyrite (fool's gold) it has no value but only a destructive end.
And for some of us so blinded by worldly things and unbelief, perhaps the Lord may have to rub some supernatural soil in our eyes to bring about a miraculous healing (John 9:6). Rinse and you will see!
Our focus can become so narrowed by what we do or where we live. Over time, most Christians have adapted a survival mind set. As long as they are healthy, able to work and are well fed; there's little to ask the Lord, except to be rescued from an occasional crisis.
Psalms 73 gives an example how some of us view those around us.
The wicked prosper while we are in lack (verse 3). Strength abounds and the fear of death seems to have no hold on them (verse 4). We like Paul are plagued by fears within and without. And it seems they avoid trouble even when they are the cause of it.
Then the perspective dramatically changes in verse 17.
Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked (NLT).
There's something that happens when we stand in the presence of God in the congregation of the righteous. We see things differently though many saints have differences in spiritual age and understanding.
Corporately, we see clearly heaven and hell - there's a place beyond this limited life. We understand there's a day of reckoning when we will give an account of what we did in this body. And we see clearly the end of those who persistently refuse the gospel of salvation.
When God opens our eyes we don't want anything the world offers. It may appear to be shiny and attractive but like pyrite (fool's gold) it has no value but only a destructive end.
And for some of us so blinded by worldly things and unbelief, perhaps the Lord may have to rub some supernatural soil in our eyes to bring about a miraculous healing (John 9:6). Rinse and you will see!
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Winds Of Change
Finally, spring arrived with warm gusts and bursting green leaves.
And with the change in season, other changes have followed. My wife was notified her gym is closing. The walk to the fitness club was just minutes from work and offered classes she enjoyed. Then we received news our company may relocate but no details were forthcoming. The office and parking fees increased to the point a financial action was required. As mentioned before, my work load has dramatically increased in volume while quality on every level is diminished. So, I've applied for another position and was given an interview this past week. Within a couple of months, we may be heading to the Pacific Northwest.
Yes, the winds of change have come again but is this leading us to a higher and greater purpose in serving Christ?
The purpose of leaving New York has to be greater than a financial driver (we were notified our rent is going up to $1,900.00) or having a comfortable lifestyle that we can afford.
I don't believe that every Christian has some nomadic commission but rather a willingness to get up and go when God calls. And I don't believe bouncing around the world in search of a revelation to what I should do. We are called to pray and seek His face. In those moments, His plan is revealed for our lives.
Scripture says, "If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return." (Hebrews 11:15). Perhaps of the many moves in Florida, Oregon and New York was punctuated by seasons when the Lord opened and closed doors. And I've made a lot of my own decisions out of impatience and fear that regrettable I'd like to undo.
If we stay or if we advance as believers in this journey; we have to cut the ties to a worldly and familiar place. Lot's wife couldn't break free from Sodom. She stole one final glance over her shoulder. Understandably, her mind might have been on her sons-in-laws who died that day when fire fell from heaven.
If they had been thinking of the country they had left....
It's time to ask God for new and anointed thoughts that see higher and greater things because no mind can perceive what good things He has in store (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Only if...we are willing to go to that place.
And with the change in season, other changes have followed. My wife was notified her gym is closing. The walk to the fitness club was just minutes from work and offered classes she enjoyed. Then we received news our company may relocate but no details were forthcoming. The office and parking fees increased to the point a financial action was required. As mentioned before, my work load has dramatically increased in volume while quality on every level is diminished. So, I've applied for another position and was given an interview this past week. Within a couple of months, we may be heading to the Pacific Northwest.
Yes, the winds of change have come again but is this leading us to a higher and greater purpose in serving Christ?
The purpose of leaving New York has to be greater than a financial driver (we were notified our rent is going up to $1,900.00) or having a comfortable lifestyle that we can afford.
I don't believe that every Christian has some nomadic commission but rather a willingness to get up and go when God calls. And I don't believe bouncing around the world in search of a revelation to what I should do. We are called to pray and seek His face. In those moments, His plan is revealed for our lives.
Scripture says, "If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return." (Hebrews 11:15). Perhaps of the many moves in Florida, Oregon and New York was punctuated by seasons when the Lord opened and closed doors. And I've made a lot of my own decisions out of impatience and fear that regrettable I'd like to undo.
If we stay or if we advance as believers in this journey; we have to cut the ties to a worldly and familiar place. Lot's wife couldn't break free from Sodom. She stole one final glance over her shoulder. Understandably, her mind might have been on her sons-in-laws who died that day when fire fell from heaven.
If they had been thinking of the country they had left....
It's time to ask God for new and anointed thoughts that see higher and greater things because no mind can perceive what good things He has in store (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Only if...we are willing to go to that place.