Written Around Thanksgiving Awhile Back…

I’m going out on a limb here.  I’m going to show you what a maverick thinker I can be. This is the season of acknowledging blessing.  And a good thing that is.  Some people…you know the ones….they are always frowning…only find a blessing or two to be able to have something to say around the Thanksgiving Feast Table so they can eat.Then there are the avid Blessing Keepers that are thankful for EVERYTHING.  All in the same prayer.  Usually just before a meal that is quickly getting cold.  Cynical.  Maybe.  But hear me out.

How many of the things could be transient for which we claim  as blessings and thank God. Here today gone tomorrow. And if they are gone, then what?  Yes it IS good to acknowledge God’s goodness to us, the provisions He makes for our comfort and ease, health, our families, new additions, puppies and kittens, food we like etc etc etc.  But what if….

What if in a blink of the eye those things changed? What if it didn’t FEEL like God is good.  What if we aren’t comfortable and things aren’t easy? What if our health changes and we aren’t well, our family status is altered, instead of new life we watch old life fade away, puppies and kittens grow up, food becomes unavailable and homelessness is our shelter.  What then?  Are we no longer blessed?

I was sent a list of 100 things to be thankful for.  Almost every single one of them, as thought provoking as they were,  could change in a heartbeat, except…God’s mercy and grace.  Our Eternal Inheritance, His provision for Eternity  for the  Redeemed Ones He called by Jesus’ Name.  We ARE to be thankful, in deed we are.  But, delve deeper into those thoughts.

Then , ponder the question, for what am I thankful?

I will join all the rest and looking into the faces of loved ones, the center piece of the table a rich assortment of all things delightful, in a warm shelter, maybe even a cozy wood fire, listening to the laughter of those in whom we delight to call family, enjoying the little ones, marveling that the older ones have grown into lovely young adults, missing the ones who aren’t with us…..and be ever so thankful for all the good memories and every one of those Bonus Blessings. But honestly, the true blessing, what I am most thankful for, every day, is that God has seen fit to include me, imperfect, sinful and as fallen as they       come. Accepted in the Beloved, His very own, to one day worship Him at His feet and be called Righteous, because of Jesus, for His honor and glory.

In this Christmas season it’s  been easy for me  to get lost in the commercial materialistic hype thrust upon us by professional marketers after our dollars more than our happiness, contentment or joy.  Just sayin’.  Add to the stress of shopping for the items on the lists of children ( which is  no longer in our wheelhouse with our children grown and married), there is the brain stretching (exhausting) exercise of staying within a budget, not breaking the bank and finding the perfect gift for those who have everything, or those we don’t know well enough to know how to shop for them. (which, as we have aged, we have pared down considerably) It’s been  easy for me to fall into a less than cheerful mindset about a holiday that has become much different than I imagine the original intention to have been. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christmas for an encyclopedic history of the celebration.) 

In addition to all of the above difficulties the holiday poses there is another concern, which is that of the promotion of an already over abundance of a personal need to accumulate stuff.  It starts early in a child’s life when we set out to teach those innocent ones about the holiday of gift giving, showering upon them a multitude of presents to open on a designated morning from underneath a decorated evergreen tree, or symbol of one.  Then there is the progression, a need to fulfill the dreams and desires of older children influenced by TV commercials and storefronts advertising the latest and greatest toy or game they are convinced they cannot live without. And we feel the pull to be “good” parents, making every effort to provide an abundant Christmas full of presents and food to make all our loved ones happy. As if the more presents given is an indication of more love.   Again, we’ve grown out of that era.

Am I jaded in my thinking?  Yup.  Taking a look back, and all around I’m seeing elevated stress levels, more social commitments than one could possibly find time for, parties, and gatherings that rarely give attention to what is touted as the focus of the holiday.  I find no fault in celebrating, enjoying food and fellowship of friends and loved ones.  But don’t try to make me believe it’s in honor of the birth of my Lord and Savior when His only function is to be symbolized by a ritualistic reading of the Scripture describing his birth, if that much is done.  A brief reference to His birth, shepherds and wise men, a manger etc.  I am sad that I’ve let it become that in my own mind and practice.

What a poor excuse Christmas has become, for honoring the One who came to redeem fallen man. Maybe it’s just in my own feeble life this is the case.  I have worked through the “I want” stage, coped with the “give as much as we can to fulfill the Lists” era, and in my old age have discovered no amount of gifts can take the place of the true joy and contentment found in knowing that Babe in a manger on a personal level, all grown up, having lived a perfect life to be my example of how to have the greatest gift of all, which is His peace through a relationship established by His death on the cross, and resurrection from the grave. Redemption. 

The lessons I’m learning of late have been more of the nature of focusing on the joyful spiritual aspects of life rather than what is the stark reality of coping with the ravages of time on these mortal bodies.  (tongue in cheek, we’re still all in 1 piece and able to be upright and move about…some days more slowly than others!)   

So the conclusion to the dire summation of the Christmas Ghosts is just this:

1Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Albert Barnes Commentary says:

“In every thing give thanks – We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning..… So we may praise God for everything that happens to us under his government. A man owes a debt of obligation to Him for anything which will recall him from his wanderings, and which will prepare him for heaven. Are there any dealings of God toward people which do not contemplate such an end? Is a man ever made to drink the cup of affliction when no drop of mercy is intermingled? Is he ever visited with calamity which does not in some way contemplate his own temporal or eternal good! Could we see all, we should see that we are never placed in circumstances in which there is not much for which we should thank God. And when, in his dealings, a cloud seems to cover his face, let us remember the good things without number which we have received, and especially remember that we are in the world of redeeming love, and we shall find enough for which to be thankful.

For this is the will of God – That is, that you should be grateful. This is what God is pleased to require you to perform in the name of the Lord Jesus. In the gift of that Saviour he has laid the foundation for that claim, and he requires that you should not be unmindful of the obligation; “

(Emphasis mine)

Heb 13:15     By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Over the past several years we have had occasion to walk through deep waters. Reminded of our frailty, our choices were to walk on, licking our wounded spirits, doubting and questioning the One in whom our faith has been placed, OR hold on tighter to what we have learned of faith in Sovereign God.  The outcome of our frequent, fervent prayers was not what we asked for. Not even remotely.   We have been moved out of our comfort zone into the realm of fear and uncertainty, unsettled lack of purpose.

That first choice, to doubt and question and maybe even maintain a sense of anger at God who could have but did not perform in that circumstances as we desired, only works for so long.  Something has to change.  Since God does not change, it’s up to us. But how?

Isa 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Personalizing: Thou, MY God, will KEEP ME your child in perfect peace

YES.  Exactly what I am looking for, but there is more. Whose mind, MY mind, is stayed (fixed, focused, firmly directed) on Thee (God).  Challenging, I am easily distracted, full of fears, doubts, questions about God’s real motives as He relates to me.  And the grand finale, challenge of all challenges…because (for this reason, I can have perfect peace, wait for it….) I trust in Thee.  There it is folks.  Trust.  The bottom line is my peace is lacking because I do mere lip service to the duty of trust.

Peace defined:  God will guard, protect, maintain me in (Hebrew: Peace, Peace…peace emphasized) undisturbed, perfect peace…..when my mind …my purpose, imagination, frame….is leaning upon or taking hold of, bearing  up, establishing,  holding, laying, leaning, lying hard, putting, resting self, setting self, standing fast,  sustained on Thee, because I trust, am confident or sure: – am boldly  confident, secure, sure,  in Thee (God).

We pray, with all our hearts we believe if we have enough faith in God’s ability, He can do that requested thing.  He is God. Creator of the Universe.  We believe that, and are confident if He can create the world surely He can manage to accomplish that which we have so faithfully asked of Him. 

But what are we trusting for?  And whom are we really trusting in?  We think that our desires are pure, and good, and best, and right.  But are they?  Can we know the mind of God? After a major life event that culminates in an outcome less than what we would choose or desire, after all the trial is over and we are left with thoughts of having been disappointed, or even abandoned by God we need to reflect.  What exactly was our motive?  And, what should our motive be?

If we have by faith  accepted that Christ died to offer us a way to be reconciled to God, trusting that Christ’s death, burial and resurrection were enough to satisfy God’s standard for us to be His adopted child….the outcome of that faith is positive, we have assurance and peace we are saved for all eternity….then isn’t God worthy of our trust in His plan for all things in our life, even the hard things?

Our prayer for a specific outcome, if closely examined, is commonly a request for God to make our life comfortable, to fix what hurts, to give us what we don’t have, replace that which shakes us out of our place of evenness and calm with what would restore our routine back to that in which we are content with or satisfied.  That is not trusting God’s plan and purpose.  It is staying in a place, a season, a comfort zone that requires the least amount of effort of faith in God’s goodness, His design for our lives. 

It is asking God to bless our plan rather than  seeing His blessing  in His plan/ purpose.

Complete, total, utter trust in God makes a bold statement in the face of the worst of life’s circumstances.  That trust shines out to declare, with Job 13:15   “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:….. “  because we realize there are worse things than the discomforts of this world.  We see with our finite mind’s eye, where God knows our Eternal destiny.  If we can, by faith, trust God to accept us in the beloved, as His adopted child, for the salvation of our pitiful soul, can we not then trust Him for all other needs, no matter how that “feels”?  Trust that He is good, and gives His children good things?  In all things we are to be looking for God to manifest His love and grace to us. Because that’s what He does.  Our task is not to be comfortable, to strive for that place of equilibrium.  Rather, we are to know God well enough to be able to give Him honor, and glory, praise and gratitude for His plan and purpose no matter what the circumstance.  Trusting Him rather than our own perception of what we think is good.

I believe that chair will hold me up.  I choose to remain standing.

I believe that door will lead to warm shelter.  I choose to remain outside, suffering the elements.

I believe that array of food will nourish and strengthen me.  I choose to pass it by, looking on while others partake.

I believe that aspirin will make my headache go away.  I choose to leave it in the bottle.

Believing isn’t enough.  The action needed is to trustfully engage.  Sit in the chair, walk through the door, eat the food, take the remedy. There is no trust if it isn’t complete trust.  Halfway sitting, one step on the thresh hold, a bite without swallowing, holding the pill in my hand…are all incomplete actions toward fully engaging trustfully.

Trusting God, fully engaged in embracing His Word, no holds barred.  Failure to do so results in less than satisfactory results.  Peace, that easily dissipates at the first sign of an expectation not being met.  That’s not Shalom Shalom, Perfect peace.  Perfect peace accepts disappointments and what might appear to be overlooked answers to prayer as God doing His work, accomplishing His plan within His timeframe for His purposes.  And the follow up to real trust, realizing the purpose of our very existence is “for His name’s sake”

Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

So the next time my prayers go unanswered, perhaps a good plan of action is to look at the motive.  Why do I pray for someone’s salvation?  do their actions disturb me? Are they upsetting the balance of my comfort zone?  Am I effected by the consequences of their selfish ungodly choices?  or, am I truly interesting in their soul’s salvation “for His name’s sake”.  Do I pray for healing for someone, because it’s uncomfortable to see a loved one in pain?  their illness creates hardship for me? Their sickness disturbs my peace, I fear the unknown? Or am I trusting God enough to say, for His name’s sake, His will be done, He is Sovereign, He knows all, He knows what will best accomplish His plan, and ultimately bring honor and glory to Him?

Thinking deeply about trust brings me to the place of examining what faith in Christ means.  If I can put my confidence in Christ’s sacrifice for me on the cross, believing God gave His Son to ransom me, and trust what His word says about me being accepted in the Beloved, I become the righteousness of His Son…why is it so difficult to daily trust Him to be caring for me, doing the right thing in the right time?  And what are my real motives for that faith in Him?  Avoiding Hell?  or for His name’s sake.  It doesn’t depend on me.  I only have to choose to agree with His Word.  If there is a discrepancy, I will trust God, before I will rely on my finite understanding.  My mind need only to be focused, trained, aimed at who God is and what He does.  I can choose to focus on needs, wants, what is lacking or I can choose to focus on God, and that is accomplished through His Word.

These are the thoughts that have changed my feeble faith, and paltry peace that doesn’t hold up under fire, to Shalom Shalom…perfect peace.

Just…..NO!

I got my Happy on extra early this morning.  Awake at the usual before sunrise time.  Always good.  Because I like watching the beautiful colors of sunrise from my rocking chair, while sipping the morning coffee. 

I am happy to be awake from a pretty solid night of sleep…even though it was interrupted just an hour after falling asleep. Wakened by a stinging sensation on my shoulder.  A very specific locality, when I put my finger on it to investigate, the feeling increased.  It felt like a broken blood vessel kind of sting.  I’ve had enough of those in my lifetime to know what that feels like.  But never on my shoulder, over my collar bone.  Rubbing it didn’t make it go away, and my next thought was an insect bite of some sort.  Being fully awake then, and knowing I wouldn’t be going  back to sleep anytime soon, thinking of that giant spider lurking in the night, waiting for a second bite of my flesh,  I went into the bathroom to get a visual of the damage done by what I imagined … the carnivorous bug. 

I saw a small raised white spot, ¼ the size of a single flake of oatmeal (I’m hungry, it’s time for breakfast!), with no redness, no teeth marks, no visible point of invasive attack, I was puzzled.  But not letting go of the worst case scenario, I used a pen to draw a circle around the spot.  Just in case my dreaded suspicion was correct, and it was a poisonous brown recluse or black widow bite, the EMS crew would have an idea of the origin of venom injection because I would be unconscious, with shoulder and neck swollen beyond all recognition and unable to describe what had happened.

With such thoughts running through my mind I grabbed the trusty cell phone with the handy little flashlight to inspect where I was about to return, to lay my head back on that same pillow.  I would usually opt not to be so intrusive with the light and all, not wanting to wake my sleeping hubby who struggles to get good sleep for all his racing thoughts and busy brainwork trying to solve all the problems of the world in a single night.  But, this potential life threatening arachnid invasion superseded  all consideration for his sleep. 

Cell phone in hand, I looked and looked over, under and around my sleeping space to no avail.  No insect of any sort could be found.  And hubby snored on.  Yet another thought crossed my mind…how safe am I sleeping beside one who sleeps so soundly to completely miss my distress? That thought is filed in my memory bank to pull out and ponder over (aka worry and fret about) for another time when I choose to lose sleep for the sake of “what if”. 

And here’s the point of this long essay.  I turned off the flashlight, returned the cellphone to the charger by my rocking chair, and went back to bed.  This whole episode came down to one single choice.  Would I choose to accept that there was no solid evidence I’d been accosted by a spider or an insect of any sort, or would I choose to lay awake for the rest of the night wondering when I’d be further traumatized by a second visit of the midnight marauder?  Truth or imagination?  Fact or faction? 

In my utter exhaustion,  I fell back to a sound sleep very soon after my head hit the pillow.

And that whole long description is to point out….I woke up as usual, with no swelling or abnormal sense of anything amiss.  Stumbled in my usual stiff morning gait to the other end of the house to the bathroom, to look into the mirror, expecting at the very least a good bruise.  Nothing.  I saw absolutely nothing…except a faded pen mark to assure me it was not a bad dream. 

I’m so very glad I didn’t choose to lay awake in  anticipation of feeling something crawl across my face, or wiggle on my shoulder.  I didn’t lose sleep over it and that has proven to be a good choice. 

As I soaked away the  kinks and head to toe joint complaints of being in one position too long all night, the thought crossed my mind.  How many times in life do I mistakenly perceive what I observe,  or feel, to over think, (or worry, or fret, or stew) and lose precious time that could have been better spent in a more positive  way? 

 My fears, flaws and fretfulness over the future are manifest in the choices I make…first in how I choose to think, then in how I choose to ponder, mull over those thoughts, then in how I choose to act.  When I act in fear, out of a heart of fretfulness and worry, I bring dishonor to my Creator God, who has more than once said in His Word I am to trust in Him, believe in His goodness and accept His right plan for me.  When I choose to make Me the center of the universe, I nudge Him off the throne. 

Not today.  The sun is coming up, painting the underside of the clouds in pinks and purples, to float in a blue sky.  Soon, it looks as though the sky may be overcast and cloudy.  But for now, I am reminded God’s mercies are new every day…Just as changeable as the morning sky, the progress of the day.  I may face new challenges, the old trials persist, struggles abound but we are not without His help, and the sure expectation of a good end when we are His, when we agree with His plan and purpose.

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

And from Dec 2, 2012

Job 3:25 For the very thing I dreaded has happened to me,
and what I feared has come upon me.

Opportunities to stretch and grow come in so many packages. Most difficult to imagine are those growth spurts that involve the lessons that are more painful…the very thing we dread. While they’ve not been life threatening or dire, I have experienced those things I dreaded coming upon me…and have learned God is faithful even then. God is not the author of fear, but of a sound mind. My mind is at rest because I have confidence in God’s care, love and plan for me. To God be the glory for His grace and mercy.

Some things never change….one thing that seems not to change,  the many opportunities to trust God more each day. With Gratitude, and praise, He is good.  Good at being Great.

Just a couple old broken people, needing a lot of fixin’ up

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Bypassing all the negative media input, I’ve gleaned from my Bible this morning an important concept, I’ve heard many times, even thought about many times. Today, in light of the present state of our society it bears even more consideration I think. If we really have a handle on all that God provides for us, and our frail, weak and spiritually impoverished condition, we would surely carry ourselves with the humility Paul suggests here.

Samuel’s most recent overnight stay spanned the time of his Daddy’s birthday.  Samuel was well aware that it was a special occasion, the 40th year celebration hadn’t missed his attention any more than it had the rest of the family, His Dad’s close friends and workout mates.  It was a week of special events, some of which did not include the almost 7 yr old.  He didn’t seem at all phased by his exclusion however, and managed what he does best at every instance, the freedom of being a happy child.

Within the scope of that description, Samuel felt it was necessary to come up with a good Birthday present for his Dad.  He’s a kid.  His priorities and values are based solely on his experience thus far in life.  He places value on the things available around him, that provide him with hours and hours of imaginative fun and occupation.  The irrigation system that provides intermittent summer water adventure wasn’t a viable option since it’s stationary and not portable.  The sticks he imagines that are swords and weapons and every other kind of protection to fend off unseen foes of every description were collected and put on the burning pile so they didn’t interfere with the next mowing of the lawn.  That option too was voided. 

Have you ever known a child that did not at some point gather rocks?  Me either.  And Samuel IS a normal child in every respect…including his fascination with rocks of every description.  Each one he collects has a special appeal.  The way it catches the sun’s rays and sparkles, or the pretty colors it displays or the shape that reminds him of some super hero, or a super hero’s enemy.  Rare is the visit that doesn’t include at least one examination of the finer points of some special find, to be added to the mounding collection.

So, it’s not without reason that he should choose to gather 10 rocks for his Daddy’s birthday.  Carefully selected, and placed into a plastic grocery bag for  presentation when he saw his Dad next.  He was so excited as he talked about how excited he was to give that present to his Dad. Not knowing what preceded the giving of that gift, I wondered if his Daddy would understand the significance, being a guy, and not having witnessed the care with which that present was created. 

I am waiting to hear.  So far, there were sad tears when Samuel discovered he had misplaced that white plastic grocery bag he was looking forward to giving to his Dad.

As I sit reflecting on that scenario, the thought crosses my mind how our relationship with our Heavenly Father is so like this little boy, earnest in his effort to present to his Daddy the very best birthday present ever, from what he had available to him at the time.  Others would look at that gift as without much significance, of little value, surely not worth much time or attention.  But, as I witnessed his excitement, and his anticipation, his thoughts of how much pleasure his gift would give.  How like us, as children of the Heavenly Father, bringing our meager offerings to the Creator God of the Universe.  Petty as they might be, I imagine He is smiling in love, just knowing we are trying, reaching out in our small way to connect with Him. 

As I mature … both in years, and in spiritual experience, I am conscious more and more of my need to broaden my understanding of God’s care for me, deepening my regard, respect, awe and worship of our Heavenly Father, who by His own plan and purpose, made a way for me, a small and insignificant bit of humanity to be adopted and become His very own.  Without any virtue other than the fact that His very Son paid for my redemption, I am now a child of the King.  Rich in every way that His own Son, Jesus, is rich.  The very best that I can give, just as Samuel is doing as a young child, is my love, respect, recognition of and honor to my Father, with the intention of doing everything I can today to please Him.

Mao-wage…..the bad pronunciation by a priestly official in Princess Bride, a family favorite movie of many years ago….Ah, “mao-wage”

Since we are on the subject of “maowage” , because we are celebrating 47 years of such a state, and if you count the added years prior to  our friendship and marriage add up to 51 years.  A half a century plus 1.

in my estimation that allows me the privilege of passing along a few (precious few) thoughts on the topic.

Shall I start with the best one first?  The only way to survive sharing a life with anyone over the long haul is to forget that you intended for them to make you happy!  Don’t get that wrong. We do know happiness but not because that was our goal.  And not because we depend on the other to accomplish that goal.  That lesson has been a long time coming and I think we finally have a handle it.  The best way I know to ruin a day, or a family event, a vacation, a special holiday or a marriage,   is to concentrate on how it can be the best time ever…for ME.  It’s actually a biblical principle, laid out in the book of wisdom:

Proverbs 27:20  Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

There will always be just one more thing then, we’ll be really happy.  Don’t believe it.  It’s the biggest lie ever told by the enemy of your soul.

I could have done a lot to make our 51 years of friendship a lot more pleasant if I’d learned that early on.  But then, there is other wisdom in that same Great Book that says not to look back.  I won’t dwell on regret, rather learn and move forward.

Another milestone in my personal arsenal of Mao-wage Wisdom…. It’s not my job to make my mate Perfect.  That was a rough chapter in our book of Life Together too.  When I finally learned to pray more and complain and criticize less, I gave God permission to do His work in my hubby without me interfering in the process.  It has gone much better since then and I have learned to like him a lot more since then too!  In addition, once that was easier, letting go of what I thought he should be and do to let God be the guide….finding and focusing on what was right in him makes his Perfect for Me status  soar in my mind.  That makes my attitude positive, and that has bonus benefits as well. 

Maybe because I’m older, maybe just because I have more time on my hands and a lot less energy to be doing other things I have opportunity like never before to observe relationships.  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.  The Good…through their struggles, have learned to love and serve one another in union, and when it gets too difficult, they have learned how to rely on the Spirit within to buffer their humanity and bring them back into alignment with God’s plan for their lives as one.

The Bad, if you take time you can spot it without much effort.  Two people occupying the same general space without occupying the same mission statement.  Two ships passing in the night.  They have no  meaningful relationship with one another because their focus is horizontal rather than vertical.  I’m learning you can’t do Horizontal well without Vertical first.  Loving others well is best accomplished by choosing to love God first and foremost, choosing to serve Him by extending the same grace and reconciliation to others that He has extended to me.  “Life is about choices”  a Wise Women says.  And so it is.  I’m learning to make wiser choices and it does bring joy.

The Ugly.  An extension of The Bad, with an intentionally hurtful component.  It’s heartbreaking to witness, even more heartbreaking to enter into…Been there, done that a time or two.  It’s not something to be proud of, for sure.  Lashing out at a mate for not fulfilling expectations of perfection is unfair at best.  Requiring, demanding, commanding what we think we need for a relationship to thrive is a sure way to starve that relationship.  Making that perspective public, broadcasting failures, flaws and disappointments just leads to more of the same.  Do seek wise counsel, for the sake of the relationship.  Do not make dissatisfaction with your spouse a point of interest in your next conversation with family, friends or acquaintances.  God is always the best listening ear. 

The bottom line to all this is, we are celebrating 47 years of oneness.  I think that’s pretty special since, these days, that’s not so common.  But the reality is, the only way we could have managed not to fall among the more “normal” statistics is a strong reliance on the Spirit in us.  We are not super human.  We are not good people left to our own ways. We are not even very likable some days.  We are weak, flawed, selfish, etc etc etc apart from God’s very life in us, giving us His strength and wisdom as we choose to allow His Spirit in us to mold us and make us like Jesus, His Son.  Make no mistake, it’s not easy, or always pleasant.  It IS always right and for God’s plan and purpose, to choose to live by God’s Word.  “Do unto others…” is a good start.  Love God and love others is the ground work. 

No matter where you are in your relationships, that applies.

There is a major theme in this Mao-wage relationship without which there would not be a oneness.  Let me be very clear on this.  You can know about God, and many people do make a big deal about all they know about Him.  But if their life, actions and words give opposing testimony, deep inside they will only know disappointment, and that unending darkness that cries out for more than what they have. When life doesn’t honor God, there is something missing.    Knowing about God isn’t enough.  Knowing Him in a relationship  is very much the same as marriage.  Cultivating a friendship means learning who that other person is, what they are about, what makes them who they are.  God has given us His Word.  We can read it and learn about Him.  But to get to that point of a real relationship with Him, to enter into that intimacy as in marriage, we have to follow His instruction.  To initiate that covenant relationship, we have to come to a place where we recognize we cannot relate to a Holy, Righteous God in our state of fallenness.  Need proof we are fallen, you are fallen?  Read the Old Testament Law.  We cannot maintain a state of right standing before a Holy God without seeking forgiveness on a continual basis.  Just as His chosen ones, Israelites had to do.  By God’s grace and mercy, He has provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him, with ongoing forgiveness by recognizing first we NEED Him….agree with God we fail to meet His standard.  Next, accept that God sent His Son to pay that penalty once for all time … for each individual.  Then make His Word your guide book for life in Him.  An ongoing study, a continual project, and a constant challenge to make right choices one step at a time. 

God’s Word sheds new light once we have His Spirit living in us.  Each day is a new opportunity to honor Him by serving others.  The means to a happy life, married or otherwise.

The song running through my mind this morning: “O what a beautiful Morning, O what a beautiful day” ….but the rest of it doesn’t suit my idea of a perfect reflection of a beautiful morning at all. “I’ve got a wonderful feeling”….personally, I get into a lot of trouble because of feelings, don’t you? I try hard to make good, right choices so that I don’t operate on feelings. And the last phrase is “Everything’s going my way”. Well, that pretty much sums up the general consensus of our society’s evaluation of a good day. But is it really? That thought can take a lot of directions.

As I started my morning I pondered how a dissatisfied mentality is always seeking but never satisfied. Proverbs 27:20 sums it up pretty well, “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” And isn’t that true? We aren’t ever satisfied if left to our own thinking and ways of living life. The world’s way is to ever search for more to make us, or keep us, happy. Been there, done that, and that Happy Train derailed before it ever got out of the station for me. Discontentment is a rapid downward spiral … a bottomless pit that will only result in dark days and woefully restless nights. We weren’t made for the likes of this.

What a blessed day it was when in the depths of despair over trying to haul around burdens that weren’t mine to carry, assuming responsibilities for tasks not mine to shoulder, I happened upon Hebrews 13:15

The principle I learned: to choose gratitude over grumbling, Praise for God’s good plan and purpose over searching for satisfaction.  The concept of  sacrificial praise….finding in my heart the where-with-all to acknowledge God’s goodness and care even in difficult circumstances was entrance into a new world for me.  Gratitude that even though life can get rough, God has a plan and purpose greater than what I am experiencing in the here and now.  And life in this world pales by comparison to what He has for me when my numbered days are done here.

I still have times when I could do better, but choose to wallow in my self pity.  I’ve spent enough time enjoying peace, rest and comfort though, to know that God intends better for me than wallowing.  And I don’t waste near as much time now regaining that balance, getting on top of the pity party and dispelling despair, discouragement and a disabled spirit.

So, stop what you are doing right this minute and look around you.  What will you choose to focus your thoughts on today?  Here are my choices:

1. A slightly tipped out building very old and worn, moss on a door indicating a water issue that might need to be addressed, weeds in the flower beds, trees that are dying, need to be removed, a body that is uncooperative in accomplishing everything my mind thinks we should do today, energy resources deficient to address work that needs to be done, an empty bluebird box, and on and on.  The devil makes sure there is no end to the negative situations, circumstances, events I can find, once that initial seed of discontent is sown.
2. God’s beautiful creation, the senses He created in us to see, and smell, and touch and feel, the provision He makes for us daily to know His love and care, His Word that encourages my heart to trust what I cannot see, to have confidence that His Word is true, that He has a plan and purpose for me that is for my ultimate spiritual good, and on and on that can go as well

I’m not oblivious to the negatives.  I choose not to focus on them and ruin my outlook for a pleasant, God honoring, thankful day.  Some days I fail.  Today, that’s not my intention.  And at the end of the day, I”ll be thankful for what was accomplished, knowing that I could have spent my day moaning and groaning about what I couldn’t do but in God’s strength and encouragement did not.  That’s a start.

What is your focus today?  Choose the blessing of joy.

Do you need a ladder to get out of that dark pit of despair?  Let me know.  I think I have a suggestion.

Eph 1:16 – 21  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,  21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

I’m sipping at the second day of cold brew coffee. Amazed at the difference in flavor…no bitterness to have to overcome w/ cream. Added organic, grass fed Ghee and High Octane Brain Oil (MCT oil) and less than a Tbs of maple syrup. I’ve added maple syrup to my nutrition. High in minerals, it’s supposed to help stabilize blood sugars. I didn’t think so when fasting tests were over 100…but, this week and last nearly all have been in the 80’s. Whooo Hooo. I came home from FL weighing the same as when I went. Good but hoped to lose wt. Didn’t do anything though to make that happen. Have NOT done anything since we got home either, but have lost 2 lbs! Another Whoo hoo. 1/3rd of what needs to be gone. Slow and steady wins the race eh?

An interesting observation, that I can’t figure out yet….While traveling this Fibromyalgia body hurts. It hurts more than the usual head to toe aching. Getting in and out of the car, like when we are in Holmes county making our rounds to the Thrift stores…3 or 4 in a day…at the day’s end I feel like I’ve been mauled by a bear, or like I have the flu….every day. We got home Saturday….aching miserably, feeling the best sitting very still but then getting up stiff and achey. Saturday night’s sleep broken and un-refreshing because changing position woke me up…it hurt to move. Sunday was an achy day and I concluded it was just body rebellion returning to the cold damp north, I’d get used to it and move on. Monday morning however…I got out of bed and went through the day with minimal distress. Managed to pull off some honest to goodness work! And at the end of the day, tired, legs hurt (those varicose veins!!!) when compression stockings removed but…not that traveling head to toe maxed out aching. How can I sit still in a car for hours on end and feel like I’ve baled hay for 18 hours!!!! I just wonder. And that makes me think….

Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

I DO praise God. This human body, an amazingly created machine, is a wonder. He extends grace to cause me to learn what I need to know to move forward in His plan and purpose in spite of myself! Every day is a new day and I’m ever so thankful for that. Some of MY 24 hours can get pretty ugly by my own doings. Even though I intend to operate within the scope of His direction I seem to manage so many rabbit trails and off road (offHis road) diversions too many times during the day.

There have been enough young children in my life to remind me that I am God’s little child, needing a lot of His gentle (sometimes NOT so gentle) prodding and guiding to keep me moving forward in His plan.

I’ve decided that if the Lyme treatment (to start tomorrow if the pharmacy can make it affordable!) doesn’t work to eliminate or minimize the brain fog and aching, it’ll be OK. I’ve figured out what works and what doesn’t and how to live life within the constraints of those limitations. How to say no when I have to and stop doing what makes me feel worse until I can feel better. If that’s how the tapestry of my life is woven it’ll be OK. God IS good, He IS right all the time, I have no doubt whatsoever that I am His (foolish little child that I am) and the path He has carved for me in this world is for His plan and purpose to be worked out in me, for Him to be seen in me. (Not for my comfort or leisure, pleasure or self absorbed “happiness”) Life experiences…the ingredients …. to be blended together to make His will worked out in me.
How are you fearfully and wonderfully made? Do you see it? Better yet, can you agree to let God blend those ingredients in YOUR life to create in you the creature He wants you to be? As a wise daughter reminds me….”Life is about choices”…. Praying you have a happy, no, JOY-filled day.

Psa 78:7  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

I’m just going to start by saying, I have a book inside of me.  The title is Insignificant Greatness.  I don’t know what is going to be written, or when.  I’m not even sure what that title means….it’ll come to me as time passes.  I talked myself out of doing anything with it so I can just chew on it awhile.   So many early morning thoughts result in significant encouragements for me to digest through out the day.  Today is one of those days.

Prefaced with a confession.  At the end of yesterday, I was tired, more uncomfortable than usual, additionally reminded of the frailty of the human body due to an incredibly sore throat, and vague hints of a body trying to fend off the physical signs of changing weather, changing season, and the heat being turned on.  All that is no excuse.  I let down my guard and essentially whined about how I was feeling…publicly.  Well, social media is public, right? Even though it is a small private group. Still…

I have to say, I complained and today I am ashamed of myself for even thinking, let alone setting it down in black and white for others to read.  We were reminded in our Sunday church service, how very blessed we are for all of God’s provision, when we don’t even deserve the very least of His attention.  Only by His making a way for our redemption can we have a relationship with Him.  I deserve only His judgement.  And yet, I know I am a child (adoption counts!) of the King.  Blessed beyond measure.

I know I have many friends that pray for me.  I know I need those many prayers.  And I am negligent as can be to acknowledge how God is caring for those concerns.  And that brings me to this:

Psa 78:1  Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

Psa 78:2  I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

Psa 78:3  Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

Psa 78:4  We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

Psa 78:5  For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

Psa 78:6  That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

Psa 78:7  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

Psa 78:8  And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

The Israelites were instructed to pass along how God dealt with His chosen people for the sake of those following generations that did not see His mighty works among them.  Long ago, when our family was young, I ran across these verses in Psalms.  I was inspired to think how that might look in my world.  A principle to pay attention to.  What better means for children to learn the greatness of God, His attributes, His goodness, His love, His provision…than if the adults in their lives express those events that manifest His greatness and goodness to us?  Our oldest offspring is 44 years old.  We’ve had 44 years to practice teaching “the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.”

Our teaching was stunted because I am STILL learning to look for evidence of that love and care from Him.  Not because it is lacking in any way.  But because my focus is elsewhere and I so totally miss His work among us.  Isn’t that sad?  Our Creator God fashioning His glorious plan in our lives, and we miss those special graces because we are so busy trying to find our way in this life.   Not just missing noticing, but missing the opportunities to share God’s goodness with those to come.

I was brought up short by a response to my complaints of last night.  One kind soul, one of several, commented they’d pray for me, as my  friends often do.  I was brought up short to realize this morning, God’s response to their prayer for me….evidence that the health care measures I’m making extra effort to employ worked.  At least in one isolated instance, I have clear evidence the “sacrifices” are making a difference.  That’s a start.  And that small assurance is encouragement to my heart that makes me want to press on.  In the grand scheme of things, it’s a minor detail.  But oh what a flood of thoughts that small event has created. A reminder to be thankful, to be sure to share with the generations to come the goodness of God, to encourage them to look for Him in the little things, so when the big things happen, they are right where they need to be to take His hand and walk through it, trusting He knows the way.

We don’t live in a place where the very most basic of human needs are in short supply.  We are accustomed to easy access to great and lavish possessions and provisions.  Even in the poorest of our times and seasons most of us have had far more than those in third world countries.  And yet, how often do we miss opportunities to teach and tell others about the goodness of God?  Is it because we are so self reliant that we hardly consider Him at all in our daily accumulation of …More.  Perhaps in our affluence we miss spiritual treasures because we can do so much for ourselves.  Perhaps in our doing so much for ourselves we are brought up short when we cannot do for ourselves, when our resources are depleted and we have no place to turn.  We are not in the habit of turning to our greatest Resource.

May I encourage you, as I am challenged, to look for God’s mighty work in Today.  And then, go the next step and tell them to the children….

Psa 78:4  We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

Today, God’s grace and mercy abound.  If we had nothing more than the abundant grace and mercy that allows to come to Him as a needy child, we have more than we deserve. God’s Word paints a picture of our need for Him.  He gives so very much more.

Show to the generations to come.  Show them the praises of the Lord.  Show them His strength. Show them His wonderful works…SHOW THEM.  Make it real.