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.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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

Using Strong’s Concordance to expand my understanding….

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).

For the one for whom God denied a deep desire, trust is hard.  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 for what are we trusting ?  And in whom are we really trusting ?  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 blessing us with 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.

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

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

Back to Strong’s Concordance, to clarify:

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).

For the one for whom God denied a deep desire, trust is hard.  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 for what are we trusting?   And in whom are we

trusting ?  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 blessing us with 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.

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psa 90:12  “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

As we age it seems our priorities change, our outlook is different, what might have been important looks silly, and totally valueless. The things that were once an irritation or annoyance, those little things that became major issues, now look ridiculously pointless and frivolous.  What changes?  The spouse I’ve had for 46 years is still the same…well, with exceptional positive changes over the years as maturity sets in.  The things I used to be annoyed about don’t seem very serious anymore.  Thinking about it….it’s my attitude.

I have changed.  My priorities now are in making every effort to enjoy and appreciate every day we have together.  As our age mates, and those even younger than us, are now meeting the end of their journey on this planet, it brings us to the stark realization that we are no longer in the ranks of the young ones, with long life anticipated ahead of them.  Not to sound morbid or morose, it’s mere fact.  We aren’t going to live forever, ( I for one, wouldn’t want to!) and that realization makes a difference in how we approach life.

The little things that seemed discourteous once, not so much anymore.  Habits that were almost intolerable, just a part of the one I’ve loved and cared for for nearly a half a century.  And then there’s this….the thought that seems close on the heels of a near complaint about a life long annoyance in my spouse, what if he weren’t here?  Then what?  I’d be happy to “put up with” that irritating habit just one more day.  I’d look forward to hearing roof raising sneezes without warning, and waiting and waiting for him to come in for a meal as it gets colder and colder because he’s lost track of time.  Small things in the grand scheme of things now.

Then the thought comes to my mind….what habits of mine have been plaguing my dear spouse all these years that he has graciously overlooked or tolerated without criticism.  I’ve come to realize, finally, I am not perfect.  Sudden shock there I know.  I own up to making his life pretty miserable at times with my flaws and shortcomings.  He graciously gives me space to just be me, and finds his own way to manage those things that he might like changed in my habits and character. Acknowledging my flaws is one thing, owning responsibility to be a better wife tomorrow than I was today is quite another.  Just making the effort to be kind, considerate and thoughtful rather than to assume he’ll just keep putting up with my bad habits and ornery ways, goes a long way towards growing old gracefully.  It’s the little things that count, really.

Many years ago, I observed “old” people, grumpy, critical, and not much fun to be around, and thought to myself right then, I want to grow old with grace, and a demeanor that gives others encouragement to be the best person they can be each day.  I’m a long shot from that goal, but, the goal of being intentionally looking for ways to bring honor and glory to God helps keep that thought in mind.

Indeed things change.  So, the next time you are within earshot of me, and you have a an annoyance with another in your realm of existence, I might just call you out, and ask you…what if they weren’t here?  Would you wish for just one more day?  Would you suddenly find that bad habit or irritating quirk a lot more tolerable, if it meant one more day with that person you love?  Priorities change in the face diminishing years.  And I’m thankful for those thoughts that bring my attention to what I can do to make those years left joyously content with who we are.  “So, teach us to number our days….” that I might apply God’s wisdom in each of those remaining days He has for me.

Play along with me for a moment.  Use your imagination.  Pretend you are a parent of a child you love dearly.  You give freely of the very best you can to ensure that child has all that is necessary to enrich them to become a productive and healthy adult.  Your goal is to see them mature able to make it on their own.  Your guidance includes giving them those provisions that will best accomplish the goals you have set.  There are times when even though they petition with the very best of intentions, in your wisdom you deny a certain request because you know that plea is not in their best interest, perhaps even harmful.  No matter how intense the begging, you continue to hold your ground for the sake of a better life, safer or more prosperous in the long run.

Now, pretend you are within earshot but out of sight, and you over hear that child of yours complaining with great emotion about the provisions you have made for them.  They are discontent with what you give, and very vocal about what you withhold.  They have no concept of the danger or long term view of their desires.  You have their very best interests at heart, yet, they are ungrateful, unthankful and critical of your intentions.

Perhaps that thankless child will go so far as to pull up stakes, turn his back on your goodness and seek to draw from their own resources to provide for themselves the best way they know how, with an immature and childish perspective until at last they become overwhelmed to the point of destruction in their effort for independence and self sufficiency.  The wisdom of parental discernment suddenly will become that child’s reality and understanding may be the result.  Perhaps potential ruination is the very means by which they are able to recognize parental love and good will.

Now.  Let me back up to that part where that child is complaining about you, the parent.  What impression would you have, if you were a casual observer, listening to the complaints and accusations of that child.  Would you be inclined to want to meet that child’s parent?  Would you be at all interested in pursuing a friendship?  Would the child’s depiction of their parent be one that would persuade you that the parent would be worthy of your time and attention?

Now to my reality.  When I hear a fellow believer, or myself, uttering ingratitude and unthankfulness, it is a reflection of our opinion of the One to whom we belong.  We are verbalizing what is in  our hearts….discontent, dissatisfaction maybe even distrust, with the very God who made us and redeemed us.  Am I that whining unhappy child that won’t be content until I have been given my own way?  What am I  revealing about my deepest thoughts about my Heavenly Father?

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I”m not there yet, but….this one thing Paul says, he focuses on….

FORGETTING those things that are behind

Behind.

What’s behind?…memories, good, bad, indifferent.  Successes.  Failures.  Relationships. 

Personal history.  Hurts.  Losses.  Pain.  Happy moments. 

When we look behind, we plow a crooked furrow.  The disdain of a good farmer…crooked rows!

While we can and do look back with fondness to memories of good things~family events, accomplishments, God’s goodness to us in the past, His provision and blessings, it’s an easy thing to get stuck there, where we don’t belong, and then become a target for the devil to sow seeds of discontent and unrest.  We want to go back to the “good old days”.  (really, did we know then they were the “good old days”?)   

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

God wants us to have a fresh testimony of His work in us … every day, not just yesterday.  He wants us to look ahead to our Eternal home, our final goal, our destination.  Keeping that in view keeps us alive to the work He has for us here today….living a life that draws others to Him because we have His joy, because we are pressing forward, toward the finish line with Him in view. 

Today I want to press on with a joy and demeanor that make those with whomI have occasion to encounter to see Jesus in me.  I want to love and serve Him, invest in His purpose, and I want to use the gifts He has given to minister grace and reconciliation as I  fulfill obligations and do my work.  Serve Him.  Not self.  Not a boss, not children, not my spouse…but do my work as my appointed service to God.  Prayerfully, thankfully, intentionally.

Hanging clothes on the pulley clothesline.  A simple joy.  To my mind, it’s taking pleasure in anticipation of one more time of air dried clothes.  And it brings to mind an exclamation overheard by a young grandchild this summer “Yuck, you smell like outside!”  It’s all about perspective.  That one spends too much time indoors, glazed over staring at the screen of an electronic device perhaps.  It’s sunny, much cooler than it was last week, sitting here on the porch watching the sunrise.

As I hung clothes up I noticed an ant scurrying across the line to the pulley.  And my first though, how in the world did it get way up here from way down on the ground.  And the next thought…what a lot of mini miles put on those tiny 6 legs to get there.  There where it didn’t belong.  At least not in my way of thinking after knocking to the ground before even considering a more gentle eviction from my space.   Where it didn’t belong.

Then the thought…from where do these random thoughts arise?  Topic for another pondering time, later.  How great an exertion, an energy expenditure of sizable proportion, for that small creature to scale the lattice work from the ground, then to the porch floor, up the porch post, across the fixtures that hold the pulley over or under the pulley to the clothes line itself.  And for what purpose, I wonder?  Was it lost?  Do God’s creatures get lost?  We can sure lose our way.  Especially some of us, more than others!  (Personally, I have a record for the worst sense of direction on the planet…which I have to say is improving with age as I try hard to correct it)  Geographically we can certainly lose our way.  I suppose other of God’s creatures can too, recalling the homing pigeon we adopted once because it did get lost, landing on the roof of our barn.  Once they divert from their intended course to get home, they are no longer good for the keepers to use for competition.  They are excluded, given up, “do what you want with it”, they didn’t want it back. Yet another lesson….thankful God doesn’t discard or disregard me, when I stray.

The Lesson for me today….how often I seem to lose my way, divert my focus, readjust my perspective, abandon my goal to live intentionally and use up precious energy going places (geographically, mentally, emotionally) where I don’t belong!   Do you ever lose that sense of calm? That peace and rest that we can know when we are in good fellowship with our Creator God?  I am coming to the conclusion that for myself, I cannot judge for you, when unrest becomes my place of residence, even briefly, I can directly look at it as a consequence of scaling the heights of the lattice work of some event or circumstance for which I have assumed responsibility that is not mine to own.  Climbing the post to gain a perch atop a line where I do not belong.  I may choose even to walk that tightrope, engaging in a balancing act that leads to anywhere but where I belong.

A very short conversation from yesterday comes to mind.  I cannot know the intent behind the question, but I can tell you that the red flags of caution were flying high when someone asked me “Well, do you think we’ll have an “event” today like 9/11?”  (we were commemorating that horrific event of 2001 with a special service that evening at church)  I pondered that invitation to worry and fret but not very long.  I am choosing a positive viewpoint, and my response was…”Aren’t you glad God is in control?”  A feeble reaction to my statement, “well, I considered where I work, where I’d be, a 3 story cement building, and that’s a lot of cement.  I wouldn’t want to be buried under it”

I think that was an example of working hard to get to a place we didn’t belong.  Fretfulness and what if’s have no place in the mind of one who declares they have trust in the Eternal Salvation God has provided through His Son.  If He created us, ( I believe He did) and can save us, (I believe He does)  surely He can masterfully carry out His plan for our lives as we put our trust in Him.  My thought is, when I were doing that next right thing in my life to bring Him honor and glory, and if some “event” occurred to cause my life to end….I would be in Eternity with Him.  I can think of worse places to be.  Like someplace I worked hard to be, where I did not belong.

Rom 5:1,2    1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Almost half a century ago….wow.  Does that qualify me for anything special?….while living for the first time far away from my childhood home…still in the same state, just much farther north….we were blessed to have a tape recording…back in the day! almost an antique!….of a song written by the Gaithers, I believe.  Music is a priority to my Mom and she passed that along to me.  And I’m grateful for that. She sent that tape, with the song, “Because He Lives” recorded on it.  Just about the same time as  God blessed our lives with the birth of our first precious baby.  Through the years that song brings back a lot of memories as the years have added so many events that suit the description the song’s verses describe.

And as the years roll on, the chorus of that song becomes even more true.  We’ve experienced many of life’s most difficult experiences, and many more joyous events and we’ve come to realize more and more how true it is…

Because He lives….I can face tomorrow….

Dan 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

A great message from a recent evening church service on Daniel 4:25-37 was a good reminder for me to revisit a lesson or two that I have learned…slowly….and often.  I sometimes neglect to choose to abide by Daniel’s suggestion to King Nebuchadnezzar to repent, do right and show mercy.  That advice might have spared King Nebuchadnezzar had he heeded,  but he seemed to have an “I” problem.  Maybe he thought he was above the predicted events, after all 12 months passed without anything remotely hinting his kingdom would fall around him.  Maybe he just got all wrapped up in his world and forgot the interpretation Daniel shared with him.  What ever the cause, the king came to the predicted catastrophe.

Dan 4:30  The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

 Pride was his undoing don’t you think?  He crashed and burned the moment he took for himself the glory and honor he thought belonged to him, because his kingdom was great.  See it?  “Is not this great Babylon…”  that might not have tipped the scales against him, but surely the next declaration did…”that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?  ” We might not be so blatantly outright in our proud display, but, how often do we flaunt, even just a little the acquisitions we have accumulated as a result of our own hard work, or good fortune (aka God’s merciful, gracious provision).  I cringe when I am exposed to the boastful claims of others.  Not because of envy, rather, because all too soon I know they may well be taken to task for not giving God His due honor in their prosperity.  

I listen attentively to their proud declarations.  And I often reflect on my own thoughts and conversations to be sure my own perspective is one of humility and praise to my Sovereign God and merciful provider.  Have you ever read or heard, even in jest, “It’s hard to be humble when you’re so good” ?   A direct challenge to put in place is what I’d call that.  Some things are too serious to be joked about.  I believe that’s one of them.

Luk 18:19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

If Jesus acknowledged that none is good but God…that’s good enough for me!

Perceptions and sensory input are at a high level this morning I guess.  My heart aches for those who are experiencing various sorts of this world’s troubles.  Like that wave of pain when an injury is fresh and movement reminds the whole body there is something amiss,  I am feeling pain for those who are not resting well in God’s care in the trials they find themselves.  I’m not at that point in my spiritual maturity that that won’t be me in the next challenge that befalls us.  Just for now, it’s my place to pray for those who are.  And if you are one of them reading this, please know, I care … a lot, and I am praying.

I am praying that God will give you His special insight, to see that while it’s not comfortable where you are at the moment, it IS profitable for the place to which He is directing for you to go.  I am praying that His comfort will be so very real to you, that even through tears, you will smile and know His joy in your heart.  It is possible.  I am praying that in your challenge, the disappointment, the difficulties, the trials, you will know His very real presence with you, to calm your rattled brain, to soothe the ragged edges of your nerves, to give you peace in chaos, to even diminish physical pain as you focus on Him.  I am praying that your testimony will be steady, and show to the unregenerated world it is possible to trust without seeing the end in view because God is big enough, powerful enough to save those who call upon Him, and able to work out all the smallest details of life on this planet … for His honor and glory, because in the big picture, that’s what it’s about.  Not for our comfort, and ease.  I’m praying that your perspective is one that sees Kingdom value rather than earthly resolution, that your faith is made stronger, your confidence in Him more sure.  I am praying you will be encouraged in your heart to just do the next right thing.  Baby steps.  Go there, with Him.  And I’m praying that in the circumstance that is giving you such heartache, you will learn the value of applying the instruction we are given …

Hebrews 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.

…and are able through your heaviness to know even if we only have His grace and mercy, it is more than we deserve.  He is to be honored and praised for that above all.

Sometimes our goals are shortsighted and our attention is focused on the problem rather than the Problem Solver.  I’m impressed today that beyond the clouds, above the fog of the early morning hours, the Son is shining, ready to make the way plain and clear as soon as we are ready to hold tighter to His hand and follow Him over the bumps along the way.

Comfort.  There are folks in my world today that need a boatload of comfort.  Which made me think of

2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

That sent me on a search for other Scriptures that speak of comfort.  What exactly is it?  How is it gained? Of what good is it?  I didn’t get very far before I came back to a familiar theme.  And I was just a little surprised how it all tied together.  And it makes me realize, even though great effort might be expended, it’s a difficult task not to live by mere sight of the flesh in this world.  As believers, it’s not our true destiny.  God didn’t create for us to be short sighted and focused on this plane.

Php 3:20  For our conversation  (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

More and more I am convinced many of us as Christ’s followers neglect the very thing we need most to survive in this world of Ugly.  It doesn’t take much exposure to all the world has to offer before one can realize this is a dark, dangerous, dirty world we live in…..without God’s viewpoint in our hearts.  Really.  Isn’t He the One who makes this day have great possibilities?  Isn’t this world He created full of beauty, and awesomeness…when you take time to really see His Creation and appreciate His handiwork.  Apart from including Him in our thoughts though….it’s ugly.  No other way to put it.

So, how can I offer comfort to those in need?  First I have to have experienced it, I have to know the resources where that supply is found.  Reading that Scripture in 2Corinthians in context requires us to back up a verse:

2Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Ah Ha.  God.  Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Father of mercies.  God of all comfort. There it is.  What do we do with it?

“God is in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.”(J. Baldwin Brown, B. A.) That is comfort.  We have been reconciled to God by our relationship with Christ.  Where is the comfort in that?  Whatever trial is upon us, we have confidence there is purpose in it. Purpose leading up to the final recognition of our Heavenly citizenship.  We are not citizens of this world, rather, we are just passing through this world, on our journey to The Kingdom of God.  Our hope, and our purpose to arrive there ready to join the great chorus giving Him honor and praise. As such, our thoughts and feelings should gravitate toward our true Home.  And the One who waits for us there.  With Him in view we can depend on His comfort to be enough.  We have resources to offer to others who are suffering.

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

So….what does comfort look like in the face of the brokenness of life?  How does it work when loved ones leave this world forever?  When our deepest hurts and heartaches overwhelm us with discouragement? When our physical being is assaulted with unrelenting maladies that steal rest and disrupt our existence to the very core?

Is the clue to how to comfort others found in the cues given in the commands?….

1Th 5:16  Rejoice evermore.

1Th 5:17  Pray without ceasing.

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

We are comforted when we acknowledge God is good and right in all things, He can be trusted even when we don’t understand our circumstances. We are released from that burden of fear, worry, a joyless existence, sorrow…because He is in control and we are called on to outwardly wear our trust in His goodness and wisdom.  For what can we rejoice when pain is great, burdens are many, resources are slim?  We are to rejoice in the One from Whom we have  our Eternal destination. We are to have a view of our citizenship that allows us to look ahead in the journey to our final goal.  For what can we unceasingly pray?  All those things we carry as burdens, God wants us to lay at his feet, trusting Him to care for them….unceasingly, because…can’t we find an endless list of troublesome thoughts if we let down our guard?  Constant contact with the Comforter allows us to lay each of those troubles in His care.

And, for what can we give thanks?  In every kind of test, trial, awful circumstance the one constant we have is God’s Sovereignty.  We are blood bought and sealed to His care.  We can be thankful for all time and Eternity for just that alone.  Does it mean anything to you?  Does salvation mean enough that you can be thankful for His grace and mercy if there were nothing else at all?  The real question becomes, where is your citizenship?

Before real comfort can be extended to others, we must first have experienced true Comfort ourselves.  The depth of comfort only the true Comforter offers is found only by a deep and full trust in all He intends for us.  If we are to truly comfort others, we must have confidence enough in God’s plan and purpose that we can in fact live the commands … Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, in all things give thanks.  What kind of comfort is it if you speak it, but, it’s not your own personal possession?