Month: October 2016

Letting Go

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Do you like to let go of something? Am I comfortable with change? Are we really eager to race up a different path?  For most of us our answer is likely, “No way!” because we like the familiar and feel safe with the tried and true. Have you  ever tried getting your kid to try broccoli, Brussel sprouts or asparagus for the first time? First you get the squinty eyes, then the tightly clamped lips, and if you try to proceed further they quickly swing their heads avoiding any contact with unidentified vegetables!

I have noticed that as an adult I often do the same things. God has put new situations before me that seem strange. There are opportunities that reek of difficulty and their very aroma makes me cringe inside. Paul the apostle relates his owp1020521n experience with change in the book of 1 Corinthians –

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways 1 Corinthians 13:11  

He relates to the struggle we all have with change and gives us a few guidelines to help us on our way. If we are to make the transition from childhood to adulthood we need to allow Him to bring serious change in these three areas – How we speak : How we think : and  How we make decisions.

How we speak: “I’m not going to do it! You can’t make me! I hate you!” these are some of the things we hurled at our parents (or have had them hurled at us) when we were children. Fortunately for most of us we learned that there are things in life that we simply have had to accept. We did have to move to a new neighborhood. It was for our own good that Dad pulled the splinter out of our fingers. It has been to our great social advantage that we accepted regular bathing and brushing of our teeth! Giving up our no for God’s yes not only teaches us contentment, but it also puts a new language of praise on our lips.

How we think: The greatest change for a christian is not in the quantity of information that we contain but on whom we are focusing our thoughts. Spiritual maturity is not just about being smarter, but it is in recognizing the value of the people around us. We let go of a world that has me at the middle so we can walk into a life of service to whomever God chooses.new-alaska-pics-7

How we decide: How we make our choices will depend on who we believe is in charge of our life. The more that Christ becomes Lord the more that His will becomes the reason for the path we choose to walk. If our life consists only of reaching our own goals then all we will have at its end will be a line-up of dusty trophies on our shelf. But when the will of God takes hold our deepest struggles and highest longings we can begin to discover the great adventure of the life that He has mapped out for us. When we choose to let go and put the steering wheel of our life on his “cruise control” then the peace of God will help us to let go and so together with Him we can take hold of the amazing journey that lies ahead!

Being Content

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In Paul’s letter from a roman jail to the church he makes the astonishing statement:

Philippians 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content

This week end as I was walking with my grandson I took several pictures of some birds who were flocking around tree branch just above our heads. They didn’t seem much disturbed by our approach or our voices as we watched them. On closer examination I discovered that they were perfectly content right where they were because they were surrounded by the abundance of seeds in the ash tree where they perched.

Paul found himself “perched” in prison but he had discovered contentment. He saw around him the opportunity to share the gospel, a place for prayer and most importantly for us a place to write a good portion of what we call the New Testament!

Where have you found yourself perched today? Can you see the provision that God has  deposited abundantly in the branches around you? Every place has its own season of abundance. Every restriction focuses us on what we can still do. Every unwanted change, every circumstance beyond our control and every unexpected sorrow draws us closer to our Savior whose promises never change, who never lets us go and whose presence gives us comfort through every stormp1020480

Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home?
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he;
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me   Civilla Martin “His Eye is on the Sparrow”

 

What do you say?

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Appreciation: The act of recognizing someone’s worth as a person or showing that you are grateful for something that person has done.  Cambridge Dictionary

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers,[a] as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing

“What do you say?” my mom would ask me as she held tightly onto whatever it was I wanted at that particular moment. “Thank you” I would answer, knowing that with those “magic words” as she called them would allow me to finally possess whatever it was I had asked her for at the time. The reason behind Mom’s training was her attempt to pass on to me not only a modicum of politeness but also an attitude of thankfulness and appreciation.

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Serving Communion at Nursing Home

That appreciation is often missing from our lives because as adults, we often rush off with things in our hands that we haven’t paused to even look at yet alone appreciate. We give a quick kiss or a hug to our loved ones then too eagerly hurry off to the activities of the day with scarcely a backward glance. “Great tuna casserole!” I said to my wife one night, only to hear her laugh in reply, “Honey that’s chicken! Don’t you even taste the food you eat?” That small conversation is a sad reflection of the ease with which as we speed through our days we are losing the small graces of gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation.

Maybe we could ask ourselves three questions as we begin yet another day.

Do I really need to hurry?

Have I remembered to say thank you for what God has put in my hand?

Have I tasted what I have been given and truly appreciated those who gave?