Amazing God

“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
   or seen the storehouses of the hail,
which I reserve for times of trouble,
   for days of war and battle?
What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,
   or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?
Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
   and a path for the thunderstorm,
to water a land where no one lives,
   an uninhabited desert, 

 to satisfy a desolate wasteland
   and make it sprout with grass?"

Job 38:22-27

 

"Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom"
from "Indescribable"

written by Laura Story for Chris Tomlin



I recently watched "Apollo 13,"  the 1995 movie about the failed attempt of the NASA Space Program to land another crew on the face of the moon in 1970.  The spacecraft suffered an explosion in one of the oxygen tanks, crippling its service module which caused the crew to abort their mission, severely hampering their ability to return home.  The film illustrates the hard work and dedication of the hundreds who worked to bring the three back safely to earth. 

It struck me that the depiction of this event in our country's history contained not one reference to God.  He was not acknowledged as the One who created the beautiful vistas the astronauts enjoyed, or Who protected them throughout their ordeal, or even as the One who gave them the intelligence and the inspiration to come up with the solutions to the many problems the explosion caused.  Instead, all the glory was given to man.

I don't want to fall into the trap of revelling in my own glory, as is so easy to do.  Instead, I want to be a woman who is actively looking for ways to praise God, marveling at His Creation and never growing weary of wondering over the details He added to His masterpiece that is found all around me.  I want to take seriously the advice found in Proverbs 3:6, "in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Creation

Have you ever marveled at the intricate, delicate detail found in a single tulip blossom?  God etched beautiful embellishments on the petal of each single bloom and adorned them with gorgeous eye-popping colors sure to bring even the most dull of senses out of the winter doldrums and headlong into the splendor of Spring.

How does my maple tree know when to burst forth into radiant color each Fall, dropping its leaves at the appointed time?  Who tells the birds to fly South at the coming of Winter, or brings them back as the weather warms?  What mechanism exists in a newborn calf that gives the tiny creature instructions on how to stand on wobbly knees and head butt her mama's udder in order to help her release the warm, life-giving milk into his newly formed mouth? 

The Lord is truly amazing, and I will ever praise Him!

Circumstances

When I think of miracles, my mind tends to consider healings, amazing rescues or survival stories.  But what about the way God organizes ordinary, everyday events that come together in such a way as to set forth God's plan?  

If I am going to run into an old friend at the store, I must leave home at just the right time so that I will walk into the store and enter the aisle in which my friend is shopping at exactly the right moment.  There are a million things that could go wrong; a traffic light stopping me, the dog needing to be let out before I leave, a phone call delaying my departure, or the inability to find a parking place.  That doesn't even take into account the route I take within the store that leads me right to the divine appointment.  It boggles my mind to think of all the variables. 

But that is only one insignificant happening in my life.  Multiply that by all the events that occur in the course of my life, and then again by the 7 billion people found in the world today and you have yourself a miracle!  As the wisdom of Solomon found recorded in Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds me, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

The Lord is entirely complex, and I will ever praise Him!

Continuance

My daughters were talking the other day about God's forethought and planning, and imagining what life would be like if instead of delivering babies, humans laid eggs!  We would have to carry these delicate, fragile eggs around, constantly keeping them warm until it was time for them to hatch.  As humans, we are completely ill-equipped for egg incubation!

In His wisdom, God designed our bodily functions to work in tandem with each other, every system coming together on a minute-by-minute basis in order to sustain life.  Consider the fact that the human body is made up of over 200 bones, 600 muscles, 22 internal organs, 11 major systems and over 19 million skin cells!  All of these parts must each function as designed in order for life to continue.  The human body is a magnificent creation, conceived in the mind of God.

The Lord is a God of planning and forethought and I will ever praise Him!

As I see all the details that come together throughout my day, I can either take credit for how well things turned out, or I can give praise where praise is due.  It is my objective to live my life intentionally praising God for His creation, His control over circumstances, and His plan evident in the conception and continuance of life.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can keep the amazing attributes of God at the forefront of my thoughts. 

How do I take for granted all that God has created?

When do I forget that my footsteps are ordered by God and instead become upset at the slightest delay or aggravation?

Changed Forever

"While Jesus was in one of the towns,

a man came along who was covered with leprosy.

 When he saw Jesus,

he fell with his face to the ground and begged him,

'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.'

 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.

 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!'

And immediately the leprosy left him."

Luke 5:12,13

Many people promise change.  Politicians, doctors, exercise gurus, nutrition professionals, talk show hosts and relationship experts are but a few who claim to have the answers that will change your life forever!

These well-intentioned specialists can give advice until the cows come home, but nothing or no one is able to facilitate real change in my life outside of my Creator.  After all, He made me and knows me better than anyone else.

I may be able to make a change in my own life by reading a book and following the advice of an authority in the area in which I need help.  But this change will be temporary and superficial at best.  Real change comes from the inside out, in places where only my Creator can touch. 

Be Willing

There are many times I have come to Jesus, asking for help but not really ready to receive what He desires to give me.  I may already have a solution in mind and I just want Him to fulfill that wish, as if He were a vending machine.  But this is not how God works!

I remember another incident in the New Testament of an invalid who stayed at the edge of a healing pool called Bethesda in Jerusalem, waiting to enter the waters after they had been stirred by an angel, hoping to be the first one in and thus be healed.  After 38 years, it still hadn't happened,  but he continued to hope.  One day Jesus walked in and asked him if he wanted to be healed.  Not knowing who Jesus was, the man explained how he could never get into the waters fast enough, someone always beat him to it.  Then, Jesus healed him.

This man is a lot like me.  Many times my focus is in the wrong place.  I may be experiencing some kind of health issue, relationship problem or emotional suffering and I am quick to make an appointment with my doctor, research the problem on the Internet or ask others what they think, but I rarely go to Jesus first, falling with my face to the ground, begging Him to heal me!  I ask Jesus for help, but I do not put all my eggs in His basket.  Instead, I ask for guidance and strength as I try to find the solution myself.  What a fool I've been, just like the invalid who didn't know Jesus.

If instead I completely relied on God, going only where He led me and allowing Him to work in me, my life would forever be changed.  The healing that Jesus brings is complete, effecting my physical, emotional and spiritual beings.   The change that humans can offer apart from God is deficient, brief and unfulfilled.

Jesus is Willing

It seems whenever I experience a health problem, it's always on the weekend or during a time when my doctor is unavailable.  She is only human and has a life of her own so she is unwilling to be on call 24/7, waiting for me to have a need.

One of my greatest fears is that when I call 9-1-1 during an emergency, I will be put on hold or no one will answer.  The professionals will be too busy to help me right at the time I need it most.   This is not a problem with God!  Jesus is always ready.  Jesus' words as recorded in Revelation 3:20 give me hope and assurance, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."

Jesus will never put me on hold.  He is waiting for me to invite Him in and make Him an intimate part of my life, sharing all my problems, joys and fears, as if I were sitting around the dinner table with Him.  

If I want real change, I need look no further than Jesus.  But first, I must humble myself before Him and be willing to accept the kind of healing He offers me.  Once I give my all to Him, He will change me forever!  Take a moment to enjoy and meditate on the words of the song "Changed Forever" by Toby Mac. 

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will keep Jesus on speed dial, going to Him first in everything.

Where am I relying on human help without committing my ways to God, trusting in Him for healing?

How am I bypassing Jesus' offer for help, missing an opportunity to receive real change?

Into the Light

"But you are a chosen people,

a royal priesthood, a holy nation,

God’s special possession,

that you may declare

the praises of him who called you out of darkness

into his wonderful light."

1 Peter 2:9

The three hooded men followed us, staying in the shadows as the four of us walked along a deserted part of the village.  We picked up our pace, praying as we looked around for someone that might be able to help us.  As we turned the corner, I snuck a peek back at the menacing threesome.  They walked into the light of a lamppost and I noticed a lock of hair slip out from the hood of one of our followers and realized the threatening trio appeared to be a harmless group of girls.  The light had removed the threat and revealed the truth.

As God's chosen people, we are not called to walk in the darkness where temptation and evil dwells.  Instead, we are children of the light, belonging to a God who is the Father of Lights, Author of all good things.  As a dweller of the world, I am constantly tempted to step into the darkness, out of the glorious illumination that comes from my Savior.  I am called to the light, but I do not automatically dwell there.  I must struggle to walk in the light, as He is in the light.

God is Light

When we bought our house, I remember asking the Realtor if we could have smooth ceilings instead of the usual popcorn texture.  She explained that the textured surface helps to hide flaws in workmanship, uneven surfaces and a myriad of defects.  For this reason it is the preferred surface treatment.

Darkness has a similar concealing effect.  There is no darkness in God: He is light.  If I claim affiliation to Him, yet am constantly giving into the sinful desires of my flesh, I am not being honest and truthful.  I am in the shadows, allowing it to hide the stronghold Satan has on that part of my life.   

If I am instead honest with God about my struggle, bringing it into the light and letting Him illuminate the sin, I am claiming His power over the hold that sin has on me, thus releasing it to Him.  The light breaks the strength of the iron-grip that transgression held upon me.

His Light severs sin's grasp.

Fellowship is Restored

Hanging out in the shadows of my sin hampers the bond I share with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  If I am not being honest with God about my struggles, then it follows that I am not being honest with my family, either.  God created us to live together in community, as one Body. 

I recently was suffering from some knee pain, and it effected my entire body.  My other leg had to carry more of my weight as I favored the bad leg.  I utilized the railings when negotiating the stairs, putting more stress on my upper body.  My calf began to ache because I had unknowingly altered my gait in order to protect the bum knee.  Once I recovered, I needed to do some retraining to begin doing things the normal way, the way God intended my body to function.

It is the same with the Body of Christ.  When I am not honest with my struggles, choosing to hide them in order to save face, I effect the rest of the Body.  Others have to pick up the slack where I am unable to serve due to my affliction.  I am not pulling my weight, functioning as God intended because I am too busy trying to hide my issues. 

Once I step into the Light, I can function as designed within the family of God, sharing all the gifts God has given me, loving others as He has loved me, and supporting those who need extra grace. 

The Light dissolves the fear of discovery and I am free to be me!

Purified from Sin

Once my sin has been exposed by the Light, my fellowship with others has been restored and I can benefit from the purification of my sin by the blood of Jesus. 

When Jesus died on the cross, one of His final words were, "It is finished."  The purpose for his coming to the earth, suffering at the hands of His own creation, and dying a brutal death was accomplished.  God requires death as a punishment for our sin, our failing to live up to His standard, but He loves us so much that He sent His Son to take the penalty in our place.  Once Jesus gave up His Spirit as He died on the cross, this objective was complete.  Our sins were covered, our penalty paid, our judgement resolved.  I am forgiven.

But I don't always live like I'm forgiven.  I act as if I have no other choice but to give into the temptation to do things my way instead of God's way. I wallow in the guilt of past sins, continue to suffer from the pain sin has caused, or nurse the bitterness stemming from the sin of others.   

I do, however, have a choice.  I can step into the light, into the cleansing radiance where the contamination of sin in my life is removed. 

In the Light, guilt is gone, hurt is healed, and anger is absolved.

I am called into the light, but stepping into the light takes effort, a sense of purpose and a strong will, all of which are powered by the love of God.  Then my fellowship with others is restored, and my sins are purified.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can stop trying to hide things from God, instead choosing to be honest with Him who loves me beyond all scope of my imagination.

Where do I play games with God, pretending not to see the so-called pink elephant in the middle of the room?

What relationships have been hampered by the shadows in my life?

The Battle is the Lords

"All those gathered here

will know that it is not by sword or spear

that the LORD saves;

for the battle is the LORD’s,

and he will give all of you into our hands.”

Words of David to Goliath just before he slayed the giant with a stone and a sling

1 Samuel 17:47

I'm a warrior at heart.  If someone hurts those I Iove, abuses someone weaker, or takes advantage of another, I'm ready to fight!  Even as a girl of about 12, I did not hesitate to chew out a neighbor man who came to our house to retrieve his dog who had wandered over for a visit.  When he started kicking the sweet-natured dog in the stomach, I let the man have it, getting in his face and telling him to get off our property.  It was war and I was ready for battle!

The problem with the above scenario, is that my emotional outburst accomplished nothing more than to drive the man away with a piece of my mind.  It did not save the dog.  It did not change the man's abusive behavior.  It did not bring glory to God.

David, on the other hand, even though he was probably in his mid-teens as he faced Goliath, did not rely on an emotional outburst, giving this gargantuan bully a piece of his mind.  Instead he relied upon the Lord, knowing that if God would give him the courage to face lions with a sling and a stone, He would do the same while confronting a giant, seasoned warrior.  The result?  David killed the giant, the Israelites defeated the Philistines, and God received the glory!

What battles do I face in the 21st century?  What monsters taunt me and dishonor my God?  Where is my battlefield?

The Mind

There is a constant battle taking place in my mind.  My thought life is like a thermometer of my spiritual health because what I spend the most time thinking about reveals what my god is at that moment.  If I am fretting about the bills, my god is money.  If I am rehashing an old argument, justifying my actions to make myself feel better about my ridiculous behavior, my god is pride.  If I am planning my day, analyzing every detail until I come up with the perfect solution for every possible problem, my god is myself. 

My thoughts are the root of all sin because every temptation is introduced in my mind.  James described the process of temptation in this way.  He said, ". . .each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."  (James 1:14-15)

It has been said that when a tempting thought enters my mind it is just a thought.  But when I revisit that thought and mull it over, it becomes a temptation.  The more I think about it, the more I can justify acting on that idea.  Before you know it, I'm giving in to the suggestion of the enticing sin, seeking to satisfy some fleshy desire. 

This is why it is important to be intentional in my thinking.  the Apostle Paul advised to, ". . . demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and . . . take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5) 

If I let every thought that crosses my mind dwell there, I will fall into temptation and be distracted from the Lord's work.  If, however, I turn this battlefield over to the Lord, drawing on his strength to allow only those thoughts which please God to dwell in my mind, I will be victorious in the battle for my thoughts, and God will be glorified.

Spiritual Realm

The real battle for a believer takes place all around us in a place we cannot see, touch or smell.  It is the battlefield of the spiritual realm.  "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 10:11-12)

Satan and his minions are busy trying to turn us away from God.  They will try every trick of the trade to distract us from the mission at hand.  CS Lewis described this well in his The Screwtape Letters.  In one exchange that took place between the veteran demon Screwtape and the newbie, Wormwood, a common tactic was revealed. "The safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."

Satan wants nothing more than for me to slowly and gradually give up crucial biblical standards, yielding important battle positions until I am retreating, giving Satan a foothold in my life.  
Instead, I must always keep the milestones and signposts in front of me by staying in prayer with my God, reading His Word and doing what it says, and remembering that "the one who is in (me) is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4b)

The World

It is a great temptation for me to try to save the world.  That, however, is not my mission, nor the mission of any believer.  That is God's job.  My task is to obey Him, following His lead in all things. 

That sounds great in theory, but difficult in the face of a fallen world.  I see broken marriages, abused and neglected children, runaway teenagers, murdered gang members and hurting people all around me.  On the news I see war-torn nations, starving children, cruel and oppressive dictators and terrorism.  The world is an evil place and I want to make it better. 

If only I could talk some sense into the heartbroken wife ready to throw in the towel, or the high school student who hates her parents, or the 15-year-old boy on a fast train to jail.  But I can't.  I can try, but they won't get it until they see their need for Jesus and surrender their lives to him. And no one can come to Jesus until the Father draws him. (John 6:44) 

For this reason, it is vital that I stay on my knees in prayer.  And while I pray, I must be available to let God love a hurting, lost world through me.  This means setting aside my anger and pride, and asking God to give me a heart that sees people as He sees them.  Asking Him to break my heart for what breaks His.  Pleading with Him to save the people from certain death. 

The world may be Satan's dominion, but in this battlefield I can give glory to God by letting Him fight the battles found here.  

The battlefields of the mind, the spiritual realm and the world all belong to the Lord.  This is His battle, and if I can have faith like David, I can be victorious in glorifying God in the midst of combat.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can keep my mind focused on God, allowing Him to fight my battles for me.

Where do I take things into my own hands, thus diminishing God's territory in my life?

How do I give Satan a foothold by being lax in the defenses of my thought life?

What's in a Name?

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,"

Matthew 6:9

"Let them praise the name of the LORD,
   for his name alone is exalted;"

Psalm 148:13 



"What's in a name? that which we call a rose,  By any other name would smell as sweet;" * 

Many of you probably recognize this poetic line from Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.  Juliet was saying that Romeo, born under another name, would still be the one with which she was madly in love.  To Juliet, who Romeo was seemed more important than what he was called.

This is not the case with God.  Even His name is special, set apart and to be revered.   The Lord is very concerned about His name, as demonstrated in the restraint He showed toward His disobedient and rebellious people.  "For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; (Isaiah 48:9)  God's name is of the utmost importance. 

David knew the significance of preserving the name of the Lord.  He said, "For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great." (Psalm 25:11)  David's main concern was for people to link God's name with His qualities: grace, mercy, love, justice, righteousness, holiness, etc.  This was more important to David than his own welfare.

Jesus demonstrated the reverence He held for His Father's name, in what He said after predicting His death to His disciples.  " 'Father, glorify your name!' Then a voice came from heaven, 'I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.' " (John 12:8) God's response speaks to the purpose for all of creation: To lift up the Name of the Creator and sovereign Lord.

How do I treat the name of my God in the way I use it in everyday life?  Do I purposefully act in a way that will bring glory and honor to His name?  Is the integrity of His name even something that crosses my mind?

 Respect

It is easy to fall into a familiar, casual relationship with God.  I have heard people refer to Him as "The Big Guy Upstairs," or to say that, "He's my main man,"  thinking that in their laid-back manner they are showing their love for Him, kind of like a friend.  But God himself never demonstrated that kind of lack of respect for His name, rather He expected a reverence for not just Him, but also His very name. 

It is quite common to casually use God's name in amazement or irritability, almost like a swear word, as in, "Oh my God!"  As my Savior and Creator, the Author of my faith and the Giver of all good things, He deserves so much more than this.  I must guard against falling into the practice of casually uttering His name as if it were common.  The name of God is not common, it is holy, and should be set aside for use in only ways that will make Him look good and show reverence.

It reminds me of my dishes.  I have a set of heirloom china that is only used on special occasions.  I do not use it every day, and when I do bring it out, I treat it more carefully than I do my other dishes.  This is similar to how my attitude should be toward the name of the Lord.  I need to be careful and only use it in ways that will bring glory and honor to Him.

As a bearer of God's image, I need to be mindful of where I go, what I do and how I think.

Honor and Glory

In the Japanese culture, the honor of the family is very important.   Schools, careers and mates are chosen in such a way to reflect well upon the family.  It is the highest goal in society to create a sense of respect and admiration for one's own family name.  

In the same way, I can make it my highest goal to honor and glorify the name of the Lord.  Every decision I make, every step I take, every word I utter, could be with the thought that I can lift up the name of the Lord in these actions! In this way, I will live out the admonition of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Integrity

God is perfect, good and just.  He does not need my help as a PR person to give Him a better reputation in the world.  After all, Jesus clearly warned us that we would be hated for following Him.  The world is the enemy of God because of sin.  I cannot make anyone hold respect and honor for God, only He can change a heart.

What I can do is be constantly concerned for the integrity of the Lord's name in my thought life.  Just as we are exhorted in Philippians 4:8, ". . . whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things,"  I need to be purposeful in what I think about. 

My thoughts easily go to thoughts of worry about the future, finances or friendships.  I can also spend a lot of time thinking about what I'm going to do that day, or I often dwell on past conversations, rehashing them to death, beating myself up for stupid things I said.  

But are these thoughts showing reverence for God, or a complete disregard for Him?  It's easy to say, "Well, we can't think about God 24/7!" but I can focus my thoughts on things that bring glory to His name.

Even though Shakespeare didn't think a name was all that important, God does.  And I can show this same regard in the respectful way I use His name, in how my actions bring honor to His name, and in what I choose to think about.

As I begin this day, I pray that I will honor God's name in the way I speak, act and think.

How do I fritter away my time thinking about trivial things when I could be meditating on God's glorious name?

Where do I have no business going as a bearer of God's image, thus treating His name as common?

* From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, 1600

The Secret

I have learned to be content

whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need,

and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content

in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry,

whether living in plenty or in want. 

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11b-13

Some secrets are meant to be told.  It seems whenever I know something special and empowering, I don't want to keep it to myself.  I want to tell others, encouraging them with the same encouragement I have received from God.  After all, following Christ in a fallen world is hard enough without gaining strength from one another on a regular basis.  We all can use all the support we can get. 

The apostle Paul is a great encourager!  In today's passage, he sandwiched a nugget of truth within a word of thanks for the faithful support of the church at Philippi.  He couldn't help but reveal the secret he had found for being content. 

Contentment does not come naturally to my sinful nature.  In fact, I find myself using the common ground of grumbling to open a conversation with complete strangers!  I know everyone can relate to the drudgery of laundry, the irritation of whining children in a crowded grocery store, or the frustration of waiting in line while the clerks seem to take their time.  I'm good at finding fault with my circumstances.

But Paul learned the secret of accepting his circumstances and being satisfied.  This is the kind of secret I can't wait to hear!

Learned

Have you ever been told, "You've got a lot to learn!"  These words are usually said in the context of an argument and are meant as a put-down.  But there is much truth in the content of the message.  I do have a lot to learn.  And one of the things that I am able to learn is to be content.  Complaining comes naturally.  I don't have to work at that.  But contentment is something at which I must work. 

It is not normal for me to accept my circumstances.  I am always wanting more, or less, in all things.  Either it is too hot, or too cold.  Very rarely is it just right.  Many times I want more clothes and get tired of wearing the same thing time and time again.  But other times I think I have so much that I can't decide what to wear!  I am a person of habit so it is easy for me to get into a rut of what I eat for breakfast.  After awhile, I tire of the same old thing, desiring something different but not knowing what it is I want.  It seems I'm never happy.

This reminds me of our dog.  If he is in, he wants to go out.  If he is out, he wants to come in.  We often tell him that he's never happy!  And I guess I should know, because this illustrates my attitude, as well.  The difference is, however, that I do have hope.  God has given me the ability to learn, and contentment is one of the skills I can acquire.

Since we only remember 10% of what we read and 20% of what we hear, it seems it won't be very effective to try to learn contentment by studying about it or hearing lectures on it.  The good news is that I can remember 90% of what I say and do, so if I start practicing contentment, I will learn to be content!  Being begins by doing.

Not Circumstantial

As I begin to practice contentment, I start to see that satisfaction with my circumstances is not at all based on my circumstances!  It is simply the way I view my surroundings.  It is making the decision to accept where God has placed me as well as who He has place me with, the state of my health in this situation and all other supportive factors that go along with my present location.  In a nutshell, it is "blooming where I am planted."

At the base of it, contentment is really an attitude of thanksgiving to God and trust in God, acknowledging His Sovereignty and bowing to His choice for my life.  When I am constantly complaining, either out loud to others, or within to myself, I am essentially telling God that I don't like what He has chosen for my life, I think His plan stinks and that I could choose better if given half the chance.

The thing is, I am not in control.  God is.  And no amount of complaining is going to change that fact.  It is only going to make me and those around me miserable.  The bottom line is that accepting my circumstances, whatever they may be, brings peace to me and my family.  And like the wisdom of God that is revealed in Proverbs 14:30 reminds us, "A heart at peace gives life to the body,  but envy rots the bones."  Contentment promotes a healthy lifestyle while living in a state of always wanting more will ruin my wellbeing.  Questioning God's plan for my life can never be good for me!

Empowered by God

I remember helping my daughters to learn to ride their bikes.  In the beginning, they did not have the balance or confidence to try to pedal all on their own.  I had to run along beside them, holding them up.  This is how God is with us.  We do not have the ability to choose contentment from our storehouse of natural abilities.  As I previously stated, my discontent is innate. 

But with God, all things are possible!  He is doing a new thing in my life!  I don't have to be stuck in the pattern of my old way of thinking.  Instead, I can put my hope in the Lord and soar! 

Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31

I am not bound to my natural inclinations!  I have the choice to turn to my God and ask him to give me an attitude adjustment, showing me all that I have for which to be thankful.  Suddenly, the grumbling disappears and is replaced with a grateful heart. 

A child looks on the ground and sees a beautiful gem, while a more cynical adult sees a worthless rock.  I want to gain the outlook of that child, seeing the good and valuable in all that surrounds me.  And not so that I will live at peace, although that is a pleasant outcome.  Perhaps the most important reason for an attitude of contentment comes from 17th century scholar and author William Law.  "One who makes it a rule to be content in every part and accident of life because it comes from God praises God in a much higher manner than one who has some set time for the singing of psalms."

Learning to be content no matter the circumstances is possible with God's strength.  But it is also essential if I want to praise Him with my life.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can learn to accept things the way they are instead of wishing things were different.

How am I dishonoring God with my poor attitude?

Where can I better accept the circumstances in which God has place me?

Live Free

“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
   I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
   to be a covenant for the people
   and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
   to free captives from prison
   and to

release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness."

Isaiah 42:6-7 

I remember going to a cave as a child with my family.  As part of the tour, we entered this huge cavern, like a great underground cathedral adorned with stalactites and stalagmites reminding me of the pipes of a giant organ, spires rising to meet the darkness and pillars the likes I have never seen in a structure made by man.  Suddenly, the guide warned us that he would turn out the lights so we could get a sense of the total darkness of the cave.  After he flipped the switch, I waited for my eyes to grow accustomed to the blackness, finding some sliver of light with which to pick out shadows around me.  It never happened.  The dark pressed around me like some sort of evil presence, separating me from the world surrounding me and leaving me in utter isolation.  

This is what my life would be like without the Light of the world.    As my Savior, Jesus fills my life with brightness, illuminating my path and spilling over into the lives of those around me. He gives me purpose, meaning and the hope of an eternal future with Him.  With Him I am complete.  And His coming was prophesied hundreds of years before to a nation on the cusp of exile to Babylon.  The people of Judah had fallen away from the Truth and after received many years of painful admonitions and warnings, they needed some good news. They needed some hope.  So God sent the message of a coming Savior who would save the people from their sins, and in so doing, would deliver me from darkness, bondage and isolation.

Blind

Helen Keller suddenly lost her sight and hearing at the age of 19 months as a result of "brain fever," leaving her isolated in a world of darkness and silence.  As she grew, she could neither communicate with those around her or receive any instruction or training about the world in which she lived.  It must have been a frustrating and futile existence. 

Futile, that is until her teacher, Anne Sullivan, entered her life a few months short of her seventh birthday and opened up the world to Helen by teaching her how to communicate and learn with sign language. Her life was never to be the same.  Helen later revealed the real source of her strength. She believed that "Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.*"If I can see all that is around me, yet fail to recognize the One who can save me from my own wretched sinfulness, what good is my sight?  It is better to be physically blind, yet know the Truth.  Jesus came to give sight to those who are blind and cannot, in their own ability, find their way to the Light.  Just as Helen could not have known whether it was day or night, I cannot see my need for Jesus until He opens my eyes to this necessity.  Without Jesus, I am as good as blind and living in the darkness.  But now I have seen a great light, and my life will never be the same.

Imprisoned

I have visited a young women's prison and was struck by the lack of personal freedoms experienced by the inmates.  They do not choose what they wear, when or what they eat, when they sleep or wake, or whom they bunk with.  In doing the crime, they lost their liberties. 

Sin has the same affect on my life.  I am bound to the chains of my fleshly desires, tied down by the strength of their hold on my life.  As a follower of Christ, I have been set free from the power of sin in my life, but many times I cling to it like a comfortable friend, familiar yet destructive.  Until I lift my arms from the shackles Jesus has already released me from, I will never experience true freedom.

As Paul encouraged the believers in Galatia, " It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)  I am not a prisoner anymore for He has set me free.  It's time I start living like I'm free!

Isolated

As I stood in the utter darkness of that cave as a child, I felt completely alone, separated from my family and the crowd of people that stood around me.  The blackness served it's purpose: seclusion.  Before I knew Jesus, my life was filled with people.  My parents, sisters, friends, neighbors, to list a few.  But I never felt understood.  I would often go to the barn as a preteen and sit on a bail of hay, peering into the compassionate eyes of my faithful black lab, telling her, "You are the only one who understands."  As an awkward adolescent, I felt misunderstood and alone, and strong in the conviction that no one truly cared for me.

Then I met Jesus.  He delivered me from the darkness and promised to always be with me, understanding me as no one else can, giving me a sense of worth and value.  My live has never been the same.

But it is easy to return to those familiar feelings, allowing myself to sink back into the belief that I am alone and in the depths of despair, completely misunderstood and alone.   But as one of the redeemed, I do not belong in the dungeon, isolated as I once was.  I now can always live in the light, even in the darkest of times!

Following Jesus means I can see a great Light, I am free from sin, and I will never be alone.  These are reasons to rejoice this day and every day!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will remember that I have been set free and live in such a way to please my Father in heaven.

How do I live like a captive to sin?

Where do I need to step into the light instead of wallowing in the darkness?

* Helen Keller quote from:  http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/h/helen_keller.html#ixzz1iJ1LXT8h