The “Enoughness” of God

It’s been a few years. Nineteen, to be exact. On December 6th, 2002, most all of the population went about their lives in the usual way, wondering if there were still any Thanksgiving leftovers, putting up Christmas lights, and all the other early-December things people do.

For me, it was a life-pivoting day. For family and friends, it was a day to absorb the loss of a sister, daughter, cousin, aunt, or friend.

My wife of 27 years, and mother of our two kids, lost her fight with leukemia just three months after being diagnosed. She went to be with Jesus, where her future was secure, and her worries were gone. I, on the other hand, had a few concerns about my immediate future.

Death is something we don’t normally welcome into our lives. 

It truncates relationships that were assumed to be lifelong. 

It stops dreams and plans without mercy. 

It can cloud our future, and can erode our hope.

It causes the kind of grief that washes over us in waves, pounding us until we feel emotionally empty.

The death of a loved one causes tremendous upheaval, and often results in significant change.

As trite as it may sound, God is alway enough. Enough to salve the wound. Enough to clear the fog. Enough for each day. Nineteen years later, I am still sorting out questions that simply don’t have the kind of answers that satisfy the soul on this side of eternity. Here is what I do know:

Barb is in the presence of the Lord Jesus, experiencing things none of us have yet experienced. One day, the separation caused by death will be reversed. “together with them… to meet the Lord… And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17

The Lord does not owe us a complete explanation regarding what He allows in each of our lives. “Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him.” Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

God will meet our needs, even on the darkest of days. The chorus of the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” says “All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.” That’s not a Scriptural quote, but it’s spot on. He not only provides, He goes beyond.

Another December 6th. Another boatload of memories. Another reminder that “The Lord gives, the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21

Nineteen years. He has been, is, and will be enough.

“How Beautiful are the Feet…”

I’ve never considered the human foot a thing of beauty. Especially my feet. Functional, yes. Beautiful, not so much. I live in a part of the country where open-toed shoes, sandals, and flip-flops abound. This provides daily, continuous visuals of all kinds of feet. Personally, I keep my less-than-presentable feet covered up. I’ve never been particularly proud of them.

With 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments, the human foot is a complex, remarkable machine that we largely ignore until such time that it demands attention. If you’ve experienced bunions, plantar fasciitis, ingrown toenails, fallen arches, or other foot ailments, you know what I’m saying.

Recently, my left foot turned on me. Shooting pain sat me up in bed and refused to let me sleep. Big toe. Major pain. The pedicurist wanted nothing to do with it. The nurse practitioner gave advice and passed me on. Finally, the podiatrist went to work on a nasty ingrown toenail. There were needles, razors, blood, and some minor whimpering. Finally, a serious looking bandage job. Yes, that’s my post-op left foot in the picture.

Most of the Bible’s references to feet refer to standing firm, or not slipping. With regard to beauty, Solomon describes his bride’s feet in sandals as beautiful (Song of Solomon 7:1). And Isaiah says “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation” (Isa. 52:7).

The picture is of a runner, going from the scene of battle to the city, to carry news of victory and deliverance. That’s always good news. I don’t think  Isaiah was talking about the physical beauty of feet, but rather the welcome news they carried. Hmmm. Maybe I can have beautiful feet. Not visibly, mind you, but functionally. Yeah! I think so! Talking about God’s grace being available to everyone qualifies my feet as “beautiful.” More than that, it may ultimately affect someone’s eternal destiny. 

In a culture of bad news day after day, the believer in Jesus carries the best news there is: Salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life are offered to all who believe in Jesus. His death on the cross paid the price, and the eternal future He promises is beyond comprehension. Today, that good news is needed more than ever.

My feet will never win any beauty contests. Not happening. But you and I have the opportunity to develop “beautiful feet” by faithfully representing the Lord Jesus Christ, and carrying “glad tidings of good things” to those in need of what He offers. 

I will live through toe surgery and ugly feet. But that doesn’t hinder me (or us) from developing beautiful feet. How are your feet looking?

Minor Irritations

 I have an innate ability to pick out the most flawed shopping cart in the litter. It looks functional outside the store, but no sooner do we cross the threshold of said store than the shopping cart pulls firmly to the left, refusing to roll straight. This requires both hands to push the cart, and makes for a less than enjoyable shopping experience. When I tried to swap out my cart for another, I got one with a square wheel (ka-dunk-ka-dunk-ka-dunk), drawing amused smiles from less irritated shoppers. Life can truly be unkind, can’t it?

It seems our lives are chock full of them. They crop up in every sector of life. Minor Irritations (MIs). The sink drips, my best shirt snags, I drop the tiny screw for my glasses, there’s a new scratch on the car, I bit my lip, the wi-fi bombs out, I forgot my mask, I hit all the lights red, and don’t get me started on the multitudinous MIs that make up traffic at all hours. I’m sure you can make up your own list. No wonder we don’t see too many smiling people out in public. Most live with a mild level of irritation, reflected on dour faces, stemming from traffic, news, work, or the myriad of dumb things that happen that were simply not what we had hoped for.

Theology would likely explain that when sin entered the world, a massive cloud of minor irritations came with it. But beyond blaming the curse in Genesis, perhaps these MIs serve a practical purpose. Could it be that all of the irritants of life give us opportunity to respond appropriately? Oh, we will respond one way or another. But maybe God allows things to happen in a flawed world (repeatedly) to give us the chance to respond righteously. Maybe MIs are simply reminders that we do indeed live in a flawed world, that the Lord Jesus will one day set right. We look forward to that day, and creation groans in expectation of it (Romans 8:19-22). Can you imagine living without any irritations? Perhaps looking forward in anticipation will mellow our responses to the minor irritations that fill our lives today. Perhaps those things are part of life for our instruction. In fact, I believe it to be so. 

So may we look ahead, to all the things believers in Jesus are promised in the Bible. In the meantime, be careful choosing your shopping cart.

Unopened Boxes

They’ve been sitting there for years. Boxes in my garage. Things deemed valuable more than 10 years ago, packed carefully, taped shut, and stowed on shelves for what has turned into a long hibernation. It wasn’t that we intended to store unused boxes of stuff for years. Some of it is pretty good stuff. We simply allowed it to sit there, unseen, unused, silently occupying space. If it weren’t for minimal labeling, I would have no idea what is in most of those boxes. I’m not particularly proud of this reality, but it did get me thinking.

 Yes, we’ve begun to divest ourselves of unused, neglected stuff. And it feels great. But what cranked up my thinking was the parallels with a lot of our lives regarding non-use. Between natural ability, the gifts God endows believers with, and things we’ve learned or been trained to do, I wonder how much of that sits unused on the shelves of our lives. It has been said repeatedly that in most churches, 20% of the people do 80% of the work. So, who are the other eighty percent? Are they simply “them,” or is it possible that I have fallen into that group? Am I using what God has given me in terms of time, resources and ability, or is my life so full that those things get stored away? Really, none of us intend to join the 80% group. None of us intend to be “unused Christians.” Hey, we didn’t tape up any boxes thinking “this will sit untouched for years to come.” But the longer something sits on the shelf, well, the longer it sits on the shelf. 

 In Matthew 25:14-28, Jesus tells a story about a master who gave talents to his servants, went away, and returned to see how they fared. That last servant had dug a hole and buried the talent that was entrusted to him (he boxed it up and stowed it in the garage). When the master returned, well, suffice it to say he was not happy about unused talents. I have a feeling that master might have a few thoughts about my garage.

 Is it possible that the garage of your life has accumulated things that are not being used? I know, there are dozens of excuses for storing things away. And many times, storing is indeed temporary. But there really aren’t valid excuses for not using what God has given you and me for His glory, to further His cause. Maybe now is a good time to check your personal life garage, or ask your spouse or a close friend to help take inventory. Is there unused, forgotten stuff stored away in your life? Talents are given to be used, not stored long-term.

Dirt Management for 2021

Those who follow Jesus are called a number of interesting things in Scripture, to get a point across. We are described as branches in John 15. We are referred to as sheep in John 10. Peter calls us living stones. But in Mark 4, Jesus identifies us as dirt. The parable of the Sower (more accurately, the parable of the soils) is about soil condition (hard, rocky, weedy, good). Determining who is a believer and who is not simply isn’t the point of the parable. In fact, I don’t see any command in Scripture pushing us to figure out who is in, and who is out. What is clear is that the condition of the soil determines potential for productivity.

 The soil represents our hearts, and the varying conditions remind us that a believer can neglect their own soul, directly affecting one’s fellowship with, and effectiveness for the Lord. Unmaintained soil is not good soil for production. Fact is, as believers we can be in any one of the categories given at any time. We maintain our own souls.

 The writer of Hebrews warns us “lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Sin blunts God’s truth in our lives. Rocks and thorns do the same. Jesus, though sinless, modeled how to maintain the condition of the heart by spending time alone with His Father. He also reminded us that it is impossible to serve two masters.

 It feels appropriate at the outset of a new year to suggest a little dirt management. Subtle sin hardens our response to truth. The neglected soul is distracted by other things, keeping truth from taking root. The worries and concerns of 2020 (oh boy, oh boy) can easily choke out the truth we expose ourselves to. 

 To be effective, truth must be received. To be received, the heart must be maintained. Perhaps right now you would consider taking a “soil sample” from your life, and committing to do what needs to be done to once more be that growing, productive follower of Jesus.

 What a solid way to start a new year.

Farming 101

As another year squeezes out it’s last few days, it’s tempting to bemoan what lies behind, rather than ramp up for what lies ahead. Looking ahead is always the better option. Here is some simple farming logic:

- If you plant wheat, you gonna get wheat.

- You plant in September, but you harvest in July.

- You gonna get a whole lot more out of the ground than you put in.

- You can’t do nuthin’ about last year’s crop, but you sure can do somethin’ about next year’s crop.

These principles are echoed in Galatians 6, where Paul is wrapping up a great letter helping people not to default to rules and regulations (looking back), but to stand fast in the liberty by which Christ had freed them, and keep moving forward. We reap what we sow. We may not reap immediately; there is a process involved. What is reaped in our lives is far more than what we’ve sown. The past cannot be changed, but it is never too late to do something about the future.

Paul’s actual words are “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:7-10)

As we enter another year, another lap around the sun, what are you sowing in your life? Hey, we’re all sowing something. Our actions, our words, our attitudes, our decisions… they all bring results, or consequences into our lives. So let’s look forward this next year, taking actions and making decisions that will reap spiritual benefits and positive progress in our relationship with the living Lord.

How Did I Get Here?

Ah, Thanksgiving. Has 2020 roughed you up a bit? A most unusual year, to be sure. Perhaps you’re really not feeling it this year with regard to Thanksgiving. As our turkey was doing the slow roast out on the smoker in anticipation of Thanksgiving dinner, there was time to reflect on life. For many of us, it has been a ride, for sure. Upon a bit of pondering, I’m offering a couple of primers to consider that just may help move the needle of your life back in the direction of “in everything give thanks.” They helped me (as did the smell of that turkey). Think about these:

·      I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for – (Parents, family, friends, circumstances, God’s grace, etc., you pick). 

·      I would not be who I am today if it wasn’t for – (Same categories, or others). 

The simple truth is that other people, circumstances and opportunities, and certainly God’s guidance and His working in our lives influence how we got where we are today. Yeah, it’s easy to think “I would be better off if it wasn’t for…”  That, however, is the “anti-thanksgiving” virus that drains our hearts of thankfulness, and causes us to overlook the many people, circumstances, and God-given opportunities that have shaped our lives. The vaccine for that is to reflect on all that God has done to bring you to this point of life. And thank Him for whatever may lay ahead, knowing His faithfulness is visible looking back, and trustworthy looking forward. 

Take time today to marvel at who you are, and how you got where you are, thanking God for all those who had a part in shaping your life, and thanking Him for bringing you to this very point. 

In everything, give thanks.

Filters

My head, shoulders, and back were contorted into positions never intended for the human body, while attempting to change the cabin air filter in our SUV. Cabin air filters are generally located under/behind the glove compartment on the passenger side. Can you visualize it? It looked so simple on the U tube tutorial. Really. Just a few screws…

As I felt for hidden screws in the dark recesses under the dashboard (while struggling with my attitude), it occurred to me how many things in our lives have filters. In the car alone, there is the oil filter, fuel filter, cabin air filter, and certainly other filters I know not of. The dryer has a lint filter, the air handler in our home has multiple filters, the pool has 4 different filters, the vacuum cleaner is a big filter, and now we all wear masks, a type of filter as well. If you wear glasses, they filter what you see, turning fuzzy into sharp, so that it makes sense. Some cigarettes are even filtered (a bit ironic).

Basically, filters remove what is unwanted in the air, the oil, the water, or whatever is being filtered. They make pure. When filters go unattended, well, nothing good comes of it. Reduced efficiency, overheating, increased energy consumption, perhaps even a burned up appliance/car.

When David wrote “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps.119:105), I’m tempted to add (I know, we don’t add) “And a filter for my mind.” Earlier in Psalm 119, he wrote “How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” (v.9) I might say “By cleaning the filter of our mind regularly.” And again in verse 11, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Or “That I might filter out what displeases You.”

God’s word, in fact, is the filter through which we are to look at life, and live our lives. When we neglect God’s word, well, nothing good comes of that, either. Decreased joy, growing cynicism, a numbness toward sin, a lack of desire for the things of God, even a plastic coated Thanksgiving/Christmas. 

Everything functions better when the filters are clean. Life makes sense when we regularly spend time in His word. Let me encourage you to check your life filters today. It’s amazing how quickly they become clogged with all that life throws at us. Time with the Lord is time well-spent, allowing all of the moving parts of our lives to function as He desires.

Fear

Fear comes in a variety of flavors. Those that study such things tell us that we are born with only two fears: Fear of falling, and fear of loud noises. All other fears are learned over time, and we have learned well. Apparently, we can learn to be afraid of almost anything. Covid 19, new pharmaceuticals, climate change, political winds, public speaking, and a long list of other fears. 

The phrase “fear not” is used at least 80 times in the Bible, most likely because God knows the enemy uses fear to decrease our hope and limit our effectiveness. Yet Scripture also tells us that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” So, is fear a big negative, or does it serve a purpose? 

Fear is a powerful motivator, indeed. God used it in the Old Testament, telling His people more than once that there would be blessing for obedience, and cursing (laid out in some detail) for disobedience (Deuteronomy 30:15-18). In the New Testament, God uses the subject of hell, and loss of reward as motivators. So, in a culture that seems to capitalize on anxiety, marketing fear about a wide variety of things, when are we supposed to fear, and when are we to “Fear not?”   

Matthew 10:28, in the context of representing God to men, says  

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” 

This does not mean that unfaithfulness results in going to hell. It simply means that in the end, only God’s evaluation matters. All of the temporal things that cause fear lose their punch in comparison to things that are eternal. 

Jesus asked His disciples “Where is your faith?” at some critical moments. One time they were in full-bore panic mode in a sinking boat, while Jesus slept. Catch the contrast there? He quelled the storm, and then asked them why they were fearful, and what had happened to their faith. Then Mark says they feared exceedingly, considering the presence of Jesus (Mark 4:35-41). 

Our fears lessen when we stop focusing on the “what ifs?” of our physical existence, and re-calibrate our thinking to the eternal. Choosing to focus on the temporal stuff of life is a choice to be controlled by fear. Looking unto Jesus is how we are to move through this anxiety-soaked world.

Gimme the Remote

If you watch television with any person or group, somebody will hold the remote control. That person determines whether you watch football, a Hallmark movie, the news, or the weather channel. They can blast the volume, or mute the sound. They can change channels on a whim. Unless there is “pre-watch” agreement on these critical issues, frustration can blossom into a terse “Gimme the remote!” (threats or physical violence have been known to be a part of the negotiation)

I think it’s innate. We want to control things. It showed up on the playground when someone yelled “You’re not the boss of me!!” We don’t want to be controlled by others, but conversely, we like to be in control. 

The fact is, there are quite a number of things within our range of control. At creation, God said “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion (control) over… every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1:26-28). The New Testament commands us to be self-controlled. We are to control our attitudes, our anger, our thoughts, our speech, our actions, and on it goes. The problem comes when we try to grab the remote, and control things we were not intended to. Things like public opinion, the weather, or even gender.  

Ever since Adam and Eve took the remote, and went their own way, there has been control trouble. It seems like most of humanity struggles with the things we ought to control, while at the same time trying to influence things outside of our range of control. 

A passage I love is found in Ecclesiastes 7:13-14. It says 

“Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him.”

God, the ultimate Sovereign, has given us limited sovereignty. He has put curves and bends into our lives, outside of our control, and often not on our wish list. That keeps us from seeing too far ahead, so that we might live dependently on Him, rather than striving to control the things that are His to control. Try this: Deliberately hand over the remote to someone else this week, and find out where you rank on the “Chilled out – to – Control Freak” continuum. Could be fun. Could be revealing. Ask Him for clarity, and for clear balance between what is ours, and what is His to control, and keep learning to trust Him.

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word,

Just to rest upon His promise, just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”