I participated in a conversation recently where someone said, "we are extremely blessed." That phrase got me thinking as I sometimes think we equate blessing with financial prosperity or being able to do whatever we want, synonymous with living the good life. We equate blessing with pleasure.
The person who mentioned being extremely blessed by all outward appearances did not appear that way. He wasn't flashy, didn't own a big house,
Recently I experienced the sting of deep disappointment. I shot my shot and hit the rim; the ball didn't quite make it through the net. When I started on this recent venture, I did not ignore the possibility of disappointment; I went in with my eyes wide open.
As I prepared, I focused more on the possibility than the impossibility. I relied on verses that I knew, whispered positive affirmations to myself, had lots of conversations with God, took deep breaths, and ultimately took my shot. But I also kept it close to the vest, sharing with very few. I
Last year, it was my goal to be featured on a podcast. I tried to make that happen, but it fell flat, so I let it go. This year, to my surprise, I'm featured on two podcasts. Cintia Listenbee is a longtime Christian blogger. I like her no-nonsense approach to following Christ as it resonates with me. When she invited me to be a guest on her podcast, I was thrilled! It was a virtual lovefest.
What I've learned in all of this and more is that God's timing is best. God's timing will test you, but when things come to pass, as he said, it is the right time. Listen in to hear other profound truths that were shared.
"In all the years I've worked with people, I've yet to meet someone whose life was all messed up because he or she kept God's commands ."(Joe Stowell)
This quote really struck me because of its truthfulness. Many people want lives that reap the result of God's commands, but they don't want to believe or follow God's commandments.
So we are in a free for all - everyone doing what they want and hoping that they come out fine. Sometimes people look for the easy way out and rationalize, that if it's not explicitly stated in the Bible, then it can't be done.
As I was reading Psalm 119, I became fascinated by verse 164, which says "Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments." Recall that this is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses, where practically every verse highlights the attributes of God's Word, all from the very personal perspective of its author.
The Word of God can literally save a life:George Wishart was the Bishop of Edinburgh in the 17th century. Wishart was condemned to death and would have been executed. But when he was on the scaffold, he made use of a custom that allowed the condemned person to choose one psalm to be sung, and he chose Psalm 119. Before two-thirds of the psalm was sung, his pardon arrived, and his life was spared. [Source: blueletterbible.org]
Back to verse 164 - what makes a person so emphatic in their declaration of praise? Well, one quick answer is already noted in the verse - it's because of God's righteous judgments. He has seen that God has always done right by Him; He has never left or abandon him.
I'm not sure what prompted me to buy this book but as I read it I was glad I did. I've never lived on a farm, nor do I have an innate love for pickles and brine but I could relate to the author's description of the joy and liberty of what trusting God feels like.
Shannan used her life and circumstances to demonstrate what faith can look like. For the author it was stepping out of her comfort zone by living in an area some would deem unsafe with no blue ribbon schools in sight, leaving high paying corporate jobs with no future sense of a prized stability, adopting children from every walk of life and ultimately being happy with where God had placed her. It was not a superficial happy either - like "o gee look at me, I'm happy in spite of my circumstances." Instead, it's a happiness where she saw the truths of God's word borne out in her life. So much so, I'm convinced that if this book were not written no one would believe her because her life now seems counter to everything that we thought would make us happy.
As Christians, we're not of this world; we ought to have a different
Have you ever cried so much it felt like you couldn't cry another tear? I have. Has your heart been so broken you thought it would never heal? I have. Have the rifts in your family taken such a toll on you that you wonder if fellowship will ever be restored? I have ached for broken family relationships. Has the deep hurt of a child made you feel so helpless that all you do is cry? I have.
There are circumstances in life that are so unexplainable that force you to your knees with desperate cries to the One up above. "Why Lord, why?" "How Lord, how?" "Make a way Lord, make a way." "Heal Lord, heal." "Restore Lord, restore."
I can't complain. I've written a lot lately simply because of this blog. It is only by God's strength that I have been able to do so. When I want to quit, He alone strengthens me. When I'm unsure of what to write, He nudges my thoughts. When I am weak, He is strong.
God’s strength is part of God’s character, illustrated in His acts towards us and directly through his promises. God’s strength, unlike ours, has the power to consistently strengthen us as it is part of our relationship with Him. Even while we are weak. God sympathizes with our weakness and even asks that we place our burdens on Him as He goes with us through this journey called life because He has the ability to sustain us.
Something happens every morning in a parent's brain when they are dropping their young charges to school. It seems that parents collectively lose their minds - horns honking, speed racing, cutting off each other to get as close to the drop off point, irritability when driving, poor decision making. Does any of this resonate with you? Though I enjoy the little bit of time I have in the car with my child, it's all the stuff swirling outside that is hectic and chaotic. I'm an early riser, but this particular task of dropping children to school, I never look forward to.
In college as a member of the track team, we traveled to out of state track meets where oftentimes we had to stay overnight. Back then, no one had cell phones and oftentimes these travels presented a whole new world to me. Our coach was in charge, so we followed his lead. Once we were assigned our rooms, he always told us to call the front desk and get a wake-up call. I'm sure this was new to many but we followed his instruction like it was gospel.
Of course, since many of us were on our own for the first time we stayed up late, watched TV and in general played the fool, not being entirely focused on the purpose of our trip which was to compete and do our best the following day.
I woke up this morning with this refrain on my heart. I went to bed pondering some of the hard truths presented in the book of Judges struggling with how to write and share.
Even through difficult circumstances, or things that seem incomprehensible to our 21st Century sensibilities, I am emphatically reminded that God is good, good, so good.
The Bible was written for our edification - to help us. It does not contradict itself. When we choose to see things from a heavenward vantage point again it reinforces that God is good, good, so good and that man is not. In spite of our not so goodness - God remains good, good, so good.
Here's the song on my heart today as I ponder the all encompassing sovreignty of God and how he affects my little old life.
You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees. Psalms 119:68
It is my sincere prayer you can say with all sincerity, regardless of your circumstances, that God is good. If yes, just take a moment to type God is Good in the comments. Thanks.
--Nylse
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