Protector

Look, God is my deliverer!
I will trust in him and not fear.
For the Lord gives me strength and protects me;
he has become my deliverer.

Isaiah 12:2 

 

This is Woody.  He came to be our companion just a little over a week ago.  He has already made himself right at home, enjoying being spoiled (pampered), but he is also shown himself to be very protective of us.  You see, Woody protects us because he loves us.  Hmmmm.....sounds like a little bit of a sermon topic there, so let's dig in.

 

When you love someone, you protect them.  This includes your spouse, your family, and those you hold dear.  God is that way with us (here's the 'Tah Dah' moment), He protects and delivers us BECAUSE He loves us.  He has adopted us as His children. He cares about us, even when we hurt each other.  

 

Read today's passage again and think about the fact that God loves us so much that He sent His one and only precious Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life.  

 

Talk about a reason to be grateful?

Everything You Do

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17 

 

Did you realize that if you claim to be a Christian you are under a great scrutiny?  Believe it or not, as a Christian, when you go to a restaurant people will look to see if you are generous or cheap.  People will notice if you are given too much change at the store and whether or not you keep it.  People, for some reason, seem to look for reasons to shout to the world that Christians are evil because Christians aren't perfect.

 

But that's people.  And people are people.  

 

Christians are expected to reflect the love of Christ in everything they say and everything they do.  That is a tall order.  It's an even taller order in a world where any perceived imperfection is pointed out and broadcast.

 

I like the way that Paul reminds us to act with gratitude, regardless of what others say: "WHATEVER you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus."  He doesn't say, in some things.  He declares that we are to strive to be so grateful that whatever we do reflects the love of Christ.  

 

This is one of the many things I struggle with.  When people aren't grateful, I am expected to be grateful.  When people are disrespectful, I am expected to be respectful.  When people are hateful, I am expected to be loving.  It is a true struggle, but when we focus our hearts on God, and remember that we work for Him...we don't fail as often.

 

 

Look for the Rainbows

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.

Psalm 9:1 

 

I was sitting in my chair, ticked off and frustrated, because of some news we had gotten that blow a hole in our lives.  My prayer was "God, I don't understand why this happened, but I have to trust You because You love us."  That was all I could manage.  I won't lie to you and say that suddenly the doorbell rang and the Publisher's Clearinghouse representative handed us a giant check.  Actually, the situation did not change...but my attitude about the situation in that moment changed.  And believe it or not, as hokey as it may sound, the clouds outside drifted away and the sunlight was just what I needed.

 

The older I get, and you may stop laughing, the more God reveals things I have taken for granted that I should be thankful for.  There are mornings when I really don't want to get out of bed, yet God reminds me that He has people I need to meet.  There are times when I just don't want deal with anyone, and then comes that message that says "Thank you. Just want you to know you're appreciated."

 

I am beginning, at the age of over 50, to understand that when I praise God for the things He does, has done, and will do in my life, my perspective changes from All-About-Me to WOW!

There's an old hymn that says, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face; and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim; in the light of his glory and grace."

 

Begin this journey toward gratitude with me.

Every Breath You Take

Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

 

Many years ago, some of you may remember while others may give just a blank look, a group called The Police performed a some called "Every Breath You Take."  I'll admit, when I first heard the lyrics, I was more than a little creeped out.  I was only half listening to the song and it planted the thought in my mind that perhaps I should keep the windows and doors closed.  

 

Years later, when I heard the song on the radio again, I couldn't help but think about how God sees every move I make.  How God gives me every breath I take.  And I'll stop there with repeating the lyrics because you get the idea.

 

Look carefully at Paul's words to the Thessalonian Church: 

1.  PRAY continually - keep the conversation with God ongoing (talk AND listen).
2. GIVE THANKS - no matter what happens, know that God is never surprised and always has a plan for our good.

 When things don't go the way we think they should, it is VERY easy to get discouraged.  It's very easy to think "God doesn't love me and He doesn't care about me."  But Paul reminds us that in EVERY situation...God is LOVE and God is in control!

I have mentioned before that 2016 has begun as quite the storm in the lives of my family, but we are beginning to learn that God is the one we need to turn to and focus on, because He is the only one with a sure fire plan for our good.  Tough times will come.  Bad things will happen.  Remember this: We are only on this twirling orb for a short time...might as well make the most of the time and enjoy the ride God gives us.

 

Let's Start Developing An Attitude!

But if we have food and shelter, we will be grateful for that.

1 Timothy 6:8 

 

Attitude!  Two things come to mind when I hear that word: 1) the very proud and arrogant; 2) the grateful spirit I need to develop.  We see the first one all the time: "NO ONE can tell me I can't have that....it's my RIGHT!"  You've seen this attitude.  You may even know some who have developed this attitude to a razor sharp edge.  But that's not the quality I want us to think about right now.

 

Let's focus on developing a grateful spirit.  Now, understand, having a grateful spirit does not mean allow yourself to be taken advantage of or walked on.  Having a grateful spirit means you understand that God allows things to happen for your good, sometimes we like them and sometimes we don't.  A grateful spirit is one that lives simply.

 

One program my Beautiful Bride and I enjoy is called "Tiny House Hunting."  People decide to "scale down" from their 3000 sq ft. home to one that's less than 5oo sq ft.  In order to do that, they must learn to get rid of things they don't really need.  It's always interesting to me to see what people cling to....collections of trinkets, shoes, guitars, tools, things they like to look at and like to have but haven't used them in YEARS.....but they just can't live without them.

 

Look at the words of the Apostle Paul: "If we have FOOD and SHELTER, we will be GRATEFUL."  The simplest of the simple things.  Food and shelter, and some translations include clothing.  The basics!  Nothing fancy.  Nothing extravagant.  Just simplicity.

 

Let's spend the next few days looking at Developing grATTITUDE!

Why Be Grateful!

But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
    I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
They are constantly in my thoughts.
    I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

Psalm 77:11-12

It seems as though we are living in times where gratitude and thanks are long forgotten.  I hear it over and over when I talk with people:

 "But you just don't know what I've been through...how can I even THINK about being grateful?"

"You've got to be kidding me, right? Do you have any idea what my life I like?  Do you have any clue what I am going through?  And you tell me I have something to be grateful for?"

"I don't know what hit you on the head, but until you have worked for my boss (met my coworkers, lived with my spouse, put up with my kids, etc. Take your pick), don't tell me that I have something to be grateful for!"

The lists of excuses why we aren't grateful gets longer and longer and longer every day.  And, hang on to your seat, it's because it takes EFFORT to find things to be grateful for.  It takes effort to DECIDE to be grateful!  Two things we don't like to do!  We want everything to be happy and easy and gently float into our laps without our having to exert any sort of effort.

Newsflash!  God gives us lots of reasons to be grateful and we are being ungrateful if we choose not to see them!

1.  Did you wake up this morning?  Be Grateful!
2. Are you able to read this? Be Grateful!
3. Did you have something to eat? Be Grateful!
4. Are you able to move around? Be Grateful!
5. Are you able to think? Be Grateful!
6. Has God provided for you? Be Grateful!
7. Do you have friends? Be Grateful!
8. Dislike your job? Be Grateful that you have the choice to stay or go!
9. Don't have a job yet? Be Grateful that you have the ability to look for one!
10. Need to lose weight? Be Grateful that you have so much to eat.

You see, we make a HUGE mistake when we complain instead of being grateful.  The children of Israel spent their time in the desert complaining about EVERYTHING, and what happened? God let them wander in the desert, while He continued to provide for them, until that entire ungrateful generation had died.

Take a deep breath!  God let you do take that breath, so be grateful!  He who is grateful in the small things will soon realize that life is much better.



Second Chances Are......

God, you pulled me out of the grave,
    gave me another chance at life
    when I was down-and-out.

~Psalm 30:3 

 

There are some instances where a second chance just isn't an option....once you're past your teen years, you don't get a second chance at reliving them (try though some might).  You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.  

 

We are fortunate if we work for someone who is willing to give second chances.  We are very fortunate if we are married to someone who is willing to give us second chances.  You see, when a second chance (a TRUE second chance) is given, you are expected to understand that improvement is needed.  It is also good to know that the first mistake (which led to the second chance) will not be held against us.

 

God is not only the God of second chances, but He is in the business of pulling us up when we are down and REMINDING us that every breath is a second chance!  You didn't speak to the person you should have, yet God brings that person across your path again.  And even again.  And maybe even AGAIN.  

 

I can honestly tell you, and openly admit, God has pulled me back from the brink more than once, and has given me second chances I didn't ask for or deserve.  He does it with every breath he gives me.  He doesn't have to......probably shouldn't have......but I am grateful for every single one.  How about you?  Need a second chance?  God is in that business.