Bible 230

 Over thinking and over complicating my faith in Christ has been a problem. Either I am not thinking how my faith will apply to a situation, or I over think what I could have, should, or ought to do. But after calming down, asking God to show me what to do, I often sense His presence, saying, ‘Trust me. Let me handle it.’  I over think by worrying about the results, what others think, or how I might goof up the process even worse. Jeremiah trusted God during the worst of times, and remained consistent. 

Uncertainty 8

 One quality that most children and teens have in common is a clear sense of what is fair and what is not. Being treated with respect and dignity is expected by most everyone. When that trust is violated, the observer or victim can easily detect the unfairness. Jesus, the perfect One, experienced the worst treatment our world could offer. Being vigilant and aware of injustice is an important mark of maturity as we follow Christ. Standing up for victims, defending the defenseless, and being present with the grieving are all marks of who we need to be. 

“Left unchecked, discouragement will become your eyes and ears, determining what you see and hear and how you see and hear it. Unchecked, it will become the master of your emotions and the ruler of your choices and actions. Unchecked, discouragement will rob you of your hope and motivation. It will steal your reason for doing good things. It will rob you of your ability to trust. It will make you closed, self-protective, and easily overwhelmed. Discouragement will sap you of your strength and courage. It will cause you to see negative where nothing is negative and miss the positive that is right in front of you. If given room, discouragement will tell you lies that have the power to destroy your life. Discouragement is natural for someone who is suffering, but it makes a very, very bad master.” - Paul David Tripp, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense

Bible 279

 How has your view toward meaning and purpose changed in the last few months or years?  I would think that being a new Dad, managing so many responsibilities at work and farming create a weight of care on your shoulders yet create opportunities to pray, see rewards, and enjoy what few people get to experience. Developing and maintaining an attitude of gratitude helps keep us resilient, despite the challenges. Each day for me is another day to to pray, ‘Lord, have mercy on my life, open my eyes and ears to Your presence’. 

Dear God,
I am so afraid to open my clenched fists!
Who will I be when I have nothing left to hold on to?
Who will I be when I stand before you with empty hands?
Please help me to gradually open my hands
and to discover that I am not what I own,
but what you want to give me.

Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life

Uncertainty 7

 Tests and trials define who we are. As we become new in our perspective and lifestyle, our life story changes from what we thought it might be. How has your life story changed over time?  How is Gid changing you in the here and now moments?  For me, I can see why many older Americans get negative. Their pursuits in life ended empty, even though they may have accumulated power and possessions. Having it all compared to the rest of the world is not enough. Learning to surrender to the King of kings and Lord of all is a humble turn in life that never stops. 

“Dear God,

I am so afraid to open my clenched fists!

Who will I be when I have nothing left to hold on to?

Who will I be when I stand before you with empty hands?

Please help me to gradually open my hands

and to discover that I am not what I own,

but what you want to give me.” - Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life

Bible 278

 Today’s devotional hits me like a brick on the head.  I’m so thankful for so many things in my life but the past two weeks I’ve been privately grumbling. Sandy had above maker procedure and today she has a checkup along with an MRI to see if a spot on her liver has changed in the last few months. My grumbling is related to what she has to endure with all the anxiety prior to each appointment. But having an attitude of gratitude is what keeps us resilient I’m even if my ‘what if…’ list of anxieties grows. Nicky’s few statements are worth gold:

“ Ultimately, as we see in today’s passages, the world can be divided into two categories: those who acknowledge God and give thanks to him, and those who don’t.

Uncertainty 6

 How do you usually react to roadblocks, problems and unexpected chaos?  I have spent far too much time internalizing the unfortunate events that have happened. I’ve felt guilty and ashamed that I do not measure up to what God expects, meriting another lesson to whip me into shape. I often thought Gkd was distant, leaving us to flounder or suck it up. But Jesus never advised the disciples of that mindset. He echoed all that was taught in the Old Testament, welcoming any and all who search for Him. Our Triune God I’d very present and with us. 

“Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap, however, is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, "Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody." ... [My dark side says,] I am no good... I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.” - Henri J.M. Nouwen

Uncertainty 5

 Will we ever understand why tests, trials or suffering show up?  Even if we knew the specific reasons, would it make any difference?  There are so many questions with no adequate answers. God has experienced suffering by allowing Himself to be one of us. He experiences the pain and trauma of an execution, all because He lives is. As we live, we suffer and experience the chaos of this earthly life. But we have a hope that gives resilience. 

“Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears. Compassion requires us to be weak with the weak, vulnerable with the vulnerable, and powerless with the powerless. Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human.” - Henri J.M. Nouwen

Bible 276

 How do you know if your ambition is what God wants in your life?  I have struggled with whether my efforts were for selfish gain or for what God teaches in Scripture. I think part of the struggle has been worrying about the outcome of my efforts. What would others think?  Would my kids ‘turn out’ okay? What if…..the list goes on and on. But I’m slowly learning that as long as I’m living God, and others, He will take care of the results. I cannot worry all the time about what I cannot control. 

Bible 275

 Being generous with our time and resources comes from a full heart, trusting God that our heart will continue to overflow. When I’m in a scarcity mindset, I’m fearing that I won’t have enough and I build walls, protecting all that I have. My pastor recently quoted from an old author, suggesting we need to have the mindset of a reservoir instead of a river flowing downstream. We build the reservoir with wisdom and grace, storing up for the times we need to let others benefit. The river helps, but not for long. I’m so grateful for what God has done and is doing in my life. 

Uncertainty 4

 It is easy for me to allow a trial to become a trail that departs from where I should go. Tests and trials are sure to be a part of our journey, whether if our own doing or as a victim of circumstances beyond our control. What can we control during a test or trial?  It’s our response. Without tests and trials, I’d be a slug bug in my faith or become more self sufficient and arrogant than I already am. Following Christ is transformative and life changing. 

“I am not fated, I am not determined, I am not a lump of human dough whipped into shape by the contingent reinforcement and aversive conditioning of my past. I know as well as the next person that I cannot create my life de novo; I am well aware that much of what I am and what I do is a gift or a curse from my past. But when I make a promise to anyone I rise above all the conditioning that limits me.” - Lewis Smedes