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Thankful

I am thankful for the rain. The greening up of the world around me. I’m thankful for the work God has put before me. Thankful for the children he has given me to nourish and guide. I am thankful for a hardworking and loving husband. I am thankful for shelter and warmth. Thankful for a quiet moment to reflect on my blessings. Thankful for my little dog, that keeps me company. I am thankful for the provisions God has given us.

Today I give thanks.

1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18  Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; 
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

How do we ‘know’ Jesus?

We get to know Jesus by using the collected books, letters, poems and histories that have been collected for us. A great place to start is the gospels.

For example Luke, written by a Greek, in a plain straightforward language is often seen as a good place to start.

But Luke starts almost like legal paperwork. There is a pedantic solemnness about the start, as thought Luke understands the great import of what he is about to undertake. The great burden of carefully and accurately passing down the information that will eventually help millions to come to a belief in Christ.

This wasn’t done lightly. These early disciples, suffered, worked and persevered for the gospel, for Christ. We should meet them with the same spirit and be willing to devote our time and effort in understanding the words they recorded.

Luke 1: 1 – 4 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Who do we trust?

These are confusing times. Everyone has an opinion about how we should behave and what we should believe. I find the most critical of my Christian faith are people who don’t share it. Criticisms like “you aren’t doing it correctly,” or “if you do this you are a hypocrite” are everywhere. The media, the school, our friends and often even family.

How do we even stand a chance of doing what God wants? The messages are so convoluted and confusing.

Thankfully he left us His word. Not only the Bible but the example of His son, who is the way the truth and the life.

The world will press in on us and try to mold us in their image. We fight this by immersing ourselves in the teachings of the Bible and Jesus.

Jesus taught us what to do. Our first job is to learn to discern what good fruit is. Once we know this we have the tools we need to then judge the fruit of others and will allow ourselves to be influenced by those who bear good fruit.

Matthew 7: 15 – 20 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Thought provoking video

I came across this video on YouTube. I am sharing it as I found it worth pondering. Perhaps, we should all spend some time evaluating the choices we made over the last couple of years.

Maybe a bit of self reflection and honesty about how we may have contributed to the problems we have all faced would be a good thing. Maybe this would be a step towards healing?

Rely on His strength

I’m listening to old hymns, just instrumental, but the lyrics are so well known that my heart sings them along with the music. “This is my father’s world” the tune flowing through me.

Life’s struggles can mount up. The craziness and unpredictability of the world is frightening.

It is easy to feel alienated from the world around us. Like someone watching a strange improvised play where the actors have no idea they are acting.

The weight of the world can feel unbearable. Stop. Breath. Remember this is God’s world.

Isaiah 40: 29-31 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
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.

Trials in life

The roads this morning were slippery and show covered. The usual fast paced morning traffic was slower and more cautious. But life must go on. The drive reminded me of an experience I had a long time ago. Years ago my folks were visiting with family and everyone was swapping “driving in a snow storm” tales. Every Canadian has a few of those. One of the couples was from Texas and at some point he asked, “Why do you folks go out when its like that?”

The thing is that in Texas snow storms can shut down all activities. They can be bad and disruptive, but in Canada the miserable weather spans over a period of months not weeks. So we have to adapt. It is part of our lives.

Life can throw difficulties at us that are indeed disruptive and cause us to shut down and take stock. We have to deal with the matter at hand. But there is the other side of troubles in life. The long game. The problems that aren’t easily solved. The difficulties that we have to learn to live with, to work around. They can drag on for years, not just a horrible week or two.

Trouble can come in all forms. We must remember who holds us in His hands. It is by his strength we can endure.

1 Corinthians 4: 8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, 
but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 

Thinking out loud

I​f a tree falls in the forest does anyone hear? The old question. A physicist might answer that this involves the necessity of a hearing to register the sound. A philosopher may question whether humanity is necessary to nature. But if you are thinking of this question spiritually you may ask “Why does it matter?”

W​hat is the point of nature, it’s wonder and beauty, if no one can appreciate and process it? God made us with the ability to enjoy His creation. We are part of the created world, but He gave us the added gift not only sight, but discernment. He not only gave us ears to hear, but the ability to be moved by the sounds. We have the gift of creativity too. The ability to turn that fallen tree into a home, or a sculpture, or a flute. We share fully in God’s creation because He designed us that way.

A​ll nature sings His praise. And we as His people were given the ability to understand this. The question is more, “Why does the tree exist if humanity can’t see and appreciate it?”

P​salm 66: 1 – 4 Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name make his praise glorious.
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.”

Thoughts on a tragedy

A young mom, much younger than me, died. Her oldest daughter and my youngest were in the same class years ago. Cancer took this beautiful young mom away from her three young kids.

I thought to myself, if this was me what would I want my kids to know? What would I want to leave them?

Thankfully, my kids are much older and I’ve had many years to teach, love and encourage them. But what would I have said to them when they were young, if I knew I was going to leave them on their own?

I thought about this long and hard. What jewels of wisdom could I bestow?

After a bit I realized it was the same message that I settled on as my parenting goal. Years ago, I decided the message I most wanted my kids to learn was the importance of knowing and loving God. Followed closely by the awareness of how much He loves them. The first message was most important to me. I wanted them to understand that this is a choice and an action they can take. The second, God’s love – it is there regardless of what they choose. It is a given!

All the advice I could muster was subservient to this message. Love God and know He loves you.

For my part I mourn for this lost life and for her family that has to face life without her.

Psalm 34:11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Sounds like home

I remember as a child holding a big conch shell up to my ear. Some adult urging me to try it. If I held it to my ear, I’d be able to hear the sea.

I held it up to my ear, it sounded breezy and muffled. I was skeptical. I cupped my hand and placed it over my ear. The sound was different. Had I thought to try it with a coffee mug my skepticism would have been founded, as the sound is similar, but I didn’t.

This seashell was plucked from the sea, but if you listen close it whispers of its home. You could bring home a vial of sea water. It would look no different from slightly murky salted water. Or you could bring a jar of sand. Neither the water nor the sand will tell you where they came from. But the shell will, if you care to listen.

This is like humans. If we watch and listen, we can know where people are from. Not identifying their country by their accents, but rather to whom their loyalties lie. We can hear where they belong. I hope our lives whisper to those around us and let them know that we have a home with God.

Matthew 7: 16 – 20 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.