Give Thanks ~ Nov 12

Today I am thankful to God for the blessing of Christian friends--we are such an interesting and often wacky mix!!!

Give Thanks ~ Nov 11

 

 

I am thankful to God for the precious church family He has given me.

 

 

 

Give Thanks ~ Nov 10

I am thankful to God for all the 'little' conveniences I enjoy each day!

Give Thanks ~ Nov 9

 

 

I am thankful to God for the various freedoms I enjoy as a citizen of this country.

 

 

Give Thanks ~ Nov. 8

 

 

 

I am thankful to God that nothing--absolutely nothing--is outside of His sovereign control.

 

 

 

Give Thanks ~ Nov. 7

Today I am thankful to God for brothers & sisters-in-Christ who are capable and willing to remind us to think Biblically according to Phil. 4:8.

For example, "How Should Christians Respond to Obama's Re-election?"

Give Thanks ~ Nov. 6

Today I am thankful for God graciously enabling me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually!!!

Give Thanks ~ Nov 5

 

 

I thank God for our comfy little home!

 

 

 

Give Thanks ~ Nov 4

I thank God for my two precious daughters!!!

Give Thanks ~ Nov 3

I am thankful to God for blessing me with my dear husband of almost 30 years!

Give Thanks ~ Nov. 2

I am thankful to God for redeeming me by His mercy and grace!

Give Thanks ~ Nov. 1

 

I am deeply grateful to God for the life He has blessed me with--it is but a vapor.

 

 

"What'er My God Ordains is Right", by Indelible Grace

What'er my God ordains is right: holy his will abideth;

I will be still what'er he doth, and follow where He guideth:

He is my God; though dark my road, He holds me that I shall not fall: wherefore to Him I leave it all.

What'er my God ordains is right: He never will deceive me;

He leads me by the proper path; I know He will not leave me:

I take, content, what he hath sent; his hand can turn my griefs away, and patiently I wait his day.

What'er my God ordains is right: though now this cup, in drinking

May bitter seem to my faint heart, I take it, all unshrinking:

My God is true; each morn anew sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart, and pain and sorrow shall depart.

What'er my God ordains is right: here shall my stand be taken;

Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, yet am I not forsaken;

My Father's care is round me there; He holds me that I shall not fall: and so to Him I leave it all.

~ Trinity Hymnal, 1961 ~

The Problem with Love--of God, Neighbor, Self . . .

For quite a while now I’ve been studying, and referencing Jesus’ reply to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:34-46, more specifically verses 36-40. It’s so ‘basic’, so ‘simple’, so God-centered—and so difficult apart from God’s grace. Of course, this is ordained by God to highlight our need for His mercy since we are in and of ourselves unable to do it with pure and selfless motives on our own—“…love God…love your neighbor…”

But, because Jesus declared this to be ‘great’ and ‘foremost’ it cannot—must not—be ignored or softened in any way. The sad truth is you and I willfully ignore, soften, and violate these great commands daily, hourly, moment-by-moment without much, if any concern.

What Jesus is commanding is much more than ‘social’ awareness and activism—anyone, and I mean anyone, can muster that up at will. What Jesus was talking about is volitional, self-sacrificing, put others first sort of thinking and acting—in the context of my daily life and routine. That is carried out first and foremost in the context of those physically and relationally closest to me—husband, wife, daughter, son, mother, father, sister, brother, grandmother, grandfather, cousin, etc. And quite frankly, that’s where it is the most difficult—by God’s design. And, take note that this doesn’t mean we’re exempt from carrying it out in extended contexts just because we haven’t ‘mastered’ it in the family context!!! No, it is within our families where we get to practice—and repeatedly fail, confess, repent, and ‘do over’—so that we are trained and strengthened to take it to others—co-workers, fellow-students, customers, restaurant servers, strangers in the mall, ‘friends’ at church. How else will the world ‘know we are Christians by our love”, hmmmmm?

I’ve come to see that this is foundational in most every counseling situation—the fact that we love ourselves first and foremost when we are commanded to ‘love God’ first and foremost, then ‘love your neighbor’. Take note, there is no Biblical command, not even a hint, of first loving ourselves. But because of our own sinful lusts and desires we find ourselves in conflict with others when our own lusts and desires are placed ahead of our love for God, and our love for our neighbor. And, who is your neighbor? Your wife, your husband, your mother, your father, your daughter, your son . . .

Yip, life is messy, but we have a GREAT God who offers, and promises, to redeem us from our selfish and self-centered ways. And, as Xians we simply don’t have the option to avoid the ‘messiness’ of life—we are called to meet it straight-on, get right in the middle of it. First and foremost for God’s glory and honor, and secondarily for the good and blessing of others—our neighbors.

I hope to have time in the coming days and weeks to share more and invite your thoughts. But, here’s a ‘heads up’, of particular interest to me right now is developing the Biblical basis for and hindrances to us obeying Jesus’ ‘great’ and ‘foremost’ commands.

The Language of 'Professing' Believers?

Try as I may, I don't understand why professing believers in Jesus Christ attempt to "blend in" or "fit in" with the culture by adopting and using language they would never use in their own prayers to/with their professed Savior, Lord, and Father. Civil, humble, and sincere comments are welcomed.  :-)

Give Thanks ~ Nov 26

Today I am truly thankful to God that He has given us all we need for life and godliness! (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Give Thanks ~ Nov 25

I am thankful to God for the joy of time spent with family giving Him thanks for His faithful care and provision!!

Give Thanks ~ Nov 24

"I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High." ~ Psalm 7:17

Give Thanks ~ Nov 23

I am thankful to God for meeting all my needs--He knows what they really are!

Give Thanks ~ Nov 22

I am thankful to God for kind and caring neighbors.