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Dog-Gone! But Prayer Is Powerful!

Dog-Gone! But Prayer Is Powerful!

The bad news was brought to me by one of my sons.  I was working in my home office when he walked in and said, “Ah, Dad.  Sorry to bother you, but Sisko isn’t in the yard anymore.” 

My heart dropped.  Sisko is the name of the dog we were keeping for some friends and fellow church members while they were visiting family.  He had just arrived the day before for a week-long stay, and now he was gone.

The only escape point in the yard was a gate twice his height.  We’ve had dogs for years … all of them at least a foot taller than Sisko.  Some of them learned to flip up the gate latch, but none of them had leaped the gate.  Sisko cleared it within 24 hours of his arrival.

My wife and I spotted him briefly at the corner of our front yard.  We called his name, only to watch him disappear.  The family immediately mobilized and dispersed in a desperate search – some on foot, some in vehicles.  We looked for him for hours, crisscrossing our neighborhood and calling his name, but never saw him again.  We were all heart-sick.

Finally, I had no choice but to inform Sisko’s owners and request a picture of him to post physically and online.  They were traveling, and the last thing I wanted to do was ruin the first day of their vacation.  But they needed to know.

Then I put in motion an extensive prayer army.  I texted my immediate family, and I emailed our congregation, explaining the situation.  (We routinely send out prayer requests to our people.)  I asked that everyone pray for Sisko’s safety, and for his safe return.

Settling back at my desk to share Sisko’s picture with our neighborhood online group, I heard some commotion down by our street.  I hurried outside, hoping to get word on our missing dog.  And sure enough, I did! 

It turns out Sisko had been hunkered down in some tall vegetation in a yard a few houses away the entire time.  I had walked right by him on the sidewalk, calling his name, but he had stayed hunkered.  A kind neighbor lady had seen him, was concerned about him, and tried to give him some water.  When she got too close, Sisko bolted. 

That set in motion a chain of events that would be hard to believe if I hadn’t witnessed it myself.

Two young men noticed the dog running and had stopped to ask the neighbor lady about him.  That’s when I arrived.  I explained that we were watching the dog for friends, but he jumped our gate. 

Meanwhile a man driving by saw all the commotion and asked if we were missing a dog.  “Yes!” I replied.  He described the dog he had just seen.  “That’s him!” I confirmed. 

“I just saw him two blocks North of here,” we were told.  (Not good; that’s busy 48th Street!)

At that moment another man walked around the nearest block corner and asked if we were searching for a dog.  “Yes!”  He gave us Sisko’s latest coordinates.  He had reversed course and was now a block due East of us but moving to the South.  The two young men hurried after him in their car, located him and faithfully followed him at a distance for the rest of the way.

I quickly recruited my two sons to go after Sisko on foot while I jumped in my truck to attempt to head him off.  Now our runaway was running West.  We spotted him as he crossed our street a block away, the young men carefully tailing him in their vehicle.  But that meant Sisko was heading for the heavily trafficked M Street!  Please, Lord, keep him safe!  I sped down a street paralleling his path and reached M Street just in time to see Sisko dash across, a black and white blur a block over, vehicles speeding past him in both lanes.

I swung left unto M Street and then a block down I turned right.  Several blocks ahead of me was Sisko, trotting down the sidewalk, and the two young men trailing him from behind.  I sped down the street, weaving past a car backing out of their driveway, and fell in behind the young men’s car.  They pulled over to let me pass.  

I drew as close as I could to the panting dog, parked and scrambled out of the truck, but Sisko didn’t slow down, even as I called his name and offered treats.  That’s when yet another vehicle got involved.  A woman driving toward us recognized what was going on and offered to assist.  (My sons had been running the whole way and still hadn’t gotten close enough to help.)  So now there were three vehicles on the street, serving to corral Sisko to some degree on the left, houses on the right, and me on the sidewalk behind him. 

But still the dog jogged on, disregarding my frantic calls.  And then the Lord brought the final essential piece into play.  In the yard directly in front of Sisko appeared a large dog, barking vociferously.  And just like that, Sisko did a 180 and trotted back to me.  I made no quick motions; I simply let him circle me a few times before he came close to me and I curled my fingers around his collar.  “Thank you, dear Lord,” I whispered. 

My sons arrived shortly, and clipped his leash onto his collar for the walk back to our yard, where a piece of plywood had already been installed over the gate to keep our high jumping guest on the ground inside the yard.  Meanwhile, I thanked the woman who had appeared so fortuitously, and the young men who had assisted so selflessly.  I told them that they were God-sends … and they were!

Within an hour of putting out the requests for prayers on Sisko’s behalf, he was back in our yard, eagerly lapping up bowls of cool water.  Not only was he back, against all odds, but he was safe, perhaps against greater odds.  (We heard that he nearly got hit a number of times, and I witnessed myself his close calls dashing across M Street.  I am convinced that Sisko had an angel riding on his back that afternoon.)

Of course, we had been praying ever since we noticed our visiting pooch was missing.  But it is no coincidence that everything fell into place after numerous prayers on Sisko’s behalf began arriving at the Lord’s throne. 

I don’t mean to imply in a superstitious sense that once we got enough prayers going, God finally gave in.  Rather, I believe the Lord was using this situation to impress upon many people the effectiveness of prayer.  45 minutes after the prayer requests were made, a “prayer answered!” notice went out.  Remarkable!

Which emphasizes in rather dramatic fashion the power of prayer.

Jesus summarized the blessings of prayer with his famous words from the Sermon on the Mount.  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

Those are some wonderful promises from our Savior!  I always loved this even more expansive promise from the Lord regarding his people: “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

All of which goes to show how eager God is to answer our prayers.  So, God’s people, pray!  Pray for other nations and people in crisis.  Pray for our nation.  Pray for our government leaders.  Pray for our service men and women.  Pray for our churches.  Pray for our pastors and teachers.  Pray for our doctors and nurses and first responders.  Pray for healing for the hurting.  Pray for help for the desperate.  Pray for hope for the despondent.  Pray for lost dogs. 

Pray your requests, and then pray words of thanks when the Lord answers those requests.  (We certainly did!)

There are so many people to pray for and things to pray about; the focuses of our prayers are literally limitless and God’s answers always perfect … even if he happens in love and wisdom to answer “No.”  Our Lord knows what is best for us, and always responds accordingly.  (How incredibly comforting this is!)

So remember and rejoice – as demonstrated with Sisko and in so many other situations – prayer is a powerful thing!

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Always Soaring, Always Seeing

Always Soaring, Always Seeing

I saw my first wild bald eagle many years ago when we lived in the north end of Tacoma.  One day I was in our backyard when it glided over me.  The sight was thrilling then, and I still remember it clearly.  Since then I’ve seen many eagles, sometimes quite close.  A few times I’ve actually witnessed them plucking trout out of a lake with their strong talons.  (Once ironically while I was fishing and catching nothing!)

They are majestic birds; so inspiring that they were named the national bird of the United States of America. 

Yet it wasn’t that long ago that bald eagles were at risk of disappearing altogether from the contiguous states.  Just 30 years ago, bald eagles were on the US government’s list of endangered species.  However, with special protection, the birds have made a wonderful recovery.  In 1995, they were transferred from the US endangered species list to the threatened species list.  By 2007 their numbers were strong enough that they graduated even from the “threatened” designation.

The bald eagle derives its name from the white feathered heads of the mature adults.  The bodies of adult birds in the lower states are typically 2 ½ to 3 ½ feet, their wingspans usually from 6 to 7 ½ feet, and their weight from 6 ½ to almost 14 pounds.  Alaskan bald eagles of both genders are even larger!  In an interesting twist in the animal world, the females are typically 25 percent larger than the males. 

Eagles can fly as high as 15,000 feet above the earth, and as fast as 65 miles per hour.  Though their preference is to soar lazily on rising thermals, if diving for food, they can reach the astonishing speed of 200 miles per hour!

Bald eagles’ diet consists primarily of fish, therefore they reside near large bodies of water with abundant food supplies and large, tall trees nearby.  Eagles are the apex predators in the avian world.  As birds of prey, they have strong, muscular legs and powerful talons to snatch their meals, and large, heavy, hooked beaks ideally equipped for ripping the flesh off their meals. 

Normally the birds will swoop down and pluck their prey on the fly.  (A necessary thing since most of their prey resides in water!)  They will occasionally take larger animals down, but then will either feed on it at the location or take pieces back to its nest.  However, they can fly bearing a greater weight than their own.  For example, one bald eagle was documented as flying with a 15 pound mule deer fawn!

Bald eagles are also known for their huge nests, or eyries.  They are usually 5-6 feet wide and 3-4 feet deep, but their homes can be as much as 8 feet wide and 13 feet deep and weigh up to a ton.  It usually takes several months to build an eyrie, and the nests are often reused (or continually used) and built larger over time.

All of which I find fascinating.  Yet the aspect of eagles (and hawks, for that matter) which astounds me the most is their incredible vision.  Perfect vision for humans is 20/20.  An eagle’s vision is 20/4 … or five times sharper than ours.  Translated, that means that what we can see clearly at 20 feet can be seen by an eagle with the same clarity at 100 feet.  (A hawk’s vision is actually 8 times sharper than ours!)  An eagle’s eyesight allows them to spot prey from over a mile away!

Besides that, eagles are also able to see ultraviolet light, which means that even the urine of small mammals can be spotted in the ultraviolet range from extreme distances!  This, of course, is a significant advantage for the birds of prey, and an extreme disadvantage for the prey itself.

There are a number of reasons for the eagle’s exceptional vision.  An eagle’s eyes are packed with visual cells in the rods and cones of its retina.  In fact, an eye of an eagle is quite large, weighing even more than the eagle’s brain.  In addition, the positioning of the eyes on an eagle provides it with a 340-degree field of vision, (as compared to a human’s 180-degree range). 

All of which, of course, points to the wisdom and workings of the Creator.

That same Creator – the Almighty Lord who gifted eagles with incredible vision – possesses a far greater vision than any of his creations.  The Bible states that the Lord “views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens” (Job 28:24).  Furthermore, “his eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step” (Job 34:21). 

But more significantly, “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

This is incredibly important for us to recognize, and incredibly comforting when we do.  Especially as we consider all the applications of this truth.  Here are just a few:

No human can foresee the difficulties and challenges that tomorrow may bring, but the Lord does.  And he also sees the solutions!

No one can be prepared for the many uncertainties of life.  Except the Lord, that is.  There are no uncertainties for him because he sees and knows all, so he is always completely prepared.

Feeling all alone?  God has his eyes on you and is with you constantly.

Emotionally exhausted?  The Lord knows your thoughts and your needs, and will minister to you in the most loving way.

Caught up in hardships and don’t understand why?  God sees your struggles, and also understands why you need to endure them.  (Which is why he allowed them in the first place.)  And, as already pointed out, he also always sees the answers.

God’s people are often moved by love to serve God in various ways, as well as do little acts of kindness to others.  Those never go unnoticed by the Lord, and they bring him joy. Meanwhile the wicked live for themselves.  God sees that too.

No matter how devious or deceptive individuals or organizations may be in their efforts to bring hardship to God’s people or undermine God’s church, the Lord sees their plans.  Nothing will happen with their schemes unless the Lord allows it for his own good purposes.

Concerned about the many sins on your record?  Your Savior has your every single mistake identified and has paid for every single sin in full.  He hasn’t missed a one.

Like an eagle, our God is always souring over us and always seeing everything that impacts us, and he’s constantly intervening in the most loving fashion.

The psalmist beautifully summarizes God’s all-encompassing vision, and what that means to each of us.  “From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth …  But the eyes of the LORD are [especially!] on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them … [Therefore] we wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name” (Psalm 33:13-14, 18-21).

With our “vision” being limited in so many ways, it certainly is wonderful to know that our God’s sight is unlimited!

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Always a Hop Ahead

Always a Hop Ahead

Granted, there are a lot of rabbits in the Midwest.  But we saw one almost everywhere we went on our recent vacation!

I didn’t think much about it at the time because … well, there are a lot of rabbits in the Midwest.  However, as I think about it now, I see a subtle, simple message from the Lord.  Perhaps I’m making too much of this, but I find a comforting truth wrapped up in it nonetheless.

Wherever we went there were cottontails … just as wherever we went there was God. 

At my father and mother-in-law’s place – a cottontail.  At my parents’ place – a cottontail.  At my son and daughter-in-law’s place – a cottontail.  While with my other son – a cottontail.  Here a cottontail, there a cottontail, everywhere a cottontail!

And, yes, as stated earlier, there are a lot of rabbits in the Midwest.  But even so, this seemed a bit over the top.  The bunnies kept appearing, and sometimes in the most unlikely places!

I don’t know if this was a special message from the Lord.  Perhaps that’s a stretch.  But I do know that the concept is true; wherever we were and wherever we were going, God was there.  Just like the rabbits, God was always a hop ahead of us.

When planning the vacation, the Lord provided extremely reasonable plane tickets for us, and even a rental vehicle for the three-week trip, which were/are in extremely high demand.

When the entire vacation was questionable due to my wife’s and my unfortunate injuries prior to the trip, the Lord made a way for us to go, and sustained us both throughout our travels. 

When I nearly didn’t make it to our gate at SeaTac because of my weak legs, the Lord supported me down the final stretch.  And then he graciously provided a wheelchair when we arrived in huge O’Hare Airport in Chicago.

When my sister and her family had to suddenly find a new home just before we arrived, and our son and his family had to do the same, (both situations putting our time together at risk), the Lord guided both families to new homes in a remarkable and timely fashion.

When other sisters were traveling great distances to be with us, at fairly significant inconvenience to themselves and their families, the Lord blessed their travels and made it happen.

When a day for both sets of great-grandparents to travel to see their great-grandchildren was set, the Lord blessed us with lovely weather.  The next day wasn’t nearly as pleasant.

When the semi driver didn’t see us and pulled his rig over, threatening to side-swipe us, the Lord was there, keeping us from a serious accident.  (As he was with all the other near incidents during our many miles of driving.) 

When I aggravated an injury to the point of being questionable to preach the next morning, the Lord was there with miraculous healing.  (Truly, it was a miracle!)

When a nasty bug swept through some of the family while we were all together, the Lord sustained us and brought everyone through it in a few days. 

When we had limited time to visit friends on our last Saturday away, the Lord positioned my former associate pastor’s home and my former Seminary roommate’s home literally blocks away in the same town, making our day extremely efficient and convenient.  (We had no idea this was the case when we made arrangements to visit them.)

When we hadn’t seen some family members for many years, the Lord streamlined the details to enable us to see both sets of parents, all of our siblings and many of their spouses, a number of our nephews and nieces, and even some cousins!  Furthermore, the Lord enabled us to have all of our immediate family together, including our three grandsons, for a number of days.  What a blessing!

This list could go on and on.  The point is, almost everywhere we went we saw another bunny, and we witnessed God’s loving protection and provision.  Remarkable!  The Lord was always a hop or two ahead of us.  As he always is!

In Isaiah, the Lord promised his captive people that he would deliver them and go before them. “… The LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 52:12).  What a blessed assurance this promise must have been to the believing Jews in light of all the uncertainty before them.

David was inspired to write about this same concept with these beautiful words about the Lord: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:7-10).

God is always with us.  That doesn’t mean that everything will go smoothly or as we desire, but it does mean that we will never have to go through anything alone.  What a wonderfully comforting truth!

So the next time you see a rabbit, I hope it reminds you (and comforts you!) that the Lord is always a hop ahead of you!

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The Terrifying Door to Peace

The Terrifying Door to Peace

It was a small room that mirrored a cavern of hell itself.  The walls dark and bleak; the lighting a muted gray; the air heavy with a tint of sulfur – cloying in the nostrils and congesting the lungs.

The only visible light spilled in from the doorway on the far wall.  It was a doorway to … clouds, and seemingly a long and terrifying fall.  The room was situated at an extreme height, and the door was the only entrance and egress.  Edging closer to the opening provided a stunning view of slowly shifting clouds, below and above.  The sense of the depth outside the doorway was palpable.

Hope avoided moving too close to the door.  The distance down was dizzying.  Approaching it caused her breath to catch and her stomach to churn.

But staying away from the opening wasn’t necessarily easy either.  Inside that horrid room lived some of the most vile creatures.  Niggling worries crawled out of the cracks in the floor and onto Hope incessantly, like tiny spiders.  Doubts skittered around the room on four legs, whipping their long, leathery tails, squeaking their disdain and biting when able.  Concerns slithered about, and took every opportunity to wrap themselves around Hope in a cold-blooded embrace, squeezing all pleasure from her.  Anxieties flapped around the room on bare black wings, swooping close repeatedly.

Relaxation didn’t exist; rest was never experienced.  Peace was impossible and having hope unimaginable in that anxious room.

Except for the door.  The terrifying, but bright and inviting door.

The fascinating door.  The door of intrigue.

The door bordered on all four sides with messages.  In softly glowing letters over the door were the words, “Let go and let God.” 

On the left could be seen, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, and he will make your paths straight. (God, your Father)” 

On the right, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Learn from me, and you will find rest for your souls. (Jesus, your Brother)” 

And on the wall immediately below the door (the opening was raised off the floor) was written, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (God, your Holy Spirit)”

Hope was mesmerized by the messages.  They were everything Hope so desperately desired; everything she so desperately needed!  And they were everything that was non-existent in that room of gloom, that place full of fear. 

Hope contemplated the words repeatedly.  They filled her thoughts as she fought off the niggling worries, the skittering doubts, the slithering concerns, and the flapping anxieties so abundant in that dark place.  Clearly the messages were tied to the door – the glorious door that provided the light, and the terrifying door that emptied into the heights.

She could arrive at no other conclusion then that the promises offered in the words around the door could only be obtained by walking through the door.  But to do so was not only illogical, it seemed to be madness and self-destruction!

But then why were those words there?  And who had put them there?  Were they written by the horrible creatures in that room of anxiousness?  But that didn’t make sense either.  If she went through the door and plunged to her death, they couldn’t reach her anymore.  It seemed clear that they wanted continued access to her to torment her to the fullest.

Hope’s suffering in that room of anxiousness continued unrelentingly.  So it would be accurate to say that her despair caused her to consider crossing through the opening more and more seriously. 

But the greater factor was the assurance that the messages offered.  The words gave her hope, there was no other way to state it.  They lifted her heart and brightened her eyes whenever she thought of them.  Hope already flickered within her, fostered by the encouraging words, but she wanted to experience it to a much greater degree.

Finally the day came when a large concern managed to wrap itself around Hope’s neck and began contracting its grip, making it difficult for her to breath.  As Hope writhed on the floor, doubts attacked her, biting her incessantly and worries crawled all over her body.  This was the worst attack yet.

“I must have peace!” she thought desperately.  She took her hands off the snake encircling her throat, pushed herself to her feet and dashed toward the light.  Hope covered the distance in seconds and dove through the terrifying door, trusting the messages around it.

She cartwheeled through the air, her legs swinging over her head … and instead of plummeting downward, she floated!  She had landed on her back in the clouds, her perch firm yet comfortable.  It made no sense, yet the results were undeniable!  The tormenting anxiousness of the dark room were gone!  Joy and peace surrounded her!

God the Holy Spirit was upholding Hope with his righteous right hand.  Jesus, God the Son, was supplying rest to her soul and her mind.  And God the Father was giving her understanding and settling her on a better, much more pleasant path … a path in the clouds, no less!

No worries crawled over her.  No doubts skittered around her.  No concerns slithered about.  No anxieties flapped nearby. 

Hope had found hope!  In faith, she had cast her cares into the care of God.  She had learned to trust in the Lord, and trust in the Lord had provided her with peace. 

How wonderful it is to float on the promises and provision of God!

——————————-

This allegory is oversimplified, of course.  However, I found it … and am still finding it … extremely beneficial to me.  (As worries have beset me in recent days, I have been picturing myself diving through the terrifying door.  This has actually proved to be quite comforting!)  I pray that you might also benefit from the picture.

Regarding the messages around the door, the “Let go and let God” is not a quote from the Bible, though the concept is certainly found throughout the Scriptures.  The other words are indeed Bible passages (Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 11:28-29, and Isaiah 41:10).

Another fitting passage for this topic would be 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on [the Lord] because he cares for you.”

Sadly, some never cross through the terrifying door; they choose instead to suffer in the dark and anxious room.  May God make us wiser and move us in trust to dive through the door into his loving care!

How to Interact on This Blog

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Who Gives It?

Who Gives It?

There’s nothing quite like being nearly completely incapacitated for two weeks to provide the opportunity for some introspection, which in turn delivers some special insights to a person.

For someone who has been able to remain almost completely independent for well over fifty years, to suddenly become almost completely dependent is jarring. I couldn’t go where I wanted to go or do what I wanted to do.  I couldn’t cook a meal or even hit the fridge for leftovers.  (Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing!  But still …)  Initially I couldn’t climb into or out of bed without assistance.  Couldn’t even put my own socks on.  (I couldn’t reach my feet!)  Walking without support (like a walker) was out of the question.  Stairs were an uncrossable barrier.  I was essentially a prisoner in my own bedroom. 

When one finds themselves in such a position, it quickly becomes evident just how very dependent upon the goodness, kindness and care of other people one is.  And I am so grateful for all who assisted me during that time!

But then there’s the bigger picture.  When independence is gone, it becomes crystal clear upon whom we are ultimately dependent, (the Lord!), and how completely dependent upon him we are.

It’s my point of view that most of us will verbally acknowledge that everything we are, have and accomplish are because of God’s blessing.  But we don’t really … I mean, really … appreciate that truth until we experience some deprival.  When we are incapacitated, when extreme hardship infects our lives, when crucial situations hang in the balance, when the realization sinks in that we actually have no control over anything, then our utter dependence upon God is highlighted in dramatic fashion.

And it shouldn’t be this way.  We should fully recognize the principle that we are completely reliant upon the Lord. The Bible emphasizes this fact throughout its pages, from God’s creation in Genesis through Christ’s redemption in the Gospels to our heavenly home in Revelation. 

We need God.  We don’t just kinda need him.  We don’t just need him a little bit, sometimes. We need him for everything all the time.  It is only because of our gracious God that we even exist and have anything good at all, much less the abundant blessings we enjoy every single day.

Who gives every good blessing, both the obvious and the oft overlooked? The Lord asks this very question in dramatic fashion throughout Scripture.  And he provides the clear-cut answer. 

Who gives us life itself, along with our wonderful bodies, our many talents, and our souls (Ps. 139:13-15)?  Who gives us our senses (Ex. 4:11), wisdom (Jms. 1:5), power, strength, wealth (Dt. 8:17-18), endurance and encouragement (Rom. 15:5)?  What about the rains, plants, seasons and harvests (Zech. 10:1, Jer. 5:24)?  Who gives us food to eat? (Ps. 136:25)?  Who gives us provision, protection (Ps. 23), prosperity, safety, future and hope (Jer. 29:11)?

Who gives us the Holy Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16)?  Who gives us his own Son and salvation through Him (John 3:16, Rom. 8:32)?  Who gives us the Holy Spirit (1 Th. 4:8), spiritual life (Rom. 4:17), faith (Eph. 2:8-9), and forgiveness (Eph. 1:7)?   Who gives “the peace of God which transcends all understanding” (Php. 4:7)?

Who gives it?  Who gives us all these things in bountiful mercy, grace and love?  Who is it that blesses us even in great difficulties?  Who infuses every single aspect of our lives with loving gifts?  Who pours extreme abundance into our already abundant lives, even though we scarcely give those treasures, or the God who provides them, a second thought? 

The One who gives it all is our God!  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights …” (James 1:17).

Who gives it all?  The answer is obvious, though obviously often overlooked.  But may we bear it in mind, take it to heart and hold it fast; our God gives us everything we have.  And everything we have is quite a lot!  “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.  To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever.  Amen” (Philippians 4:19-20).

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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What Am I Doing, Lord?

What Am I Doing, Lord?

You’ve been there.  Somehow you find yourself in a situation where you literally don’t know what to do or what’s going to happen next.  Generally these times are fraught with uncertainty, anxiety, and abundant and heartfelt prayer.

In our church body, every new pastor and teacher experiences just such a time.  Of course, they experience many times of great uncertainty during the course of their ministries.  But they also experience such a time before they even begin their ministry. 

It’s referred to as “Call Day,” and the uncertainty of that day is acute.  There are actually separate Call Days for teacher and pastor candidates, but both events work essentially the same.  On their respective Call Days, future servants of the church enter a worship service with no idea where in the world (literally!) they will be starting their ministries.  During the course of the service, however, they find out.

I’m not aware of anything quite like it.  Perhaps the closest example would be the NFL draft.  The top prospects know exactly where and when the draft will happen, but most have absolutely no clue which team will select them.  Their immediate and potentially long-term future depends on the announcements that are made from the podium, and until they are drafted, they are awash in uncertainty.

Just as great research is carried out by teams before an NFL player is drafted, so a lot of prayer, consideration and discussion occurs among church-body leaders before a teacher or pastor candidate is slotted for a school or church.  What talents does the church or school need?  What gifts do the candidates have?  Are there any extenuating circumstances? 

I’m over-simplifying the process, of course.  But the end result is that every future pastor and teacher is assigned to a church or school.  However, those future workers don’t know where that assignment is … until it is announced in the Call Day worship service.

They, and their spouses and children, and their parents and extended families, enter the worship area on that momentous day completely unaware of what the next hour holds for them.  “What am I doing, Lord?” is prominent on their minds as they squirm in their seats and attempt to concentrate on worshiping the Lord. 

Is there uncertainty?  Definitely!

Anxiety?  Undoubtedly!

Abundant and heartfelt prayer?  Yes, in abundance!

But also excitement and eagerness.  It has been a long, challenging road to that day, that service, and that announcement!  And these are men and women of God who are dedicating their lives to serving God and God’s people.  They have absolute confidence that the Lord is going to work through the process to settle them into the exact church or school where He wants them to be.

I have experienced Call Days on many levels.  I sat through the service that relocated my wife, my oldest son and myself from the State of Michigan to the State of Washington.  Many years later I listened intently at Call Days for my two oldest sons.  Ironically, their calls moved one son from Washington to Wisconsin and another son to Michigan.  And I was at the service where my new associate pastor was announced, which moved him from Wisconsin to Washington.  And just a few days ago I viewed online as my nephew received his pastor call to Wisconsin.  His move will be shorter, from Michigan to Wisconsin.

The uncertainty, anxiety, excitement, and abundant and heartfelt prayers are always present leading into those services.  But afterwards, there is awe; awe at what God has done, is doing, and will do.  Finally, it could all be summarized in the word “trust.”  The future pastors and teachers of God’s Church trust that the Lord of the Church will insert them in the right place at the right time.  Which results in the sincere prayer lifted to the Lord afterwards, “OK.  Now I know what I am doing, Lord.”

There’s nothing else quite like a Call Day in our church body.  The uncertainty going in; the answer coming out.

As I reflected on this entire process this week, it occurred to me that every single one of us has our own “Call Days,” whether we are pastors, teachers, or anyone.  We all have those days where we haven’t a clue about what we should be doing.  We’re on a path and we’re uncertain it is the correct path; we can’t see the destination.  We’re at a crossroad in life and we wonder which way to go.  Or we can’t begin to discern the answer and we wish we were so fortunate as to have a few obvious choices.

“What am I doing, Lord?”

And just as the future pastors, teachers and families do on Call Days, we have but one course of action.  We pray, and then we trust.  The Lord of the Church is also the Lord of our life.  He always knows what he is doing.  He always has the answers.  He never makes mistakes.  He loves us beyond our comprehension and will show us, nudge us, guide us, or even carry us to where he wants us to go.  Sooner or later, our Good Shepherd will make our path clear and settle us into green pastures.  Then in a quiet moment he whispers to us, “This is what you are doing, dear one.”

The Lord’s words to Joshua as he took over the leadership of Israel from Moses must have been extremely comforting to Joshua.  They are also wonderful and comforting words when we wonder what to do.  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

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Floating Down the River of Life … with No Paddles!

Floating Down the River of Life … with No Paddles!

Do you remember Mark Twain’s story of Huckleberry Finn?  In the book, Tom Sawyer’s friend, Huck Finn, sets out with his friend, Jim, on a raft down the Mississippi River. 

Now to me as a boy who loved outdoor adventure, that was exciting stuff!  Riding down a huge river on a raft.  Fishing off the side. Observing the other travelers on the water. Experiencing all kinds of adventures along the way with nothing to worry about but the moment.  That would be fine living!

Well, to create a metaphor from Twain’s story, every one of us happens to be floating on a raft in the middle of a huge river.  In fact, everyone who lives in the world is rafting down that same waterway.  The river’s name is the “River of Life.” 

And not a single one of us has oars! 

But everyone does have a helmsman; that is, someone who is steering their raft.  There are only two options for helmsmen; either a person’s personal raft is being directed by Jesus … or by Satan.

Sadly, the majority of rafts on the river are under Satan’s guidance.  Satan is steering, and his goal is to maintain control of all of those rafts until river’s end.  He skillfully maneuvers those skiffs into currents on the River of Life that benefit his cause and better enable him to continue to control the inhabitant of that raft.

What are those nasty currents?

The first is the current of disregard.  Rafts on this current carry their riders down the river in a state of inadvertent, and sometimes deliberate, oblivion of God’s Word and therefore of God himself.  Where there is disregard for God’s Word and God, there the evil helmsman’s control is easily maintained.

Another nasty side-stream Helmsman Satan delights to drift on is the current of disobedience.  This is an attractive one for floaters because every human-being has a sinful nature, and so is naturally inclined to disobey God’s laws.  And the more Satan can keep peoples’ rafts on the current of disobedience, the longer he can keep distance between them and God, the simpler it is to keep them distracted by the allure of sin, and the easier it is to bring about complete despair of God’s love and forgiveness.

Yet another preferred current by the devil is the current of difficulties.  This current flows naturally from the current of disobedience because whenever someone is floating outside of the streams God suggests for people’s own good, then difficulties are sure to follow.  But difficulties don’t only arise from disobedience; they are part and parcel of life in a sinful and broken world. 

Regardless of how it got there, when someone’s raft is flowing down the River of Life in the current of difficulties, Satan can better create spiritual complications.  He can cause distraction from the things of God as people become absorbed in solving their problems.  He can foster discouragement, sometimes even to the point of despair.  He can ramp up stress, which then leads to even more difficulties.

Then there’s the worst current of all, the current of death.  It’s the current on the River of Life that Satan loves the best.  For many on this river, the current of death is a horrifying thing.  They view death as the end of life.  And the end of pleasure, possessions, prestige, and all that they know.  Consequently, death is something to live in terror of, to avoid at all costs, and to refuse to face.  Yet they all know deep down that death is inevitable.  Helmsman Satan can bring about a whole lot of issues while scooting down the current of death.

Of course, all of these unpleasant currents are intertwined to a great degree.  Which suits Satan well.

Truth be told, every single raft is under the devil’s control at one time.  Ours was too!  But then somewhere along the way God intervened.  The Gospel of our Savior drifted across the waters, wafted into our ears or eyes, and seeped into our hearts.  The Holy Spirit lit the light of faith within us.  At that instant, Satan was thrown over-board and a new helmsman named Jesus took over our raft. 

Jesus steers us onto different currents; currents named faith, awe and honor, obedience, opportunities, blessings and life.

Yes, we still find ourselves in bad currents sometimes.  Unfortunately, our sinful natures still ride along on our rafts.  We won’t be rid of our inborn sin until we arrive in heaven.  Consequently, we still reach over the side of our rafts and doggy-paddle ourselves into currents where Jesus doesn’t want us to go sometimes – dangerous and destructive currents such as disobedience.  Jesus doesn’t steer us there; we pull ourselves there.

But then the Gospel rings out again over the waters, and Jesus, our helmsman, reminds of his love and his death.  He reminds us of the forgiveness he secured for us.  And when we remember all that Jesus endured for us and accomplished for us, he steers us once again onto a more pleasant slipstream.  Our faith is revived and our eagerness to obey him is renewed.

Of course, the current of difficulties is unavoidable as we float down the River of Life.  We encounter sandbars, fallen trees, and dangerous rapids in the river.  Our rafts get rocked by hardships and assaulted by waves.  As we see the obstacles around our little raft on the River of Life, we are constantly tempted to despair of our safety.

But here’s the key!  When we find our raft on the rapids, heading toward rocks in the River of Life, we must not focus on the rapids and the rocks!  Rather, we turn our eyes to our helmsman, to the one who is steering your raft.  We lift our eyes to Jesus; we look to our Heavenly Helmsman.

Helmsman Jesus has a perfect record.  His rafts have never been swamped.  His boats on the River of Life have never been capsized.  He always leads his people through the rapids to the still and quiet waters.  Our rafts are in good hands

Yes, the currents of the River of Life will eventually carry us to physical death.  But because of Jesus, the River of Life which is carrying our bodies day-by-day closer to death is also carrying our souls day-by-day closer to eternal life in heaven.

Wow!  Now that’s something to celebrate!

Sadly, unbelievers live terrified of death because Satan is their helmsman.  But our helmsman is Jesus, so we recognize that physical death is just the beginning of eternal life.  We recognize that death is not the ultimate defeat, but the ultimate victory.  Because when we die, we die with Jesus as our helmsman, and he will lead us Home.

Which reminds me of another metaphor, a biblical one.  The picture is different, but the message is the same.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23).

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May the Source Be with You

May the Source Be with You

I happen to be one of the few adult citizens of the United States who has never watched a Star Wars movie.  Yes, I realize this is nearly unthinkable to many.  Some would even say inexcusable.  But the storyline never held much appeal to me.  My children, on the other hand, are all huge fans.  Even my wife has seen most or all of the movies.

Star Wars, of course, is the creation of George Lucas.  The first movie was released in 1977, and it became an instant hit and worldwide phenomenon.  Many more films have followed, as well as multiple Star Wars’ offshoots, including even theme park attractions.  Star Wars has generated billions upon billions of dollars.

Part of the premise of the stories revolves around a mystical power referred to as “the Force.”  The Force was described in one of the movies as “an energy field created by all living things [that] binds the galaxy together,” and it can be used for good or evil. Those few individuals who find themselves with strong abilities in the Force are able to do remarkable things.  Some of these folks utilize the Force for good; others for evil.  Both sides vie for the ultimate control, which sets the stage for a number of Force-filled battles.

In the movies, the phrase “may the Force be with you” is invoked as a blessing to protect or guide another.  Consequently, May Fourth (“May the Force” – get it?) has come to be known as Star Wars day.  And in case you didn’t notice earlier this week, there were Star Wars’ references everywhere on that day!

Of course, the theology and the science behind the concept of the Force leaves much to be desired.  So as Star Wars references abounded on “Star Wars Day,” I wondered if there might be a better, more theologically accurate, motto.  And it came to me immediately: “May the Source be with you!”

What do I mean by that?  Simply this: the Source of every good thing is the God of the Bible, and when that Source is with us, we have everything we need – rich blessings and sufficient solutions.

James summarizes this truth beautifully.  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights …” (James 1:17).  In other words, the Source (the Lord!) provides for our every need. 

Consider what “the Source” tells us in his ultimate source of truth, the Bible:

Afraid?  “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).

Anxious?  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Bereaved?  “Jesus said…, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die’” (John 11:25-26)

Bound in the chains of addiction?  “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Depressed?  “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Discouraged?  “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5).

Feeling Unloved?  “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

Guilt-ridden?  “In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Lonely?  … God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

Needing Guidance?  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8).

Tempted?  “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Threatened?  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. … The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:1&11).

Troubled?  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles …” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Weary?  ‘“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’” (Matthew 11:28-30).

All of which underscores the accuracy of our motto, “May the Source be with you!”  But an even better, more accurate motto would be, “The Source IS with you!”  In the Lord, the Source of every blessing, our every need for now and forever truly is provided.

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A Conversation with Jesus about COVID

A Conversation with Jesus about COVID

Everybody has thoughts on the current pandemic.  The internet and news outlets are abuzz with information.  Comments from scientists, doctors, politicians, and others abound.  Everyone has their own “spin” on things.  So whom does one believe?

In light of this, it seemed beneficial to consult with the Son of God.  What does the Lord have to say on the complications of COVID?  I recently spent some time with Jesus to get his perspective.  It turns out that he has a great deal of insights on the matter.  One wonders why people haven’t consulted with him more.  His comments were brief and often blunt, but it was clear they were all spoken in love.

Without further ado, here is my “Question and Answer” session with our Almighty Savior:

Q) Thank you, Jesus, for your time and your willingness to answer my questions. I’m grateful, and I will share your answers with as many as I can.  Here’s my first question: Why?  Why did you allow this pandemic to occur?

Jesus)  “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working. (Jn 5:17)  People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. (Lk 13:29)  I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33)

Q) Lord, this pandemic thing and all its related issues are pretty big. Some might wonder whether you are you really able to handle it all.  Can you?  Does anything ever slip past you? 

Jesus)  “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Mt 19:26)  All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  (Mt 28:18)  The Scriptures testify about me. (Jn 5:39)  Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Mt 28:20)

Q) So many people have been … and still are … living in fear. Some are afraid of the virus and what might happen if they or someone they love contracted it.  Others are anxious about work, bills and finances.  Some about the virus’ impact to society.  Still others about our government’s role in all of this.  What do you have to say to those struggling with fear?

Jesus)  “You of little faith, why are you so afraid? (Mt 8:26)  Take courage!  Don’t be afraid. (Mk 6:50)  I tell you, do not worry about your life.  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  So do not worry.  Your heavenly Father knows [what] you need.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow. (Mt 6:selected)  Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mk 5:36)

Q) Do you have any specific suggestions for anxious, uncertain and fearful Christians to do or remember?

Jesus)  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30)

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Mt 7:7-8)  Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Mt 6:8)

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (Jn 3:16-17)

“Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Lk 10:20)  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (Jn 14:2-3)  Look, I am coming soon!  My reward is with me.” (Rev 22:12)

Q) I think I know how you will answer this question, but how important is God’s Word for us in the midst of this pandemic?

Jesus)  “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. (Lk 10:41-42)  Scripture cannot be set aside! (Jn 10:35)  The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. (Jn 6:63)  If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (Jn 8:31-32)  Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Lk 11:28)

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mt 6:19-21)  What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Mt 16:26)

Q) What do you see our role to be as Christians in this pandemic world?

Jesus)  “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me.  Night is coming, when no one can work. (Jn 9:4)  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. (Jn 15:16)

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Mt 28:19-20)  Go to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you. (Mk 5:19)  The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Lk 10:2)

“You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world.  Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Mt 5:selected)

Q) A related question: what should be our attitude toward others in these difficult times?

Jesus)  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these. (Mk 12:30-31)  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 13:34-35)

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:43-45)  Truly I tell you, whatever you [do] for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you [do] for me.” (Mt 25:40)

Q) Are there any illustrations you can give us in regard to your relationship to us? Any pictures that will provide us with comfort as we struggle through COVID frustrations?

(Jesus)  “Do not be afraid.  I am the First and the Last. (Rev 1:17)  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, (Rev 22:13) …who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8)

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (Jn 10:14-15)

“I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12)

“I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6)

“I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (Jn 6:35)

“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5)

“I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (Jn 11:25-26)

Q) As we wrap us this interview, do you have any closing comments?

Jesus)  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn 14:27)

“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. (Rev 2:10)  I am coming soon.  Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Rev 3:11)

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Mt 24:35)  Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Mt 13:43)

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Everything for Good?

Everything for Good?

I rented the cottage because I was hoping we would catch some fish. 

The house was ideally located lakeside with a large dock and a lovely view.  The lake had newly stocked rainbow trout, and resident bluegills, perch, bass and catfish.  With four of us fishing with two hooks per line for several days, a fish dinner (or two!) seemed a certainty.

Our first hint of misfortune was the weather report.  The one day we were on site for the full day was the only day of the week that rain was forecast.  Bummer!  But sometimes fish bite better in the rain, so we packed rain jackets and were willing to endure the dampness for lots of action.

We didn’t even get a nibble!  Not in the sunshine; not in the showers.  

We tried everything – tight-line bottom fishing, bobbers on the surface, a slip bobber to test different depths, and even casting spinners.  We offered night crawlers and Power Bait.  Nothing worked.  It was so dreadful my youngest son declared with absolute conviction that there were no fish in the lake.

Major bummer!  All that eager expectation and effort, with nothing to show for it in the end.

It occurred to me after being “skunked” on the lake, and as I listened to the raindrops tap-tapping the skylights inside the cottage, that we were being blessed.  No, we wouldn’t be enjoying any fresh fish dinners.  But our family had quiet time together.  We enjoyed the fireplaces.  We read at the lakeview windows, lifting our eyes frequently to enjoy a sight we normally didn’t see.  We watched the Mariners game.  We talked.  We napped.  We played games.  In short, we slipped into exquisite relaxation – something we all desperately needed, and something we wouldn’t have experienced reeling in fish on the dock.  (Though that certainly would have been fun!)

Somewhere along the way I realized that it was just another example of the Lord working everything for good.  You know the passage; it’s often quoted: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him …” (Romans 8:28).

Maybe you struggle sometimes to embrace that truth.  It’s difficult to rejoice when long-awaited vacation plans don’t play out as hoped, or have to be altered or cancelled.  (Really when any anticipated plans fall through!) It’s frustrating when one’s hard work to make things better seems to result instead in making things worse.  It’s stressful when the car breaks down or the house needs attention.  It’s troubling when one’s physical or financial health takes a significant hit.  It’s agonizing when a loved one dies. 

Whenever our expectations aren’t met or the unexpected occurs, it’s challenging to see how the Lord is working “all things for good.”  Yet that’s his promise, and the Lord cannot break his word.

I believe the greatest hurdle to our accepting that the Lord is blessing us through everything is that we don’t see the complete picture.  We don’t recognize the nasty turn something would have taken if things went the way we wanted instead of the way God directed.  We don’t realize the sometimes horrific results that would have resulted if the Lord hadn’t graciously altered events.  We don’t comprehend all the significant and wonderful ramifications of God’s good plans.  We rarely fathom the really big issues from which the Lord spares us, and we certainly don’t see the subtle nuances brought about by his loving, guiding hand.

Although sometimes God gives us a glimpse.  Like while relaxing in a cabin and watching the rain pelt the lake where the fish aren’t biting. 

Yes, the Lord truly does work everything for good.  In the little things and the big things.  In all things!

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