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Numbers of Blessings!

Numbers of Blessings!

With apologies, this is one of the longest posts I’ve ever shared.  I did not intend or expect it would morph into something so extensive, but then I underestimated what I would learn as I researched the topic of Biblical numerology.  That being said, I pray you still read it, and I pray that it will expand your appreciation of our great God. 

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By God’s good grace, I’ve reached 100!

No, that’s not my age.  (Though, depending on the day or the activity, it might be how old I feel.) Nor is it (or ever was it!) my batting average.  I always managed to hit better than that.

What it does define, however, is the number of posts I’ve shared on this website since I began this endeavor in April of 2020.  This post is actually number 100.  I never would have dreamed I’d reach this number.  But by God’s good grace, here we are.

Sincere thanks to all who have subscribed to the blog since I began, and to all who have taken the time to read my meandering words at one time or another.  As always, I pray something I shared at some point was a blessing and encouragement to you.

100 seems to be a fairly significant milestone.  And we do like to utilize numbers to mark milestones, don’t we?  Whether birthdays, anniversaries, work, school, or personal accomplishments, we tend to mark them with numbers.  The numbers themselves may be different, and the noun after the numbers may change as well (days, months, years, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.).  But we use the numbers to designate significance.

Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise us that the Lord makes frequent use of numbers in his Scriptures.  He recognizes our fondness for digits, so he uses them to emphasize important truths.  But unless the reader recognizes the significance, he or she might miss some of the meaning the Lord is trying to impress upon us. 

Thanks be to God, the Bible is typically simple and clear; the simplest of minds can read the Gospel and find salvation.  However, there are definitely more nuances to God’s words than many realize!  And various numbers clearly carry additional meaning.

Now some individuals carry this concept of “Biblical numerology” to extraordinary (and in my opinion, inappropriate) lengths.  I found one list of examples that tied meaning to every number from 1-50, with multiple additional designations after 50!  I’m not comfortable with making that many connections.  Yet there are some numbers which definitely are more than “just another number.”

Not only are these numbers repeated over and over again in the Scriptures (both Old and New Testaments), but they are often used in conjunction with one another (sometimes by adding them together, sometimes by multiplying them).  You’ll notice this in the list below.

Let’s look at some of those “numbers of blessings:”  (Please note that the examples given for each sample are hardly exhaustive!)

1 = God, Unity

Though there are many “gods,” there is only 1 true God and Lord (Deut. 6:4).  1 Creator; 1 Redeemer; 1 Sanctifier!  And incidentally, Commandment number 1 demands we honor the 1 true God.

2 = Partnership

The concept of partnership probably seems intuitive to us; it seems natural.  And it is, because God created partnership way back at Creation, and has reemphasized it repeatedly through his Scriptures.  Of course, partnership began with the creation of male and female animals, and was capped off with the special bond the Lord created between Adam and Eve, the “crowns of his creation” formed in “God’s image” (Gen. 1:27).

Partnership in pairs is repeated through the Bible.  Some examples would be the animals entering Noah’s ark (Gen. 7:8-9), cooperating partners (Ecc. 4:9), and Jesus sending out 72 disciples in teams of 2 (Luke 10:1).  But marriage between a man and a woman remains a key example in the Word, as summarized in Ephesians 5:31: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

But the best partnership of all has to be the Lord joining with his believers!  As Jesus himself described, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.  My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23).

3 = God, Completeness

The obvious tie with the number 3 is the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19).  John’s vision of heaven was dramatic, and dramatically underscores the worship of the Triune God there and his “completeness”: “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings.  Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come’” (Rev. 4:8).

We see this number appear repeatedly in the Bible, some of the most well-known being Jonah’s 3 days in the belly of a fish, and Jesus rising from the dead on Day 3.  Lesser known but significant is the fact that there are 30 (3 x 10) references in Revelation to “the Lamb,” our Savior who has arisen, ascended and reigns in heaven, having completed our salvation!  (Pastor Wayne Mueller, “Revelation” commentary, NPH, p.5).

4 = Creation, Humans

Since this number pervades life in this world (4 cardinal directions, 4 seasons, etc.), it is used in the Scriptures (especially Revelation) to denote the creation of God.  We heard it used with the 4 living creatures in Rev. 4:8; it pops up again in Rev. 7:1 where 4 angels, 4 corners of the earth, and 4 winds of the earth are mentioned. 

Most importantly of all, it denotes the humans that God has created and saved.  Consider Revelation 7:9, where the description of the believers in heaven was supplied: “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.  They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”

6 = Imperfection: Satan, Humans, and Evil

As we’ll discuss in a moment, the number 7 is the symbol of perfection and God’s grace shown to the world.  Obviously, 6 falls short of 7; thereby picturing the imperfect.  One of the most famous numbers of all in Scripture happens to be 666, which is “the number of the beast” – Satan and/or the Anti-Christ (Rev. 13:18).

7 = Perfection: God’s Gracious Intervention

The fascinating part of this number is that it comprises the sum of two other previously discussed digits: 3 (God) + 4 (humans).  7 is one of the most commonly referenced number in all of Scripture; it appears over and over again in the pages of the Bible. 

Some obvious examples are the 7 days of creation, with God ceasing his work on the 7th day and setting that day apart as a day of physical and spiritual for rest for humans, as well as the 7 days of the week we still operate under.  7 pops up again at the time of the Flood, both in the number of the “clean” animals Noah was to bring on the ark, as well as the number of days the ark’s inhabitants were on board before the flood waters came.  In addition, the Lord instructed the Israelites to march around Jericho for 7 days, and then 7 times on the 7th day … led by 7 priests carrying 7 trumpets.  When they had done so, “the walls came tumblin’ down!” (Joshua 6).

7 played a huge part in the Old Testament worship life of God’s people, appearing repeatedly.  A few quick examples would be the weekly Sabbath Day (on the 7th day), the process of the Sin Offering (Lev. 4:6), as well as the timing of the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:6-8) and the Festival of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:33-42).  The great Day of Atonement (a huge day!) was celebrated each year on the 10th day of the 7th month (Num. 29:7) – the number of completion combined with the number of God’s gracious intervention.

One may also remember Jesus’ answer to Peter when asked how many times one should forgive another.  “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Mt. 18:21-22), calling to mind God’s unending forgiveness to us as pictured in the parable Jesus shared immediately after these words.  (See also Micah 7:18).

Again, the Holy Spirit emphasizes this number in Revelation.  The book refers to 7 spirits, 7 lampstands, 7 stars, 7 churches, 7 bowls, 7 scrolls with 7 seals, and 7 trumpets, as well as sharing the 7-fold praises to God of the inhabitants of heaven.  (Mueller, p.5).  God emphasizes his gracious intervention for sinful humans, and thanks be to God that he does!

10 = Totality, Completion

Certainly the number 10 appears often in God’s Word.  The obvious 10 that comes to mind is the total list of the Commandments.  But the number is significant throughout the Bible.  For example, the words “God said” are recorded 10 times in connection with his creative process (Gen. 1-2).

Like 7, 10 is another number used extensively in connection with the worship life of God’s Old Testament people.  Where it especially appears is in God’s instructions for the furnishings of the Tabernacle (Ex. 26-27), and again in the construction of Solomon’s temple (1 Kgs. 6-7).

The most frequent use of 10, however, is when it is used as a multiple of something.  We see this repeatedly in Scripture.  The product of 10 multiplied by another number emphasizes the fullness of whatever that item may be. 

One of the most common biblical examples of this is when 10 is used to the third power (10 x 10 x 10), which denotes the highest completeness.  Such as in Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations (10 x 10 x 10) of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Revelation 5:11 takes it a step further: “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.”  That would be 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 times 10 x 10 x 10 x 10.  (For those choosing to forego the math, that totals 100 million angels!)

12 = Result of God’s Work among His People

The product of 3 (God) times 4 (Humans) is 12.  It’s a number repeatedly appearing in the historical account of God’s people.  There were 12 Old Testament tribes and 12 Apostles of Jesus.  The number also played a significant role in the dedication of the Tabernacle (Num. 7:84-87).  Even in our secular existence, the number appears in the months of the year – reminding us of God’s planning and provision.

We run into 12 again in Revelation.  The Tree of Life in the heavenly City produces 12 crops of fruit, one for every month (Rev. 22:1-2).  And 12 holds a crucial place in the Holy City.  The “New Jerusalem” measured 12,000 stadia (12 x 10 x 10 x 10) long and wide, with 12 foundations, boasting walls 144 cubits (12 x 12) thick and decorated with 12 precious types of stones, with 12 gates guarded by 12 angels (Rev. 21:10-21).

But perhaps the most significant number of all in Revelation is the number of those who were “sealed” or set aside by God for God: 144,000 with 12,000 coming from each “tribe” of Israel!  (Rev. 7:4).  That is 12 x 12 (God’s work among his people) times 10 x 10 x 10 (highest completeness).  In other words, all those who are saved!

40 = Time of Testing, Training or Difficulty

40 is 4 (humans) x 10 (completion).  It’s another number we see often in Scripture.   Just a few examples would be Noah, who endured 40 days and nights of rain on the ark in the flood (Gen. 7:12); the Israelites who endured 400 years (4 x 10 x 10) of slavery in Egypt (Gen. 15:13); Moses while with the Lord for 40 days on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 24:18); the Israelites wandering and dying in the desert for 40 years (Num. 14:34); Goliath taunting the Jews for 40 days before David challenged him (1 Sam. 17:16); Elijah’s 40 day journey to Mt. Sinai (1 Kings 19:8); Jesus fasting and enduring temptation for 40 days in the wilderness (Mk. 1:13); and Jesus teaching his disciples in the 40 days after his resurrection (Acts 1:3).

50 = Celebration

Feasts and ceremonies often incorporated the number 50.  The number was a key one in the construction of tabernacle (Ex. 26-27).  Pentecost, which was initially an Old Testament festival occurred 50 days after Passover (Lev 23:15-16), just as the Holy Spirit empowered the apostles on Pentecost 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection.  Then there was the year of Jubilee, which was to take place every 50 years (Lev 25:10).   

70 = Judgement

70 is reached by 7 (God’s gracious intervention) multiplied by 10 (completion).  70 members of Jacob’s family were listed in the genealogy of Jacob when they traveled to Egypt to be cared for by Joseph during the horrible drought (Gen. 46:27); 70 elders were appointed by Moses to oversee the people’s needs and adjudicate their disagreements; the Jews were in Babylonian captivity for 70 years (Jer. 25:11).  Furthermore, 70 and multiples of 70 appear over and over again in Scripture in conjunction with the punishment God doled out for wickedness.

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All of this numerology is rather overwhelming.  Which calls to mind some pertinent words from the book of Job: “Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven” (Job 25:2).  The Apostle Paul concurs: “For God is not a God of disorder … Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Cor. 14:33a & 40).

Thank the Lord for his numbers of blessings!

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The ABCs of Christmas

The ABCs of Christmas

A number of years ago I compiled this list (below) to build a Christmas service around.  Through the years I’ve reused the service now and then.  Even if some subscribers remember it, hopefully the list will still be enjoyable to review.  I know I always appreciate it when I re-read it.

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A reminds us of … Adam, who brought the first sin into the world, and made it necessary for the “Second Adam” to come to make things right again … and Abraham and all the other Old Testament believers, who eagerly awaited the “Second Adam’s” arrival … and the Angels who brought the announcement to the astonished shepherds … and the Amazement that people felt when they heard the shepherds’ message after they had seen the baby Messiah … and the Alleluias that sinners sing when they realize they are all-the-way Absolved and absolutely saved by this “Second Adam” … and Amen, which means, “This is all most certainly true.”

B reminds us of … the Baby Boy who was Born in a Barn in Bethlehem.

C reminds us of … Caesar Augustus, who issued the Census that caused Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem, where the Christ, the “Promised One,” was to be born … and the ragged Clothes in which this baby Christ was dressed … and the Cattle which surrounded him at his birth … and the Cross on which this Christ would be one day be Crucified … and his Compassion for us which caused him to come to earth in the first place … and Christmas, at which time Christians celebrate all of this.

D reminds us of … the Devil, who would delight in destroying us in hell … and the Determination of our God that the devil would be Defeated … and David, whose Divine Descendent was born from David’s line and in David’s city to destroy the devil’s power.

E reminds us of … Easter, when Jesus rose from the dead, and to which Christmas ultimately leads … and how Easter means that Jesus is the Savior of Everyone … and how Jesus wants everyone to be with him in Eternity, which is now possible because of Christmas and Easter … and the East, from where men traveled to worship him when he was young … and Egypt, to where his family had to flee to avoid Herod’s death sentence after the men from the East returned home.

F reminds us of … Father, both Jesus’ Heavenly Father and Joseph, his earthly one … and the Fields in which the Flocks fed when the angels appeared … and the Forgiveness this Savior won for all who look to him in Faith.

G reminds us of … the angel Gabrial, who told Mary that God in his Goodness and Grace was giving the Greatest Gift of all … God’s own Son to save the world … and the Glory that radiated from the angels who told the shepherds a message of Good News of Great Joy, the Gospel message of a Savior being born, which caused them to praise the Lord with the words, “Glory to God in the highest” … and the Gifts the Wisemen brought of Gold, incense and myrrh.

H reminds us of … how Jesus was born Holy, and remained holy all his life … and the Holy Spirit, who miraculously caused Mary to conceive, and who told us everything we need to know about Jesus in God’s Holy Word … and Heaven, from where the Heavenly Host came, and where we one day will go to live in perfect Happiness … and Hell and its horrors, where we would have certainly ended up if not for Jesus … and Herod, who tried to kill baby Jesus with a horrific crime.

I reminds us of … the prophet Isaiah, who prophesied that Immanuel, “God with us,” would one day come … and Israel, (both Old and New Testament Israel), whom Immanuel came to dwell among and to save … and the Inn which had no room for Joseph and Mary, and the Inn-keeper who offered the stable instead, where the Innocent Baby Jesus was born.

J reminds us of … Jesus … and Joseph, Jesus’ stepfather … and Jerusalem in Judah, where Jesus was crucified, and where he rose back to life on the third day.

K reminds us of … the believing Old Testament Kings who pictured Jesus the King … and how Jesus is the King of kings.

L reminds us of … how Jesus is the Lord of lords … and the Law from Caesar that demanded Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem, as well as the Law of God which demanded punishment for anyone who wasn’t perfect … and the Lamb of God, who in Love paid the penalty the law demanded.

M reminds us of … the prophet Micah, who prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem … and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who laid the baby Messiah down to rest in a Manger … and the angelic Messengers who brought the amazing Message to the shepherds that the Lord had kept his word; the Messiah was born.

N reminds us of … the Night that Jesus was born, which seemed like just another night, but was actually a night like no other … and how there was No Room in the inn that night for Joseph and Mary and that Jesus grew up in Nazareth and was called a Nazarene … and that Jesus came to establish God’s New Covenant.

O reminds us of … the Oppression that Satan and sin kept us under, and how Jesus was born to Overcome that oppression for everyone … and that Jesus isn’t just the Savior of Others, but also of us.  He is Our Savior.

P reminds us of … the Prophets who Prophesied about God’s Present of the Promised One … and the Old Testament Priests who had to continually offer sacrifices for the sins of the people … and that Jesus was also a Prophet and Priest who would bring Peace to God’s People by sacrificing himself on the cross … and the Praise of God that the angels and the shepherds spoke because of the peace that God was providing … and how Mary Pondered all these things in her heart.

Q reminds us of … Quirinius, the governor of Syria when the Roman census took place.

R reminds us of … Rome, who controlled Judah when Jesus was born, and from whom most people thought the Messiah would Rescue them … and how Jesus was really born to Redeem people from sin, death and the devil.

S reminds us of … the Shepherds who were watching the Sheep in the fields when the angels appeared to them and told them that the Savior from Sin and Satan was born … and the Sign that the angels’ message was true was that this Savior could be found in the Straw of a manger in a Stable … and the Special Star that signaled that the Savior was born … and how Jesus was both the Son of God and the Son of Man.

T reminds us of … the Traditions of Christmas, which include a Christmas Tree … and the Tree of the Cross upon which Jesus died … and the Trinity, the Triune God who gave us the Treasure of our Savior … and the Truth of God’s Word which shows us this Treasure, and removes the Terror of being punished for our Transgressions.

U reminds us of … the Unimaginable and almost Unbelievable, yet Undeniable, Unforgettable and Ultimate truth that God was born to live and die for us to save us, and that he rose back to life and is waiting to bring us to heaven one day.

V reminds us of … how Jesus was born of a Virgin, as Isaiah prophesied he would be.

W reminds us of … the Wisemen who, in Wonder, traveled a huge distance to Worship the new-born Savior.

X reminds us of … the Greek letter X (“chi”), which is the first letter in Xristos (“Christ”).

Y reminds us of … the people of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, both Young and Old, and You and Me, for whom Jesus was born and died.

Z reminds us of … Omega, the last letter of the Greek alphabet, and how Jesus told us that he is our Alpha (1st letter) and our Omega, our everything … and Zion, the place where our God lives, and where he will bring us one day because Jesus was born for us.

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Can you think of any Christian Christmas words that should be included in this list?  If so, please share them in the comments feature of this blog!

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John 3:16-17
For 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.

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How’s Your Health?

How’s Your Health?

The last few years have been quite the medical adventure for my wife and me.  (Mostly me initially, but she’s contributed her fair share lately.)  And both of us have ramped up the excitement even more in the last month! 

But none of that was what sparked the concept for this post.  This idea popped into my head while sitting patiently (alright, impatiently) in the waiting room for my annual physical checkup recently.

Of course, we know what awaits us on our annual doctor visit.  We are about to undergo the usual poking and prodding, checking and examining, questioning and updating.  Much of it is innocuous; some is annoying; but all I suppose is necessary.

As I fidgeted in my waiting room seat, I wondered what would be examined in a routine spiritual checkup, if there was such a thing.  It’s an intriguing question.  Here is the list that came to my mind:

SE Level – SE stands for “Scripture Exposure.”  How frequently are we hearing or reading God’s Word, and for how long?  The SE Level is the most significant indicator of, and contributor to, good spiritual health.

Senses Functions – Our five senses play significant roles in our spiritual well-being.  We hear God’s Word spoken, read and sung; we read (see!), speak and sing God’s truths; and we smell, feel and taste the wafer and wine in the Lord’s Supper.  The more active our senses are in the spiritual realm, the more impact the Holy Spirit has, and the more spiritual healthy we probably are.

Heart Health – This is easily monitored physically, but not so easily spiritually.  But a mental assessment can shed some insight.  What fills our heart?  What do we love above all?  What are we living for?  Where is our primary focus and drives us?  What excites our heart?  The answers to those questions can shed some light on our heart’s spiritual health.

Mental Acuity – This aspect of our spiritual checkup evaluates how much of God’s truths we know.  Not necessarily Bible history, (though this is extremely beneficial also), but rather the simple doctrinal teachings of God’s Word.  Such as, what is our most significant problem? (Sin!)  Is full atonement made?  (Yes!)  How?  (Through Jesus suffering, death and resurrection!)  Why would God do this?  (Because of his immense love for us and his astounding grace!)  How does forgiveness and salvation become ours?  (Through faith in our Savior!)

Temperature – Are we spiritually hot, lukewarm or cold? To state it a different way, are we “on fire” for God, fairly ambivalent, or caught in a “could care less” place?  The hotter our spiritual temp, the healthier we are.

Blood Pressure – We recognize our many and deep-seated sins, and they weigh heavily upon us.  Are we relying upon our own sacrifices to make atonement for them, or on the holy sacrifice of Jesus, and the blood he shed?  The weight of guilt is extremely unhealthy, spiritually speaking, but Jesus’ blood alleviates that pressure, (thanks be to God!).

PT – No, no physical therapy, but “Prayer Time.”  How much time do we spend each day in conversation with our God?  The more PT, the more likely our relationship with the Lord is strong

Activity Level – As in, how much spiritual exercise are we doing?  Are we active in worship?  Are we active in service in our church?  Do we carry out spiritual ministry in our personal lives?  Are we messengers of the Lord in our interactions with others?  Spiritual activity is often indicative of spiritual health.

TF Reading – Spiritually healthy people exhibit high TF (“Trust Factor”) readings.  That is, they trust the Lord and his promises no matter what is happening.  Though their physical eyes may see problems with no answers, their spiritual eyes envision the wonderful solutions their God is providing and/or the incredible blessings He is bringing through difficulties.  This significantly reduces stress and boosts emotional well-being.

The reality is that not a single person reading this list is as spiritually healthy as they could be or desire to be.  Don’t be discouraged!  Rather, go to the Great Physician named Jesus, and find help and healing in his care.  This is what he says to us:

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Mark 2:17).  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  “The LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, … to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:1-3, selected).

So, do you have any suggestions for items that you feel should be included in our spiritual checkup?  Please share them in the comments box below!

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Lessons Learned from Tumbling Down a Staircase

Lessons Learned from Tumbling Down a Staircase

As many of you know, I derailed last Sunday morning for my congregation, my confirmation families, my own family and myself by taking a header down the bottom part of our balcony stairs before the first worship service. 

The repercussions were both immediate and lasting.  Immediately, or nearly so, I ended up in the Emergency Room at a local hospital.  Diagnosis: no broken bones but severely strained upper leg muscles.  (A miracle that things weren’t worse!)  The longer term ramifications: extreme pain and the inability to support myself with my legs.  Treatment: rest and muscle relaxers until the muscles heal and regain strength.

So it seemed practical to share some of the lessons I have learned, and am still learning, from this experience in this week’s blog.  I’ve broken them into two distinct categories.

Category One:  Simple lessons learned.

Don’t do it!  By whatever steps you must take, (pardon the pun), be certain you never skip the last four steps of a stairway!

Be assured that the stairs and landing below are less giving and more punishing to your body  than your body is to them.

Utter disaster can occur in an instant.

The theme for my message to the Confirmands was going to be “Hold on Tight.”  As someone pointed out to me afterward via email, I should have heeded my own advice.

A little extra caution is a good thing, especially if one is a little extra older.

Ambulance rides are overrated.

If you think you’ve already felt the worse pain mishaps can bring your body, think again.

Legs can swell a lot larger than one realizes!

Sometimes we have to slay our pride and let others help us.  We just do.

We all sometimes need tools (like a walker), people (like family and friends), and, most of all, the Lord to lean on.

God is faithful and good – always!  And he always protects and provides … according to his purposes.

Miracles still happen.

God’s got some awesome angels guarding over us.  It’s not a joke; it’s a fact.

God’s timing definitely is not our timing.  His always trumps ours!

We are totally insufficient; the Lord is totally sufficient.

We are fragile; the Lord is a Rock and our Rock.

The Lord is always working and accomplishing, even when we are “shut down.”

A person can only do what a person can do; they cannot do what they cannot.  (I recognize this sounds simplistic and even cheesy, but it’s a significant truth nonetheless.)

Perhaps the most important simple lesson of all: I have taken so very much for granted my entire life!  (Which leads me to our next category.)

Category Two:  Things for which I’ll always be thankful and will never take for granted again.  (Or at least I shouldn’t!)

The guiding, blessing hands of our loving God.

The powerful protection of God’s guardian angels.

The professionalism of medical responders.

The kindness and caring of God’s people.

The blessing of gracious, giving friends.

The unselfish love of family.

The applicability of God’s Word to all situations at all times.

The significance of a little bit of human encouragement in difficult situations.

Self-sufficiency.

The blessing of personal freedom.  Such as roaming the house at will, stepping onto the deck to grill, ambling around the yard to look at the flowers, running out on a whim of an errand or attending my son’s ballgame.

The importance of leg muscles in almost everything one does, and the necessity of a strong base.

Legs that don’t constantly ache.

Walking!  Walking upright.  Walking without pain.  Walking around.  Taking a walk.  Just walking.

The ability to take stairs.  (I say this in reference to mobility, not negotiating them!)

Taking a shower.

Working from my desk.  (As opposed to working from a card table while sitting on a walker.)

The capability of standing up unassisted after falling down.

The ability to get into and out of bed without help.

Sitting down, and rising back up again, without pain. 

Stooping down to put on socks or pick items up off the floor.

WIFI, television and a restroom in our remote bedroom in the house.

Godly leaders and workers who don’t hesitate to step up and into the gap for God.

Leading worship on Sunday, and the privilege of preaching God’s Word to God’s people.

The preciousness of time, and how quickly it can potentially be taken from you.

“Wake up calls” from God, teaching us lessons we should have already known.

All of which seems to be summarized beautifully by the Apostle Paul.  “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

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The Little Things

The Little Things

We are well aware of the big things.  They are frequently on our mind and seared into our consciousness.

We are very cognizant of our significant bills (mortgage, auto payments, etc.).  We know our financial picture … the money coming in and the money going out, and how those two factors relate to the other.  Health issues have a way of upending our day-to-day lives.  Strained familial, educational, occupational, congregational and social relationships impact us.  Technology goes haywire and vehicles or other mechanized conveniences break down and have to be repaired or replaced.  Big things, all.

But the big things that demand our attention aren’t always negative.  There is an abundance of positive things as well.  A visit with dear family members or friends.  A long-awaited vacation.  An unexpected windfall.  Accomplishing an unpleasant task that has hung over our heads indefinitely.  A new job begun or a financial debt resolved.  A new addition to the family.  These are also big things, but good things!

Typically we spend a lot of time focusing on the big things in our lives.  Those are the things we think about and pray about; the issues we devote our energy and personal resources toward.  Those are the matters that we seek or want resolved, and the ones that we are convinced will provide us with the greatest joy when resolved favorably.

And this point of view is normal and good.  It is also probably true.  However, the older I get the more I am learning to focus less on the big things, and reflect more upon the little ones.  I am convinced we would all be happier if we took more time to appreciate the small blessings. (Which really aren’t smaller blessings at all, even though we tend to look at them that way.)

James reminds us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights … (James 1:17).  In other words, both the “big” blessings and the “little” blessings are wonderful blessings from our gracious God!  We would be wise to recognize this.

The list of “little blessings” is a long one!  Here are just a few that come to mind:

Another sunrise.  Blue skies punctuated with fluffy white clouds.  A lovely sunset.  Rain that waters the land and lulls us to sleep at night.  Flowers, shrubs and trees that burst into bloom.

A butterfly fluttering across the yard; a hummingbird hovering over blossoms; sparrows greeting the morning with song; an eagle gliding on wind currents; deer sighted in the distance.

A hug from a loved one.  A smile.  A kind word.  Time spent together with family and friends.

The smell of a baby; the sound of a toddler’s laughter; the sight of children playing; the feel of a young son or daughter’s (or grandson or grand-daughter’s) hand in yours; the taste of ice cream shared with youngsters.

A dog who is always happy to see us, no matter our mood.  A cat who purrs contentedly in our lap. 

A relaxing sit on the deck with an intriguing book.  Or even better, a nap in a hammock.  Naps in the recliner qualify too!

A simple task accomplished; a good meal enjoyed; a fun game played; a favorite show or ball team watched; a hobby pursued; a walk with someone dear.

A friendly card in the mail; an encouraging email; an unexpected but uplifting phone call; a warm greeting.

A memory remembered; a favorite song heard or sung; laughter and light-heartedness; the scent of your wife’s perfume.

The gift of sleep, and the gift of waking up again.  The lack of pain.  The use of our five senses.

Most would probably agree that these are “little things,” or at least things that we tend to take for granted.  But hopefully you also agree that they are big blessings as well … even if we don’t usually recognize them as such.

The Lord floods our lives with “little” blessings, and he gives us this encouragement: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

In other words, recognize and treasure even the little things.  Maybe especially the little things!

I pieced together a partial list of little blessings.  What are some of the little things that bring you joy?  Please share!

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50 Lessons Learned

50 Lessons Learned

Since this is my 50th post on this blog, I thought I would do something a bit different this week.  I decided to list 50 life lessons I have accumulated through the years.  These are by no means the only lessons I have learned, nor are any of them probably particularly astute.  But maybe readers might glean an insight here or there?  I pray a few of the observations will encourage someone somewhere.

Here is my disclaimer:  Just because I’ve learned these lessons doesn’t mean I always live them. I’m a work in progress, as we all are.

So here we go!  50 lessons I’ve learned, in no particular order:

1. Many will love you, but none more than the Lord

2. No one is guaranteed tomorrow. We aren’t even guaranteed the next minute.  Every second is a new gift from God.

3. People are so predictable … and so unpredictable.

4. The Lord and his Word are the only truly reliable things in this whole wide world. If we rely upon ourselves or others, we will often be disappointed; if on God, never.

5. Strive to see, think about and focus on the positives.

6. Encouragement is far more effective at behavior adjustment than criticism.

7. Never say, “I’ll never …”

8. Every day is precious; it’s used once and you don’t get it back again. One can’t ever regain lost time, but they can use future moments more wisely.

9. The most urgent things are rarely the most important ones.

10. Care of your soul, your body and your relationships are wise investments.

11. True wealth is gauged in the spiritual realm; not the physical one.

12. One’s contentment often correlates with the amount of time spent outdoors.

13. Relationships are more precious than treasure.

14. People would benefit greatly if they spent more time in their Bible and less time on their screens.

15. Work will always be there; children and family won’t be. Maximize precious moments together.

16. Worrying is a colossal waste of time and energy.

17. We are what we watch and what we listen to.

18. God often brings the greatest blessings through hardship.

19. Making the effort to stay in touch with family and friends will never be regretted. Not making the effort will be.

20. Let God be God; he’s far more qualified than we are.

21. Hugs are wonderful blessings!

22. Paying others to do tedious, time-consuming tasks is money well spent.

23. Look for God’s guiding hand in your life, see it everywhere, and rejoice in his wonderful care

24. Never let others, even loved ones, push you into poor decisions.

25. Smile more; frown less – outwardly and inwardly.

26. The Lord isn’t only vaguely interested and slightly involved in our lives, but completely invested.

27. The need for God’s truth has never been greater … for you, me and everyone.

28. Stop trying to be perfect and be satisfied with good enough.

29. Be content, no matter the circumstances. You are blessed and being blessed.

30. Spend less time being angry and more time rejoicing, forgiving and being kind. Life is too short to stay angry and hold grudges.

31. Stubbornness is not a character strength.

32. The hope that God gives in the Scriptures cannot be found anywhere else in the whole, wide world.

33. Pride is a secret destroyer.

34. Insisting one is always right is always wrong.

35. Stop crucifying yourself for your mistakes; Jesus was crucified for you!

36. One’s personal actions and attitudes should not be based on the actions and attitudes of others.

37. There is never reason to be bored.

38. The heartache of missing someone means you are blessed with a heart of love for someone.

39. The hardest paths in life are typically the right paths.

40. True beauty is not skin-deep, but actually under the skin.

41. The smartest people realize they’re not the smartest people. And a related truth: the wisest people aren’t always the most educated people.

42. Satan, the great deceiver, is really, really good at what he does.

43. Trying new activities and adventures enriches and enlivens life.

44. The wise discover the healthy medium between head and heart decisions.

45. Don’t let the pressure of the moment destroy the beauty of the moment.

46. The body of a twenty-year-old is typically strong; the mind less so. Thirty years later, those are reversed.  (Don’t be offended, youngsters; when you are my age you will understand.)

47. One should always pet their pet more.

48. Once words leave your mouth (or your keyboard), they can’t be retrieved.

49. Life in this world is often difficult. God allows us to struggle so we remember that heaven is our real home.  The longer we live the more appealing heaven becomes!

50. While living on earth the status of our soul can seem like one of the least important things; the day we die it becomes the most important thing.

These are a few truths I’ve learned.  But maybe you  might suggest some revisions to a few of the 50 points?  If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts.  I’d also love to read a few life-lessons you have learned.  Please share in the comments section!

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

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!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.