Sovereign Creator

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One recent morning, I drove our boys, aged 16 and 13, to school. I sat in the car with the older one for a few minutes while he finished his breakfast.

“I like that,” he offered, his head nodding toward the dashboard.

“What? The music?” I ventured.

“Mh-mm.” He nodded.

I agreed, noting the beauty of the classical piece.

“Can I read something to you?” he asked.

A quick glance at the clock assured me that yes, we still had time.

“Sure,”  I was curious what it might be.

He finished the last bite of muffin, opening the packet of papers sitting in his lap. With a bashful glance at me, he began to read a lengthy and very insightful quote. I nodded along, delighted that this piece had moved our boy. He finished and I smiled, “That was beautiful honey – Wow – so creative!”

He nodded, smiling too.

“You know what I think I love most about it?”

He glanced at me, eyebrows raised.

“The fact that you appreciate it. It’s a gift to have a heart that can ponder something so weighty, and enjoy it. Most people just run through life and don’t really think about anything of substance.” Of course, tears formed in my eyes as I spoke.

“Mom, what’s wrong?” Dismay filled his voice.

“Oh honey, I don’t know why I’m crying.” I patted my eyes, wishing I weren’t so wimpy.

“Really?” he questioned, perplexed by the unnerving thought that I could be crying and not even know why.

All of my life I have struggled with maintaining my composure when I talk about matters of the heart, almost always losing out to emotion.

I laughed. “Nothing is really wrong – sometimes I cry, that’s all. I guess I have a tender heart, and it doesn’t take much to move me.” I looked at him, trying to reassure him. Hoping to lighten the moment, I smiled, “Welcome to women.”

He sighed. “Wow.” A lot was packed in that one small word and I laughed.

“Well I’d better go,” he said, glancing at the clock. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

As his door shut, I thought about the gift God gave us when He created in us the ability to connect and share with others. To wrestle with ideas and beliefs, truths and mysteries, and to journey through life sharing our perspectives and insights, hopes and simple joys.

There in the silence of the car, I prayed, “Thank you, God, for creating us the way You did. Your sovereignty is such a comfort.”

A few more tears escaped, this time, from a heart of gratefulness, as I turned and headed for home.

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And So…

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It had been a rough season. Many trials, sadnesses and unfair situations had been pressing against my heart. Devastating illnesses plagued several dear friends. Discovered betrayals wounded another loved one, and loneliness was the only companion to another whom I hold dear. There was nothing I could do. These were difficulties out of my reach to fix and I brought them to The One in whom I put All hope. But not without a little attitude.

“Dear Heavenly Father”, I began, “I know You are Sovereign-” I was just about to utter the word, “but”, in order to inform Him of the many things people whom I love were struggling with, when a still, small voice interrupted my planned speech to The Almighty. In my spirit I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to silence. I literally could not say the word “but”.  I sat for a few seconds, and in place of the word “but”, I felt God reminding me, “And so…?”  Um. Right. And so.  “And so I will trust You.”

No thunder rumbled. No mountain quaked. But in my spirit, I was soothed and comforted. And quite undone.

I needed that reminder from God to recognize that the very word ascribed to Him- Sovereign- means He has unrestricted, absolute, boundless, ultimate control over Everything.  Nothing lies outside of His authority. Absolutely nothing. Therefore, anything we face- everything we face, is under His control, for His own purposes and our ultimate good.

Romans 8:28 “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Isn’t that incredible news??  My friend, we have such Hope!  God- The creator of everything, who sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins, and the sins of the world, knows what we face. He knows our hurts, our trials and testings, the things that move us and the things that are daunting to us- and He loves us and has a plan for our Good through those very things we would try to escape.  I don’t know about you, but this is a truth I need to remind myself of daily!

“God, Thank You for your word that reminds us of the truth when we falter.  Thank You that You Are on Your throne, and we can Trust You in all things. We love You, Lord. Help us keep our eyes fixed on You. In the matchless name of Jesus I pray.”

Are there things happening in your life that you are feeling that God has forgotten or isn’t aware of? Be assured- it isn’t so.  He knows. And He loves you. And He is working for your good, even in the midst of the hard places in life.  Next time you start to question Him, remind yourself of His attributes, listing them off, “God, I know You are: Loving, Holy, Sovereign, Just, Immutable” etc, and follow up with the words, “and so…” Trust me, it will change your perspective.

I hope this encourages you- and lets talk- you know- between friends!

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What if It’s not only for You?

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Have you read the account of Job lately? You can’t help but notice who instigated the argument that brought all of Job’s troubles on him: Satan. Satan had challenged God’s statement that Job was a blameless and upright man who feared God and shunned evil. God said in essence, “Very well, do what you will to him” to show that even through trials and undeserved suffering, Job’s heart (the part God cares most about in all of us) would still trust in Him.

It’s not a coincidence that God preserved this historical account to share with us – future readers who would need to be strengthened and edified through such an example as Job. Read the entire account to hear how God rewarded Job’s faithfulness.

Let’s look at what James says about Trials in our life. I love how he starts his letter, “Greetings” – then Boom! He wastes no time letting his readers, including us, know what is on his mind.

“Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” Pure joy? Pure JOY?? Really James? Yes! But why? Read on – “because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” Well, what do I need that for? He tells us that too – “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” You may well ask, “What does that do for me? How does perseverance build maturity and what does that look like in real life?”

That’s a great question – to see it in action, let’s take a look at Paul. Here is a man who has suffered trials. He’s been falsely accused and beaten – almost to death. He’s been shipwrecked, left for dead, the target of plots to kill him, bound in chains, among some other difficulties that would have done many of us in long before.

We read his words in Philippians 1:12-14 where he sits bound to a guard, and actively shares his faith with this person who may have felt more like the prisoner than Paul did!

Listen to his words, “Now I want you to know brothers that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”

Remember what James said about considering it Pure Joy when we face trials of many kinds? Paul displayed this maturity in his life repeatedly, recognizing that our faith will deepen when we see God at work in the hard situations we face. He was able to view the hard place he was in through the lens of maturity and trust, and have steadfast certainty that God was using it in ways no one could deny.

Others were being encouraged to share the truth of the gospel with people as they saw Paul’s mature view of what he faced and endured. He recognized that this life is short – it isn’t worth hanging tightly on to – let’s get on to more important things – like reaching the lost for Christ. His willingness to “learn to be content whatever the circumstances” (4:11) recognizing that he “can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” (4:13) was the secret.

A lost and dying world is watching to see if what we say matches up to what we live out. 

So that ‘thing’ you’re facing; that heartache or uncertainty; that loss or grief you are bearing – how you respond to it reveals your trust level in the God who allowed it. And not only can it deepen your own faith as you see God intimately involved in carrying you through the trial… but it could also deepen the faith of people around you who you didn’t even know are watching you.

So I will end with the question I started with…What if it’s not only for you?

I love the verses Paul wrote in Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by payer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Wow! Rejoice my friend! The Lord is Near!

Are there things you’re facing that are hard? God doesn’t want you walking it alone. He gave us the body of Christ to fellowship with, encourage and help walk this road. There are purposes in His plans…and He loves you.

Let’s talk…you know, between friends.

 

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Salt

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My daughter broke our saltshaker a few weeks ago and I said “Thank you Lord.” Wait- no I didn’t – not in that order anyway- back up: my daughter broke our saltshaker a few weeks ago and at first I was perturbed by her carelessness, as I watched salt steadily emptying onto the floor from the broken base she had somehow whacked.

 But then God brought a verse to my mind – and I saw how wonderful it actually was that she’d broken it- because it made me think, and that’s generally a good thing.

 In Matthew, Jesus said to his followers, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made good again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”

 God says we are to be salt in our world – but what does that look like?

 Salt makes things that are bland taste better – this life is full of heartache, and humans without hope have an inability to see trials of this life as chances to rely on God – but as Believers in Christ with hope – we can have joy no matter what our circumstances!

 We are to be the salt that makes living in this hard, cruel, unfair world palatable – not because we have some upbeat positive attitude about our own selves and abilities – but because we have HOPE through Christ and can live a victorious life out of His strength! 

 In our little world with our little children, when they hang on the drapes pretending to be Tarzan crossing the dangerous jungle – count it all Joy! (We may have to discipline and teach them why that’s wrong, but we don’t have to ‘lose it’ on them)

 When they ask “why?” “why?” “why?” a dozen times – count it all Joy! (We may have to explain our why’s, but we can see that their curious little minds just want to understand – much like we do when we ask our Heavenly Father “Why?”)

 When there are 12 cookies in the cookie jar when you leave the room and 2 when you return and ask who ate them and everyone shrugs – count it all Joy! (We may have to take time to explain why lying is a sin and they need to ask permission before taking things, but we can chalk it up to a terrific training session where they’re learning and we are helping them understand God’s ways.)

 As Moms we hold a valuable position – we are the gateway to our children’s understanding of God. Through our modeling, they can follow.  Through our handling of the difficult, humbling, exhausting situations we sometimes find ourselves in, they are watching and making decisions about the authenticity of our walk with Christ. 

 Is it all just words, or are we doing the very things we are telling them are important – things like having the fruit of the Spirit as talked about in Galatians – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

 It’s not always easy, there are times we want to lash out at the frustrating situations we find ourselves in; but those are the times God wants us to display the fruit He provides us with, with a heavenly outlook, and a heart that see’s a chance to demonstrate His power at work in our lives. Those opportunities for growing in sanctification are where ‘the rubber meets the road’ in the Christian walk.

 God wants us to share our burdens with one another, so that we can be in prayer for each other as we walk this journey called life. Are you facing some difficulty that makes it hard to be the salt in your world?

 Let’s talk… you know – between friends.

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