Archive for September, 2010

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When Giving Thanks Becomes a Sacrifice

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

Giving thanks is easy when there’s something tangible for which to be thankful. You know…the sun shines on the day you’ve planned a family picnic, your suitcases land at the same airport as you do after a long trip, you live a “happily-ever-after” life with a loving family and mortgage-free house, everything you do meets with success, yada yada. It’s not so easy when the rain falls on your party, suitcases get lost, “happily-ever-after” turns into a nightmare, and everything you do seems to fail.

That’s when giving thanks becomes an act of the will. In the midst of life’s tough stuff is where we called to practice the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Doing so proves that we’re trusting God even though we can’t understand His ways. In turn, honoring Him opens the door for Him to bless us.

Psalm 50:14,23 says, “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High…Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” These verses, like many others in Scripture, give a command with a promise.

Command: Give thanks to God even when it hurts.

Promise: God will reveal His salvation to us.

Practicing the sacrifice of thanksgiving is a lesson I’m learning on an ongoing basis. Did I feel thankful when a friend was recently diagnosed with leukemia? No, but I gave thanks to God for holding her in His hand.

Did I feel thankful when the quote for the cost of a current book publishing project suddenly escalated several hundred dollars? No, but I gave thanks to God for His ability to provide.

Do I feel thankful that I’m scheduled for major dental work this month? Are you kidding? In the midst of white-knuckled anticipation, I’m thanking God for a dentist who’s skilled and able to address my tooth issues quickly.

It’s my job to obey God’s command and practice the sacrifice of thanksgiving. It’s His job to fulfill His promise in whatever manner He wishes. Maybe it’s fulfilled in the peace that I’ve experienced since I started expressing thanks. Or maybe there’s more. That’s not my concern, but I must admit, I am curious.

How about you? Tell us about a situation in which you practiced the sacrifice of thanksgiving and how you experienced the salvation of God.

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What is God Like?

Monday, September 6th, 2010
Kids ask great questions. The other day, my 2 ½-year-old granddaughter, Anna, looked at my arms and asked, “What are those spots, Grandma?”

“Freckles,” I said. Her response made me laugh: “Hmmm. Maybe you should cut them out.”

Anna asks a lot of questions, as do other children her age. That might grow wearisome at times for their parents and caregivers, but that’s how they learn, right? And so we want to provide them with the answers, or show them how to discover the answers for themselves.

Another question kids often ask is: “What is God like?” They’re not alone in their curiosity.  Many grownups – myself included – wonder the same thing. Here’s a clue I recently discovered:

“Take note of the fortified walls, and tour all the citadels, that you may describe them to future generations. For that is what God is like (emphasis mine). He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die (Psalm 48:13,14).

Last summer I visited a fortress in Poland. It towered like a stone giant atop a hill, providing a panoramic perspective. Once upon a time its walls, approximately 18 inches thick, provided protection from attacking marauders. No human force could penetrate its strength. That is what God is like to those who take refuge in Him.

In the case of the Polish fortress, however, lightning struck and fire destroyed it. But God, our fortress, remains forever and ever. No matter what situation we face, He surrounds and protects us from the enemy’s attacks. So long as we remain in Him, we will not be defeated. This promise holds true until the day we die. And until that moment comes, it’s our job to communicate this truth to the next generation so they, too, can understand that this is what God is like.

These words pump me with confidence. No matter what difficulties or pain I face, God promises His presence and victory. He is my fortress, my protection, my deliverer. He is my safe place. And He is my defense against the enemy. The same is true for you, if you walk in relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.

What insights can you share re: what God is like? I’d love to hear them.

 

Eastern European fortress

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Be Still

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

My youngest daughter has befriended a woman in a nursing home, visiting her on a weekly basis for the past few months. Last week I had the privilege of meeting her.

Unlike the other residents, this woman – a single mom of a 19-year-old son – is in her early 40s. Her body is gnarled and crippled not with age, but with rheumatoid arthritis. A large screen TV hangs on the wall opposite her bed, providing a diversion for the hours she spends bedridden. Excruciating pain makes it nearly impossible for her to move, so nurses get her up only once a week. Family rarely visit. And yet she smiles.

How is this possible, in light of the circumstances surrounding her? “I had to make a choice about how I’d respond to life,” says L. “I could be bitter and angry. Or I can accept my lot and be pleasant.” She makes it sound so simple.

This woman’s attitude amazes me. It also challenges me to consider my response in painful situations much less than the one she faces on a daily basis and for which there is no earthly escape.

As I’ve pondered the topic of pain and its purpose in our lives, I’ve thought about how easy it is to be impatient and discontent when life takes a detour filled with disappointment. But then Psalm 46:10-11 comes to mind: “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.”

These Scriptures remind me that God is in control even when life appears out-of-control. Our job is to be still and trust Him. He is Commander-in-Chief of the heavenly armies and He not only rushes to our rescue when we cry to Him for help, but He resides with those of us who are His children. He never abandons us. He is our fortress, our refuge in troubled times, and our security no matter what.

As far as I know, L. is not a believer. If she can respond to pain in a positive way, then I can do no less especially with Psalm 46:10,11 in my arsenal. My prayer for you and me is that we’ll apply these truths to our lives. That we’ll learn what it means to truly be still and let God be God even when we don’t understand the purpose for our pain. That we’ll honor God in our attitudes. And that, as we do these things, others will recognize that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is our help and constant companion.

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Perspective on Pain

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Before launching into today’s devotional, I have a very special announcement! Stonecroft Ministries Canada asked me to write a study guide to accompany Moving From Fear to Freedom and to produce a 7-part teaching DVD. The study guide is in the publishing process now, and the DVD will be recorded live this fall. Would you like to be a part of the audience?

Date: Every Thursday from September 30-November 11

Time: 7-8 P.M.

Place: House of James bookstore, Abbotsford, BC

Cost: Only $20. This includes the 7 sessions plus workbook.

Program: I’ll teach about a specific aspect of fear for 15-20 minutes each session. Then participants will break into small groups for discussion, using the study guide. We’ll share from our personal lives and examine God’s Word to learn how to overcome the fears that often hinder us from embracing life as fully as God intends. This is an evangelistic outreach, so bring your friends and introduce them to Jesus Christ.

Registration: Follow these directions.

Space is limited to 40. I hope to see you there!

Now, for today’s devotional thought….

One of my Power for Living interviews was with a gal named Jan Turner. Amazing woman.  Years ago she contracted pneumococcal pneumonia. Her body struggled to survive by shutting down blood flow to her extremities. Gangrene set in, and she had to undergo a quadruple amputation.

A single mom with two adopted sons, Jan determined not to let discouragement override her. She applied herself to the rigors of physical therapy and learned how to walk with prosthetics. Using metal hooks that replaced her hands, she learned how to do all the usual things able-bodied people take for granted – things like combing her hair, brushing her teeth, driving and cooking. She returned to school and obtained a second degree in Communications, and she became an ordained pastor.

I listened in awe as Jan told me her story, and then I asked her how she maintained such a positive outlook in the midst of pain. She quoted 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “…Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

“It’s all in one’s perspective,” said Jan. She explained that when troubles come, we’re all faced with a choice regarding where we fix our gaze. Will it be on the pain or on God’s promises?

Focusing on God’s promises might sound trite to someone dealing with extreme difficulties, but in reality, what else can we do when there’s no easy answer and hope seems distant at best? Fixing her gaze on the Truth of God’s Word worked for Jan – her life proves it. It’ll work for the rest of us, too.

What particular promise from God’s Word has sustained you and given you a proper perspective in the midst of pain?

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