We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. James 5:11
Yesterday was a beautiful day so I went for a run. While I managed to endure to the end, it wasn’t
easy for several reasons. In addition to my normal health concerns, a couple of
weeks ago, I had a respiratory infection that has left me with a nagging cough.
I have asthma and forgot to use my
inhaler before the run. I also have a
knee that isn’t always the most cooperative as well as a wart being treated on
one foot that can be uncomfortable. I
could go on, but you get the idea…there were obstacles that had to be endured
to finish running the course. Today it turned
cold and rainy causing my body to ache significantly. Further, it was one of those days when fatigue
and lethargy set in. Today’s form of
endurance had a different nature, but was endurance nonetheless. In fact, every day seems to require a fair
amount of patient endurance. I must
accept undesired changes in my lifestyle and abilities as my body often seems to
be my worst enemy. It can be rather
trying at times. However, each day I do
my best to: stand, run the race, endure with grace, and to live well. Some days that goes fairly well while others
see limited, if any, success. I struggle
daily to endure because of God’s involvement in my life. From my perspective, here are three of the
many encouragements to endure.
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The Lord’s
lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your
faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
As we study scripture, we learn about God. It is one thing
to intellectually understand God’s faithfulness, His promises, His character, the
sacrifice and intercession of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, etc.; however,
it is something altogether different to experience them. Knowing that Christ died for our sins does
not save us…it is accepting His atoning work on our behalf that provides
salvation. Similarly, knowing about God
intellectually does not develop a relationship with Him. Rather, it is through reliance on Him throughout
our life experiences, recognizing His work in our lives, and seeking to live
for Him alone that we develop a relationship.
It is experiencing God that takes us from an intellectual understanding
to a relationship that allows us to mature in faith. Further, when we acknowledge God at work in
our own lives, we provide edification and encouragement to others. To experience
God and not share that fact with fellow believers would be remiss. Consequently this week’s post is about
testifying to God’s faithfulness as an experience.
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When Jesus came into
Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He
touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.
Matthew 8:14-15
This week celebrates the 93rd anniversary of my
mother’s birth; the 98th anniversary of my father’s birth; and the
the 73rd anniversary of their marriage. Yes, they packed it all neatly into one
week…with Mother’s Day thrown in for good measure regularly. As I take time to remember them and what they
meant to me, I am grateful for them and thankful that they pointed me to Christ
from the time I was born. Further, I am
grateful for what they taught me through example. A significant gift that they each exhibited
regularly was their servant’s heart which caused them to be helpful and
compassionate in a variety of circumstances.
It is a desire that was passed on to me.
As I prepare to make a lengthy drive to visit and help my mother-in-law,
I am reminded of the honor and privilege it that it was to help my parents and
my father-in-law at the end of their lives.
Now I have the opportunity to assist Ma as well. When we help others whether through acts of
service, encouragement, teaching or some other form, it is a blessing to both
parties.
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The LORD has made
everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil. Proverbs 16:4
“Right time, right place” is a phrase commonly used to indicate good fortune. Conversely, “wrong time, wrong place” is often used to describe an unfortunate outcome or tragedy. Both of these imply coincidence, luck, or fate rather than direction at the hand of our sovereign Lord. When it comes to God’s sovereignty and planning, people readily accept that our Creator is directly responsible for placing us in circumstances that we view as a blessing or useful service to God and man. However, there is a great reluctance to include the difficult circumstances in life as God ordained placement, equipping, refinement, or calling home. To put it another way, God is often seen as decidedly directing blessings, but assuming a reactionary role in trials. Nevertheless, while God does not perpetrate evil, He resolutely creates each person, actively directs the course of their lives and decisively places them to accomplish His purposes. Therefore, as the verse above indicates, we (both God fearing and wicked) are all created with purpose and equipped accordingly and Esther was no exception.
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Jesus spoke these
things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come;
glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You.
John 17:1
Once again
the celebration of Easter is upon us.
This often entails Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter services that
include special choral numbers and solos. While I have participated in the past, appreciate
the artistry, and do not doubt the faith or the worship of those involved, I’m
not a fan of those services. I much
prefer more quiet times of worship that offer opportunities of introspection, a
greater understanding the sacrifice of our Savior and of God, or a call to draw
near to God in unified worship. It’s not
that I am opposed to celebrating Easter, it’s just that I prefer to do it by focusing
on the need for salvation, the reconciliation that Christ’s sacrifice provides,
the broader scope of redemption, and the glory of God.
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But you are a chosen
race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so
that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
Striving to be a holy child of God is often difficult. On
rough days like today, I really have no desire to be responsible for anything.
I don’t want to do anything; I don’t want to think; and I don’t want to
interact with others. I just want to withdraw,
move as little as possible and emote.
However, that is not living well.
To be sure, we must address the needs of our bodies that arise due to
illness and aging, but even in our frailty we are called to be obedient and
proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us. One of the ways that we do that is rising to
be faithful, obedient, grateful, kind, considerate and caring despite the
challenges that we face. It is
certainly a battle to be holy, but understanding various facets of the struggle
allows us to fight intelligently.
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Reading God’s Word and meditating on its truth will have a purifying effect upon your mind and heart, and will be demonstrated in your life. Let nothing take the place of this daily privilege.
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
Merriam-Webster defines encumbered as impeded, hampered or
hindered with respect to functions or activities. A reality of my life and the lives of others
dealing with chronic illness and pain is that we are encumbered in everything
we do. Those of us are encumbered with
respect to our ability to function are also, by definition, encumbered in our
activities. Often it’s not just the
physical issues but also the mental ones.
It takes so much energy to accept and manage our physical problems and
limitations that we are also mentally encumbered. Further, the problem is not limited to those
with physical or mental problems, but also extends to those who are grieving,
have relationship problems or are enduring some other trial. These may also find themselves encumbered as
they attempt to accomplish the tasks set before them. Despite our struggles, God still calls us to
complete tasks for Him. It is not ours
to question or deny but rather to complete with aide of our Heavenly Father.
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If we do anything to further the kingdom of God, we may expect to find what Christ found on that road – abuse, indifference, injustice, misunderstanding, trouble of some kind. Take it. Why not? To that you were called. In Latin America someone who feels sorry for himself is said to look like a donkey in a downpour. If we think of the glorious fact that we are on the same path with Jesus, we might see a rainbow.
Let us therefore come
boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help
in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Reasonableness is a common thread of our culture. In law, the reasonable man is used as a
starting point to determine negligence and liability. In accounting, a reasonableness test is used to
evaluate the various line items of the financial statements to determine how
much needs to be reviewed or tested. In
culture, we use “average behaviors” to determine what is reasonable. Christ tells us to lay all of our concerns
before our Lord and Paul adds that we should come boldly before God. While our church culture or past experiences
may encourage us to be reasonable or polite in our prayers, scripture dictates
both by instruction and example that we should, in fact, take a bold approach.
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