Next Thursday is one of America’s favorite holidays. For most Americans, Thanksgiving is a time to share a wonderful meal with relatives who travel to be together at this special time of year. Historically, Thanksgiving is a time of reflection upon our God, who has so graciously and faithfully provided for our lives. It is a time to recognize the blessings He has bountifully provided to us. As we reflect upon the goodness of God to such undeserving people as ourselves, we are led to understand that all that we have is in some way a gift from God.
Our breath, our heartbeat, our circulation, our digestion, our body’s waste disposal system, all of these body functions are kept functioning by the kindness of God. Our ability to work, to earn money, or to have a place to live and food to eat, are also all provided by God’s kindness to us. The ability to relate to our friends and family members in loving ways is a skill made possible by God, who placed that relational capability within our human nature.
So what is Thanksgiving to you? Is it stuffing yourself with a bounty of turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, vegetables, and three kinds of pie? Is it catching up with relatives? Is it the annual barrage of college and professional football games from 10 in the morning till 10 at night? Or is it the day you spend mapping out your shopping strategy for taking advantage of the shopping specials on the next day?
I am not saying that any of these things are wrong. These are all elements of most Americans’ Thanksgiving Day celebrations. But in the midst of all of these things, there seems to be a missing ingredient. Thanksgiving is not just about delighting in the things we have; it is acknowledging with gratefulness the Source of those things and blessings. Thus, thanksgiving requires expressing thanks to the Supplier, and not just gratitude for the supplies.
We must always be careful not to let the things we have become more important than the One who gives us those things. Lifting our eyes to God and expressing our appreciation and gratitude to Him helps put our lives back into proper focus. The focus of Thanksgiving Day should be spending some time thanking God, the giver of all the gifts and blessings we have, for providing for us. If we don’t consciously make an effort to thank God for our provisions, then the Provider becomes eclipsed by the provisions.
Psalm 145 can help us focus upon the core of thanksgiving. The first part of verse 7 gets to the heart of Thanksgiving by saying, “Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness” (NLT). What would be in your “story” this year that would tell others of God’s wonderful goodness towards you? How would sharing and listening to one another’s stories about God’s demonstrated goodness, enhance the spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving this holiday time?
The psalmist was thankful that the LORD was kind, gracious, full of mercy, and faithful in doing what He said that He would do. He was thankful that God helps those who fall, and lifts up those who are carrying a heavy load. We should be thankful that God helps us when we fall, instead of scolding us by saying “I told you so.” Isn’t it great to remember that when our load is heavy, God comes to our side, and walking along side us helps us carry the load to our destination? How has God been kind, or gracious, or merciful, or faithful to you this year? What heavy load has God helped you carry this last year? Have you thanked Him?
We should also be thankful that God gives food as we need it. We need to look to Him for our supplies, but as we do, He opens His hand and gives us graciously what we need for our lives (cf. verses 15-16). What do you need from God today? Look to God expectantly to meet your need, and express gratitude and praise when He does.
This year at Thanksgiving, in the midst of all the things for which we are thankful, let’s not forget to gratefully tell God “thank You” for being the One who makes all of this possible! Do you have stories of how God helped you this year, or blessed you? Why not share those with others at your holiday table this year? Have a blessed and meaningful Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
Roadrunners and Coyotes
We used to go to an outdoor ice cream parlor in Bibone, Italy every summer. This parlor had a large covered, outdoor patio area with lots of tables and chairs. At one end of this area was a large screen television that played cartoons every evening. It was hard to get a table or seat in that area in the evening, because kids of all ages (3 to 90) would buy ice cream and sit around for hours watching the coyote pummel himself with the stones that he had sent to crush the roadrunner. People would laugh until there were tears running down their cheeks. It didn’t matter if they were Italian, German, Austrian, Dutch, Japanese, American, Hungarian, or Serbian, they all joined in the laughter. Why was that cartoon so funny?
I think that it was funny because it so well depicts human nature. Sometimes people throw stones at others in order to keep the attention and examination off of themselves. Sometimes they are vindictive and really want to hurt others. It seems that most humans secretly like to see those who purposely try to hurt others, get their just desserts in the end. There is a sense of justice, after all, in self-initiated retribution. It is even more ironic when the payback comes from the exact stones they threw or rolled attempting to hurt others.
I also like The Roadrunner cartoons for another reason. I like them because they so clearly illustrate one of my favorite proverbs in the Bible. Proverbs 26:27 (NLT) says: “If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will roll back and crush you.” That truth is at the heart of every Roadrunner cartoon. When we try to set traps for others, they end up springing closed upon us; when we try to undermine others we end up undermining ourselves.
This coyote stone-throwing or stone-rolling theme is one of life’s ironies. A modern American-slang proverb restates this truth. That proverb says, “What goes around, comes around.” Those who give out good will receive back good; those who give out hurt will be hurt in return; and those who attempt to deceive will in the end be deceived.
This theme can be found in many places. One of my favorite Hungarian musical groups is a band named Republic. They sing a song that says something to the effect that whoever throws a stone into the sky will soon discover that the stone has to land somewhere, and it is usually on your own head.
Why are we so slow to learn this lesson? We can laugh at it when we see it portrayed in the actions of the coyote, and even gloat at the stupidity of the coyote. We ask, “How long will it take him to learn that the things we set into motion usually come back upon our own heads? Silly coyote, when will he learn?”
Silly humans, when will we ever learn? Our unkind words hurt others, but will also come back to hurt us. Our actions designed to hurt others, bring reciprocal pain upon us as well. Sabotaging others is in reality sabotaging ourselves. Undermining our country’s leaders, laws and systems hurts us all. We are quick to see the folly of such behavior in cartoon characters, and sometimes in the lives of others. But we are very slow to realize that all too often we are more like the coyote than we want to admit.
So the next time you are tempted to initiate something hurtful, think twice about it, and decide to set something good into motion instead of something hurtful. Others will be better off as a result of the good you send out, and so will you. Indeed, so will we all!
Monday, October 30, 2006
Better Than A Genie
People are fascinated at the prospect of finding gold, finding a hidden treasure, or finding a genie in a bottle. We feel that if we just had “something” or “someone” to give us whatever we needed, our lives would be great. We all seem to have this desire within us.
If someone who had limitless resources and ability to fulfill your request, asked you to make one request for them to grant, what would you ask for? Would your request be for limitless wealth? If so, what do you think you would do with that wealth, and what changes would you have to make in your lifestyle to protect that wealth?
Would your request be for good health? Perhaps if one had continual good health they could live long enough to gain whatever they desire. Or would your request be for eternal life so that you would live forever and never die? What changes would come to your life if you knew that you would live forever?
Would you request awesome power or fame, in order to be able to change the world to your liking? How much power would be enough? What kind of power would be needed? Would your request be for political power, physical power, intellectual power, or supernatural powers?
Perhaps your request would be for someone to love, and/or someone to love you. That is a wonderful request indeed. We all desire to be loved, and to have someone who appreciates our love for him or her.
Many centuries ago, a new king named Solomon was ascending the throne in Israel. David had been a great king for Israel, had consolidated the kingdom, and had made it a fairly stable entity. David desired to build a temple for God, to whom he gave all credit for the blessings and successes of his life. God told David that it would not be his task to build the temple, but rather that Solomon his son would be given that task. So David collected many resources that would help make the building project possible. Soon after Solomon became king, David died.
God came to Solomon, and asked Solomon what one thing God should do for Him (cf. 2 Chronicles 1:7). In essence God was saying, “Solomon, I am giving you one wish. What do you want me to give to you?” Solomon basically responded: “Give me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may be a good responsible leader of Your people.” God responded by telling Solomon that because He requested wisdom and knowledge in order to be a good leader, instead of asking for wealth or fame, God would give him the wisdom and knowledge he had asked for, as well as riches, wealth, and honor as a bonus (cf. 2 Chronicles 1:10-12).
There is a saying that ‘knowledge is power.’ Knowledge as power can be used for building up or tearing down, for doing good or evil, for strengthening or weakening. Knowledge is obtained information; wisdom is the ability to use knowledge wisely. Information obtained, without an accompanying maturity and ability to use it in a balanced way for the good of all involved, is dangerous.
Wisdom is doing what God says to do, when God says to do it, how God says to do it, and in the manner or way in which God says to do it. Thus, wisdom is the use of knowledge under God’s direction. It involves not only what we do, but also our motive for doing it, the timing in which we do it, and the manner in which we do it. Doing the right thing in the wrong way, or with the wrong motive, or at the wrong time is not wisdom. All four elements are necessary for the use of knowledge to become wisdom. Many people do the right thing, but at the wrong time. Others do the wrong thing at the right time. Some do the right thing at the right time, but in a destructive way. Wisdom requires all four elements if something is to be done wisely. Wisdom requires godly correctness in what is done, when it is done, why it is done, and how it is done.
James 1:5 states that if anyone requires wisdom, they should ask God to give them wisdom and He will give it to them. May wisdom be at the top of your list of things to request from God!
Life's TradeOffs
Most situations in life involve a trade-off. What do I mean by that? Well, if you want to have a car you have to work to pay for it, to maintain it, to pay for insurance, and to pay for gas. So with the benefits of a car come responsibilities and expenses. Somebody might say, “I don’t want to spend my days working in order to have a car that eats my money.” That is an option, but then one needs to adjust his/her lifestyle to get to work without a car, get groceries without a car, etc. Life is full of trade offs. In order to have one thing, you must also embrace the side-affects.
Medications come with side-affects. You can take the medicine and endure the side-affects, or you can refuse the medicine because of the side-affects and remain sick. Some people want an environmentally friendly world, but also want the ease of life that comes from ignoring the environment. Some want a vibrant economy for a community, but don’t want the side-effects of having industry and good paying jobs in that community. You can’t always have one without the other.
In thinking of this concept, my thoughts turned to Proverbs 14:4 (NLB) that states: “Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.” If keeping the stable clean is more important than feeding your family, that goal can be achieved. However if you want a great harvest to provide for your family and others, then you have to put up with some manure on the floor of the stable.
Most people want economic prosperity, but many do not want the unpleasant side-affects that accompany it. People want a great harvest without oxen, because oxen will eventually leave a mess on the stable floor and then we have to keep cleaning up after them. So the easiest thing (not necessarily the best thing) to do is just not to have any oxen in the stable. Then we won’t have to worry about keeping the stable clean.
This principle applies in many areas of life. We do not live in a perfect world, and everything we engage in that is positive also has some negative aspect to it. We like our area because it is a great place for families to live, but without good career opportunities our families move away. Good jobs are needed, but their presence makes it hard to keep the stable clean. So it is a trade-off. We might be fortunate enough to be able to choose a state-of-the-art ox that doesn’t give off much waste, but we must have the oxen if we are to survive.
Some people don’t like being single, but don’t want to adapt to share life with a husband or wife either. Some married couples really enjoy their mobility and freedom. They long for children but don’t want to give up their freedom to travel and play whenever they want. With children come responsibilities, a more complicated life, a need to enlarge the infrastructure (house), and income to provide for them. People with children also experience toys continually scattered on the floor.
The trade off, however, is the joy of watching your children grow, develop, ask cute questions, give interesting explanations, fall in love, get married, and carry on the things that you taught them were important in life. You can’t have kids without all the things that go along with them. But you also can’t have the joy of kids without the complications involved in caring for them. In the end, they are worth all the investment and added inconveniences that accompany them.
Life brings change. Someone has said that the most ordered and changeless place is a cemetery. To be alive requires continual change, and change requires trade-offs. If we want the benefits of a family, we have to put up with dirty diapers and messy floors. If we want the benefits of a college education, we have to study and learn. If we want friends, we have to invest time with them. If we want the benefits of a growing community, we have to put up with the trade off’s that come with having economic engines in our stables. If we want a relationship with God, we have to commit ourselves to spend time with Him and let Him shape our lives. Life is full of trade-offs. The question is, “Are we willing to make the trade in order to gain the benefits we desire?”
Friday, October 13, 2006
Passing Through The Valley of Tears to Our Destination
Have you experienced grief, or deep disappointment? Have you been hurt, or gotten so discouraged about something that you wanted to quit? Then today’s article is relevant to you. The psalmist is writing about people making a journey through an arid land, trekking by foot up the mountains and across long valleys on their way to encounter God.
All of us are on a journey called life. While we journey on earth, we all experience times of affliction, difficulties, distress, or valleys of tears. Psalm 84:5-7 gives us some practical ways to pass through the Valley of Tears.
All of us are on a journey called life. While we journey on earth, we all experience times of affliction, difficulties, distress, or valleys of tears. Psalm 84:5-7 gives us some practical ways to pass through the Valley of Tears.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Reclaiming the Valley of Tears For Others
Whenever we find ourselves in the Valley of Tears, Psalm 84:5-7 gives us some helpful advice for traversing the difficulties we find besetting our lives. Our loss may be the loss of a relationship, our job, our health, or that in which we have placed our security. Regardless of the nature of our difficulties, God has given us sound advice for getting through them.
In Psalm 84:6 we are encouraged to reclaim the valley for future travelers. When we find ourselves in a difficult life situation, we need to not let that painful experience be wasted. It is important that there be a purpose to be accomplished as a result of our experience. We need to gain something from it, and then pass on what we have gained to others who will find themselves in a similar situation.
Psalm 84:6 (NASB) reads, “…while passing through the valley of Baca (tears), they make it a spring.” While we are passing through the valleys, we need to turn our tears into springs that can nourish others who will make a similar journey after us. Our tears become a part of the springs that will give nourishment to others.
For the Old Testament Patriarchs, springs were places where one encountered God. We need to turn our deep valley experiences into places where we encounter God. In your valley experience, look for God, learn about God, and learn from God. Discover what God is doing in the experience, and what you can learn in this experience about God, about yourself, or about life. Discover what you are gaining from this that can become a source of strength for others in a similar situation.
By way of summarizing this series of articles, when we pass through the Valley of Tears we should: 1) Remember that even a blessed person suffers. 2) Rely upon the Lord to be our strength to make the journey. 3) Keep your heart on heaven, and heaven in our hearts, i.e. commit yourself to take the high moral way rather than giving in to low ways such as bitterness, hatred or retribution. 4) Continually remind yourself that you are passing through and will come out the other side. 5) Don’t waste the experience; use it to help those who will experience similar valleys. 6) Don’t run ahead of God, or away from the pain. Face the pain with the strength God gives to you. 7) Rejoice that one day you will indeed emerge from the Valley of Tears, and arrive to live with God in a place where there are no more tears, no more sorrows, only joy evermore! May God empower you on your journey!
In Psalm 84:6 we are encouraged to reclaim the valley for future travelers. When we find ourselves in a difficult life situation, we need to not let that painful experience be wasted. It is important that there be a purpose to be accomplished as a result of our experience. We need to gain something from it, and then pass on what we have gained to others who will find themselves in a similar situation.
Psalm 84:6 (NASB) reads, “…while passing through the valley of Baca (tears), they make it a spring.” While we are passing through the valleys, we need to turn our tears into springs that can nourish others who will make a similar journey after us. Our tears become a part of the springs that will give nourishment to others.
For the Old Testament Patriarchs, springs were places where one encountered God. We need to turn our deep valley experiences into places where we encounter God. In your valley experience, look for God, learn about God, and learn from God. Discover what God is doing in the experience, and what you can learn in this experience about God, about yourself, or about life. Discover what you are gaining from this that can become a source of strength for others in a similar situation.
Springs were not only places to encounter God, but they were also places to receive God’s renewing power. After days of a wearying journey, fresh water from a spring would refresh the body, the spirit and one’s outlook. When we encounter God, and gain renewing strength from that encounter, we gain new energy to continue the journey.
The psalmist continues that those traveling the valley of tears go from strength to strength. I paraphrase that to mean that we need to walk with God instead of running ahead of the supply wagons. When we find ourselves in a painful situation, what is our main desire? It is to get out of the situation as quickly as possible! None of us like to suffer. We don’t like the uncertainty of the valley. We try to run away from the situation as quickly as we can, instead of walking with God through the situation.
When a person leaves the supply wagon to try to get out of the desert as quickly as possible, he or she is heading for worse trouble. This is why it is so important for us to walk with God, journeying from strength to strength. As God gives us strength to go on, then journey on. As we use the strength God supplies, He will give us new strength to continue the journey until we come out of the valley. Remember that verse six states that we are traveling through the valley of tears, which means if we continue to walk with God, we will come out of the valley.
As we journey through the valley, we need to rejoice, knowing that one day we will exit from the valley. So be confident that God is working in you and in this situation. Something important is being accomplished. Be joyful that the outcome of this valley experience will bring strength to you and to others.
By way of summarizing this series of articles, when we pass through the Valley of Tears we should: 1) Remember that even a blessed person suffers. 2) Rely upon the Lord to be our strength to make the journey. 3) Keep your heart on heaven, and heaven in our hearts, i.e. commit yourself to take the high moral way rather than giving in to low ways such as bitterness, hatred or retribution. 4) Continually remind yourself that you are passing through and will come out the other side. 5) Don’t waste the experience; use it to help those who will experience similar valleys. 6) Don’t run ahead of God, or away from the pain. Face the pain with the strength God gives to you. 7) Rejoice that one day you will indeed emerge from the Valley of Tears, and arrive to live with God in a place where there are no more tears, no more sorrows, only joy evermore! May God empower you on your journey!
The Power of Spoken Words
I recently read that “Words are just words. They mean nothing unless you allow them to.” This sounds like sound advice, if one is being beat up emotionally by people who are continually berating him or her. To some degree, we do have some control over how much we let the words of others affect us. The question is, to what degree can we prevent words from hurting us, and at what cost?
In a sense the words of others cannot hurt us unless we allow them to hurt us, right? Perhaps. Yet one’s ability to not internalize hurtful words depends upon one’s maturity, one’s strength of self-concept, one’s ability to forgive others, and how resilient and/or resistant one’s sensitivities are to demeaning attacks.
Even the strongest person can often be caused to break under a constant bombardment of harsh words spoken with the intent to wound that person in the depths of his or her being. Some people respond to harsh words by becoming calloused and insensitive to others, which becomes a defense mechanism to try to prevent them from ever being hurt again. Other people who have been wounded by words become bitter and harsh towards others, driving others away by being unpleasant, and being unwilling to open themselves up again in relationships, lest they be vulnerable to be hurt again.
Political pundits put out a daily barrage of hurtful accusations against their opponents, until the public hears something so often that they begin to believe that frequent message, rather than believing the concrete character or performance of the one being attacked. Similarly children, who are told often enough that they will never amount to anything, begin to believe those words and allow those messages to shape their self-identity and destiny. Words do hurt, and they do cause destruction. Words do have power.
Of course, the Bible expressed this truth centuries ago. Words can pierce and wound like a sword being thrust into a person, or they can be used to heal and strengthen a person. Listen to the words of Proverbs 12:18 (NAS):
“There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
When we have been wounded by words we often need to experience healing through continually hearing kind and encouraging words spoken about us by a wise and trusted person. The words that decimated our self-image or self-worth need to be countermanded by words that speak of our worth and value to God. We need healing words to counter the hurtful words; we need words of blessing to counter the words of cursing; we need the truth of the Creator to counter the lies of the destroyer; we need wise words to cancel out the foolish words that have been drilled into us.
Unfortunately all of us at some time or other have been a dispenser of sword-like stabbing words, words meant to pierce and hurt another person. But I wonder how many of us have consciously chosen to be healers of the wounded and to use wise words to bring healing to others? You have control over the power of your words. You can use your words to encourage a person to be more than they dream possible, or you can use words to discourage them so they never try to do anything. With your words you can knock the wind out of a person, or you can breath fresh air into them.
Anyone can hurt another person with their words, but it takes a wise and mature people to be able to heal others with their words. Why not make a difference in your children, in your mate, in your family, in your school, in your church, in your neighborhood, and in your community, by purposely speaking words that will bring encouragement and healing to others? Let’s work on developing a personal mindset of using our words to speak life into people, instead of using our words to take the life out of them.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Managing Our Anger –1
Do you ever get angry? Do you express your anger outwardly by exploding onto others, or inwardly by seething within yourself? Unfortunately, I get angry from time to time. Anger is something that we all have in common. Some of us are better at managing our anger than others, but all of us experience anger.
I recently listened to a health educator who began his speech with an outburst of bitterness, anger and hostility towards our country and its leaders. Ironically, this person then expounded upon the need for all of us to live healthy lifestyles so that we will not die from cardiac-related illnesses. I was appalled by the level of hostility and bitterness publicly gushing from a person elevated as a role model. This person seemed genuinely concerned about the health of the audience, but at the same time seemed oblivious to the negative health effects that deep-seated anger inflicts upon oneself and others.
Anger affects us all. It affects the educated and the uneducated, the religious and the irreligious, and people of all races and economic levels. With this in mind let’s explore a couple of insights that can help us begin to manage our anger.
In Ephesians 4:26-27 we read: “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil” (NRSV). Anger is an internal response to external events. It is natural to occasionally have this response, but it is vital that we deal with our anger response in a constructive way. This is why verse 26 says it is okay to be angry, but that we are not to sin as a result of that anger.
Lesslie Tizzard states that we get angry when someone or something prevents us from getting what we want. I have found this statement to be extremely accurate. Every time I feel angry, I try to identify why I got angry. Inevitably I will identify someone or something that was interfering with me getting what I wanted.
This is why we get angry so often. Someone or something is always beyond our personal control and messing up our dreams, goals, or desires! When someone or something gets in the way of what we want, we get angry. So I suggest to you that the next time you have an angry reaction, evaluate what thing you were trying to do that was thwarted and thereby made you angry.
Once we realize that we are angry, what set off our anger, and our self-gratification issue underlying it, we are still left with the responsibility to deal with our own anger in a constructive way. Constructive management of anger begins with not blaming others for our anger. Since the anger is my reaction to a situation, it is pointless to try to blame someone else for my reactions or feelings.
There are only two persons who can control our anger, and both of them need to be involved in the management of it. God can help you and me manage our anger, but He requires our participation as well. So, once you realize you are angry you must take responsibility for your own anger. It is not someone else’s fault. The anger is your response, after all, and you alone are responsible for your own reactions in a situation. Each of us must take personal responsibility for our own feelings, and then ask God to give us the power to properly manage them.
Furthermore we must do this immediately, i.e. “before the sun goes down.” If we do not deal with anger quickly, it can fester and become bitterness (a deep-seated state of mind where someone is permeated with anger that affects his or her entire perspective and life). Besides dealing with anger quickly, we must also choose to not let anger be expressed in a way that leads to sin, i.e., that is destructive to ourselves or others (cf. v. 27).
If you have already hurt someone in your anger, then ask that person to forgive you. Deal with your anger now. Don’t let the sun go down while you seethe in anger about something, or while another remains wounded from your angry outburst. Take personal responsibility, admit that what you did or said was inappropriate and wrong, and ask for forgiveness.
In the next article we will examine other insights that can help us to manage our anger. Until then, if you get angry, don’t allow it to hurt you or others! Ask God to help you manage it.
I recently listened to a health educator who began his speech with an outburst of bitterness, anger and hostility towards our country and its leaders. Ironically, this person then expounded upon the need for all of us to live healthy lifestyles so that we will not die from cardiac-related illnesses. I was appalled by the level of hostility and bitterness publicly gushing from a person elevated as a role model. This person seemed genuinely concerned about the health of the audience, but at the same time seemed oblivious to the negative health effects that deep-seated anger inflicts upon oneself and others.
Anger affects us all. It affects the educated and the uneducated, the religious and the irreligious, and people of all races and economic levels. With this in mind let’s explore a couple of insights that can help us begin to manage our anger.
In Ephesians 4:26-27 we read: “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil” (NRSV). Anger is an internal response to external events. It is natural to occasionally have this response, but it is vital that we deal with our anger response in a constructive way. This is why verse 26 says it is okay to be angry, but that we are not to sin as a result of that anger.
Lesslie Tizzard states that we get angry when someone or something prevents us from getting what we want. I have found this statement to be extremely accurate. Every time I feel angry, I try to identify why I got angry. Inevitably I will identify someone or something that was interfering with me getting what I wanted.
This is why we get angry so often. Someone or something is always beyond our personal control and messing up our dreams, goals, or desires! When someone or something gets in the way of what we want, we get angry. So I suggest to you that the next time you have an angry reaction, evaluate what thing you were trying to do that was thwarted and thereby made you angry.
Once we realize that we are angry, what set off our anger, and our self-gratification issue underlying it, we are still left with the responsibility to deal with our own anger in a constructive way. Constructive management of anger begins with not blaming others for our anger. Since the anger is my reaction to a situation, it is pointless to try to blame someone else for my reactions or feelings.
There are only two persons who can control our anger, and both of them need to be involved in the management of it. God can help you and me manage our anger, but He requires our participation as well. So, once you realize you are angry you must take responsibility for your own anger. It is not someone else’s fault. The anger is your response, after all, and you alone are responsible for your own reactions in a situation. Each of us must take personal responsibility for our own feelings, and then ask God to give us the power to properly manage them.
Furthermore we must do this immediately, i.e. “before the sun goes down.” If we do not deal with anger quickly, it can fester and become bitterness (a deep-seated state of mind where someone is permeated with anger that affects his or her entire perspective and life). Besides dealing with anger quickly, we must also choose to not let anger be expressed in a way that leads to sin, i.e., that is destructive to ourselves or others (cf. v. 27).
If you have already hurt someone in your anger, then ask that person to forgive you. Deal with your anger now. Don’t let the sun go down while you seethe in anger about something, or while another remains wounded from your angry outburst. Take personal responsibility, admit that what you did or said was inappropriate and wrong, and ask for forgiveness.
In the next article we will examine other insights that can help us to manage our anger. Until then, if you get angry, don’t allow it to hurt you or others! Ask God to help you manage it.
Managing Our Anger - 2
All of us have experiences of anger. All of us have the personal responsibility to manage our anger, and other emotions. They are our emotions, they reside inside of our personhood, and therefore it is indeed our responsibility to learn to guide their expression through appropriate healthy channels.
Some years ago, psychologist George Sanders gave an interesting illustration to explain how we can develop techniques to constructively manage anger. He compared anger to rain runoff flowing down the canyons of a mountain. Many incidents (rain-showers) come uninvitedly into our lives that can contribute to the flashfloods of anger that pour forth from our lives. While we may not be able to prevent rainfall (i.e., anger causing events), we can control where the runoff will go, and its rate of dispersion.
The way some of us deal with anger is similar to the way water runs off a mountain. Some people just take the “wilderness preservation” approach in anger management. This might also be called the “Popeye” method, expressed in his “I yam what I yam” philosophy. This is a fatalistic approach to life and anger. It purports that since anger happens naturally, we should just be let it flow out wherever and however it wants.
If a person lives as a hermit, this approach might work. A person who encounters no other people can just let the anger gush out like a raging flashflood, because there are no people around to get hurt. However, most of us live in relationship to others and we cannot just let our anger rage wherever or however it wills.
Another approach used is to dam up the anger. People who do this just bottle up their anger and never let it out. This seems to work for a while, but eventually too much anger will build up behind the dam, it will break, and once again people will be washed away in the ensuing onslaught. Furthermore, it is not psychologically or physically healthy to hold anger in indefinitely. Pent-up anger begins to poison our hearts and minds, which makes us bitter, gives us ulcers, high blood pressure, headaches, and even produces dental damage from teeth-grinding. It also makes us very unpleasant people to live around.
James 1:19-20 admonishes: “…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires” (NIV). We should listen well, think twice before we speak, and manage our anger so that it flows out under control. This admonition is for everyone. We each need to take personal responsibility for how we personally manage our own anger, because expressing anger inappropriately does not accomplish God’s will, and hurts others.
Like rain runoff down a mountain, we all have well-used channels through which our anger normally flows. If these channels are channels that prevent the anger from hurting others or ourselves, then we should encourage the anger to flow out through those channels. Some examples of healthy channels include: physical exercise, releasing our anger and the situation to God’s control through prayer, listening to soothing music, walking around the block until we cool off, etc.
If our normal approach lets anger gush out too quickly, or if we dam it up and hold it inside, then we need to create some new channels through which our anger can flow out of our inner being. Why not take some time to discover some non-destructive ways you can dispose of your anger without hurting yourself or others? Choose to use those channels the next time you get angry.
While anger occurs in us all, we are still responsible for how we allow it to come out of us and to impact others. Each of us should work on ways to reduce our need to get angry, and develop healthy ways to deal with anger when it occurs. Since anger is closely associated with a thwarted self-driven agenda, anger’s frequency and destructiveness in Christians should diminish as we learn to fulfill God’s will for our lives. As we live to please God rather than self, and live under the power of His Holy Spirit, God can give us the power to manage ours responses to anger when it does occur.
Controlling our anger is not an easy thing, does not happen overnight, and requires lots of conscious effort and practice. However improvement can be achieved. May God give each of us the grace and pragmatic power to make progress in this important area of life.
Some years ago, psychologist George Sanders gave an interesting illustration to explain how we can develop techniques to constructively manage anger. He compared anger to rain runoff flowing down the canyons of a mountain. Many incidents (rain-showers) come uninvitedly into our lives that can contribute to the flashfloods of anger that pour forth from our lives. While we may not be able to prevent rainfall (i.e., anger causing events), we can control where the runoff will go, and its rate of dispersion.
The way some of us deal with anger is similar to the way water runs off a mountain. Some people just take the “wilderness preservation” approach in anger management. This might also be called the “Popeye” method, expressed in his “I yam what I yam” philosophy. This is a fatalistic approach to life and anger. It purports that since anger happens naturally, we should just be let it flow out wherever and however it wants.
If a person lives as a hermit, this approach might work. A person who encounters no other people can just let the anger gush out like a raging flashflood, because there are no people around to get hurt. However, most of us live in relationship to others and we cannot just let our anger rage wherever or however it wills.
Another approach used is to dam up the anger. People who do this just bottle up their anger and never let it out. This seems to work for a while, but eventually too much anger will build up behind the dam, it will break, and once again people will be washed away in the ensuing onslaught. Furthermore, it is not psychologically or physically healthy to hold anger in indefinitely. Pent-up anger begins to poison our hearts and minds, which makes us bitter, gives us ulcers, high blood pressure, headaches, and even produces dental damage from teeth-grinding. It also makes us very unpleasant people to live around.
James 1:19-20 admonishes: “…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires” (NIV). We should listen well, think twice before we speak, and manage our anger so that it flows out under control. This admonition is for everyone. We each need to take personal responsibility for how we personally manage our own anger, because expressing anger inappropriately does not accomplish God’s will, and hurts others.
Like rain runoff down a mountain, we all have well-used channels through which our anger normally flows. If these channels are channels that prevent the anger from hurting others or ourselves, then we should encourage the anger to flow out through those channels. Some examples of healthy channels include: physical exercise, releasing our anger and the situation to God’s control through prayer, listening to soothing music, walking around the block until we cool off, etc.
If our normal approach lets anger gush out too quickly, or if we dam it up and hold it inside, then we need to create some new channels through which our anger can flow out of our inner being. Why not take some time to discover some non-destructive ways you can dispose of your anger without hurting yourself or others? Choose to use those channels the next time you get angry.
While anger occurs in us all, we are still responsible for how we allow it to come out of us and to impact others. Each of us should work on ways to reduce our need to get angry, and develop healthy ways to deal with anger when it occurs. Since anger is closely associated with a thwarted self-driven agenda, anger’s frequency and destructiveness in Christians should diminish as we learn to fulfill God’s will for our lives. As we live to please God rather than self, and live under the power of His Holy Spirit, God can give us the power to manage ours responses to anger when it does occur.
Controlling our anger is not an easy thing, does not happen overnight, and requires lots of conscious effort and practice. However improvement can be achieved. May God give each of us the grace and pragmatic power to make progress in this important area of life.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Finding God in Christ
Where should one go to find God? How can we discover what God is like? There are several ways to discover God, some more effective than others. In Romans 1:20 we learn that the invisible attributes of God can be deduced from observing the things that God has created. Just as we can discover some things about a particular culture by analyzing the products they design and make, we can learn some rudimentary things about God by examining the things He designed and created.
A second source of information about God is the Bible. The Bible is the record of God’s activity in history and His interaction with humanity. In Hebrews 1:1–2 we read: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions, and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” (NAS). In the Bible and the events recorded there, we hear the voice and message of God.
However, there is an even better source for understanding the nature, character and purpose of God. Hebrews 1:2-3 says that Jesus is this superior revelation, or ultimate authoritative voice of God. There we read that Jesus is the radiance and the exact reproduction of the essence or character of God (cf. Heb.1:3; Rev. 1:16).
Reading the Old Testament gives us a basic understanding regarding God, as we learn what God is like based upon His activities, and from the expectations He placed upon people. But this picture of God in the Old Testament is limited. It is like encountering a shadow as compared to meeting the real person, or like looking at a black and white representation as opposed to actually encountering the Living and multi-glorious God, who lives in dazzling full-spectrum light.
This greater revelation occurs when we encounter God face to face, as present in the person of Jesus Christ. Since God has become flesh in the person of Jesus Christ (cf. John 1:14; and John 14:7), we can now see God’s glorious character made tangible in Jesus. Jesus came in order for the magnificent presence of God to be manifested in our midst, so that we could understand what God is really like, and then seek to enter into a personal relationship with Him.
This testimony is confirmed in Hebrews 1:1-3. There we understand that in former times, God spoke to people at various times and in different-sized portions in the events recorded in the Old Testament. But now that Jesus has come, Jesus has become the ultimate manifestation of God to humanity, and therefore God’s ultimate authoritative Word to us (cf. John 1:1, 1:14, 18). The verb “has spoken” in Hebrews 1:2 translates a Greek verb that means a final, complete speaking; a full and complete revelation. The life and ministry of Jesus recorded in the New Testament of the Bible represents God’s ultimate and complete Word of God to mankind.
In John 1:18 we read: “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God [i.e., Jesus] … He has explained Him.” Jesus came to explain God to us. Jesus came to reveal God in such a clear way that we could all know what God is like, what He values, what His character is like, and how we can come to know Him. If you want to know what God is like, let Jesus explain God to you.
In Hebrews 1:3 we discover that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory. He is the brightness of the goodness, beauty, and essential nature of God. He is the bright presence of God who came to live temporarily among men (cf. John 1:14).
Furthermore, Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the exact representation of God’s nature. The Greek word used here meant the exact reproduction of the original. Jesus is the exact reproduction of the character qualities of God. He is not just a chip off the old block, He is a manifestation of the whole block. Therefore Jesus could say, “I and My Father are One.” (cf. John 10:30). Since He is God, He therefore upholds the universe with the Word of His power (Heb. 1:3), thus His word is God’s Word.
The ultimate revealer of God to us today is the person of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament. When we look into the face of Jesus, we see the face of God. Have you found God in Christ?
A second source of information about God is the Bible. The Bible is the record of God’s activity in history and His interaction with humanity. In Hebrews 1:1–2 we read: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions, and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” (NAS). In the Bible and the events recorded there, we hear the voice and message of God.
However, there is an even better source for understanding the nature, character and purpose of God. Hebrews 1:2-3 says that Jesus is this superior revelation, or ultimate authoritative voice of God. There we read that Jesus is the radiance and the exact reproduction of the essence or character of God (cf. Heb.1:3; Rev. 1:16).
Reading the Old Testament gives us a basic understanding regarding God, as we learn what God is like based upon His activities, and from the expectations He placed upon people. But this picture of God in the Old Testament is limited. It is like encountering a shadow as compared to meeting the real person, or like looking at a black and white representation as opposed to actually encountering the Living and multi-glorious God, who lives in dazzling full-spectrum light.
This greater revelation occurs when we encounter God face to face, as present in the person of Jesus Christ. Since God has become flesh in the person of Jesus Christ (cf. John 1:14; and John 14:7), we can now see God’s glorious character made tangible in Jesus. Jesus came in order for the magnificent presence of God to be manifested in our midst, so that we could understand what God is really like, and then seek to enter into a personal relationship with Him.
This testimony is confirmed in Hebrews 1:1-3. There we understand that in former times, God spoke to people at various times and in different-sized portions in the events recorded in the Old Testament. But now that Jesus has come, Jesus has become the ultimate manifestation of God to humanity, and therefore God’s ultimate authoritative Word to us (cf. John 1:1, 1:14, 18). The verb “has spoken” in Hebrews 1:2 translates a Greek verb that means a final, complete speaking; a full and complete revelation. The life and ministry of Jesus recorded in the New Testament of the Bible represents God’s ultimate and complete Word of God to mankind.
In John 1:18 we read: “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God [i.e., Jesus] … He has explained Him.” Jesus came to explain God to us. Jesus came to reveal God in such a clear way that we could all know what God is like, what He values, what His character is like, and how we can come to know Him. If you want to know what God is like, let Jesus explain God to you.
In Hebrews 1:3 we discover that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory. He is the brightness of the goodness, beauty, and essential nature of God. He is the bright presence of God who came to live temporarily among men (cf. John 1:14).
Furthermore, Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the exact representation of God’s nature. The Greek word used here meant the exact reproduction of the original. Jesus is the exact reproduction of the character qualities of God. He is not just a chip off the old block, He is a manifestation of the whole block. Therefore Jesus could say, “I and My Father are One.” (cf. John 10:30). Since He is God, He therefore upholds the universe with the Word of His power (Heb. 1:3), thus His word is God’s Word.
The ultimate revealer of God to us today is the person of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament. When we look into the face of Jesus, we see the face of God. Have you found God in Christ?
Looking For God in Creation
What can we learn about Germans or German culture by looking at their Mercedes, BMW, or Volkswagen cars? When we examine their cars, we discover that Germans value quality workmanship and longevity in their products. They design their cars to last for many years. When we lived in Hungary, the major comment about German cars was that they were built to last.
We can often learn things about a designer by looking at the finished product. This is one of the main points Paul is making in Romans 1:20 (N.A.S.), where he says: “For since the creation of the world His (God’s) invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they (people) are without excuse.” Paul is saying that people can know that there really is a God, and come to understand some basic characteristics about God, because the things created and designed give us insights into the Designer.
This passage says that three categories of information about God are revealed in the created world we live in. We can discern something of God’s invisible attributes by looking at the visible things He has designed and produced. Just like we can understand from German automobiles that most Germans value quality, enduring cars, we can understand from what God has made that God is a God of ingenious design. The sophistication of design obvious in plants, animals, people, and DNA, all point to a God who does not do things without thoughtful design. Providing for change through adaptation merely heightens the magnitude of His forethought and design capability.
This morning I sat on my deck and watched three hummingbirds competing for the nectar in our hummingbird feeder. I was awed by the speed and mobility of these little birds. They hover, dodge, or fly up-down-sideways-forwards-backwards. They could dodge a diving attack of another one traveling at speeds of 60 mph. The design required for that little creature to fly like that points to one incredible aeronautic Engineer. Of course there is also the long straw-like beak of the hummingbird that needed to be incorporated into the design in order to provide the fuel needed to maintain such energy output.
Even a casual look at the created things that surround us everyday reveals a God of order, design, efficiency, balance, sophistication, diversity, and coordination, who designed the interdependence and complimentary interaction of the varied life on this planet. These characteristics are some of the attributes of God that we cannot see, but which become obvious as we look at what He created. Just as we can deduce some things about a culture that makes particular cars, machines, or watches, we can also deduce some things about God by examining the things He has designed and made.
Paul said that we also get insights into the power of God when we look at nature. The power required to create the earth is incredible. But then the earth is just one tiny part of a vast universe that this same Creator designed and produced. Not only did it require incredible energy and power to produce the created universe, it also takes enormous power to sustain all the systems involved in the ongoing existence of creation. Such comprehensive power is certainly far beyond human abilities.
We can discover some things about God’s divine nature through what He has made. God is eternal, having been the Creator and prime mover in creation who has been actively involved in sustaining creation ever since its inception, however long ago you believe that was. God is the great Provider, providing what is needed for life and the continuance of life. God is the One who is all wise, as demonstrated by being able to pre-design a universe in which the millions of parts helpfully interact for the sustaining of the whole. God is omniscient, knowing all things. He is omnipresent, able to be in all places at once. God is limitless in creativity, love, knowledge, and power. God is the one who imparts value to our lives and to His creation. He creates value in us, by valuing us. He is large enough to have conceived the big picture in creation, and small enough to have meticulously designed and produced atoms and molecules.
As we look at the created world around us, from the smallest systems and life-forms to the largest, from the simplest to the most complex, from the most docile to the most active, we get visible glimpses of the astounding nature and power of the invisible God. Have you seen evidence of God lately? Have you looked?
We can often learn things about a designer by looking at the finished product. This is one of the main points Paul is making in Romans 1:20 (N.A.S.), where he says: “For since the creation of the world His (God’s) invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they (people) are without excuse.” Paul is saying that people can know that there really is a God, and come to understand some basic characteristics about God, because the things created and designed give us insights into the Designer.
This passage says that three categories of information about God are revealed in the created world we live in. We can discern something of God’s invisible attributes by looking at the visible things He has designed and produced. Just like we can understand from German automobiles that most Germans value quality, enduring cars, we can understand from what God has made that God is a God of ingenious design. The sophistication of design obvious in plants, animals, people, and DNA, all point to a God who does not do things without thoughtful design. Providing for change through adaptation merely heightens the magnitude of His forethought and design capability.
This morning I sat on my deck and watched three hummingbirds competing for the nectar in our hummingbird feeder. I was awed by the speed and mobility of these little birds. They hover, dodge, or fly up-down-sideways-forwards-backwards. They could dodge a diving attack of another one traveling at speeds of 60 mph. The design required for that little creature to fly like that points to one incredible aeronautic Engineer. Of course there is also the long straw-like beak of the hummingbird that needed to be incorporated into the design in order to provide the fuel needed to maintain such energy output.
Even a casual look at the created things that surround us everyday reveals a God of order, design, efficiency, balance, sophistication, diversity, and coordination, who designed the interdependence and complimentary interaction of the varied life on this planet. These characteristics are some of the attributes of God that we cannot see, but which become obvious as we look at what He created. Just as we can deduce some things about a culture that makes particular cars, machines, or watches, we can also deduce some things about God by examining the things He has designed and made.
Paul said that we also get insights into the power of God when we look at nature. The power required to create the earth is incredible. But then the earth is just one tiny part of a vast universe that this same Creator designed and produced. Not only did it require incredible energy and power to produce the created universe, it also takes enormous power to sustain all the systems involved in the ongoing existence of creation. Such comprehensive power is certainly far beyond human abilities.
We can discover some things about God’s divine nature through what He has made. God is eternal, having been the Creator and prime mover in creation who has been actively involved in sustaining creation ever since its inception, however long ago you believe that was. God is the great Provider, providing what is needed for life and the continuance of life. God is the One who is all wise, as demonstrated by being able to pre-design a universe in which the millions of parts helpfully interact for the sustaining of the whole. God is omniscient, knowing all things. He is omnipresent, able to be in all places at once. God is limitless in creativity, love, knowledge, and power. God is the one who imparts value to our lives and to His creation. He creates value in us, by valuing us. He is large enough to have conceived the big picture in creation, and small enough to have meticulously designed and produced atoms and molecules.
As we look at the created world around us, from the smallest systems and life-forms to the largest, from the simplest to the most complex, from the most docile to the most active, we get visible glimpses of the astounding nature and power of the invisible God. Have you seen evidence of God lately? Have you looked?
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Welcome to Thinking Upward!
In this blog I will attempt to be a catalyst for upward thinking. Upward thinking is thinking that incorporates biblical Christian perspectives on numerous issues and subjects. I hope you will find Upward Thinking worth the read!
Ed Jordan
A Word for the Weary
Do you ever get weary? In reality, all of us do. Life is just not easy, and it takes its toll on us. We all face situations that are overwhelming, and the more we try to solve them, the more exhausted we become. We all have times of physical or mental fatigue, frustration from immovable obstacles in our paths, or discouragement. Did you know that God knows that we face these things, and that He has provided us a way to deal with these types of situations? In Isaiah 40:28-30 you can read what God spoke to Israel when they were in a time of despondency and discouragement. To those people in that situation, God spoke a message of hope and of a promise for renewed power.
Whenever we are stressed or tired, we are likely to be accident prone or to behave inappropriately. It is at these times that we cannot think straight, we are obsessed with our problems, and we are not paying much attention to what we are doing, or how we are doing it. It is also under stress that we often say things we don’t mean to say, and hurt the people we don’t want to hurt.
When we are overwhelmed with life’s problems, we need a resource larger than ourselves. The very reason we are stressed or overwhelmed is because we are dealing with something beyond our resources. It is at times like these that we are wise to turn to God for help. It is God who can renew our strength; it is God who can intervene in our physical situation; it is God who really has the power and wisdom to do something about the difficulties we find ourselves in. Of course, God expects our participation and cooperation as He becomes involved in the solution to our difficulties, but it is God who has the supernatural power to do what you and I are unable to do.
In Isaiah 40:28-30, God explains why we should turn to Him for help. God can help us because He is the everlasting God (He outlives our difficulties), because He is our Creator (He knows our capabilities and limitations, strengths and weaknesses), He never faints or becomes exhausted (He can be a perpetual source of energy for us), and there are no limitations upon His understanding (He understands what we are facing, and nothing can stump Him)! Furthermore, we are told to turn to God because He is willing and able to give us strength when we are weary or feeling powerless.
At the end of this passage, God gives us an excellent illustration of how He can help us. God says that if we will wait on the Lord (which literally means to trust God and intertwine our lives with God), He will renew our strength and give us the power to soar again like an eagle. I wish to illustrate this with an incident from my life.
I once had borrowed a kite, and while using it the string broke and the kite began to fly away. The kite had a bird with outstretched wings painted on it. I chased the runaway kite up the mountain, jumping sagebrush as I went, asking God to let the kite come back down so that I could return it to its owner. After pursuing the kite for perhaps a thousand feet, it suddenly began to descend, flapping and fluttering like a real bird that had lost the wind, or had a wounded wing. I was rejoicing, thanking God that the kite was coming down so that I could return it to its owner. When the kite got about fifty feet above the ground, suddenly a gush of wind swooped in under it, and snapped the wings out with a “pop.” The kite had suddenly been given new life as an updraft straightened its wings and caused it to begin to soar. It soared and soared, higher and higher. I watched the kite until it was so high, and so far away, that I could no longer see it.
I lost the kite, but learned a great lesson. When we are out of energy, flapping and fluttering as we try to stay aloft, if we will stretch out our wings and entrust our lives to the invisible God, the Holy Spirit of God will swoop into our lives, lift us up, and cause us to soar once again like an eagle.
Whenever we are stressed or tired, we are likely to be accident prone or to behave inappropriately. It is at these times that we cannot think straight, we are obsessed with our problems, and we are not paying much attention to what we are doing, or how we are doing it. It is also under stress that we often say things we don’t mean to say, and hurt the people we don’t want to hurt.
When we are overwhelmed with life’s problems, we need a resource larger than ourselves. The very reason we are stressed or overwhelmed is because we are dealing with something beyond our resources. It is at times like these that we are wise to turn to God for help. It is God who can renew our strength; it is God who can intervene in our physical situation; it is God who really has the power and wisdom to do something about the difficulties we find ourselves in. Of course, God expects our participation and cooperation as He becomes involved in the solution to our difficulties, but it is God who has the supernatural power to do what you and I are unable to do.
In Isaiah 40:28-30, God explains why we should turn to Him for help. God can help us because He is the everlasting God (He outlives our difficulties), because He is our Creator (He knows our capabilities and limitations, strengths and weaknesses), He never faints or becomes exhausted (He can be a perpetual source of energy for us), and there are no limitations upon His understanding (He understands what we are facing, and nothing can stump Him)! Furthermore, we are told to turn to God because He is willing and able to give us strength when we are weary or feeling powerless.
At the end of this passage, God gives us an excellent illustration of how He can help us. God says that if we will wait on the Lord (which literally means to trust God and intertwine our lives with God), He will renew our strength and give us the power to soar again like an eagle. I wish to illustrate this with an incident from my life.
I once had borrowed a kite, and while using it the string broke and the kite began to fly away. The kite had a bird with outstretched wings painted on it. I chased the runaway kite up the mountain, jumping sagebrush as I went, asking God to let the kite come back down so that I could return it to its owner. After pursuing the kite for perhaps a thousand feet, it suddenly began to descend, flapping and fluttering like a real bird that had lost the wind, or had a wounded wing. I was rejoicing, thanking God that the kite was coming down so that I could return it to its owner. When the kite got about fifty feet above the ground, suddenly a gush of wind swooped in under it, and snapped the wings out with a “pop.” The kite had suddenly been given new life as an updraft straightened its wings and caused it to begin to soar. It soared and soared, higher and higher. I watched the kite until it was so high, and so far away, that I could no longer see it.
I lost the kite, but learned a great lesson. When we are out of energy, flapping and fluttering as we try to stay aloft, if we will stretch out our wings and entrust our lives to the invisible God, the Holy Spirit of God will swoop into our lives, lift us up, and cause us to soar once again like an eagle.
Helping Others See God!
Do you need glasses to see clearly? Many people today require some magnifying device, called either eyeglasses or contact lenses! Eyeglasses help our eyes to focus correctly and help enlarge things that we can no longer see naturally. Binoculars work in much the same way. If you look through a pair of binoculars for that bull elk, everything looks like a blur until you get the focus correct. Once you get the focus correct you can count the points, check the condition of the coat, etc. It is helpful to use these magnifying and focusing devices in order to get a clear picture of what you are looking at.
In Psalm 34:3, the psalmist says, “Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!” (NAS) There are many people in this world who only see a blur when they are looking for God. They can’t find Him in the midst of life’s difficulties, or among the myriad of things flooding their view. That is why it is important for those who know God to help magnify the Lord! It is not that God is too small for people to see. It is that they can’t focus enough to cut out the flood of superfluous images that make it hard for them to see God. Thus, one of our tasks as Christians is to help bring God into focus for others, so that they can see Him, come to believe in Him, and thus gain the wonderful benefits of living life in relationship with Jesus Christ. It is our privilege to adjust the focus on the binoculars, and hand them to those who do not know Jesus, that they might get a glimpse of the God they are missing.
The psalmist’s prayer was that God would be magnified through his life. How do we magnify God for others, or bring God into focus so that others can see Him? We find the answers in verses one and two of the 34th Psalm. In verse one we are instructed to bless the LORD at all times. To bless means to “speak well about” someone, to speak good things about the person. Thus at all times we are to speak well of God and point out the good things about God’s nature and God’s activities. We are to continually speak of the goodness and kindness of God. When we do this, we help bring God into focus for others.
Verse one also tells us to have God’s praise continually in our mouths. Praise is happily giving the credit to God for what just happened in your life. When good things happen, praise God for His intervention and blessings! When seemingly bad things happen, praise God that He is in control, and that He has promised that He can make all things work together to a good result for those who love Him! As we praise God for the things He does for us everyday, others’ attention is drawn to the fact that they just experienced an intervention of God. It brings God’s reality and daily activities into focus, so that others can realize that our God lives, acts, and intervenes on our behalf!
One other way we can bring God into focus is by making God that which we boast about. In verse two the psalmist says that his soul shall boast in the Lord, and other people who recognize their own need for God, will hear of his dependence upon God and be glad themselves. When people come to understand that God is the reason for any success we have, the source of our blessings, the source of our wisdom, and the sustainer of our lives, then God will be brought into focus in their consciousness as well. Others may not respond by embracing our God, but they will find it difficult to deny that God is real and active in our lives!
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have the privilege and responsibility to help bring God into focus for others. We can do this by continually saying good things about our God who is always so good in His dealings with us, by giving God the praise and credit for His interventions and blessings in our lives, and by making it obvious that God is the most important person in our lives. As we do this, God is magnified and brought into focus, and it is easier for everyone to see God and His activities in the daily experiences of our lives! Magnify the LORD!
In Psalm 34:3, the psalmist says, “Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!” (NAS) There are many people in this world who only see a blur when they are looking for God. They can’t find Him in the midst of life’s difficulties, or among the myriad of things flooding their view. That is why it is important for those who know God to help magnify the Lord! It is not that God is too small for people to see. It is that they can’t focus enough to cut out the flood of superfluous images that make it hard for them to see God. Thus, one of our tasks as Christians is to help bring God into focus for others, so that they can see Him, come to believe in Him, and thus gain the wonderful benefits of living life in relationship with Jesus Christ. It is our privilege to adjust the focus on the binoculars, and hand them to those who do not know Jesus, that they might get a glimpse of the God they are missing.
The psalmist’s prayer was that God would be magnified through his life. How do we magnify God for others, or bring God into focus so that others can see Him? We find the answers in verses one and two of the 34th Psalm. In verse one we are instructed to bless the LORD at all times. To bless means to “speak well about” someone, to speak good things about the person. Thus at all times we are to speak well of God and point out the good things about God’s nature and God’s activities. We are to continually speak of the goodness and kindness of God. When we do this, we help bring God into focus for others.
Verse one also tells us to have God’s praise continually in our mouths. Praise is happily giving the credit to God for what just happened in your life. When good things happen, praise God for His intervention and blessings! When seemingly bad things happen, praise God that He is in control, and that He has promised that He can make all things work together to a good result for those who love Him! As we praise God for the things He does for us everyday, others’ attention is drawn to the fact that they just experienced an intervention of God. It brings God’s reality and daily activities into focus, so that others can realize that our God lives, acts, and intervenes on our behalf!
One other way we can bring God into focus is by making God that which we boast about. In verse two the psalmist says that his soul shall boast in the Lord, and other people who recognize their own need for God, will hear of his dependence upon God and be glad themselves. When people come to understand that God is the reason for any success we have, the source of our blessings, the source of our wisdom, and the sustainer of our lives, then God will be brought into focus in their consciousness as well. Others may not respond by embracing our God, but they will find it difficult to deny that God is real and active in our lives!
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have the privilege and responsibility to help bring God into focus for others. We can do this by continually saying good things about our God who is always so good in His dealings with us, by giving God the praise and credit for His interventions and blessings in our lives, and by making it obvious that God is the most important person in our lives. As we do this, God is magnified and brought into focus, and it is easier for everyone to see God and His activities in the daily experiences of our lives! Magnify the LORD!
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