This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalms 118:24).
If 1 is awful and 10 is fantastic, on a scale of 1 to 10, how are you feeling today?
It is at least an implication, if not a direct command, of this text to find something in each day to rejoice about. Learning to rejoice in difficult circumstances is a skill not taught in public schools, or any other school* for that matter, yet it is a basic skill for success in life. Check out the biographies of successful people and see if that is not the case. It should be taught across the curriculum. I can see it now, a unit of "Rejoicing in Physics."
Our prayer request for each day should be, "Help me to see the good in this day."
Grace&Peace,
Tom
*Once in a while Sunday schools touch on it.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
A WORD TO A FRIEND
I received word from a friend today that death over took her brother very unexpectedly. These words are for her and for all and for all who are dealing with grief:
The Lord is near to the broken hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalms 34:18-19).
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The Lord is near to the broken hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalms 34:18-19).
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Friday, January 23, 2009
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SINK IN THE SEA OF GOD'S LOVE
"Thou hast made us like sheep for slaughter, and hast scattered us among the nations, Thou hast sold thy people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them. Thou hast made us the taunt of our neighbors; the derision and scorn of those about us, Thou hast made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples . . ." (Psalm 44:11-14).
I had the honor of officiating my uncle Harry's funeral on Monday. He would have been 101 years of age in April. Harry Warren was my uncle by marriage, having been married to my mother's sister, Joyce, who passed away 16 years ago.
The Scripture text I used for the funeral sermon was from Romans 8:31-39. The text is very comforting, speaking about nothing being able to separate us from the love of God, except that in the middle of the text Paul uses this quote from Psalm 44, ". . .we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." That has always been a difficult text for me. How could the apostle Paul ruin such a beautiful thought about God's love by adding such a negative thought?
One of the reasons I believe that the Bible is truly the word of God is that it truly reveals and recognizes the pain of humanity. People are not condemned for expressing their hurt and anger to God. How could God allow such talk to be expressed to Him as it is in Psalm 44? He does because He understands our pain and grief! And do you know what? HE STILL LOVES US!!!
"No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. For I am sure that neither death nor life; angels or principalities; things present or things to come; nor powers; nor height nor depth; nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord" (Romans 8:27-29).
So,what I thought was negative is really a positive. Even when we are angry with God, that cannot separate us from His love. Almost exactly a year ago, January 19th, I was swimming on the Dead Sea. It is impossible to sink in the Dead Sea. I do not swim very well, so for me it was very comforting to swim in waters that I could trust to hold me up. It the same way, it is impossible to sink in the sea of God's love.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
I had the honor of officiating my uncle Harry's funeral on Monday. He would have been 101 years of age in April. Harry Warren was my uncle by marriage, having been married to my mother's sister, Joyce, who passed away 16 years ago.
The Scripture text I used for the funeral sermon was from Romans 8:31-39. The text is very comforting, speaking about nothing being able to separate us from the love of God, except that in the middle of the text Paul uses this quote from Psalm 44, ". . .we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." That has always been a difficult text for me. How could the apostle Paul ruin such a beautiful thought about God's love by adding such a negative thought?
One of the reasons I believe that the Bible is truly the word of God is that it truly reveals and recognizes the pain of humanity. People are not condemned for expressing their hurt and anger to God. How could God allow such talk to be expressed to Him as it is in Psalm 44? He does because He understands our pain and grief! And do you know what? HE STILL LOVES US!!!
"No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. For I am sure that neither death nor life; angels or principalities; things present or things to come; nor powers; nor height nor depth; nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord" (Romans 8:27-29).
So,what I thought was negative is really a positive. Even when we are angry with God, that cannot separate us from His love. Almost exactly a year ago, January 19th, I was swimming on the Dead Sea. It is impossible to sink in the Dead Sea. I do not swim very well, so for me it was very comforting to swim in waters that I could trust to hold me up. It the same way, it is impossible to sink in the sea of God's love.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
TO BE WITH 4
"'Behold, the Virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which translated means, 'God with us'" (Matthew 1:23).
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17).
"Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest . . . For since He himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:17-18).
The testimony of Scripture is clear. God wants to be with us, not just in a theoretical theology, but in a tangible reality! God became flesh, like you and me--He knows what it is like to be human! He is on your side! His Spirit walks along side you, making provision for your life. Not only that, He desires to live in you and strengthen you with might in your inner self IF you surrender to His will.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
I'm not sure if "To Be With" was a random thought or one that the Lord placed in my mind for me to write about. However, if anything I have written about "To Be With" has helped you, I am sure it was the latter!
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17).
"Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest . . . For since He himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:17-18).
The testimony of Scripture is clear. God wants to be with us, not just in a theoretical theology, but in a tangible reality! God became flesh, like you and me--He knows what it is like to be human! He is on your side! His Spirit walks along side you, making provision for your life. Not only that, He desires to live in you and strengthen you with might in your inner self IF you surrender to His will.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
I'm not sure if "To Be With" was a random thought or one that the Lord placed in my mind for me to write about. However, if anything I have written about "To Be With" has helped you, I am sure it was the latter!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
TO BE WITH 3
"Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4).
A great many marriages fail; some as a result of addictions, some as a result of abuse and some as a result of affairs. When I see clients who see themselves as victims of a spouse's failures, at some point in the counseling process I always ask them, "What did you contribute to your spouse's failure?" Every apparently "Innocent victim" needs to do some honest self-examination to consider the possibility that he or she contributed something to the failures of the spouse.
Could it have been the lack of real presence? How can you make love to a spouse whose mind is a million miles away at work? How can you really be with some one who is a constant critic? These defile the marriage bed too because they prevent two people from really being with each other.
While there is no sufficient cause for sexual marital infidelity, abuse and addictions, yet the infidelities of workaholism, negative criticism or other-people pleasing can surely be contributing factors.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
A great many marriages fail; some as a result of addictions, some as a result of abuse and some as a result of affairs. When I see clients who see themselves as victims of a spouse's failures, at some point in the counseling process I always ask them, "What did you contribute to your spouse's failure?" Every apparently "Innocent victim" needs to do some honest self-examination to consider the possibility that he or she contributed something to the failures of the spouse.
Could it have been the lack of real presence? How can you make love to a spouse whose mind is a million miles away at work? How can you really be with some one who is a constant critic? These defile the marriage bed too because they prevent two people from really being with each other.
While there is no sufficient cause for sexual marital infidelity, abuse and addictions, yet the infidelities of workaholism, negative criticism or other-people pleasing can surely be contributing factors.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Sunday, January 11, 2009
TO BE WITH 2
"Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" (Amos 3:3).
Taking a journey with another person requires a certain level of agreement, depending on the kind of journey that is about to be traveled. Going on a tour of the Holy Land with a group does not require the same level of agreement and commitment as going on a life journey of marriage.
On the issue of defining marriage as a faith relationship between a man and a woman, I would gladly stand with a Mormon. On the sanctity of life issue I would gladly stand shoulder to shoulder with a Roman Catholic even though with both Mormons and Roman Catholics I have some serious theological differences and could not travel the whole faith journey with them. Just because I cannot travel the whole faith journey with them does not mean that I cannot be thankful for the positive faith influences that they bring to our culture.
"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?" (II Corinthians 6:14).
When it comes to life journeys, like marriage, business partnerships or even intimate friendships, there, of necessity, has to be common values, a common faith, a common way of looking at life. Often these days, a common religious faith is discounted, believing that love conquers all. But, in all too many of these marriages there is a great deal of unhappiness because of the differences of faith and values.
There is an old adage that says, "opposites attract." Actually it is true, and for a while it does seem exciting, but what is also true is that a relationship with another has a much greater chance of success over the long term if the people in the relationship are more alike rather than different! Relationships in which the partners are very much alike still have enough differences to make things exciting!
To really be with another in a relationship, find someone who is more alike who is more alike rather than different!
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Taking a journey with another person requires a certain level of agreement, depending on the kind of journey that is about to be traveled. Going on a tour of the Holy Land with a group does not require the same level of agreement and commitment as going on a life journey of marriage.
On the issue of defining marriage as a faith relationship between a man and a woman, I would gladly stand with a Mormon. On the sanctity of life issue I would gladly stand shoulder to shoulder with a Roman Catholic even though with both Mormons and Roman Catholics I have some serious theological differences and could not travel the whole faith journey with them. Just because I cannot travel the whole faith journey with them does not mean that I cannot be thankful for the positive faith influences that they bring to our culture.
"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?" (II Corinthians 6:14).
When it comes to life journeys, like marriage, business partnerships or even intimate friendships, there, of necessity, has to be common values, a common faith, a common way of looking at life. Often these days, a common religious faith is discounted, believing that love conquers all. But, in all too many of these marriages there is a great deal of unhappiness because of the differences of faith and values.
There is an old adage that says, "opposites attract." Actually it is true, and for a while it does seem exciting, but what is also true is that a relationship with another has a much greater chance of success over the long term if the people in the relationship are more alike rather than different! Relationships in which the partners are very much alike still have enough differences to make things exciting!
To really be with another in a relationship, find someone who is more alike who is more alike rather than different!
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
TO BE WITH
How to Be Fun to Be With - wikiHow
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).
Expressing myself, either in writing or orally, is not easy for me and yet this skill is essential to what I do as a pastor and counselor. Often, what I write here is the rough draft of what will follow for a devotional or a sermon--it is part of a creative process for me. Such is what follows. If it seems not to make sense, or be disconnected, that is why. If you follow me all the way through this, perhaps you will get a clue as to how my mind works.
If a "hit man" was trying to discover my routine so that he could "take me out," he wouldn't have to work very hard. Twice a day I walk my dog, Obie, for a mile, most usually early in the morning and late in the evening--I would be an easy target. It was during one of those walks with Obie that I was thinking about possible topics to write about that this phrase came to mind completely "out of the blue," "To be with." I do like the challenge of making something meaningful come from a random thought, and yet, was it a random thought? I will be sharing some of my thoughts about what it means "to be with" in the next couple of posts.
The first part of "being with" has to do with being the kind of person one wants to be with. I "googled" the phrase "to be with" and one of the things I came up with was the article from wiki posted above. I thought it was good enough to share. However, if a person is a Christian, with the fruit of the Spirit growing in his life, there should be a winsomeness that makes him or her good to be with.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).
Expressing myself, either in writing or orally, is not easy for me and yet this skill is essential to what I do as a pastor and counselor. Often, what I write here is the rough draft of what will follow for a devotional or a sermon--it is part of a creative process for me. Such is what follows. If it seems not to make sense, or be disconnected, that is why. If you follow me all the way through this, perhaps you will get a clue as to how my mind works.
If a "hit man" was trying to discover my routine so that he could "take me out," he wouldn't have to work very hard. Twice a day I walk my dog, Obie, for a mile, most usually early in the morning and late in the evening--I would be an easy target. It was during one of those walks with Obie that I was thinking about possible topics to write about that this phrase came to mind completely "out of the blue," "To be with." I do like the challenge of making something meaningful come from a random thought, and yet, was it a random thought? I will be sharing some of my thoughts about what it means "to be with" in the next couple of posts.
The first part of "being with" has to do with being the kind of person one wants to be with. I "googled" the phrase "to be with" and one of the things I came up with was the article from wiki posted above. I thought it was good enough to share. However, if a person is a Christian, with the fruit of the Spirit growing in his life, there should be a winsomeness that makes him or her good to be with.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
