Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?   (Mat 6:26)

Continuing His lesson Jesus gives us an example from nature.

He asks us to consider our "value," to our Father.

Birds can't sow, reap or gather - yet they are provided for.

If you can't sow, reap or gather - does thin not suggest that God will feed (provide for) you?

Is this just about food?  I think not!  This is about value.

Actually I believe it's about who we look to in order to determine our value.

Birds?  I'm of greater value that birds?  Actually the idea here is that we are "of so much MORE value" than birds. 

Birds have a role in God's creation no less critical to the sustaining of that creation than anything else.  God maintains everything they need to fulfill their role in His creation.  There are lots of birds - that takes a lot of maintaining.  It's not a simple thing nor is it insignificant!

Then there is "us."  We were God's viceroys in the Garden.  Note:

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 
(Gen 1:26)

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 
(Gen 2:15)

God's intention for us was to be His means of maintaining His creation.  We were to work and keep the garden which in turn would provide for all the creatures of the creation.  Pretty important stuff!  

Now, in this fallen world our role has changed.  Now we are called to show forth His glory, to be holy as He is.  We are his witnesses, living testaments to His glory and goodness.  How much value can we put on that?

Consider:

". . . . when He comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed."   (2Th 1:10)

Whose "value" do we choose accept?  His or the world's?  Who do we look to?  How do we measure it?  

The redemption of the creation - the birds - cost Him His Son.  However the price was demanded for our sin not for the birds' sins (birds don't sin they just suffer its effects).  So He paid the demanded price - for OUR sin - that He might redeems His creation.

Where in our fleshly spectrum of value do we really put that?  Is it first or just a close second?  Do we really accept that we are valuable enough for God to give His Son?  Are we willing to accept that his love for us was so great that he sent His Son to be a man, to suffer and be tempted as a man and then be killed as a criminal?  How valuable does that make us?

Are we willing to accept and live with Jesus as our total net worth?  Are we willing to be rejected and scorned and put down by the world so that we might live out His gracious gift for and to us?

Or do we play with the world's criteria for worth and value measuring our lives by their standards?  And how well have those standards served Him or His creation?  How cruelly have the standards of the world dealt with the world?

Think on what God has done for and in you.  Consider what you might be tempted to trade it for.  In times of weakness and suffering it is not uncommon for us to fall into "if only," and to see ourselves as worthless failures.  It is a struggle to cling to God's love and the value He has given us - He has made us ultimately valuable - He has given us a worth beyond words - Pray and think on that.

Father,

In these tough times I see my sin and my errors.  I see how I have been deceived and schemed by the world, the flesh and the devil.  Now, in my distress those three cruel enemies taunt me and pour shame upon me.  Help me Father, to cling to Your gracious gift as the only thing that matters.  Let the cruel accusations and aspersions of those three enemies drop from my mind and heart.  Deafen my ears to them, let me be comforted and let by Your Word and Your Spirit as I seek to  follow You in whatever circumstance I find myself in.

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.   (Pro 30:7-9)

In the name of Jesus and for His glory, amen.

Anxious?

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?    (Mat 6:24-25)

I am astounded at the "therefore."  Jesus has called His hearers to a point of decision, Mammon or God.  It's a hard choice in that our service to Mammon can be so very very subtle and has roots running deep into our flesh.  We can make the good choice but that only initiates the hard work of "rooting out" Mammon-ness.

But having called them to a point of decision He goes on as though they had indeed made the right choice.  He is telling us, "Having chosen God over Mammon do not be anxious about your life."  then he enumerates many of the things we do ge anxious about.  I hesitate to see this list as definitive (that is limited only to what is here) but rather I am tempted to expand it this way:

"Do not be anxious about those material things you need God to provide so that you may serve and honor Him while you are here."

I am reminded of Abraham when he was called to sacrifice Issac.  I can think of no greater "hard place" to be than the one he found himself in and yet he states:

Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." (Gen 22:8)

As i read this I wonder if we might consider that God will provide Himself with what is needed for His children to live in obedience and service.  The twist here is that God is providing it for Himself to us for His glory and honor.  Hope that's not too weird I don't want to start a theological fuss!

But if everything God does (and calls us to do) is for His glory - can't we see that he is providing it for Himself to us so we might glorify Him?

He KNOWS what we need - we THINK we know what we need.  See the difference?

Jesus asks a question we need to prayerfully consider and seek the Spirits guidance concerning:

"Is not life more than.....?"

Isn't it?  Really?

Please know I am aware of how tough a question that is and how so very much works to keep us from accepting this and living it out.  I am especially aware at how parents struggle so very much to raise their children to know this and live this.  We are in prayer for you all - please be in prayer for us as well.

msanders.bc@gmail.com

A Deeper View

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Mat 6:24)

"Money"  mammōnas:  Wealth personified; avarice

Ouch!

Most definitions of avarice say it's "extreme" - excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain : greediness.

But is that what Jesus is actually saying?  I don't think so.  I believe He's making a clear comparison between who/what we look to for our providence.  In the context of this, even the slightest "avarice" is extreme.

You don't have to be a greedy-wealth driven person to fit into what Jesus is talking about.  If I am looking to "money" as the answer to my problems and not to God, then I am double-mastered - actually I am serving Mammon.  

Paul writes:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.  (1Ti 6:10)

The author of Hebrews writes:

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  (Heb 13:5)

I have to say I am learning what Paul means by, "pierced themselves with many pangs (sorrows)."  I'm getting pang pierced quite regularly.  

I am especially sorry for all the waste of His provision.  Oh boy - let's leave it at that.  But being "sorry" isn't the point.  Repentance is the point.  I have to turn away from that oh so common money thing to Him.  I have to embrace Him and His promise and accept His will for me.

There was an old saying in my pre-disciple days that we "hippies" used - I will leave that to your imagination but - in this case I'll say, "God will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no God."

Jesus presents us with a choice - and for some it's a big and deep choice.  We have to really examine ourselves (a good thing anytime) for what pieces of avarice/mammon are tucked away in our heads and hearts.  

I suggest - from experience (current experience) that we look for envy, dis-satisfaction, grumbling, fear, anger, etc and see it they are connected to mammon.  

Are we dis-satisfied with God's current provision?  Are we fearful of our future known and unknown needs?  Are we, like Israel in the OT when threatened by invasion, looking to make unwise alliances?  Are we, like they, seeking some thing other than God in our need?

It's common to us but it isn't best.  We all know that.  We all know that God is the loving and gracious Shepherd.  We all know that He gave His best to make us His and that this is the greatest provision we could ask for.  We all know these things - but sometimes He loves us enough to take us to a place where we see our sinful seeking in other places.  He does that to halt us in our tracks and bring us back to His way - the only true way.

Sometimes it feels like He is teaching me to be a little child.  I cried in Patti's arms the other night and prayed to Him for to comfort and strengthen us in His Way.  I felt like a weenie - but I realized I was learning to come to Him as a little child who is utterly dependent upon Him for EVERYTHING.

Just goes to show that we can know something - and yet have to KNOW it better - deeper - more childishly.

Let's examine ourselves and ask His Spirit to both guide us and comfort us as we look for those thin, weak places in our walk.  It's OK, He intendeds to fatten them up and build some muscle.  He is never done with us - which really is good news!

You, those of you who can identify and those of you who don't yet - are in our prayers and  we are vaguely but faithfully lifting you up.  Remember it's "OUR Father ------"

Little blessings? 011613

I was just pondering how we talk about little blessings and big blessings.  

I came to the conclusion that there are no small blessings from God.  Our estimation of them is governed by our sense of need and the workings of the flesh.  

We also talk of "real" blessings.  What would those be?  Are there any un-real blessings?

I think we need to think about how we think about blessings.

What about you?

Interesting Distinction

As I read the Puritans I keep running up on two terms they use that I find a real aid to my understanding and prayer.  The words are "comfort," and "ease."  

In most of the works I've read, comfort is always used in the context of affliction and/or distress.  It is what God provides for us to persevere in our faithfulness.  This comfort may be found in scripture, it may be found in prayer, i may be found in faithful family and friends. It is, however, in the writings of the Puritans, found in times of difficulty.

Ease on the other hand is that condition which is a danger to the believer.  When we are at 'ease"we do not sense any challenge of affliction.  We are prosperous and contented with right where we are.  This is a very dangerous place.  Ease encourages a weakening of the believer in their duties.  Ease encourages a lessening of our watchfulness.  Ease encourages a lessening of our intentional growth in His likeness.  

Ease is a dangerous place.  Comfort is a difficult place.

Ease is when we forget we are engaged in a continuous battle with the world, the flesh and the devil.  We let our guard slip just a little bit.  We don't pray quite so often or passionately.  We are not in the Word quite so often.  We have a deceptive sense that everything is A-OK.  God is in His heaven and all is right with the world.

It is a hard thing when our ease is interrupted, when we have grown just lax enough for our loving Father to press us with His discipline.  We are shocked and dismayed.  We may grumble and murmur.  We can grow resentful and sinfully fearful.

It is here where we must seek His comfort and not His comfort alone but His instruction.  there is always something to learn when we are being disciplined.  Sometimes discovering the point of the discipline is comforting - sometimes it drives us to Him.

I would encourage you, if you are at ease, to consider the dangers.

I would encourage you, if you are in distress to not wait for it to drive you to Him but go to Him now and regularly.  Energize yourself in your duties, cling to His promise, look to Him for all things.


2 Corinthians 1:3-5 ESV
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. [5] For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

MS
msanders.bc@gmail.com

SHIP 005

SHIP 005

Duties
Prayer

Jesus said, "When you pray . . . ," not "If you pray. .  . " so it's a pretty good bet He expects us to be praying people.  And why would we not be.  Having access to the Throne of Grace is a great blessing and wonderful opportunity.  But, prayer can be tricky.

Huh????

Well, what is prayer?  Monologue?  Dialogue?  Petition?  Supplication? Praise?  Adoration?

Yep - that's it.

But for many folks it's a strange thing.  They struggle with the whole thing wanting to be sure they are heard and answered so they struggle to "get it right."

OK - a few basics.  Remember "who" you are talking to.  Remember you have every right to go to Him?  Remember that all prayers are heard and answered?  Graciously, there is no such thing as a "bad" prayer.

Jesus gave us a model to follow:  Matthew 6:7-13.  It's a very simple model.
Note the :  OUR Father part!  You are never praying alone!
Hallowing His name - thank You - thank You - You are the only God
Calling for His will to be done here - submission of all - especially "me"
Our daily needs - characterized by "bread"
Protection - from ourselves and "them" ;-}
Forgiveness- to receive and to give

We can even go to Paul for some direction:
Philippians 4:6 ESV
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

"prayer" - think worship
"supplication" think seeking, asking, entreating
"thanksgiving" - think acknowledging the source of ever blessing with gratitude
"let your requests be made known to God" - think - needs, desires, wants, questions, comments, etc.

In Matthew the model is "sandwiched" between two very important things:
Matthew 6:5-6 ESV
"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. [6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

and

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, [15] but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Vss. 5 and 6:  Simply, prayer is between you and Him.  We may indeed take part in public prayers but Jesus wants us to understand that we need to talk with God when we talk with God.  We don't want to entertain or impress - we want to talk with the one who love's us best, knows us best and wants what is best for us.  We need private prayer - !!!!

Vss.  14-15:   Ouch - but if we go to Him with a lack of both the desire and willingness to be forgiving than we are usurping His perogative and putting ourselves in His place.  We do not come to Him as equals but as adopted children, blessed beyond measure.  Harboring a refusal to forgive poisons our hearts and hence our thoughts and then our prayers.

Now, about the, "do not be anxious about anything" part in the Philippians passage.  it certainy enjoins us to not be sinfully anxious but anxiety is common for fallen - even redeemed fallen men and women.  I refer you to, Triumphing Over Sinful Fear, by John Flavel if you reallly want to gain a better understanding.

But, to continue, there is an aspect of the term used here that refers to, seeking to promote one's interests.  It may be that Paul is using this term in a broad sense to include both sinful fear and self-promoting prayer.  

Here's my struggle, maybe it's yours as well.  Consider that I have a need - perhaps a big need and it troubes my heart.  Now, God has promised that He will provide for my common needs - the basics.  But this need, though not fundamental, seems to me to be overwhelming.  I run the danger of this "need" distracting me to the point that i only see it.  This affects my praying.  I begin well but find myself "hung up" on this one thing becasue "to me" it seems more important than any other need and more important than what I've been promised.  So my praying is distracted and uneasy.  

I've also been brought to a point where I have to confess that I am wanting to live by sight much more than faith.  I really want to ask for an immediate answer and find myself praying more about how I desire God to solve the issue than submitting to His will in it.  I even find myself telling Him how He can meet the need - oh presumption yu are a curse.

"It's hard to be focused when you think your hair is on fire!"  Or - "It's hard to remember that the original intent was to drain the swamp when you're up to your elbows in alligators."  

Anxiety is common.  ANXIETY is not healthy either physically or spiritually.  But how many of us are able to just say, "God's in control," and move on?  Not many of us.  This is because our faith s weaker than we thought.  Not to worry - think mustard seed.  But god desires to grow our faith and how can He do that unless we find ourselves in a position where we have only Him?  

Faith is either true or false.  Weak and strong are measures of faith that is true - faith that is.  If you didn't have faith you couldn't have weak or baby faith.  So please do not make this "anxious" thing some self-condenmnatory hammer.  You believe and you are lerning to believe better, broader and bigger.  That is a good thing.

I have several clients who struggle with praying.  They are in situations and circumstances where there are lots of inner and outer distractions.  They begin their prayer well and then find themselves circling around one or to issues.  Here's what I suggested for them.
1.  Make a list - stick to the list.
2.  Read the Psalms as prayers.
3.  Find an mp3 or something where the Psalms are sung and sing them.
4.  When the big anxiety issue pops in your head - pray then - asking God to calm your heart and help you wait His pleasure.  This is my favorite.
5.  Ask Him to help you see why this "thing" is such a biggie for you - this is a very intersting thing to do and leads to some real insights into our deeper needs.
6.  KEEP A JOURNAL DAILY OF HOW HE HAS BLESSED YOU AND THOSE YOU KNOW- NOTHING IS TOO SMALL!
7.  I had a mentor who when he was ovewhelmed with things would simpy go out into the woods, sit on a log and pray, "God, it's Travis," and then just sit and enjoy his surroundings.

May God bless you in your prayers and from your prayers and keep you from sinful fear.

Finger Thinking 010513 A Certain Darkness

Finger Thinking 030513

There's a certain darkness
which some of us know.
It is just part of us
not flesh
but wounds
not sin
but the effects.
There is relief
but rarely
release.
We carry it
like a secret
ashamed
and afraid.
We pray
for healing
and yet
we hear "No."
So,
we keep going
forward
as best we can.
Walking towards the light
even if just on its fringe.
Wanting to know
it is OK
knowing it may not be
until the finishing is finished.
Most of us
hang on.
Some don't.
But we all know
He knows
and cares
and provides.
We can't escape the truth,
His truth.
We may not feel His love
but we know it.
We may not experience His joy
but His promise is enough.
It's harder
for us than for some
but we know it is harder
for others.
So we learn
to pray in a different way
for what we sometimes don;t know.
But we pray
knowing He hears
knowing He has a plan
and a purpose
and in that
we hope. 

010313

Journal 001

Oh Lord, what more do I need to learn before You deliver me from these shadows?
I know that You discipline Yur chidren out of love.
I know that we are those through who you manifest Your glory.
But Lord, it's is so hard when we don't see the why and how of either.

You teach us to trust You by our being in need of trusting You.
Sometimes that means hard and cold places.
But they are indeed hard and cold and frightening.

We are so prone to seek ways to placate You.
But that is our error, our flesh.
You are not a God like othere gods.
Who can be bought or bribed.

You are not a God like other gods who demand their pound of flesh.

Indeed, You have cancelled our debt.
Your Son has aid the price for our redemption.
We owe You nothing but love, thanks and duty.

Yet we are week and the flesh cries out to be heard.
The flesh, so steeped in the world, so intwined with covetousness,
cries out, "Lie, a lie, you have been a fool."

But Lord, our hearts know better though our flesh denies.
What help Oh Lord can You send as we stand in the shadows?
What is the Comforters comfort.
Is there no loner provision - Oh but there is.

Lord, we cry out to You for deliverance
from our troubes.
And yet we desire gretly to wait uon You
wonderous works.

When there is no comfort here,
we so long to be with You.
and yet even in that You command.
But our hearts weaken and we cry out.

We ask Your deliverance from our troubles,
provision to just be reieved of our anxiousness.
We beg Your mercy and blessing
yet we fear our duplicity in them.

Oh Lord - help us to see and feel
the comfort we know You have given
the comfort You are giving.

We have grow blind and insensitive.
We have grown weiry and weak.
Oh Lord, though our travail
may indeed be trivial
Yet is is travail and it is ours
and it hurts.

Comfort us
lead us out of these shadows
let us sit and labor in peace and strength.

Finger Thinking 122612

Luke 9:23 ESV
And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

"AND follow me"

Consecutive?  Concurrent?

How do we read this admonition?  Is it steps?  One big "happening?"

Can we "follow" Him without His call?  Without self-denial?  Without daily taking up our cross?

His call makes me His.  "It is finished."  But even though His work is finished for me it is not finished in me.  The denial and the taking up are both part and parcel of the journey - the following of Him.

At least in my experience they are.

Everyday I find that I forget that I am His and not my own.  Perhaps I do that because I know that such a surrender may result in a loss of comfort and ease in my life here.  Perhaps I am afraid of that loss to too great a degree.  Perhaps I am yet too attached to me and my material ease and comfort.  Well - we both know there is no "perhaps" in it.  There is little question of my attachment and my struggle with it.

A poor man can be proud and possessive of his poverty.  He can cling to and depend upon what little he has and hoard it jealously.  He can clasp it in an iron hand refusing to let God remove it so that it might be replaced.  He indeed has a "death grip" upon what little he has.

The rich man may cling to all he has just a passionately as the poor man clings to his little.

But for most of us there is a middle place.  We will "give up" just so much before we begin to balk and sulk.  I know I do.  I find that I cling to too much even if it's just a little.  That "little" is mine and as long as it is, I think I am OK.  Of course, that in itself shows me that I have a long way to go.

Remember the poster of the kitten clinging to the limb?  Remember the caption, "Just hang in there?"  Well, that's where I find myself all too often.  I'm clinging to the dubious security I have (the limb) and refusing so let it go so that I might trust Him.  My "hanging in there" smacks too much of "hanging on to."

Now, on the other end of that stick is a "letting go" that's just as bad.  It's a self-motivated letting go - a proud and resentful - "Well, just take it all then!"  It's an angry and proud surrender (??) to God that really is no surrender at all.  It is more of a throwing whatever I do have back into God's face.  It isn't a pretty or a useful thing.

Paul wrote:
1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, [7] for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. [8] But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

So, there is no gain and perhaps even loss in godliness without contentment?  Mmmm, Ouch!  There certainly can be no true value in contentment without godiliness.

Ahhh but then there is vers 8.  Food and clothing = content.  Am I willing?  I can say that, but will I accept that?  Or, do I have a few other "buts," I'd like to throw in?  Oh how I wish I didn't!!!!  But, I know I do - even if I'm being very effective at not seeing them right now.

Here's my quandry.  What, if anything (stuff, aspirations, feelings, associations, $), does God want me to give up?  It is clear from the Gospels that following Him carried with it the very real potential of giving up stuff - but what do "I" need to give up?

Then, is it actually "stuff" He wants me to give up or is it an attitude, thought process, false belief, sinful fear---------?  I think of Job and I shiver.  Job has got me beat hands down!  Yet in his loss he struggles with everything but trusting God.  It's almost viscseral to read, "Even if He kills me, I will trust in Him."

Maybe the struggle is between having everything we want and being dead.  I feel like a petulant child fussing over surrendering toys I haven't played with in ages - "Well just take it all - all of it - I don't want any of it.  Why don't you just kill me?"

Wow - are you as suprised at the depth of my shallowness as I am?  And you know what's even more disturbing?  So far I haven't "lost" anything.  Oh, we can see potential even probable loss looming ahead of us but so far - we really haven't "lost" anything we've noticed.

Ok - maybe that's not true.  We have lost (or at least are losing - letting go of) trusting in others, even trusting in ourselves instead of Him.  We have faced the fact that "chariots" are not the answer.  We've lost that, "I'm counting on you," attitude towards others and ourselves.  We've discovered that "faith" belongs only in Him - not in friends, associates - not even those with whom and for whom we've sacrifced and worked and prayed.  "Chariots," can't work when the other option is Him.  And making aliances with "Egypt" won't work ethier.

We, like so many of you, are waiting - or at least struggling to wait - upon Him to do what we should depend upon Him alone to do.  We are getting to know the feeling David must have felt when those about him mocked asking, "Where's your God?"

Do you feel like the only answer to that mocking is, "I don't know."  Or perhaps an overly cocky, "He is there."  Or do you just pray no one asks you that quesiton?

Times are tough and I believe that especially for believers it will get tougher.  Yes, I mean that in a material way but it will also be a tough time for our faith and our faithfulness.

Not naked and not starving.  If that's what He has for me will I be faithful in it?  Right now, all I can say is that I want to be - I hope to be - but I will not do it by my own ability or power.  So, like many many of you, I sit and pray and wait, fighting myself to trust only in Him.

Examine yourself - Contentment 001

I'm beginning a series on Contentment.  Why"  Well because "things" are tough for a lot of us right now and if you're like Patti and I, it's is really easy to get bogged down in them.  I'm not writing form some ivory tower but from the trenches where "hand to mouth," is a very  uncomfortable reality.  We are struggling on living "God to mouth," and it's tough - contentment is a real challenge.

Examine yourself - Contentment  001

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  (Philippians 4:11-13 ESV)

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.   (1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" 

(Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV)

One of the signs of our maturing in the faith is contentment.  I don't know about you - but for me that's a tough one.  From my studies I see contentment as the resulting sense or composure of trusting in God's goodness and the goodness of His providence.

If you read the verse above closely it is obvious that what battles against contentment is - well - stuff.  By stuff I mean everything in this world from food to all that neat goodies.  Regardless of the stuff we look at (food or cultural signs of prosperity) contentment is tough.

Contentment is not just sucking it up and carrying on.  There is a definitive element of satisfaction in true contentment.  It's a "This is fine," perspective on our present conditions and provision.  Like I said, it's tough.

Of course the clearest demonstration of the lack of contentment is seen in Israel's exodus from Egypt.  Once they were out they immediately began to grumble and mummer against God.  Basically they felt that all He had done was not sufficient for them to trust Him and they didn't see what He was doing as "good enough."

They "murmured," or "grumbled," against God and His provision.

They were DIS-contented.  Discontent has within it elements of bitterness and anger so we may assume that contentment is, at least in part, an absence of bitterness and anger.

But here's my conundrum.  I find that event though I don't express bitterness and anger at God's provision I am still anxious and fretful about it.  I also have to admit that when His provision is not what I wanted or expected I fall into a rather grudging "suck it up and take it," mode.

What I want to do is to live with praise and thanksgiving in my heart for what He has given me right now.  That is number one.  Then, number two is to joyfully and expectantly look forward to whatever He has for me in tomorrow.  

I find the worst word that can com to my mind is, "but."  

BUT;

It's not what I wanted

It's not what I expected

It's not what I needed

It's no what "I" ---------

BUT:

Will He provide for this need I know it coming and what do I do if He doesn't?

Will He give enough?

Will He determine that I am to go through a trial concerning this?

Then there are all the possible negative scenarios that may result.  Then there are all the possible ways I can fix it.  The there are all the reasons that He should just ell me that I made my bed and I'll have to lie in it - alone.  Then there are all the reasons I know I don't deserve for Him to do anything.

Yeah, it kind of snowballs in your head and weighs heavily on your heart.  

Working backwards, the passage from Hebrews is a help.  The writer begins with the admonition to, "Keep your life free from love of money,"  Nice translation but a little short.  Actually the word means "unavoritious," or "un-coveting."  of course the idea is to not love money but it is bigger - much bigger than that.

Money is a means - a means of power and a means of provision.  This is why Jesus tells us we can either love Mammon (money) or God but not both.  We can get want we want and need via money (a mere means)- or we can get what we truly need (wants are another matter) from God.

Here's the conflict.  Money I can "get" or God I must trust.

So this is where we begin - hope you'll follow along!

This and That 110912

"Preserve my understanding from subtilty of error, my affections from love of idols, my character from stain of vice, my profession from every form of evil. May I engage in nothing in which I cannot implore Thy blessing, and in which I cannot invite Thy inspection. Prosper me in all lawful undertakings, or prepare me for disappointments.  give me neither poverty not riches. Feed me food convenient for me lest I be full and deny Thee and say, Who is my Lord? or be poor, and steal. and take Thy name in vain." Puritan Prayers

My heart aches to carve this prayer upon it.  Oh, how I desire to make it mine and to slowly and deliberately let it, with the help of the Spirit, so alter my mind that I care for nothing but Him and His.

How far have I come that such a prayer seems alien to me?  How far have I to go until such thoughts come to my mind and such words to my lips.  My failure in this overwhelms me and troubles my soul.  I may pray it or the like - but words are words - it is the Spirit in and of this prayer I crave.

Michael "sheepdog" Sanders
ms@tc2v1.com

Peter's Pen 1 Peter 5:6

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  ESV

Redundant?  Perhaps but don't we all need t be reminded - often and loudly?

It is God's hand under which we humble ourselves.  It is a mighty hand.  Because it is a mighty hand it will provide all we need.

We can and should cast all our anxieties on Him.  This word anxieties carries the important idea of "distractions."  That is the cares that distract us from serving Him.  That is a big and long list.  

This also points us to what should be our main focus, "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." (WCF)  It is enough (as we will see) for Satan to distract us from our duties and obligations, from our service to Him and one another.  That's all Satan needs to do - that is to get our attention focused on our lack, our need, even our desires and off of Him, His grace, His promises, His power and His provision.

"Keep your eye on the ball," is not a bad admonition (I prefer it to keep your eye on the prize).  If our desire is to "put it our of the park," for Him then all Satan had to do is distract us from the pitch and we'll swing and miss.  

It is not just tough times that Satan uses and it is not just good times either.  There are those middle of the road times when we are neither in great need nor great prosperity.  For many of us, these are the times we grow slack and perhaps a little cocky.  We tend to prefer to have things on cruise control.  That way we can attend to other things.  They may be Ok things, they may be good things- but if they are not focus on Him they are just distractions.  And oh the multiplicity of distractions the world, the flesh and the Devil proved.

It is important that we keep our hearts under His scrutiny.  John Flavel in his book, Keeping the Heart, goes into great detail concerning the difficulty and imperative of this duty.  Our heart are easily distracted even mis-directed.  Though they are His they are prone to wander towards things necessary.  The bright and shiny things are as distracting as the dark and gloomy ones.

That is where remembering our moral littleness needs to be tattooed on our hearts.  This is a constant duty, keeping the heart.  We need to keep it for Him and from sin.  the idea of "keeping" is related to the old "keeps" that castles had.  The "keep" was the last bastion of safety when the castle was attacked.  Once the walls or gates were breached everyone fled to the keep.

Typically the keep was a rounded tower several stories high.  It was entered via a stairway made of wood.  Once everyone was inside the stairs were burned or otherwise dismantled denying access to the attackers.  The "keep" was well supplied with food and water and often had some secret passage for those inside to use for escape.

Such is the keeping of the heart.  It assumes the walls and gates are or will be breached and provides us with protection.  We live in hostile territory.  We are, whether we admit and accept it or not, surrounded by barbarians who are bent on conquering us.  Though we know they can never separate us from the love of God they are content to separate us from a sense of the love of God.  They are content with tipping the scales in favor of fearing them and away from trusting God.  They desire to destroy our effectiveness by distraction and distress.  hence, we must work to keep our hearts safe and protected in Him.

Now a "keep" is a small and confining place.  But it is a safe place.  Such is our life in Him.  It is small and confined.  There are many places we can not go and many things we can not do because we are in His "keep." But outside the "keep" our enemies wait.  Though were ever we go He is with us and we are in His care we also know that there are places of great danger and things to do that carry great hazard.  Why dear brothers and sisters would we desire to venture beyond the "keep?"

Humility - casting all our cares on Him - keeps us in His "keep."  Pride makes us think we can venture forth into the enemies camp and not be harmed.  Foolish, foolish pride convinces us that we have reached a point where our need for Him is somehow diminished, that we can handle somethings on our own.  Foolish, foolish pride.

Yes, we might be thrown into a lion's den.  We might be thrown into a fiery furnace.  But we are never told to go looking for a den to invade or a furnace to fling ourselves into.  

Only foolish, vain pride could ever move us to that.  There is a story of a believer who during English Civil War cried out, "Forward. God is on our side!"  He mounted the barricades behind which he had been safe.  After only a few paces he was cut down by a cannon ball.  

Pride, even in a believer, is still pride.

This and That 090112 Fear (2)

Second, we must not expect a perfect cure for our fear in this life. While there are dangers and enemies, some fear will work in the best hearts. If our faith could be perfected, our fear would be perfectly cured. But while there is much weakness in our faith, there will be much strength in our fear. For those who are naturally timid, who have more of this passion in their constitution, and for those in whom melancholy is a rooted and chronic disease, it will be difficult to remove fear and dejection. But they will be greatly relieved from this tyranny and enabled to possess their souls in much more comfort and tranquility by using the helps and means that follow.   Flavel, John (2011-12-27). Triumphing Over Sinful Fear (Puritan Treasures for Today) (Kindle Locations 798-802). Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition.

I wrote yesterday concerning fear and I do so again today.  Fear, it’s sinfulness ofrblessedness, depends upon the object of that fear.  To fear God is good in the life of anyone for it brings him or her closer to God who is the only source of all things but principally redemption.  To fear man or circumstances, need and what or even death is natural but turns sinful only when it drives us to doubt God. 

Where Paul writes, “Be angry but don’t sin.” I would write, “Be fearful but don’t sin!”

For me, it is an insult to truth when we pretend courage of heart we do not have.  For indeed we do not have it.  It was not and is not the work of the flesh when believers face torment and torture for their faith and yet remain faithful.  It is not in our power or abilities.  It is not a stiff lip that empowers them but the Spirit if God within them.  To pretend to courage is a lie to the world and a lie to us.

Yes I know, the Word is full of, “fear nots.”  But dear friend do you not see that those “fear nots” are in Jesus and not in the flesh.  We may come to Him trembling in terror and there have our fears relieved, not by magic but by truth.  Face you fears – yes – but do so with Him in your heart and you on your knees.

Fear comes and our faith is challenged.  But faith is a gift.  Do you think God only gave you a dab or a trickle?  But you say you have never experienced this circumstance and you have no faith.  Oh, but you do.  Have you not learned from that anything new challenges those skills and abilities we possess?  Of course your faith seems weak in a new trial – for here you have not trusted God and so you will learn to.  I have learned to trust God in a country where I am, at least now, free to live and express my faith openly without fear.  But, put me in a country where to live and proclaim Christ means imprisonment, torture and death and my faith will be greatly challenged.

I am asked, “How do I trust God in this difficult circumstance?”  My reply is, “Much better than you did when things were going well.”  I say that not to be cruel but as a lesson I have had to learn (more than once).  It is this; those who trust God and attend to Him little when His providence floods their lives with good thing will find their faith has shrunk from inattention and lack of use.

We who are in a trial now surely attend to God better than we did before the trial.  And what is that attention?  Unfortunately it is a doubtful and often accusatory attention.  We cry out, “Why?”  when we know that nothing He does or allows is without purpose.  The purpose may not be for you but for God’s glory to be demonstrated to someone yet living in darkness.

Paul writes:

For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn--fighting without and fear within.  2Co 7:5 

Did you SEE that?  “but we were afflicted at every turn--fighting without and fear within.”

I know many of us are afraid.  But there is a natural fear which God has endowed us with that we should appreciate, even rejoice in.  This is Paul’s “fear,” and it is not sin.  We, like Paul, need to rely upon God to meet that which creates that fear in us. 

In Paul’s case the answer came thusly:

2Co 7:6-7  But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus;  (7)  and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more.

I draw your attention to the word “depressed!”  It’s not a character or spiritual flaw.

Paul writes:

2Co 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  (4)  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  (5)  For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

Note here that God, “comforts us IN all our affliction,” not out of it.  I try to look for comfort instead of solutions.  Oh, yes, we are doing all we can to be frugal and to look for opportunities to improve our condition BUT while we do so we NEED comfort. 

We believe wrongly that fear is only overcome when the cause is removed.  That is not God’s way – at least from my reading.  Fear is overcome as our attention to how God has worked and is working providentially grows.  As we see Him more, we grow more assured.  As we grow more assured our fear – sinful fear – returns to that natural fear against which there is not admonition or law. 

Do not, like so many, withdraw into your circumstance.  Rather re-read 2 Cor. 7 above.  It was through the fellowship and one fellow that Paul was comforted.  Also, pray for an understanding and appreciation of 2 Cor. 1:5.  That’s just the truth – a hard truth – even a fearful truth, but the truth.

Look to the need!!!

ALAS! AND DID MY SAVIOR BLEED?

Alas! and did my Savior bleed

And did my Sovereign die?

Would He devote that sacred head

For sinners such as I?

[originally, For such a worm as I?]      

Issac Watts

That line, “for sinners such as I,” stuck in my head this morning. 

I began to wonder if I really knew what it meant in my life.  It’s easy to say, “I’m a sinner” (and we may add “saved by grace”).  We say it somewhat flippantly at times as though it was a “duhhh.”  But if we really take the time to reflect (prayerfully) on what the “such as I” means in our lives things can get really serious really fast.

I know that I have to work to plant my feet on His grace and look at the “such as I.”  It’s just too easy to allow myself to get at least a little smug and lazy about my sin.  When I do that I lose something – I lose the humility and dependency I need to really grow in Him.

I want to develop a mindset that recognizes and appreciates the fact that I need no less of the blood of the Redeemer right now than I did before He called me to Himself.  I will never not need it all.  Jesus will never have suffered less for my overcoming even the most minor seeming infraction.

Notice that the last verse was changed.  From worm – to sinner (see my blog on Worminess).  Though it’s nice to use sinner rather than worm I wonder if the word “sinner” has lost some of its impact on our hearts, especially when we seek to share the good news. 

Do we communicate the Gospel sinner to sinner or “Ok-sinner” to sinner?  Though I am “in” Christ I am no less a sinner than my friend who is not “in” Christ.  Oh, I am redeemed, I have the assurance His promise and sacrifice provides – but I am still a sinner – I haven’t quit sinning.  Do I keep in mind, as I share the Gospel, that in that very moment I am no less in need of His saving grace than the person I am sharing with? 

The Gospel is a n“everybody” thing – everybody needs to hear it and everybody needs to accept it.  It is not a “you” thing.  The only “once for all” was His redeeming death.  He died once for us.  We are saved AND being saved.  We (believers) work out our salvation with fear and trembling – our only confidence is in Him.

It’s tough to discover a good analogy for the “wormy” attitude.  But I really believe that we need to cultivate it in gratitude and hope and assurance of His promises.  What have we to lose if we rekindle the sense of need we had the day He called us. Perhaps all we’ll lose is our comfortable complacency and the projection of an attitude of superiority.  We, in Him, are better off, not better.  We are redeemed sinners but still sinners.

I remember a dog food commercial where a child sings:

My dog’s bigger than your dog

My dog’s bigger than yours

My dog’s bigger ‘cause he gets  XXXXXX

My dog’s bigger than yours

I can almost hear some believer somewhere singing

My life’s better than your life

My life’s better than yours

My life’s better ‘cause, it’s got Jesus in it

My life’s better than yours

Well, my hope is better, my relationship with God is better, the beliefs and teachings that shape my living arebetter – but my “life” here – it’s pretty much like everyone else’s.  As far as sin – I can run with the best of them.  In regards to a need for His provision, especially His redemption, my need is NEVER any less than the worst of the worst of the worst.

Dottie Rambo wrote lyrics which are to be sung to the tune of that great Irish ballad, O’ Danny Boy.  I sing it often (ok, not well but fervently).  The lyrics are:

He Looked Beyond My Fault

Verse

Amazing grace shall always be my song of praise,

for it was grace that brought my liberty;

I do not know just why He came to love me so,

He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

Chorus

I shall forever life mine eyes to Calvary,

to view the cross where Jesus died for me,

how marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul;

He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

As we share the Gospel, I suggest we prayerfully seek to look beyond their faults and focus on their need.  I also suggest that before we share, we prayerfully remember that indeed, He looked beyond our faults and saw OUR need – and He still does.