Nearer To My Final Destination

 Life isn't all cake and cappuccino, and it isn't all sorrow and stress.

Sometimes it may seem like the latter, but even in this crazy world there can be reasons to laugh or an encouraging word.  The best encouragement comes from reminders of God's lovingkindness and His ultimately good purposes.  

Sometimes sunshine, rabbits, and flowers are a reminder of God's blessings in this life.  Even the rain and thunder can remind a person of God's power.  He rules over the weather...not the weatherman or anything we do.

I recently finished the Biblical Doctrine book, and I listened to and watched other things about future times.  Knowing of the final outcome...Christ's future reign here and into eternity with a new heaven and earth...it really is like a true happily ever after for those who belong to the Lord.  Some of what is now and in between seems fearsome, but I know it is only temporary.

Daily a reminder is needed to trust God through the difficulties and suffering and uncertainty.  The world truly seems to have gone insane, and often we seem helpless.

God is our helper though, even if sometimes we seem to be about to drown without care.  Even when I don't know what to do, I know that only in Him is my hope.  I must trust Him not to let go of us, and it doesn't depend on me.  Even in the tossing waves, God is bringing us nearer to our final destination.  May God cause the waves to grow me closer to Him.  The fires that destroy wood also purifies gold.  The waves that can topple a sandcastle or cause a bird to run can cleanse a wound with the salt though it stings.  I may not know all of God's purposes, so I must remind myself of the truth about Him and pray that He will work in me and through all of the insanity going on in the world.

There are so many little things to remind myself of that God has given me to enjoy, and He's given me His Word to learn from.  I just need to remember to look and find there is something to be thankful for.

Thankfulness & A Cute Video

What are you thankful for? Who are you thankful to?
Ephesians 5:20 tells me to be thankful for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.
I need to lead my thoughts to remember God's goodness and greatness, and how He has always provided my needs, and how He uses even the difficult times.
Even though I've been feeling low lately, as I've heard it said before...I need to talk to myself instead of listening to myself.


Verses on Thankfulness

What Does The Bible Say About Thankfulness / Gratitude? 

The following video is just for fun.
Certainly it would not stand a solid fact checking test, but it is amusing!

Seeing God's Providence In The Little Things

Sometimes acts of kindness from strangers surprise us.  
When we were seeing my brother off at the airport, my Dad was pushing me in a wheelchair from a parking lot trying to find my family.  It felt like it was quite a distance, and we went through one building and into another parking lot not knowing for sure how far to go.  He was getting tired out from walking and pushing, and my legs were tired of trying to help propel myself along with his pushing.

My Dad finally asked some people for directions, and a man came and pushed me back into the building and even went up the elevator with us.  He wasn't wearing a uniform, and I'm not sure if he was some kind of worker or what.  I gave him a Thank You Gospel tract, but then I wondered if I should have tipped him.  I didn't know.

Later at a creamery, after I bought some ice cream and was trying to get back between tables to where my Mom was, some man with a beard (that had pink on either the beard or his hair in a strange way) offered to make sure that I got through.  I was so intent on getting through and feeling badly that I was making someone's table move that I didn't turn back.  I'm not sure what happened to him, but I don't remember if I thanked him like I should have.  You really can't judge by appearances.

I'll admit that I really don't like strangers coming behind and pushing me.  Part of that is because I feel disadvantaged, or in some cases I feel capable of taking care of myself.  The other part is I feel a healthy sense of danger from strangers (no matter how they look).  Still, I appreciate that there are those who really are generous enough to want to help someone.  There have been others who have done nice things for me in my life.  I'm sure you've likely met people like that.  Maybe you are one of those who has done things like that.

There are other times when little blessings come into our lives.  Meeting someone who is familiar with some of the same people you are and shares common beliefs, or when at just the right time you read something that encourages you either in Scripture or something written by another Christian that is a reminder of God's providences at just the right time.  Sometimes, we get so caught up in our goals and feelings and all the bad things going on in the world that we dismiss from our minds the seemingly random acts of kindness or the blessings that come our way.

As a Christian, I know that God is sovereign even over the little things, and I should be more thankful for these.  Even the bad things that happen in this world have purpose.  It is so easy for me to grumble about things or be discouraged and depressed. 

There is a Biblical precedence for reminding ourselves of the goodness and power of God in the past. This can help us through the difficulties of the present to remind ourselves that He is trustworthy.
Even when I'm down,  I need to remember to give thanks and to look forward to seeing what God will do through my trying times.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. (fr. Psalm 46:1 NASB)

Do all things without grumbling or disputing;  Philippians 2:14 NASB

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  Romans 15:4 NASB

always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;  Ephesians 5:20 NASB
 

Where Are The Other Nine?

Our pastor gave a good message Sunday on thankfulness that was based on the the Biblical account of Jesus and the 10 lepers.

First of all the lepers had to go by faith to do what Jesus told them before they were cleansed.  
Out of the 10 lepers, only the Samaritan praised God and came back and worshiped Jesus as King.

As someone who has been a Christian a long time, I realize that I myself often take my salvation for granted when I shouldn't.

I was reminded of this song that I used to hear many years ago sung by Geoff Moore. 

Things You Never Gave Me (David Meece)

This song has ministered to me and others I know at different times in life.  It can apply to many different situations in life....whether a disability or illness that doesn't go away, a person doesn't get the spouse they dreamed of, or even when someone doesn't get the job they thought would be perfect for them.  I may not know now the whys of what God is doing, but often I can see God's protection or use of a situation in my life.  It also can benefit others when we can better understand what they are going through and encourage them. Even sometimes things that may be good are not necessarily what is God's best for me.  In some things I still need patience and to trust in God's goodness and Sovereign plan.