The Greatest Fullfillment
As we settle into the new “normal”, Father, I would ask for our protection as we drive and as we interact with families that we all would be shielded from the virus that is running amuck among us. May we be beacons of hope and encouragement to those around us. Amen.
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At the encouragement of a friend, Karen and I watched the movie The Greatest Showman on TV last night. It is loosely based on the life of (Phineas) P. T. Barnum, famed founder of Barnum and Baily Circus. It was filled with soaring ballads, wonderful choreography, and it was definitely entertaining.
This is not a review and I am not even encouraging you to watch it, though I did enjoy it, but I wanted to say something about…love.
I missed the beginning but watched it to the end and with another showing immediately after the first ended, I watched a portion of the beginning, too.
As I did so, I was touched by the relationship between Phineas and Charity, the woman he eventually married. Although they were from opposite ends of society – he with little, she with anything she wanted – a connection blossomed between them. She is sent to finishing school and though they are apart, their relationship thrives.
They are inseparable, though Phineas strives for more, Charity is obviously content with him, regardless of more or less. He loves her dearly as well but is driven to make something of himself, to provide for her – proving to her father that he can do so.
As the movie progresses Phineas becomes enchanted with a famed Swedish opera singer. Always looking to move onward and upward, he convinces her to travel in America under his leadership. She does and they depart on a whirlwind tour across the country.
As they journey together, she begins to fall in love with him but, although he remains enchanted by her, the feeling is not mutual. Their relationship dissolves when at the end of her final performance she kisses him firmly on the lips. He realizes the fool he has been and even though there was no impropriety on his part, he makes a hasty departure home to a disenchanted Charity.
OK, here is what impacted me as I watched the beginning after I had seen the end. Eventually, Phineas and Charity reconciled and he, realizing the err of his pursuits for fame and fortune, devotes himself to his loving wife and two daughters. At that point, with all he had been through, he grasped the importance of what he had and let go of what he thought he needed. By far the former was so much more valuable than the latter.
In our lives, how many times do we push ourselves to obtain what we think will bring us happiness, forfeiting that which grants us the most fulfillment of all? How many of us have those in life that love us just the way we are, but we are not content? We may have good (or bad) intentions but we are determined to find that which will truly meet our expectations of satisfaction.
The grass is never truly greener on the other side of the fence. God’s hand has placed us where we are. We mustn’t let the real source of contentment and happiness slip through our grasp as we reach for things that will pass through our hands like grains of sand blowing in the wind.
And, honestly, the same is true in our relationship with Jesus. We are so enchanted by the offerings of the world that we forfeit the blessing of His presence which is right before us. And if anyone loves us just the way we are…it is He.
Jesus proclaims in Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT),
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Lord Jesus, may we treasure the gifts with which we have been blessed. And most of all may we find our greatest fulfillment in You. Amen.
In the Midst of the Storm
I come before You tonight, Father, listening to what You would say to me. May I give You my full attention. Amen.
Luke 8:22-25 (<<click to read the passage)
Wow! As I was reading through the notes of my study Bible*…well, let me let you read it yourself first.
When caught in the storms of life, it is easy to think that God has lost control and that we’re at the mercy of the winds of fate. In reality, God is sovereign. He controls the history of the world as well as our personal destiny. Just as Jesus calmed the waves, he can calm whatever storms you may face.
Does it feel like we are in a storm…and a huge one at that? Across our globe, we are dealing with an overwhelming viral storm…and death and destruction follow behind in its wake. Uncertainty. Panic. Fear. Anxiety. Many, if they even believe in God at all, probably feel that He has “lost control” and that even with all of our attempts to shield ourselves from its onslaught that “we’re at the mercy of the winds of fate.” It may feel that way but it most certainly is not the case.
First of all, as I have now lived for over half a century (!) I believe, more firmly today than ever in my life, that God IS in control! Each one of us has a free will. Individually, we can choose if we will accept Jesus as our savior or if we will refuse His offer of salvation. No one can make that decision for us and though He longs for us to do so, even God Himself will not force us to do so. We alone must choose.
That being said, we have absolutely no choice in what transpires in the world…or for that matter what transpires in our own lives. We try to control those things, but they are beyond our grasp.
I wrote a post back in September of last year entitled God Is Sovereign (<<click to read the post) which touched upon this reality. But when all is said and done, God is in charge of it all…not us.
I am not saying that God brought this horrific pandemic upon us, but He has allowed it. He did not stop it. Since the beginning of time, God has allowed us to pass through all kinds of storms – some from the natural course of life and some storms that are of our own making. In doing so His goal is that those “storms” impact us in ways that will hopefully draw us (or push us) to Him.
And for those of us who have sought Him out for our salvation, even in the midst of these storms, we find our refuge in Him. We may feel like crying out as the disciples did, “Master, Master, we are about to die!” But His response to us is the same as it was to them. He calms the storm and brings about “[a perfect peacefulness]” And we are asked as well, “Where is your faith [your confidence in Me]?”
So…what is your answer? Has the uncertainty of the future – that storm howling about you –petrified you with fear? Or are you placing your faith – your confidence – in the Master for the perfect peacefulness found only in Him? He truly is Sovereign of all, and our only place of refuge is by His side.
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Mar 22nd, 2020, Sun, 7:30 pm
Silver Lining
Father, the way life is now all seems a little surreal. We still do some of the same things each day, but we are definitely more secluded. May we be there, as much as possible, for each other. Amen.
Luke 8:19-21 (<<click to read the passage)
It may seem a little crazy, but this horrific cloud of pandemic in which we find ourselves may actually have a silver lining.
As we have been out on our buses delivering kid’s lunches this past week, I have seen numerous fathers either step in the doorways or actually come out and meet me in their driveways. Now, agreed, there are lots of things with which to be concerned – finances, the possibility of illness, and a plethora of other things – but beyond family vacations, when and if they do take place, when was the last time that entire families have been together for more than just a few hours?
In today’s culture having several days in a row together is probably a rarity. What an opportunity! And I pray that fathers and mothers and children all take advantage of it to the fullest. Out of this whole crazy mess, we just might rediscover what the family is all about!
I looked back over parallel passages of today’s passage from Luke and I found a wonderful note in regard to Mark 3:33-35,
In our increasingly computerized, impersonal world, warm relationships among members of God’s family take on major importance. The church should give the loving, personalized care that many people find nowhere else.
Lord Jesus, as we are your brothers and sisters if we do Your will, may we be diligent in our efforts to love others as You love us. And, Lord, please put your arms around those families today that are finding themselves in close proximity to each other for who knows how long. Some may know You, please put a burning within their hearts to give themselves over to their children and their spouses. May they love them as they have never loved them before. May they take advantage of this blessing – for that is truly what it is – to invest in their relationships. For in reality it is a fleeting opportunity, and before they know it, it will be gone.
Then, Lord, I would pray for those who may have known You in the past, but it has been so long that it is but a faint memory. May this time together rekindle that relationship with You. And may that rekindling became a raging fire of passion and love for You and their loved ones.
And lastly, Lord, I pray for those who have no idea who You are whatsoever. May we, the Church, let our lights shine so brightly that they, and the ones near and dear to their hearts, would be drawn to You because of the way we live our lives. May we be genuine. May we be transparent. And may we take advantage of every opportunity You send our way that we may be the salt of the earth! (Matthew 5:13) Amen and amen!
Mar 19th, 2020, Thurs, 6:53 pm
Proficient – More…or Less?
Father, thank You for allowing me to be one of the blessed ones who get to interact with many of the children of our school district. Use me and my colleagues to touch those lives each day. Amen.
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I come from a very musically inclined family – my dad’s side in particular. For years my granddad most of his family traveled as evangelists. He preached and he and the family provided a wonderful ministry in music with singing and a variety of instruments. They even recorded a couple of albums, which included at least one song that my granddad wrote!
When I entered college, my goal was to find a position as a full-time minister of music. But the one big hurdle I had was, learning to play the piano well. I played a little, but I had it in my head that I needed to be a decent pianist if I was going to work with a choir. When I started school, I wasn’t even at a college level in proficiency. But after a semester of lessons, I got to that point. I worked and worked my entire college career but was eventually stymied by the inability to memorize all the music I needed for my senior recital.
I was blessed to marry a wonderfully talented pianist (she is still my pianist!) so I’ve never really needed to use the skills I had developed. I played some for my own enjoyment early on but as time moved forward, I played less and less. So, at this point, my proficiency is probably lower than when I went to college.
God’s Word is so important for our spiritual growth. And as Jesus said,
“So be careful how you listen; for whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a longing for truth], even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.” Luke 8:18 (AMP)
So basically it boils down to, “Use it or lose it!”
As all of us know, from many areas of our lives – playing an instrument, keeping up on new developments in your line of work, even how our bodies decline when we become inactive for longer and longer periods of time – that growth is of the utmost importance. Spiritually we are always growing. But the thing is, either we are growing stronger…or we are growing weaker. There is no standing still and just maintaining. How are you growing?
Lord Jesus, give us a hunger for Your Word. If we have little desire for it may we pray for a yearning within our hearts that pulls us to it, for only in time spent with You will we find the growth and development that we so desperately need to remain spiritually fit. Amen.
Mar 17th, 2020, Tues, 6:15 pm
An Outpouring of Joy!
Oh, my Father, I humbly but joyfully come into Your presence. You are my God, and accept me right where I am but You love so much You will not leave me there! What joy You bring in Your care for me. All praise to You!
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We are overdue for an outpouring of joy!
You may already know this, but you are not alone. You are not forgotten. You most certainly are loved. You are cared for in ways you probably will not even be able to understand this side of eternity.
You have a Friend in God Himself! Jesus came to this old sin-filled world over two thousand years ago just so he could be with us. Not just for the thirty-plus years he lived amongst us but because He loved us so very much that He gave His very life, taking the punishment that we had earned by our wayward ways, paying the price so that we could be with Him, not just for this lifetime, but so we could be with Him for eternity. That, my friends, is the Good News!
Regardless of what this world may bring us today or tomorrow our loving Savior will never leave us nor forsake us. Take a big breath, exhale and take a moment to slowly read the last part of Hebrews 13:5 from the Amplified Bible. Soak up every word in this day of need for so many.
“I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”
I often listen to music as I write, this evening I chose a collection of instrument hymns and the very first one was the old hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus. And surprisingly so, after sitting here for over 40 minutes, another rendition is playing as I type. The Lord wants you to listen to it once more for it sure hits home.
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge! Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Words: Joseph Scriven
Music: Charles C, Converse
Here is a beautiful rendition that is sung and played by a wonderful group of young people from British Columbia, Canada.
Mar 16th, 2020, Mon, 8:25 pm