Whatever... (Part 3)

"Whatever..." Have you ever said that with an exasperated tone during an argument or when trying to explain something and the person looks at you blankly?  "Whatever" can be a conversation stopper, a sign of indifference, defeat, anger, giving up, pouting, not truly listening, or a reluctance to really communicate. It's so easy to think we are right and "whatever" can be a way to sidestep something uncomfortable, admit we are in error, or avoid dealing with what we really don't want to put effort into.

By contrast, in Philippians 4 the word "whatever" encompasses many examples of how to think which in turn will help us live a contented and more peaceful life. It all begins with our thought patterns: 

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned, or received, or heard from me, or seen in me--put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." 

Seven times the word "whatever" is used in verses 8 and 9. One of the definitions of whatever is: "used to emphasize a lack of restriction". In the above verses, I believe Paul, the writer, is saying don't hold back when thinking of things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy--fill your thoughts with these things. These words generate positive and uplifting thoughts which in turn will cause the same type of actions. 

"Whatever is true..."

This is really tough in the world of social media where so much information is flying around. How can we know what is true and what is not? Fact-finding takes time and effort. It's relatively easy to find posts that we agree with, but there are always two sides to every story. Video and audio clips can be altered or only certain portions shared, words are taken out of context, everyone has their agenda, their slant. The more we feed our own slant, the more divided we become with no one really listening or even trying to understand the opposing view. Just because someone says it is true or factual, does not make it so. We must look at the evidence.

Personally, I watch or read a little of news from different sources. It's amazing how different the "facts" can come across. I actually don't spend much time watching the news or scrolling through posts, but know I need to be aware of what's going on. My gauge of what is true comes from God's word and I believe my time is better spent there. Then I can listen and read without becoming entangled in all of the fear, hate, dissension and division that is swirling out of control. God's truth brings unity and peace and withstands the passing of time. I need to measure what I'm hearing or reading against what God says. 

Psalm 119:150-152

"Those who devise wicked schemes are near,

but they are far from your law.

Yet you are near, O LORD, 

and all your commands are true.

Long ago I learned from your statutes

that you established them to last forever."

2 Samuel 22:31

This God—his way is perfect;

the word of the Lord proves true;

he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

God's ways are perfect even though we cannot understand them. When we stand on the truths of His Word, then He is our shield, our refuge, our peace, our contentment. This world is going to pass away and what seems oh so important now, will one day disappear. The only thing that will matter is where we stand with God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Decide today what you want to put your energy into. Are you living a life of peace or anger, unity or discord, following God's ways or the world's ways? Is what you are saying or posting really true? How do you know for sure? If you don't know for sure, then stop and research, try not to be trigger happy with the "share" button. Hey, I've done it, so I'm talking to myself also! 

For me, the one thing I know for sure and for certain that is true is the Word of God - the Bible. It is my desire to stand on those truths and post what will hopefully steer others to it and to God. I'm working on all of these "whatever is..." statements. I hope you will also. 

So the next time the temptation to blurt out an irritated "whatever..."  or the desire to fire off an annoyed or angry post crosses our minds, let's pause and think whether it fits any of the "whatever is..." thoughts of Philippians 4. If none of those positive thoughts fit, then let's stifle the annoyance, keep the conversation going with kindness and listening ears, walk away from the social media and seek to truly communicate with one another in the way God designed both face-to-face and online.

Let's replace "whatever..!" with an abundance of:

whatever is true

whatever is noble

whatever is right

whatever is pure

whatever is lovely

whatever is excellent

whatever is praiseworthy

Humble (Whatever...Part 2)

In my previous post, I mentioned that we needed to humble ourselves and repent individually of our own wrong thoughts or doings. As I have thought more about the passage in II Chronicles, the word "humble" keeps echoing in my mind. It seemed appropriate to look at what that means before continuing to dig into Philippians 4. As I watch the news and look at what is happening in our country and around the world, it feels like this word is not being exhibited very much. What does it really mean to be humble? How is it exhibited? 

Currently I am reading the book The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. It is a fascinating account of nine university men competing to be in the number one boat with hopes of making it to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The following excerpt caught my attention:

"The boys in the Clipper had been winnowed down by punishing competition, and in the winnowing a kind of common character had issued forth: they were all skilled, they were all tough, they were all fiercely determined, but they were also all good-hearted. Every one of them had come from humble origins or been humbled by the ravages of the hard times in which they had grown up. Each in his own way, they had all learned that nothing could be taken for granted in life, that for all their strength and good looks and youth, forces were at work in the world that were greater than they. The challenges they had faced together had taught them humility--the need to subsume their individual egos for the sake of the boat as a whole--and humility was the common gateway through which they were able now to come together and begin to do what they had not been able to do before."

These young men had been through many challenging situations in their young years, but had persevered, worked hard, never given up, and had learned how to work together for the good of all. In the process, they learned humility. They learned to not think too highly of themselves realizing that they could easily be replaced or left behind. They learned to pull together as if they were one. What a lesson for us today! If each person practiced being humble and good-hearted, what a change this world would see.

Our prime example of humility is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Who, even though He is God, humbled Himself and came to earth, for our sake, in obedience to His father. I was very disturbed to read that not only American flags are being burned in the streets of some cities, but Bibles also. Our ability to know right and wrong, plus how to find true and lasting freedom comes from the Bible. Those who would do such things show how very lost they are. Nothing speaks the truth and teaches us how to live together humbly and love one another better than God's word:

Philippians 2:3-11

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, 

but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, 

but also to the interests of others.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God, 

did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,

being born in the likeness of men. 

And being found in human form, he humbled himself 

by becoming obedient to the point of death, 

even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him

 and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

One day we will all be humbled before God's throne. One day every knee will bow to Jesus and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. One day there will be no choice. Choose this day whom you will serve. I choose Jesus. Will you?

Love the Lord your God...

Recently I've had a few conversations with others about how my view of God and my theology have changed over the past 7 years. Trauma, pain, suffering, heartache, loss,__________, can send us on a quest to understand what this life is all about and who's in control. You fill in the blank with what turned your world upside down or sideways. Upheaval is not what we plan for, but maybe we should. I don't mean walking around expecting the worst to happen, but making sure we have a strong foundation from which to respond rather than reacting in a way that may cause more problems. We all have a foundation. Is it a strong one or does it have cracks and holes in it? Who or what is our foundation?

When Jesus was asked which commandment was the most important, He responded:

"...The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your mind and with all your strength." 

Mark 12:29b-30

By far, the most challenging, but also the most amazing and comforting thing I have learned these past years, is that God IS in control and He IS Sovereign and He IS worthy. With God as my foundation, I will not be knocked down. I might shake a bit, but I will not be shaken loose. Not because of what I've done, but because of what He has and is doing. 

A huge part of learning this has come through studying God's Word, listening to strong Biblical teaching through Ligonier Ministries, and reading other books that point me to God. In Mark Batterson's book, Primal, he tells of Oliver Wendell Holmes and his "perceptive distinction between two kinds of simplicity: simplicity on the near side of complexity and simplicity on the far side of complexity. He quotes Holmes as saying, 'I would not give a fig for simplicity on the near side of complexity.'" Batterson goes on to say "Many Christians settle for simplicity on the near side of complexity. Their faith is only mind deep. They know what they believe, but they don't know why they believe what they believe. Their faith is fragile because it has never been tested intellectually or experientially. Near-side Christians have never been in the catacombs of doubt or suffering, so when they encounter questions they cannot answer or experiences they cannot explain, it causes a crisis of faith. For far-side Christians, those who have done their time in the catacombs of doubt or suffering, unanswerable questions and unexplainable experiences actually result in a heightened appreciation for the mystery and majesty of a God who does not fit within the logical constraints of the left brain. Near side Christians, on the other hand, lose their faith before they've really found it."

On the far-side, I have come to a peaceful realization that I will never fully understand the enormity and the magnificence of God Almighty or why He does all that He does. It is enough to know that He has it all figured out and I can rest in that assurance and simply trust Him. He has a marvelous plan that only He can see and He will guide me through whatever touches my life for He already knows. Loving Him is the greatest privilege and joy and has brought much contentment in the midst of upheaval. When we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength - our entire being - we will respond to crises by trusting our sure foundation, come what may. 

Differences

My husband and I had times in our marriage that were not so great. Probably like most couples, we had our ups and downs, but there were times when it seemed we kept going down further and further. Unfortunately there was a lot of divorce in his family and at those times when our relationship was rocky, it seemed the “D” word dropped easily from his lips and fell like a heavy weight between us. I didn’t like it.

The main reason I didn’t like it was because I had made a vow not only to my husband, but more importantly, to God that I would love and cherish my husband until “death us do part”. I did not want to offend God by taking the “easy” way out. I took my vow seriously, plus there was no domestic violence, it was just two people jockeying for control and quite honestly, most of it was rather petty stuff from what I can remember. We had different ways of doing things, saying things, interacting with others, etc. Probably the very things that attracted us to each other (opposites attract) became the little problems that plagued us. A lack of communication, our own selfishness, plus a failure to try to understand each other’s perspective lead to the down times and dropping of the hurtful word, divorce.

In an updated edition of Thomas A Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ, Kempis reminds us that “We should not count ourselves better than others, for perhaps we may appear worse in the sight of God who knows what is in our souls. Do not be proud of good works, because God does not judge as people do. What pleases people often displeases him…It does us no harm to place ourselves below all others, but great harm occurs when we place ourselves above even one person. Peace is always with the humble person, but in the heart of the proud there is envy and continual wrath.”

I thank God that Mike and I continued to seek Him, sought help from Biblical counselors, and by seeking to please God rather than ourselves, we were able to put aside our petty differences and embrace what made us unique and drew us together in the first place.

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,

but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.

Unfailing Love

Sometimes I have a hard time going to sleep. Worries, plans, or problems of the day seem to come out of everywhere and assault me as I'm trying to settle down. I usually pray for sleep, but sometimes I pray that morning would hurry up and get here. 

Does that ever happen to you?

In the verses preceding verse eight, the Psalmist, David, is crying out to the Lord for mercy and relief. He feels crushed, his spirit is faint, and his heart is dismayed. Then he remembers all that God has done in the past and he just wants God. His soul is thirsty for God. 

David knew that God's love never fails, he trusted God and believed that He would answer Him in the morning. 

The rest of the verse says:

"Show me the way I should go, 

for to you I lift up my soul."

I have no way of knowing, but I get a sense that David laid out all of his worries before God and then he went to bed and slept peacefully. He was confident that God would answer him in the morning and would show him what to do and where to go. He placed his soul in the Almighty's powerful hands and slept. 

What a wonderful lesson for me. I too know that God's love does not fail and that my soul, my entire life, is safe in His hands. May He help me to sleep peacefully, knowing that His unfailing love and guidance will greet me in the morning.

I pray the same will be true for you.

How's Your Mind?

When I was young, there was a man who walked the streets of our town and asked those passing by "How's your mind?" That's a really good question. So much of our attitude, mood, and how we respond to people and situations has to do with the condition of our mind.

If my mind is clouded by worries, anger, fears, problems, anxieties, annoyance, frustrations, selfishness, etc., I'll most likely respond to others in that same vein. This shows a mind in turmoil. Peace will not be found side-by-side with these thoughts.

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, 

whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

This is one of my favorite verses. I have it on a little card in my car as a constant reminder of where my mind needs to dwell.  It's faded from the sun after several years of riding there, but the message remains. Keep my mind continuously connected to God and I will have peace. What a promise! 

It's our choice to make. 

Do we prefer to flail about using our energy on things that jump up and shout for our attention and tell us we have a right to feel this way?

OR

Are we going to trust God? Are we going to take Him at His word, place Him front and center in our mind and peacefully walk His way?

The response is ours.

 So....How's your mind?

Hidden Treasure

I had been checking the fig trees every few days hoping to find a ripe one. As I walked by pushing the wheelbarrow one afternoon, I caught a glimpse of something golden half hidden behind the healthy green leaves. I quickly stopped, pushed the leaves aside and found the treasure I had been anticipating. Delicious ripe figs! Six to be exact. I savored the soft sweetness and rejoiced in the glimpse that yielded this special treat when I wasn't even seeking. Dad went by on the lawn mower and my joy was doubled in being able to share with him.

In today's America, fewer and fewer families and individuals are actively seeking the things of God. Especially not in the traditional sense of going to church every Sunday. For many, the only glimpse of God they will see is from the Christians they encounter during their normal weekly routine. If that glimpse is hard and sour or rotten, there is little likelihood that they will have any interest. However, if that glimpse is pleasant and inviting with a sweet flavor they may desire to move the leaves aside and investigate what this hidden treasure is all about.

Scripture says we will be known by our fruit and that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Since we are a reflection of Christ to a world that isn't even looking for Him, and since we have His Holy Spirit dwelling within us and giving us guidance, there is no reason for us to be hard, sour, or rotten. In all of our interactions let's allow the unsaved to glimpse something deliciously golden and appealing that will cause them to ask what is hidden in our hearts and spirit. Then our joy will be doubled as we share about our Savior and Lord.

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Refuge

Simba, one of the barnyard cats, has found a place of refuge in the trough above the water wheel. There he is safe from coyotes, dogs, and other cats. He is shaded by a tree and has a beautiful view of the flower garden. He can sleep without worry or fear and is within earshot of the door so knows when I come out with some tasty morsel. It's a perfect spot of refuge.

The Bible says that "God is our refuge". Nothing touches us that He doesn't already know about. If trouble comes, He is our "very present help". Just like Simba retreats to the trough, we can retreat to the arms of our Savior. He doesn't promise that trouble will not come. He promises to be there and to help us through the trouble and He is faithful to His promises.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Unique

Psalm 139:13-14

"For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

Each one of us is uniquely created. 

You are unique. One of a kind. Not like anyone else. Special. Carefully created by The Creator Himself to be the one and only YOU. No one else can be you. You are precious in His sight.

No one knows you like The Creator God. No one loves you as much as He does and He knows everything about you.

He sees all, knows all, hears all (even thoughts), and He still loves completely. Unconditionally. He loves in a way that no human possibly can. 

Embrace your uniqueness and the fact that you are "wonderfully made".

Be Still

It's important to make the time to be quiet, to be still, and to remember that He is God and we are not.

Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God.

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth!”

Dust of His Feet

Nahum 1:3

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,

and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.

His way is in whirlwind and storm,

and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

I enjoy photography. Recently my sister-in-law commented "you like clouds". I hadn't really thought about it, but I actually do take a lot of cloud photos. When I read the above verse this week, it thrilled my heart to think of the clouds as the dust of God's feet and now I like clouds even more. I can just imagine God walking and stirring up the clouds in His wake. It makes me smile.

We often associate clouds with a rainy day, which some people dislike. Or we may say "I have a cloud hanging over my head" when life isn't going well. We tend to view whirlwinds, storms and clouds as negative things. However, if we look at this verse, it tells us that God's way is IN these things. Hmm - that's food for thought. If His way is in storms and clouds, then we should be looking for Him and trusting Him through the whirlwind, storm and clouds. Oswald Chambers writes "If there were never any clouds in our lives, we would have no faith. 'The clouds are the dust of His feet'. They are a sign that God is there." I like that.

My Delight

I delight in butterflies flitting about from flower to flower. It brought me immense joy yesterday to stand in the garden surrounded by colorful flowers and delicately beautiful butterflies.

C. H. Spurgeon delighted in whatever God decreed. He said "Let me live, if God will be with me in life. Let me die, if He will be with me in death. So long as I am 'forever with the Lord,' what else matters? What God decrees is my delight." No matter what came, Spurgeon found delight because he was with the Lord.

May the Lord always be my delight.