Ever Merciful in the Face of Suffering

"He is ever merciful..." Psalm 37:26

That verse is referring to a believer, a Christian human being. I'll be honest: there are times when I do not want to be kind and merciful! You may feel along with me: when I feel hurt or angry, too often, I want the person who hurt me to hurt also. Or I want God to get them back somehow!

"...put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" Psalm 56:8

Recently I read a post from Leah at Embracing Grace in which she stated one would never regret extending grace.

Jesus had quite a bit to say about extending grace in Luke 6:
{Please read this Scripture carefully, even if you've read it before.}

"For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them...And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same...But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."

Be kind and merciful to someone who has hurt me repeatedly? Stabbed me in the back? Belittled me? One whose main M.O. is to one-up me? This is all too familiar, especially for pastors and pastor's wives, sadly, inside the church!

Love, forgive, be kind and merciful in the face of suffering? What a standard! We would say that's impossible! Surely God wouldn't ask that of me!

Truly, there is no way for me to do this--especially to do it with genuine goodwill toward the person and with good feelings coming along for the ride! That is, it's impossible for me outside of the Holy Spirit's control of my mind, will, and emotions.

That little thing called the "soul" holds these three components: mind, will, and emotions. These three have the capability of choosing the way of the enemy of God, rather than choosing "kingdom living." Kingdom living rejoices in the opportunity to grow in grace!

I love this little chorus by Bill Harvey:

Why complain about the problem? Rejoice in the opportunity!

You have a chance to grow in grace! Take hold of responsibility!

The reward is worth the suff'ring--there's glory some sweet day!

Praise God for the problem on your way!

God wants me to grow! When our babies are born, we watch for them to grow in each and every stage in which they are supposed to grow. If they get behind, we take them to a doctor. God, as our Perfect Father, naturally, wants us to grow, too! He's not content to allow us to keep drinking milk from a bottle when solid food awaits.

God's "purpose" which Paul speaks of in Romans 8:28 is explained in verse 29:

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son..."

God's purpose for me is not to be well-known, be acknowledged as a great mom or pastor's wife, or any of the other things we would consider as "greatness" or "purpose" in life. His plan is not even to allow me to make it through life with minimal suffering and sorrow! His one purpose is to make me like Jesus. He does that through many life experiences, and sorrow and suffering are two major vehicles He uses.

Jesus Himself learned obedience to His Father "by the things which he suffered" (Hebrews 5:8).

The writer of Hebrews goes on to tell us to "Consider him..." in chapter 12, verse 3. Jesus is our example (Philippians 2:5-8). I know this in my head, but have I embraced it in my heart to the point that I'm willing to follow His example and love my "enemies" or those who hurt me?

Embracing sorrow and suffering, rather than resisting what God is doing, will enable me to love my enemies and extend grace, no matter how they hurt me. How is it possible? Because when I choose to believe that God is still on the throne and that He has a plan that far surpasses anything I could dream up, I am content no matter what comes my way!

Does this mean I allow people to treat me as a doormat? That's not what Jesus did. I believe in holding people accountable for their actions. Jesus held Peter accountable, yet He extended grace and love to him at the same time. (Further study: Matthew 16:21-23, John 18:10-11, Mark 16:6-7, John 21.) There are times when we are to turn the other cheek (see Matthew 5:39 and II Samuel 16:5-14). Too many times, though, I use the "doormat" excuse to escape, when I don't want to extend grace.

How many times have I hurt God's heart and yet He continues to forgive and extend grace to me? He loved me while I was yet a sinner (Romans 5:8). If I claim to follow Jesus' steps, I will choose to yield myself to His tender embrace, and by faith, I'll take hold of His Word! Then the fetters of unforgiveness will fall off, and I'll be able to anchor my soul--my mind, will, emotions! Then the Haven of Rest (Jesus) truly becomes my LORD in the face of sorrow and suffering!

I yielded myself to His tender embrace, in faith taking hold of the Word,

My fetters fell off and I anchored my soul;

The Haven of Rest is my Lord!

The Haven of Rest, lyrics by Henry L. Gilmour, music by George D. Moore

If you have never read the book, Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard, I highly recommend it. Other than the Bible, it is one of the best helps I have found in coping with sorrow and suffering and understanding what God is doing in my life! You can order it inexpensively here.

This Is the Job I Gave You

I kicked a toy out of my way as I headed to the washroom in the middle of the night. Sighing, I asked for the umpteenth time "Why do I have to do this?" Motherhood seemed overrated. I was irritated that I could not sleep, and that in a few short hours I would hear little voices calling, "Nana!" from upstairs.

Flashback: When I was twelve, I knew God was calling me to full-time Christian service. It's as real today as it was xy years ago! {wink}

In between then and now, life happened, just as it always will. Many events happened--sad and happy, but God ultimately fulfilled one of my biggest dreams: being a preacher's wife. Through the challenges and joys, I now thoroughly enjoy working in ministry alongside my husband. I wouldn't want to do anything else.

Yet this did not happen the way I expected. I was thirty-five before I met my husband. And finally my dreams came true! He's an awesome man of God who runs his own homebuilding company while pastoring a church he started.

The thing I didn't expect was to instantly become a mother of three as well! If that wasn't surprise enough, the next thing I didn't expect was to raise two little munchkins who happen to be our grandchildren!

I will be real here: I harboured such mixed emotions about getting the {grand}kids full-time! I had never raised toddlers, never had the opportunity to care for a baby, never homeschooled. Aaaaaaaaa!

My faithful God kept bringing back to my mind one of four specific verses He had given me when I was praying about marrying my husband: Esther 4:14. He told me He brought me here "for such a time as this." Over time, I came to accept the fact that I had a toddler full-time, and later, a second one. Full-time. But honestly, the fears were eating me alive!

How can I open my heart this wide?
How long will I get to raise them?
How long will I have to raise them? (This question came on the more challenging days!)
What will my emotions do when I have to give them up?
How will I handle my emotions if I raise them and in the end, they rebel against God and everything they are taught?
When will I ever have time for my coveted writing career--or anything else, for that matter?!

One evening God spoke into my life through a comment someone made in the Bible study discussion group I lead and teach. (Be faithful. God speaks through you to your leaders!) We were discussing children. Though I do not remember the exact comment from this lady,  God's ever-so-gentle comment to me at that moment was crystal clear!

My child,

This is the job I gave you.

I'm aware that you thought you would be on the mission field, 

or having your own biological children, 

or writing full-time... 

and all those desires are great!

And if I had asked you to do those things, 

you would have immediately surrendered. 

I know your heart is toward Me.

But these are the plans I had for you. 

This is what I had in mind for your life. 

This is what I know is best for you. 

The question has always been and always will be:

Will you trust ME?

Yes, Lord, I will trust You! You've always been faithful! How can I not trust You?

It's not about me, it's all about You,
I yield myself now unto all that is True;
I'm free to obey, to yield all I am,
I'll live for You now, O my precious Lamb!

I am yielding myself, surrendering all;
Lord Jesus, You love me, so I answer Your call!

It's not about me, it's all about You,
I choose to act now as You want me to do;
You gave me Your Spirit to walk as I ought,
Lord, I can be true unto all I've been taught.

I am yielding myself, surrendering all;
Lord Jesus, You love me, so I answer Your call!
words (c) Dayna Spear Guenther, 2013; music, John B. Summer, 1877 (hymn tune: "I'm a Child of the King")

O Lord, when I need to pick up toys for the 500th time, please remind me of those who are suffering in other parts of the world, imprisoned for their faith, watching their children be killed. Remind me of those precious ladies whose arms long to hold a child even if it means tripping over toys a gazillion times a day. (Remind me that I used to be one of those ladies!) Remind me of Your Son who endured so much agony just for me! Enable me to "consider Him which endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest {I} be wearied and faint in {my mind}" (Hebrews 12:3)!

What about you? 

Is there an area or circumstance of your life that you just wish God would change? Could it be that He brought you to this place "for such a time as this"? He truly has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness (II Peter 1:3) He's faithful: if He's called you, He also will do it (I Thessalonians 5:24)! He will perfect that which concerns you (Psalm 138:8)!

Please comment and tell me your own story of God's leading in your life in paths you have not known (Isaiah 42:16). 

Book Review: Everything by Mary DeMuth

The book Everything: What You Give and What You Gain to Become Like Jesus by Mary DeMuth will challenge Christians. She addresses the head--thoughts we think, the heart--who we are, and the hands--how we live in her three part book.

For me a key chapter was "Forsake the Seven-Letter Word That Demolishes Everything." That word was "control." Mary admits, "Control satiates me. It calms me...I'd rather live a controlled life than let Jesus take me on unfamiliar roads."

So true. We all love control, whether we admit it or not. We become angry when our perceived "rights" are violated. God whispers continually to us, "Am I everything?"

Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness..."

The seven-letter remedy to "control" is "abandon."

"He asks us to abandon our control so that He can reign in our lives and grow us."

The chapter "Embrace Holy Inebriation" was interesting. I agreed with the concepts of what she was saying. Though I have a difficult time with comparing holiness to becoming drunk, the Apostle Paul did compare it in Ephesians 5:18, saying, "Be not drunk with wine... but be filled with the Spirit." It's something to think about.

I disagree to an extent with the advocacy of being "true to ourselves" (page 88). I would rather say "true to who God made us to be." Without Him we are nothing, and this world likes to focus on "finding ourselves." God is the only One Who can show us who we were (sinners), who we are (saints in light), and what we can become (more and more victorious and joyful in Him)! I agree that at times we need to look at the reason why we have acted or act a certain negative way in order to correct it. But only through Christ is there ever any answers. It's not about us. And I truly believe that is what Mary is trying to say in her book.

"Choose to Heal" was a very good chapter as well. Mary cites the story in John 5 where Jesus basically asks the man at the Pool of Bethesda, "Do you want to be well?"

"Jesus wastes none of our stories, even our tales of woe. He transforms them into epic adventures where we dare to face our past for the sake of our present." I would add, "...for the sake of Him Who has healed us." Again, it's all about Him!

There were many other great chapters I could touch upon, but I would recommend this book in general for a Christian who desires to walk more closely with Jesus.

*The reader should be advised that the author uses various versions of the Bible. I would recommend the reader look up the verses in the KJV. (There are verses that just do not read the same. This is what really concerns me about using various versions...but that's another topic altogether!)

Enriched!

"...in every thing ye are enriched by him..." ~ I Corinthians 1:5

Have you really thought about the fact that you are "enriched"? I've been thinking about this verse lately. It's posted on my fridge right now. If you stop and think about it, I think you'll be as thrilled as I am with all that it means! ...And I'm sure I haven't even scratched the surface in knowing all that it means!

"Enriched" is a great word that conjures up images of delight, contentment, joy, excitement... But the other words that keep standing out to me are "every thing." Every. Thing. 

This means that even the things that seem nasty, those things that bring me the opposite of joyful feelings--the very trials and testings, the very irritations and annoyances--are enriching my life in Christ!

His purpose is to conform me to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29). Paul conveys over and over in his epistles that it is a privilege--not a curse--to suffer. He lifts up Christ as our example: "When he was reviled, {he} reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not..." (I Peter 2:21-23). How? By committing Himself to Him Who is the only perfectly Righteous Judge--God, His Father! Jesus set the example of trusting in God Who keeps all the records and justly balances everything.

In that moment of aggravation, in that moment of tension, in that very moment of stress, if I will stop, look full into the wonderful face of Jesus, and--for real!--commit myself to His Father (my Father), the Righteous and Just Judge of the whole earth, peace will flood my soul. In that moment of surrender and yielding to whatever He is doing in my life through that irritation or negative experience, I can actually experience joy!

It helps me to remember that my Father God has a helicopter view of my entire life from conception to death. He knows the reason that I need this thorn in my flesh, for His glory and also for my ultimate good. Not only that, but He has a helicopter view of the entire history of the world--past, present, and future--and knowing that, He works ALL things together for good to them that love Him, those He has called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)!

What a place of refuge! What a place to rest! Leaning on His everlasting arms that will never fail (Deuteronomy 33:27), that will never withhold from me anything that is good for me (Psalm 84:11), the arms that have never lost a victory (Joshua 1:3, Psalm 98:1)! I can trust Jesus! He loves me, and He takes care of me. 

Won't you choose to believe for today that you are enriched by Him in every thing?

Is Holiness a Goal?

Wow. I just saw Psalm 17:15 in a whole new light the other day as I was meditating on it (while weeding my garden... LOL!)

Psalm 17:15, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."

This verse became special to me in my freshman year of Bible college, when my friend April shared it with me... It was her life verse, and I claimed it for my own life verse for that period of time.  Thanks, April!

At that time I viewed it as a "declaration" verse stating that I was seeking to be holy, to become righteous. Now, there is a truth that as I yield to Christ, my behaviour and actions become more righteous as I grow in Him. However, there are many passages that tell me that positionally I already am righteous, because I am "in Christ." Please hear (read) me out and consider this carefully! This concept has really changed my life and my thinking!

As I learn to know Him and yield to Him more readily, more often, and on more of regular basis, rather than yielding to my default/fleshly desires and behaviour, my life will exhibit more and more of His righteousness that is already in me by His Spirit.

So from that change of thought--that I should look at holiness as a position in Christ that I yield to, rather than a goal to attain--this is the personal application the Lord gave me from my "old" life verse:

As for me, I will (desire and choose to) behold (gaze upon, focus upon, look to) His face in (through His) righteousness (in me). He plants the right desire in me as I yield to His Spirit living in me. The only way I will be satisfied (have true, lasting satisfaction, truly and deeply at rest and content) is when my focus is HIM, awaking with His likeness, from the early morning: starting my day beholding Him by claiming His righteousness afresh, first thing in the morning. Choosing to walk that way with Him through the day.

Jesus, My Champion!

Lord Jesus, thank You for always championing my cause! I can trust that You will always bring forth my righteousness as the light (Ps. 37:1-11) when I am right and correct my wrongs, as I yield to Your Spirit in my life. I do not have to fear those who are mad at me because You are keeping the records. I do not have to be defensive. When I trust that You are my Champion and Defender, the irritation or anger or sadness caused by others becomes as nothing (Isa. 41:10-14). The things of this world grow strangely dim when I turn my eyes to You, Jesus! Cause me (motivate me) to hear (listen to) Your lovingkindness in the morning (early in a situation), because I'm choosing to trust in You, and to know the way I should BE/live today, because I'm lifting up my soul (mind, will, and emotions) in cupped hands to You for Your control (Ps. 143:8).

Psalm 37: 

1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

7Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Isaiah 41:

10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

11Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

12Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

13For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

14Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 143:8Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Does Anyone See or Care?

Hagar, Genesis chapters 16 and 21

There have been times I felt that no one, not even God, really saw or noticed all the work I was doing day after day with a toddler at home. I felt isolated... Hubby at work all day and then studying for sermons on the weekend.

But God really encouraged me with Hagar in Genesis 16... Remember Hagar? She felt like no one knew or appreciated her, but she had an encounter with God so real that she exclaimed that now she knew that "Thou God seest me"!

The neatest part? GOD pursued HER. When she gave up, at the lowest of her lows, HE reached out to HER! But it was her choice to respond to Him.

God gave me this passage of Scripture in direct answer to my cries to Him, "Do YOU even SEE me? Do YOU even SEE all I am doing here?" Of course, I knew in my HEAD that He did, but I FELT alone.

I don't know if you're discouraged, or what your life situation is, but the next time you feel down, I hope you'll be encouraged and lifted up with the thought that God SEES you...with LOVE and CARE! His Word is there to sustain and comfort you. He's reaching out. He's waiting for you to respond to Him.

Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone?
Does the road you travel harbour danger yet unknown?
Are you growing weary through the struggle of it all?
Jesus will help you, when on His name you call!

Is the life you're living filled with sorrow and despair?
Does the future press you with its worry and its care?
Are you tired and friendless? Have you almost lost your way?Jesus will help you; just come to Him today!

He is always there, hearing ev'ry prayer, faithful and true!
Walking by our side, in His love we hide all the day through!
When you get discouraged, just remember what to do--
Reach out to Jesus; He's reaching out to you!

~ Ralph Carmichael