God’s blessed brat…

Putting up Christmas decorations is putting my focus on the birth of Jesus Christ and on all that He has done. This babe in a manger overwhelms me. He knew His life would be taken from Him on a cross. He knew He would suffer for the sins of the world, an enormous assignment that overwhelms my mind and as I gaze at the manger scene, all this brings both angst and joy to my heart. The joy part is expressed here:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17–21)

The deep trepidation that comes personally is because new life means more than joy. Paul expressed how serving Jesus, this babe who grew and died for his sin, would lead him and all who follow Him with our whole hearts. There would be joy and goodness, but also trials:

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. (2 Corinthians 6:2–13)

This year is about my 56th year of being a child of God, five decades of new life. I cannot help but reflect. My hardships were not like Paul’s; he suffered for serving Jesus. I suffered to learn lessons about my sinfulness and God's faithfulness. Paul experienced the joyful and comfortable blessings to keep him from giving up. I have experienced blessings perhaps for the same reason and not because of persecution or the resistance of others to what I do. Satan buffets me to keep me from praying and loving God, but I’ve not experienced those other hardships. Not that I want to, yet His grace does make me often feel like God’s spoiled brat.

Either way, trials from others or trials of ordinary life, God has blessed me by using them as He promises:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28–29)

And then I read the prayer of another who said, “Not relief from pain, not relief from the weariness that follows, not anything of that sort at all, is my chief need. Thou, O Lord my God, art my need—Thy courage, Thy patience, Thy fortitude. And very much I need a quickened gratitude for the countless helps given every day.” (Source)

PRAY: Lord, every decoration and gift under the tree is my reminder of what Paul says, “Since I have these promises, may I be cleansed from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1) This is the wonder of the babe in the manger. Such a task — for all who sin, for all time, in every place — all who hear Him speak,  and who say YES — including this spoiled brat. 

Impatient with God?

Being impatient with God's timing is a common response when prayer isn’t answered as quickly as it is prayed. This week, one of our friends expressed frustration because he had prayed for what seemed an easy thing to happen and it didn’t. When someone said that the Lord’s timing is always perfect, he said, “Yes, but…” and I said, “Don’t say but…” because the word ‘yes’ and that word do not go together. Sadly he ignored me.

Today’s reading points to this verse, then Piper adds a more literal translation:

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Piper says: “Let us approach with boldness the throne of grace that we might receive mercy and find grace for a well-timed help.” He explains this is literal and accurate. The traditional translation focuses on our need, but the literal one focuses on God’s timing.

I cannot criticize our impatient friend. How many times has God tried to teach me that I’m actually in His classroom when prayers are not answered! He wants me to trust Him, not my own idea of when something should happen. The need might be great but His timing is based on His far greater understanding and plan, not on my impatient fears or demands.

Jesus demonstrated this when His friend Lazarus became ill. When his sisters sent word to Him, He said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. (John 11:4–6)

The disciples were perplexed and the sisters upset when Lazarus died, but Jesus was glorified by a greater miracle than healing. He called the dead man out of his tomb and restored him alive to the great consternation of His opposers and the great delight of all who followed Him. Yet they too struggled with His timing.

In His classroom, I’m being taught that He knows what I need when I need it. Sometimes it is a surprise, a blessing I didn’t expect or even ask for, but when He gives it, I realize that I needed it. It might be a small thing in the eyes of the world. Not long ago we drove into a very full parking lot and I said, “Lord, it would be nice to find a parking spot, but we can walk so whatever You think…” and at that, a space opened up right in front of the door where we wanted to go. Surprise!

I don’t always think about getting encouragement but He sends it when He knows I need it. I pray for safety when out driving. He hears and gives it. I pray for the salvation of many and He surprises me by drawing someone into His family that I’d not prayed for, to show me that He is still busy with those that I do pray for. . . . and teaching me to trust Him and demonstrate my trust with patience, no buts, just content that He will do what He knows is needed at the time that is best, not at the time of my desires.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

This verse is a surprise: God is patient toward me! He puts up with ‘but’ statements but does not give into them. He knows the best timing and will not give in to my nagging. I say nagging instead of prayer, because so many requests are just that, harassing God instead of trusting Him, and insisting it must be now rather than waiting because I believe that He knows best.

PRAY: Oh God, forgive my impatience when I ask for things that will make me more comfortable rather than trusting You to do what I ask when it will bring You the most glory. How delightful that You know best and that answers will come in ways and times that will bring great joy. Sometimes I’ve acted like a demanding and spoiled child, but You are at work using ‘wait’ to help me grow up and to be content in the process. Your help comes and I am learning to pray with the attitude of “surprise me” instead of the demand to “do it now” which is actually a statement of trusting my judgment instead of Yours. Such God-playing is a serious sin.

We plan, God directs . . .

The alarm rang early. I didn’t want to get up. Chicken to cook. Salad to make. A dash to the grocery store. Pack up for a picnic. My body aches. I don’t want to do Saturday and argued with the morning. Another couple hours sleep kept calling but my feet hit the floor, reluctantly.

Devotions come first. As the Empson salts dissolve in hot water, I opened my Bible and this is the first thing I read:

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6–8)

And Jesus says to me, I sacrificed my life for my enemies and you are having trouble getting out of bed and giving up a little bit of sleep for a family picnic?

How practical is that? Like-cold-water-in-the-face practical. I read on:

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:9–11)

My attitude today ought to be rejoicing not reluctance. I live because God gave me life. I am at peace with God because Jesus gave His life. I can rejoice in Him because even this sin of total selfishness is forgiven. I can also rejoice because God knows that the morning’s schedule is tight and I need time with that to-do list — so His Word to me today is short — and sweet!

^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, thank You. You know all things and You are incredible at meeting needs. You put my focus in the right place right off the bat (or right out of the bed) and at the same time give me an extra few minutes to do what needs to be done for this special day with my special family. Grant me grace to encourage them with the same mercy and love that You encourage me. Amen!

Today’s thankful list . . .

Surprising short and practical shout from the Lord, just what I needed.

All done, on time . . . to have changes due to a work emergency and more rain.

Picnics are just as good inside a warm home!

Long afternoon naps.

Football on TV.

Joy from Jesus, even when plans go sideways!

Why I should listen to God . . .

Those who have studied and written books about what they call ‘love language’ say that each of us feels loved in a particular way. For some, it is receiving a gift, or a touch, or being heard. For me, having someone listen is important, but I feel most loved by meaningful conversation.

While this may not seem to meaningful to others, a few days ago the Holy Spirit kept nudging me. I am making a king-size quilt for our son. The top is done. The fabric that goes on the back was stiff and wrinkled. I put it through the steam/refresh cycle on my dryer, then ironed it — an exhausting task, and it was still stiff and had some wrinkles. Then the Holy Spirit kept telling me I should wash it. (Yes, He cares about everything I’m doing.)

I kept resisting. “But I’ve already ironed it.” I’d covered my craft table with a double flannelette sheet and taped it for that task. It was no fun at all. But that still small voice persisted. So finally, I gave in and washed the thing . . .

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts . . .” (Psalm 95:6–8)

Usually this verse in context is about hearing God speak regarding spiritual matters, such as ‘repent and be saved’ but it applies also to daily instruction from the Holy Spirit. I’m not to harden my heart — but listen — and listening to God is a form of worship, a way to show my love to Him. From this, I realize that God and I have the same love language! 😊

Worship means to bow down, to attribute worth, to exalt as supreme. It also means to give proper attention due, which means listening and obeying what God says. In other words, washing that huge hunk of fabric was an act of worship.

The funny thing is that even in this, God was looking out for my best interests. This is true of all His commands, but I had a senior moment or something and totally forgot that He loves me and wants good things for me. I’d imagined taking that yardage out of the washer/drying and having to iron it all over again.

NOT. It came out wrinkle-free, soft and ready to put on my quilting machine and use. I still will need another person to help me with that task, but no ironing necessary and it looks and feels the way it should. I didn’t realize that God knows how to quilt!

^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, when You invite me to kneel before You in worship I usually think of prayer, singing praise, speaking of Your attributes, and many other things, but now realize that listening to You and doing what You say is also an important way of expressing worship. Your will might involve enormous tasks that change the world, but You are also interested in the success of smaller tasks. You know how challenging this project has been (I told my son when I finished it, I was going to kill him) and how often I’ve called out to You for persistence. Thank You for reminding me that You are the expert Creator and that I need to pay attention when the Spirit tells me how to accomplish even a project like this.