Beautiful People

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”   -- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

This quote sprinkles Facebook "About Me" pages and statuses from time to time.  It is poignant in truthfulness, and nods to the inner beauty that our culture so often neglects to recognize.  This quote leads me to think of one particular group of people in my life.  A group who has come face to face with defeat, suffering, struggle, and loss.  A group who, together, is working to find their way out of the depths.  They are beautiful people.  

I was blessed to spend my birthday weekend on a retreat with these wonderful souls, and catch a glimpse into their hearts.  In one group activity late on Saturday night, each of us shared a bit of our journey with the collective through the sharing of an item of significance. What stuck out to me was the abundance of spiritually-significant objects among this group of people.  It lead me to postulate that suffering can produce dependance on the Lord.

Two Responses to Suffering

In truth, suffering, hardship, and trials can lead to two reactions: running into the Lord's arms, or running as far away from them as possible.  As an example from God's Big Story, let's look at the story of Jonah.  (Found in the book of Jonah in the Old Testament -- if you haven't read it, check it out!)  Now, Jonah is a dude, whom God calls to go to this city called Nineveh (aka a den of iniquity), to tell them that they are not living the way they should be living.  He is to tell them to "Repent!" and turn to God.  As you can imagine, this message would likely not be very well received by ... well, anyone -- let alone, a city whose "wickedness has come up before" God (Jonah 1:2)!  Jonah responds to God's call to potential suffering by running from God.  

Literally, he tries to run from God.  As if it's possible to run away from the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, divine Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.  Anyway, he responds to suffering by turning from God and running.  He hardens his heart toward the Lord, tucks his tail, and flees.  A few boats, storms, and waves later, he ends up in the belly of a whale for three days... But God is gracious and gives Jonah a second chance. 

On the flip side, let's look at an example of running into the gracious arms of the Lord when faced with suffering.  In the Old Testament, there is a book entitled "Job" (pronounced Joe-b, not Jaw-b), which outlines the powerful story of a man whose name was Job.  He is described in the Bible as "blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1).  Sounds like a pretty solid dude.  Verses 2-3 explain his great wealth and prosperity, declaring him "the greatest man among oll the people of the East" (Job 1:3).

Basically, what happens is God permits Satan to afflict Job -- his family, possessions, and eventually health -- in an attempt to prove that Job's faithfulness to God was a result of his prosperity.  God declared that Job was faithful because he loved God, but Satan thought otherwise.  As the story unfolds, we see Job experience unimaginable suffering.  In one day, his oxen and donkeys were stolen and servants (except one who came to relay the message) were killed by the Sabeans, lightening struck and killed his sheep and servants (except one), the Chaldeans stole all of his camels and servants (except one), and his seven sons and three daughters were killed when the house they were feasting in collapsed on them due to a giant gust of wind.  Talk about suffering.

Job experienced unimaginable suffering in one day.  And how did he respond?  By running into the arms of God and praising Him.  Scripture says,

"At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:

Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart, The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord by praised.

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."   - Job 1:20-22

Wow.  What an amazing example of suffering spurring someone to run into the gracious arms of God, rather than away from Him  

Questions to ponder...

How do you respond to suffering in your life?

Do you run to the Lord or away from the Lord in the toughest days?

How can you create patterns of running to the Lord when faced with hardships?

"Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."   –James 1:2-4 (HCSB)

Facing Your Giants

 
In Max Lucado's book Facing Your Giants, the author brings a fresh perspective to the well-known story of David & Goliath (found in 1 Samuel 17).  He discusses the bold way that young David proclaims victory in the strong name of His God.  While the rest of the Israelites are quaking in their boots, the "runt of the family" is preparing to face the nine and a half foot tall Philistinean brute.

Lucado makes poignant observations about David's perspectives, noting that... David's “God-thoughts outnumber Goliath-thoughts nine to two" (Pg. 9).  He then cuts to the heart of the reader, writing, "How does this ratio compare with yours?  Do you ponder God’s grace four times as much as you ponder your guilt?  Is your list of blessings four times as long as your list of complaints?  Is your mental file of hope four times as thick as your mental file of dread?  Are you four times as likely to describe the strength of God as you are the demands of your day?" (Pg. 9, emphasis added).

Well, goodness.  I can't escape that line of questioning easily.  David's example of mental-dwelling is strong.  He truly dwells and abides in his Lord, this spirit of abiding flows out through his words.  What a wonderful example.


Questions to ponder...
Today, how can you dwell on...
      God's grace?
      The many blessings in your life?
      The hope in Christ that you have?
      God's strength?

What If...

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” –Psalm 105:1

What if we took this literally?

Godstop

You know when you see the title of an article, or the first line, and you’re like “oh, dang. This is gonna pierce my heart”.  Yup, this article in Relevant entitled “Yes, God Will Give You More Than You Can Handle” is about to get me real good. 
 

 

Yes, God Will Give You More Than You Can Handle

Good Enough

Tuesday, September 17, 2013   9:14pm

It all comes back to the essential question: will I ever be good enough?
I think this may be the root of my anxiety.  Forever fearing that I won’t be good enough, that I won’t measure up.  

Biblically, what is the answer to this question?  

I think the answer is no. I will never be “good enough” on my own because NOTHING I do could ever make me good enough.  Only the blood of a lamb without blemish could make me “good enough”. 

What’s the good news in all of this?

The good news is that I have a kinsman-redeemer.  I have a Savior.  I am clothed in the righteousness of Christ.  His “good enough” covers my “never good enough”.  God looks at me and sees Christ’s “good enough”.  He sees His sweet Son Jesus dying on the cross, so that I can appear in His glorious presence, robed in “good enough”.  We are robed in righteousness, but this righteousness is not of ourselves, so no one can boast.  Rather it is in CHRIST. 

Soul Pruning

 
Like John 15 says, I am going through a soul pruning of sorts – a schedule pruning.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” – John 15:1-2

 
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me [not in organizations] and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me [not activities] you can do nothing.  If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
-John 15:5-6

What is vital here is remaining in HIM.  In God’s economy ABIDING in Him is far greater than participating in organizations.  

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." -Luke 10:41
 

When You're Growing Weary

 
“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” – Hebrews 12:3

            If you’re growing weary, think of Jesus.  Think of the life He lived, the opposition He endured – for You.  For YOUR sake.  Remember that He chose to come to earth – to descend to this broken place to be with us, to commune with us, to show us the face of God.  He chose to come here to love on us. 
           
          He came here to love on us, and what did we do?  We rejected him.  We spat on Him, we despised Him, we accused Him, we denyed Him.  And what did He do?  He went to the cross to redeem us.  He took the punishment that was ours upon Himself. 

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." -Isaiah 53:4-6

            He didn’t die for us when we had our act together, or because were loving people well.  In our state of sinful messiness, Christ died for us.   

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

He CHOSE to die for us because He loves us.  He is wildly in love with YOU.  So when you're growing weary, do not lose heart.  You are loved. 
         

Ponder & Abide

 
You might be wondering why in the world this blog is entitled "Ponder & Abide".  What does that even mean?  Let's explore...

 Ponder:  I love the idea of pondering.  The OED (Oxford English Dictionary), (this English major's favorite online dictionary) defines "ponder" as: "An act or period of considering, reflecting, or weighing up."

The purpose of this space is exactly that -- to consider, reflect, and weigh up.  

Abide:  Mmmm, the Lord has been putting that word on my heart recently.  He reminded me that our greatest call is to abide in Him.  

I have written this ebenezer on my hand for the past few days, to remember this truth.  

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5 (ESV)