A gem out of mess

^"1How the gold has lost its luster, the fine gold become dull! The sacred gems are scattered at every street corner. ... ⁵ Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets. Those brought up in royal purple now lie on ash heaps." - Lamentations 4:1 & 5

It is an interesting conundrum to be in. It is right to plan for the future and work hard to provide for your family but in doing that sometimes we get lost in the pull to have more. There is something about looking great and having things that makes you feel like you are in control and prepared for anything.

I remember sitting down to eat with friends one time. I asked if they minded if I prayed before eating. Their response was interesting, "Why do you want to thank God? We are the ones that worked hard to put this food on the table.".

We often mistakenly believe that we control our lives, yet not one ounce of our ability can ensure an easy future. Things will always happen that we are not prepared for like losing a job, a loved one, environmental disasters and nothing we can do will keep us from eventually dying. In our society we try to plan for every contingency trusting that if we do the right things then we will be okay, but eventually something will happen that you just can't plan for....that is without God.

In the chapter in Lamentations, we see the results of Israel pushing God out of their lives, relying on their abilities and their own wisdom. Everything that they made for themselves eventually fell apart and faded, like a flower. They had become selfish and without God's help, were not able to find their way out of the disaster.

God always has a way out. All is not lost. You know it is funny because we often think God is all about rules, but He is really all about reaching us where we are at and reminding us that we are never alone.

If you have hit some tough times, don't panic. Maybe this is your opportunity to refocus. Take a look at your focus. Does it need some adjusting? One thing I can guarantee....God has a plan to make things work out for your good.

Freedom!!

^"17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" - 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

The trees have changed colour and most become barren as the seasons change. I used to wonder at people's enthusiasm about fall. I knew what was coming next. The trees would loose their leaves, sitting bare, ugly through the winter months.

Our life often goes through similar changes. We have difficult patches that sometimes seem to last forever. It is pretty normal to have a pity party for a while when you are going through that. You may have even found yourself mad at God. Many find themselves in a similar position, even Biblical heroes had those moments. Just don't stay there.

You may not see it but in the midst of what you are going through, God is making things happen...for you. We are similar to those trees. We may look dead but there are hidden things going on that are part of God's plan. The trees loose their leaves and essentially shut down to protect the plant through the cold months BUT God provided them with the ability to shed their leaves for another reason (among many more I am sure). Did you know that when they loose their leaves they also get rid of generational leaf eating insects they have laid their eggs for next year? If leaves stayed, these insects would take over the tree.

God always has a plan even when we can't see it. Maybe you should trust God that He has a plan. When you trust in God's love then you see things differently. You see them through new eyes or "unveiled faces", like the verse says. The challenging times can't keep us down any more. Instead of getting stuck, you have your arrgggg moment of frustration, turn to God to figure out the next step, shed unnecessary baggage and insects of forgiveness, hurt and bitterness that eat away at us, then move on. It is tremendously freeing to not get stuck in a season, instead refocusing and preparing to bloom again with beautiful leaves and new fruit....without the nasty insects.

The more you plug into God's wisdom, the more you will discover freedom to enjoy life and you are transformed. Have you been trying to get through your challenges by yourself? Do you feel overwhelmed? Give God a crack at it! He always delivers peace and clarity into any situation when you trust Him.

At the heart of things

Luke 14:1-6  ¹One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. ²There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. ³Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" ⁴But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.
 ⁵Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?" ⁶And they had nothing to say."

 It is such a relief to learn that Jesus is not all about rules. The Pharisees took the commandment from God to "remember the Sabbath day" so literally that they would not work on the Sabbath (or "God's day" Saturday for them, Sunday for us), but what Jesus so skillfully shows them is that they missed the point AND they took the commandment out of context.

The point was that the commandment was to "take a break" from the busyness of life, spend time with God so you remember the important things (like how to treat people) and remember to take time for family and friends. The Sabbath was for our benefit not because God "needed" to be worshiped, but so that we could have a great life. A life with meaning and purpose. I mean let's face it, if God IS God then he can create any number of things, people, angels to worship Him, he certainly doesn't need us to worship Him!

The "out of context" part of this story was that the Pharisees made up laws all around "remembering the Sabbath" but forgot to include the other commandments in those laws...like "love your neighbor as you love yourself"! So here was this guy that needed healing...Jesus was the guy that could do it, and instead of the Pharisees getting all excited that Jesus could heal this guy, they want to see if Jesus will keep their "don't work on the Sabbath" law. They were trying to use the guy to try and trap Jesus into disobeying a commandment. Thankfully Jesus gets to the heart of the law and stands up for the little guy, heals him and sends him on his way. Hmmm, I think they missed the point.

I think we miss the point too sometimes. Have you gotten so caught up in trying to make your life perfect or trying to be perfect that you have missed the point? Hmmm, I can honestly say I have...many times.

I am glad that God doesn't make the same mistake. He is quick to forgive when we get selfish and self-centered (which is too often) and remind us that we are important to Him, encouraging us to try again. And you know...the more time I spend with Him, the better I seem to be at understanding His heart.