Deeper Thoughts #7

Today is Christmas Day.  It's a day to celebrate the wonder of God's special gift, His Son Jesus Christ.  It's a day to ponder the deeper meaning of this Gift, just as Mary did when the angel told her she would have a son: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”, she asked.  The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” You can read all the details in the Bible book of Luke, chapter 1, verses 26-38.

After Jesus was born in the manger, shepherds came to Bethlehem after they also had an angelic visit:  “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  Luke 2:10-14

When Mary heard how God had directed them to the manger, she "treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:19.

You may want to take some time to ponder this as well... the Gift and the Good News still have the greatest relevance today, more than 2,000 years later.  My life has been changed forever.  I am eternally grateful to God for the Gift of His Son.  

Merry Christmas to you all!

May this New Year bring us

a deeper understanding of the hope 

we have in Jesus Christ.  

With this, I'll end the blog for the year.  Thanks for stopping by!

Deeper Thoughts #6

Who am I without my possessions?  I’ve been thinking about this recently as a friend has had most of her possessions in storage for nearly a year while she stays with family members looking to find her own place to live.

Do others know me for what I have, for what I do, or for what I look like?  Color of skin certainly gives a first impression, just as being 4’ tall or 7’ tall.  We all have eyes and thus analyze most everything we see, whether consciously or unconsciously.  But with time we see there's way more to the person than those first impressions.

I think of my oldest granddaughter who has quite a lot of facial piercings.  Will she be as attractive to her current friends if she removes them all?  Or do they contribute a great deal to the person she wants to be seen as?

Will I be as interesting a person if I get rid of my camper van and all the crazy stories that go with it?  Will others recognize me as the same person without a guitar or a camera, or even a computer?

So, what is the most important “possession” in this world?  I believe it is character. 

Viktor Frankl in 'Man’s Search for Meaning' found that however horrible his circumstances were he could choose his response to them.  His attitude, his compassion for others, his courage to do the right thing… these were always choices he had.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer faced similar circumstances.  This man had incredible moral courage.  He lost his life because of it.

Will I display patience, kindness and gentleness?   Will I be someone who encourages others to keep going when the road gets rough, or to get up and start again when they trip and fall on the rough road? 

Character matters.  Integrity matters.  Compassion matters. A heart at peace with God matters the most!  

Character is what I want to be known for.  It’s what I can take with me wherever I go, even if I lose all my other possessions.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

patience, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; 

against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23  (ESV)

Deeper Thoughts #5

On July 5^th, I was driving on Montana Highway 200 on my way to Thompson Falls for the Harlow Ranch Family Festival.   

I noticed a ton of traffic heading the other direction and very little traffic going in the direction I was. 

So is it a good or a bad sign when you encounter situations like this?

You could look at it either way.   You get the best driving experience with fewer people heading the same direction you are.  It’s certainly my preference.  You can slow down if there's something amazing to look at or make a sudden turn if you see a bright Estate Sale sign without upsetting drivers that are close behind you. 

But there could be some terrible disaster farther up the road that most others are trying to escape, and you are one of the few who hasn’t been listening to the news.  You are completely unaware of the trouble that awaits you.

Life is rather like this.   We cruise along and find a comfortable pace going in the direction we think is best.  But, like the person who has been working to climb the ladder of success only to realize at the end of life, that the ladder has been propped up against the wrong building, it wouldn’t hurt us to stop and analyze where we are going and why we are going there. 

Proverbs is a great book in the Bible, written by King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived.  Here’s a couple things he wrote: 

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.  Proverbs 14:12

A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.  Proverbs 21:2

How are we to know which is the right way to be going?  Ask God and He will answer.   I’ve found God always true to His promises!

This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”   Jeremiah 6:16

Deeper Thoughts #4

I lead a weekly Bible study.  Last week’s lesson was on “the Potter & the Clay,” a reference taken from Isaiah 64:8 (shown below).   God is the Potter and we are the clay.  It's a marvelous picture that puts God in the highest place and us in a very lowly place.

Can you picture the clay on the Potter’s wheel shouting up at the Potter while he tries to form his design, “Wait a minute; this isn’t right; you’ve got it all wrong”?  How crazy to think the lump of clay has any say in what the Potter wants to make, or its arguments making the Potter reassess His plans for the clay.

I think we often question how we were made and why we face such difficult circumstances.  So is God fair?  Is God good?  Does He really care about me?  Is there a plan and purpose for my life?

Looking back at my life and all I have walked through,  I will confidently answer all those questions with a “YES!”

“…now, O Lord, you are our Father;

we are the clay, and you are our Potter;

we are all the work of Your hand.”

Isaiah 64:8  (ESV)

Photo by Meruyert Gonullu: https://www.pexels.com

Deeper Thoughts #3

Today is June 1st already.  How time seems to fly by when I’m not paying attention.  As I get older I am more aware of the limited time I may have left on this earth.  One friend shared with me this profound statement years ago.  “We are all on the conveyor belt of life… but we just don’t know in which order.”

The Bible tells me God knows when my first day and my last day would be, and He knew this before I was ever born.  So He alone knows how many days I have left.  How do I make the most of them?

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, 

as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 

You saw me before I was born.  

Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.  

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 

Psalm 139:15-16 (NLT)

Deeper Thoughts #2

From 2 Chronicles 16 in the Bible, we find that, for most of his life, Asa was rock solid in his trust in God. But in later years he started trusting more in the neighboring armies that would help defend his nation.  He started trusting in his doctors to take care of his foot disease and didn't ask God for help or for direction.

Because of this, Scripture tells us he did not finish his race well.  Is there a balance between asking God for help and using the modern means of help available to us?  

What it really comes down to is, who do I ultimately trust in?  Do I first ask God for help or do I make an appointment with the doctor first?  Do I count on my bank account and credit cards when extra bills pile up or do I ask God for His help first?  For how long will I count on my own strength until one day I have little or none left?

My help comes from the Lord, 

who made heaven and earth. 

Psalm 121:2 (ESV)

Deeper Thoughts #1

Charles Darwin was a strong evolutionist.  A peacock’s tail feathers were greatly troubling to him as they would not fit into his strict worldview.  The tail feathers had a consistent and beautiful design.  How can one argue against a Master Designer when you look at this marvelous pattern?

Wonderful are Your works; 

my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14b  (ESV)