We are taught when writing to avoid superlatives. People who use extreme adjectives like “fabulous,” “magnificent,” and “splendid” are usually exaggerating the situation. However, when the writers of the Bible spoke of the blessings of God upon His children, they used the strongest of terms they knew; here are a few examples:
—His love “surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19)
—His gift of salvation is “indescribable” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
—His life is “to the full” (John 10:10)
—His grace is “sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Paul, writing to the discouraged Corinthians, said that through God we are “made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God (II Corinthians 9:11).
Are you feeling down? Do you wish you had more of the riches of this world? Remember the superlatives of God!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Learn to love dandelions
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4
“There are times when you cannot understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings the blank space, see that you do not fill it in, but wait. The blank space may come in order to teach you what sanctification means; or it may come after sanctification to teach you what service means. Never run before God’s guidance. If there is the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt—don’t.” Oswald Chambers
Oftentimes we go through blank or dark spaces or as I refer to it as a funk. During these times, I want to do anything and everything I can to move out of these periods as quickly as possible. I want to feel good about me and my life. Iam often like the man who tried to rid his yard of dandelions. He tried everything he knew to stop them from going in his otherwise beautiful lawn. Finally, out of desperation he wrote the Department of Agriculture and begged for a solution. He so wanted that perfect lawn, green, smooth and flawless. He was not pleased with the answer he received, “We suggest you learn to love dandelions.”
Life is full of dark places or funks (dandelions). Rather than trying to rid our lives of them, perhaps we need to learn that God places such things in our lives to move us closer to him (or further away from other things). His ultimate goal for us is not enjoyment, but fulfillment and being made in the likeness of His Son. Flaws make us see what we are not, but His love and grace, show us what we can become (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
“There are times when you cannot understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings the blank space, see that you do not fill it in, but wait. The blank space may come in order to teach you what sanctification means; or it may come after sanctification to teach you what service means. Never run before God’s guidance. If there is the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt—don’t.” Oswald Chambers
Oftentimes we go through blank or dark spaces or as I refer to it as a funk. During these times, I want to do anything and everything I can to move out of these periods as quickly as possible. I want to feel good about me and my life. Iam often like the man who tried to rid his yard of dandelions. He tried everything he knew to stop them from going in his otherwise beautiful lawn. Finally, out of desperation he wrote the Department of Agriculture and begged for a solution. He so wanted that perfect lawn, green, smooth and flawless. He was not pleased with the answer he received, “We suggest you learn to love dandelions.”
Life is full of dark places or funks (dandelions). Rather than trying to rid our lives of them, perhaps we need to learn that God places such things in our lives to move us closer to him (or further away from other things). His ultimate goal for us is not enjoyment, but fulfillment and being made in the likeness of His Son. Flaws make us see what we are not, but His love and grace, show us what we can become (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
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