Tough times

Reading for this week: James 1:1-12

I work in education and this school year is already set to be one of my toughest. It’s only October and I am already feeling burned out. Deep breathes, a good night’s sleep, and large, strong coffees are necessary to get through every day.

Last week, however, my coworker said to me, “You know, I need to stop complaining about everything that’s going wrong and remember that there is a reason why things are the way they are.”

In the Book of James, there are basically 3 steps in coping with unwanted trials. (And unbelievably, coffee does not make the list.)

1. Count it joy.

By far the hardest, “count it joy” means that we look at our trials dead-on and record them in our “things to be grateful for” list, which is counter-intuitive and in a lot of situations the opposite of what we want to do.

2. Be patient.

We thank God for our trials and allow patience (not impatient or anger) to be the side effect of our trial. Let that hard-practiced patience have its full effect. God promises that it will give way to perfection and completeness in Christ, where we lack nothing.

3. Ask God, in faith, for wisdom.

My favorite one, yet so many times I forget to ask for it. The best coping strategy in the middle of any trial and the best help in our quest to be joyful and patient in affliction is the Holy Spirit’s guidance. And God promises to give it to you. Just ask.

Dear God, Right now I am struggling with _______________________________. You have allowed this to happen but you have promised to give me wisdom, patience, and help in my time of need. Give me all those blessings and grant me the strength to say, “Thank you for this trial.” Amen.

God blesses those who endure their trials in faith. As you read the passages below this week, study those blessings!

Day 2 – Romans 5:1-5

Day 3 – Romans 8:18-28

Day 4 – Hebrews 12:1-13

Day 5 – Psalm 34

 

 

 

 

 

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Steps to contentment: Step 2 – Protect

Welcome to week 2 in our study on contentment. Contentment in the biblical sense is peace with God and satisfaction in the circumstances where God has placed you.

Contentment is what we want, but we cannot have contentment without faith. If contentment is that lush, green, fruitful garden, then discontentment is anything that endangers the growth of the garden.

Reading for this week: Luke 10:38-42

Over the summer, the kids and I weeded our overgrown yard for about 20 minutes a day. Even though 20 minutes doesn’t clear much, I have noticed that over time, we have slowly begun to open up the landscape to allow for my husband’s green-thumb creativity. It’s as if the yard finally has some room to breathe.

However, a new problem has made an appearance. Deer. They walk around the yard like they own it, eating anything that looks good. My superbells are chewed down; my new pineberries (a strawberry cultivar that tastes like pineapple) look like thick blades of sporadic grass. As we continue to develop our garden, we now have to research deer resistant plants and build deer fencing around our new vegetable garden. We need to protect what’s growing.

Being content is also a constant battle for turf. The story for today is one of our first encounters with Mary and Martha, two friends of Jesus. Both women are serving Jesus in the story. One is sitting and listening. The other is prepping a meal. I can relate to both women. However, I struggle with this passage because Martha’s service gets a bad rap. When Jesus denies Martha’s plea for help in the kitchen, it seems unfair. My gut response is to say, “Do you know what it takes to serve 13 plus hungry men? Good luck feeding those guys.”

 

Painting by He Qi

There are two problems with Martha’s service, though. The first, Luke says, “Martha was distracted.” And the second, Jesus says, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion and it will not be taken from her.” I love the firmness of Jesus’s response. It will not be taken from her. He is protecting Mary. But he is also protecting Martha from the dangerous assumption that service to God is more important than time with God.

Contentment is only possible with time with God. You can work and work and work in your garden, but if you haven’t spent time protecting it, if you haven’t spent time with the Master Gardener, you will never experience your garden of contentment.

In your pursuit of contentment, you need that valuable time with Him. And that time needs to be protected. Protected from distraction. Protected from worry. Protected from anxiety. And even protected from service. The kind of service that distracts from the very One who is to be served.

Step 2 in the pursuit of contentment: Protect your garden by spending time with the Master Gardener.

Dear Lord, I forget to spend time with You. Please forgive me. Never let my service to You replace spending time with You. Help me to encourage others to spend time with You. Grow my garden of contentment. Amen.

This week, let’s read about the blessings of spending time with God. As you read Day 2 – Psalm 23, take confidence in the fact that when the Lord is your shepherd, when you focus on Him, you realize that you have everything you need. And when you know you have everything you need, that is the beginning of contentment.

Day 2 – Psalm 23

Day 3 – Psalm 37:3-7

Day 4 – Ephesians 3:14-21

Day 5 – Matthew 6:19-21; 25-33

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Temptation and Our Coat of Many Colors

Reading for today: Genesis 39:1-23

Painting by Richard McBee

Joseph had lost another coat. His first coat, an expensive coat of many colors, was destroyed when his brothers betrayed him. That coat had symbolized favor and wealth. Yet, in an instant, he went from the privileged son of a great nomadic leader, to a stripped Ishmaelite slave.

But Joseph found favor again. His new Egyptian master, Potiphar, recognized Joseph’s talent and made him second in command. He was clothed as a high servant, no longer a meager slave.

Painting by Richard McBee

Potiphar’s wife, however, also noticed Joseph and tried to seduce him. Joseph resisted the temptation but lost another coat as he ran from her. That coat had also symbolized favor and wealth. And when he lost it, he found himself in prison.

Resisting temptation is not simply a matter of choosing what’s right over what’s wrong. If that were the case, resistance would be easy. Resisting temptation, however, usually involves a sacrifice.

In the case of Joseph, he knew what favor and wealth felt like. And when he had it again in Potiphar’s house, it fit like a glove. He was successful and well loved. Resisting Potiphar’s wife came at great sacrifice. It cost him the favor and wealth he had finally regained.

That’s what makes temptation so hard. We see immediate benefits lying on the other side of temptation. Benefits we feel we deserve. Coveting those benefits drives us to excuse our actions, convincing ourselves that the ends will justify the means. On the other hand, choosing to say no to a temptation involves a sacrifice that seems unfair and difficult. In extreme cases, like Joseph’s, that sacrifice may cost us everything we’ve worked so hard to achieve.

But Joseph’s story does not end there. While his decision to resist Potiphar’s wife cost him his position and years in prison, God clothed him again in a royal coat, as Pharaoh’s second-in-command (Genesis 41: 42).

When you are faced with temptation, the temptation to leave your wife or love someone other than your husband, or take the answer key for a test or cover up fraud or break a promise, remember two things. One, temptation is never just about you. Your decisions affect your relationship with others and with God. Two, there is always a way out. That way may seem unfair or difficult, but it never goes unnoticed by God. He promises to both help you and bless you.

While we may never wear the coat of royalty as Joseph did, we are promised royal clothing. Isaiah 61:10 rejoices in God’s promise to the faithful, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness.”

Painting by Deborah Waldron Fry

Dear God, I am feeling pressure about ______________________. You know what’s right for me to do. Teach me Your ways and help me walk in them. No matter the consequences, I will trust in You. Amen.

Be encouraged this week by what these Biblical authors have to say about temptation and God’s help for us. Psalm 51 is especially important to read because there are many times where we fail and need God’s forgiveness and his help to get back on track.

Day 2 – Hebrews 13:4-6

Day 3 – Hebrews 2:14-18

Day 4 – I Corinthians 10:12-14

Day 5 – Psalm 51

*Thanks to Pastor Steve, his Bible study was the springboard for this devotional

 

 

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God’s Inverted Economy

The first lesson of economics is scarcity: there is never enough of anything to fully satisfy all those who want it. The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics. Thomas Sowell

God has an economic plan, but it’s not like the economy we are used to or even comfortable with. For a general description of God’s economic plan read: Proverbs 11:24-28.

 

God’s system of economics seems backwards. Supply has nothing to do with demand. Yet, He promises that for those who seek Him first, His righteousness, and His way, that all the things we need will be there (Matthew 6:33).

God is rich in all things good and He is completely generous. He has modeled His own system for us. We know this because He gave us Jesus. And Jesus gave up everything, He gave it all away – He made himself nothing, He completely emptied Himself. He took on the plight of humanity, and ultimately our death. The result of this undeserved generosity?  God exalted Him to the highest place and at His name we bow (Philippians 2:5-11). And because of Jesus, we have access to everything good. Because of His emptying out, we have God’s blessing, and we have life to the full (John 10:10).

God’s acting on His own economic principles has graciously afforded us salvation, hope, and life to the full. In faith, we receive these incredible blessings. Why not, in faith, also entrust our meager resources to God. Not simply to receive the promised blessings. But also so that we might be a blessing to someone else.

Here are some principles of God’s economy to ponder over this week.

1. God’s economy is not a capitalistic one.
2. God’s economy is based on abundance, not on scarcity.
3. God’s economy is counterintuitive and illogical.
4. A spending freeze will not fix the problem of consumerism. Generosity is the only cure for consumption.
5. Generosity generates blessing.
6. In God’s economy, giving is not a loss, it is always a gain.
7. In God’s economy, expect God’s help. That is honoring to God.
8. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

“Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”  Malachi 3:10

Dear God, Help us to live in the light of your “inverted” economy. Help us to trust that your economy is best. Amen.

Readings for this week:

Day 2 – Philippians 2:5-11

Day 3 – Matthew 6:19-24

Day 4 – Matthew 6:25-33

Day 5 – 1 Timothy 6:9-11, 17-19; Hebrews 13:5-6

 

*Thank you Pastors Steve, Ryan, and Dion, as well as Emily and my father for their collective insights that made up this study.

 

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Best Laid Plans

@anormanwalker

Reading for today: Acts 16:6-15

In general, our plans don’t always go as intended. Yet God is always directing us to the people, places, and circumstances he has planned for us.

For Paul, Silas, and Timothy, their plans to work in Asia were stopped more than once by the Holy Spirit. Not because their plans were bad, but because God’s plans were better. God had a very special woman and her family in mind. Lydia and her family were waiting to hear and ready to accept the amazing words that Paul and his friends had dedicated their lives to share.

Lydia and her purple cloth, “Purple Girl” photograph by Barry Perks

Some of us, like Paul and his friends, may be fortunate enough to glimpse God’s reasoning behind an unexpected or unwanted life-turn. Others of us can only trust that God has his best, our best, and others’ best in mind with each turn in the road.

My favorite moments, though, are the ones when I get to see the blessing. Every time that happens, I thank God for directing me when I would have otherwise walked away.

Recognize God’s directing. Life will become deeper and fuller as you learn to see the people, places, and circumstances around you as strategically positioned in time and space by God himself and for his better will.

Oh God, I want to want your will to be done. Give me trust. Give me wisdom. Give me strength. Guide me according to your best plans. Amen.

Day 2: Psalm 139

Day 3: Jeremiah 29:11-14; Psalm 138:8; Psalm 143:8

Day 4: Proverbs 19:21; Psalm 33:10-12

Day 5: John 10:3-4; James 1:5; Proverbs 3:5-6

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Richly Blessed

Reading for today: Mark 10:17-27

Office cleaned and trash taken out every night, except last night it was left. Rotisserie chicken on the warming cart, but today they’re all out. It’s your birthday, but this year she forgot to send you a card. An important meeting at work, but a phone call from school reports a child with a fever who needs you.

When you experience a small loss or disturbance (emphasis on the word small) in the things you’ve come to expect, what is your typical response? Is it frustration? Is it anger? Is it pouting? If so, consider taking these inevitable aggravations and using them as opportunities for gratitude.

These small deviations in our regularly scheduled lives are pivotal moments where we can either feel entitled to what was lost. Or we can use the opportunity to recognize a blessing in our lives.

My husband has the habit of making coffee every morning. One morning last week, he didn’t. And I am ashamed to say that I immediately felt frustrated. But as soon as I had that horrible feeling of entitlement, another, more appropriate feeling took its place – gratitude.

Gratitude for a husband who cares for me. Gratitude for a coffee maker and hot coffee. Gratitude for able hands. Gratitude for a life where I am so blessed that the only thing I have to complain about on a Tuesday morning is a lack of hot coffee.

Don’t ever let the abundance of your simple blessings become a source of false entitlement. The moment you begin to feel entitled to your blessings, is the moment you have stopped serving God and have begun to serve yourself.

Your blessings, even the smallest ones, are from God and are to be used for God, not simply for yourself. God gives you his blessings to bless you, yes! But he also gives you blessings to be used to serve him and those he has placed around you. Gratitude, then, is the necessary first step in that process of receiving and using God’s blessings.

Dear God, I have completely taken for granted even my smallest blessings. Give me eyes to see your blessings and wisdom to know how to use them for your glory. I am so unbelievably blessed by you. Make me grateful. Amen.

This week, count your blessings – at least 5 a day. After each blessing counted, think of a possible way to spread that blessing out to someone else.

Further readings on blessings.

Day 2 – Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 31:19; Malachi 3:10

Day 3 – James 1:14-17

Day 4 – Jeremiah 17:7-8; 1 Peter 3:8-9

Day 5 – Psalm 103

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