Life's Little Frustrations

I change baby's diaper, and then

I turn around, and he's wet again!

The House of the Loard

Psalm 23:6b, "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

John 14:2-3,  "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."

Revelation 21:2-3,  "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,  'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'"

Revelation 21:22,  "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple."

     We will hear beautiful sounds from the heavenly choir.  We will see amazing sights.  The centerpiece of heaven will be God on His throne.  From the throne of God will flow the river of life, and a tree of life will grow on each side of the river and produce twelve crops of fruit.  The city will be surrounded by a wall whose foundation will be decorated with all kinds of precious stones.  There will be twelve gates, each one composed of one gigantic pearl, and the streets will be paved with glittering gold.  The things which God has prepared for those who love Him will greatly exceed anything we could ever imagine.

     Our loved ones who have died in Christ are there, and I expect that they will greet us when we arrive.  What a joyful reunion that will be!

     We will dwell in this wonderful place forever and ever, never to leave.  It will be a place of "no mores"--no more sickness nor sorrow nor pain nor death nor tears nor struggles.

     But the most blessed part of heaven is this: our Heavenly Father will dwell there with us, and we shall see our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, face to face and have the opportunity to praise Him and thank Him for the cross.  It will be God's eternal Presence with us that will make heaven so very special.  The destination will make everything we have suffered in the journey of life worth it all!

Father, I think of Corrie Ten Boom's words, "The best is yet to be," and I thank You for all that You have prepared for the eternal future of all those who love You.  Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

We hear baby crying deep in the night.

His pacifier has dropped right out of sight.

"Where is it?" we cry, searching the bed and the floor.

We can't find it.  I sure hope we have some more!

The Olympics

I Corinthians 9:25,  "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

      A number of us have had withdrawal symptoms this week since the

2012 summer Olympics has ended.  Many of us were glued to our television sets every night from seven to eleven for two weeks.  We watched a number of athletes win medals and gain fame.  But what lasting impact have the Olympic games made in the lives of both participants and viewers?  Have we learned any life lessons from watching?  Let me suggest a few thoughts.

      First, although many individuals have won medals, awards were also given for a number of team sports such as basketball, volleyball, and relay races.  The incredible cooperation between team members has reminded me of the importance and effectiveness of teamwork in life.

      Second, it is so obvious that an enormous number of hours and incredible physical effort were put forth by the participants as they trained for their events.  This challenges me to renew and increase my own training in the Scriptures and prayer and obedience in order to more effectively live the Christian life.  The athletes work for temporary rewards, but ours will be eternal.

      Third, the athletes performed in the areas where they were most gifted because they were most effective in these areas.  We, too, have gifts.  Each one of us is given at least one spiritual gift when we become Christians, and we are most effective in the body of Christ when we operate in the areas of our giftedness.

      Fourth, no athlete could win a race without crossing the finish line.  This challenges us to persevere, to keep on keeping on and pushing to do our best as long as God leaves us on earth, to run our race and finish well.

      Training, dedication, commitment, hard work, perseverance, teamwork, and developing the gifts that God has given us--we can apply these lessons from the Olympics in our Christian walk.

Father, thank You that You give us many lessons in life to teach us how to better live for You.  Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

The rain leaves the trees so fresh and green,

No dust, no dirt, all nice and clean.

One quick shower, and then it's passed.

I wish I could dust my house that fast!

Goodness and Mercy

Psalm 23:6a,  "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."

      Surely.  Certainly.  Without a doubt.  You can count on it.  Great is the faithfulness of our God.  We can trust Him with our whole hearts.

      It is easy to see that God's goodness and mercy are following us when all is going well in our lives.  But when there are health problems. financial difficulties, wayward children, tragic events, and the death of someone we love, it is much harder to see God's hand of goodness and mercy, but we can know that it is still there.  He has promised to cause all circumstances to work for our ultimate good.  It is not our circumstances which reveal the extent of God's love for us--it is the cross!  If we only remember one thing about the Christian life, let it be,  "Jesus loves me.  This I know, for the Bible tells me so."  Never doubt God's love and goodness and mercy.

      God's goodness and mercy follow us.  He doesn't just sit in heaven and observe us as we struggle through our days on earth.  He enters into our lives in intimate ways, comforting us, guiding us, encouraging us, answering our prayers--and we can count on Him to do this as long as we live.  He  will never desert us, never leave us to our own devises, never make us depend solely upon our human resources.  He is our Immanuel--God with us.

      I love the way the psalmist summed these thoughts up in Psalm 73:23-24, 26,  "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.

  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.....My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

                                                                             

Father, thank You for Your goodness and mercy which follow us as long as we live.  Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

Why are pounds so easy to gain but oh so hard to lose?

I think because it's fun to eat but no fun at all to refuse.

My Overflowing Cup

Psalm 23:5c,  "My cup runs over," or "My cup overflows."

      In David's day if a host kept his guest's cup full, it meant that the guest was still welcome, but when an empty cup was not refilled the host was hinting that it was time for the guest to go home.  If the cup was poured so full it overflowed, that symbolized that the host was thoroughly enjoying the guest, and the host very much wanted the guest to stay.  His company was greatly desired.

      God has filled my cup to overflowing over and over with so many good gifts.  He has lavished His love on me, given it in abundance, much more than enough, "a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over."  I John 3:1a says, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!"

      As I come to the Lord empty and needy, He fills my cup with rest and peace, with strength and endurance, wisdom and guidance, encouragement and love, mercy and grace.  Whatever I need, He gives me.

  All I can do in the face of such generosity is thank Him and praise Him for filling my cup to overflowing time and time again.  David felt the same way when he wrote these words in Psalm 9:1-2,  "I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.  I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."

Father, how I thank You and praise You today for Your goodness and Your generosity.  Amen.