He Had No Rights. And I?

I didn't ask for it, I didn't pray for it, but God decided that He wanted to teach me about being grateful. Not for the things that I have, but for the things that others have.  Particularly the things others have that I want.  Romans 12:15 encourages us to "rejoice with those who rejoice," and I haven't been doing that so well.  So God keeps giving me plenty of opportunities to put it into practice, not only by teaching me to be grateful for the things He's blessed others with (to be happy for them and not think "I wish I had that!"), but to even be grateful for the things that He's blessed others with that I've specifically prayed for.  For any one of us, that could mean anything from a duvet cover or a bouquet of flowers to a child or a spouse.  The root of the problem is the same, and that's the idea that we deserve certain things in life - we are entitled to them.  Someone else has it, so why shouldn't I?  Why not me?

I was reminded the other day that God alone gives us life, breath and all things (Acts 17:25). He is responsible for us, and He's good at it. So when jealousy strikes, I'm essentially telling God, "You haven't done enough for me." Ouch. Gratefulness, on the other hand, says, "You have done ALL for me. Thank you!" 

I was introduced several years back to the following excerpt from an amazing little book by Mabel Williamson called Have We No Rights? (no copyright so you can download it free online...try this link Have We No Rights?).  In the last chapter she writes:

   He had no rights:
   No right to a soft bed, and a well-laid table;
   No right to a home of His own, a place where His own pleasure might be sought;
   No right to choose pleasant, congenial companions, those who could understand Him and sympathize with Him; 
   No right to shrink away from filth and sin, to pull His garments closer around Him and turn aside to walk in cleaner paths;
   No right to be understood and appreciated; no not by those upon whom He had poured out a double portion of His love;
   No right even never to be forsaken by His Father, the one who meant more than all to Him.
   His only right was silently to endure shame, spitting, blows; to take His place as a sinner at the docks; to bear my sins in anguish on the cross.
   He had no rights. And I?

   A right to the "comforts" of life?  No, but a right to the love of God for my pillow.
   A right to physical safety? No, but a right to the security of being in His will.
   A right to love and sympathy from those around me? No, but a right to the friendship of the One who understands me better than I do myself.
   A right to be a leader among men? No, but the right to be led by the One to whom I have given my all, led as is a little child, with its hand in the hand of its father.
   A right to a home, and dear ones? No, not necessarily; but a right to dwell in the heart of God.
   A right to myself? No, but, oh, I have a right to Christ.

All that He takes I will give;
All that He gives I will take;
He, my only right!
He, the one right before which all other rights fade into nothingness.
I have full right to Him;
Oh, may He have full right to me!

"Those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing." Psalm 34:10  

Rogue Waves

Rogue Wave n. also known as freak waves, monster waves, killer waves, extreme waves and abnormal waves. They are relatively large, spontaneous and unpredictable ocean surface waves that occur far out at sea and are even a threat to large ships and sea vessels.

I was watching a documentary the other night about a young girl attempting to sail the globe solo. Almost four months out of Mexico she was hit by a rogue wave in the Indian Ocean, her boat was destroyed, and she was forced to activate her emergency rescue beacon. I came home thinking about the termrogue wave and realized that it was the perfect term to describe where I've found myself at times over the years - struck by a freak wave that seemingly comes out of nowhere, left to cling to my boat and send out an emergency beacon hoping someone will find me. Hoping Someone will find me.

When all is said and done, God has always found me. And I am so grateful. He has pursued me with His truth. And although it seems like I've been "found" and "rescued," I was never really lost in the first place. I was safe in the circumstances that He designed for me.

BUT..let's be realistic. The truth is, it doesn't really feel that way at all when we're lost at sea, clinging to the boat (hurt, bruised, hungry and exhausted) and waiting for a rescue that we're not sure will really come. I have been there.

My hope with this blog is that you will be encouraged to KEEP CLINGING. Some days I might share from my personal experiences, other times I might re-post a blog from someone who has inspired me, or maybe just a picture or quote that has somehow made an impact on me.

As a good friend posted in her blog recently, although each of our circumstances are unique, we, who are redeemed by Christ, are anchored by "the same God who hears us and seeks after us. The same Spirit who makes even the the groanings and longings of our hearts intelligible to Him when words fail us and we don't know how to pray anymore."

Hold on, and know that you are anchored!

A New Protocol

Bold adj. showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous.

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On July 5th I wrote a note to myself saying,

TODAY I WILL:

> Lay aside the sin which so easily entangles (Heb. 12:1)

> Acknowledge God in all my ways (Prov. 3:6)

> Remember that God has, through Jesus, torn the veil and I can enter in boldness before Him (Heb. 10:19-23)  

I was reading a letter recently where a missionary was sharing how she thinks Satan must snicker under his breath as we believers softly tap our swords about.  Ephesians 6 encourages us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might; to "take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."  His word is rich with promises and truths for us to hold to...a powerful and living sword (Heb. 4:12) that we can wield BOLDLY.   

Proverbs 25:6,7 tells us to "not exalt yourself in the presence of the King, and do not stand in the place of the great; for it is better that he say to you, "come up here," than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince." 

It was a huge (and potentially life-threatening) risk at the time to come before a King without the proper protocol, and this was a reminder to remember your place and not give those in authority a reason to humble you in front of others.   We deserve to be placed in the lowest position before God...who are we in comparison?  Yet God has called us to come before Him, and to come with BOLDNESS.  

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:16)

There is often a feeling of risk involved when stepping out in faith and trusting God to be all He says He is.  But let's be confident and courageous with the promises He's given us.  

"Having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus...let us draw near...in full assurance of faith." (Heb. 10:19,22)

More Than Still

I was rooting through some old papers the other day and happened to come across a copy of the poem that I'd partially referenced in my last post.  I'm not a big one for poetry, but sometimes it has a way of saying what I wish I could put into words.  Although it was especially meaningful for me when I first came across it several months ago, it still has a lot of impact on me as I re-read it today.  

In the struggle to be still, we have the ability to be GLAD. God knows our hearts, He knows our anxious thoughts.  He says, "I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have known.  I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them."  Isaiah 42:16 

The Stolen Song

I was thinking tonight about the things that I let my mind dwell on. Much of the time it’s a lot of nothing…or too much of what definitely isn't true, right, pure or lovely (Philippines 4:8).  Why is it that I can think of nothing quite easily, but it seems to be an effort to focus my mind on Christ, my Saviour, the One who has given me everything?  I'd like to be more intentional about what I think on throughout the day.  Sometimes I’ll literally force myself to sing even if I’m not in the mood.  Singing does something...somehow just saying words out loud does something to my heart.  It reminds me of the things I’m grateful for and what an incredible God I serve.  It reminds me of His truths and encourages me through what others have experienced and are singing about.  It makes me focus on the words and mean them.  And yet I often let my song get stolen by apathy, laziness, pointless conversations in my head and paying waaaaay too much attention to my feelings. 

I remember several months ago at a time of deep hurt in my life I would try and sing and couldn’t even make it through the first line without breaking down.  Then slowly over the months I would keep trying and eventually I’d make it through an entire verse before the tears came.  Then when God brought resolution to this very difficult situation I felt like I could sing and never stop!  Life is like that, and we won’t always have a song that we feel like singing.  Psalm 40:1-3 says,

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.  He has put a new song in my mouth – praise to our God.” 

Whatever way you can praise God today, do it.  It may be “without the sound of tuneful strings,” as someone once wrote, but take some time to sing!     

The Truth About Truth

Truth is a funny thing.  I'm sure I've spent more moments than I'd like to admit believing that truth is truth only to the extent that I feel it.  Once I'm convinced in my mind that something is true, then I'll place my full trust in it but until then I'll continue on being uncertain and uncommitted.  Obviously truth doesn't work that way, but have you ever felt like that?  

Truth is truth.  Truth is truth always.  Truth is truth no matter how I'm feeling, how much I believe in it, or how much it contradicts what I might be experiencing.  I was reading through a few Psalms yesterday and wrote down some of the truths and promises that stuck out to me.  They're all from Psalm 32,33 & 34 but I won't include the verse references as I think it's amazing enough reading to look through yourself.  

* "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.  I will guide you with My eye."  

*"The word of the LORD is right and all His work is done in truth."

*"By the word of the LORD the heavens were made...for He spoke, and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast."

*"The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.  The counsel of the LORD stands forever...blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD."  

*"The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men...He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works."

*"The eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine."

*"The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him."

*"The righteous cry out and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles."

*"Those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing."  

These are God's promises to us.  Will you believe them today?