Enjoying God's Blessings

            A little boy was very depressed as he faced his childhood problems which seemed so enormous.  A well-intentioned man, thinking he would give a word of encourage

ment, said, “Cheer up, young man, these are the best years of your life!”  The little boy looked up with a bewildered expression, “You mean it's going to get worse?”  Sad to say, but that's probably the attitude many of us have during those times when we can only see the hole and not the doughnut. 

            We are living in times that are very troubling at best, and frightening at worst.  We face tremendous uncertainties as the shaky economy creates anxiety about job security, concerns over budget shortfalls, and even feelings of concern about our retirement accounts.  Like dominoes toppling everyone is impacted from the fallout of recent events, including church budgets and district and General Council support.   Yet somehow, transcending earthly realities, I feel a peace and assurance that all will be well for God's people.  I'm reminded of a slogan that Robert Schuller gave us several years ago during another economic downturn, “Tough times don't last; tough people do!”  Remember, we are our Heavenly Father's children.  Our Father never fails His children, never has and never will!

Benefits of Tough Times

            The Bible tells us that God causes all things to work together for good for His chosen people who love Him (Romans 8:28).  So, maybe God is using even these tough times for our good.  Think about some of the benefits of lean times.  First, tough times strengthen our faith.  When our normal resources fail, we realize that God truly is our source, our only source, and that He is the giver of all good things.  Needless to say, our prayer life gets more intense.  Also, God uses tough times to teach us priorities.  When there is not enough money for everything, we are forced to revisit our values and goals and to determine what is really important.  Never let the good be the thief of the best!  Tough times are opportunities to do some housekeeping and get rid of dead wood.  We find lots of things that we can do without and never miss.  And finally tough times enhance our ability to be thankful.  We learn never to take blessings for granted.

Walk in Faith and be a Good Steward

            I hate to sound like a broken record, but stay out of debt!  When resources diminish the tendency is to continuing living at the same standard but shift over from cash to credit cards.  It doesn't take long and you've mortgaged your future and dug a hole so deep that it will take you many, many years to ever get out.  Debt can wreck a marriage, destroy a ministry, and break your health.  It can make a person a slave for life!  You are God's property; don't mortgage God's property to debt (yes, there is a proper use of credit, but be wise).  Debt is one of the biggest monsters facing us today.  Once a person  get's over his head in debt and the credit score goes down, credit card companies will up the interest rate to sometimes in the 30% range making recovery seemingly impossible.  Please don't fall into that trap!  Instead of trusting plastic, trust God.  Pray and ask God to provide for what you need, and if He doesn't, maybe it’s not a real need after all.  Learn to do without!  Even the great Apostle Paul said he “learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." He went on to say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12-13).  I would think that “all things” might even include a little “self-denial.”

Enjoy God's Blessings

            We are told to “be content with such things as you have (Hebrews 13:5).  Even in the worst of times God's blessings abound.  May the Lord open our eyes and fill us with Thanksgiving.  In dealing with June's battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis I have found that I'm happier and my faith stronger if I thank God that she is healed to the extent that she is rather than focusing on the disease and what we have lost.    Thank God the glass is still half full!  Oh child of God, I implore you, be thankful for what you have!  We often never know how blessed we are until we suffer the loss of that which we hold dear.  Don't let the tough times scare you.  God give grace, wisdom, and provision to enable us to live godly lives to the praise of His glory.  Be thankful and enjoy your blessings!

Overheard in an Orchard

Said the Robin to the Sparrow
“I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.”

Said the Sparrow to the Robin
“Friend I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me.”

–Elizabeth Chaney - 1859