Giving Thanks at All Times - Pt. 5

 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4–9 ESV).

 

For today’s devotional thought I need to take you back with me to 1971, long before Faith and Logan were born. Though they have a role to play in the recognition of how God was faithfully leading me into His provision of good for our lives all along. I began my Master of Divinity at Southwestern Baptist theological Seminary in January of 1971 immediately following my graduation from Texas A&M. Those were very difficult years with lengthy stories that I cannot share with more than bullet points in the space available through this medium. Before my graduation from A&M Mary and I needed to reveal to my parents the change from Catholicism to Southern Baptist and my call into vocational ministry as a pastor. That did not go well. We were literally banned from their presence and told never to return home again. Hurt is much too small a word to describe the pain of that experience.

 

Over the coming months we honored their demand, though I called each week to check in, often receiving a cold or indifferent response. At the same time Mary and I began to pray for the Lord to grant us peace and calling to what we believed was the best possible place of service. We dreamed of serving somewhere in Middle Tennessee (close to our beloved Smokie Mountains) where I could pastor a small rural church and practice pastoral care and counseling full time. Over the next three years we were able to restore some relationship with my parents as they began to see the joy God had given us in preparing to serve in this calling. I graduated in December 1973. Two weeks before graduation I had not received any invitation to interview for any position. I began to wonder if I had made a mistake. It was at that time that I recognized that perhaps I simply didn’t trust the will of God working in my life. Mary and I determined that we would go wherever and whenever God deemed good. I applied for further studies in the doctoral program and was content to prepare more while we waited on the Lord. Just days later I received a call from the Texas Baptist Student Division to interview for a position as a college student minister. That was certainly never on our radar!

 

However, it was the first step God needed us to take in the journey that would take until March, 2011 for us to receive what we asked God to do forty years earlier. We went to Tyler Junior College as the BSU Director, which led to associate pastor at FBC, Tyler. There I came under the guidance of one of my three mentors, Bill Samburger, who was a great friend and mentor. Two years later I went to University Heights Baptist Church as pastor; then to FBC, Mt. Pleasant; then to Southern Oaks Baptist Church, Tyler, then finally to North Side Baptist Church, Weatherford. All of these were large churches in Texas. None of them matched our prayers of seminary days, though each played a significant role in God’s granting of my heart’s desire.

 

Health issues resulted in my resignation from North Side Baptist and a year of recuperation. Needing to stay in Weatherford so that our youngest son could finish high school where he started, I took a job offered by the owner of a large auto group. I still preached often in other churches and across many denominational lines, while at the same time learning much more about those things that would be essential for the next steps in our journey. When Faith and Logan were born these steps made it possible to make the move to North Carolina.

 

It still was not a “small rural church in Middle Tennessee with a full-time counseling ministry”; but, it was full of joy and purpose. A few years passed and Kyle made the decision to move to a position at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Of course, we followed. That led to the formal development of Grace Restoration Ministries and a call to Santa Fe Baptist Church in a small community just east of Columbia, Tennessee. God had answered our prayer of forty years past! You can see from the Easter Sunday picture I’ve attached with the church in the background that church I Mary and I prayed for all those years ago. God was working that good in His time all along. All of the places I served were great places, but this church became our last church and the fulfillment of our heart’s desire.

 

This journey was not without pain and difficulty; however, it was also full of grace. If grace reveals that joy is a gift, then prayer is the Lord’s gracious means through which he daily sustains that joy. We sometimes believe we are independent, self-sufficient people. Our tired minds, aching backs, and callous hands that produced a successful career and a comfortable home seem to affirm that myth. But what if corporate restructuring takes away the paycheck, or terminal illness robs our strength and vitality? Anxiety, worry, and fear set in, taking the place of our pride.

 

Life comes from the Lord, and so does daily help. We come to the Lord through prayer, and the fruit of prayer is peace. Yet prayer is not a mantra, and we can’t use it to try to manipulate God. Prayer is a divine gift to strengthen the bonds of love between us and God. The act of prayer itself affirms our dependence on him for peace and joy. That’s the prompt for Thanksgiving. Rest in the assurance that God is working His best good in your life, no matter how strange each turn looks like! Listen to the Apostle Paul again:

 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (v. 8).

 

Giving Thanks at All Times - Pt. 4

 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever. It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136 ESV).

 

Our reading today is a bit lengthier than normal. Part of the reason for that is how the psalmist simply doesn’t end the sentence until the 23^rd verse! However, the other is a bit more practical in our application. Each of these verses carry with it a reason why we may trust the truth of the chorus: …for His steadfast love endures forever.”

 

Using the same experience as the first three of this devotional series, let me continue with a story from how Mary and I  moved to North Carolina to be geographically closer to Faith and Logan. It began with an innocent conversation with Kyle soon after their birth. Mary was still staying in North Carolina helping with some of the chores of raising two premature babies. Kyle called and began with a report of how well everything was going, though I could tell he had something else entirely on his mind. After a bit he asked, “Dad, why don’t you and mom move to North Carolina? We would love for y’all to be close to us. I would sure hate for you to miss any of the things they will do as they grow.” Well, he was right. Both David and Aaron were grown and out of the house and Mary and I could take our skills and find employment as easily there as where we were. Well, the wheels started moving quickly. Our house sold quickly, we found jobs in North Carolina quickly, we secured housing there quickly. It was an easy transition. What I didn’t know was how all the “puzzle pieces” of my life were coming together into a plan for God to do so many things in our lives.

 

We did see all the “firsts”. As you can see from the picture I’ve attached, we even saw them ride their first “rocking horse.” By the way, Kyle and I made that for them. What a joy spending time constructing it together with him; and then seeing the joy on their faces as they played with it was just added blessing. Yes, there were hard things too. Life is often littered with both joy and hardship. Just as the psalmist writes each of the experiences leading to the declaration that God’s love endures forever, so today we can learn from both good and bad that we are never left alone and every experience is used for our good.

 

I think you will see that in the coming days, as I share more of this part of the journey. Today, make your list of experiences, and look back at the journey through the lens of God’s faithful presence and provision. See if you don’t come to the same conclusion that His love does indeed endure forever!

 

Giving Thanks at All times - Pt. 3

 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5–6 ESV).

 

Faith and Logan are the inspiration for my devotionals this week; however, there have been many other experiences that God used to teach me the importance of gratitude. I continue with a few of the experiences with them in the hope that you will see clearly the incredible goodness of God also. The picture today is still in the NICU. They had not been released into the regular nursery yet. As is true with many newborns, they had actually lost a little weight and seemed even more fragile. While Brandy and Kyle held them as often as possible there was no way I would risk holding them. My fear of doing something wrong was too great for that! After two days of politely declining to hold them in the rocking chair, Brandy said, “Don, sit down in the rocker, you’re going to hold your grandchildren.” I was terrified. I sat down and she brought Logan and handed him to me. I rocked him for a bit and then she took him and replaced Logan with Faith in my arms. I cannot describe the great joy that washed over me. I knew God had done a great good for me. Grandpa was smitten!

 

The Bible calls us to be thankful for and content with everything we have. Our family, health, meals we can share with loved ones, and of course life itself— all are precious gifts from the Lord. But discontent, greed, or fears don’t allow us to fully appreciate and treasure the precious gifts of life. We don’t know what the future holds. We might have to go through difficult times, but as the children of God we are assured of his continuous love and care. The Lord himself is our helper in this perilous life.

 

I had no idea what the future would bring. However, God had been working in my life to allow me to do much more than just see them for those few days when they were born. But that’s a story for tomorrow! Today, would you acknowledge the grace of God and His great love for you, even when it appears so counter intuitive.

 

Giving Thanks in All Times - Pt. 2

 

David’s Song of Thanks. Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of Israel his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones! (1 Chronicles 16:8–13 ESV).

 

God has continued to remind me through the years of how important it is to be thankful. That thankfulness should result in my willingness to share the goodness and grace God has shown to me with others. The picture I’ve attached is just two days after Faith and Logan were born. They were still in the NICU because of their weight and being six weeks premature. They certainly were little. Faith (on the left) weighed 4 lbs. 11 ounces; and, Logan (on the right) was a bit heavier at 5 lbs. 1 ounce. They looked so fragile in the basinet, yet I saw the strength of the grace of God surrounding them.

 

The doctors were encouraging, though there was one thing that they revealed to Kyle and Brandy that was concerning. Logan’s palm lines were unusual. Some believed that it may be an indicator of an illness that could affect his mental development. Standing at the basinet with Kyle, as he shared that news, he told me the only way it would not be a concern was if it was a genetic marker that was passed down from parents or grandparents. As he described the lines he told me that Logan’s did not separate in the middle of his palm, rather there was a line that went straight across the palm. He asked me if I knew of anyone in our family who might have had the same marker. I lifted my left-hand palm up to him and said, “You mean like this?” My palm line does not separate, and though people have thought many things about me, mental deficiency was never one of them! He sighed and said, “I never noticed that about your hand.” I said, “I guess Logan got a little of me from God.” And we both chuckled a bit. By the way, Logan’s mental ability is just fine. He will be graduating from Texas A&M in May with a 3.96 GPA. He is way better than his grandpa in that department!

 

The key is in the sharing of God’s good toward us. Being thankful is a witness. In our reading today, King David wanted to tell everyone how great God is! The occasion of bringing the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem was no exception. David wanted everyone to join in the celebration of praise.

David’s psalm is long and rich. It sparks our praise for a wide variety of things: for God’s wonderful acts and his holy name (vv. 9-10); for God’s strength, “miracles, and the judgments he pronounced” (v. 12); that God “remembers his covenant forever” (v. 15); for God’s protection when his people were vulnerable (vv. 19-22); and, for that “splendor and majesty are before him, strength and joy are in his dwelling place” (v. 27). The families of all nations are then invited, even commanded, to give God “the glory due his name,” to bring an offering, and to worship him “in the splendor of his holiness.”

 

My question for you as we approach this season of Thanksgiving is what can you add to this rich list of thanksgiving? A thankful heart should be a testimony to the greatness of God!

 

 

Giving Thanks in All Times - Pt. 1

 

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:14–22 ESV).

 

God has a way of teaching me in the circumstances of my life. The picture I’ve attached is of my oldest grandchildren, Faith and Logan (they are fraternal twins). They will be 22 years old on Thanksgiving Day this year. The fact that they were born on Thanksgiving Day is the real story. Being twins makes their premature birth somewhat unusual, though there were many other things surrounding their birth that were much more unique. The greatest challenge was in delaying the birth long enough for them to have a higher chance of survival. Early in the pregnancy Brandy was placed on bed rest and ultimately ended in the hospital for weeks as the doctors did everything possible to delay the birth to that point. All through the process my prayer was that they would make it to at least 32 weeks. When that milestone was reached every subsequent day was a greater blessing. That was also the time that it dawned on me that God was going to do something very special with their birth.

 

Looking at the calendar, I noticed that Thanksgiving that year would put them at about 36 weeks. I just knew that would be the day they would come into this world. That’s just how God seems to deal with my stubborn independence. Sure enough, Kyle called Thanksgiving morning and told me I needed to get a flight from Texas to North Carolina as the twins were about to be born. I told him, “No problem.” You see, I had already purchased my plane ticket weeks earlier. When I told him that, he said, “Dad, how did you know?” I just replied, “That’s God reminding me of who I need to be thankful to for their birth.”

 

Giving thanks to God is harder than we like to admit. Augustine wrote that sin makes each of us naturally “curved inward” or self-absorbed and viciously self-seeking. As a result, we tend to ignore God’s goodness and compassion. But genuine thanksgiving to God is possible in Christ. This takes careful thought, disciplined prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit. I hope that the next few devotionals will help you with this. Use them to develop a pattern of gratitude for all things in your life. Even when the circumstances of life don’t seem to make sense, God is working them all to produce good in you. It is His promise (cf. Romans 8:28).

 

 

God is Indescribable - the King on His Throne

 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” (Revelation 21:1–7 ESV).

 

Some imagery that appears in the beginning of the Bible is contrasted or expanded upon in the final chapters of God’s grand story of salvation. The unformed abyss in Genesis 1, for example, is contrasted with the stunning architecture of the heavenly city in Revelation 21. The tree of life in the garden of Eden (cf. Genesis 2:9; 3:22-24) is multiplied in Revelation 22 and described as constantly bearing fruit and providing healing for the nations. And the image of the Spirit hovering and brooding over the waters is contrasted with the One who is now seated on the throne.

 

Creation will be complete, fully formed and mature, and we will enjoy glorious, delightful friendship with our loving Creator, who invites us to live with him in the perfect unity of love that has always characterized God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The awe-inspiring creation that we live in today will be the foundation for the new creation, and we can look forward to rejoicing along with birds and all other creatures in the new heaven and earth.

 

Not only is Christ seated in the heavenly realms, but we who love and trust him are also raised up with Christ and are seated with him even now (cf. Ephesians 2:6). This means our lives are firmly grounded and maturing in Christ as we enjoy the intimacy of living in communion with God each day while awaiting his coming again. That is Good News!

 

God is Indescribable - the Shepherb of the Shadows

 

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23 ESV).

 

In some translations of the Bible, the “darkest valley” in Psalm 23:4 is called “the valley of the shadow of death.” Regardless of the translation, the idea of a shadow-cast valley can be frightening. This imagery can remind us of a traumatic loss or a difficult crisis, and our memories of such things can be fearful and frightening.

 

I have had many conversations with those who have experienced the grief of their spouse of many years dying. One in particular stands out to me as I think about the protection that God gives to us when we are walking through these darkest of times. This lady had been married for over 60 years when her husband died. While sitting across from me in the office she began to spread out some of the photos taken during their ling life together. Each one carried a special memory for her. The stories were vivid and interesting. After she finished she shared with me her insight on Psalm 23. She spoke about the “valley of the shadow of death,” and how dark it can be when mourning the loss of a loved one. She talked about how quiet and still the house had become; how hard it was to stay in a home filled with memories. It was heartbreaking to hear, yet she also shared a glimpse of hope she had discovered while traveling through that valley. The only way for a shadow to exist, she said, is for a source of light to be present. A shadow is not the absence of light, but rather the evidence of a light nearby. She also noted that the greater the source of light, the smaller the shadow that is cast.

 

As we move closer to the holidays, I pray that whatever valley you may be in, the light of Christ may shine bigger and brighter—and that he may be the source of your strength.