In North America, today is known as a day of bad luck.I really don’t know why and don’t care enough to find out why it started, but I was speaking with an old friend whose family comes from Europe and she said they consider it to be lucky.She also said, “I should go out and buy lottery tickets.”I said, “Oh really, have you won a lot that way?” to which she replied, “No, never” while she shook her head.Well, that doesn’t sound lucky to me!
I am the type of person that if there are two tickets to win anything and I have one, the other person is guaranteed to be the winner.When I tell people that, they admonish me saying, “of course you never win with that negative attitude.”Funny how they equate poor luck with a negative attitude, yet the definition of luck is: Success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions.So, my own ‘negative attitude toward luck’ has nothing to do with my failure to win.
That is why I am so glad to be a follower of Jesus Christ.I don’t have to depend on luck to win the big one- Heaven.It’s already determined by the choice I made to surrender fully to Him.Luck also plays no part in my positive mental state for I now have the joy of the Lord (Ps. 5:11b), His comfort (2Cor. 1:4) and peace that passes all understanding (Php. 4:7). Luck has no connection to the blessings of God.Blessings by definition: God's favor and protection; a prayer asking for such favor and protection.
While luck can be good or bad, by contrast, blessings are only good.Since God is our Father and all genuine fathers enjoy blessing their children, then God enjoys blessing us, and He does.We may not always see the blessings, but they are there.Deu. 28 talks about the many blessings of God on the Abraham’s decedents if they obeyed and we are Abraham’s children.(Gal. 3:29) We are blessed because of what Christ Jesus did for us.“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” (Rom. 4:7)
What is the last thing you remember doing with all your might?Was it playing a game or sport, shouting at a hockey game, running a race, cleaning the house, or giving your best at a school/ work project?Overall, I think most people wouldn’t even think of saying their last time (or any time) was when they praised the Lord.
And David danced before the LORD with all his might (strength); …So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting (clamour), and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David… king David leaping (springing) and dancing before the LORD... 2Sa -16
David was so excited at having God’s presence (The Ark) back home that he danced with all his might: not a little swaying to the music, halfhearted clapping or his hand slightly raised to God about shoulder high, but with all his strength.He danced, shouted and leapt.David put a lot of energy into praising God- because he was excited about having ‘God back’.He was actually following the first commandment:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark
Do you mean what you say when you praise God?Are you singing to Him or about Him?Do you believe every word you sing in worship goes directly into the Lord’s ears?Are you excited just to be in His presence and so happy about it that you dance, shout, leap unconcerned about others opinions' of you?
I went to a mid week service tonight; yep, I finally found one in our city.Part way there it started to rain, but I didn’t worry too much because I was dry and warm in my blue van.By the time I got to the church I had to park down the street a bit and the rain was coming down a little heavier.And then a strange thing happened.I got out of the van to walk to the building, and the rain came down on me!
How dare that rain come down on me!Didn’t it know I am a child of the King!“Stop, I am getting wet” I cried, but it did not stop.Walking faster didn’t stop the rain from hitting me, ducking my head only changed where it was hitting, and in the end I was just as wet as the others walking without umbrellas.And of course I had difficulty seeing since my glasses got wet.
"Oh, woe is me for I am wet from walking in the rain.What have I done wrong that it rained on me tonight?Perhaps it rained on me because I am a sinful person?Perhaps the Lord is displeased with me and that is why it rained on me?"Many people ask the same kind of questions when they see suffering in others’ or their own lives. “Who sinned?” they ask. (John 9:1,2)
It seems silly asking the kind of questions above about the rain falling on you, but when it comes to why we or others we love suffer, we do not feel so foolish asking anymore.The reality is the fall of man through Adam brought sin and death into the world, and now 'rain' just happens.Before the fall, only good happened, but all kinds of things went wrong after the fall: death, sickness, crop failure, job loss, etc.
(The Father)maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just (innocent, holy) and on the unjust (wicked, heathen). Mat.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:Rom.
Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.Rom. ,21 NLT
The curse (rain) fell impartially on all men.The rain itself is not the problem, but how you respond to the rain may be.Many people have very similar suffering yet one becomes hard and bitter, one falls apart into despair, and another continues to love and serve God.Hanging on to frustrating questions will not help, but holding on to God will.“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!” (Heb. NLT) Life may not be fair, but God is good!And in the end, God wins, so we His children win… (Rev. 21,22)
It was hot and I was so very thirsty that I poured myself a glass of milk from the pitcher making sure to check the date tag there to ensure it was not expired.The date was fine and the milk poured out in regular fashion- no big white chunks or funny smell- so I chugged it down only to find it was vile tasting and sour before its time.Barely keeping my stomach from upchucking, I ran to the sink and rinsed out my mouth with water several times.That was the last time I drank milk without tasting a small bit first.
Things can look all right, they can even smell all right, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something very wrong.That is why as Christians we are to have discernment.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.Heb.
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.Mal.
Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?Job
We should have a strong sense of ‘uh oh’ anytime we come upon works of unrighteousness, not just blatant ones, but those which include works of man in his pride, selfishness, a desire to ‘succeed’ at all costs and other such nonsense the world is okay with today.Even a ‘religious’ spirit who longs for the status of a ‘spiritual’ man/ woman should be ‘seen’ by the discernment God gives his children.I guess knowing your Bible, and knowing intimately the God of the Bible helps.
Take care in all you read and hear, for the time is short and many will deceive whether intentional or by lack of knowledge.Check the Word for yourself- make sure what you are hearing is in context to the passage- even in blogs like this one.Keep your eyes open to what is going on locally and in the world.Remember to use discernment at all times.
We pulled up into an asphalt parking lot, parked our little, brown Chevette and walked up to the front gate.In typical fashion, Albert wouldn’t tell me what the place was, but there on the sign at the entry it said MinterGardens*: daily $8, seasonal @#&.My first question was, “We’re here to see a garden?” to which he calmly said, “Yes.” I thought to myself, why would anyone want a seasonal pass to a garden.My second question came quickly… “We’re paying $8 to see a garden.Are you crazy?”
Obviously this was my first experience visiting a real garden.In my mind I was imagining walking in someone’s nicely landscaped back yard.Big whoop!Prepared to be horrendously bored, I entered through the gate and sauntered down the path, a little angry at the waste of money.
What I saw that day was one of the most beautiful places to spend time.We walked through several themed areas of the garden, each one with its own loveliness and hidden treasures.After viewing it all, I decided a season pass would be well worth the price to locals who could visit frequently and enjoy the serenity inherent there. (Many went there to read or eat their lunches.)
Thinking back, it makes me wonder about the garden God planted for us on the earth. It must have been breathtaking in beauty, and a pure place of peace with wondrously abounding life.Would God have done less?And Adam and Eve lived in that perfect place every day among an interesting variety of plants and animals.
Still, the best part about the garden was the company.It was there among the beautiful gardens they physically walked with the Lord Himself.Notice, they knew who showed up and weren’t frightened by the unknown, therefore, they were used to the Lord’s presence in the garden and hearing His voice.
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?Gen. 3:8,9
How wonderful it must have been to walk with the Lord in the garden, chatting about life, the world and getting to know Him.I’m just a bit jealous! J But I know the day is coming when I will be with Him physically in a place of perfection and beauty beyond description. (John 14:1-3; Rev. 21,22)And the best part for us on this side of the cross is we can walk with Him every day, all day, for He is with us (Mat. ) and has sent His Spirit to be with us forever. (John 14:16)
Thou causest me to know the path of life; Fulness of joys is with Thy presence, Pleasant things by Thy right hand for ever!Ps. YLT
