Blessings in unusual packages -
There is an original article that was published by Christianity Today © magazine that contained an essay that Tony Snow (former White House Press Secretary) wrote in response to the question – “How has this bout with cancer affected you?”

I am not going to pass the whole article along to you – you can find it at –
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/july/25.30.html
But suffice it to say that his words are meaningful and impacting. I do want to share an excerpt from his essay – and pray that you will take it to heart...

 BLESSINGS ARRIVE IN UNEXPECTED PACKAGES - IN MY CASE, CANCER.

“Those of us with potentially fatal diseases—and there are millions in America today—find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God's will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence What It All Means, Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations.
The first is that we shouldn't spend too much time trying to answer the why questions: Why me? Why must people suffer? Why can't someone else get sick? We can't answer such things, and the questions themselves often are designed more to express our anguish than to solicit an answer.
I don't know why I have cancer, and I don't much care. It is what it is—a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out.
But despite this—because of it—God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don't know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face.

Second, we need to get past the anxiety. The mere thought of dying can send adrenaline flooding through your system. A dizzy, unfocused panic seizes you. Your heart thumps; your head swims. You think of nothingness and swoon. You fear partings; you worry about the impact on family and friends. You fidget and get nowhere.

To regain footing, remember that we were born not into death, but into life—and that the journey continues after we have finished our days on this earth. We accept this on faith, but that faith is nourished by a conviction that stirs even within many nonbelieving hearts—an intuition that the gift of life, once given, cannot be taken away. Those who have been stricken enjoy the special privilege of being able to fight with their might, main, and faith to live—fully, richly, exuberantly—no matter how their days may be numbered.

Third, we can open our eyes and hearts. God relishes surprise. We want lives of simple, predictable ease—smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see—but God likes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension—and yet don't. By his love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise.”

"This article first appeared in the July 2007 issue of Christianity Today. Used by permission of Christianity Today International, Carol Stream, IL 60188." (parts in bold were added by me for emphasis)

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I highly recommend you go to the earlier mentioned website and read the rest of Snow’s essay. Until then I simply ask you to think, to ponder, to meditate on your life and on the gift that is, bestowed by God.

Snow’s words said – “...we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face.”

God is not a “puppet master.”  You choose the path that you will walk today, you choose how you will use this gift of life you have been given.
What are you doing with it? Will it take cancer or some other disease or incident that brings you close to the brink to make you consider your path?

Did you make a child laugh today?

Have you kissed your spouse for no apparent reason today?
Did you encourage your children with a word of confidence and praise?
Did you stop for a minute as you left the house today to listen to the birds?
Did you pause as you left the office thanking God that you had a job in this economy?
Did you see your current circumstance as a blessing rather than a curse?
Today - Did you tell a family member or maybe a friend of the loving grace of God and salvation in Jesus Christ?

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”  James 1:2-6

"If Jesus Came"

 Would you have to change your clothes. Before you let Him in?

Or hide away some worldly magazines, And put the Bibles where they'd been?
Would you hide your worldly music, And put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, Or would you rush about?
And I wonder: If the Savior, Spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing, The things you always do?
Would you go right on saying, The things you always say?
Would life for you continue, As it does from day to day?
Would you take Jesus with you, Every where you go?
Or would you maybe change your plans, For just a day or so?
Would you be glad to have Him, Meet your closest friends?
Or would you hope they'd stay away, Until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him, Stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with relief, When He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know, The things that you would do,
If Jesus came in person, to spend some time with you.
Source unknown
 

This is a really cute poem - I do have a small issue with it though because - in Galatians 2:20 every Christian should be able to say -

     "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me."

Consider for just a moment today - that it isn't "if" Jesus came today. you see -

For the Believer HE has.     For the Believer HE is alive in you.

Don't wonder what you would do if Jesus where standing beside you or if He would show up, for those of you who are Believers - He is already looking from the inside out!

Let the fact that your life should be lived IN CHRIST be the thing that helps you live your life to HIS standard - not the worlds - not someone else's.

If the Christ lives in you -

.   You won't have to worry about freedoms and non-essentials because you will live to, by, in and through Jesus.
.    You won't worry about a law because the law falls short of a Christ directed life
.    You won't fear men because you will be living right.
.    You won't be a hypocrite - saying one thing and living another.
.    You also won't be worried about conflict - although it will happen, you will know that you stand for what is good and right and the very truth of the Gospel.

 When you surrender to Christ - fully surrender - there will be a complete change - for it is no longer you that lives but Christ in you. and there is no man made law that can stand against that. and you won't be living your life by what the world calls a hypocrite and you wont worry about "IF JESUS CAME..."

Wrestling Crocs!

Did you ever watched the show "Crocodile Hunter?" It is about this very odd fellow from Australia who wrestles dangerous animals; he gets up close and personal with alligators, crocs and extremely poisonous snakes. I do not advocate anyone picking up man eating animals or anything that can bite you and kill you within two steps - but there is something about what the "Croc Hunter" does.

Many times, he takes these animals captive so they cannot harm anyone?

It got me to thinking - that is what we are supposed to do as Christians -

Paul says it in 2 Corinthians 10:5

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?"

As Christians you are to look into your own life and wrestle with those things that poison who you are, to take captive those man-eating creatures that can turn on you and eat away at your life.

What are the alligators, crocs, and snakes that we wrestle with, ones that we are called to take captive?

Well they are things like - Envy - Jealousy - Anger - Pride - Arrogance - Revenge - Impatience - Rudeness ? Can you think of any others?

There is a reason that we are supposed to "capture those thoughts" - Jesus said it in Matthew 21-22 and 27-29 - that is, the thought that we harbor in our secret lives will turn into the dangerous animal that will poison us, attack us spiritually and then manifest itself in our actions and try to attack those around us?
Proverbs 4:23 tells us that we are to - "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flows the springs of life."

Max Lucado wrote a wonderful note about this -

Today's thoughts are tomorrow's actions -
Today's jealousy is tomorrow's temper tantrum -
Today's bigotry is tomorrow's hate crime -
Today's anger is tomorrow's abuse -
Today's lust in tomorrow's adultery -
Today's greed is tomorrow's embezzlement -
Today's guilt is tomorrow's fear

When I was growing up we didn't have a Crocodile Hunter - we had Marlin Perkins and his buddy Jim on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.

Unfortunately too many of us are like Marlin - we know that the animal has to be captured but we sit in the back of the truck or in the helicopter and watch as someone else (Jim) wrestles with it? 

For some reason we are too afraid to wrestle our own beasts and take them captive because we know that there is a danger involved? Oh, we do good at describing someone else doing it, and we are even better at giving someone else advice on how to do it.

But the bible tells us how we can capture those things and the "what" to replace them with -
Paul says it in Philippians 4:8
 "And now, brothers, as I close this letter let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about." (Living Bible)

And Paul gave us the reason for it - that as Christians we live under the law of Christ and that is the law of Love. In 1 Corinthians 13 - we see more of what should be living in our hearts - love not arrogance, love not impatience, love not greed, love not selfishness, love not rudeness, love not jealousy? 

We have a choice - we can wrestle and take those things captive that are eating away at our life or we can let them lurk around inside, sneak up on us, poison every thing we do or possibly even kill our lives?

What beast do you need to wrestle with, capture and take captive?

A lady once came to evangelist Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. “There’s nothing wrong with losing my temper,” She said. “I blow up, and then it’s all over.”  “So does a shotgun,” Sunday replied, “and look at the damage it leaves behind!”

Getting angry can sometimes be like leaping into a race car, gunning the motor, going zero to 100 in 4.4 seconds and then finding out that the brakes don’t work.  We all know what anger is. We have felt it, dealt with it and suffered because of it… And when it gets out of control it turns destructive, it can lead to problems—problems at work, in your personal relationships, and in the overall quality of your life.

 I would have to say that 90% of what we get angry about doesn’t really matter.

Think of the last time you got “angry.”  

Was it about something worthwhile?
Was it something that really mattered in life?
Was it simply because you didn’t get your way, something didn’t go the way you expected, or you didn’t like the person you had to deal with?
What we get angry about is – silly stuff.  Sadly too few of us get angry for the right reasons… yes, even Christians.

 Some Christians even think that getting angry is a sin – but folks – getting angry isn’t a sin, what you get angry at and what you do with it… well that is a different story.

In Mark 3 verse 5 is says that Jesus got “angry” at the hardness of the Pharisees’ heart.

Jesus’ anger was what we call – “Righteous indignation.”  Indignation is anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, mean or hard hearted.   Jesus’ anger was a combination of resentment and a broken heart.

You know… If you cannot hate what is wrong, it’s becomes questionable if you really love right.

     Some people suppress anger, holding anger inside in unhealthy ways.  Some people wrongly express anger, by griping, sarcasm, rage, intimidation and blame.     
     Some people become passive with anger. In a battle for superiority, passively angry people have a need to control without being transparent or open.     Some people are assertive with anger. Failure to share feelings in a constructive way may produce assertive anger.   
Everyone needs to deal with anger. Folks, you can't eliminate anger – but what you do with it can make a world of difference in your life. Jesus was one who could be angry and not sin. And He is our example.

 Here are a few suggestions on how you can get - ANGRY THE RIGHT WAY! 

 TALK IT OVER –James 1:19a (quick to hear, slow to speak)

     If you will simply talk to the right person (not 50 others) - approach them with kindness and an attempt and attitude to make right – then you might find that a cup of coffee and a 30 minute conversation could diffuse an irritating situation.

THINK CLEARLY - James 1:19b-20 – Anger can blind your thought process.      

      Ill directed anger is not going to fix anything - it won't make you feel better (may actually make you feel worse). If you think clearly you see problems and situations for what they are, not what you perceive through angry eyes. James 1:20 – “for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”
Reacting instead of responding will not achieve the Godly results.
 

TAKE TIME – to consider what is good and right - Philippians 4:8

     When you get unjustifiably angry you don’t see much else… you don’t seem better solutions, you don’t see the damage you might be creating… Take time to consider all the aspects this way you will make sure you are getting upset about the right stuff, not the silly stuff.  Consider the right things to do in response.

TAKE POSITIVE ACTION - consider solutions rather than just the problem.

Anyone can find problems, anyone can get angry about anything… but Christian men and women should be those who can get angry and their anger (righteous indignation) leads to positive actions and answers – to actually DO SOMETHING.

     Jesus’ anger was a mix of anguish and compassion – BUT - His anger resulted in POSITIVE ACTION – it moved Him to do something, something positive… Shooting a doctor who performs abortions is not the proper response to the anger the procedure might produce in you… Murdering in the name of God does not lead to a very good witness.

Jesus had the power to wipe out the Pharisees, instead He used that power heal many lives.

You have been told “Don’t Get Mad – Get Even”  But take Jesus’ example

Don’t Get Mad– Get Right.

Transition -
Everything in life eventually transitions. You cannot avoid it. The funny thing is that we are told that transition is the number one cause of stress in life.

The primary transitions are - marriage, divorce,  a new baby, a new job and a long distance move. So what happens if more than one of these transitions happen at once? What if more than two?
In that instance shouldnt we become a basket case? Frantic, unable to function?
If you let it, then sure these things can cause a terrible amount of stress and high levels of anxiety.
But it need not be that way -

My wife and I made two of the above transitions - a long distanc move and a new job - with that it included new friends, new ways of doing things , new streets to learn, finding a new place to get a hair cut and the list goes on and on........... it's enough to drive you insane.
But again, it need not be that way.

Life is life - life has transitions and changes in every aspect. You cannot stop it, you cannot dodge it and it happens to everyone of us...
So what are you to do when you face all these transitions and changes?
You cant just hide in the dark thinking it will just go away, you cant think someone else will take care of it all for you...

Jesus laid out a great plan for life's transitions - In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus put it this way...

²⁵ “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? ²⁷ And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
²⁸ And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, ²⁹ yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! ³¹ Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
 ³² For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

There you have it... God cares for His own, and if God is for you who can be against you?
Worry and anxiety cannot add a single hour to your life - but it can take time away from life.
When you allow the changes and transitions to consume your mind you will ultimatly lose today and sacrifice the future for things that a)you cannot change and b)you cant stop it from happening... you dont have to just go with the flow - the key in this is in verse 33 -

"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you."
What things? ALL THINGS!  All the things you need, all the things that you NEED in life - NOT ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT - you do know that there is a difference dont you?

If you focus on what matters you find that either all the things/worries/transitions/changes are not as nearly big and scary as you thought they were - when you focus on God and all He entails you will find that the size of the stuff pales to the size of God and all He can do...

Sometimes the trench of life takes a detour you werent expecting. BUT it is all just part of the journey, so dont let the sharp sudden turn derail your life. Trust in God - focus on Christ and hold on tight...

In The Trenches with
Doug

Stop Whining

 

 

  

Seriously - there is so much we whine about as "terrible, horrible, no good very bad things..." BUT are they, or are they just inconveniences?  Life happens to everyone of us.

There is nothing you can do about that.         

Jesus said in Matthew 5:45 "in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."                          

                            

LIFE HAPPENS TO EVERYONE, everyone has their trench and sometimes it isnt always pretty - WHAT YOU CAN DO... is use what happens to you and react in a way that shows the world WHO you are and WHO you belong to!!!

Credit for the picture goes to Destiny Christian Center - http://destinychristian.com/