From Thy Bounty

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
                                                           James 1:17




As the end of 2019 is quickly approaching and Thanksgiving day is now upon us, I pause to reflect on the events of this past year. For us, 2019 has been a year that has been extremely difficult for many reasons. In fact, it may have been our most difficult year yet. We have already buried one close family member and just placed another close family member in hospice. Additionally, we have traversed major upheavals in many other areas of our lives. At times, it has felt like there was no security or comfort to be found on this earth. And, then again, maybe that's the very point.

Through it all, I have discovered some of the sweetest blessings that I have ever known. I have experienced firsthand how "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted [and that] He saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). We have witnessed just how tender His daily mercies really can be and that He always provides exactly what we need when we need it. He has shown His love to us at unexpected times and in unexpected ways and through unexpected people, all the while letting us know with certainty that every goodness was showered directly from His loving hands.

We have also seen how when we are weak that He really is strong through us and that His grace is sufficient for whatever we may face in this life (2 Corinthians 12:9-11). On the days when we awoke and doubted the ability to face more unknown circumstances, Jesus clearly filled us with whatever strength, or peace, or joy, that was required. Not once did He ever let us down. He never chastised us for our limitations. Instead, He graciously took us by the hand and gave us clarity in how to handle each task we faced before us.

Additionally, God has brought some extremely precious people to us in the midst of our pain. Whether they came with a smile, or a prayer, or a needed hug, time and again, we have witnessed the genuine hearts of loving people that just happened to be at the exact right place at the exact right time. Are these mere coincidences? Certainly not!

He also showered us with unexpected joys and blessings. He gave us a beautiful new grandson in October that is precious beyond words. There is nothing like a newborn snuggle to eradicate any difficult circumstance that may come our way. Daily, this baby brings a smile to our faces and a joy to our hearts that supersedes every flaming dart hurled in our direction. And, there are too many other blessings that have happened to mention in a short blog.

Through it all, we have realized that the depth of God's bounty is never-ending. None of us will ever exhaust His resources or run out of His supply. He really is the Fountain of Life, the air that we breathe, and the giver of all good things (Acts 17:25). He is kind and generous and loves to care for the children He created and adores.

Merriam-Webster defines bounty as "something that is given generously; liberality in giving; yield, especially of a crop; and a reward, premium, or subsidy". And, daily, God lavishes us from His bounty. Daily, His tender mercies towards us are new (Lamentations 3:23).

One of the greatest lessons I have learned from our experiences this year is that we really are just passing through this earth. This cannot, nor will not, be our permanent home. We have a far more glorious home to look forward to in the presence of our Lord and never again will any of us who are in Christ have to face sorrow, or pain, or loss, or suffering, or death. This truly will be the greatest gift we have ever or will ever receive.

The next important lesson I have learned came from a saying that I saw on a coffee mug. It stated, "Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful." Even in the midst of hard challenges, we still can have eyes to see the beautiful sunrise or the heart to appreciate a gentle touch. There is so much goodness to be found when we realize that we really deserve no good things and yet God gifts us everyday with so many beautiful and perfect gifts.

The third important lesson that I have really learned how to do is to "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Granted, I am not giving thanks for all things because some things are really, really hard. However, throughout each day, there are always some things we truly can be thankful for and when we recognize God's sovereign hand in all things, it is much easier to give Him thanks for this.

So, if this Thanksgiving finds you in a place of suffering or mourning, please remember that God is near to you. He loves you beyond anything that you can fathom and He will strengthen you each and every day. If you turn to Him, His grace will give you everything you need. Also remember that daily He showers you with tender mercies and blessings in the midst of your circumstances. While our challenges and circumstances shift and change, God never does change. He is always good and always merciful to us and His bounty never runs dry.

And, if this has been a good year for you, remember that it is from His bounty that you have also been blessed. As the turkey is carved, remember how God created those turkeys for our enjoyment. When you look at the people around your table, remember He has blessed you with both friends and family. And, when you offer Him your Thanksgiving prayer, enumerate each blessing that He has given and give thanks with your whole heart.

Both the good and the difficult are from His bounty. His hand is upon them all. None are ever intended to harm us or hurt us. Instead, they are all given through the loving hands of a loving Father who both sees our potential and our destiny and is determined to equip us to fulfill our callings on this earth and in the life to come. In Christ, there is a joy to come that will instantaneously erase every sorrow in the twinkling of an eye and reveal to us just how generous that our God really is!

So, remember to thank God for His generosity. Remember to thank Him for His goodness. Remember to thank Him for His tender mercies and the abundance of His grace. Remember to thank Him for the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. Thank Him for the strength that the Holy Spirit gives to us each day and that His Bounty continues to flow from now until eternity!


   MAY EACH OF YOU HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING, FILLED WITH THE              
                                         PRESENCE OF JESUS!!!!!!!!!

The Ultimate Garden

                "Look deep into nature... and you will understand everything better."
                                                  Albert Einstein




Once upon a time, in a land far away, stood a garden named Eden that was arrayed in the most glorious fashion. The lilies were white and sparkling and the roses beamed brightly in the deepest of crimson colors. Dew glistened on every flower and tree in such a way that you could almost see yourself in the greenery as the sun reflected off of them in a way that was completely breathtaking. The detail of every plant and piece of fruit looked like it had been crafted by the most skilled of artisans and the backdrop looked like a mosaic of every beautiful color that was ever created. It was a garden that lacked no good thing and there was not a thorn or thistle to be found.

There was a man and a woman who lived in this garden, along with the Artisan that had created every beautiful detail of it. This couple was happy and complete and they also lacked no good thing. The Artisan had given them one stipulation, however, and that was that they were not to eat of one of the trees that the Artisan had named "The tree of good and evil".

Life was perfect in this idyllic place until one day a serpent crawled up to the woman and convinced her that the Artisan was trying to keep them from the best experience of all. The woman believed the serpent and the man did nothing to stop the travesty that was about to occur. She carefully took a bite and then this couple's world came crashing down around them.

The couple was evicted from their beautiful garden and curses began to fill the earth as a result of their rebellion. Work became difficult and thorns and thistles began to sprout up everywhere. When the woman delivered her children, intense pain and agony consumed her body, which was an experience she had never had before. In an instant, their world was filled with darkness and suffering and even death. The beautiful plants and trees that had once lived forever turned brown and decay set in. Their minds reeled as to what they had done and they ran and hid from the Artisan.

Fast forward several hundreds of years. There was a man named Jesus who was the Son of the Artisan and He was standing in a different garden, called Gethsemane. Jesus was in this garden with some of His followers and He began to pray. The scenery that He viewed was rows of olive trees which only served as reminders to Him of the pressing He would imminently  endure. He knew that the pressing would be so great that His very life would soon be taken from Him. His distress was so intense that He began to sweat drops of blood. His blood drops reminded Him of the price that must be paid because of what the first man and woman did within their garden.

Jesus asked His followers to help Him watch and to pray so that they would not fall into temptation. They all fell asleep, however, and Jesus was left alone in the presence of the Artisan. At first, Jesus asked the Artisan to take away His burden but then the Artisan reminded Jesus of a better garden that would one day come as a result of His obedience. When Jesus surrendered His will completely once again to the Artisan, the garden of Gethsemane got even uglier than it was before.

Jesus glanced up to look his betrayer, Judas Iscariot, in the eyes. Judas glanced down but then looked around to the soldiers, Pharisees, high priests and others who had marched in with him to arrest Jesus.
There was an unwanted kiss and a follower of Jesus who fell into temptation by attacking a man named Malchus and many unbelieving hearts as they watched Jesus perform yet another miracle. Jesus was arrested and dragged out of the garden which means "oil press".

That very night, Jesus was interrogated, and beaten, and mocked, and spit upon He was found guilty. After this mock trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus was sentenced to death and handed over to Pontius Pilate the next morning for execution. Pilate acquiesced to the pressure and Jesus was crucified that very day.

John tells us, "At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid" (John 19:41). Both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus' body and prepared it according to Jewish burial customs. Today, in Israel, this place is called the Garden Tomb and is located just outside the old city walls of Jerusalem.

On the third day, Jesus was resurrected and reunited with with His body that is now incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:50-55). This is how Jesus could actually show His wounds to Thomas (John 20:27-28). And, it is also a picture to us as believers of what is also to happen to us when we die. Our spirits will instantly go to heaven to be with the Lord and then when Jesus comes to the earth, we, too, will be reunited with a new incorruptible body that will live forever.

Because Jesus was willing to go to both the garden of Gethsemane and the Garden tomb (death and resurrection), those of us who are in Christ have the perfect garden that we can look forward to. In Paradise, the Artisan (God) will one day restore the perfection of the Garden of Eden but this time it will be even better. It will be just as meticulously crafted for beauty and serenity as the first one was but this time both the Artisan and Jesus will physically dwell among us. Their glory and Spirit will fill the garden of Paradise and no other light will be needed because Their light will radiate throughout the world.

So, today, if you prick your finger on one of this earth's many thorns or thistles or if your body or soul is filled with indescribable pain, remember, there is coming soon a garden that will be devoid of all these things. The Bible tells us that in this garden, the Artisan "will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things [will] have passed away" (Revelation 21:4). This will be the Ultimate Garden, the creme de la creme of God's Masterpiece, and for those of us who are found in Christ, there really will be a happily ever after!


"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will se His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever."
                                                   Revelation 22:1-5

Standing On The Promises

                                                 "Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
                                                  through eternal ages let His praises ring;
                                                  glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
                                                  standing on the promises of God.
           
                                                  Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
                                                  when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
                                                  by the Living Word of God I shall prevail,
                                                  standing on the promises of God.

                                                 Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord
                                                 bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord,
                                                 overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword, 
                                                 standing on the promises of God.

                                                 Refrain:
                                                 Standing, standing,
                                                 standing on the promises of God my Savior;
                                                 standing, standing,
                                                 I'm standing on the promises of God.

                                                Standing on the promises I cannot fail,
                                                listening every moment to the Spirit's call
                                                resting in my Savior as my all in all,
                                                standing on the promises of God."

                                                    Standing On The Promises Hymn
                                                            Russell Kelso Carter
                                                                         1886




At the time when Russell Kelso Carter penned this well known hymn, he was also teaching at a military academy in Pennsylvania. Many have said that this military academy affected the lyrics of this hymn and that it is taken from the passage in Ephesians that says, "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place" (Ephesians 6:14) and from the passage in 2 Samuel that says "As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is tried; He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him" (2 Samuel 22:31).

We are first equipped with the armor of God and then it is time to take our stance. In the Christian faith, it is our attitude that determines the stand we take. And, our attitude emerges by our level of faith. If I have doubts in God's Word as to whether He is really on my side or whether He is really fighting my battles, I will be slouch in my stance. If, however, I stand on God's Word and really believe the truth of His Word, I can lean forward in confidence that no matter what the enemy hurls my way it is he that is going down and not me.

This past week I listened to a sermon by David Jeremiah and he was teaching about what to do when life throws you a difficult curve ball (or several of them). He said that we can either get mad at God or we can lay down in discouragement because it looks like evil is winning and will ultimately prevail. Or, we can determine in our hearts that we will be the absolute best student in the midst of our circumstances that we can be.

After hearing this, I have meditated on how to be the best student I can be. A few thoughts came to mind:
               1. I can study what God's Words says about my circumstances
               2. I can write down the promises that God is speaking to my heart
               3. I can declare His Word daily until I see change
               4. I can discard every lie from the enemy that says something contrary to God's Word

Many of us would prefer not to believe that standing on the promises of God is really a battle. And, yet it is. His promises are always right, and good, and true, but we also have an enemy that wants to steal them from us at every turn. Satan salivates at the thought of stealing victories from God's children. He lives to make us as weak and ineffective as he possibly can.

The verse in 2 Samuel (written above) tells us that the very Word of God will be tried. The word tried that is used means "refined like pure gold, with no taint of earthly dross". This means that God's Word is perfect and pure and completely faithful. No matter how much resistance comes against it, it will always remain pure. God knows this to be true and sometimes He allows us to sneak a peek at this truth, as well.

These are the times in our lives that can get somewhat uncomfortable. It is the fork in the road where the truth of God's Word stands face to face with the ugliness of our circumstances. We are being stretched and challenged in our faith and we have to choose which we will believe? Will we believe what we see with our eyes along with the sinister whispers of the evil one, or will we stand on God's Word until the end and believe in the inerrancy of what God has said?

Doubts and fears whirl loudly around us and our deepest desire is to try to maintain some semblance of control in what is happening. And yet, we are not in control. We do not know better than God does, even when His plan involves intense pain and suffering. He is still good, and kind, and merciful. His Word is still true.

Jesus calls us unto Himself so that we can rest. He understands the chaos and turbulence that afflicts our world and He knows that it is only when our ears are leaning upon His chest, listening to His very heartbeat, that we can find the true comfort that we need. It is in His presence that we do not need a military stance or additional protection because we will never find a safer place.

It is in the midst of this world that we do need to be armored up and fighting offensively with the Word of God. May I encourage you today, dear friend, to search in God's Word the promises that pertain to your circumstances and declare them over your life. Hold onto them as a sacred treasure and believe in your heart that even though God's Word may be being tested in your life today, there is zero chance that it will fail if you hold onto your faith. Adjust your stance and look the enemy in his beady little eyes and declare to him that he is already defeated. This is how we stand on the promises of God and shout our victory!!!

         "Faith... involves trusting in the future promises of God and waiting for their fulfillment."
                                                          R. C Sproul