God is Good!

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:6-7)

The query “when bad things happen to good people”, has trickled into conversation or material I have witnessed on numerous occasions over the past eight months. Even two days prior to Angel’s passing, this astute subject matter was the topic of our Sunday sermon. The message of “God is good” was preached to an audience of my wife, my dear Angel Girl and myself. Little did I know how poignant this instructed dialogue would become.

As we left the service that day, Angel had stated how she enjoyed the message given by the associate Pastor. My recollection is that I was astounded that she was paying attention at all, and was pleasantly surprised by her genuine comment. The entirety of the message announced God is good even when the trials of our lives were portrayed otherwise; and that in the face of adversity, there was an unfailing love from above, and that God is good!

As I reflect back and gather my balance on the “why” of things, there is no palpable explanation. I suspect there will be no solution to this inquiry until the time to see my Angel again is upon me. So I must go with faith and the Word to satisfy my earthly yearning to this dilemma. I do know that God is good and aches with me as I sort through my emotion…I also feel a constant pull towards Him as I seek His guidance.

I believe there are many factors that allow for bad things to rear up and snatch away life’s blessings. Whether by human error, chance accident, blatant attack, the enemy himself, or a blending of any or all of these factors, God is not the cause of such theft or hardship. He is a constant witness and compassionate Father who will use our adversities to draw us closer to Him for healing, comfort and growth. That is the purpose in which He allows the trials on our journey to manifest at all.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Rom. 8:28)

It is our responsibility to recognize this purpose and step in faith. He will not pour it on us without our willingness to receive His compassion. I have witnessed this in my own experience. Each day that passes as I walk towards Him, He gives me further confirmation of His promise and truth.

I pray that as adversity strikes I continue to step in faith towards God for healing, comfort and resolution, and His purpose is revealed to me in such times and I follow it with reverence and devotion because God is good!

May God bless you and give you Grace.

Three Faces of Wisdom...

The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow. (Ecc. 1:18)

The wisdom I assume from the lessons I have stumbled upon has quite the pull on the direction I am heading. It is an appearance that requires a gentle touch and a humble heart. I attribute my altered perspective for my newfound outlook on my dear Angel Girl. It is she that has brought my intimate relationship with God to the forefront and has given me a trickle of purpose since her passing.

My Angel Girl now has what I have come to refer to as ascended wisdom. My altered perspective is just a flicker compared to her vast view of the truth that is. She now knows a truth that is not within our grasp as we journey along this human experience. She is at peace and peers down knowing that our earthly struggles are just an illusion poured upon us by deception. Unlike us, she now knows the simplicity of trusting solely in God.

God’s Divine wisdom is constant and pure. It is not in my ability to comprehend the depth or scope of His capacity. I can only imagine, which, in itself places limits on Him. This alone gives cause for us to purpose our life in Him through all we do. His love and Divine wisdom yearn for us to submit to an intimate relationship with him as we walk this earthly journey. It is why we are here.

The sorrow brought upon us by relying on our own wisdom rather than the Divine wisdom of God beckons us to a cherished bond with our creator. We soon realize that our previous assumed wisdom is an act of self-grandeur, which does nothing but bring separation between God and us.

I pray that God’s Divine wisdom speaks to me as I walk this journey, and I realize the simplicity of trusting His will for me as I know it will strengthen my relationship with Him.

May God bless you and give you Grace.

The Bolt of Selfishness!

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James 3:16)

In my youth, I did not recognize the true purpose of reaching out or the contrary of pitching in. It is not as if I avoided or neglected such actions, it was that my motives were linked to a self-diluted intention. Even at a subconscious level, I believe there was a “what’s in it for me” gear that was tightening down the dangerous bolt of selfishness.

As time passed on, there was a shift in this process. It is not that this trait was relinquished; it just managed to change form. Through this phase, my goal to reach out or to pitch in was followed by a self-affirming “see what I’ve done” attitude, and silently sought gratification for being such a “good” person. I do not feel I did this in blatant fashion; it is just in the end, I seemed to want some sort of recognition for my efforts. This is where my human nature needed to subdue my ego and allow my reward to rest in the Lords hands.

Coming into my present journey, I have brought that later phrase into my truth. I am learning to allow my reward to rest in the Lords hands. It has been extremely healing to release my concerns and expectations of how others view the efforts or gifts I put forth. As I now move forward in faith, I relinquish my selfish ambitions and serve these and other ventures in the name of Jesus knowing my reward, if any, will come from Him.

For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (Mark 9:41)

My prayer is that as I reach out and pitch in, I do these things in the name of Jesus and allow my selfish nature to fall away releasing any self-gratification I may be seeking and know that my true reward will come from the Lord.

May God bless you and give you Grace.

Jesus Weeps with Us!

Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” (Jn. 11:35-36)

I became aware this past weekend of the tragic fate of a nineteen-year-old boy who left this earth much too soon. I did not know this young man or his parents all though they live right in my own back yard. Matthew 'Tyler' Milliken had attended the same high school as my boys and life was lying ahead just waiting for his continued impact. I know his memory will dwell in the hearts of many and drive them to achieve great things.

As this story made it’s way to me, I was struck with a distinctive sadness that was all too familiar. This emotion was suddenly redirected toward his parents and the surreal devastation that they are now experiencing. The first few days of my Angel’s fate left me in a stunned state; it was as if I was in a dream just waiting for reality to snap back into position so life would be normal again. Life has snapped back, but I am now left with a new normal that has me looking on from a different perspective.

I know that Jesus weeps along with us at the loss of those so dear to us. His love runs deeper than we know and is so powerful that if we breathe Him into our sorrow, He will bring us comfort. The challenge for us is to relinquish the illusion of our control on life and submit to His love. This is how I have found peace and eased my struggles through this part of my journey. I know it is how I must continue.

I pray that this family and others alike will find the peace I have found to rest in the Lord for comfort as the grief and struggles of life tumble into our path as we journey on from day to day.

May God bless you and give you Grace.