Category Archives: Pastoral thoughts

Information Overload

This time of social separation has put me on information overload. Whether it’s “Who’s at fault?” or “Here’s how it spread” or “Here’s what helps prevent it”, or “Will it will come back in the Fall” or “Do masks help?” every COVID19 related issue is covered by hordes of media. That means there is a wide variety of facts – often contradictory. There is a wide variety of opinions – often contradictory. There is a wide variety of solutions – often contradictory. There is a wide variety of political opinions – always contradictory.

Certainly getting information is better than not getting it. But if we’re not careful our minds, like computers, will stop working due to ‘no disk space” – information overload. I have found I can only handle so much ‘news’ each day and then I need to turn away. Or else I become agitated and start acting like those arguing to be heard in the media. (Which is really sort of funny as I can only argue with a television set! Of course the good thing is it can’t argue back. I win every argument!)

It finally dawned on me that my mind has a limit and when it’s on information overload there is no room for God’s voice to be heard. I need to work hard at guarding my mind. The Bible, in fact, states this clearly. “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23 GNT). The issue then is how to shape our thoughts. The Apostle Paul spelled it out clearly. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7)

Without launching into a sermon (always a preacher’s temptation), I lift up what I think are the 4 keys to overcoming information overload.

1. Rejoice in the Lord. Spend time in praise and worship.
2. Let the resulting gentleness be evident in all your dealings and activities.
3. Do not be anxious. Stay calm.
4. Pray regularly. Give thanks to God and bring your petitions and requests to Him.

The result? God will take charge of guarding our minds and hearts. What a difference it would make if all God’s people followed this formula! The times in which we live are a tremendous opportunity for the body of Christ to show the world the beauty and importance of God’s wisdom and peace. Let’s take advantage of the opportunity. Perhaps using the following prayer is a good starting point.

“Give us discernment in the face of troubling news reports.
Give us discernment
to know when to pray,
when to speak out,
when to act,
and when to simply
shut off our screens
and our devices,
and to sit quietly in your presence,

casting the burdens of this world
upon the strong shoulders
of the one who
alone
is able to bear them up. (1)

 

(1) From EVERY moment HOLY, VOLUME 1, Rabbit Room Press, © 2017 Douglas McKelvey, p. 159

The Yellow LIght

I’ve been reading a book on the life of Fred “Mr.” Rogers. The very first chapter recalls that every episode of his show opened with a shot of a flashing yellow traffic light. Why? To communicate that it was time to slow down. Ever wonder why Mr. Rogers moved and spoke so slowly? To help viewers slow down and relax. (1)

The yellow light grabbed me. I admit that, even now in ‘retirement’, I need to keep working at slowing down. That’s why it’s a repetitive theme in the Bible. “For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord” (Exodus 31:15). “Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him” (Psalm 37:7 The Message). “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 NLT). “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” (Isaiah 30:15). “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

I believe God has placed a yellow light in front of us – a light we need to see now. There is no better time than during these days of ‘stay at home’ to get back to, or to establish, a life of resting. The reports of the fears and impact of being home bound point to our desperate need for rest. We must heed God’s yellow light and learn to rest. And the longer we’re ‘in’ the longer we have to establish habits of living slowly and resting. And the longer we have to establish them the stronger they will be when we are free to return to the world that made us live so fast in the first place.

This world, with all its busyness and forces that work against us, often overwhelms and drowns us. That’s precisely why we need to slow down. Consider this. “If you ever fall into quicksand, the most important thing to remember is this: take your time. Quicksand, unlike water, will not move out of the way to let you pass. Instead, it resists movement. Flailing about will only cause you to sink deeper. But slowly it gets you to shore.” (2)(3)

Why not let this time of forced slow down teach you to voluntarily slow down? Live by the yellow light and make it safely to shore.
(Note: I am keenly aware that for many this time is far from a slow down time. They are busy on the front lines for the rest of us. To all of them – and perhaps it’s you – I offer my sincere thanks and offer up my sincere prayers. May our Lord bring rest and peace to your souls and health to your bodies.)

(1) “The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers”, Amy Hollingsworth, Thomas Nelson, 2005, p.1
(2) Ibid
(3) Picture from Washington Examiner, 8/1/19

Habitual Habits

About a month ago my wife reorganized our kitchen shelves. They are certainly much better now than they were. Except – I still habitually reach where the gum and candy used to be instead of where it now is. I have a feeling it’s going to take a while to build a new habit. It’s brought to mind other scenarios from my past. In high school, for example, one of my teachers covered the classroom clock for a week – and I realized on Friday that I was still looking at it just as often as I did before he did so. I also recall the time I changed the location of my shampoo and tub spray cleaner in my shower because the sizes of each dispenser had changed. It seemed simple enough – except for the power of habits. After several years of automatically reaching for shampoo on the ledge, I found it was difficult to automatically reach up for it from the shelf. That means, of course, that on more than one occasion I almost sprayed my head with shower cleanser! I was amazed at how long it took me to get to the point where I automatically reached up for the shampoo.

These repeated scenarios center on the power of habits. Habits, whether good or bad, are established over a period of time. And once ingrained they are automatic and therefore hard to break. That’s why God repeatedly told the Israelites to form good habits. In Exodus, for example, God gave them the 10 commandments, the habits by which to live. In Leviticus He laid out worship and sacrifice habits to provide a framework for holiness. In Deuteronomy 6: 5-6 He commanded them to establish teaching habits: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.”

So it is really not surprising that when His people started letting go if these habits, they began wandering into the land of disobedience and walking further and further away from Him. So God sent the prophet with a message “This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).

He told them to return to the proven ways, the tried and true habits, of their ancestors. In other words, “When you’re in need of a habit, look to your habits.” These habits were the paths that would return them to rest and renewal.

Centuries later Jesus taught the same thing about habits. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mt. 11:28-30).   Knowing the heart of people, knowing the tendency of humans to lose self-discipline and therefore to wander, Jesus invited His followers, and us, to take up His yolk, His habits, His way of life. “When you’re in need of a habit, look to your habits.”

 Habits were the core of Jesus’ life. Time apart – alone – with his Father and seasons of prayer led to days of ministry and holy living. Then again came  time apart – alone – with his Father and seasons of prayer. Should our habits be any different? Whenever we feel we’re wandering away from God, whenever we feel apart from Jesus, when life is tiring us out it’s time for a time out. It’s time to get back to basics, to return to our habits. “When you’re in need of a habit, look to your habits.” And the more firmly entrenched our habits become, the harder they will be to break. And the amazing truth is these habits do not constrict us. As the Psalmist wrote I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free” (Psalm 119:32).

Whether in the kitchen, the classroom or the shower, ingrained habits are hard to break. So make sure the habits you diligently develop are good ones. Perhaps, just perhaps, this quarantine time is God’s gift to us – He’s giving us time to develop some healthy spiritual habits, to establish some practices that will be habitual when life returns to its new normal. “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

 

 

 

 

Look Up

I am always struck by two of the resurrection passages.

“But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away” (Mark 16:4). “In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee…’” (Luke 24:5-6)

The clear message is “Look up!” In looking up we see Jesus – alive, reigning and in charge. (1)

So on this Easter Sunday, look up. Annie Johnson Flint has stated it eloquently in her poem “I Look Not Back.”

I look not back: God knows the fruitless efforts,
The wasted hours, the sinning, the regrets;
I leave them all with Him, who blots the record,
And graciously forgives and then forgets.

I look not forward: God sees all the future,
The road, that short or long, will lead me home,
And He will face me with its every trial,
And bear with me the burdens that may come.

I look not round me: Then would fears assail me,
So would the tumult of earth’s restless seas;
So dark the world, so filled with woe and evil,
So vain the hope of comfort and of ease.

I look not inward: That would make me wretched,
For I have naught on which to stay my trust;
Nothing I see save failure and shortcomings
And weak endeavors, crumbling into dust.

But I look up: Into the face of Christ,
For there my heart can rest, my fears are stilled,
And there is joy, and love, and light for darkness.
And perfect peace, and every hope fulfilled.

Today look up and receive the peace of Christ.

(1) Picture from: itsabouttimebook.com

Going After Your Princess

I’ve enjoyed writing my books. (1) But I learned a lot along the way. I have great sayings posted in my office, like “If you want something you’ve never had you must do something you’ve never done.” And there are several more. But I learned they do no good unless I follow them. If I want the rewards, the satisfaction, then I have to pay the price. The work won’t get done unless I do it – regularly and faithfully.

It points me to a principle from the familiar story of David meeting Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. I’m always struck by verse 25: “They said to each other, “Look how he keeps coming out to insult us. The king is offering a big reward to the man who kills Goliath. That man will even get to marry the king’s daughter, and no one in his family will ever have to pay taxes again.” Do you see it? You will never marry the princess until you first kill Goliath.

What a principle for all situations and circumstances in life. Think about it. What is your princess? What are some of the things – or perhaps the one thing – you really want to do, to see, to accomplish? What’s stopping you? You will never marry the princess until you first kill Goliath. What is your Goliath? What vice, what habit, what problem, what sin, what lack of discipline, what relationship, what obstacle, what fear – what giant – is standing in your way? “You will never marry the princess until you first kill Goliath.”

It’s up to you to arm yourself for doing battle. David’s comrades thought Goliath was too big to fight – David thought he was too big to miss. Like David, do not think about the bigness of the giant; think about the greatness of God. You will only overcome human weakness with divine power; you will only overcome fear with faith.  Verse 37: “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”  God will not do for you what you can do for yourself – so do your part and God will, as always, do His. If you believe you are on God’s side, drop the armor and the weapons that are hindering you. Pick up your stones and start hurling. As the old hymn “Yield Not to Temptation” puts it, “Each victory will help you some other to win.” You will never marry the princess until you first kill Goliath.

This principle is easy for me to say. Yet all my books, including the one I’m working on now, should have been finished earlier. I’m still trying to apply what I’ve learned. It’s much easier to slide and be satisfied with where I am and how I’m doing. But that’s not the goal – nor is it my calling. And there are always many obstacles in the way – many Goliaths loom large. But I will never marry the princess unless I first kill Goliath. I invite you – urge you – to go after your princess. I promise to go after mine as well. Let’s encourage each other. Only then can we say “Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 115:1) Go now, and kill your Goliath! Ready or not Princess – here I come!

(1) https://www.pastorcurry.com/books/

 

A Hilly Reminder

Driving in the mountains or hilly areas is always interesting. Often we cannot see what is ahead until we either get to the top of the hill or around the curve. It makes driving an adventure! But this hilly driving leads me to Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” The hills are wonderful, exciting, even exhilarating – but my help and strength come from the Lord who made them. As The Message translates verses 1-2, “I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.”

What a glorious truth! No matter how high the mountain, nor how steep the climb, or how swift the descent, God is guiding, leading, and protecting. What an awesome affirmation for the ups and downs of life. Whether you’re going down or going up, remember the hills. You may be at the very bottom, wondering how to ever get back to the top. Or perhaps you’re at the very top worried you might not stay there. You could be in between, not sure if your next move will propel you upwards or thrust you downwards. It might be that you are moving forward but can’t see around the next curve; you’re concerned about what lies ahead. No matter what, “The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” 

Let me take a little liberty and offer a ‘Curryean’ paraphrase: “The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going, your ups and your downs, your bends and your curves, both now and forevermore.” Whether you’re going down or going up, remember the hills. You can travel safely no matter what the road!

So let the hills and curves, the ups and downs, remind you of our faithful God who never tires, slumbers, or sleeps so He can be your constant guard and protector. “God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.” (7-8 The Message) Wherever you are at this moment, whether you’re going down or going up, remember the hills.

 

 

A Moment of Sifting

It was only moments before the first funeral I ever conducted. A 38 year old father had died of cancer leaving behind a wife and four very young children. I was about to precede the casket into the sanctuary. I felt a tug on the bottom of my suit coat. I turned around and saw one of the pall bearers, a dear friend, who simply said, “We’ve been praying for you.” While it almost brought me to tears, it also energized me for the moments ahead.

So I identify with the disciples. They had gathered in an upper room to celebrate the Passover. But Jesus was making some serious, disturbing predictions. He said He was leaving them and that one of their tightly knit band would betray Him. He talked about being killed. He predicted that strong, loyal Peter would deny Him – and not once but three times. Since the disciples had come to value and trust Jesus’ words they were disturbed. Whatever Jesus meant, they knew the hours ahead would be difficult, especially if they had to go through them without Jesus.

But, as always, Jesus was sensitive to their state. So He looked at Peter and said, for all to hear, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you” (plural) “as wheat” (Luke 22:31-32). Just as Satan had to ask God for permission to attack Job, so he had to ask for permission to sift the disciples. But Jesus continued, “I have prayed for you” (singular), “Simon, that your faith may not fail.” Jesus prays for us! Satan will repeatedly try to sift us, to trip us up and get us to turn away from Jesus. Tough times test us to see if we are wheat or chaff. But, as the Heidelberg Catechism states, all things come to us not by chance but from His fatherly hand. So Jesus prays for us to remain strong. Satan not only has to ask permission, He has to overcome the prayer of Jesus!

These are strange, worrisome difficult days. Satan loves to take advantage of these times. They are moments of sifting. He figures our spirits are weak. But Jesus is praying for us. He is faithful and true and will not let us be tempted  beyond what we can handle, nor suffer beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). He will grant us fresh supplies of His Spirit so mourning becomes joy and darkness turns to light. And as John reminds us the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

But also notice what Jesus adds as He speaks to Peter, “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Always remember, as Jesus prays for us so we are to pray for others. Doing so not only helps them, it also helps us as we get out of ourselves and become part of Jesus’ healing, strengthening flow into our world. And isn’t that what we need for these moments of sifting? Jesus is already praying for us. Join me in praying for others.

 

Viral Faith

This is a time for faith and not fear.  To be honest I know the virus is real and will most likely eventually come to someone we know, perhaps even to you or me. But I am far more concerned with the loss of reason and the wave of fear and hysteria that threatens the fabric of our society than I am with the virus. I am concerned what our children and grand-children are learning about how to respond to difficult times and circumstances. So let this be an opportunity to focus on faith.

  • Focus on our faithful God who watches over our lives and our coming and going now and forevermore (Ps. 121).
  • Focus on the fact the Bible teaches us to be of use today. ‘Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.” Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (James 4:13-17).
  • Focus on what  the Heidelberg Catechism profoundly states:

26 Q. What do you believe when you say: “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, maker   of heaven and earth?”

That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal           counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ his Son.  I trust him so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and he will            turn to my good whatever adversity he sends me in this sad world.  He is able to do this    because he is almighty God; he desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.

            27 Q. What do you understand by the providence of God?

Providence is the almighty and ever present power of God by which he upholds, as    with his hand, heaven and earth and all creatures, and so rules them that leaf and blade,     rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity   and poverty – all things, in fact, come to us not by chance but from his fatherly hand.

            28 Q. How does the knowledge of God’s creation and providence help us?

We can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will       separate us from his love.  All creatures are so completely in his hand that without his will they can neither move nor be moved.

  • Focus on Numbers 16:46-48: “Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.” So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.” I am not implying that COVID-19 is a God-sent plague. I am saying intercessors are needed. Let’s all stand in the great gap and pray unceasingly.

Here is a message I delivered on Sunday, March 15 to those gathered for worship @ Kibbie Christian Reformed Church here in South Haven. My prayer is that it will bless and strengthen you during these unusual days.

If You Don’t Like the Garbage

There’s one thing that bugs me about the road by which we live – the litter that ends up in our yard. I pick up wrappers from McDonalds, bags from burger King, and boxes from Wendy’s, along with cans, bottles, and cups – and once even a bumper from a car that veered off the road and slammed into the telephone pole in our yard. I’ve wondered why people feel so free to throw their litter out of their vehicles, to dump their garbage where they don’t have to pick it up. I think the very same thing anytime I see someone throw a cigarette butt out their window. There are probably numerous reasons – but I believe the core reason is they don’t want to deal with the garbage. They love the food, the pleasure, but not the leftover garbage. To that I say, “If you don’t like the garbage, don’t eat the lunch.”

In actuality, this is a major biblical theme.

  • “When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden …. God called to the Man: “Where are you?” He said, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid.” (Genesis 3:8-10 The Message)

“If you don’t like the garbage, don’t eat the lunch.”

  • “Cain said to God, “My punishment is too much. I can’t take it! You’ve thrown me off the land and I can never again face you. I’m a homeless wanderer on Earth and whoever finds me will kill me.” (Genesis 4:13-14 The Message)

“If you don’t like the garbage, don’t eat the lunch.”

  • “When I refused to confess my sin my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat”. (Psalm 32:2-4 New Living Translation)

“If you don’t like the garbage, don’t eat the lunch.”

  • “Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.” (Proverbs 11:29)

“If you don’t like the garbage, don’t eat the lunch.”

  • “Lazy hands make for poverty…Whoever maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.” (Proverbs 10:4 & 10)

“If you don’t like the garbage, don’t eat the lunch.”

  • “For the wages of sin is death…”(Romans 6:23)

“If you don’t like the garbage, don’t eat the lunch.”

  • “We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.” (I Corinthians 10:8-10)

“If you don’t like the garbage, don’t eat the lunch.”

  • “You will reap exactly what you plant. If you plant in the field of your natural desires, from it you will gather the harvest of death…” (Galatians 6:7-8 Good News Translation)

“If you don’t like the garbage, don’t eat the lunch.”

  • “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” (Matthew 5:21-22)

“If you don’t like the garbage, don’t eat the lunch.”

So:

  • If you don’t like the sexual immorality of our day… don’t watch the movies/shows that promote them or support the advertisers who pay for them.

  • If you don’t like lung cancer, don’t smoke .If you don’t like being drunk, don’t drink. If you don’t like arguing with your spouse, don’t do the things that lead to arguments.

  • If you don’t like being in debt, don’t live off your credit card and spend what you do not have.

  • If you don’t like feeling separated from God, stop doing the things that separate you from Him.

“If you don’t like the garbage, don’t eat the lunch.” In fact, if you don’t like the garbage, change your diet. “Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.” (Isaiah 55:1-3) It all begins with your relationship with Jesus. “I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness…Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (John 10:10 &  7:37-38) Now that’s a garbage free diet!

Thanksgiving: An Incomplete List

Thanksgiving Day. (1) As I prepare to celebrate this festive day, I like to make a list of blessings for which I’m grateful.
To keep it short – my top three are Jesus and Salvation, a godly loving wife, and a precious family. I have much to be grateful for. Yet I recall an old story I once used to challenge others to consider what gratitude and blessing are all about – and I’m wondering if my list is incomplete. The story goes like this:

An old man (2) showed up at the back door of the house we were renting. Opening the door a few cautious inches, we saw his eyes were glassy and his furrowed face glistened with silver stubble. He clutched a wicker basket holding a few unappealing vegetables. He bade us good morning and offered his produce for sale.  We were uneasy enough that we made a quick purchase to alleviate both our pity and our fear. To our chagrin, he returned the next week, introducing himself as Mr. Roth, the man who lived in the shack down the road. As our fears subsided, we got close enough to realize it wasn’t alcohol but cataracts that “marbleized” his eyes. On subsequent visits, he would shuffle in, wearing two mismatched right shoes, and pull out a harmonica. With glazed eyes set on a future glory, he’d puff out old gospel tunes between conversations about vegetables and religion. On one visit he exclaimed, ‘The Lord is so good! I came out of my shack this morning and found a bag full of shoes and clothing on my porch.’ ‘That’s wonderful, Mr. Roth!’ we said. ‘We’re happy for you.’ ‘You know what’s even more wonderful?’ he asked. ‘Just yesterday I met some people who could use them.’

When the Lord is our treasure, when our heart has been given over to Him and filled by Him, thankfulness and gratitude should never be an end in themselves. Rather, they should lead to sharing our wealth of blessings, no matter how much or little they are. That’s where I sense some incompleteness in my list. Shouldn’t the joy of giving be somewhere near the top? Yes – it should. And once again I am challenged to see what more, and in what other ways I can give – not as a duty but joyfully because of what God has given me in His Son. Surely – what I have is something someone else can use! Surely the blessing I have received is one someone else needs.

I need to embrace again the worlds of the Apostle Paul.

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:1-9)

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

That pretty much says it all.

May my blessings and your blessings find their way into the life and heart of someone who needs them. May the heart of Christ find its way through us into their hearts. Then my list will be complete. (3)

(1) Photo by Simon Maage on Unsplash

(2) Photo by Madhav Rajesh on Unsplash

(3) Photo by James Coleman on Unsplash (bless)