Archives For hard eucharisteo

God is with you in the crap of life

April 19, 2012

If you are a Christian there is always reason to give thanks.

True.

But frankly life sucks at times, for Christians too. Even the Crystal Cathedral went bankrupt, the prosperity gospel ran out of cash. All of our lives have seasons where it seems there is little to give genuine thanks for.

When someone like me starts writing about giving thanks in all things while you slog through difficult times an understandable reaction is to want to tell me where to shove it.

For this reason I have been uncomfortable with the notion of listing all the blessings I can count in my life, because it could easily turn into a boasting in what I have, a thinly disguised love of the world. God does promise us many blessings, some of which are to be enjoyed in this world. However, the greatest blessings are those which are intangible and must be grasped by faith.

A particularly slippery blessing is God’s promise to always be with us:

… And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20 ESV)

Jesus himself promised to be with us while ‘this age’ remains. In Hebrews we also have what appears to be a quote of Jesus:

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(Hebrews 13:5 ESV)

In the gospels there are several incidents in which Jesus rebuked his disciples for their fear. The entire book of Job points to the great value of trusting in God despite overwhelming evidence causing doubt over God’s goodness. Fear is a killer of faith. But this also works in reverse – faith can kill off fear.

When you look realistically at life and cannot help the concerns over whether God really will provide running through your mind, it is not wrong to acknowledge the evidence before your eyes. With that acknowledgement, fear will arise. Faith considers that fear, accepts it as real and then adds faith into the equation.

I may look at our bank statement and see immediately there is not enough money to pay the bills. We have a fixed income so there is no room to squeeze more dollars from anywhere. Juggling bills helps a little but I still fear the prospect of simply running out and being unable to sustain my family. God makes no promise I am aware of that we will not end up in financial sewerage. However, He does promise that He will walk through the poo with me.

To some this will seem small comfort and too subjective to be of any value. I have been in much worse than financial shit and this promise of His Presence is what has kept me going. Often it was pure faith, believing that God is with me in my mess despite appearances. Occasionally I knew He was with me, strengthening my weak knees and lifting me up so I wouldn’t drown.

Intangible, yes.

Real? Definitely.

This is one of the great gifts from God which underlie my more immediate and superficial counting of blessings. The list continues to grow because I continue to need to remind myself of all I have to be thankful for and rejoice in. As a fallen creature this counting puts me in a better headspace to appreciate how awesome His greater gifts are.

Image: iStock

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God was not in the beating

November 30, 2011

And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. (1 Kings 19:11-12 ESV)

Sometimes things happen that are not necessarily God’s direct acting but He uses them to communicate to us. Last week I wrote about my daughter being beaten up at school and that it seemed my prayers for her protection had gone unanswered.

Since then my wife and I have been to discuss the incident with a teacher at school, done a lot of discussion between us, written to the board of trustees, met with the Principal of another school and tomorrow my daughter will start at that school. Maybe this seems like a rather strong, knee-jerk reaction. Actually the decision to change schools has been two years in coming and was possibly overdue. There have been a number of issues which individually have caused us to consider such a change but the upheaval didn’t seem justified for any single issue.

This most recent incident required action on our part and turned out to be a floodlight on the issue behind many of these problems. Like a seed crystal the immediate incident brought together a whole lot of other issues to clearly indicate that for our children’s sake it was better to inconvenience ourselves by changing schools. Not an easy decision, which is why we resisted such a change for so long.

While I don’t think this is the entirety of why God ‘allowed’ the incident to occur, in even such a short time it is apparent that there is a bigger story going on than just a violent over-reaction by a schoolboy. He is not a bad kid, his Mum is surprised and concerned by how he reacted and when both Mum’s talked together they gained increased understanding of each other and the strains on both children.

 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
(Matthew 10:29-31 ESV)

At least now I have some sort of explanation to offer my daughter if she asks, “Why did God let that happen?” Not a complete answer, for that she will have to wait until she stands before God Himself, but in His grace He is at least allowing us to see some good emerging in the responses to what happened.

Gifts I have noticed recently (#710 – #722):

710) Being forced to face a hard decision.
711) Grace at work in relationships.
712) God’s ‘still, small voice’.
713) Sermon prepared and delivered despite tiredness.
714) Poison prevention talk delivered.
715) Coffee and cake in a beautiful café.
716) The aroma of real pine Christmas trees.
717) Sunlight.
718) God putting the sun in the heavens (Genesis 1:16).
719) A peaceful election.
720) Not being allergic to pine pollen.
721) A quiet walk in the cool of evening
722) Realizing that too much alone time can be very bad for me, even as an introvert.

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Photo of crystals: fluor_doublet

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Give thanks in ALL circumstances

July 12, 2011

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV)

I suppose I expected this eventually, it is logical that eucharisteo would bring me to this point. A convergence of truths which are being woven into my life.

Giving thanks, searching for joy, fighting for faith, conviction that God is sovereign, trusting His word, and struggling with the failings of life. Give thanks in all circumstances.

I began this journey of gratitude as a means to fight for joy, and an act of obedience because I know we are commanded to give thanks but am not very good at doing it. So I began counting God’s blessings as I noticed them. Generally I was noticing the things that I was glad God has placed in my life. Give thanks in all circumstances.

But God has bigger dreams for me than merely being happy. It is God’s will that I rejoice in Him, always (Philippians 4:4).

In His mercy God has gently led me this far. It seems that now there are some lessons I really need to learn. Hard lessons about accepting trials and suffering as a gift from my loving Father who is creating me in the His image. Just as the Son of God learned obedience in what he suffered, I am seeing that this is a path none of us can avoid if we follow Christ (Hebrews 5:8).

For a long time I have tried to avoid the path of obedience through suffering, it is time to repent (turn) and begin trudging the way I am being led. Not only plodding along, but rejoicing as I do.  Giving thanks in all circumstances.

Gifts I have noticed this week (#501 – #512):

501) Opportunity to do some outside work today.
502) Sunshine after working nights.
503) Flowers in midwinter.
504) Muscle-tiredness as a welcome change from weary-headedness.
505) Watching old movies of the kids when they were babies.
506) Tired girls after sleep-overs.
507) 2-year-old up in the night unwell – opportunity to show him a father’s love by giving him medicine and cuddles.
508) Depression – causing me to look closer at where my hopes are placed.
509) The neighbour’s dog barking loudly, it is happy (joy) to see them come home.
510) My irritability – a reminder that I am setting my happiness upon trivial comforts.
511) A crisp, clear, cold winter’s day.
512) Noticing the storms clouds before setting out to walk to work (I will take the bus now!)

Other posts related to this topic:

Image of approaching storm in Shetland Islands: iStockphoto
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From charis to eucharisteo and chara

June 28, 2011

Thanksgiving has come slow and hard this week. There has been grace (charis) as always, but dull eyes, tired body and dreary heart have been slow to see and give thanks (eucharisteo). Consequently there has been little chara (joy). It is easy to blame external and organic causes, working night shift, change in medication, lack of time, lack of sunlight. Yet the real cause is one from the will – lack of looking.

As John Piper says, “the fight for joy is a fight to see“, (emphasis mine). I have plenty that I am thankful for if I choose to look. If I figuratively walk around my life and pick up each thing that is part of it there is reason to thank God for all of them. Even the ‘bad’ stuff can contain reasons to thank God.

Recently I realized that the season I am currently walking through is quite likely part of something I was told will come way back when I first began this walk with Christ – over twenty years ago! In that single thought is gratitude for the wise man who spoke the words to me then, the Holy Spirit who inspired the words and brought them to my recollection, and the multitude of saints who have walked before me through the usual difficulties of the narrow way.

Another cause for thanksgiving in a season of struggle is that it forces me back to the essentials. The basics of living in Christ and holding onto faith, hope, grace and love. In a world filled with distractions and conflicting demands it is a peculiar blessing to be thrust into reliance on the basics, stripped of the fluff and marketing hype of a consumer age.

So, even in the span of 400 words to write this post I have moved from grace alone to thanksgiving and attained a measure of joy. Must do this more!

Gifts I have noticed this week (#473 – #485):

473) A messy story encouraging me to just do the next thing.
474) Some time to read quietly.
475) Freely offering praises to God.
476) Getting all the washing folded while watching a John Piper DVD.
477) Finally fixing the leaky spouting.
478) Stewed apples with custard and ice cream.
479) Seasons; in a year and in a life.
480) Fear and hope at opening up to another.
481) Going to church after a night working.
482) Being able to draw near to God through Christ, our High Priest (reminded by this post).
483) A mild winter (so far at least).
484) This astonishing technological entity we call the internet.
485) Encouragement today that even in this secular nation souls hunger for You. (The Harvest is ripe)

Other posts related to this topic:

Image of ‘eucharisteo’: Gitzen Girl
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Voice your complaint – God can handle it

April 18, 2011

How do you thank God when life sucks? We are commanded to give thanks, always and for everything (Ephesians 5:20) – how is this possible if your lot in life is lousy?

I know enough people who are having a real tough time in life to be under no illusions that being a Christian exempts anyone from enduring hard times. The situations these people are experiencing are not their own fault or due to a lack of faith. Frankly it looks very much as though God has given some folks a real bum deal.

That seems to be how Job felt too – he believed God is good, he firmly held that it is much better to be righteous than wicked, yet there was no denying his suffering. Job was more honest than his friends, he didn’t try to protect God from the truth – really bad things do happen to good people and there is no logic to it.

I loathe my life;
I will give free utterance to my complaint;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
(Job 10:1 ESV)

Job knew something wasn’t right and he grew weary of holding it in, he vented, he shocked his friends. His friends snapped back with accusations, defending their doctrine, standing up for God.

Yet someone was listening to all this. Have you ever considered that someone was listening to these conversations and faithfully reported or wrote what was said? This is what I can do for my friends also, listen and take their complaints to God.

Gifts I am noticing (#341 – #347):

341) Honest words telling of a spouse who disdains your worship. I cannot change your situation, but I am praying for you.
342) Your endless sleep deprivation. I am praying and trying to help where I can.
343) Your heartbreak and fears for the future in the disarray caused by an unfaithful husband. I am angry too, I don’t know what to pray even, but keep asking God to comfort you.
344) Shortened work hours, rising living costs and healthcare bills causing anxiety. Praying for you both.
345) Unending headaches and stress. I cannot see why you must endure this but Jesus is walking with you and I’m asking Him to give you comfort in your endurance.
346) Depression casting shadows across your soul. Asking our Father to be your light, comfort and hope.
347) Past abuse that has generated hardships beyond my knowing. I see you as you are today and there is grace at work. Praying for continuing grace, comfort and peace.

Useful reading (some of what I read in thinking about how to write this post):

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Image of man praying: iStockphoto
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