Thanksgiving – Day and Night

Posted on November 15, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Moon_Day Moon_Night

“Give thanks in every circumstance” *.  That edict has long been a source of fascination for me.  When I first read it, I was dismissive; thinking it impossible.  We can be thankful people.  We can give thanks all the time, but what we can’t do is give thanks in every circumstance.  The phrase “every circumstance” was problematic for me.   Those words are intentional and they irritated me.  Give thanks when grieving, unemployed, homeless or  depressed?  I thought the idea impossible and unfair.  With Thanksgiving around the corner, I started thinking about this verse again and found it possible and helpful.  Here is what I came up with.

The first thing about giving thanks is that it is personal.  Giving genuine thanks requires reflection about one’s own circumstances in a vacuum.  I must view my circumstances through the lens of my own personal history, and not what is happening in my neighbor’s life.  If I don’t, my thanks won’t be authentic.  Either my thanksgiving will be half hearted, because my circumstance isn’t quite as good as yours, or it will be sullied because in principle it feeds on the unfortunate circumstances of others.  That is relative thanks, which is the exact opposite of the “every circumstance” thanks that the verse requires.

Relative thanks means that a kernel of bitterness is harbored when I am only able to replace 3 of my 4 bald tires, while my best friend has just bought a brand spanking new luxury car.  Alternately, “thanks in every circumstance” means that I rejoice as I thank God that my situation is 75% better than it was.  Relative thanks is unhealthy as it ties my sense of accomplishment and contentment to the circumstances of those around me.  Giving thanks in every circumstance means that I am embracing my unique life .  I am intentionally acknowledging the good in my life, based on …my life.  Giving thanks in every circumstance is freedom.  Freedom to view my blessings as they were intended to be: disparate and personal.

This Thanksgiving I will give thanks in every circumstance of my life.  When compared to others my life is unremarkable.  In its proper context it’s wonderful.

Thanksgiving is a relative of hope.  The more we see our way to thanking God in every circumstance, the more easily hope will begin to arise in us.  Hope is the beginning of the inspiration needed for us to move forward on the singular path prepared for each of  us.  Giving thanks in every circumstance doesn’t mean that dark and unhappy conditions are ignored.  It’s the opposite, it means that we commit to look hard enough to find the silver lining as a jumping off place for better.

*1 Thessalonians 5:18

pinterestby feather
Filed Under: Heart of the Matter Tagged With: , ,

I’m One To Judge

Posted on November 5, 2015 · Leave a Comment

In my previous post I wrote about God, The Judge.  The just, merciful and gracious judge.  That aspect of judge and judgment is in a league of its own.  It’s all taken care of.  God’s judgment is complete.  Case closed (haha).

Lately, it’s man’s judgment that I find myself thinking about.  I listen to the news, think about our world and find myself wondering…

Where’s the judgment?  Good judgment.  People react, become emotional, even outraged, without seeming to have spent a moment on reflection, fact gathering or assessment.  I call this lack of judgment.  Please be clear.  Judgment is not gossip, petty speech designed to belittle or “foolish talk”.  “Judgment” as defined in The Merriam-Webster Dictionary is  the act or process of forming an opinion or making a decision after careful thought.

Again, where is the judgment?  There’s a lot of “foolish talk” jamming the airways and polluting our world.  Sadly, this talk accomplishes nothing useful.  Anyone can find an outlet overflowing with foolish talk, tailor made to appeal to any worldview.  Anger and frustration flow unchecked.  An illusion of  satisfaction develops, growing from having vented to an audience that was convinced at “hello”.  This is tragic because it means that very few challenge and very few are challenged.  The intention necessary for true judgment is not exerted.  People get stuck on indignation, never graduating to sober, balanced judgment.

So what?  Why judgement?  Because the act of judging a situation confirms who you are and what you believe.  When one takes the time to ponder a situation, the fruit is less extreme and more thoughtful.  Good judgement is an indicator of character.  As judgments are made, boundaries are simultaneously set.  Ultimately, judgment is important as it affects who we vote for, what we stand for and even in many cases how we spend our money.

When clear, sober judgment is at play, an awareness of nuance develops.  This awareness of nuance is necessary for examining the many statements that are made and tossed around so often, they become accepted as truth.  For example, objecting to policemen killing unarmed citizens (criminal or otherwise) is not a stand against the institution of law enforcement, any more than expressing distaste for rapists is a stand against men.

Please assess, contemplate, then judge.  Exercise the little used (of late) impartiality muscle.  If we all do this, the world will be a better place.  Don’t take my word for it.  You be the judge!!  haha

pinterestby feather
Filed Under: Heart of the Matter Tagged With: , ,

Just Judgment

Posted on November 3, 2015 · Leave a Comment

gavel

In my prayers I always thank God for His grace, His mercy and His judgment.  Why judgment?  Because God’s judgment is the only judgment that can be completely trusted.  He made the rules.  He set the standards.  It follows that He be the one to judge.

God is the ultimate judge. His judgment is supreme and embodies perfect justice.  With Him the facts are coupled with unvarnished truth.  There are no surprises and no unforeseen manipulations to bring about a desired end.  His verdict comes from law that is written in a book and (in a supreme stroke of fair play) on our hearts.  Simply put, the cares of this world seem lighter when we remember that there is God who reigns and whose judgment comes from His absolute authority to judge.

Wait, there’s more.  For the believer, God’s judgment is coupled with His mercy and grace.  Yes, our sin is judged, but the repentant heart can obtain mercy for that sin.  This is true mercy, operating with genuine love.  The sin is not explained away or overlooked with an averting of the head and a wink.  The judgment is there, but mercy usurps it. (James 2:13)

So, the mercy and judgment are interwoven.  There are many who resist the very idea of judgment and who are especially resistant to God’s judgment.  Consider this, judgment is necessary.  There can be no mercy without judgment.  Mercy without judgment is without substance.  It is of little value and requires little effort.  Mercy without judgement is deceptive.  If there is no acknowledgment of what the mercy is for, then the act of mercy becomes complicit with the sin.  You see, without undeniable profession of the sin, the sin is still there; but the mercy is all smoke and mirrors. That mercy is useless.

Again, no judgment, no mercy.

At the end of the day, the judgment wielded by the One who has all authority is always just.  Unfortunately, without mercy it is unbearable.  What a blessing that our faith and our belief allow us to have grace and mercy attached to the certainty of judgment.  This is foundational to our eternal hope.

pinterestby feather
Filed Under: Heart of the Matter Tagged With: , ,