A Vision for Thanksgiving

always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah
~ Ephesians 5:20

It's Thanksgiving, and I'm sure you've got better things to do than hanging around reading a blog, so I'm going to make this as brief as possible. Weeks ago, I was listening to a pastor talk about heaven. He speculated that, if the saints who have gone before us can indeed know what is going on here on earth, that they know it in full, the end of the story even as we are in the midst of it. What came to mind were the words of Jesus recorded in John 11:4:

 This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.

Lazarus was dead when Jesus and His disciples got there --obviously dead, starting-to-stink dead. How could Jesus say Lazarus' illness would not result in death? Perhaps Jesus was giving His disciples an opportunity to see in full while they were here on terra firma. Can you see it? Perhaps He was assuring them that unemployment, illness, addiction, infertility, divorce, homelessness, sexual abuse --even physical death is an incomplete picture for those who are in Christ, for those who are called according to His purpose. 

We are saints who have not yet been called to heaven; we know only in part. But does that prevent us from asking God to train our eyes in preparation for that day? to renew our minds to know a bigger picture exists and train our eyes to begin to see it? Scripture assures us it is there, and because of who God is and the veracity of His Word, we can certainly trust that. I believe, it is in seeing the greater picture, in trusting it exists, that we can give thanks as we are meant to do. Always and in every thing.

Happy Thanksgiving!    

Midweek: NKJV Peace of God Bible

Do you know someone who struggles with feelings of anxiousness? Are you looking for a resource to help you focus firmly on the Prince of Peace? This might be the Bible you can share or keep for your own this Christmas. The NKJV Peace of God Bible from Thomas Nelson and editor, Jeremiah Johnston, PhD, is a great way to bear in mind the peace that surpasses all understanding in all circumstances as you study and employ God's Word. Devotions --some using Johnston's own life experiences as object lessons --examine the theme of God's shalom throughout Scripture and encourage the reader to walk in that assured peace. (A convenient topical index of devotions is provided in the back matter.) 

The three articles in the front of the book discuss "The Peace of God: Find It and Keep It," how "Believers Can Recover the Peace of God," and how to "Find God and His Peace: The Plan of Salvation" (essentially, how mankind can have peace with God). My criticism here has more to do with the placement of the articles than the content. I would have placed the plan of salvation (peace with God) as the first article for a couple of reasons; one being, peace with God is required for all, and secondly, the peace of God inhabits our spirits as we study His Word and do life with Him. 

Just behind the Topical Index of Devotions is a Features Index which catalogues all of the devotions and "Peace Notes," pithy remarks and reminders about God's peace. For example, "The peace of God, which includes happiness and joy, is a discipline we learn, not an automatic skill or natural Christian ability." (Point made). After this are the concordance and full-color maps.

From Thomas Nelson's Website:

Key features include:

• 365 devotionals that explore how to receive and live out God’s peace, each tied to a key verse or passage
• 365 Peace Notes offering brief reflections on how peace is worked out in everyday life
• Book introductions that highlight the role of peace in each section of Scripture
• Topical indexes to help you explore how God’s peace shapes relationships and decisions
• In-depth articles exploring what the peace of God is, how to reclaim it, and how salvation anchors it
• Concise concordance and full index of devotionals and features for easier study
• End-of-page translators’ notes and cross-references for enhanced understanding
• Line-matched, double-column typesetting for a cleaner reading experience
• Clear and readable 9.5-point NKJV Comfort Print® for long reading sessions without fatigue

As for aesthetics, the complimentary copy I received was burgundy bonded leather with the spine stamped in gold, gilt-edged pages, a presentation page, and two satin bookmarks, each a different color. The words of Jesus are printed in red. 

It's a very nice Bible. I love the simplicity of it. The devotions are definitely helpful, and the prayer notes are very "portable;" they provide something to consider throughout the day. It currently retails for $79.99, though Amazon offers the same copy I received for $53.98, and christianbook.com is offering it for $51.99.

The Little Things

In his best seller, Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania, Erik Larson says,

In the end, Schweiger's attack on the Lusitania succeeded because of a chance confluence of forces. Even the tiniest alteration in a single vector could have saved the ship.

When I read the over-a-page-long list of If onlys proposed by Larson --had the ship not been delayed by being commissioned to pick up passengers from another vessel, had the fog remained minutes longer, had the U-boat captain not miscalculated the Lusitania's speed, and others --I was reminded of some of the more awful moments of my past. If I had only... Had I not... Regret. Holy regret. Is there such a thing? I think so. Those moments when we realize just how unmanageable our lives had become as the result of decisions we believed to be infinitesimal, inconsequential; occasions upon which we were given the choice to obey, but sensed no penalty if we did not.

Conversely, I was reminded of my tenure with a large corporation. So many of the big problems were caused by little ones, mere oversights, miniscule transgressions. One of my mentors would remind us often: Take care of the little things, and the big things will take care of themselves. 

Is it not so with our spiritual lives? Hebrews 12:14, 15 warn:

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Notice where it all starts: pursuing peace with others and holiness (the pursuit of Christlikeness) before God. Then, the explanation in the form of progression; from falling short of what God intends, to bitterness rooted and causing discord, to the poisoning of many. A small thing, a disagreement, a hurt can lead to infection in the body; it can cause us to fall into conflict, not peace, with others and corrupt us.

Matthew 5:23, 24 commands:

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Immediately, in the midst of what you are doing. Why? Because the condition of our hearts, the pain and strife residing there impact not only our relationship with our brother, but our worship. There is a chain reaction that can throw us off course; that can affect those worshipping around us. Just a small thing, right? A tiny offense.

James 3:5, 6 reminds us of the damage a small, unchecked member of the body can inflict:

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 

The spark of a careless remark, the flicker of a covetous thought permitted to be expressed --and the body of Christ is brought to corruption, its reputation called into question. All because one small thing was permitted off leash, permitted to take hold, permitted to fester, thus allowing a member of the body to fall ill with unholiness, and the entire body to be poisoned.

Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. If only I hadn't listened to gossip. If only I hadn't repeated it. If only I had been honest with him about the way his behavior impacts others. If only I hadn't led them to believe I was in agreement but gently expressed what has been on my heart. If only I had taken more time to pray about it. If only I'd removed the plank from my own eye before I confronted her about that speck in hers. 

If we do what Scripture teaches us to do, all day, every day, all of life will remain on track (or, afloat, as the case may be). Not perfect, mind you, but in accordance with God's Word. If we surrender our hearts to the examination of the Holy Spirit and make the necessary changes, who we are and who Christ is, can never be called into question. We can know that whatever life sends hurtling toward us will not condemn us or destroy us, but will only bring us closer to becoming who we are meant to be.