Poetic Musings

Poetry is a fun way to express some thoughts on current events and things I've been mulling over. Here is a response to some early thoughts about the presidential impeachment proceedings started in November.

Impeachment

Inopportune, it won’t go far,

Maniac or not, your method will only jar

Preying minds to feed on krill.

When there are bigger fish to grill,

Accelerate the hype,

Choke on tweets that come up ripe.

History has told this tale before,

May you survive the backlash roar.

Even while the death toll sounds,

Nemesis laughs and fires rounds.

Teach us all the folly of judgment.

And this nonet shares some observations I've made about aging from watching one close to me who is in the process:

Lonely. Nursing home blues, Fox News soothes

       His health took him away from her

         She mourns and misses, wishes

            Children always close by

              Helps bear the despair

                     of age's loss.

                  Musters thanks,

                        for life

                          now.

 

A Perspective on Being Blessed

Recently, my husband and I completed the Perspectives course, which is a 16 week class of learning about God's heart for the world and his plan for missions. It was a rigorous study with assigned readings from a text which seemed as thick and deep as our bedroom mattress.

But what an eye opener to God's heart, plan and desire for the world. I'll share here some of the highlights that impressed and convicted me, specifically as they relate to God's blessing.

We started with God's call to Abraham to bless him and his descendants and then uncovered the long term reason for that blessing.  Abraham was blessed to be a blessing to all peoples. God had the whole world in  mind when he established the nation of Israel. It was his desire to glorify his name and be made famous so more would get to know him. So instead of reading of the 3 Hebrew boys who escaped the fiery furnace and of Daniel in the lion's den as just lessons of how God cares for his own, we saw how God changed a pagan king's heart to worship him and the king called his nation to honor the God who did such wonders. God's heart for nations is evident in calling Jonah to preach to Nineveh. We are more familiar with how the gospel was opened up to the Gentiles through Peter's vision and subsequent visit to Cornelius in Acts 10. Revelation gives us a glimpse into the final result of God's global purpose.

"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that  no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.  They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'"  Revelation 7:9,10

So I am blessed as a Christ follower. Blessed: a popular saying today adopted by T-shirts, jewelry and wall art. What does that mean to me? After taking this course it is even more clear that I receive Christ's blessings in order to share them with people who don't know about Christ. The course also put a different perspective on John 3:16. The Father loves the world so much that he sent his son, but  an even greater love may be that he loves the son so much that he gives him to the world. So Christ followers are given the opportunity, no the mandate, to be part of his work to bring the world back to God by his son. So blessing isn't just about me and how my life goes, but I must share the blessing by becoming Christ's servant to help fulfill his global purpose.  See what I mean about this course being convicting?

Lord Jesus, you called me to work alongside you in drawing all people to you. You always equip those in your service. I have no excuse.  I offer myself to you anew for whatever you send me to do.  Make it clear, because I am distracted by my gadgets, I am selfish in pursuing personal pleasure and I just don't feel the urgency.  Keep changing my heart to love like you love and open my eyes to see what and how you see.  May I never be the same person from one day to the next, but transform me  every day into more of your purpose and love for the world.

God's Blessing

Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. Ps. 5:12

What do you believe about God's favor?  Through the past years of my faith life, I was warmed and comforted by the fact that I was sheltered in God's favor because I belonged to him and he would take care of me.  I equated my feelings of being in his favor with how well I felt I was pleasing him-making sure I had confessed my sins, forgiving others, making sure I was doing Christian disciplines like Bible reading, prayer and going to church.  If all that was good, then God was good with me and could show his favor to me.

Favor meant blessing.  If I prayed for a parking space close to the building and one opened up, cha-ching!  He was blessing me. I was healthy all winter, my kids weren't brats at the restaurant, I was just in time to snatch up the last of the on-sale item, the red flashing lights of the car behind me held an officer who left me off the hook... Wasn't God good to me?  Uh hah, Come on now.  Let's give it up for God!

Farther into this acknowledging God's blessing thing, popular Christian thought was turning that kind of delight in little blessings into guilt for how childish, petty and selfish I was for taking joy in such rubbing-a-rabbit's-foot-like outcomes. My handy dandy parking spot may mean someone struggling with walking becomes overexerted for the day. Besides, walking farther is good exercise for me.

So which is it? Giving God credit for blessings I enjoy, or considering the easy things of life to be just a part of the natural rhythm of the ups and downs of life that all creatures experience? God does say we have been blessed and he does say his favor is on those who love him.

Here's the truth, God's favor is totally undeserved and unmerited.  There is nothing we can do to earn it more than we already have it through our status with him by faith in Jesus Christ. So while we walk in that favor we may experience unexpected gifts of good circumstances, extra wealth and good health. Unexpected because these aren't where our focus is placed.  If we do expect good outcomes always, we will be tempted to blame God when hardship and trouble sneak in. If then, our focus is on enjoying an intimate and ever increasing relationship with the One who calls us friends, then his favor and blessing will be our mutual delight in living a fulfilling and hope-filled life with him.

So we are thankful to God when things work out, giddy even. And we must give thanks when things occur that feel impossibly hard and evil. Not thankful for the ugly circumstances, but because our faith knows that God hasn't changed his mind about blessing us. He's not mad at us.  He delights in drawing even closer to us in those times and we know he's always up to something good. Yes, his ways aren't our ways and his methods can be mysterious, and that cliche "everything works out for a reason" doesn't always mean we'll know the reason, at least in our lifetime. But in those times we discover that his presence and delight in us is enough. He will never leave us or forsake us. He gives strength to the weary, and we know his kindness will prevail.

As Christ followers, we are surrounded by his blessing and favor, always!

Read the next post for more on being blessed by God.