It's just karma, isn't it?

It’s just karma, isn’t it?

A man recently was comparing his life to mine.  He bemoaned his circumstances and pointed out my blessings. With more than a little envy, he side-stepped his responsibility for his situation: “It’s just karma, isn’t it?”  In fact, I knew him well enough to know that he had made some very short-sighted choices that were now costing him dearly. Even I recognized that, I also knew that he had not enjoyed some of the rich blessings of heritage that I have.  But, I don’t accept that destiny is fixed. God gives each one of a great privilege called – choice.

Do you believe in fate? Perhaps you call it luck, or karma, or destiny. Some Christians bring those words to their understanding of the will of God, confusing His power over all persons and things with a fate pre-determined by Him that is unchanging. I am not a fatalist, I don’t believe in luck, and I know that God works with me to create my destiny! There is a dense mix of threads of choice that come together to create the fabric we call ‘life.’

There is no way that Jerry Scott could ever claim to be the sole creator of his destiny. I am who am I today because of choices made by generations of people and because of the work of God. Yet, I cannot avoid my responsibility. There are pivotal moments of choice that set in motion a series of events that create yet more opportunities.  Two statements in the Bible form my understanding of such things. One tells me to "make the most of every opportunity." (Colossians 4:5, NIV)  The other reminds that "by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect." (1 Corinthians 15:10, NIV)

We will not live the best life possible without humble recognition of the gifts of grace God provides to us through the choices of others, through the divinely orchestrated circumstances that are simply beyond our ability to grasp given the limits of our humanity. Equally true is that fact that we will rob ourselves of myriad blessings if we throw ourselves adrift in life, failing to meet the challenges, to work at tending the garden for which He has given us stewardship.

Disciple, do not be passive towards life, just letting it happen to you! Take this day as His gift to you and choose to serve Him. Then, don’t be anxious about those things over which you have no control, for those are in the hands of God. The Word clearly calls us to responsibility and trust, to acceptance and effort. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15, NIV)  I have the choice to allow Christ to be the umpire who makes the call in my life, and you do, too.  Choose wisely.

Here’s a word from the Word. "Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith." (Galatians 6:7-10, NLT)

______________

Father, keep me from living in pride

When I enjoy success,

And protect me from despair

When my way is dark.

Help me to trust You with each day, the same.

I pray for wisdom to see the opportunities
that lie before me,

For courage to seize them,
and grace to walk in Your purposes.

Help me to let go of regret,
to give and accept forgiveness,

And to encourage others, receiving grace for this moment.

May my greatest desire always be to honor Christ,

In each choice I make.

Holy Spirit, be my guide.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Heartbreak!

Do you ever wonder what you really care about? It’s not hard to tell if you ask yourself: what has the greatest potential for heartbreak?  

·    Love your stuff? You will be heartbroken when it is taken away by a thief or decay.

·    Love your family? Then you will dread the inevitable separations that come through growth or death!

·    Love the Lord? You will feel heart break when His Name is disgraced by your sinful failure.
Love your friends? You will feel the pain of rejection like a punch to the gut!

I know the ache of a broken heart.  Sorrow can be so deep that it makes me nauseous, robs my appetite, erases my ability to see the sun. Grief is spiritual, too. It can turn worship into a duty, not a delight. In those time, I hang desperately to the promise of God:   "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." (Psalm 34:18, NLT) Is your heart broken today, disciple?

This is not a cliché nor is it just an emotional pat on the back. It is truth to live by: God cares and He understands even that sorrow that defies definition with words!   He does not ask you to ignore your pain, nor does He try to cheer you with jokes or slogans like "The sun will shine again tomorrow!"  He is our Comforter, One who listens when we cry and holds us together with hope.    

Please live cautiously in times of grief. A broken heart leaves us vulnerable to temptation. Many a person in the middle of heartbreak has only deepened his sorrow by seeking solace in the arms of woman other than his wife, by drinking too much, by spending way too much, walking way from a good job, or abandoning faith. Remember, too, it is a short trip from broken to bitter.  It is so easy to justify becoming full of rage and/or vengeful when the heart is filled with grief. When we are tempted to slip into isolation, nursing our grudges and licking our wounds, the Spirit calls us to a better choice: "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:31-32, NLT)  

There is no heartbreak deeper than that which comes when we fail the Lord. The closer we walk with Him, the greater our sorrow if we should fail Him! Don’t say it could not happen to you. Temptation is ever-present. The sinful nature probes our defenses looking for an opening. None other than the ‘man after God’s own heart’ failed terribly. David's heart was broken by his own perfidy.  When his adultery and the murder he planned to cover it up were revealed by Nathan, the prophet, the king's heart was crushed.  His prayer, more of a heart cry, is one of the most beautiful passages in all of the Bible. Psalm 51 is raw, emotional, and full of hope. 

Be it today or tomorrow, each of us will experience heartbreak. This prayer is worthy of having in our memory. It draws us to the highest, the best Comfort.  

"Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you." (Psalm 51:9-12, NLT)  "The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God." (Psalm 51:17, NLT)

________________________

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

O God my Father

There is no shadow

Of turning with Thee

Thou changest not

Thy compassions they fail not

As Thou hast been

Thou forever wilt be

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning

New mercies I see

All I have needed

Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness

Lord unto me

© 1923. Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company \Thomas Obediah Chisholm | William Marion Runyan

CCLI License No. 810055

A Rebel Heart?

The young couple rejoiced in the blessing of God’s provision. In our conversation, he related how his faith was tested during the time of his unemployment, how worry would come over him from time to time. His choice was to adopt the humility portrayed by Job in the face of unfathomable trials.  This man told me, “I put my hand over my mouth,” (Job 40:4) to keep from accusing the Lord falsely! This faith allowed this couple to live at peace. They made their requests of the Lord, but without demand. They were willing to accept what He provided, to let Him lead.

What a contrast to so many who lash out at God when disappointment comes, who question Him and point out His ‘failures.’  The great paradox is that the humble live in peace; the rebels in turmoil. The people of God complained when He told them that He would use a Gentile king to deliver them and that His grace would extend to all nations. The Lord replied to their complaint through the prophet Isaiah: 

“Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, … Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ … Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to his mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’

“This is what the Lord says— the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts." (Isaiah 45:9-12, NIV)

If we want to trust God for blessings, we must be willing to trust Him in the silences, too. If we praise Him for bringing us the good times, we must thank Him for the dark days, too. Yes, it is hard for me to accept that He allows suffering to continue, that He lets evil roam and ruin; that He does not stop the terrible tyrants who exert their cruel will. But, if He swept all sin and its fruit from the earth with a wave of His hand, how could I stand? Am I guiltless? Are you?

Like Job and my young friend with whom I spoke yesterday, when I cannot see His purposes, I will “put my hand over my mouth” and pray for faith to flourish.  I am not passively accepting fate, but I am placing myself in His hands. In that place of security, I ask to be used to shed light into dark places, to resist evil and seek to bring justice.  Those who live with great faith make a huge difference. Jesus says they are like salt that preserves, light that dispels confusion. They do not know why all things happen, nor are they so arrogant to assume they will know such things on this side of eternity. But, they live in hope of the great reversal of which Jesus spoke. “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. … You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom." (Matthew 5:3-4, 10, The Message)

Let’s give up our rebel heart. With faith let’s become like children of a loving Father. Make no mistake. Our aspiration is not to some kind of Zen-like detachment from the sufferings of this world, nor will we rejoice in evil! Jesus wept over the pain that He visited on people. He cried for relief from His own deepest pain, but in the end His prayer was, “not my will, but Yours!”  Today, make that your prayer and confusion will dissolve into trust, trust into strength, and strength into new depth in His Kingdom.

___________________

Blessings

We pray for blessings,

We pray for peace, comfort for family,

Protection while we sleep.

We pray for healing, for prosperity,

We pray for Your mighty hand

To ease our suffering.

And all the while You hear each spoken need,

Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things.

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?

What if Your healing comes through tears?

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near?

And what if trials of this life

Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom,

Your voice to hear.

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near.

We doubt Your goodness,

We doubt Your love.

As if ev'ry promise from Your Word is not enough.

And all the while You hear each desp'rate plea,

And long that we'd have faith to believe.

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?

What if Your healing comes through tears?

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is a revealing of a greater thirst

This world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life,

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights;

Are Your mercies in disguise?

© 2011 New Spring | Laura Stories (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.) | (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

CCLI License No. 810055