With leaves green and lush, the sunflower stands tall. In a burst, it opens with seeds of pure joy! This flower is bright and cheery, like an ear-to-ear grin on a smiling face. Its pristine leaves become a perch and a tasty treat for the tiny yellow-bellied warbler. It is a beautiful sight to see this feathered friend happily perched upon the sunflower. As time goes on, the leaves become tattered and torn where the little bird has rested and renewed its strength. Even then the flower is radiant with ever present bliss, its head held strong and high. With only a few leaves left, the warbler again makes a visit. Standing firm, although tattered and worn, providing for its guest, the sunflower still shines brightly.
When we look at God’s creation, the sunflower, we can be reminded of what a great example the sunflower is. It stands tall, shines brightly, and gives all its got. It is that simple! “Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14
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Bombing down the road, singing and enjoying the drive through the countryside, suddenly I feel a conviction in my heart! The lyrics, that were a moment ago a laughable silly sorta story, are now pointed in my mind, as I think of the song in an entirely different way. I’m thinking about how when I am talking to the Lord it is more often, than not, about me!
Those lyrics are from Toby Keith’s country song, I Wanna Talk About Me. Do you ever feel like you spend way too much time in conversation about yourself when talking with God? The Bible tells us to talk to the Lord about everything, but how easy it is to hyper focus on our selfish self. The wants, needs, and desires of our hearts, the problems, disappointments, and hurts we experience, the healing we want. The list can go on and on!
Philippians 4:6-7 does say, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” And, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” And, in Luke 18:1, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
It is biblical to talk to the Lord about EVERYTHING, but look at the other parts of those verses. They say to thank Him for all He has done, rejoice always, and give thanks in all circumstances. We are to worship Him and praise Him for His goodness, in addition to our daily communication of prayer. It is easy to get caught up in the me, me, me, prayers of our heart. What about this…
God, God, God, God
God, God, God, God
He is Number One.
What He thinks, what He likes, what He knows
What He wants, what He sees…
He likes talking about us, us, us,
But occasionally…
He wants to talk about
Him, Him, Him, Him
Him, Him, Him!
Haha! Silly, I know. But, pointed. God is our Creator and we were created to worship Him. He cares infinitely for us. Just as the human heart has a hole that can only be satisfied and filled with the love of God, man in his entirety is wired to worship. If man is not worshipping the Lord, he will surely be worshipping something else in this world. Just look around. Our society worships entertainment, objects, nature, mystery and wonder, just to mention a few! Everyone worships something in their life, whether they realize it or not.
There are so many Bible verses that talk about how we are to worship God. One example is from Psalm 100:1-5, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Yes and amen!
Our tendency is to focus on ourselves way too much, like in this song where I portray talking with God excessively about ourselves. Although it is good and necessary for us to be bringing all our needs and concerns to the Lord, it is also important to be worshiping Him. In Isaiah 25:1 it says, Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” So, next time you hear this song may you think about your relationship with the Lord instead! For fun, here is the link to Toby Keith’s song, I Wanna Talk About Me.
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The German Shepherd puppy was in need of a full-time sitter. Stepping up, I took my son’s pup under my wing. There were car rides, walks in the park, playing ball or fetch with a stick, and lots of unsolicited doggy love. I had gained a friend. Man’s best friend, who loved me and followed me around, wherever I would go.
But then, sweet fun loving German Shepherd puppy began to shed. And, with that, everything began to change, as my allergies kicked in! As the weeks rolled by, our bond began to break down as I began to distance myself. Gone was the closeness we once shared.
As new boundaries were set and put into place, things began to look up. I was feeling better and the pup was adjusting nicely to her new routine of spending time outside and actually enjoying it. Sure there were sacrifices to be made, such as laying down the beautiful yard as I knew it. Holes were dug out of sheer doggy fun or to bury her bones, flowers were pulled up and broken off as bouquets for me, bless her heart, and garden and barbecue tools were chewed upon because in pups mind, well, they were just a unique sort of stick with an added challenge of not getting cut or stabbed!
This situation with my son’s pup brought to mind the scripture found in 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 which tells us, “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” I had been helping my son with his dog, but things just weren’t working out. Did God have a better way?
We may not be doing something that is wrong, per se, but is it the best for you and those around you? I felt this verse applied to our situation, and also extends to many other aspects of life. All those areas that are not black and white, but gray.
What kind of liberties are we taking in the way we live? Are we considering the consequences and outcomes, the effect it will have on ourselves and the lives of others, and most importantly, are we bringing praise and glory to God? The most important factor in making sound choices is bringing the situation before the Lord, asking for wisdom and discernment, and then waiting for Him to provide the answer in His perfect timing and way. James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Our lives are truly a sphere of influence. We may feel insignificant, but the truth is, we all influence the lives we touch. Each day, we make either good deposits or bad deposits into the relationships we have with others. Over time this will determine the overall health and success or demise and destruction of our relationships. Philippians 2:3 tells us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
Giving up the companionship of the dog was not an easy thing for me to do. But, I believe it was the right thing. The blessing of this was how it benefited my son. I had bonded with his dog, which resulted in a negative impact up pup’s relationship with him. When I stepped back, their relationship began to blossom.
It may seem unnatural at first, but waiting upon the Lord before making a decision is definitely well worth the time and effort. When we put Him first, instead of pushing forward with our own agenda, He honors that desire of seeking Him and waiting upon Him for wise counsel. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” When we walk and commune closely with Him, we will ultimately bring God glory.
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Jumping and pulling and playfully barking, the pup pulled on the leash. She was excited and wanted to go play with the dog who was running freely across the green ball field. As I reigned her in, I thought about how we, too, often want to just run off, in pursuit of our own plans and ideas in spite of what is actually best for us.
It came down to a battle of wills, as this pup was not being obedient. Bottom line, she saw what she wanted and sought to be in control of her circumstance. How often do we pull and tug and press-in for what we want? The will of a dog can be broken. But, what about us? God does not want us to have a broken spirit. Instead, He gives us freedom to make choices in life, be they good or bad for us. He gives us free will, unlike a master and his dog.
Holding back from what we desire is a challenge! Our flesh is really good at demanding what it wants, right… NOW. The power of our flesh can so overcome us that we are incapable of determining the consequence of a choice we are making in the moment. This is why it is so important that we bring everything before the Lord before making a decision. There are many choices to be made in life that demand our attention. We are to walk in obedience with the Lord by first bringing everything before Him. Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
I recently watched a survival reality TV show where the guy got so hungry he decided to kill the little critter that he had befriended. The squirrel had become his only source of companionship on the lonely and isolated tundra island. He had gained its trust, so it would hang out with him and keep him company. He would talk to it as if it were his friend. However, when his hunger overcame him one episode, he killed it and ate it to satisfy his ravenous appetite. The result was him falling to pieces, an emotional wreck. He was so overcome with guilt and misery for eating his only little buddy that he resigned. He quit the game in a puddle of remorse and tears, and went home utterly defeated.
Psalm 56:8 tells of Christ’s empathy, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Sometimes I have to chuckle, thinking about my tower of bottles in heaven! But, it also makes me realize how much Jesus cares about my troubles, sorrow, and pain. He never misses a single tear I shed. He is always aware and always there. Nothing is hidden from the Lord. Psalm 32:8 tells us, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” He has purpose in our hurts and disappointments. Nothing happens to us that is a surprise to the Lord. Anything that happens in a believers life is approved and done with the watchful eye of our Heavenly Father. He never gives us more than we can handle. He only permits what will ultimately be best for us and also bring Him glory.
So when we are hurting, frustrated, confused, or just don’t understand why we are going through something hard, it is important that we acknowledge who we are before God. We belong to Him. We are the clay that our Potter is molding into something much more beautiful than we can ever imagine. And, that can be a painful process. But, in spite of our discomfort, we are to embrace what He is doing in our life and rejoice in the Lord. We are to be giving God glory in our joyful moments along with times of sorrow, disappointment, and pain. The Scriptures tell us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
In spite of whatever hardship we are facing we still need to acknowledge the goodness of God in our lives by thanking Him for all the abundantly good things we have and are blessed with. Anything we have is a gift from the Lord. James 1:17 tells us, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” Many think that all they have is because of the hard work they have put in during their life to obtain it. Yes, but, ultimately, God is our Provider. He is the One who makes things happen for us and shines His face upon us, making a good way in life.
Ever feel like you have exhausted all your resources in a situation? It’s like we try this and that, using our knowledge and logic, hoping it will solve or end a certain problem. It can be difficult when we don’t understand what we are to do in a particular situation we are dealing with, even though we are obediently waiting upon Him. We have sought the Lord on it, yet, we don’t see anything happening or feel the Lord telling us what to do. Try as we may, there can seem to be no end or answer in sight! The battle actually belongs to Jesus. To allow for that, we need to get before Him and give Him our problems. We must surrender to what God is wanting to do in our lives, to the will of the Lord.
If we are bringing our issues to the Lord in prayer, seeking Him for wisdom, guidance, and answers, He will work on our behalf. We can receive His perfect peace in the midst of the trials and challenges we face. Isaiah 26:3 tells us, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” And when we can’t change things and nothing seems to be working, we must continue to press-in to the Lord and wait upon Him for how he is moving in our lives. God is Sovereign. God is Just. God never changes. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME. We are not in control of the situations in our life. God is. There is a point where we need to understand and accept this fact in order to keep our peace. Then, we must walk in faith.
This is a hard season to be in. BUT GOD. I like to look at it as if we have put in our request and know that the Lord is working on it, even though we cannot see any changes. It gives me hope knowing that He is taking care of things and I am not the one that needs to figure things out all on my own. Instead, my focus is to be on Him each day, not the problem, and be faithful in that day for what He asks of me, all the while waiting for His leading and prompting. There is peace in knowing and trusting that the Lord is in fact working all things out for our best good. Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Our life is not a game of chess where we strategically plan our moves until one day we are in check and BAM, life is perfect and it is all that we ever wanted. We have a winner! It just doesn’t work that way. Life is completely unpredictable. Ecclesiastes 10:14 reminds us, “No man knows what is to be.”
Having a humble heart before the Lord is key if you want to walk in obedience with the Lord. Not our will, but His. We must trust Him with our life and that of those we love, knowing He loves us and wants the very best for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” We are here for a purpose. We need to be open to living out the plans the Lord has intended for us. If we are seeking the Lord and walking in obedience then we can be confident in Proverbs 16:9, which tells us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
So no matter how hard life seems or how overwhelming a situation may be, we are to remember that God is in control and we just are not. No matter how much we so want an answer or understanding, or something to change, it truly is not our call, but the decision of our Maker who knows what we need and when we need it. His timing is always perfect.
Bottom line is, God’s got this. YES, HE HAS ALL OF IT. Whatever you are facing, just know if you are a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, then you are not dealing with IT alone. We are to lay it all down at the foot of the cross in an act of surrender. Not our will, but the will of God in our life. It is a daily surrender. We have to be able to walk in peace even when we are uncomfortable in our present situation. The apostle Paul said it well in Philippians 4:11-13, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
Even though that green ball field looks inviting, and we can be head strong, let’s not run off and try to take care of things in our own make-sense, selfish, I’m tired of waiting, disobedient kind of way! 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 tells us to, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” God has a plan and a purpose for each of us, despite the challenges and difficulties we are facing. We are to join Him by embracing all that He is doing, even when we don’t understand and feel uncomfortable. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” And so, we must be patient in faith and trust the Lord for what He is doing. “… What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived, the things God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 The Lord is Faithful, always. Trust in Him. His ways are BEST.
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As a born again believer and follower of Christ we are given gifts, talents and abilities, from the Holy Spirit, that are to be used to bring God glory. This is a promise from the Lord, to us. 1 Peter 4:10 tells us, “Each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” We are to seek to please God with the gifts He has given us.
God created each of us with unique intrinsic value. In Romans 12:6 we are told, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” We are distinctively wired by the Lord for the life we are to live out. He has given us the tools we need to be successful in our endeavors. We are to embrace the opportunities we are given and use His gifts, unto the Lord. God never expects us to be like anyone else. Just be the best you, right where you are at this present time in your life. There is no one else who can fulfill the plans and purposes the Lord has set out for you and the lives He will have you touch for His eternal kingdom. Ephesian 2:10 tells us, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus speaks of what is called, “The Parable of the Talents.” It is a story of a master who was leaving to travel. He entrusts his property to his servants. When he returns home after being gone a long time, the master asks his three servants for an account of the talents he entrusted to them. This is the parable:
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.
For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
What a powerful exhortation from Jesus Christ explaining to us the importance of using our talents to give God glory! In 1 Corinthians 12:7 we are told, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” Take a look around you. Embrace and pour into the life you have right now with the gifts the Lord has given you. Whatever your life situation may be, do your best within those confines. Only Christ can see the complete picture of the complexities and challenges of each life. God does not judge through human understanding. So being faithful in what seems to be a very small thing, could actually have huge rewards eternally. Jeremiah 32:19 says, “Great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.” The Lord judges us on what we do with what He gives us. So don’t try to be something you are not or strive to do something you have not been called to do. Stick with what you know He has given you.
Embrace the life you have been given, use your gifts and talents to bring glory unto the Lord, and invest in them with a heavenly perspective. One day when our journey here ends and Christ ushers us into heaven, we will have the joy of hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little,” I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:23
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Glimpses and Glory 