But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud. 2 Corinthians 12:7 NLT
I hadn’t garnered enough backpacking experience, so my first long haul involved a serious mistake.
Hiking and backpacking had become a love I pursued monthly. But I wanted more. My daughter would soon be out of school for Spring break. What better way to spend the week than hiking a remote section of the Foothills Trail which meanders along the South Carolina North Carolina border.
My mistake was wearing a new pair of boots. Halfway through our first day of hiking, a burning sensation grabbed at the side of my heel. We stopped at the first cool stream of water so I could investigate. The culprit was a large blister. I cleaned the area, applied antibiotic cream, covered it with a bandage, and moved on. This thorn on my foot required daily care for the remainder of the hike.
Paul was a great apostle, but he had a thorn. Theologians conjecture what it was, but Paul leaves the answer as a mystery. What it was isn’t as important as how he responded to it. His actions are noteworthy when dealing with our own thorns.
Paul identified his thorn—not to us, but to himself. I knew what mine was as well. Soldiers in battle must identify the enemy before they can fight him.
Though it’s not recorded in Scripture, it’s feasible to imagine that Paul asked God why he had the thorn.
Asking God a question and questioning God are different. The first is permissible; the second questionable. God may choose to reveal why—or He may keep it a secret. I knew why I had the blister.
Paul asked God to remove the thorn. I would have loved for God to miraculously heal my blister, but I doubted that would happen until I took the boots off. God didn’t take Paul’s thorn away either. Paul’s thorn had a purpose; my blister did as well.
When God refused to remove Paul’s thorn, Paul made peace with his thorn. I did with my blister. I doctored it daily because I knew the risk of infection. Paul was obviously tempted to have a prideful spirit—since he concluded God gave the thorn to keep him humble. God has a purpose when assigning thorns.
If and when you get your thorn, rather than complaining, ask God what He’s attempting to teach you.
Prayer: Father, though we don’t enjoy our thorns, we trust that You have a purpose in allowing them.
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The musicians yodeled at Starbucks on 51st Street and Broadway in Manhattan, New York. The crowd rewarded them with attention and an overflowing tip basket. One lady, in particular, swayed and sang along. One of the musicians invited her to debut the song of her choice. She chose “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and with great enthusiasm rolled out the final lyrics: I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free. For His eye is on the sparrow And I know He watches me.
It was her daughter’s favorite song…her sixteen-year-old daughter…the one who died a week before from a brain tumor. Read more...
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“My thoughts are completely different from yours,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8 NLT
For several seasons, my wife and I have watched a mystery that defies solving.
Few television shows have tantalized me so much that I would stop what I was doing to watch them. “Black List” is one. What drew my wife to it, I’m not quite sure, but as I sat and read while she watched the show, I, too, was mysteriously drawn to the main characters and the show’s mysterious nature. One of the characters—Raymond Reddington, is a criminal—albeit one who assists the other main character—a crime investigator, Elizabeth Keen. The reason he helps is because of a mysterious connection with her—one that is never revealed.
God defies solving as well. Scientists propose hypotheses. Through experimentation, the hypotheses are tested. When a particular result occurs, a theory is proposed. If the same result repeats itself, it is proclaimed a fact. God doesn’t follow scientific procedures. At the moment I think I’ve figured Him out, He’ll surprise me. He is a mystery, yet a mystery I can live with.
Having a relationship with God entails the admission that I can’t figure Him out. Mysteries in life, I enjoy solving. A favorite board game of mine when I was younger was Clue. Through a process of elimination, someone playing the game determined who the criminal was, what room the crime took place in, and what weapon was used in the act. God doesn’t play by the normal rules.
In spite of all I may not be able to figure out about God, there are some things I can know about Him—things that are predictable. The ways He shows me love may change or surprise me, but the fact that He loves me will not. Loving is His nature.
How God delivers me from or through trouble may vary, but deliver me He will. What temptations He allows me to face—and how long He allows them to endure, will be different, but He always provides the way of escape as well as the strength to endure the temptation.
Trials of different shapes and sizes will come, but God will consistently deliver me through each one. While God is mysterious in many ways, He is forever consistent in the expressions of His love.
Are you loving and trusting this God of mystery?
Prayer: Father, among the many mysteries that surround You, we thank You that we can depend on the consistency of Your love, grace, and mercy.
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Ingredients
3 MEDIUM SWEET POTATOES (COOKED & MASHED)
1 CUP OIL
2 ½ CUPS SUGAR
4 EGGS
3 ½ CUPS PLAIN FLOUR
1 TEASPOON SALT
2 TEASPOONS BAKING SODA
1 TEASPOON CINNAMON
1 TEASPOON NUTMEG
1 CUP CHOPPED NUTS
1 TABLESPOON VANILLA
Directions
SIFT TOGETHER THE DRY INGREDIENTS AND SET ASIDE.
BEAT POTATOES, OIL, AND SUGAR UNTIL CREAMY.
ADD 1 EGG AT A TIME, BEATING WELL AFTER EACH ONE.
ADD DRY INGREDIENTS, A SMALL AMOUNT AT A TIME, BEATING WELL AFTER EACH ADDITION.
STIR IN NUTS AND VANILLA.
POUR INTO A GREASED LOAF PAN.
BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR 40 MINUTES.
(Photo courtesy of allrecipes.com.)
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You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 NLT
How could ninety cents possibly go farther than one dollar? According to Dad, it was doable.
Two things Dad taught me about money were the importance of saving some and the necessity of giving one tenth to God. As a child, the only money I received came from allowance or gifts given at Christmas or my birthday. Dad reminded me that I was supposed to give one tenth to God. Tithing he called it, and repeated an old adage: “You can’t outgive God.”
I took Dad’s word as truth. When I learned math concepts, I started wondering how I could buy more with ninety cents than with one dollar. But Dad taught that tithing worked, and so I continued. When I began my first part-time job, I tithed ten percent of my income. Dad even taught I should tithe from my gross pay, not merely my net. Again I wondered, Why should I give from what I didn’t receive? After I began working full time, I continued the practice. Tithing worked. I couldn’t explain it; I simply experienced it.
When I give God His due, I demonstrate my belief that His resources are limitless. Not only had He given me the job and the means to work it, but He also owned every available job and all available resources. Why should I worry about how I would get by without the ten percent? Believing God can make the ninety percent go farther than the one hundred percent is an act of faith—a deed that reminds me I walk by faith, not sight.
Giving God His due boosts my trust level. I always need the ten percent to pay bills. In fact, I need more than the ten percent. Yet I still give God the ten percent—and sometimes more, believing that He’ll stretch the ninety. And God has always honored my giving when I’ve done it with the right spirit and motives. He promises to meet my needs, and I’ve learned He can be trusted to keep His word. Giving sporadically illustrates a lack of faith in God, but consistency proves my faith.
What it comes down to is giving because I want to, not because I have to. I give to God because He has given so much to me.
Are you giving God His due?
Prayer: Father, prompt us to give You Your due because You have given so much to us.
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“Walk on the left side after dark or you’ll wind up playing a harp.” So said Barney Fife in his report to the state entitled,“Safety Procedures on Country Roads.”
Walking on the wrong side of the road is dangerous and the reason for laws stating one should walk facing the traffic and wear bright colored clothing. Those who don’t obey risk getting run over. Read more...
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You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5 NIV
What fences can’t fetter, God can.
My maternal grandfather was a farmer whose land was circled by fences. Since my cousin and I had free reign to go and come as we pleased, we often encountered fences of different varieties. Most were hog wire fences. One step up and over, and we had cleared the obstacle.
Occasionally, the hog wire was topped by barbed wire. This required a little more ingenuity. We carefully pulled down the strand and held it against the top of the hog wire, allowing us to swing our legs over without getting snagged.
Of course, the most dangerous kind of fencing was electric. What hog wire and barbed wire couldn’t fetter, electric fencing could—primarily hogs. They would inch their snouts near it and squeal as they felt the warmth of the pulsating electricity. My cousin and I proceeded with just as much caution as they did. Touching it would deliver a jolt we didn’t care to feel.
According to the psalmist, God does a bit of fencing Himself. But it’s not hog wire, barbed wire, or electric wire. God’s means of fettering are different.
God fetters through the presence of His Spirit who works by reinforcing the knowledge of His commands. Some perceive God as an unfriendly type who sits up in heaven, waiting to zap people for disobeying His commands—which they perceive as nothing more than a list of things they can’t do. And to be sure, there is a host of “Thou shall not’s.”
God’s commands are not given to cause me misery but to fence me in, making it more difficult for me to travel in fields I’d be better off staying out of. His commands are not designed to make life miserable but to guide me in a more pleasant direction. He has my best interests at heart. Obedience to His commands will ensure I experience the best out of life.
I’ll be the first to admit I’ve questioned some of God’s directions. And some of them I tend not to understand. Of course, I didn’t understand many of my parents’ directives either. I discovered later, however, that my parents were wiser than I was. God is too. I can jump God’s fences or believe He has erected them for a reason.
How are you responding to God’s fences?
Prayer: Father, thank You for providing fences that are designed to keep us on a godly path.
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The Lord himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel—God with us. Isaiah 7:14 NLT
Never was there a place like my grandmother’s house during Christmas.
For four years, I was the only grandchild on my father’s side of the family. I don’t remember those Christmases, but I’m sure the presents abounded. I do, however, remember those that came after the next four grandchildren came along.
My grandfather was an ice cream delivery man and made only a meager salary. My grandmother worked at the local hospital as a nurses’ aid. Her salary was meager as well, but she had a charge card. She also had money taken from her check each week and placed in a Christmas fund. As Christmas neared, the tree in the corner of the living room began bulging with presents. The stack grew until it was one half as high as the tree itself. I—along with the other grandchildren, couldn’t wait to dive in.
Mom and Dad—or my aunt and uncle, couldn’t compete with my grandmother’s extravagance. They did, however, continue the tradition. Eat first, sit in a circle in the den, have the oldest grandchildren distribute the gifts, and then open all the gifts. When my grandmother retired and could no longer afford to buy so many gifts, Mom took over the tradition.
Christmas at my grandparents was enjoyable—and not just because of the abundance of gifts. Eating together, rehearsing old memories, and catching up on each other’s lives made the celebration—whether the Christmas stack was plenteous or not. We had each other.
As my grandmother gave abundantly, so did God. A baby born in a cave and laid in a feeding trough—and to parents from an insignificant town—might not seem like abundant giving on God’s part, but it was. This small baby was God’s gift to the world—a gift that still has far-reaching effects for those who choose to accept Him as God’s Messiah.
This small baby would die on a cross 33 years later and pay for the sins of humanity. All who accept God’s gift have their sins forgiven and are assured of an abundant eternity. Though we may be possession poor, we can be spiritually rich.
Are you celebrating Christmas abundance?
Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of abundance You gave us in the birth of Your Son.
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Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. Proverbs 11:28 NLT
You’d think he’d learn, but stepping on it once didn’t stop him from doing it again.
Our Chihuahua isn’t satisfied with our small back yard when it comes to bathroom breaks. He prefers the greater outdoors where fire ant beds abound and where using the bathroom on top of a mound is his favorite pastime. But what he does thereafter makes sense. When stung, he sits until I eliminate what’s stinging him. His dilemma, however, is not learning his lesson. Prior foolish actions don’t prevent him from repeating his folly.
I’ve discovered the same about finances. Prior poor choices don’t necessarily keep me from stepping on the same painful mistake again…or similar ones.
Repeatedly stepping on mounds of stinginess, selfishness, neglect, and foolish decisions are indications I need to stop and reconsider.
God loves a cheerful giver; he also loves a generous one. God gave the best he had by allowing his Son to pay for my sins. No leftovers…no seconds. And while selfishness would be my norm if left to myself, my pattern should pattern God’s.
And while love turns my attention outwardly, God’s Word also directs me away from unwise decisions such as co-signing for another person (Proverbs 17:18) and accepting bribes (Proverbs 17:23). God’s wisdom helps distinguish between assisting someone and enabling them to continue in unwise behavior.
I also need to stop and consider the borrowing mound. Few people can make all purchases with cash, but when to borrow, how much, from whom, and for what purpose are important questions to consider.
Ask God for wisdom with your financial decisions. Having our financial house in order reduces stress and allows us to use our money to help others.
Prayer: Thank You, merciful Lord, for erecting financial stop signs that prevent us from treading on dangerous financial mounds that can leave us disappointed, destitute, and depressed.
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