“The harmony of Natural Law reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection.”
Einstein, in the last years of his life, wrote of wanting “to know how God created the world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thought; the rest are details.”
“For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God…” 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Think on this today. Think on it tomorrow and the next day too. I don’t think we think on it nearly enough! We magnify every little problem here on this tiny orb we call earth. We add them all up and magnify them into these messy mountains, instead of fixing our eyes on Jesus and the glory of His second coming - a magnificent glory we can only begin to imagine and all words fall short to describe. We teach our children every detail of Jesus’ first coming. Do they know the truth of His second coming?
I lift up grateful prayers to God, who sees me and my family through each and every day. A standard Thanksgiving Day prayer, right? No, no, no. You see, this Thanksgiving we are in a very different place than we have ever been before. Everything this ole’ world offered us, everything we acquired in our pursuit of happiness is gone - all of it, gone. And this Thanksgiving Day, every dollar we have on earth is tucked inside my billfold.
I watch our old investment management company’s commercials as one who has just landed here on planet earth. It’s a surreal experience to see my old life flash before me as a completely foreign entity.
As I open up the Thanksgiving Day dinner gift box, given to us by a local church, I think back upon the times my family filled up such boxes to give away. A twenty dollar Wal-Mart gift card is taped to the inside of the box and I am doing a little praise dance in my kitchen! That’s a joy you can’t buy. It’s a whole new level of gratitude I never knew before. And, most importantly, it’s the deepest knowledge of God’s provision this child of the King has ever known!
I was talking with my mother the other day and, as you can imagine, she is very concerned for our well-being. She was lamenting our fall from wealth and financial security and I joked with her, saying, “Oh how the mighty have fallen!” I found myself in the position of comforting her about our financial ruin. I said to her, “Mom, everything we have lost is of this world, but the things we have gained are of eternal significance.” There is no comparison, beloved of God - no comparison.
It’s such a privilege to walk this closely with God, trusting Him for every little thing, day by day, hour by hour. Jesus has always told me not to worry about tomorrow. But when I was able to look upon a full pantry and bank accounts with deep cushions, it was easy to fall into the misconception that these things were the reasons I was not to worry. Today, when the pantry is bare and there is no money in our bank account, I do not worry because I know God is in control and He will provide for me and my family. And if I start to doubt, I need only look back at what God did yesterday, or this morning, or thirty minutes ago! I have a hundred stories!
I was visiting with my dear friend, Carol Lee. She has been battling cancer for years and just finished her latest round of chemo-therapy. She said that God has recently been tapping her on the shoulder and saying, “I regret to inform you that the universe does not revolve around you.”
I know what that tap feels like. I daily need to be reminded - It’s not about me. At first glance, that can appear to be bad news, but it is good news indeed. It is freedom! It’s not about me - it’s all about God, and when I truly get that, I receive contentment, peace and joy. God is in control. I need never worry.
I have exchanged self-reliance for faith. I have traded in my goals for God’s plans. I have laid down my happiness and received His true joy. It’s nothing the world recommends or understands. That is why so many times I feel as an alien here. I am one! I have surrendered my life to God and He has given me a new heart in pursuit of His, a wealth beyond measure. Could I have gotten to this spiritual place without the pain of worldly loss? Absolutely not!
And so I find myself this Thanksgiving Day thanking my God for something I never imagined could garner my gratitude. I thank God for all that He has taken away from me. And I thank God for all that He has given me in return - so far beyond an even exchange. I live the most privileged life one can live - the abundant life in Christ. And trust me, it’s never boring!
No, a standard Thanksgiving Day prayer will not due this year or ever again. For I now know there is no such thing as standard provision with God. His love is everlasting, His mercy endures forever and His generosity is immeasurable.
Blessed be His Name,
Mary
“…The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21
The amazing account of Joseph begins in the 37th chapter of Genesis. I marvel at the twists and turns this account takes as God delivers Joseph from the pit his jealous brothers threw him in, to the second chariot behind Pharaoh.
It inspires me to deeper faith to see how God took the wretched circumstances of Joseph and again and again, worked them for good. He does the same today for you and me.
Toward the end of the account, Joseph’s brothers feared retribution for the wrong they had done to Joseph.
“Beloved of God, I am honored this day to present to you Apostle Paul. He has traveled all the way from Damascus, where he narrowly escaped arrest by being lowered in a basket from a window in a wall!”
As I was praying this morning with my eight year old daughter, Maya, I included a prayer that she stays on “green” today in school. I was referring to her teacher’s incentive plan. Every child starts the day out fresh with a green card. As the day progresses it can be flipped to blue, orange and then red. The flipping action can be taken by the teacher for anything from an unfinished assignment to disrupting the class.
Maya has not seen a “green card” day for quite some time. She is brilliant and not at all disruptive to her classmates, but Maya consistently sees more interesting opportunities than the assignment in front of her. My husband and I think of her as a visionary. The school system, however, does not see it from our point of view. Maya has come to accept the fact that her “green” is “blue”.
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say rejoice. Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always, in all circumstances - that means today, right now, no matter what is happening. If you need some help, just look at my little friend, Brayden. It’s no wonder Jesus always praised the children. He said we all needed to be like them to enter the kingdom of heaven. Look at Brayden Riley. Now that little mug is one kingdom face!
~ Joy of Jesus beaming from my face - hmmm, not so much
I look away from the mirror. I can easily get bogged down with the cares of this world. I start paying attention to the discouraging words of the enemy. My joy goes into hiding and it shows on my face, in my words and in my actions.
I opened my front door this morning to look out on the morning rain. As I turned my head to leave, something caught my eye. It was a control panel for an alarm system the owner of the house had installed when he built this home. I had never paid any attention to it before, but now it was inches from my face and the Holy Spirit was drawing my attention to read its words.
Okay, let’s see - Protection One. I’ve only just started my second cup-a-jo, so the Holy Spirit is starting slow with me this early morning! Yes, thank you Father - You are my Protection One!
On the far right upper corner are the words, “ARMED” and “READY”. Ahh, yes, Lord - I won’t forget to armor up!
Billions of dollars per year are spent to get you and me to say these three words - ”I want that!” I guess it was only a matter of time before television programming folks would actually name a show, “I Want That!”, totally comprised of one long commercial after another, interrupted by, you guessed it, more commercials!
Every week, the hosts of “I Want That!” parade before our eyes items you and I surely do not yet own, products we were unaware existed - toys we did not even know we wanted until the enlightened people at HGTV educated us. All of this is in the hopes that you and I will sit straight up in our easy chairs, point at our televisions and shout, “I want that!”
I tuned in because I was curious. What do they think I want?
As I was praying this morning with my eight year old daughter, Maya, I included a prayer that she stays on “green” today in school. I was referring to her teacher’s incentive plan. Every child starts the day out fresh with a green card. As the day progresses it can be flipped to blue, orange and then red. The flipping action can be taken by the teacher for anything from an unfinished assignment to disrupting the class. 
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say rejoice. Philippians 4:4
Billions of dollars per year are spent to get you and me to say these three words - ”I want that!” I guess it was only a matter of time before television programming folks would actually name a show, “I Want That!”, totally comprised of one long commercial after another, interrupted by, you guessed it, more commercials!