Thursday, May 29, 2008

grand funk (with apologies to rockers everywhere)

It seems that quite a few people in my life are particularly burdened these days. It seems more and more common to hear a comment like, "I've been in a funk lately." If you're hoping for something profound from me about this... Sorry! But you know me and my quotes, and as I [this morning] encountered even more who seemed listless and fatigued in so many ways, several quotes and the associated rabbit trails of thought came to mind.

First and foremost, I identify. I've had some particular struggles for a while now; I know and understand some of the things that have brought on these struggles in me, but there are other feelings I have but don't really know why. As a result, when I read scripture it seems dry and vague; when I pray I think that I sense distance between me and God. When I figuratively stand aside and look at me, it kind of sticks out that my relationship with God is under assault! This just serves to illustrate why it is so crucial to base my relationship with him on the truth of the word rather than my experience. I must continually remind myself of this; even when my experience might suggest otherwise, the truth from his word is that his love for me is never-ending and never fails. His wisdom in guiding my life is implicitly perfect and trustworthy. His power and faithfulness to deliver on what he has promised cannot be thwarted or denied. On these bases, I read and I pray; this morning I thought about the great expositor Matthew Henry, who said

When I can not enjoy the faith of assurance, I live by the faith of adherence.


At my church, we have taught for many years that feelings and emotions are not trustworthy to base decisions and life choices on. I think that some heard that feelings and emotions are bad, but this is not what was intended. Rather, my life, my walk with God, is based on the truth of the word, and so I walk on, regardless of how I feel.

Abraham Lincoln said,

To ease another's heartache is to forget one's own.


This verbalizes the other thought I had: What an opportunity to serve when I encounter someone who is struggling! And while I might ultimately desire to help someone let go of a burden, my best service is not necessarily to preach or give answers but to laugh with, cry with, live with, love on my neighbor! Jesus is the great physician; I by his power want to render service that is useful in lifting that funk. Consistent with Lincoln's comment, I see in me the forgetting of struggles when God opens opportunities to serve and I focus on the needs of others. So often the best service is genuineness and open, willing fellowship.

In my own case, I'm amazed at how God has repeatedly, in the midst of simple fellowship with his people, revealed Himself to be the solution to the "struggle of the day." Most frequently that has taken the form of something being said that takes my mind back to specifics in the scriptures. All the while I thought I was serving the other person!

If you're feeling burdened, strugglilng, in a funk, take heart; walk on in your relationship with God, no matter how it "feels." Love on the people God has placed in your life, and don't be surprised when he uses your service to bless you.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

bragging on God

Tomorrow my daughter leaves on a short-term mission trip to Russia. This will be her second trip there, and to say that I am very proud of her would be understatement. However, I am always mindful that she is the fabulous young lady that she is because of God and the way He has gifted her. Now thereby hangs a tale.

This morning as I sat eating breakfast, she came in and sat down with me. During the course of our conversation she mentioned that she needed to come up with a devotional for the [Russia] team. You see, the team does a devotional together each day during the trip, and each team member leads at least one of those sessions. Predictably, I began thinking of what I might do if the assignment was mine. After a moment, my mind went to Psalm 34:1-3:

I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.

O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.


I talked to her about verse 3 in particular, where in the New American Standard Bible it is rendered "O magnify the Lord with me." (In the New International Version, is says, "Glorify the Lord...") What does it mean to "magnify the Lord?" Make God bigger? When one looks at the moon through a telescope, the moon doesn't get bigger--we see it bigger. And I think that's what the psalmist meant--glorify the Lord, see Him bigger, as big as he truly is. Too often we look at God through the eyes of our own understanding, and so we'll always see him too small. Let me mention a quote here that I've mentioned before:

If God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshiped.

—Evelyn Underhill



But verse 2 was the nugget for me this morning; the psalmist said, "My soul will make its boast in the Lord." I'm proud of both of my kids, but they're God's kids first, and they are fine people not because of me but because of the way he made and gifted them. Praise Him!