Stewards of God's Mission and Vision

Stewards of God’s Vision: Exodus 24: 12-18; Matthew 17: 1-9

In my early days as the organist here, I used to come at night and practice after my law school classes were finished. I was able to avoid the after-school traffic on Vineville and not disturb the music school which used to be upstairs. One night, I was running a bit late, so I only turned on the light up here in the chancel. The rest of the church was dark. That was my first mistake. As I was playing away furiously at a postlude, I caught a glimpse of something to my side. I thought nothing of it and finished. Right as I finished, George Bishop, a long-time member here, started clapping for me. I had not seen him, had no idea he was there, had only caught a glimpse. My next piece was in B-flat, as in, I be flat on the pedals as I fell of the organ bench in terror. 

I had caught a glimpse, but had not paid attention. Many times in life we catch glimpses of things: of danger awaiting, or trouble lurking, but we also catch glimpses of amazing things as well. When I hear young musicians perform, I can catch glimpses of the artists they will become. If you wake up early enough you can catch a glimpse of the day beginning at dawn. The thing about glimpses though, defined as a momentary or partial view, is that if you only see a glimpse of something, you never see the fuller picture. As Christ’s followers, we’re called not just to catch a glimpse of Christ’s glory, vision, mercy, presence, but to see a full vision of what Christ is doing and to follow where Christ leads. 

In our Old Testament, we read how Moses went up on the mountain to speak with God. This was after many of the great debacles in journey from Egypt towards the promised land; after Israel had broken the covenant and commandments. Here they were now, receiving God’s instruction and covenant, and they had all affirmed it. Therefore they got to see a glimpse of God’s glory on the summit of the mountain. 

In our new testament we see a similar story. Peter, James, and John go with Jesus to a high mountain. There they see Jesus transformed, shining like the sun, and Moses and Elijah standing and talking to Jesus. It was just for a moment, but they caught a glimpse of Jesus’ true glory as the Son of God. Then they hear the confirmation…a voice from heaven saying, “This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy.”

Sometimes in life we catch a glimpse of the good things, but we miss the whole vision. We ask the questions what do we do, how do we do it, where do we go from here? We sometimes ask the question why a full 1/3 of millennials claim to be agnostic or to have no religion at all? Sometimes we ask why our churches are shrinking or it seems our faith is tired and dry and stale. The answer is that we miss out on our vision as people of God and a community of faith. 

We’ve talked about some simple aspects of stewardship: our authenticity in dealing with our earthly blessings of money, time, and worship; our heavenly blessings where our hearts and treasure are; of God’s creation; of God’s grace to us, and of our growth. Here is the tough one: we must be stewards of God’s vision. I like how an old regional assembly theme put it, too often we talk about the church has a mission. But that’s not correct. 

No, in fact the right way to say it is that God’s mission has a church. In those early days, the disciples saw powerful and glorious things. They saw that God had a mission and it was their job, their responsibility to carry out God’s mission. There was a fire, a passion, a push to live out that mission for God whatever the consequences. Our churches today do not have that. They are cold and institutional, more concerned with propriety than people. 

The early church stood for Christ’s love, preached grace to all, and opposed injustice and oppression even unto the death in Roman amphitheaters or at the hands of Pharisees. God’s mission has a church, and God’s vision has a people. If we are to be stewards of God’s vision and God’s mission, we have to be willing to take the risks to step out in trust in God to hand down our faith from generation to generation—the kind of faith that moves mountains, saves souls, and gives us the courage to say no to the tyranny of evil and false prophets. 

A friend of mine pastored a church where they epically long board meetings. He said they would talk about everything over and over for hours, then, when you thought a decision had been made, it would start all over. Finally, tired, and fed up of the ridiculousness, he lost his cool one night. The meeting had dragged for 45 minutes while the board discussed how a paper towel had been inadvertently left in the corner of the bathroom and the janitor had not cleaned it up, that the facilities committee had not properly advised the janitor, and ultimately, how the pastor had not properly trained the facilities committee. 

My friend lost it. He said at a loud volume, “Why did NO ONE pick up the paper towel and throw it away?! How dare you squander your faith debating this for forty-five minutes. Next time, someone have the common sense and general adulthood to just pick it up and throw it away.” The board sat in stunned silence. It was opportunity to be stewards of a new idea—jump in and fix it. Take up their cross, go forth and solve the problem. They were on the cusp of responsibility, growth, seeing the bigger picture, and God’s whole vision. Instead, they fired him. 

Stewardship requires us to give a little something of ourselves, to work as Christ’s hands and feet here on earth. Sometimes we catch a glimpse of God’s mission of God’s vision, and we dismiss it. But sometimes, we see God’s power and majesty and it inspires us—do something new, make a lasting mark, trust God and move forward in faith. If you see someone with a broken spirit, be present and pray for them. If you see someone sick and hurting, help and heal them. If you see oppression and suffering, have the conviction to stand up for them. We can’t just sit around and wait for the trials of this world to become our own problem. We must go out, pray, live, and make the change in the world for God’s good. Imagine if Jesus had gone into a small room in Galilee, barricaded himself in, and said, “Alright, I will wait for them to come here to me,” and was done with it then. 

But that’s not how faith works. God’s mission has a church, and God’s vision has a people. And we are to be stewards of this mission and this vision. Jesus told the disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen on the mountain with him, “until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” Then he told the people, “Go out into the world.” If we never take a risk, if we never step out in faith, then it tells me two things: we do not trust in God, and we are comfortable letting the Christian faith die. And maybe we are. 

But just maybe, maybe, we can remember that God’s mission has s church, and God’s vision has a people. And maybe there are folks left who will get a whole vision instead of just a glimpse of God, stand up and say, “I’m ready to follow Jesus, to forsake everything, and follow Christ.” You won’t really lose anything, for you’ll have Christ with you the whole way. Maybe, just maybe, we are willing to risk our complacency, and our comfort for God’s mission and vision on earth. The choice is yours. God is calling. 

Stewards of Our Growth

Stewards of Growth—Ezekiel 2: 1-8; Luke 5: 1-11

I recently was having a conversation with a 21 year old. He talked about how his parents watch cable news 24/7, quite literally, all the time in the house. I didn’t not ask which one they listen to: Fox, CNN, or MSNBC because I can pretty well guess. He said to me, “Bruh, it’s like…ya know…information overload,” as the kids these days say. I went on to say that I could remember before we had 24/7 news when my grand parents watched Peter Jennings read the news for 30 minutes on ABC, and for many of you, that would have been Walter Cronkite. He stared at me blankly in total disbelief, and I have never felt so old as I did in that moment. 

That conversation got me thinking…information overload. If we are to be stewards of our growth, we must work at learning, thinking, meditating, praying, and focusing our energies on God. Yet, on a daily basis, how many things are competing in our heads, in our ears, and in our viewing with the things of God? So what is the answer? How do we best become stewards of our growth in faith and in God? I’m going to dare say it…turn off the news, and put down social media. Yes, I said what I said. 

In all of the voices, the noise, the things going on, God should not have to compete for our time and focus, and still lose the battle. In Ezekiel, our Old Testament, we read a small portion of God’s vision and prophecy presented to Ezekiel. The Israelite people were in captivity in Babylon, and this was, seemingly, one of their lowest points. Listen to how Ezekiel responded. When God said, “I want to speak with you,” Ezekiel notes, “he set me on my feet, and I listened carefully to his words.” And, in fact, Ezekiel listened for over 20 chapters to God’s words and visions. 

But then we see Ezekiel’s eagerness set against the behavior of the people. God describes them in this way, “They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to them.” God goes on to describe the people as rebellious, and God tells Ezekiel, whether they refuse to listen or not, they will know a prophet was among them. But the picture gets bleaker, as God tells Ezekiel not to fear their words, their threats, and in a very descriptive place, “[when they] surround you like nettles, and briers, and stinging scorpions.” What a lovely assignment for Ezekiel, and with his own people no less! 

Here, though, is the crux, “You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious.” What does God tell Ezekiel? God wants Ezekiel to focus on him to listen to the wisdom that God gives, to forsake the rebellious nature, to tune out other voices, to ignore the scowls, disapproval, and hatefulness of the people. Basically, tune out the world and focus on God and God alone. “Do not join them in their rebellion,” says God,”Open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 

The people could not hear God, could not return to God because they listened to everything but God. Turn off the noise of the world  whether it’s talk radio, Hannity, Maddow, CNN, Fox, facebook, instagram, twitter, or all the like, but all the things which are distracting you from a growing faith. Turn them off, and walk away. Take your Bible or a book, sit outside with your pets and enjoy a sunset. Take a stroll somewhere and ponder things which are holy. I heard stories this week about a long-time member of the church, Aural Erwin, who walked all around downtown and the Mercer campus daily, even until his 90s. 

The problem is very real. God is essentially telling Ezekiel to go and prophesy, to speak the truth of a judgment and pathway to restoration for the people. Yes, Ezekiel must say tough things to them, but God also provides hope and a pathway out of their suffering in Babylon. But the people are totally unwilling to listen, to even hear what God is saying. I fear our society has become the same. People listen to everything else under the sun except for God. We have become set in our ways, comfortable in our own Babylon, and unwilling to accept any word of prophecy or truth. British philosopher Bertrand Russell once said, “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.” 

So what can help us refocus and become good stewards of our faith again? Simon Peter learns three things from Jesus: first, go to deeper water; second, let the nets down when Jesus is on the boat; and last, leave everything behind to follow. Many people stick with scripture and prayers that are familiar and comfortable—they never challenge themselves, they never are willing to risk going into the deeper, less certain aspect of faith. Jesus, though, says to Peter to go out where it is deeper and cast the net. There was no danger in the deeper water, for Jesus was right there with him. But in order to catch anything, Peter had to be daring enough to fish in the deeper waters. 

Jesus also needs to be in the boat with you. John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” Think on those words, that apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. Lastly, Peter and his cohorts left everything behind to follow Jesus, for they saw how amazing it truly was to follow him. What are we following? Where is the majority of our attention, time, and energy spent? 

We cannot be so sinful in our certainty that we are no longer able to listen to the voice of the prophets among us. God has not stopped speaking, and the Holy Spirit has not stopped working, but the question is this: are we still listening? I used to hate the idea of being led, or guided, or told what to do, probably my own youthful rebellion. But as I’m aging, I see the wisdom of turning off the distractions, of not listening to silliness on the television, and instead of learning from the wisdom around me. I see the importance of growing in faith and Christlike ways from people who can teach me. I’ve learned, I need my elders in faith to teach me, but I also need them to be willing to still hear God’s voice and sacrifice certainty in all things. 

Jesus said said to the disciples, come and follow me. They didn’t know where they were going, what was about to happen, or how their lives would change. What they did know was how amazing this man, Jesus, was, and how important it was to follow him. So they left it all behind and followed without even a hesitation. The details were uncertain, but their faith was unwavering. If you want to know the secret to being stewards of your faith, it’s found in that first little bit of the hymn, “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand.” 

Stewards of God's Grace

Stewards of God’s Grace—Exodus 34: 1-6; II Cor. 12: 6-10

Several years ago, I attended a learning retreat type of get-together. As we all started talking and working together, there was a theme, or a phrase, which began to gnaw at me as problematic—not quite a thorn in the flesh, but a problem, none the less. First one person said it, then another one or two echoed it. The phrase was this: “Well, they say the Disciples of Christ is the best-kept secret in Georgia.” Finally, because sometimes if I think it, I say it, I blurted out, “That’s absolutely shameful…why is it a secret?” And that is how I ended up not going to any more such get-togethers. 

Our faith, our walk with God is meant to be shared. That’s what it means to be stewards of God’s grace, the very same grace shown to us every day. Now, that does not mean we take every opportunity to smack somebody upside the head with a Bible. Our stewardship must be passionate, but also tempered with gentleness. And yet, in our modern times, such sharing has become almost unpleasant because people boast about their faith without having the Christ-like life to back it up. The question is this: Can someone learn your faith, not from the Bible studies you attend or the words you say, but from the way you live your life? Do we live as if we believe? 

Look at what the Apostle Paul says: “If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message.” If we are not careful, the message may easily slide into boasting—a message about all the success in our lives, and not about what God has done for us. Paul did not want people to look at him and see what he had accomplished saying that he’s a great preacher, or brilliant teacher, or fearless missionary, no! Paul wanted people to look at what had been accomplished in his life and say, “My, my, see how Christ has worked through him.” 

So what, exactly, are we to share? Paul goes on to talk about a thorn in his side—a messenger from Satan to keep him humble by tormenting him. In some form or fashion we all have such a thing in our lives. It may be an illness we struggle with. It may be chronic pain (a literal thorn!), mental health struggles, any kind of general, daily struggle which reminds us of our own inadequacy or tells us, “No, you cannot do that.” I have a friend who struggles from a disorder called “imposter syndrome.” It is generally described as “a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success. ‘Imposters’ suffer from chronic self-doubt and a sense” of being a fraud or failure that overpowers any feeling of success or competence, according to a 2008 article on the issue in Harvard Business Review. 

Whatever the thorn in our side is, it will tell us that we are incapable of doing what God has called us to do. And it will tell us that we are a failure no matter the success we find in God’s grace and God’s strength. But God gives us a reminder just like Paul was given a reminder. The Lord says, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Paul goes on from there to say we can be proud even of our weakness as we know that when our weakness shows, Christ’s strength will bear us through. Paul talks about all the hardship, insults, beatings, imprisonments and so on that he’s struggled through, and then says this: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 

Perhaps that’s why Paul could sing and praise God even while wrongfully jailed, why he could still share the good news even when beaten and left for dead, why he could encounter any difficult situation and KNOW that it had no power over him because of those words: my grace is all you need. Perhaps those are some of the most powerful words in our Christian walk, as we work out our salvation. We are reminded even further in Exodus of God’s grace and God’s strength for us. 

We are told that after the Hebrew people had turned from God while Moses was on Mt. Sinai and the Ten Commandments had been broken (literally smashed), God had Moses create another set of tablets for the commandments. Then God passed before Moses saying, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” God is filled with love for us, with faithfulness in all things. These two scriptures are a powerful reminder that in all things God takes care of us, period, for we are loved and cherished by the One who created us. 

So now that you know the what, let’s talk about this stewardship part. Paul says, “I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message.” Our work doesn’t stop at just the getting of the grace and the securing in God’s strength. We are to share this in our life’s message. All of the good that God has done for us should not be the best kept secret we have. It should be the mantra of our lives. I like how Dr. Bill Curwood, a well known Disciple pastor in Kentucky said it, “I never run out of things to say about the amazing love of Christ.” 

But even as we speak the truth of our faith, even as we tell of God’s grace and God’s strength, our lives must also show it. For example, once upon a time, the perceptions of other people used to greatly concern me. I used to be careful to make sure I did things in a way that people would like me, and that I could make them happy. I worried about how what people said, did, and all of those “approval-seeking” things. I don’t care anymore. My life’s goal is to remember that God’s grace is sufficient and that God’s strength is perfect, and in all my ways, my comings and goings, I’m to speak God’s truth and live a Christ-like life. Everything else is just noise to distract us. 

So we come back to that question. Can someone learn your faith, not from the Bible studies you attend or the words you say, but from the way you live your life? Do we live as if we believe? We are to be stewards of God’s grace, not keeping the secret, not hoarding the blessings. But even as we tell of God’s love in our lives, we must also live in such a way that we reflect that. Paul shared his story of God’s work in his life, “My grace is all you need…for when I am weak, then I am strong.” We, too, have a story to tell of God’s grace and strength in our lives. May we, then, share that good news, so that all will know that God’s grace is sufficient. 

Stewards of God's Creation

Stewards of God’s Creation—Genesis 1: 1-24; Revelation 11:18

I remember back in high school my mom brought home this really large package and asked me to help her get it set up. I was afraid this was going to be another house project with “some assembly required,” so I was quite skeptical. What came out of the box was three large containers which stacked on top of one another: yellow, green, and blue. As best I remember, they were labeled for paper, aluminum, and plastic. Then came a very clear edict: we were going to start recycling, period. 

This was a bit surprising as we lived in coal country, in a rural area well outside of town, the kind of rural that has iffy internet, is too far for cable, and has septic tanks. But I learned an important lesson both in action and in word. I watched my mom sort all of the items in those bins, load them up every other week and drive them off to be recycled (because there was no pick up for recycling). When I asked why, she said, “Well I figure God gave us this Earth, and we need to do a little something to look after it.” 

That idea of care of God’s creation has been mishandled and thrown aside for years as “liberal talk” or unimportant to the grand scheme of faith, but there is more to being stewards of our earth than just a few political talking points. So, hear this sermon out a bit. In Genesis, we read how God created the heavens and the earth; how God made evening and morning, the birds, the space, the plants and trees, the animals each and every one, and finally God created humankind: men from dirt and women from a fully created functioning person. (I make no conclusions based on that about men or women. I will let the origins speak for themselves.) 

But after God made human kind, they were given a command in Genesis 1:28—“Then the Lord blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.’” We were called to govern the earth, or rather, given charge of it. Think of that idea—to be given charge over. If you are given charge over a classroom you teach and make it better. If you are given charge over a project you complete it making something better. If you are given charge over a number of family heirlooms you look after them to keep them from deteriorating. 

Many denominations have looked toward this idea of being called to care for God’s creation. In 2006, the Souther Baptist Convention passed a resolution saying both, “that we urge all Southern Baptists toward the conservation and preservation of our natural resources for further generations.” And that phrasing was couched in the same terms that we have charge of God’s handiwork. 

The question we must ask ourselves is this: how would God want us to look after what we have been given? Revelation 11:18 is revealing—“It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.” Okay, so that scripture is about as subtle as a heart attack, it would seem. But this scripture gets to a deeper point. Being stewards of God’s earth doesn’t just mean recycling, and so on. We ought not abuse other humans who are also part of God’s creation. 

Everyday we see stories of violence, murder, hatred…messages to be tough in a way that is not firm but truly abusive of our fellow human. Look instead at how Jesus lived: healing, loving, gently asking those who encountered him to go and sin no more. And yet, we see people abused all the time, and so often in the name of religion. I love the quote that says, “If your religion requires you to hate someone, my friend, you need a new religion.” Jesus was often tough on people, especially the Pharisees and religious leaders. He challenged them and pushed them, but there’s a final word there. 

On the cross, even as he suffered his own abuse at the hands of religion, Jesus prayed in Luke 23:34, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’” I have often been mad at people. I have often wanted to say something I know would cut them to the quick. And sometimes, I have even said it. But as faith grows, so do we in the maturity of our responses, and in our knowledge that abusing another human, created in God’s own image, is just as sinful as what that other person may have done to us. Because we are given charge of the earth, we should be mindful to set an example of Christ in all of our words, in all of our actions, and in all of our daily lives. 

And now the truly personal part of being stewards of God’s creation. We, too, were created by God and in God’s own image; therefore, we ought not abuse ourselves either. Some of us struggle with feelings that we are insufficient at everything, at life. Some of us push ourselves physically beyond what we are really capable of. Some of us carry weights and burdens so heavy and for so long that the tears will no longer even flow. Some of us would rather hide in food, booze, or other destructive behaviors because we are too afraid to let God’s grace lead us to healing, not of chemical imbalances and actual diagnosed diseases, but of unresolved pain and trauma. 

I love the quote by writer Kathleen Winter, “It was not fair, she felt, to treat people as if they were finished beings. Everyone was always becoming and unbecoming.” In order to follow Christ you must give up the old and embrace the new. To continue following Christ, we must realize that God is never going to stop challenging us. But I believe, I firmly believe, that as God challenges us, we are offered strength and healing in proportion to the challenge. For God is never done working in us and through us here on earth until we take our final breath. 

For the same God who created the heavens and the earth, light and dark, birds, fish, trees, and yes, even that weird little platypus creature, created you and I as well. But there was something special because we were created in God’s image and to have a relationship with God. And in that relationship, God offers us a gentle healing from our own self-abuse. God offers us love and forgiveness, then tells us these gifts, these lessons, we are to share with the whole world for we’ve been given charge of it. 

That’s why I appreciated my Mom’s lesson on recycling. I got to see both the extra effort put in as well as the wise words, “I figure God gave us this Earth, and we need to do a little something to look after it.” And so we should. We must remember that we have charge over the beauty and majesty of what God has created to love and protect the vulnerable and the weak. We must remember that Revelation warns us against abusing other people, as they too are created in God’s own image. And lastly, we must treat our own selves gently seeking healing and peace in our own lives especially if the past weighs heavy upon us. Each portion of the creation story in Genesis 1 finishes up with these words: “And God saw that it was good.” May we remember that we are made in God’s image and to have a relationship of love and grace with our Creator. 

Stewardship of Earthly Blessings

Stewardship of Earthly Blessings: Isaiah 58: 1-8; Acts 2: 42-47

A year or so ago, I was visiting a friend up in Atlanta. Now she is a big fan of antique stores and looking for historic and interesting things around antique stores, and basically seeing what they have available. So, knowing her love of this, I politely, if hesitantly, agreed to go with her…to the non-air conditioned antique store…in August. While walking up and down the aisles, sweating, we came across this gorgeous small kitchen table. It was beautiful wood, fantastic gold stenciling, ornate, lovely, and she instantly fell in love with it. 

The store owner told us this long history of how it was almost 100 years old, where it came from, and how well preserved it was. But something, something in the back of my mind was saying there’s a problem. This table in TOO good of shape for its age. So I got under the table and started looking around. The shop owner immediately and tersely said, “What are you doing?” And then I found it. In small gold stenciling on the underside of the table…Made in China, 1995. How authentic.

Authenticity plays a major role in our lives and in our lives of faith. If we lack authenticity in our worship, our prayers, our witness, then we will utterly fail in our walk with God. Authentic is defined several ways: worthy of belief as being based in fact, conforming to an original, not false, and true to one’s own spirit or character. We see it used in a variety of ways: authentic Mexican food, authentic antique table, and a sincere and authentic personality. Authenticity in our faith and in our worship is vital, and I daresay, the lack of it is the main cause of the decline in church attendance. 

In Isaiah, we are told that the worship of the people was not authentic. They went through the motions: showing up at the temple, learning about God, fasting, appearing righteous, pious actions, and so on. They had quite carefully and literally done all the right things, so what’s the problem? Their worship was for appearance, and not for God. God tells them that they are doing it to please themselves. Then God gives them the dreaded list of what is wrong: fasting while still oppressing workers, while fighting and quarreling, going through the motions, failing to truly and authentically live the faith that they act out. 

God tells them that their faith should be authentic, and that is seen by how they live and act: free those wrongly imprisoned, go easy on those who are laborers, free the oppressed, share food with the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe those who are in need of good clothing, and do not hide from family who need help. I can almost feel myself choking and sputtering at that list. It’s tough, condemning, convicting of those who say they are faithful to God. 

In the book of Acts we are given even more tough instruction: they performed miraculous signs and wonders, they met together and shared everything, they even sold their property and possessions to share the money with those in need, they prayed, they communed, they praised God, and they enjoyed the goodwill of all people. The earliest church was a community, not an institution, and I fear as we we have moved away from that sense of community, we have lost our authenticity. 

The church’s mission should center on worship, strengthening relationships to God, helping others find faith, and serving the community. These cover the big areas including the daily worship of the early church, the signs and wonders, and the selling off of everything they had to give to those in need. When the pulpit and the church is used for anything else, the church falls into the trap of Isaiah 58’s warning. 

For instance, the church should never be used to advocate for politics or politicians—we must get back to the idea that we render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God, and the church has never belonged to Caesar but is, has been and always will be God’s and God’s alone. And that sinfulness spans all sides of the political spectrum. It is my job, as a preacher and pastor (and indeed of other pastors), to introduce you to Christ and to show you what is in the Bible so that you can work out your salvation, your faith, and your Christian walk with God, to support and help you on your walk of faith., and to work on behalf of the oppressed,, poor, and suffering as listed in Isaiah.  

When we are stewards of our earthly blessings, we are authentic in our worship and we are authentic in our charity and giving, not because of a tax break, but because of our Christian desire to help the poor and those in need. Jesus was never stingy with his blessings, with his healing, and with his love of the people, including those who were outcast, untouchable, and foreigners. He offered them healing, restoration, and grace when they needed it the most. 

My friends, that is the job of the church and the job of us as Christians. to make sure our actions align with our faith, with what the Bible says, and with how Christ speaks to us. There are parts of the Bible that make us uncomfortable. These few verses in Acts 2 make us uncomfortable. So, we try, then, to explain it way—give only so much to those in need, there’s a percentage. Well, weekly worship is sufficient—I’m getting my dose of faith that way. Once a quarter should be sufficient for the Lord’s Supper, right? NO! No, No. We cannot compromise the truths of the Bible where it makes us uncomfortable or puts a holy strain on our lives. That is not being a good steward. The believers devoted themselves to their lives of faith daily. They gave with wiling hearts, with love, and knowing that they had to walk by faith and not by sight. That, that right there is an authentic way to walk with God. 

We must get back to a faith, to a walk with God, that echoes the words of the hymn: “All to Jesus, I surrender. All to him I freely give. I will ever love and trust him; in his presence daily live. I surrender all.” Authentic faith is not that difficult, really. God doesn’t ask for our money, God doesn’t ask for our time, God doesn’t ask for our service. Instead God asks for us, just we ourselves…I surrender all. Over and over Jesus says, “Come follow me.” It may be in the context of giving us rest, of sending us out to be fishers of people, or even to take up a cross. 

Those details of our calling (money, time, and talents) will work themselves out as we learn and walk with Christ. We don’t have to know each step of the way because we walk by faith, not by sight. But first and foremost, before we work out the details, before we nail down exactly how this faith thing works and how to be stewards of the tools God gives us here on earth, we must first find an authentic way to worship and follow God. First and foremost, before anything else, Christ calls to us, “Come and follow me.” May we have the conviction to say, “All to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all” 

Stewardship of Our Heavenly Blessings

Steward of Heavenly Blessings: Isaiah 42:1-9; Matthew 6:19-21

As kids, we often play games using our imagination, creativity, and coming up with elaborate ideas and plans. When I was little, very often we would play games of going on a treasure hunt which involved some wild adventure. I’m sure at some point my Nanna grew incredibly tired of all the make believe games, but she was a good sport about it. In fact treasure hunts appeal to us on a variety of levels. We read books about hunting for treasure, watch movies such as the Indiana Jones movies, and so on. Our Gospel lesson speaks to this curiosity with treasure hunts telling us “wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” 

So what kind of tools would we need for a treasure hunt? In the life of a follower of Christ, our greatest tools for a treasure hunt are faith and prayer. Over and over in our scriptures today we are told to look toward heavenly things. We are told in the Gospel to store treasures in heaven. In Isaiah it talks about God’s spirit being upon the chosen one, and that God “will take [him] by the hand and guard [him].” That close communion with God through prayer and faith is required to store up our treasures in heaven. 

We hear the importance of prayer and faith sung in songs throughout churches: “Faith is the Victory, Sweet Hour of Prayer, My Faith Looks Up to Thee, and Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire.” In that last one, we hear the words, “Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, the Christian’s native air, his watchword at the gates of death; he enters heaven with prayer.” For where our treasure is, there our hearts shall be. Faith and prayer are the tools which keep us connected to God in Christ, which humble us, open our communication with the Holy One, and keep us grounded in what we believe. Indeed, faith and prayer our are greatest tools on our heavenly treasure hunt. 

Faith and prayer, though, are not just things we have—things which are convenient to keep around. They are tools, and tools are meant to be used. I’m often amazed at the number of Christians, who, when asked about the last time they really prayed, cannot even remember it. If you don’t use them, tools grow rusty, dull, and we quickly lose the ability to use them. Prayer and faith need to be used…more than just two sentences over dinner and more than just a few quick words here and there when needed. 

Why are these tools so important? The answer is that in any treasure hunt there will be danger along the way, which we must find a way to face. Our Gospel lesson tells us that if our treasures are stored here on earth then we face a threat to our treasure: moth and rust destroy them, and thieves break in and steal. So, the only thing standing between you and your earthly treasure is a little dry rot and a savvy burglar. The truth is that real treasure is found in our faith, in our trust in God, and in our heavenly blessings. Here on earth, we will face danger all the way on our treasure hunt. 

I was sent an article this week about a carjacking in the parking lot over at Vineville Christian Towers. Other news stories around it included stories about armed robbery, shootings, violence, poverty. We see on our national news about escalating war tensions throughout the world and especially in the Middle East. It reminds me of an old hymn in the Lutheran church, “I walk in danger all the way. The thought shall never leave me that Satan, who has marked his prey, is plotting to deceive me. This foe with hidden snares may seize me unawares if I should fail to watch and pray. I walk in danger all the way.” 

Our lives are filled with danger, and with 24 hour, readily available news, we are even more well-reminded how dangerous life can be. But if our treasure is stored in heaven, trouble and danger will not seem quite as scary to us. Those tools of faith and prayer can give us strength, courage, and security when the pathway of our treasure hunt becomes treacherous. If you only focus on the danger, you will never be able to make the journey. We have to trust that God is walking with us, guiding us, and leading us each and every step. As Isaiah says, “God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. And…[he] will take you by the hand and guard you.” It’s a promise, and that’s why our treasure should rest in heavenly things. 

Finally, we must remember that the treasure awaits us. We can invest all the things we want on earth—money, business, looks, talents. Everything under the sun can be saved up and invested in here on earth, but eventually those things will fade. That is why we must invest our treasures in heaven, where we can develop time, talents, abilities to sustain us throughout our entire lives. Theologian Stanley Hauerwas reminds us, “Just as an athlete with natural gifts may fail to develop the fundamental skills necessary to play their sport after their talent fades, so people [of] faith may fail to develop the skills necessary to sustain them for a lifetime.” 

Here’s the idea—you must develop the basics of faith—invest your treasure in heaven—in order to sustain your trust in God for a lifetime. You may be the most talented preacher, best singer, most beautiful pray-er in the church, but if you have not developed the basics and made the investment, you will fall to the danger on the way. As an example, being a native Kentuckian, we always watched basketball instead of football. Now, I would like to think that’s because basketball is the sport of my state; however, I’m pretty sure it’s simply because we are pretty awful at football. 

If you watched some of the young basketball stars recruited by the University of Kentucky, you can see them doing these fancy jump shots, swinging from the net, elaborate defense and trick moves. But they can’t shoot a simple free-throw from right in front of the basket. They failed to develop fundamental skills, and when the talent faded, there was no support left for them to play the game. If we do not invest in heavenly treasures, in developing our faith and prayer abilities, of working out our trust in God daily, then we will not have good enough fundamentals to sustain our faith when the treasure hunt gets dangerous. 

Our hope, our trust, and our faith must be built on the solid rock which never fails us. So get ready for your treasure hunt—sharpen and prepare your tools of faith and prayer making sure they are strong and well developed. Prepare for the danger that lurks on your journey, and remember what treasure awaits you when you trust in God and walk with Christ. That will be the greatest treasure you find—no rot and rust, no burglars waiting to take your treasure away. Invest your time, talents, and faith in God, for where your treasure is, there your heart will also be. 

The Magi: Gift-Givers of the Greatest Sort

The Magi—The Great Gifts: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Matthew 2: 1-12

This morning I want to tell you the story of simple gifts, yet great gifts given at Christmas which changed lives and made hope real instead of merely a wish for a couple of children. A married couple, who are friends of mine, decided a few years ago to become foster parents. They figured that they were pretty good with kids, so how hard could it be? After all, most of the work was respite or short-term care. But one year, they got a call at night, and specifically a night or two just before Christmas. 

Could they take a couple of young children? Could they provide care and watch them for awhile? My friends assumed this would be fine. But as the two young children were dropped off, they learned the hard truth. The parents of these two kids were in jail. It was not certain what the kids had endured, and worst of all, there was no other family coming to take care of them. The kids were now in the home of strangers just days before Christmas with almost nothing to their name. 

My friends’ family wasted no time and sprang into action. They bought and scrounged up extra clothes for the kids, ran out at the last minute and picked up some of the remaining toys to wrap for the children, and threw in  a little extra food for the Christmas dinner. The children ended up having a fantastic Christmas with great gifts and lots of attention from their borrowed family. And as for my friends, I could not be more proud of how they’ve handled the situation. But there was a moment of sadness right at the end of Christmas when the little girl looked at the gifts and said, “Do we have to give them back now, or can we keep them?” 

As we celebrated Christmas this week, I sometimes worry that we’ve made the act of gift-giving cold, institutionalized, commercialized or, even worse, a burdensome requirement for the holiday. Christmas is, at its core, about gifts. Epiphany, though in recent years has focused more on the light of Christ, is also about gifts. Even if you go back years ago to movies and shows from the 1930s and 1940s when times were hard, money and provisions scarce, you still see the people going out to the local shops, (and on Christmas Eve no less!) to buy even just small gifts for their loved ones. 

For years, Christmas has been celebrated with gifts and the act of gift-giving. We read at this time about the Magi, or Wisemen, as some call them. The whole climax of their story is giving their gifts the the infant Christ. We tend to focus on the actual gifts and their meaning: gold given to Christ as King, frankincense given to Christ as the Holy One of God, and myrrh to symbolize his coming sacrifice. But also important to this giving of gifts is the context in which they came and gave gifts. 

First of all was the long and difficult journey for the Wisemen. They traveled likely from Persia or around Iran and Iraq in the modern day national boundaries. Some scholars even theorize they may have been from as far away as India. The journey would have been incredibly dangerous over desert and mountain, and lasting months or more. They followed a star based on an ancient prophecy from their own culture. These were cultured, powerful noblemen who had status in their own country to afford such expensive and extravagant gifts for a child they knew nothing much about and had no idea what to expect. 

That’s why they first came to Herod. They expected a new-born king to be in a palace. But Christ was not in a palace. Christ was not haunting the halls of the rich. Instead they found him living likely in a small rented room in Bethlehem—a poor child, a humble child. To the poor, the meek, they brought their expensive gifts and humbly knelt before him as king, as God, and as sacrifice. 

It was all part of God’s plan. You see gifts are given for a reason—usually because we need whatever the gift is. Jesus and his family would need these gifts. What happened following the Magi’s visit was a devastating tragedy. In his rage at the challenge to his throne, Herod ordered all boys under age two be executed. To escape, Jesus went from poor and humble to refugee status. His family escaped to Egypt where they lived in refuge outside of Herod’s terror-filled reign until Herod died. Though the Bible doesn’t say this directly, I’m sure the gold allowed the family to live safely in Egypt until they could get back to Nazareth, and likely the frankincense allowed them to continue to offer their prayers and faith to God. Those gifts came with both symbolic and practical meanings. 

But then we come to the final gift: myrrh. The myrrh would have been used years later when Christ became the greatest gift to the world on the cross, the gift being himself. You see very often at Christmas we start out by asking what one another needs as a gift. This year I told mom I needed new pillows, socks, and a watch. She laughed and said, “Well those aren’t very fun gifts.” After thinking about it, I’ve learned that I’m at the point in life that I ask for what I need more than what I want at Christmas. 

The greatest gift that we need at Christmas time and always is Christ. The world needed Christ. He may not be what the world wanted, what the world expected, but he is exactly what the world needed.. And every day as I watch this world I realize we need him more and more. Even those of us who have followed carefully for years in the walk of faith, as trials get tougher and shadows darker, we need this gift of Christ—his strength, his love, and his peace more and more. 

This Christmas may have been tough for a number of us: we continue to struggle with the loss of loved ones; we have families that are creatively dramatic; or we may have something as simple as a stomach virus causing a really nasty Christmas. But Christ has given us the gifts which can guide us and help us. As the hymn says to us—“I gave my life for thee; what has thou given for me?” For two children this Christmas, one family gave them love, comfort, and happiness beyond anything they could hope for being pulled into foster care. 

For us, Christ has given us himself to be with us, to give us love and forgiveness. Just like the little girl at the end of Christmas asked, so too do many people wonder about Christ’s gift, “What do I do with it…is it mine, or do I have to give it back?” That is a simple answer. You must share it, but no, you do not have to give it back, for nothing can separate us from the love of God. 

Mary: Resolute Despite Turmoil

Mary—Resolute in Turmoil: Isaiah 7: 10-16; Luke 1: 26-38

Mary is, perhaps, one of the most unlikely characters in the Christmas story. I think over the years Mary has become somewhat misunderstood in who she is and how she reacts to this calling from God. Many sermons, illustrations, and interpretations portray Mary as a meek and mild almost pawn in the whole story. But what we see in Luke’s account of the angel’s visit is a young, strong, resolute woman whose strength is almost superhuman and whose faith is unparalleled. She, after all, is about to become the mother of Christ, the son of God, born to love and redeem the world. 

Many instances where we see women in the Bible, they are engaged in some kind of domestic act, or in something that would have been considered “appropriate” for women in this time. Rachel in the Old Testament is drawing water from a well. Bathsheba is taking a bath. Martha fusses about the kitchen. Sarah prepares meals and dutifully follows Abraham on his journeys. But here, Mary is traveling, risking her very life and happiness to follow God in a mighty and powerful way. Mary is a powerful and resolute pillar of faith in the New Testament, and every bit as powerful as the great figures of the Old Testament. 

She is described in the prophecies of Isaiah: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’).” This was to be the ultimate sign to the Israelites. At this point in the book of Isaiah, the kingdom of Israel had split into Israel and Judah (the North and South kingdoms). Israel had turned away from God and allied themselves with Syria in an effort to destroy Judah, the kingdom which was still faithful. The sign of Mary, of Immanuel, is a reminder that one day God would bring ultimate redemption for the people even as things were seemingly crumbling around them. 

We hear those same prophetic words echoed in the lesson about Mary today. Mary was engaged, but unwed at the time the angel visited her. There’s no indication of age; however, in Hebrew tradition, a female could be betrothed, or given in marriage, anywhere from the ages of 12 to 16. To us, that may seem young, but you have to remember the average life expectancy was around 40. 

When the angel comes in, Mary is hailed as being filled with grace and having found favor with God. We see a young woman who is strong and resolute. She challenges the angel asking how can all this happen since she is unmarried. And then we see her statement of faith and her resolve to follow God: “I am the Lord’s servant. may everything you have said about me come true.” Now here’s a real challenge—this is not some guard bringing a decree. Gabriel is a messenger not power play. He is calling to Mary, asking her to follow God,. God will call us to follow, but ultimately that choice to obey is ours. Mary agrees at the end. She chooses to obey. 

What, then, do we take from this? When we are called to follow God, we should have the same resolve, the same fortitude as Mary. She asked questions, she challenged the angel on how things could happen, and ultimately she made the decision to follow and obey God’s calling. What does Mary get in exchange for this resolve? She has peace. Initially, we see Mary worried and afraid. I think anyone would be worried if an angel showed up in their home. Gideon, Jonah, Jacob, the shepherds, and even Abraham were all startled by the sudden presence of an angel in their midst. 

But as the angel tells her of God’s calling, of her powerful place in history, she becomes strong, resolute, and at peace with what her role in history will be. We, too, can be at peace when we resolve to follow God. It reminds me of the song “Safe in the Arms of Jesus” by Fanny Crosby. The third verse says this: “Jesus, my heart’s dear refuge, Jesus has died for me; firm on the Rock of Ages ever my trust shall be. Here let me wait with patience, wait till the night is o’er; wait till I see the morning break on the golden shore.” 

Mary had to face tremendous trials in her journey. Being an unwed, pregnant woman in that day and time could earn a woman a death sentence. The same could have cost her all of her family, her marriage to Joseph, everything she had in life. But she was resolute. Mary had to journey to Bethlehem in what was likely the 8th or 9th month of her pregnancy. Childbirth was dangerous in those days, period. But imagine just how grueling that trip would be on foot or on a donkey 90 miles from Galilee to Bethlehem. Some of the way was flat but much of it is hill country. Both the terrain and way was dangerous with falling on a hill or even nefarious people trying to do them harm. But Mary was resolute. 

Mary had to endure knowing that she was raising the Son of God, and likely, she also understood that her son would one day die. The knowledge of who her baby was and what he had to do must have weighed heavy on her mind and on her spirit, especially with a mother’s desire to protect. But Mary remained resolute. And because she was resolved to follow God’s call in her life, she was at peace. In her own words, “May everything you have said about me come true. I am the Lord’s servant.” Such faith! Such strength.

In our own lives, there will come times when we are challenged, when we must face a treacherous road or a difficult calling. There will be trials and struggles that we must face. I challenge you, with a bit of a tease, to fight like a woman—to fight like Mary, with resolve, with strength, filled with God’s grace and power. 

The journey may be long and the road may be dangerous, but we never journey alone. Mary never journeyed alone. The same God with whom she found favor was with her in her room as she spoke her faith, was with her as she faced the fallout of her call to follow, was with her as she journeyed to Bethlehem, and was with her in the stable as she gave birth to God’s love in human form. And because of that holy presence, Mary had peace. May we have the same resolve to say like Mary, “Be it unto [us] according to Thy word.” 

John the Baptist: Yelling into the Void

John the Baptist: Isaiah 11: 1-10; Matthew 3: 1-12

The phrase “yelling into the void” is a rather descriptive way of saying that nobody is listening to you. Pastors, teachers, parents of teenagers are all apt to feel the meaning of this phrase. For instance one example of the phrase is this: “Every time I tell my teenager to clean his room, it’s like I’m yelling it into the void.” My grandfather also provides a great example. He would say something funny. After an appropriate amount of time where no one responded, he would would say loudly, “That was a joke…nobody laughed.” Usually that got the desired response of giggles and snickering. 

John the Baptist is probably the ultimate Biblical example of someone who is yelling into the void. John was the one who brought the forewarning of Christ’s coming. His message, according to Matthew, was “repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!” The prophet Isaiah foretold of John saying, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him.’” Now that phrase “shouting in the wilderness,” has a very literal meaning. John the Baptist lived in the wilderness clothed with coarse camel hair and leather belt, eating wild honey and locusts. I am certain he was quite a terrific and terrifying sight to see and hear. 

But there’s a more subtle meaning as well to shouting in the wilderness that is more similar to “yelling into the void.” Though many heard John’s word and repented in their hearts, his message set in motion the desire to kill him in Herod’s palace and in the temple. John called the Pharisees a “brood of snakes.” Other translations have this as “brood of vipers.” Many have asked why John didn’t try to help, to convert, to reach out to the wayward Pharisees. 

It’s a simple answer—they would never have listened. We see the same throughout history—a heart is so hardened by its own self-righteous understanding that it only ever listens to respond and never to hear and understand. And much in the same way a bad attitude ruins everyone, a hardened heart that fails to listen will lead to ruin. A hardened heart can never make room for hope, and a truly hardened heart will make sure no one else can hear about hope either. 

And that hope is ultimately the message John the Baptist came to bring. Now it was wrapped up in a crazy appearance, wild demeanor, and forceful yelling, but the coming of love incarnate, the Savior, the Messiah, was at its core, a message of hope for humankind. 

If you read Matthew 3: 11-12, you see how John lays out the plan: “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon, who is greater than I am…he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” This was a promise, a breath of fresh air, a word which brought untold hope to a people defeated and desolate…to a people longing for a Messiah. The people in Jesus’s day were weary and worn down by the difficult daily life oppressed by Rome, their own leaders, and the Temple leaders as well. It was a society who was focused on the legalism of religion and had forgotten any of the spiritual side of it, almost as if that part had ceased to exist. 

Into that world came John the Baptist talking about repentance, the Spirit, fire, and a faith which empowered, gave hope, and reminded the people of God’s power, not of the political power all around them. It’s the kind of hope which liberates, or frees, people. That is the kind of hope that Christ brings to us. When the world, our lives, and the struggle of our own wrongdoing has us oppressed and constrained, Christ comes to free us, to remind us of his power within us, and to encourage us along each step of the way. 

But we must be prepared to listen with hearts opened to the message of hope. We must have a faith that lifts up and encourages. John gives a rather stern reminder that “even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever…yes, every tree which does not produce good fruit will be chopped down…”So let us listen, let us listen to hear and understand. Let us listen to share a word of hope with others who are struggling and oppressed. May we bear good fruit. 

Isaiah gives us the picture of what bearing good fruit looks like. It is a portrait of justice: obeying  God, not judging by appearance. not deciding on hearsay. Instead there will be justice for the poor, fairness to the exploited, righteousness and truth will be at the forefront. As Christians we are called to teach and live justice. Many have come to believe that when they hear the word “justice” preached in a sermon that it’s something bad or political or the lead up to one of “those” sermons. But the truth is that the Bible talks a lot about justice. 

Here we see a long passage on it. In the New Testament, John calls for people to live and act in a just way. In Malachi, we hear the words, “do justice, love mercy.” In fact the Bible has over 2,000 verses talking about justice in some form or another. By comparison there are 141 verses using the word salvation in one form or another. We have from this a rather clear call to do justice, to live justly, and to oppose injustice when we see it. And I hope in saying such that I am not the one yelling into the void. 

What does justice look like? We just read a glimpse of it: the spirit of the Lord will give wisdom and understand. And from that spirit, we read the following: He will delight in obeying the Lord; he will not judge by appearance, nor make decision based on what someone else says; he will give justice the poor, and make fair decisions for the exploited. 

At its root, our faith should protect the vulnerable. This is at the heart of what John the Baptist was preaching—the hope he was trying to give. He called out the proud and the powerful while offering hope and redemption to the broken, the contrite, and the changed. They were the ones willing to listen and who were willing to respond to God’s call. A proud heart cannot make room for God to move and work within. A proud heart will only seek to shut out challenges instead of listening to wisdom, accepting hope, and seeking justice.

When I read the story of John the Baptist, I hear the challenges, the harsh call to repentance, the urgency, the pull for people to give up old ways and be willing to accept God’s hope and grace. And then I wonder what happened. I worry that John’s words, his fervent call to repent and change, were simply shouted into the void and never really, truly heard. We must pick back up the banner of preaching hope, teaching about repentance, working for justice, and standing against injustice and oppression. Christ will baptize you with the Spirit and with fire, so may we find that fire in our lives when we speak and when we live. May we ever stand ready to speak God’s truth, even if we, too, are yelling into the void, for it is a far better place to be than living in it.  

I Don't Like Green Bean Casserole: A Lesson in Gratefulness

Thanksgiving 2019: Psalm 100; Philippians 4: 4-9

Nothing steals my joy at the holidays like looking down at the table and seeing green bean casserole. I cannot stand the stuff. Now, I have no problem with green beans, nor with cream of mushroom soup, and I’m not fond of those little crispy onion things. They’re not a deal-breaker, though. But when you put it all together, it’s a great big nope from me. I’ve seen other folks who struggle at the holidays, from the ones who stare at a perfectly cooked turkey like it’s going to attack them, to the ones who joke about mashed potatoes being wall paper paste, to the folks who avoid pumpkin pie like it’s nuclear waste. 

The holidays, and specifically Thanksgiving, are meant to be a time of gratefulness, of gratitude, of reflection, and kindness. But what is often missing from the mix is joyfulness or simply, joy. We are tired from travel, from cooking, from so much family and friends at one time. We may feel alone, sad, depressed and without the people we want most around us. Or we may look down at the table and realize we have to struggle through Auntie’s crazy casserole concoction for yet another year. We are given three ways to change and tune our hearts to praise for this holiday season. 

First we must turn our words from complaint to joy. The Psalm tells us, “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Come before him singing with joy. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving […and praise].” I have always loved this psalm. It’s simple, easy to remember, and jam-packed with energy. It starts off with the words shout with joy. Just the sheer excitement in the words of the psalm should help to lift a grumbling soul. I have a friend who said that every time she is down and struggling she re-reads this Psalm to hear the reminders and to feel the excitement that comes from this Psalm of praise. 

The Psalm also tells us the reasoning for all the excitement, joy, praises, and thanksgiving: “For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” Even in those times when we have lost our joy or we have stopped feeling any kind of happiness or praise in life, we must remember that we are still not alone. God’s unfailing love continues forever; even when we are grouchy, even when we complain, even when we feel forgotten and alone. 

So let’s start out slowly. We need to think and catch ourselves every time a complaint comes out of us, every time a harsh word enters our thoughts, and every time we are tempted to let something well up from any bitterness that lives within us. Change first our words from negative to praise, to thanksgiving, to words of joy. It’s not some verbal hocus pocus, Changing our way of speaking forces us to change our way of thinking because hopefully we think before we speak. Even Philippians 4: 8 says, “Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Then we can begin to live as the hymn says, “Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy praise.” 

Second we must acknowledge and address our worries. Philippians 4 tells us, “Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for what he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace.” Many times complaints and worry go hand in hand. It’s hard to praise God, to be thankful, and to have joy when we are constantly worried about something. Worries can go from the very real and overwhelming such as “where will I live” or “where will my next meal come from” to worries that are only perceived. These make up the “what if” game. 

Let’s focus more on the “what if” type of worries. Too many of us live with these on a daily basis, and I think that’s the kind of worry that is being targeted by the teaching, “Don’t worry bout anything; instead, pray about everything.” If we live our lives in the place of “what if this happens?” we will miss the “what does happen,” and the “what can happen,” in a positive sense. Jesus also famously teaches not to worry about tomorrow. 

I remember a friend years ago was talking about faith and worry. He was facing some medical and family issues in his life, enough that the average person would likely be very worked up and concerned. He always had these great sayings, for instance, “Stop focusing on being the average person, and think instead as the extraordinary Christian.”  But when he faced these life issues, he said something I’ll never forget: “There comes a time in life where you have to make a choice between your worry and your faith. I, my friend, choose to trust God, and that will be enough for me.” I know I use it a lot, but I can’t help going to back to the old Ralph Abernathy quote, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.” Lay aside the worries and focus on trust in God. 

Lastly we must fix our thoughts and actions on the joy God gives us. The scripture in Philippians wraps up with this: “Fix your thought on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Keep putting into practice all you have learned and received.” Psalm 121 adds, “I look to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth…The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” 

When we are tempted to grumble and complain, we must remember the power and strength we find in our Savior. I heard a pastor once say that if we were to use our time fixing our thoughts on things that are honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, we probably wouldn’t have much time to think about anything else. And then we put our thoughts into practice. We should live in ways that are honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, for we are an example of faith to others. That should be a very powerful thought weighing on our conscience. We are the example of Christ—and the joy found in Christ’s love and grace. 

So remember in these holiday times that we should have joy in Christ. We should remember that our thoughts should be tuned to Christ’s praise and our words to speak our gratefulness instead of our complaints. We should cast aside unfounded worries—what if, what if? Do not fall into the “what if” trap. Christ has power and strength. And lastly we should fix our eyes on God and God’s holiness, laying aside the things on earth. The truth is I’m probably never going to like green bean casserole. But I can be grateful for the one who took the time to make it, to care, and to labor in love. May we all count our blessings this Thanksgiving and rejoice in God’s love and provision with gratefulness on our hearts and in our words.