2. February 2010 by BruceSmith.
God in the tough details: Providence
There are many grand themes throughout scripture. One of the most grand, as it pertains to the purposes of God for His people and for His world, is that of the providence of God. That God is intimately working in the affairs of His people is one of the most substantive realities we can look to in times of great tribulation. Without the deep-rooted knowledge that God cares for us, we are too easily tossed about by the sea of life. With this assurance of God’s perfect plan for us even the darkest of days can be endured with faith and hope.
Through the pages of scripture we are told of God’s favor for His people. The promises of God are many. The blessings of God are innumerable. His goodness is abounding and His love forevermore. We long to hear of such things and we love to be reminded of all God offers to those who are found in Him. But we must ask ourselves how firm we stand when we are called to trust His heart toward us when His hand seems distant. When we find ourselves in the desert of life do we listen to the temptations of Satan or do we, like the Christ we serve, with patience and endurance, fight the good fight rejecting the devils offer for a cheap way out? Are we constant in our devotion amidst persecution, mistreatment, rejection, malice, and threats of all sorts? When we are misunderstood, or worse, misrepresented, do we have quiet faithful resolve for the purposes of God?
These are all important questions and ones which really get at the heart of our true intentions. It has often been suggested that one can only see the real person when hard times come. Hard times, we are told, separate the “men from the boys”, the “wheat from the chaff”, and the good from the bad. The bible tells us that life’s difficulties are what God uses to “refine” us just as precious metals are refined by the testing of fire.
Hebrews chapter 11 tells us of the “faithful” servants of God who trusted, fought, and endured for the purposes of God having never received the “promise” on this side of heaven. The life of one of history’s greatest writers, John Milton (who wrote in the 17th Century), demonstrates to us that “they also serve who only stand and wait”. The life of Joseph reminds us that even the evil intent of those around us cannot thwart the purposes of God for a life devoted to Him. Joseph’s brothers devised a plan to put him to death. In God’s providence the plan was altered and they sold him into slavery. By “chance” those who originally purchased him sold him into the hands and household of the master of Egypt. Through God’s orchestration Joseph found favor in the household and was elevated to a place of high esteem. Once there the master’s wife attempted to seduce him and upon his refusal to give in and thereby offend His God, she lied and had him defamed and thrown into prison. But God was not done. Through it all God brought him back to a place of prominence and one telling verse screams of the divine ability of God to turn the worst of life’s messes into God’s grace filled plan; the verse reads, “…and all the earth came to Joseph”.
Where has your life gone “right” and where has your life gone “wrong”? Whether you have seen victory after victory or defeat upon defeat, hold steady in the arms of God and trust that He is up to something. If you place yourself in His hands, and like Job wrestle through the tough questions long enough to see that no one knows better than God, then you will know the providence of God.
Remember, throughout biblical history, it seems that those who walked with God in the most intimate of ways endured much hardship. Do you want to know the providential hand of God? His favor is assured and His blessings are many and we ought to praise Him for each one. He longs to give good gifts to His sons and daughters. Let us also be mindful, however, that sometimes the “best” of His plans are drawn up on the blueprint of suffering. Jeremiah was the “weeping prophet”; Hosea was called to marry a prostitute; Isaiah was undone and lived among an unclean rebellious people; Paul was imprisoned and beaten and shipwrecked and left for dead numerous times; Daniel was thrown into a den of lions; John the baptizer wore a really irritating hair-shirt and ate some obnoxiously noisy bugs; and Jesus, who cried out to the Father, “Why have you forsaken me?” was the suffering servant.
His favor is with us and His plans are for our good and the good of His world. His providence is assured and He is to be rejoiced in. Romans 8 is our promise, “…who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall trouble, hardship, famine, nakedness, peril or sword?…no, no, no, no, no, a thousand times “NO!”…in (that little word in the original language is important as it literally means “through, as a result of”) all these things we are more (abundantly more the language suggests) than conquerors.” And the big ending, “through Him who loved us”. And lest we forget, nestled in that amazing passage is the reminder that Jesus Christ, “who died and more than that was raised to life” IS INTERCEDING FOR US. That blows me away. Jesus, is interceding for me before my God in the heavens. Oh, that we would remember that more! How ridiculous is the love of God!
Bruce Smith
Optimuslife.org
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21. January 2010 by BruceSmith.
Who Are You?
“Who are you?” Can you hear the question resounding from behind the persona of the man called The Wizard of Oz? “Who are you…who are you?” The question, asked throughout the ages, is of course, of paramount importance. Others have suggested, “I think, therefore, I am.” Others, “I yam what I yam.” The question lingers for each of us.
Who are you? The temptation for all of us, in reality, is to answer that question based upon what is happening in our lives at any particular moment. Some, upon the heels of success, would answer the question by saying, “I’m a deal maker!” Some, perhaps, would suggest, amidst the throws of failure, “I’m a loser, defeated, worthless.” Others, depending upon the season of life they find themselves in, might correlate their sense of being to a relationship, bank account, altruistic endeavor, athletic accomplishment, hobby, or something else. But who are we fundamentally? Its worth considering on the deepest of levels.
The bible suggests that our “being” is determined, not by what we have done, faced, or experienced, but rather, by who we are in relationship to God the Father. This is a critical truth on so many levels. For, like Job, to name one, if we face a season of life where we are plagued with defeat after defeat, our only hope for solace, joy, and enthusiasm, will come from our understanding that God, despite our location in life, still loves us and is working His plan in our life regardless of what the world around us looks like. Contrarily, like the rich young ruler who Jesus encountered, if we assume our place and “being”, our fundamental existence, is defined by what we have, then when the thought of losing all of that, or giving it away, comes rushing into our consciousness, nothing but panic, insecurity, and grief will confront us. There must be something more.
Jesus said it plainly when He suggested that all who have seen Him have seen the Father, and all who have Him, have the Father. He suggests that this is the definitive reality of our lives. Life with God or life apart from Him; on the most basic of levels, this is all that will ever remain. That is the bottom line. All other realities of our lives play second fiddle. This is why men who have known untold success have lived ruinous inner, moral, spiritual, and relational lives. And it is why women like Marilyn Monroe, Anna Nicole Smith, and so many others, have found no real inner peace despite the beauty of their form, the size of their celebrity status, or the worship of culture.
I ask you plainly today, who are you? Has your life been characterized by success after success? Do people look at you and applaud all you do? Do people whisper how great you are? Are you really? Are you the person God has called you to be in your inner, personal, and spiritual world? Do you understand your worth is not located in the opinions of others? Or, alternately, are you living a life less than everything you hoped for? Have you failed morally, financially, relationally, professionally or otherwise? Is a dream you have always craved remaining merely a dream? Does this reality define your moods, emotions, esteem levels, and relating patterns? Have you allowed the scars of the past to dictate your present inner reality?
Here is the good news for each of us; a life lived apart from God can be redeemed as we turn toward Him, embrace Him, and pursue His loving plan for us. Our success or failure in this life can become a critical part of the plan of God to use us to make an impact on our planet. Our success, defined by God and led by His hand, can be a huge source of blessing and leadership for others. Our defeats can become a cornerstone of the mercy, grace, and compassion of God in our life and in the lives of others as we exemplify His restorative power.
We are not defined by the shallow pronouncements of a broken and distracted world that has abandoned its spiritual moorings. Our identities are established in our relationship with Christ. If we never measure up to the dreams we set for ourselves or the dreams imparted to us by our families, our hearts and souls can yet thrive in Christ. If all the accolades and money and fame possible come our way, we can weather the storm of such pleasure and excess which seeks to distort our souls, and we can be defined by something bigger than that also. Life, true life, is found in the eternal realm. Our eternal lives are secure in Him if we have surrendered ourselves to Him. He is the shoreline we all crave when tossed upon the tumultuous seas of life. He is our refuge amidst the exhausting fight of daily life. He is the sobriety we all need amidst the excess of pleasure and comfort. He is our all. He must define us. One way or another, we are, indeed, defined by how we relate to Him.
And so, here is your life thought for the day.
Life Thought: I am defined by God’s view of me. The varying impressions I have of myself are not the definitive or last word on my life nor are the opinions of others. The reality of His mercy and grace and truth, alone, are final for me.
May we live in the light of that foundational spiritual anchor.
Bruce Smith
optimuslife.org
soulstormsite.com
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11. January 2010 by BruceSmith.
Living as a Lifer
Bill Dallas, in his book, Lessons from San Quentin, tells of the enormous success he acquired as a real estate mogul on the west coast. This good looking, party hopping, social networking, sexually active, relationally distorted, and politically connected go-getter eventually saw all of his achievements, prowess, savvy, talent, and high octane living bring him down, very hard. The thrill ride he once craved, and lived on a daily basis, eventually came off the tracks and landed him in prison. Relationships shallow and severed, trusts broken, deals illegally shaped, and his soul neglected, Bill Dallas found himself locked up, depressed, suicidal, and without hope. And then, he found life…amongst the “lifers”.
Lifers, as they are known inside the prison walls, are those hardened criminals who have committed such horrible crimes that they have been handed the most severe of sentences. Feared by Dallas as he entered the prison system, and looked down upon by him as worthless animals, these men became the very means of his transformation into a person of character, purpose, and hope. How does such a thing happen?
As Bill Dallas tells it, it was the maturity, poise, depth, hope, and wisdom of these lifers who came to know God which captured him. Unlike the short-timers (the prisoners who were in and out regularly never learning from their mistakes), these lifers had come to see life with the kind of clarity which few ever attain. As a result, they saw people, circumstances, and all of life in such a way, and lived in such a way, with grace and sincerity, that Bill Dallas could not help but aspire to it. Once feeling superior, better looking, better dressed, better educated, …just better, Bill had come to see how small and shriveled he was as a person compared to these men. And he cried out to God for a change.
If you read the book, and I encourage you to do so, you will find an amazing story of transformation, and a few principles on what it means to really live, as a “lifer”. I would suggest to you, in fact, that each of us should live with the “lifer” mindset as our benchmark. What is this “lifer” model for living all about? Let’s look at a few principles, drawn form Dallas’ story with the time we have left.
God extends to each of us, every day, the opportunity to experience life to the full. What are you doing with the life He gave you? Are you living for the short-term? Or do you have the view of a true “lifer”, one who sees the big picture in light of bigger realities? Life lived outside of God’s call for obedience and maturity is a life imprisoned by the bars of unrealized potential. Each of us experiences those moments when we know our hearts were built for something more, something beyond our natural ability. We all long to escape the tedium of mediocrity and life as usual. We search so many false options. We travel down so many twisted and dead end routes. We hurt so many along the way. We lead so many who are watching us to the empty highway of the most traveled path. If we could, in our mind’s eye, along with Bill Dallas, place ourselves in that cell with a lifer who has fallen and been redeemed by a God of grace and love, we too could experience what it really means to come alive, fully alive. Can you see yourself there? Can you examine your heart and your journey as you do so? What now?
Turn a deaf ear to the ways of the world, and listen closely for the whisper of the Spirit of God. In doing so, you just might find the kind of life you always dreamed of. Not a life of ease and constant accomplishment and success, but rather, a life lived fully attune to every situation, circumstance, person, and purpose… a life lived as a true “lifer”.
Live for the long haul,
Bruce Smith
optimuslife.org
soulstormsite.com
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31. December 2009 by BruceSmith.
A New Year, A New Script?
Jim Carey, in the Truman Show, plays the role of the world’s first 24/7 reality TV star. From birth everything is scripted for him, and until the very end, he has no idea. The people he greets on the street, the people he works with, his neighbors, his friends, and even those in his own home, …they are all carefully arranged pieces in the predetermined script of his life, written for him by someone else. Seemingly, he is always aware that something is out of place, but he can never quite put his finger on it. Along the way, a courageous few try to break in, offer him clues, and encourage him to get free. Sadly, their attempts are thwarted by those who want to see Truman remain just where he is, mostly, if not entirely, for their own entertainment and gratification.
I am convinced that many of us live the same kind of frustrated existence. We love those the world wants us to love, we play as the world plays, we embrace the apathy the world settles for, we settle for soft minds, intellectual laziness and spiritual lethargy, and we buy into the mass media approach to life on the planet, always playing our role in a script largely dictated by the desires of others. For some its just easier to follow the crowd, for others its about living for someone else’s dream, still others just don’t realize how much bigger life can be beyond this confining bubble.
We must get out if we are to find the life we were meant to live.
The new movie “Nine”, a musical featuring a ton of big stars and more than a fair amount of lengerie, is apparently a flop at the box office according to some initial numbers. Yet, if one can stomach the somewhat slow start full of dancing sexual enticement, pleasure, ego, and debauchery, the movie gets around to presenting a truly profound and honest message. What the movie eventually gets to, amidst all the flesh, (and all the flesh turns out to be an important part of the message, in terms of setting the stage for the unfolding drama) is that life is bigger than our cravings. In fact, what Guido, the selfish, flesh-addicted, cheating, director comes to find out is that no amount of sexual or relational “freedom” will ever make him happy. A man, self-absorbed, and enthralled with getting every ounce of praise and amusement he can find, Guido finds himself broken, empty, confused, full of anxiety, and void of any meaningful relationships. He wants out, but he cannot come to a place where he has the courage to break free.
As Guido’s entanglement in this meaningless script deepens he succumbs to an ever increasing sense of despair, and becomes more keenly aware of the pain he is bringing into the lives of others. Finally, with no energy or desire left to continue, and as people at every turn are quitting on him, he just quits. He quits everything, including his directing and writing which make him famous. He wants to be done with it all. He wants to find himself, and really find life for the first time. This, as it turns out, is the beginning of his healing and the first steps toward a new journey.
Eventually, Guido, who breaks free of the conflicted cycles of living amidst lies, living without boundaries, and writing a diseased script, like Truman, exits stage left, and heads in a new direction. What unfolds in the end is truly mesmerizing. After a significant leave of absence from the past life, and from his directing and writing, Guido finds the passion and encouragement to write and direct again. This time its all different. Rather than a sex-filled, pleasure seeking, and self-absorbed script, Guido sets out to write the script he has always wanted to live. This new script is one of redemption, goodness, faith, and meaningful relationships. And what is so striking as Guido takes the Director’s chair again, is that all those players from the scripts of the past come to line the perimeter of the set, watching, and with a strange sense of gratitude and elation, hunger to see this new script, this new drama, this new life. The characters from the previous script, somehow, look on knowingly, and with appreciation and longing, wishing they could be, themselves, characters playing a new role, embracing a new life. Its a great scene as the movie closes. Everyone, finally, gets to see Guido, immensely talented, but so long off course, find his bliss, and live the life he was meant to live. Somehow, this change in direction brings hope to everyone around. Wow.
The same reality confronts us every day our lives. We can play into the twisted, confused, and empty script of a world gone mad for nothingness. Or we can place ourselves in the middle of the script God has for us. The quality of life we lead is totally determined by that choice. Many will try to keep you confined to the same misery they experience every day. A select few will point you in the right direction. Whether they know it or not, however, all those characters lost in a broken script with us, long for us and themselves to break free and find what life is really about. When they see it, they know it. “That’s the script we all need!”, they will say. Have you reviewed the script you have been living lately? Is it a winner? Might there be something better out there?
What script are you gonna live in this year? What drama do you really want to play a role in? Is it time to exit stage left, and move away from the set you have placed yourself in? I assure you, God has a new set, new characters, new plots, and better endings in mind for you. Get on with it! Break a leg.
Happy New Year!!
Bruce Smith
optimuslife.org
soulstormsite.com
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26. December 2009 by BruceSmith.
Christmas Blues?
One of my kids mentioned yesterday, “It has not felt like Christmas this year for some reason”. Typically a joyful child, I was surprised to hear this. We talked a bit about why this happens as you grow older, and as life, real life sets in. It was a good conversation ultimately.
What is Christmas? Fundamentally, its not about the tinsel, not about the gifts, not about the food, not about the music, not about the get-togethers, and not about the bliss. As good as all those things are, and as many know all too keenly, those things are temporary, and fleeting. On a good year, and during a good “season” those things can bring elation, but on a bad year and amidst tough circumstances, the season can leave one with a remarkably deep sense of “blueness”. Where are you this year? Has the season been all you hoped it would be? Does it really matter, really, if you have truly understood Christmas?
Young Jake Olsen, recently featured on ESPN, is a great example of how tough life can become. His Christmases will never be the same after his recent surgery. Jake, a rabid USC fan, who was found to be carrying optical retina tumors in his body, early on in life, just had his second eye removed. He can never see another thing as long as he lives. Tough stuff for a kid and a family. Before his surgery, and after, he lived a dream, he spent time with the USC football team. What is striking about Jake and his demeanor, is his optimism and spirit. He, despite circumstance and through choice, has found the ability to “see” life in a positive way despite the obstacles. All is not lost, never.
Christmas, to get back to our topic, is not about having all of life intact, not even for the holiday itself. Sometimes life is utterly confusing, frustrating, depressing, and messy. Sometimes, its just a bit “off”. For those that have come to know the Christ of Christmas, this should be no surprise. We were promised, by Him actually, that life would bring tribulation. In fact, study the lives of the most devoted in scripture and you will find one thing characterizes the life of them all–life got tough.
Life, and Christmas, must be approached with the fundamental mindset that its all bigger than what we get or feel. Our lives were not made, despite our American Dream craving, for comfort. We were put here for purpose, to live deeply, to process things through a more sure lens, and to know God intimately. Knowing Him is our key to depth, emotional and psychological poise, relational maturity, and circumstance navigation. If we know Him, and if we walk intimately with Him, and if we take the time needed to know Him deeply, even the bluest of episodes offer a chance for greater understanding, growth, and opportunity.
Christmas is merry, and our souls our merry, only when our focus is taken off of the circumstances and stuff, and placed upon the Christ of the season, who desires to be our all in all every day of the year and in every situation we face.
Feeling blue in the post-Christmas haze? Turn you focus away from the mess of your life, away from the nagging sense of what’s missing, away from the lack, even away from your abundance if you have it, and focus on the God who loves you, the Christ who saves you, and the eternal hope to come. The missing parts don’t have to overwhelm you, and the abundance is never good enough to sustain you. Our souls need more.
The hope of the season, sung about, gathered about, shopped about, decorated about, and eaten up, is sooo much bigger than the cultural trappings of a “holiday”. A true holiday of the soul begins in and resides in the reality of a loving God, reaching out to us to save us from our sins, and offering us something we could never find anywhere else. Its a gift always there for us to unwrap. Its a daily and moment by moment present, there for the receiving. What did you have set in place just as you wanted it this season? What was missing from the picture? The grace and love of a giving God is still there. His gifts are always extended to us. His direction is ours for the taking. His peace still remains, and our future, our eternal future, is unshakable. That is a recipe for the blues!
Truly, a proper understanding of Christmas enables us to “see” life in an entirely new way. May we see Him for who He is, and may we see Christmas, the real Christmas, amidst all the fanfare of this amazing season. And may the peace, joy, and resounding hope of the gospel fill us even as the blues threaten to sink in and steal our rest.
Merry Christmas, on this day “after” Christmas. Keep singing, keep listening, keep Christmas front and center, always.
Bruce Smith
optimuslife.org
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21. December 2009 by BruceSmith.
The virgin…shall give birth to a Son?!! Come, let us adore Him!!
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which means ‘God with us’”. (Matthew 1:23)
From our title today, you should notice a few things, critical things. The emphasis here, and in scripture, is on the Son. Big S for Son, little v for virgin. Scripturally speaking, despite any teaching you may have encountered along the way, its all and only about the Son. This is a fundamental and elementary biblical doctrine of utmost importance, for it is the uniqueness of Christ, the fully human and fully divine One, which establishes our redemption from sin and our position before God. He is other than us, yet, here for us! He removed Himself from the throne room of God, and placed Himself in the humble setting of a manure-scented cave populated with farm animals. All this, He did not have to do, but chose to do. Mary, a human, herself in need of a savior, played a role, but the unfolding drama was and is focused upon the One occupying the manger. He is the One to be adored! And for good reason. The entire scene leads us to One person, albeit, one little person in swaddling blankets. Small start to the eyes of onlookers, but headed toward very big things which impact all souls.
Scripture teaches that Jesus, uniquely and singularly, is the One figure in history who is without sin, and therefore, the only One able to break the chain of sin stretching back to Adam and Eve, and thereby offering Himself as the pure sacrifice for all our sins. If Mary (or any other human being) were to be sinless as well, as some have taught, what happens to the doctrine of sinful humanity and the unique need for Christ, a singularly perfect Savior? Mary, in fact, was the first to acknowledge the uniqueness and supremacy of the One she was carrying. She claimed He was her salvation and the One who was for the salvation for all people who would embrace Him. She always sought diligently to place the emphasis on the God Man, who, would be born out of her womb, despite her unworthiness, for the redemption of all mankind. She was the first to worship Him in spirit and in truth, truly. Her song is a resounding testament to this truth. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant” (Luke 1:46-48) She worshipped Him alone, calling others to do the same. She is blessed in that the greatest honor ever recorded in history was hers. She was, through no effort or readiness of her own, given the call of God to be the first doorway of entrance for the Son of God into the world. Again, we worship God for the grace bestowed upon an imperfect, but willing, human. That same grace He extends to humanity at large! That He uses broken vessels for His work here on earth is a staggering reality. He announced this intention even upon that silent, otherwise unremarkable, lonely, and Holy night.
Note from the title, a virgin was indeed involved in this historical and cosmic unfolding. There is more here than onlookers imagined then, and more than many accept today. God worked around the disastrous stain of human sin which taints every soul. The physical marrying of human seed and egg always results in another tiny sinner. They are cute when they pop out for sure (most anyway!), but, as is quickly seen, every little entering the world has a craving for self and misguided activity of all sort. We come into the world broken and in need. This is why the emphasis is upon the reality of God at work in a new way, entirely. God chooses, despite our inner corruption, to find a way to meet us on this dirty and soiled earth. His way, is to move upon a woman, sexually pure and without charge, and without the aid of a man, and yet, to place a remarkable life within her. Joseph, placed in the midst of this apparent scandal, having been engaged to Mary, must now make a choice. If he is to believe in the normal course of events he can only assume the worst in marry, and he can seal her fate to be stoned to death. And why would he not? If its not his, and if she has humiliated him in front of his community, why should he not give her what society says she deserves? His answer is startling in its implications. He does not appeal to his own mercy, his own forbearance, or his hope for Mary turning from her impure ways. Rather, along with Mary, he points to the divine drama they are wrapped up in. His foundation for courage is found in God’s messenger sent to him in order to tell him to take heart for the child is from God. Had not Joseph been assured of God’s work in this case, he certainly would not have acted the way he did. He would have had every right and basis for moving on and finding someone else to marry. Joseph, then, was the first to understand the doctrine of the virgin birth, and to respond to it in faith and acceptance.
Another reality we should notice from the title is that of the miraculous. Unlike any other human in history, Jesus, Immanuel, God with Us, was born with no help from a man. God has broken into our existence in striking fashion. This is critical in the theological sense of things. This sets up the entire story, life, work, and reality of who Jesus is. Had He be born of a man, He would, like the rest of us, carry the original sin of Adam. This is why Jesus is called the “second Adam” or “better Adam”, for He breaks the chain of sin for us, and offers His perfect sacrifice in order that God might accept us through the work of Jesus. Any denunciation of this fundamental truth brings our claims to salvation in to question. It is the perfection of Christ, the Godhood of Christ, God here for us, in our place, overcoming the work of the first Adam, which gives us a way to walk in relationship and forgiveness before God. The miracle of Christ, His perfect birth, and sinless state, is the overwhelming message of God reaching down to humans who could not climb their way to Him. He has extended Himself, given Himself on our behalf. This is the Christian message. It is unique among all the religions of the world. It is God’s work for us which gets the glory. Its not about our moral climb. Thanks be to God!!
Lastly, what we must recognize in the title and in the message of scripture is the radical, engaging, and personal activity of God on our behalf. The staggering reality of biblical Christianity is that God, unlike the god of other world religions, unlike the gods of the greeks, unlike the gods of the cults, unlike the teaching of any other system of spirituality in the world, is knowable, loving, redemptive, nurturing, knowable, and FOR US!! Though He is unfathomably holy, perfect, and pure, He is a God of pursuing love and affection toward His people. The words below, from Karl Barth’s marvelous little work, The Humanity of God, point to the amazing and passionate heart of God for us. The miracle of the virgin birth is a testimony to the fact that He has not left us alone. He is God, holy other, supremely pure, and infinitely eternal. He is the Creator, self-defined, complete in Himself, yet, He loves us and is with us! Barth writes,
God’s deity is thus no prison in which He can exist only in and for Himself. It is rather His freedom to be in and for Himself but also with and for us, to assert but also to sacrifice Himself, to be wholly exalted but also completely humble, not only almighty but also almighty mercy, not only Lord but also servant, not only judge but also Himself the judged, not only man’s eternal king but also his brother in time. And all that without in the slightest forfeiting His deity! All that, rather, in the highest proof and proclamation of His deity! He who does and manifestly can do all that, He and no other is the living God.” (p. 49)
Oh, Come let us adore this God! The living God! Jesus, Immanuel, God with us! Oh, Holy Night! Night Divine! A figure, a place, a night, which changes life for all humanity. Will you make a place for Him?
Bruce Smith
optimuslife.org
soulstormsite.com
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15. December 2009 by BruceSmith.
Blog.optimuschoice.com
Waking up to the darkness, and living in the light
Announcement: be on the lookout for our Miami 2010 Who Dat? Fan Bands! Silicone wristbands in black and gold with black/gold lettering to support our teams march into Miami for the Super Bowl, but more for our raising of funds for alterthecycle.org and the vision to build a long term solution for women and their children who have been victims of domestic violence. Bands are $3.00 each, come in youth and adult sizes, and are individually packaged. The website will be up soon, and 50% of profits go to the building of the facility! Your can order through email now at soulstormwriter@yahoo.com and you can see pics on my FaceBook page!
Waking up to the darkness, and living in the light
A number of years ago I was given the privilege of inflicting untold pain upon a full congregation of worshippers in a thriving church in Florida. Prior to preaching on this Sunday, and to the dismay of an unsuspecting group of devoted believers (mostly, I think), I was allowed to sing a solo! Yep, me. I had not done that before, and certainly have not attempted it since! … many are grateful for this reality, I assure you.
That being so, I was, yet, extremely passionate about my rendition that day, despite my legitimate lack of confidence in or certainty about my talent. I made a loud and joyful noise, emphasis on noise, but it was truly joyful and inspired. My reason for the passion of my performance, you must know, resided in the depth of the truth I was singing about, and the soul transforming efficacy that truth had wrought upon me. The song, one with a resounding theme heard often in churches, and particularly at Christmas, was The People Walking in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light!
The song, uniquely powerful, comes from the following verse in Isaiah 9:2 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (NIV)
Even as a young man, who by “worldly” standards had lived a pretty tame time life, one with relatively few “really bad” moral failures; no criminal record, no affairs, no drug use, etc., you get the idea, I had come to understand the deep darkness of Isaiah 9:2 which lurked in my own heart. I sang that day with an abandon that I rarely accessed in my preaching. Given the opportunity to use the medium of song and lyric, my courage was unreasonably heightened, and I gave voice to the greatest truth I have come to know: darkness is real, is seeks to envelope each of us, and the light, His light, the light of God, revealed in Christ Jesus, sets me free to living a life fully lit up. Its a quality of life utterly, vividly, and unquestionably discernible to the soul.
This truth, I say again, is the greatest truth I have ever discovered. People sometimes get annoyed with my compulsion for Christmas music (a compulsion which not too uncommonly will urge me to listen to it, and sing it, even in the middle of summer on occasion), and often ask, “What gives?” or “Don’t you ever get sick of it?” Never! I reply. I cannot imagine, and hope I never begin to imagine, how one should tire of hearing the singularly most important message the world has ever known, sung in the fullness of joy and adoration. To fall asleep to this reality, for me, would be like being trapped in an interior closet of a darkened basement with no light, no warmth, no sound, no life. Its a horrifying existence, I am afraid, far too many live in without recognizing it.
But what is this darkness of which Isaiah speaks? He speaks a darkness which finds its way into the heart of a nation, one specially touched and selected by God Himself, and He speaks of himself, a holy man, a prophet, susceptible to the same darkness. Isaiah draws attention to the great darkness of his own heart and that of the people he serves. Could it be that this darkness relates to us as well? Indeed it does. This is the profound and necessary truth which, once embraced, sets us up for the unfathomably ecstatic message of the light of God revealed in grace, in Christ alone.
Isaiah is not speaking of some general darkness, but rather, he speaks of a personal and intense darkness which shrouds the hearts of people, cultures, and entire nations. The darkness he points to is, by biblical definition and practical reality, anything which is not in keeping with God’s standards of holiness. Let me state that clearly again, for we often miss a realistic and biblical view of darkness. Darkness, as defined by God, and therefore must be accepted by us, is anything which is not in keeping with what God alone says is good, holy, pure, life giving. A soul defined by darkness is a soul separated from God, a soul lost in the visionless forest of sin. That is a life without clarity, brightness, or light.
Let’s work this out in real life. If God has a standard for speech, anything contrary to that standard is thereby “dark”. If God has a standard for sexuality, any manner of lifestyle which is not in keeping with His call to holiness is, yes, “dark”. If God has a standard for honesty, anything not meeting his definition is “dark”. If God has a standard for relationships (romantic, friendship, or otherwise), then any daily practice of living outside of those boundaries is, again, “dark”. If God has a standard for pleasure, a standard for fun, a standard for parenting, a standard for attitude, a standard for alcohol consumption, a standard for finances, a standard for … You get the idea. Some folks, by ignorance, decision, or indecision, embrace the condition of soul darkness and would rather grope in the dark than face God on His terms. Others, some who have inched toward God even, want a piece of Him, yet regularly choose darkened ways of living, thereby robbing themselves of experiencing a soul fully alive and thriving in the light. Both kinds of darkness are to be avoided.
Anything which keeps us from the quality of life God desires for us is akin to groping around in a dark, wild, untamed forest full of mortal dangers (venomous snakes, poisonous spiders, bobcats, quicksand, leech-infested waters, rabid rats, wild boars, …) at every step, all the while thinking we are safe and headed in the right direction. We have no idea how bad off we are because we hear the sounds of others groping in the dark with us, each comforting the others with unrealistic hopes and affirmations, “It will work out somehow.”, “We can’t be that bad off, really.”, “Sooner or later we’ll find our way.”, “This is fun!”, “Whose to say this is not good for us?”, “I don’t regret any of this.”, “It hurts, but we’ll learn from it somehow.”, “It could be worse.”, “I’m o.k., your o.k..just don’t think about it…keep goin.”, “Nobody gonna tell me what to do!”, and, “Its my life! I’m playin by my rules!” The pronouncements are nothing more than ridiculous banter which could not be further from the truth. Such are the nature of our pursuits and lifestyles apart from biblical wisdom. There is no reality, advice, or life-giving direction to be found apart from biblical revelation, God’s truth. God must be our source for direction if we are to have any hope to live a life worth singing about. If our spirits are to leap, we must come out of the forest shrouded by darkness and run into the light of truth.
And oh, how different is the light! The experience of coming to know, truly know Christ, is akin to having been walking in that dark dangerous forest, and to one day have the darkness lifted, to finally see the dangers all around, to feel and fully understand the foolishness and depth of the self-deception, and then to crave, accept, and experience rescue from the situation. As the light grows in intensity, and the pure brilliance of light settles in, the one rescued begins to see more and more of the afflictions they had taken on while stumbling in the darkness. The wounds of the darkened journey begin to appear. The marks where the leeches were feasting become apparent, the fang punctures are seen for what they are, the gangrene (in this case the decay and rotting of soul tissue) is seen for the first time, and the reality of a dead and decaying soul is more vivid than ever. Amidst this reality, this fresh understanding of real life, the eyes of the soul are opened and the heart leaps for joy for the first time in consideration of the hope of a brighter future with vision, security, and protection. Only God, The Rescuer, can bring this kind of hope and salvation. It can’t be found on a self-help shelf, on a TV show, or in another person. He is The Light we seek.
Just as Isaiah’s eyes were opened to the severity of his corrupted condition in Isaiah chapter 6, and just as he came to know the overwhelming grace and forgiveness and newness of God as the vision unfolded, so too, we have the opportunity of living in the reality of the Christmas story every day of our lives. We can be the one the song is about, “Those who were walking in darkness have seen a great light!” A Great Light, indeed!
May we long for the light of Christmas (and this is the symbolism behind all the lights on the houses and trees) to be shed abroad in our hearts and upon our daily lives. May we crave His relational realities, His standards for us, His call for our generosity, His pleasure in our patience, His hope for our moral purity, His thirst for our worship, His smile upon our gentleness, His assurance of our modesty, His joy over our forgiveness, His enthusiasm for our sobriety, His expectation for our reaching out to others, His compulsion for our living in true Christian community, His blessing on our faithfulness, and His love for our walking in the light. May we know Him. May a great light dawn upon our lives this Christmas season.
Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
Where is your life dark today? Have you asked Him to take all of you and to direct your every step in life? Are your choosing darkness in your relationships? Is your leisure time a bit too dark? Have you tasted the light only to hide in dark places too often? Is your craving for the big lights and festive places of our world darkening your character? Have the darkened hallways of success without boundaries imprisoned you? Has the darkness of stolen waters, adulterous waters, flooded your soul? Has an emotional affair darkened your conscience? Have the years outside the life of the church left you dark and cold of heart? Have poor choices left you and your family darkened by the harshness of failure or collapse? Your only hope, today and always, is in the light.
Moving out of darkness: practical steps
Caught in the cycle of bad relationships? Take God up on His call to be in romantic relationships and primary friendships with those who know Him and walk according to His ways CONSISTENTLY.
Falling in to the same trap of pleasure seeking and sinful patterns? Take God up on His call to long for His statutes and ways. Apply His call to abstain from places and situations which provide temptations to dark things ie. things in contrast to His best, and his standard of holiness. Allow yourself to be tempted in any area enough, the flames will scorch you eventually.
Being tossed to and fro in your thought life? Learn to take the Bible as His truth, revealed to us for life and godliness, our sole source of faith and wisdom. There are many deceiving and dark voices in our culture and world. To be dark it need only lead you away from His absolute truth. Trust in many “truths” is an abandonment of His truth. He is THE WAY.
Trapped by your own emotional lack of control? Pray for and pursue the fruit of the spirit, particularly patience and self-control.
Need clarity on where to go next with your life? Actually seek Him first, above comfort, riches, a hot mate, fun, or ANYTHING else. Actually make Him your central desire in all things. Then seek Godly input (not advice from non-biblically based friends or other sources) from a handful of spirit-led people.
Need unity, peace, bonding in your home? Address the real issues on a deep and open level, open the scriptures, confess your history of non-adherence to them, call all of your family to a fresh pursuit of God, and then work at it daily, openly, and passionately. And extend a healthy share of forgiveness along the way.
Need relief from the darkness of always being desired only for your physicality? Stop presenting yourself in ways which beg that result. Stop placing yourself in settings fueled by sexuality, crudeness, hormones, drink, and the abandonment of self-control.
Do you crave the light of a relationship that offers you encouragement, joy, meaning, depth, assurance, conversation, and spiritual connection? Be a person characterized by those things and then unwaveringly pursue others who meet those desires and who also want and exhibit those same desires.
Want people to view you as a person of substance, intelligence, and source of good advice? Seek, dispense, study, and thirst biblical wisdom, and have your conversation characterized by things that matter rather than the foolishness and darkness and emptiness that characterizes the speech of so many.
Want to know what it means to really feel good about life? Impart goodness, generosity, care, love, and kindness into the lives of others. Be a reflection of Christ; love and serve others with no desire for your own gain, notoriety, or advancement.
Want release from the darkness of addiction? Cut it off! Cold turkey. See the darkness of gambling your paycheck away, see the darkness of viewing men or women as objects of gratification, see the darkness of eating your pain away, see the darkness of buying your pain away. Call it what it is and bring it into the light, share the struggle with a trusted friend or two, and get help. What stays in the darkness grows in the darkness, what is brought into the light find healing in the light.
Want to stop the routine of serial romantic relationships? Shun the darkness of using others to make yourself feel good for a few weeks or months. No matter how many you use or allow to use you, you will never the the hurts of the past, get back at those who damaged you in the past, and you will not bring health to your soul.
Want to find forgiveness from the pain of never measuring up? Realize you never will. And trust that God’s grace and forgiveness is enough. Accept that and live in it.
Want to stop the cycle of abusing others? Come out of the darkness. Deal with your dark anger. Get help. Find restoration. Seek the reforming power of God’s regeneration of the soul.
Whatever your darkness is, there is a way into the light of a new day.
The route from darkness to light runs through the heart of Jesus Christ. Wise men and women still seek Him.
Walk in the light, the Great Light of Christ Jesus!!
Bruce Smith
optimuslife.org
soulstormsite.com
blog.optimuschoice.com
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8. December 2009 by BruceSmith.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
For the remainder of the month, the Christmas season, we are going to focus on the great truths of the Christmas hymns and songs. More than sentimental tunes full of syrupy sweet empty spiritual calories, the great songs of the season which have stood the test of time are full of rich theological truths. These truths, properly understood, fill us with a deepened sense of what Christmas is all about. More than a “holiday”, this is the historical marker around which all of history finds its bearing. This event, the Christ-Child event, is the beacon shinning through ages of darkness and despair. In a world broken apart by sin, strife, pain, and purposelessness, the birth of Christ offers a way through, a way forward, a new start, a gleaming hope.
Emmanuel! Literally rendered “God with Us”, is the fundamental herald of the Christmas season. This heart-stirring song proclaims the greatest truth the world has ever known, God is with us!
As the prophets of old pointed to the person and work of the Messiah to come, Jesus, the hope then was the same as the hope revealed on that Holy Night, and the hope which now remains–God is with us on this journey. Moreover, He desires to be intimately involved with us along the roads we tread. Just as He was the long awaited hope for the exiled nation Israel, so He stands today, as the fulfillment of the thirst of a spiritually exiled modern people, longing for something, someone, who can fill the void and make sense of the comings and goings of our lives.
Where are you today? Is your life lacking anything? Are your relationships perfectly intact? Is your economic reality really secure? Have you been hit by unexpected difficulty? Is your heart yearning for more? Do you have all the twists and turns of your life figured out? If you are anything like me, there is much to be desired, uncertainty all around, and certain hopes and dreams still in exile. Maybe its family, career, internal issues, or something else, but all of us are in need of something.
For some its the years which were wasted. For others its the poor choices of the past which have impacted the present. Still others find its a deep sense of guilt and a feeling of unrelenting failure. Some have fallen upon the reality that all of the accomplishments and accolades gathered along the way just don’t fill that void which remains. There is a sense that something is missing, life was meant to be more.
The message for each of us is simply this, God, Emmanuel, is with us. He is there wherever we may be. He knows the attacks of the enemies upon us. He sees our dilemmas. He feels our dashed hopes and dreams. He is with us. There could not be any greater comfort than to know that the Creator of the universe sees, knows, and longs to extend His hand of help to us amidst our journey! His heart is for us. He is longing to reach the exiled heart. He is longing to be the ransom for the indebted soul. He longs to set the captives free. He desires to cause our hearts to, again, or perhaps for the first time, truly, Rejoice!
Will you celebrate this season in spirit and in truth? Will it be more than a “holiday” for you? Will the songs you hear and sing really capture your heart, emotions, and soul? Will you finally find that vacation of the soul you have always longed for? If that is to be your hope, you must place yourself beside that manger, accept Him, Jesus, as God Himself, and celebrate the coming of God to earth to set our hearts free and rejoicing. In so doing, the light of Christ, God in the flesh, will transform your entire being, and the season will be aglow in your heart, mind, and soul. You will sing those songs, really sing them, for the first time. May that be the reason you celebrate this year. May it be the way of experiencing Christmas as you never have before.
Rejoice, Rejoice!
Bruce Smith
optimuslife.org
soulstormsite.com
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30. November 2009 by BruceSmith.
Job 28:12ff reads, “Do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding?” It is the question of the age, of all ages.
Self-Help manuals, secret insight writings, personal growth gurus, success sages, motivational masters, … the list for sources of advice in our culture seems endless. In a world seemingly more sophisticated than ever, it seems we are still groping in the dark for true knowledge, real truth. If the studies are even briefly scanned, and the headlines read, despite the abundance of personal growth advice which seems to multiply daily, we remain a society deeply unfulfilled, misguided, angry, addicted, and emotionally off kilter. In fact, what the research demonstrates, despite our modern achievements, wealth, comfort, and “progress”, is that, as a whole, we are more dependent upon counseling than ever, more “prescribed” than ever, and more unfulfilled and sad than ever. What is missing?
Self appointed spiritual sages suggests truth is relative, non-exclusive, undefinable, open to opinion, relationship gurus tell us to open ourselves to anything that makes us feel good as long as “consent” is granted, pleasure pundits suggests the key to happiness is, well, happiness or fun without boundaries or at least self-delineated boundaries, success gurus tell us that accomplishment will fulfill us, hollywood tells us that celebrity can define us, and the corporate world tells us that title and wealth will ultimately protect us. Is it working? Not even remotely. Why? Its all about the missing piece.
Shel Silverstein, in his profound little book, The Missing Piece, tells of the problem we all face. As we journey through life, looking every which way but the right way for that thing which will “fit”, we pursue one futile attempt after another, never really finding that essential part which fills the void. When in relationships we miss the truth of God which calls for patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, and a slow tongue, and instead we opt for a full on fight for our rights, our way, our desires, the last word, and the drive to be proven right. Rather than grace and restraint, we offer spite and callousness. In place of a hunger for the best in the other to be nurtured we follow our cravings and desires. In place of team work, we choose individualism. In place of cheering one another on to godliness we sit quietly as the call of God for our lives slips away. Then, in the aftermath of broken and cold relationships, we wonder what in the world went wrong.
In the professional world we kick, scream, and threaten our way to the goal, and then wonder why we have no true friends or people that engage and respect us. Or perhaps we long to be united to someone in a meaningful relationship, someone who will value, support, encourage, and lead us, and yet, we continually place ourselves in social settings where we are more likely to find the exact opposite profile. We desire to win a mate to our side who will go with us the entire way on life’s journey, and yet, we continually choose those who are more interested in themselves, and who are looking more for physical enticement than faithful companionship. We desire relational depth and maturity, but we allow ourselves to be pulled to “sexy”. We desire to be in relationship with someone who values us for the person we are inside, and yet, our presentation of who we are only calls attention to our exterior. We desire the life God would have for us, knowing it must be best, yet we continually avoid the lifestyle He leads us to believing the lie of culture that the wide road is the route filled with more fun and fewer prohibitions. Or we desire to walk with God more intimately, yet we rarely spend time with Him in prayer, worship, or study, and we find ourselves at a loss when we are dry inside, confused, and numb to the things of God. Where is the wisdom in any of this?
Perhaps, like many, you attend church, know some of the lingo, hang out on the fringes of the christian group at certain times, enjoy the Sunday service, but you also tend to follow the party crowd. You separate your life into categories. There is the fun-time you, and there is the spiritual you. There is the parent you, and then the frisky-fun you. There is the you who longs for meaningful and intelligent, even spiritual conversation, but then there is the potty mouth you, the emotionally careless you. More often than not, you find yourself trying to convince others how good you are despite the disparity in the way you live from one situation, one setting to the next. Is there wisdom to be found here? Will this ever work? Will follow the norm this way ever prove ultimately satisfying?
Such an approach to life will always leave us like that wandering character who never finds the one piece which brings the puzzle of life together. God has an idea in mind for how we experience Him, how we walk with Him, how we walk with others, and how we manage our inner lives, even our social lives. Try as we might, to make life work another way, it never will. All the opinions of cultural gurus, talk show hosts, and motivational experts will never replace the one missing piece, WISDOM.
Wisdom, truth as defined by God alone, is the piece to the life puzzle which brings all the moving parts of our lives together in harmony. That wisdom cannot be found apart from a committed and passionate desire to read and understand the scriptures given to us by God, the Bible. Parenting help? Its there. Marriage manual? Its there. Friendship issues? Its there. Sex guidance? Yep, that’s there too. Emotional control issues? Its there. Fatherhood issues? There. Teenage craziness? Yep, you can find it there. Anger? Got that too. Forgiveness? You bet. Betrayal? Oh boy, its there. How to deal with poverty? There. Wondering about what life in the church should look like? Its all there. Gossip problems? Your cure is there. Selfishness? Done. Wanna know how you should live out your faith in front of others? Ditto. Praying and hoping your kids will find their way to God? Look in the Book. You name it, the Word of God has insight for your life. Wanna know how to really win the heart of your potential mate? Read the book. Biblical wisdom is the ticket. That, above and beyond the opinion of friends, Oprah, writers, coaches, and anyone else, is the wisdom you need. Try as you might, you cannot, will not, ever, find true wisdom elsewhere.
We turn back now to Job, a man whose righteousness and life skills far surpassed anything any one of us could hope to aspire to. This upright, accomplished, wealthy, important, and well known man, on the heels of amazing success, amidst an onslaught of severe difficulties, and under the weight of a myriad of confused opinions, came to find the answer to the riddle of life. In seeking understanding for his life and problems an important realization was provided him. If this truth were so central to the life of this man, how much more must it be true for us? We turn back to his question posed at the beginning, “Do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living. ‘It is not here’ says the ocean. ‘Nor is it here’ says the sea. It cannot be bought with gold. It cannot be bought with silver.” Job 28:12-15
And so, Job makes us aware that wisdom, true wisdom, cannot be found by human opinion, it cannot be found in nature, and it cannot be bought. If we should hope to find the piece which brings all the disorientation of our lives together, we will have to turn somewhere else for help. Job, again, offers the compass for that part of the search, “God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found, for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens. He decided how the winds should blow, and how the rain should fall, and He laid out the path for the lightning. He saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly. And this is what He says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’” Job 28:23-28 What is fear of the Lord? An acknowledgement that His truth is life defining, and a passion to follow it. What is the evil we are to forsake? Anything which God does not call good. If its not what He calls people to, its now for His kids. Wisdom joyfully understands, and gratefully runs to this reality.
And so, Job, a man who learned wisdom through the good and the bad, at the hands of a God who loved him and tried him, came to discover, the piece for which we all search. The part which enables families to work, hearts to soar, lives to have meaning, and souls to be set free, is the wisdom of God. The scriptures suggests that such wisdom is worth more than silver or gold. Wisdom from God is that missing piece which, when found, brings a sense of alignment we could not experience otherwise. Wisdom is the missing piece to the equation which makes the math work. It is the sense of scale, depth, contrast and color, which makes the landscape of our lives come into proper focus. Wisdom is the first violin, the part which makes life really resound upon the score of our experiences. It is the breath which brings life to every situation. It is the heart of any lasting love affair. Wisdom is the catch of all catches. It is the wind which fills the sails of any voyage worth taking. She is bigger than any opportunity, more lovely than any woman, more attractive than any man, to be craved more than any fantasy, and more satisfying than any experience known to man. Wisdom, is indeed, the missing piece we all need. Search it out.
What is your need today? What does your soul need an answer for? What dilemma are you facing? What opportunity is being offered you? What relationship are you considering? How are your relational patterns? How’s your anger quotient? What’s your view on modesty? How is your definition of fun defining how life is working out for you? Is your escapism working for you? What friends do you need? What friends are keeping you from wisdom? How are you deciding how to spend your night? Your weekend? Your year? Your life? Need any direction? Is your career one that honors wisdom? Honors God? Are you winning the hearts of your kids? Are you doing your part? Is the life of the church a critical part of your life? Is wisdom defining who you are, how you live? Seek wisdom. Find God.
Bruce Smith
optimuslife.org
soulstormsite.com
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26. November 2009 by BruceSmith.
A Grateful Heart
On the day which, for many, is merely an appetizer for the gift gorging season, it is good for us to truly think on the many gifts and miracles in our lives. Beyond the turkey, the football, the desserts, and the sofa, Thanksgiving should be about two things; Thanks and Giving.
The thing about this great holiday, which comes and goes all too quickly, is it offers us a moment to look across the table, the yard, the field, the living room or the kitchen, and notice the grace of God in our lives. As you find yourself today in the midst of family and friends, take note of the lives represented there and the bonds you have shared, even those which have been tested over the years. Give thanks, verbally and otherwise, to those you have shared life experiences with, and realize how fortunate you have been to be alive and to be engaged in the lives of others.
Husbands, notice, really notice your wife today as she works herself weary to prepare for her family and friends. Join her in the kitchen, put your arms around her, and let her know how truly thankful you are that she is there, and has been there, that she gives herself so freely to others, and that she makes life better for those around her. Wives, make your way to your husband today and express how grateful you are for his role in your life, his provision, help, friendship, strength, and leadership in your home. Don’t take each other for granted, actually give thanks, verbalize thanks, for the food being there, the kitchen to cook in, the home to eat in, the hands to prepare it, and the lives around you.
Use this day as a marker, if needed, to re-ignite the flame of gratefulness in your home and in your life. We go through too many days, weeks, months, and years neglecting the importance of expressing gratitude for others, even for the smallest gestures and gifts. It needs to be said, expressed, regularly. Its a characteristic which should define our lives. Gratitude unexpressed is thankfulness unknown, a hidden gift. In order for it to be seen it must be shared, offered. The expression of gratefulness is a testimony to our character, our humility, our understanding that its not all about us.
Look your kids, spouses, siblings, and friends in the eye today and convince them of their importance in your life. Embrace your kids in a way that wakes them up to the love you have for them. Call someone and give thanks for their place in your life. Text someone who may not have expected to even hear from you and enrich their day. Make it a day of giving, of yourself, your words, your emotions, your encouragement, your touch, your life. Walk across the room and tell that estranged family member how good it is to see them. Call that one the family has not seen in some time and let them know they are missed. Find a way to give of yourself amidst the feasting. Give with an uncommon sense of generosity today. Extend generous portions of grace. Serve up a pile of thankfulness. And make it a day to remember. Then live that way the next day, and the next, and the one after that, and keep it going.
In a culture so blessed its easy for us to become numb to the many gifts and privileges in our lives. We are so “more” driven, and comfort crazed, we tend to lose sight of how much we really have. And all too often, because we can be so self-centered, we rarely give thought to anything beyond our own shadow. This is a day which calls us to look beyond ourselves, and to look upward, to the One who has given us the abilities, means, and gumption which enables us to provide for ourselves and others. As we express thanks to those around us, may we, foremost, express profound gratefulness to our God above, who is matchless in loving-kindness, grace, patience, gentleness, forgiveness, and provision. Without Him none of us would exist, joy would be unknowable, beauty inexpressible, wonder indiscernible, and love untouchable. It is to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom we are supremely grateful.
Thanks be to God! Happy ThanksGiving.
Bruce Smith
optimuslife.org
soulstormsite.com
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