November 2007

“This is the Day?”

Have you ever had to sing a song when your heart just was not in it?

Most remember a day when you were supposed to sing:

"This is the day, (this is the day) that the Lord has made, (that the Lord has made). We will rejoice, (we will rejoice) and be glad in it, (and be glad in it )." and you had one of the worst days of your life.

Everything that could go wrong went wrong. Your newest car stalled on the road, 20 miles from home. You have just picked up the worst cold in modern history. Your youngest angel just spent the last week in detention. Your mother fell and is calling for more help at home. Your check bounced, your supper burned, your joints hurt, and to top it off, your prize milk cow Bessie just quit giving milk.

Then, when the really tough events of death, illness and financial ruin hit, what do you do? Some would vote to crawl back into bed and pull the covers over their head. Some would face it head on. While others might be tempted to just run somewhere, anywhere.

Some songs have a solution: "When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad. I simply remember my favorite things."

Some advertisers have the only answer: They tell you to take this, buy that, drink this and your life will be better.

Some psychologist's just talk about positive thinking. It is true as many say, that what makes the difference in life is not "what happens to us" but rather how you handle what happens to us. It is interesting that for many of life's situations, the attitude we take with them makes a difference. Are you the optimist or are you a cynic. Do you see the hard days as curses or possibilities. Do you let a struggle overwhelm you or do you let it stretch you, so you can grow. Can you see the good in life or do you only see the bad and the ugly. It is true that our attitude is important but we cannot depend on our attitude, our ability to think positively. Many situations are overwhelming and no simple instruction to "smile" or "hang in there" will do. What will carry us through is not our attitude and abilities but our dependence on an eternal, loving and all powerful God. Pastor George Everett Ross -- wrote these words

"I have served in the ministry thirty years, almost thirty-one. I have come to understand that there are two kinds of faith. One says if and the other says though. One says: "If everything goes well, if my life is prosperous, if I'm happy, if no one I love dies, if I'm successful, I will believe in God and say my prayers and go to the church and give what I can afford." The other says though: though the cause of evil prosper, though I sweat in Gethsemane, though I must drink my cup at Calvary- nevertheless, precisely then, I will trust the Lord who made me. So Job cries: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust Him."

It is our dependence on God that will allow us to move forward with confidence even in the toughest situations.

In this month of November, the Thanksgiving month, I hope that you will be able to see God's goodness in each day and be full of joy and thanksgiving. Don't put on a fake plastered smile and walk around pretending. Grab on to an authentic life, guided by and depending on Jesus Christ, who can help you deal with the struggles in life with a heart of thanksgiving.

Paul writes in Philippians 4: 11-13."I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it means to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any situation whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

He continued in his letter to the church at Thessalonica to:

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Paul had figured out the secret of living with victory. It is living dependent on Jesus with joy, prayer, and thankfulness.

Take time this month to thank God for his many blessings. Remember, God is ready, in all situations, to bring glory to His name through your life. When you are around your dinner table, at your office, in your car (eyes open, hands on the wheel) ask God to help you make a growing list of what He is doing in your life; whether easy or hard, and be thankful. Then sing the verse one more time; with feeling.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
(Psalm 118:24)

Have a great month!

Pastor Craig