Choosing Thankfulness

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

As I read this verse, I have to admit that I have had some trouble with joy and thankfulness lately. The past year has been tough. Our family has experienced many challenges. Heartache, betrayal and being defrauded by a trusted man of the church . . . deeply missing our daughter who's in her first year of college . . . adjusting to the passing of my mother . . . and the arrest of a dear friend . . . Many of you have had your own heartaches and sorrows and my heart aches with yours. Your stories are heart-wrenching and cause me to feel I have no reason to complain.

1 Thessalonians tells us to be joyful always and to give thanks in all circumstances. Apparently, joy and thankfulness have little to do with the state of our circumstances, and more to do with the state of our hearts and our attitudes. A grateful heart does not necessarily have to be thankful for the situation, but is to be thankful in the situation.

Thanksgiving is an expression of joy Godward regardless of our circumstance. It is an intentional choice not based on feeling but on the knowledge of who God is, what He has already done, and what He is accomplishing for us through Jesus Christ. It is believing in advance that God is working all things for our good. (James 1:4-5; Romans 8:28).

This past year I have learned that when I become frustrated with my situation, it is because I have a lack of TRUST in God and His ability to work all things for the good of those who love Him - for the good of me and my family. My lack of trust leads to frustration.

The truth is that God can be trusted. He works behind the scenes in ways we cannot imagine. He doesn't owe us anything, but He provides us with everything we need. His hand of blessing is always upon our heads. (Psalm 139:5) Everything He provides is a gift. (James 1:17) He passes through the raging waters with us. (Isaiah 43:2) His power exceeds all others. (Isaiah 46:9-10)

In this world, staying in constant fellowship with God is essential to maintaining a joyful, thank-filled heart so Paul tells us to pray continually. Through prayer, God ministers sweetly to our souls and shapes us to His will. The passage in Thessalonians lets us know that it is His will for us to be thankful.

Recently, my daily Bible study instructed me to go to God in prayer reflecting on His goodness to me. It also asked me to consider how I have responded to His goodness lately and the ways I have taken it for granted. Ouch! I felt like a girl with her hand caught in the forbidden cookie jar. I went to God in prayer knowing already that I was failing pretty miserably in this area. Truth is (and I am ashamed to admit this), I hadn't wanted to focus much on my blessings because I think I just wanted to be mad at God for all that had been happening. In that private place of prayer, God lovingly took me into His arms and tenderly comforted my heart. He gently led me to get a pad of paper and a pen and to begin listing all of my blessings. Well . . . it was a legal pad of paper and I wrote - and wrote - and wrote filling pages of paper. I wrote until my hand grew too tired to write anymore. We have a most generous and loving God. He is all good all the time. He has put a new song in my heart and I am most thankful for the ways He teaches me.

"Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:19b-20.

A warm and grateful heart is such an incredible blessing. I pray that God will help you find that place in your heart today. Here's an idea you can use to teach thankfulness to your family. It has really been meaningful to ours. Hope it brings you joy.

Each year I set out a small basket with a framed sign beside it that says:

Blessing Basket

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise,

give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:4-5

Place a stack of paper and a pen beside the basket in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Each person who passes through your home has the opportunity to record the things they are thankful for on the paper then places them in the basket. At our Thanksgiving meal, we pass the basket around the table and take turns reading a "blessing" from the basket. It is a rich and wonderful experience! After the holiday, I save the written blessings in a bag marked with the year. Those of you who are crafty could include these in a scrapbook.

A couple of years ago, this practice of reading the blessings really touched our time together. My mother was visiting and we laughed and cried as we passed the basket around. It was my mother's last Thanksgiving with us. I am grateful for such a warm and wonderful memory.

Nationalization of Health Care - A Moral Choice?

According to the National Center for Policy Analysis based in Washington, D.C. (www.ncpa.org):

-In 2005, more than 84% of U.S. residents were privately insured or enrolled in a government health program.
-An additional 10-14 million adults and children qualified for government programs but had never enrolled for those programs.
-Another 17 million live in households with annual incomes above $50,000 and could likely afford health insurance.

These estimates show that nearly 10% of our population theoretically have access to health care insurance but have chosen to forego it. The remaining 6% make less than $50,000 annually.

The uninsured among households earning up to $25,000 has decreased by about 21 percent in the last decade. The expansion of Medicaid and SCHIP has increased coverage - yet millions of families who are eligible for these programs choose not to enroll in them. When paid staffers attempt to sign people up for these programs in public hospital emergency rooms, the families refuse to do so. The consensus among these families is that they "do not need or want" the programs and that they don't want to deal with the "administrative hassles".

Federal law prohibits hospitals from turning away patients in need of emergency care so providers rarely refuse treatment for acute conditions. I have found this to be true. On the many visits we have taken to the emergency room with our children, the uninsured fill the chairs waiting their turn for free medical treatment for their sick children. Many of the uninsured do not sign up for government programs because there is no need to. They receive free health care anytime they get sick. Free public programs have expanded (Medicaid and state children’s’ health insurance programs S-CHIP). Some people who had health insurance have given up their private coverage to enroll in the public programs that are available to them.

19 million of the uninsured are between the ages of 18 and 34. The reason for their lack of coverage? Good health. They don't see the need for health insurance and choose to pay for incidental expenses out of pocket. They don't see health insurance as a good value.

1/4 of the uninsured are foreign-born. 80% of those are not American citizens. They come from countries where health insurance is not prevalent. It is not a normal part of their culture so they don't get it here in America.

Over the past 10 years, the fastest growing segment of the uninsured population has been in middle and upper income families. The ranks of the uninsured in households earning $50,000-$75,000 rose 47% while the percentage in households earning above $75,000 rose 117%. According to a study by Hanns Kuttner of the University of Michigan, the reason for this is that the number of people living in households earning over $50,000 annually has increased substantially.

A large percentage of those who are uninsured are typically only uninsured for a short amount of time - 75% of uninsured spells last one year or less.

So where's the real health care crisis? Our family has traveled to a number of other countries including 3rd world. We have seen what poor health care looks like up close and personal. It is horrifying. Although not perfect, America truly has the best health care system in the world.

Our family has struggled through the years in the area of health insurance. In the early years of our marriage, my husband and I initially enjoyed health insurance coverage through the company he worked for. When my husband lost his job and later worked for a man who did not provide health insurance, I worked so that we could receive health insurance through my company. When our son was diagnosed with a heart defect and struggled with debilitating allergies and asthma, we dealt with pre-existing condition exclusions paying many medical expenses out-of-pocket. When my husband started his own business, we were responsible for finding and paying for our own health insurance in order for me to stay home to raise our children. This was a difficult task considering our son’s health issues. For many years, we have paid the entire monthly health insurance premium (expensive!) and extremely high deductibles (some deductibles as high as $6,000 per year) in order to bring the cost of our monthly premiums down.

Even with these challenges, we strongly believe the government has no right to run our health care system. They do not have the ability or the resources/finances to do so. Rationing treatment and telling us who we can or cannot see as a doctor is completely unacceptable. We live in a small town where the health care providers are not excellent, and as a result, drive to a larger town 30 minutes away for all of our health care needs. In addition, our son has a heart defect. Because of our love for our son, we have always interviewed doctors and taken every precaution necessary in selecting the best possible medical care he deserves. My firm belief is that the bill being proposed for the nationalization of health care is unconstitutional. It denies my right to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What our government is trying to do today absolutely terrifies me. There are definitely better solutions if we would only explore them.

Inspiration from Africa's Slums

Our guide, Matt, led us across the red dirt of the Namuwongo slums in Kampala, Uganda where 7,000 people are packed between the bottom of a hill and a swamp. Many displaced refugees have come here to live – most of them single parents. I stepped carefully across the ground cluttered with piles of garbage, open sewage, and pockets of standing water. Malaria is a constant threat.

“Mama Kenna,” Matt called as we stopped in front of a shanty at the edge of the slums. Trash and old tires were strewn across the roof of corrugated tin that was littered with holes. A thin black hand pulled aside an old ratty strip of cloth that functioned as a “door”. From the darkness inside, a haggard face with deep-set eyes peered out at us. Mama Kenna invited us into her home where we met her 4-year-old son, Kenneth. She appeared to be in her 40’s, but I soon realized she was much younger. Her face had none of the lines and wrinkles of someone in her 40’s. She was very thin and the bones in her neck and upper chest were prominent.

My eyes traveled around Mama Kenna’s “home”. It was about 8’ by 8’ in size. The walls were made of mud, cow dung, and straw. The upper portion of one wall was crumbling due to the recent rains. Minimal light filtered into her shanty at the top of the side walls where the roof peaked. Piles of trash and empty water jugs took up valuable space in the back of her tiny home. 3 chairs had obviously been rescued from the junk heap, and a small table sat in front of the chairs. In one corner, a mosquito net hung over a child’s small blanket that was spread across the hard-packed earth. This was the place where Mama Kenna and Kenneth lay down to sleep each night. There was no bathroom and no kitchen.

On our visit to Mozambique earlier in the week, our friend had shared some words that came back to me now. “It is better to be a dog in America than a poor person in Africa.” He is absolutely right. Dogs in America live better than this.

As I silently grieved for this mother who cannot adequately provide for the child she loves, I noticed something on her little table - an open Bible. Mama Kenna had been studying and praying when we arrived. In their poverty, she was actually providing something very valuable to her son. She had given him a mother who is devoted to God and His Word, and who models an enduring faith in the character of God. She is a mother who believes in God’s goodness even in the most indescribable and unbelievable living conditions – if these can even be called living conditions.

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 tells us “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

This verse is speaking of being “intentional” in our parenting. Our teaching begins with establishing our own personal relationship with the Lord, then continues as we model that relationship diligently for our children. It isn’t just about teaching God’s Word. It’s about living it out as we strive to keep God and His teachings at the forefront of our daily living. Mama Kenna was doing this in her own quiet way. Her relationship with God brought hope into their world of hopelessness. What an incredible and lasting gift for her little Kenneth!

What are you teaching your children? Do the things you teach them have lasting value? How can you model an enduring faith for your children regardless of the circumstances you find yourself in?

God Meets Our Needs

In Luke 7:11-17, we hear the story of the widow of Nain. Widows were vulnerable, had no inheritance rights, and were often poor. After her husband’s death, this woman’s son was her provider and only means of support. He would also have been a great comfort to her as she grieved the death of her husband. The subsequent death of her son meant that she would be destitute and alone.

In verse 13, we see our Lord’s sensitive and compassionate heart. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Jesus obviously cared about the widow’s needs. In verses 14 and 15, Jesus took immediate action. Notice that there was no request for His help. Why did Jesus do this? He was motivated by His love for people and His compassion to help those who cannot help themselves.

When someone died, their bodies were washed, wrapped in linen cloth and placed in a coffin. The coffin (often open) was then carried to the grave. Family and friends mourned loudly as they followed along behind. When Jesus approached and touched the coffin, the people stood still. They had obviously heard of the miracles Jesus had been performing and wanted to see what He would do.

In Luke 7:15 the man sat up and talked, then Jesus gave him back to his mother. I cannot even begin to imagine this mother’s joy when her son came back to life!

Jesus helped the grieving widow without being asked. He recognized her need and responded. In Luke 7:16, the people in the crowd said, “God has come to help His people.” They were exactly right. Through Jesus, God had come to help His people in more ways than they could imagine.

Way back in the beginning, mankind had perfect fellowship with God. There was no suffering and no death. Suffering and death were not God’s natural plan for man. Perfect relationship was.
In Genesis chapter 3, the serpent deceived Eve with his poisonous words. He caused her to question God’s character and His motives. He removed the consequences for disobeying God. Eve – and Adam – fell for Satan’s lies, and sin entered the world. Their disobedience broke the perfect fellowship they had with their Creator. Suffering and death were the consequence for their rebellion.

While the apple was still sweet on their tongues, God had already put a plan in place that would solve mankind’s biggest problem. His plan would bring reconciliation and redemption. His plan is found in Genesis 3:15. Speaking to the serpent, God utters this curse,

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

In this verse, we see for the first time, God’s prophecy and promise of a coming Messiah who will crush the head of the kingdom of darkness gaining victory over sin and death. Yes, God had a plan and His name was Jesus Christ.

Through Jesus, God came to earth in human form to help His people. He did this without being asked. He saw our need for a Savior and desired to fill that need. He was motivated by His love and compassion for those who cannot help themselves. You see, God is holy and His standard for us is high. We are imperfect. As imperfect humans, we can never make ourselves good enough to stand in His presence. We need a Savior.

In all the madness in our world today, does it comfort you to know that someone sees your needs and that someone still has a plan?

We have a good and loving God. Through Christ, God will one day restore order to our crazy, mixed up world. I cannot wait for that day.

Power of the Cross

Seven years ago my cousin, Brian, died of cancer. He was 38 years old, had been married only 2 years, and had a 4-month-old son. I can remember his funeral clearly – the cast of his hands so his son would one day know how his daddy’s hands felt, the policemen who stood at attention as the family walked into the sanctuary, his wife holding their tiny son as she spoke about her husband, and the unimaginable grief. But there is something that stands out even more. As their pastor spoke, my eyes wandered to the giant cross hanging on the wall behind him. My eyes then became fixed on that cross, and the overwhelming power of the cross struck me hard. The power of God’s love, mercy, and grace rushed in and flooded my heart as I thought of our Savior who had died there. The truth of God’s power over death slammed into my soul as I considered our Savior who rose victoriously and gloriously from the tomb. As I looked at that cross, God profoundly reminded me that Brian was now with Him and I recalled how Brian had accepted Christ just a couple of months before his death. My heart instantly changed. I was overcome with joy and my heart celebrated in my little seat at that funeral. Praise God for the power of the cross!!!

This Easter, my prayer is that you will gain a new appreciation for the power of the cross in your life. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

Happy Easter!

Finding Hope

On a mission trip to a Russian orphanage, I met a wonderful young man named Roma Kholodkov. Roma was a seventeen-year-old boy who had been abandoned by his mother at a young age with no word of explanation or even a “goodbye”. Through our conversations Roma grew to hold a very special place in my heart. The day our team left the orphanage to return to the U.S., Roma walked me to our bus. As we said our goodbyes, he hung his head and uttered four words that will haunt me forever. He said, “Do not forget me.” In those words, I heard the cry of so many who suffer. We hear that same anguish in Psalm 77.

The psalmist, Asaph, records a time when he experienced a deep “winter” of the soul. The nation of Israel was in captivity in Babylon at that time. Asaph had lost hope even as a man of God. In great despair he reached out to God through prayer but found no comfort. He then began to ponder the days of old and the way life used to be. Thoughts of good times that had been lost kept him awake at night. Feelings of sadness, despair and confusion overwhelmed him. Had God forgotten him and abandoned the nation of Israel? Where was He?

Asaph continued to search for a way to comfort his soul. In his distress, he intentionally looked to the past and began to reflect on the great things God had done for the people of Israel. He meditated on God’s holiness, power, and faithfulness as He delivered His people from slavery in Egypt. As Asaph contemplated this history of God’s goodness, he was encouraged and hope returned to his heart.

In Romans 15:4, the apostle Paul tells us, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Have you lost a sense of hope today? Does the word “despair” define what you feel in your soul?

The scriptures give us a way to look to the past as Asaph did so that we can see God’s track record. It’s an incomparable and consistent record that grounds us in the truth of who God is and what He has done. The scriptures bring us face to face with God’s love, faithfulness, grace, truth, and awesome justice. Through them we come to understand our value to Him. Are you meditating on the scriptures today? They are a loving gift from God meant to teach us, encourage us and help us move into the future with hope.

For the past seven years, I have kept in touch with my friend, Roma. In my e-mails I have poured out my Christian love for him as thick as possible. I have also worked diligently to point him to scripture because I want him to know our God who never forgets His people.

Times are tough in America right now. Many of you face great challenges. Join me in keeping a steady gaze on God’s face through the scriptures. Here are some to start with. They answer some of the questions Asaph had in verses 7-9. Perhaps they’ll answer some of yours too.

Psalm 103:17
Heb. 6:18
Lam 3:22-23
Jeremiah 32:17
1 Peter 1:3

After you read these passages, set aside a quiet moment to reflect on the times you have seen God’s great works and mighty deeds in your own life.

Fighting the good fight with you,
Lisa

The Mark of a Disciple

It was one of those days. I had been snippy and short-tempered as I prepared for a speaking engagement out of town. Our son, Tanner, had received the worst side of my impatience. I dropped into bed exhausted that night beating myself up for my behavior. The next morning as I stood at the mirror getting ready for the day, a delicious aroma drifted down the hall from the kitchen. It was still too early for my kids to be up and I was pretty sure Mike was already in his office working. So who was cooking? More importantly, why were they cooking? Curiosity (and my nose) led me to the kitchen where I found my son, Tanner (10 years old at the time), cooking a wonderful hot breakfast for me. He had gotten up early (amazing!) just to prepare this meal. He knew the demands I would face that day and wanted me to have a really good breakfast to start the day off right. He even put my food on our “You Are Special” plate. My behavior had been anything but “special.” Somehow, Tanner was able to look past all my “ugliness” to show me grace. He gave me something I truly didn’t deserve. Why did he do this? Because of his love for me. This is the type of love Christ has for each of us. It is the deepest form of love - agape love - which means to value, esteem, prize, treat as precious, and be devoted to. Agape love is unconditional and chooses to love "in spite of." It not subjective and based on the loveliness of me.

John 13:34-35 speaks of agape love.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

This was a new command in that it referred for the first time to Christian love within the body of believers. As believers, we are called to love one another as Christ loves us.

How does Christ love us?

His love is sacrificial.
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” 1 John 3:16

It is demonstrated.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

It is a choice not based on feelings or merit.
"But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." Eph. 2:4

It survives anything and does not change.
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken.” Isaiah 54:10

It seeks our highest good by giving us what we need-not what we want.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

We are commanded to excel at this kind of love. When we do, it is:

1 ) Evidence of our genuine salvation.
2) A powerful witness to the world.

Genuine love for one another is meant to be a distinguishing characteristic of the family of God. Without this kind of love, others – both believers and non-believers – will suspect our sincerity and the validity of God’s love. One of the best ways to lead non-believers into the kingdom is to show them what the love of God looks like within the family. We can accomplish this by loving each other (believers) well. This requires us to look beyond the inherent "ugliness" within each person, just as my son looked past mine. To value, esteem, and treat as precious "in spite of". But we are not to stop there. We are to take that same type of love directly into the world to allow non-believers to experience that love as well.

Striving to love for the day is near,
Lisa