Good Gifts

We’ve just wrapped up in the penultimate season of gift giving. A common discussion after Christmas is reflecting upon what we have received with others. We compare our gifts with what we hope to receive and contrast them with the gifts we gave. Perhaps one of the reasons we do so is that we want to see how much reality reflects our hopes – whether the items on our “wish list” actually made it into our living rooms.

James 1:17 tells us of the gifts that God gives – or more specifically the types of gifts that God bestows on us. “Every good and perfect gift is from above,” writes the author, reminding us that nothing we have received which is good comes from any other sources. God gives good gifts and for those of us who have grown up in the church, acknowledging Him as the giver of that which is good is fairly common practice. It is the reason why we pray before meals (or at least it should be) and the reason we exclaim, “praise God” when good news is received.

It is however, important to recognize that the gifts that God gives are good beyond just their inherent worth. They are good, because they reflect some part of God’s character.  Reflect back on the gifts that you’ve recently thanked God for. Do they not reflect His mercy, His forgiveness, His love or His generosity? Isn’t there some part of Him that is reverberated through these blessings?

Similarly, when faced with bad situations, these circumstances not only often compel us to seek our Father and therefore drive us into a deeper relationship with Him, but they also remind us of the pain, despair, and destitution of live without God. They too are a reflection, a reflection of what we’ve been saved from.

May we continue the practice of regularly thanking God for the gifts He’s given. And may we do so not just because we enjoy or delight in the gift, but because they demonstrate the holy character of the Giver.

The Preponderance of Provision

It's easy to think about all that we don't have. Maybe this is because we live in a consumer culture; maybe because this is just human nature, but whatever the cause, it doesn't take long for people to list the things that they don't have that they wish they did. In fact, for most of us reading this blog, if someone during the holiday season asks for our wish list, any amount of time that it takes us to deliver it is usually because of what we choose to leave off, not because we are lacking in desires.

One of the many amazing things about God, however, is that He never leaves us in this state of want. In fact, He always provides more than enough for what we need. Sure it doesn't always feel this way; sometimes it feels like we are lacking the right resources, opportunities or options to pursue a certain course, but in fact, God promises that this is not the case. He is actively pursuing our good (Rom. 8:28), not based on how we define it, but based on what is truly good. That is why Scripture teaches us not to worry about what we have or what we don't - God already knows what is needed, and He will provide (See Luke 12:29-31).

However, its not just in our day to day lives that the magnanimous nature of our God is displayed. In fact, the best example of the preponderance of His provision is illustrated in His Son's death on the cross. Not only did Christ's sacrifice provide payment for the sins I've committed, but His goodness, His righteousness, is put on my account (See Romans 4:6-8). In other words, not only is our debt erased, but when God looks at us, He sees all of the "credit" that Christ obtained. Our account is not at a "zero" balance, but instead, from God's perspective, it has all the riches of Christ's righteousness.

This isn't to say that we have nothing left to offer. In return for the riches of His provision, God asks us to lead a life that's pleasing Him. All things considered, it seems a small price to pay.


(This post was inspired, in part, by Dr. Mike Fabarez's message titled "The Gospel According to Abraham - Part 2" which you can find here)

Give to Receive

A lot of us have heard the saying, "it's better to give than receive." Just like "cleanliness is next to godliness" and "the love of money is the root of all evil" these maxims have a ring of Scriptural authority. The only problem is none of them are accurate quotations of Scripture. Instead, Acts 20:35 quotes Jesus as saying, "it is more blessed to give than receive."

This may seem like a minor point - after all most of us when equate blessing with goodness, so if it is more blessed to give than obviously that is better. But, while I believe this is true, I don't believe that it rightly encompasses why giving is good Its not just because it teaches us to share, which is a character trait that all mothers would deem admirable. Instead, giving is good because when we give, we actually get. We get God's favor, God's blessings, and we are draw closer to the ideal of becoming more like Christ. After all, who gave more than the One who abandoned heaven and took on the trials of the world, all for the sake of those He loves?

The problem is, those of us involved in Christian service sometimes are blinded by the inconveniences and the personal challenges that service often affords. We don't see what we are getting because we are grudgingly doing the things God has told us for the sake of others. We complain about the toll that service takes on us, without recognizing the benefits it affords if only we'd receive them. We give not accepting that which is given in return.

We should give; of our time, our resources, our possessions and our life, because God tells us to do so, and as people who love Him, we should do the things that please Him. But in doing so, we should also recognize that God's commands are always for our benefit. This is no less true when we are blessed through our giving.

Blessed Beyond Measure

It's been tradition for me to write a blog on my birthday. This tradition was neglected this year due to a crazy schedule. However, traditions last because there is value to them. So although this is a few days late, I still want to take the opportunity to write my thoughts on the previous 366 days. It a time to recall the lessons learned and the opportunities that lie ahead.

I believe that the word that most characterizes this past year is "blessed." Indeed, my life is an example of how gracious our Heavenly Father is because He has given more far more than even love would allow. The life of forgiveness and love that He bestows on me not only exceeds what I deserve, He's taken the punishment that is rightfully mine and given me goodness instead. Blessed is the only word that I think can adequately describe this exchange.

Lest anyone think that life has all been sunshine and roses for me this past year, let me quickly correct that misperception. There's been hurts and tears, pain and discipline. Yet in these blessings that He's given me so far surpasses these momentary inconveniences that as I reflect back its hard to remember what those hard. His goodness is far greater than any single event that can take place on this Earth.

And that's perhaps the greatest lesson I've learned. The things that happen to me now are temporary. Stressing over a bad time or a ill-thought word is scarcely worth it. The joy of what lies ahead is enough to compel me to forget these trivialities. A year later its hard to recall them even with effort. Learning to life each day with a recount of the blessings bestows puts all else in perspective. When looking at this life from Heaven's perspective, its difficult to be too concerned with the challenges that this world affords.

Instead, I look at my life, and I know that I'm blessed.

Sufficiency

You can have this whole world, but give me Jesus - lyrics from a song, author unfound


Being self-sufficient is a much sought after trait these days. Relationships fail, jobs end, parents divorce, and money runs out. Having our own accomplishments, our own trophies that we can point to give us a sense of pride and a confidence that whatever the world may throw at us we can handle it. We like to know that when all else fails, we can count on ourselves.

As encouraging as this awareness might be, its also wholly false. If we're honest with ourselves, we know that we are the most frequent culprit of disappointed expectations. We're never as good, or as nice, or as smart as we want to be. We all have our "D'oh!" Homer Simpson moments. Hopefully these moments are more about finding our remote control in the refrigerator than causing a rift in a relationship, but we all probably have plenty of both to fill a book. Being self-sufficient may seem like a nice ideal, but its an illusion.

Our accomplishments, our work, our achieved goals can no more be counted on during tough times to sustain us, than they could ensure that we would have continued success. When this is all stripped away, when our pride no longer can puff us up to such a degree that we walk on water all our own, what is left to depend on?

For the Christian, then answer is Jesus. And as often as we turn to Him when things are tough, the challenge is to have the same kind of reliance when things are good. While we are accomplishing those goals, reaching those dreams, and loving our relationships, do we daily sacrifice all of it to Him and acknowledge that even if everything is stripped away, we have all we need, because we have Him?

Jonah had to go to the bottom of the whale to learn this truth and even then the lesson didn't stick. May we learn it while we are still atop dry land.

One Isn't Enough

Being content is a state that is much sought after, and few seldom achieve. In fact, when I quizzed my students recently about what defines them, I was shocked when one of them answered "I'm content." You don't often hear people say that these days, even less when they are college students. It was a pleasant surprise, and one that I will cherish because this student had already discovered something that many adults her senior still chase after.

As frequent readers of this blog know (that's you, Mom) I write about being content a lot. A psychologist might say I'm projecting, but I don't think that is true. Just like my student, I think I'm a pretty content individual. Despite a pretty disciplined nature (which I've recently felt is more of a reaction that a proclivity), I'm not ambitious. On any given day, I'm pretty happy with the way life is, and even when there are challenges, I recognize that its a season and that I'm still way beyond blessed. I've also discovered though that there are some things we should not be content with such as an reluctance to completely surrender to God. Sometimes, we should want more than we have.

In the past, when I've listened to songs asking for "a thousand tongues to sing, my great Redeemer's praise" I always thought the lyricst was calling for a thousand people to reveal God's goodness. However, God has plenty of people who will declare His goodness, He doesn't need me to call forth a thousand. Even if there weren't people who will shout His name, the rocks and the trees would. So, what do the song lyrics mean? It's a desire that I could have a thousand tongues, because the one I have just isn't enough to do the goodness of God justice. Maybe with a thousand tongues I could adequately convey how God has richly blessed my life and the miracle of His salvation. There isn't enough time in the world for a single tongue to relate God's majesty, but maybe with one thousand I could get closer to that ideal.

Most people probably think one tongue is plenty for me (I tend to agree since in day-to-day life, I get in enough trouble with just that.) But when it comes to declaring God's love, one just isn't enough.

With the Eyes of a Child

One of the best things about kids is their absolute abandonment. Most of the times, kids are so unaware of themselves that they are willing to do things that as "civilized" adults we would never do. I remember one time when I was younger we were at a baseball game and I asked some man sitting next to me if I could borrow his binoculars. My parents were aghast but up until they expressed their astonishment I didn't see anything wrong with the request. Similarly, while I was in Kenya my favorite people to talk to were the children. I didn't feel any judgment or an awareness of my huge cultural ignorance. They were friends with me from the moment we shook hands.

Absolute abandonment is usually accompanied by wonder because it means that you are able to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. When you are free from contrived restraints, the opportunities for joy are boundless. I think this is why Christ commands us to become like little children; children take pleasure in what they've been given and find a myriad of ways to enjoy simple things. My niece can play with a piece of tissue paper indefinitely. As is often the case, at Christmas she was more enthralled with the packaging then the actual gifts. She found amazement in recycled tree bark during a season in which many adults are trying to ensure their status through their acquisition of possessions. Children discover that through enjoying what they have, further acquisition is unnecessary and they are amazed at their good fortune.

May we view all of God's gifts similarly.

Manufactured Experiences

I'm not the biggest fan of Disneyland. I realize that this is anathema to many people, one of them who happens to be my sister, but alas, its true. Disneyland is highly over-rated. Maybe its great for children, but for adults I don't understand the allure.

For a while, I didn't know why I was apathetic to the Magic Kingdom, but I've recently realized the cause. When you are at Disneyland (or any Disney theme park), everything is a poor substitute for something real. Instead of climbing the Matterhorn, you ride around a caricature of it in a cart. Instead of visiting various cultures, you glide in a boat listening to an annoyingly persistent song. Every experience at Disneyland is a manufactured one - designed to create a reduced representation of something great. It's called the place "where dreams come true", but its not. Its where contrived versions of dreams are produced and where people settle for less than greatness in exchange for convenience. And the really weird thing is that when you are there, you really are in another world. You can spend an entire day in one of Disney's parks and never venture into the community in which it resides. You were there, without ever making an appearance. This may or may not have been Walt's original intention, but it is what's come to be.

I fear that being content with manufactured experiences isn't exclusive to Disney, We all settle for less - sometimes its cause of fear, other times its because of expense, sometimes its just laziness. God has given us a banquet and we opt for fast food. Instead, may we always experience the bountifulness of His blessings.

A Giver, Not An Ascetic

As a youth, I infamously remarked once "it's the gift that counts." Years of teasing, and frequent attempts at trying to explain, have left me with one conclusion. . . I was right. It is the gift that counts, if you're the giver.

This was brought to mind recently when I heard a pastor exposit on contentedness. This is a subject that's near and dear to my heart and so I listened with rapt attention. One point that I found extremely interesting was that God commands us to be content with what we do have, not content with what we're without (Mike Fabarez, Nov. 28, 2007). In other words, the focus is not on our lack, its on our abundance. Regardless of what we have, all of God's children have exceeding riches (See Ephesians 1:7). Additionally God has given us many physical things "for our enjoyment" (See I Timothy 6:17). Some, those who are ascetics, believe that physical goods are trappings and should be disposed of. However, Paul makes it clear that we are to trust that these good things come from the One who is Good, and enjoy them accordingly.

Continuing his charge, Paul admonishes those who are rich in physical goods to share generously with others. Although this goes outside of the bounds of Paul's instructions, I believe that one of the reasons for this is because it is the most pronounced way that we can enjoy these physical blessings. When we share with others, our enjoyment increases. When we can use what we've been given to be a blessing, we've helped advance the Kingdom. Giving isn't just good for the recipient, its good for the giver. It brings the giver enjoyment.

My remark from when I was younger was, in all honesty, a mistake. But sometimes the "folly of our youth" can prove more wise than we originally anticipated.

Content with the Common

I don't know many people who like to think of themselves as settling. We all want to believe that we can get the best life has to offer, and although we may intellectually acknowledged that there will probably be some trade-offs and compromises along the way, we don't want to believe that life's treasures can't be ours. Who gets married not thinking that they are wedding their soul mate? Who purchases a car not believing that it will just what they expected? We are hard-wired to seek out and acquire the best and we convince ourselves that the things we do are in line with this proclivity.

Except when it comes to things of the spirit. For some reason, in this one area we tend to settle for less than everything. Maybe its because we know that to achieve the ultimate we have to get up all of ourselves: a scary proposition regardless of how sold-out you are. Maybe its because the topic is ethereal and we delude ourselves to think that we won't experience the side effects if we don't take it for all its worth. Maybe its because we don't life in holy fear of the consequences. Whatever the reason, it seems there are more people content to go to church and relegate discussions of the spirit to listening to a sermon from the pulpit than there are who would be willing to give up any Earthly luxury for a the same period of time. We put God in box because we are comfortable with Him being there. We can check Him off the list and move on to the things we understand, the things that can be defined, and the things that we can control. In other words, oftentimes with God we are content with the common.

The problem, of course, is that God is anything but common. When we try to define God we no longer experience Him. He is mystery and mystery can never be contained. When we don't approach His throne with awe, we lose the potential for Him to penetrate our lives and work His transformation. And that's why we come to God to begin with.


When our lives are focused on God, awe and wonder lead us
to worship God, filling our inner being with a fullness we
would never have thought possible. Awe prepares the way in us
for the power of God to transform us and this transformation
of our inner attitudes can only take place when awe leads us
in turn to wonder, admiration, reverence, surrender, and
obedience toward God.
... James Houston

Joyous Strength

I've been at this Christian thing for a while. A lot of times I relate to King Solomon: there's nothing new under the sun. I can quote Bible verses fairly accurately off the top of my head and can sing more worship songs than anyone (save God) could care to hear (If you doubt that - ask the art department where I work. They've been treated to a rousing rendition of "Father Abraham.) It's easy to get into a routine - a habitual expectation of how God will show up in my life. However, every once in a while, my arrogance is rocked and I realize that I have even begun to understand the depths of the mysteries of God. In short, I learn something new.

Nehemiah 8:10 states " . . .Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." I'm not sure when I first heard this, but it's been familiar to me for a long while. I've even suggested it to be used on Christian product. And yet, as I sat in the car after a frustrating day and listened to Chris Tomlin sing "How Great is Our God' it took on new meaning. I guess because I've always kind of twisted the verse in my mind to mean that when we rest in God, He provides us strength and joy. In reality, that's not at all what the verse says. The only joy that is talked about is God's. His joy, His pleasure that should be our focus. When we're focused on bringing Him glory, we're not worried about ourselves and our petty desires. We're not even focused on the blessings that God's given us. Our total focus is on God's happiness. Through this we get our strength. Our joy isn't the provision for our strength; His joy is. Because of it, we have reason to stop grieving. We have desire to move forward. And we have all the provision we need for today.

As humans we strive to avoid pain and seek pleasure. God's Word tells us to seek His pleasure. Not because of what it will get us, but because His joy is the only thing that can fill the "God-shape hole" that each of us have (a concept that was, oddly enough, originally presented by Pascal - a scientist.) We develop more and more into the person that God's created us to be, when we seek Him above all else. Only then, do we build strength.

Mercy Me's new song states what our heart's desire should be:

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

Holding On Too Tight

By afflictions, God is spoiling us [i.e., taking away from us] of what otherwise might have spoiled us. When he makes the world too hot for us to hold, we let it go. - John Powell

Growing up I had a license plate frame that said "Not Spoiled, Blessed." I was always a little self-conscience about it because it seemed very Orange County, but it was a gift from my parents, and so it stayed. (In fact when my mother reads this she'll be a little sad that she was a part of anything that caused me the slightest discomfort. It's o.k. Mom - I survived.) Desspite my awkwardness the license plate frame surely conveyed some truth. I was definitely blessed.

The problem with the frame was the perception that it engendered that somehow what made me bless were the possessions that I had. This was not the case, not because I didn't have nice things, for I most certainly did, but they weren't my truest source of blessings. That came from the fact that I was a sinner saved by grace, a saying that makes a poor license plate frame but contains everlasting glory. The problem is that most people won't make the distinction between the two. They will be left with the thought that somehow what I have dictates who I am, and the condition of my being. This happens a lot. People hold on so tight to what they have that it begins to define them. When we are defined by what we own, we cease to be defined by God.

Chapter 5 of James has a lot to say about this subject. Primarily it encourages readers to remember that everything in this world is going to burn. When we aren't willing to sacrifice material gain for heavenly glory our balance sheet is out of whack. Oftentimes God will work in our lives to correct this imbalance. He'll use the things that we've placed ahead of Him to show us His proper place. God makes a poor second fiddle, and in His love for us, He'll spoil that which supplants Him.

Being spoiled isn't a bad thing, if what we are spoiled for is any work but what God has intended. If we are completely useless except in bringing Him glory, if we can offer nothing but all that we have, than we truly are blessed.

Counted Blessings

It was one of those days that nothing went according to plan, and the amazing thing was, I was remarkably o.k. with it. I spent the weekend visiting friends and what was intended to be an afternoon party lasted long into the evening. Despite the fact that my social calendar called for something different, I didn't mind. I was exactly where I needed to be.

Each of us have friends that we can have fun with, people who make us laugh and who we enjoy each other's company. Some friends though supercede these barriers. They're invested in our lives and we're invested in their's. They are the kind of people who are precious to us just as gems are precious to many collectors. They can not be replaced or supplanted. They are truly gifts from above.

Sometimes we neglect to remember these blessings. In the busyness of life, its hard to take time to count our treasures. We often don't even recognize all that we have until its taken away. As I drove away from my prolonged visit I was a bit sad because hanging out with these people who I rarely see showed me what I was missing when they weren't a part of my life. These are people who I can be real with, who will call me on the carpet when I need to be, who will love me regardless, and who will both cry and laugh with me as the occasion demands. As one of my friends commented as she left, they are the people who I hope are my neighbors in heaven.

I may not count my blessings every day, but when circumstances converge and an account is warranted, I'm so grateful for all I've been given.

Loss of Control

I'm a world-class worrier. I'm pretty sure that if there was a contest for worrying, I could take the crown. Although age has taught me to mitigate this tendency I still tend to be overly concern about things over which I have no control. I want those I care about to be happy, and I want to do whatever I can to assure that this status is obtained.

The thing about worry is that it really doesn't do anybody any good. It uses up valuable time, energy and resources, and in my case, often causes a lack of sleep. Actions that are motivated by concern have a much greater result. After all, is through our behaviors that we are able to change things.

There are things in life that we have control over. There are other things in life that we don't. Might as well focus on the things we can change. Then we won't have time to worry about everything else.

There is no use worrying about things over which you have no control, and if you have control, you can do something about them instead of worrying."
--Stanley C. Allyn,
former CEO of National Cash Register Co.

Ambivalence vs. Acceptance

I've been known to extol the benefits of ambivalence. Being unconcerned about what happens creates lower stress, healthier outlooks, and reduces the likelihood of unmet expectations. Ambivalence can be the way to go, especially when your goal is to be as unattached as possible.

Despite my praise for ambivalence, I'm very bad at practicing it. I remember the day in 5th grade where I decided I wasn't going to care so much. Unfortunately that just manifested itself in an unwillingness to express my emotions. Ironically, I still cared a lot, it was just that no one knew it. My pseudo-ambivalence actually led to more stress because I had all these emotions brewing inside with no outlet. I just wasn't wired for ambivalence. Doing my best has always been how I've gone about life, and resigning myself to less than that was unacceptable.

Today, however, I did realize that there was an alternative. Instead of ambivalence, I could practice acceptance. Usually, this word is used to describe relationships between people, but it doesn't have to be used that way. It can also mean a willingness to consider those things in life that we can have an impact on and choosing to accept things outside of that circumference. Very few things in life are radically different as a result of our actions, so why worry about them? We can waste valuable time, energy and resources trying to change things for which we lack control, or we can accept that sometimes this is the way things are. It doesn't mean that we stop caring, it just means that we acknowledge that God hasn't willed us His throne. He's still on it, and the things that are in His hands, aren't in ours.

I'm confident that an attitude of acceptance breeds peace. It's why we can have confidence in God's repeated commandment to not fear. When we take things as they come, there's no place for anticipating despair. And that's the place I want to be.

Dust & Dumpsters

Organization is a strength of mine. Give me time and I can probably figure out a quick way to accomplish a given task. Maybe it was because my dad was a Marine, but very early on I caught on to the whole concept of divide and conquer. I knew that if you broke any challenges up into smaller tasks eventually you could overcome. Figuring out the next step to take was usually the most challenging part. Once you had that covered, the rest usually fell into place.

Because I'm such a big fan of organization, I'm not a fan of stuff. Stuff clutters. Stuff gets in the way. And stuff makes organization more difficult. Organization, like a lot of things in life, benefits from simplicity. For example, the person who is always behind schedule is usually not that way because that's how they want to be. Usually they're running behind despite all the best intentions of getting everything done that they wanted. Whether it's an actual material possessions or its unnecessary activity, stuff has ruined their plans. Planing (another one of my favorite activities) can usually prevent a lot of tardiness, but the best of plans break down for lack of organization or the abundance of too much stuff.

Yet despite my aversion to stuff, I find myself placing way too much importance on it. The silliest things can cause me concerns. Today, I came home and was missing a bowl. And despite knowing that the value of this bowl was extremely negligible, not knowing where it was bothered me. Not because i was worried that I might have to replace it. No, I was worried because it was "mine" and I didn't know where it was. I couldn't account for its absence - and since it wasn't a camera or an ATM card there was little chance that I had lost it - and I immediately felt my sense of possession increase. MY bowl was missing - and that meant there was something wrong in the world.

And there was something wrong. But not what I originally thought. What was wrong was that I wasted so much time even thinking about it, when I ache so little for the person begging on the street. What was wrong was that I searched for the bowl, when I don't spend the time to call a friend in need. And what was wrong was that I had even bothered to figure out that the bowl was missing, when I can't be bothered to count the number of friends who don't know their Savior. It wasn't the missing bowl that was the problem, it was my focus on it.

Everything in this life is going to end up as dust or in the dumpster. Every THING. And I would no sooner take the time to organize the things in my trash than I would try to categorize dust bunnies. And yet its my things that I feel ownership of. It's my possessions that create a sense of entitlement.

Thank God He didn't give me what I was entitled to. Maybe I can give up everything else that's mine too.

The Intoxication of Prosperity

It is by affliction chiefly that the heart of man is
purified, and that the thoughts are fixed on a better state.
Prosperity has power to intoxicate the imagination, to fix the
mind upon the present scene, to produce confidence and
elation, and to make him who enjoys affluence and honors
forget the hand by which they were bestowed.
... Samuel Johnson


I live in Orange County, CA a place known for its abundance. Although I never knew it growing up, by my peers' standards I would have been considered substantially worse off than they were. This never bothered me; I had everything I needed and more and I had something that most of them didn't - a well-functioning family. I was content and it was only as an adult that I realized how much material wealth they had in comparison to mine.

The wealth and prosperity in my hometown creates a desire among many to try and live here. There's the beach, the perpetual sunshine and all those good-looking people. It seems like a place where dreams come true. Whatever drama takes place in the OC is quickly resolved in forty-eight minutes (an hour if you add in commercials) and the drama always comes with a happy ending. What more can paradise afford? Sure there's the high cost of homes, but even paradise has its price.

But this is just an allusion. The happiness that seems to radiate from the sun's constant presence fades as night darkens the day. Everything that people possesses tempts them to believe that they have a barrier against discomfort and pain but they quickly realize the futility of this belief. Plastic surgery and good genes never prevented heartache. People think it's paradise, but it's still just a piece of Earth.

And as people try harder and harder to buy themselves a happy life, they fail to realize that its in adversity that development occurs. It's only through trials that we experience God's redemption. It's only through pain that we experience His healing touch. And it's only through heartache that we can truly appreciate His arms of love.

Prosperity creates a mirage of invincibility - a belief that everything will go right. But it's only when things go wrong that we realize what we truly possess.

Deck the Halls

If you were to visit my house, there would be little indication that Christmas is rapidly approaching. Besides the pile of gifts that are ungraciously stacked in my living room, evidence of the impending holidays is minimal. I've been blaming this on the fact that I've been having major electrical work done and efforts to decorate would be stymied by the workmen. But this is in reality just a convenient excuse. Even without the "scheduled" repair work, the chances of finding boughs of holly around my place are minimal. I'm just not that in to Christmas. (Although I do wonder . . .now that I have a roommate who's name is Holly - I'm pretty much situated for Christmas all year round, right?)

I'm not a complete Scrooge. I like Christmas music - although not when the radio stations play it before Thanksgiving. And I love looking at Christmas lights. I could even get into Christmas caroling as long as there's the promise of hot chocolate awaiting my return. But all the glitz and glitter; the decorations extrarodinaire; and the holiday themed clothing are just not my cup of tea. For me it takes everything that's sacred about Christmas and trivializes it. Its like its making a mockery out of the celebration.

I realize that for many this isn't the case. I come from a family who LOVES Christmas (almost as much as my friend, Alex, loves the Dallas Cowboys). For them, the hoopla of Christmas is part of what makes it special. The go to extremes because its a way to acknowledge the elaborate gift of our Savior's birth. In many ways, I wish I could be like them. For me though, I can't get into all the extravagance. I know that I'll lose myself in the trappings and forget the meaning. I'll worry so much about what seems obligatory that I won't be compelled to worship. And I'll focus so much on the holiday that I'll forget the Savior.

So my house remains undecorated. Christmas-themed clothes are not to be found in my newly organized closet. And the gifts, while wrapped, are not done so in a way that would cause anyone to envy. It's my way of not losing myself in the celebration and remembering the sacrifice.

Maybe one day I'll be able to do both. But until then I hope that at the very least, my halls are decked with love.

Fa La La La La, La La La La.

When Good Enough, Isn't

And Joshua said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? – Joshua 7: 7-8

I write a lot about being content. To me, it's really important to have peace with what God's given me, and what He's chosen for my life. It's easy to spend so much time worrying about what we don't have, that we neglect to be grateful for what we do.

Sometimes, however, being content is not what God has in store for us. Sometimes God desires for us to act in ways that may shake the normalcy of our lives. He wants us to follow His lead and to trust in the outcome. When the Israelites were destroyed by the Amorites, Joshua questioned why they couldn't be content to stay on the other side of the Jordan. But God's plan for the Israelites lives was to traverse the Jordan; being content with the "good enough" life on the wrong side of the Jordan, would have been the wrong thing to do.

And although I fear the times when God calls me to be un-content with the life that I've achieved, He's always been faithful to offer me an even better promise on the other side of the river.

Ambivalence

Think Happy Thoughts
- Go To Your Happy Place
- There's No Place Like Home
- You're Good Enough, Smart Enough, and Gosh Darn it, People Like You

In popular culture as in life, we are constantly admonished to think positively. A friend told me that his dad use to coach him to practice "positive self-talk" when playing sports. If memory serves me correctly (and the chances of that are slim), the purpose was to focus on playing well instead of dwelling on the mistakes that had been made. Good advice. So much so that it's become a catch-phrase at work to help us get through some tough days.

The fact is all of the above is probably good advice. Thinking positively and focusing on the good things in life is a much better alternative than focusing on the negative. However, as recently reported by Business Week (scroll down), it actually might be better to not think positively. Not that the authors suggest that we should think negatively. Instead, recent research suggests that people are happier when they practice ambivalence; when they are content with the outcome because their expectations are reduced. Thinking positively means that you are looking for good things to come your way. Ambivalence means that you take life as it comes - and deal with the results. It may not qualify you for working at Disneyland, but it may make dealing with life outside of the happiest place on Earth a little easier.

Practicing ambivalence isn't meant to be equated with a lack of care. Instead it means recognizing that just like good intentions, positive expectations have little actual impact. Heightened expectations means that you have a heighten awareness of when they are unfulfilled. Choosing to experience life rather than expecting something from it, might be the better way to go.