A story (or maybe an allegory) is told about a POW camp in Germany during WWII.  The US and allied soldiers kept there had pieced together a radio from spare parts and were able to keep up with what little news was broadcast from the front.  One particular broadcast that got all of their attention was the announcement of V-E Day.  The Axis powers of the European theater had surrendered.  The war in Europe was over. 

Unfortunately, the German guards didn’t know this.  They continued to guard the prisoners and subject them to whatever was their prerogative to do.  These prisoners knew the war was won but they continued to suffer in the POW camp for three more days.

Life as a Christian is like this.  The war is over.  The lamb prevailed.  The kingdom is established, and the gates of hell can’t stand against it.  How awesome!  But here we are, still on Earth, still suffering under the prince of this world.  It can be a little discouraging to have the good news that we’ve won, but not see the tangible results we expect from a victory: no parade, no confetti, no comfort of home. 

But take heart!  There was celebration in Heaven when the war was won!  There was celebration when your victory was accomplished!  The king is on his throne, the enemy is under his feet and our salvation is assured!

Our soldiers woke up the fourth morning to find their captors had fled in the night.  There will be a morning when our enemies are gone, and the Lord announces to all the souls of creation that we are victorious and free at home.

Take courage.  The war is over, we’re just waiting to go home.

Dr Sonja Lyubomiirsky (The How of Happiness) says our propensity for happiness is 50% genetic (no control), 10% circumstances (a little control), and 40% intentional action (all control).  The number one intentional activity – Being Thankful!

Thankful people are statistically more less likely to be depressed, anxious, lonely, neurotic, and/or sick.

One study had a group of participants name five things they were grateful for.  Another group were to gripe about five things.  The ungrateful group reported headaches, coughs, nausea, and even acne.  The grateful group didn’t have these problems.

Is it any wonder we function best when we act the way God wants us to?

Look closely and maybe we’ll see another facet of the “abundant life” Jesus offers us in this life.  The benefits of obedience; we’re commanded and reminded constantly to remember our blessings and be grateful for them.

If you’re having trouble, take time to be thankful.  Jon Gordon suggests taking a “thank you” walk.  While you’re walking just start naming things.  You may not feel thankful when you start. But “fake it ‘til you make it”.  Just say “Thank You”, it’ll come to you.  Don’t forget the biggest thing we have to be thankful for; a God that loves us and provides for us both physically and spiritually.

Don’t forget to be thankful more than one day out of the year.  I Thessalonians 5:14 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Benjamin Franklin said, “Tis impossible to be sure of any thing but Death and Taxes.” And tax season is upon us. It’s time to get out our calculators, pencils, and slide rules to figure out if we paid enough, too much, or too little.

We can complain a little about how much we pay in taxes and how little we think is being used correctly. Some may even scream, “Taxation is theft!” But none of that relieves our burden to Caesar.

Jesus paid his taxes. He told his disciples to “render unto Caesar”. He paid taxes to the temple. He paid the salaries and financially supported the work of the government and temple even though he knew that same government would come to kill his followers and the priests and scribes would even murder him.

Keep all that in mind as we look for ways to lower our tax burden. Use all the advantages you can but keep it inside the lines.

Even if we don’t like how the taxes are used, we are still obligated to pay them. We must honor the king and render what is due. Jesus did, and he expects no less from us but to be honest citizens of our temporary home who “render” honestly.

Throughout Bible history God has chosen individuals to do His work. To perform His tasks.  When He does this, He doesn’t ask for resumes. He doesn’t ask how prepared you think you are. He doesn’t care about perceived obstacles.  He just says to get it done.

If God has called you (and he has) what provision has God given to make up for all of our perceived deficiencies? We all need help from time to time.  Right?

He’s given us each other.  For Moses it was someone to help him speak (Exodus 4:14).  Paul paired up. The disciples were paired up on the limited commission, etc.

He’s given us himself.  He’s always been with and helped his people.  In Matthew 28:20 he tells us he will always be with us.  He promised to be with Joshua in Joshua 1:5 “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”  Paul knew the Lord was with him when he told Timothy  “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” (II Timothy 4:17)

My favorite instance is from II Kings 6:16-17 “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”

Who will go when the Lord calls?  Maybe you think you aren’t qualified.  Maybe you think you’ll fail.  Maybe you think you’ll just foul it all up.  I assure that by yourself all of these things are true.  But because of God’s provisions (each other, God himself) we can all simply say, “Send me” and be successful at whatever God has appointed us to do.

 

I cast my vote this week.  How awesome is it to live where I get a voice in my government!  It’s a blessing a large part of the world doesn’t enjoy.  Maybe the guy I voted for won, maybe he didn’t.  The important thing for the Christian is to remember that our allegiance is to the kingdom of God.  As citizens of a heavenly kingdom we have responsibilities no matter who sits in the big chair in Frankfort (or Washington DC for that matter).  According to God these people are indeed our Governor, President, or possibly even our King, should a strange woman lying in a pond distributing swords deem them to be.

Regardless of whether we agree with or approve of their political position, personal lifestyle, or what color they wear on game day we owe them a few things.

• Subjection – Romans13:1“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”
• Taxes – Romans13:6“For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.”
• Honor and Respect – Romans13:7 “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
• Prayers – I Timothy2:1-2“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

It’s just as important that we treat each other, and everyone else, with respect regardless of how they cast their votes.  Pursue peace with all men or the Hebrew writer warns us our relationship with God is in danger.

Hebrews 12:14“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

Don’t forget, he sees our Twitter Facebook posts.

 

Just before Israel entered the promised land the tribes of Reuben and Gad asked to settle in the land east of the Jordan.  Reuben and Gad had a lot of livestock and the land of Jazer and Gilead were great for raising it.  So, they wanted to stay where they were instead of crossing over with the rest of the nation.

In Numbers 32 we find Moses’ response, “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here?”

We often find ourselves where we are comfortable and at ease.  It’s easy for us to look around and see that we pretty well have it made.  We have a great deal of freedom to worship and teach as we please.  We find great deal of comfort in our current situation.  Generally speaking, we find comfort in the work of others.  Someone else takes care of the heavy lifting and we are happy to sit where we are; not going backwards, but not moving forward.  We’re all guilty of it from time to time, including myself more often than I’d like to admit.  But we must answer Moses’ question, “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here?”

A spiritual war is raging around and within us.  We can’t sit by and watch others fight while we sit in safety.  Many saints have fought bravely up to this moment.  We must be among them.  We must take up arms, the word of God, and fight on.

Sitting out only discourages those who fight.  Not fighting with our brothers and sisters is just as bad as taking up arms against them.

Be active.  Be involved.  Fight. Let’s not let our brethren go to war while we sit.

 

•  “Soldiers of Christ, Arise” (just not too early!)
•  “Seeking the Lost” (as long as it doesn’t require too much of my time.)
•  “We’ll Work ‘Til Jesus Comes” (if the work doesn’t conflict with my busy schedule.)
•  “Tell Me the Old, Old Story” (if it doesn’t take too long.)
•  “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” (if it doesn’t conflict with what I want.)
•  “If Jesus Goes With Me” (it may be embarrassing for us both!)
•  “O Lord, Our Lord” (I say it every time I’m angry or hit my thumb with a hammer!)
•  “More About Jesus Would I Know” (unless it requires that I read and study my Bible every day; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15.)
•  “Give Me the Bible” (just don’t make it too challenging.)
•  “I’m Not Ashamed to Own My Lord” (until I’m in the company of unbelievers.)
•  “Take the World, But Give Me Jesus” (just don’t take too much of it!)

Pay attention to what we sing and make sure we’re honest with what we’re saying to God and each other.

 

I find myself digging through a lot of manuals and instructions these days.  Several projects I’m working on involve equipment I’ve never worked with and internal procedures I’ve haven’t been responsible for in the past.

I also find myself scratching my head a lot.  Some of these instructions are unclear.  There is little to no real help related to my needs.  It can be incredibly frustrating.  The instructions aren’t correct.  They are vague.  They don’t apply to the thing I’m working on.  The list goes on and on.

Fortunately for us the instructions given to us for living are quite clear and easy to follow.  God provides us with a very clear and accurate manual for getting through life successfully.  The Bible is practical, relevant, and relatable to all our needs and any situation we can get ourselves into. It really is so easy that it takes work and help to get it wrong.

As we go through life and face troubles, trials, successes, or victories we have a guide for how to react and behave.  In any situation it’s right on target.

Make sure to pull out the manual.  You won’t regret getting it right.

2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness

 

Job 37:14 “Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.”

Elihu talks of God’s creation and how we can only “consider” it; not control it.  Stop for a moment every once in a while, and just consider it.  How amazing is the universe we live in?  Look at the way the planets move through space.  Look at how it sustains us.  See how it gives us insight into our creator.  The design of the universe and the laws of physics that govern it. The chemistry and biology that makes our bodies function.  It’s all incredible.

Even though we’ve learned to predict how the universe will behave, there’s a part we sometimes miss in all the pride of our knowledge.  Sometimes the universe is wiser than we are.  The universe knows who God is.  The universe knows what to do with that knowledge.  So, it does it.

Psalm 19:1-4 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.  There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.  Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.”

The very creation we inhabit screams the glory of its creator, the almighty Yahweh!  How can we, the part of creation that is made in his likeness, not?

Just as much as it proclaims his glory, it also listens.  “Peace, be still.”  How can we, the part of creation that is made in his likeness, not?

Praise the Lord!  Hear the Lord!

 

II John 14-13 “I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.”

It’s amazing how we can communicate in our modern era.  With a few swipes of a finger, on a device I carry in my pocket, I can shoot off a message that will reach the other side of the globe within a few moments.  I can send a message of hope, a warning, or encouragement so easily it would make the apostles’ heads spin.  After all, they were handwriting letters that could take weeks or even months to arrive in the reader’s hands.

We depend on these messages in their short format and incredible speed to convey our thoughts, feelings, and even our heart-felt condolences.  We’ve become accustomed to giving and receiving valuable information through a simple and easy path of communication.

I’m with John though on this one.  Written, long distance, communication is important and can’t be understated as necessary.  But I’d rather see you face to face.  John really wanted to be in the presence of his brothers and sisters.  John wanted more than a text message about their day and how they were doing.  He wanted to sit at a table and talk about things, face to face.  The same way we long for a day when we don’t hear from our Lord through “pen and ink” but talking with him face to face.

Don’t misunderstand me; text away and shoot those emails.  But remember, “I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.”