Thanksgiving reflections?

A man opens the door for a lady, she thinks to herself “now there is a real gentleman, I wish there were more like him in the world”… as she walk by him, he thinks to himself “well your welcome I guess, you could have at least said thanks. I wish people were more grateful.”  What’s the problem here?  No communication.

Thanksgiving is a time that we set aside to be thankful, not merely reflect on our blessings. A reflection is something that, according to Webster’s is, “a thought occurring in consideration or meditation.”.  We often reflect on our blessings- every time we appreciate that paycheck we just received, when we get that timely hug from our spouse or an answer to prayer arrives. We reflect, we think about how blessed we are and how good life can be, but we have yet to enter into thanksgiving.

The Biblical understanding of thanksgiving is not just a thought or realization that we are blessed. My wife can bless me, as she often does, and I can think to myself “I am one fortunate man to have such a wonderful wife”… and that is alright. But if I want to really be thankful, I will tell her (and need to more often), “honey, I love you and I am really blessed to have a wonderful wife like you.”  Too sappy for you? Well, let’s just say, that the sap is never too sweet for her because she gets to hear from the person that she is loving, that her love, her effort to show love toward me, is noticed and appreciated.

Thanksgiving is only thanksgiving when it is given- expressed and communicated. Thanksgiving can be spoken, it can be written, it can be expressed in action, it just cannot be silent. Never (and if you are a spouse in particular) ever assume that someone knows you are thankful and grateful. I am a country music fan, and the lyrics to a Blake Shelton song come to mind here. In his song ‘She Wouldn’t Be Gone” he is regretting the fact that he didn’t express his love to his girl more often, and now she has left.

Red roadside wild flower if I’d only picked you
Took you home set you on the counter
Oh, at least a time or two
Maybe she’d thought it through.

Yellow sunset slowly dipping down in the rear view
Oh, how she’d love to sit and watch you
I could have done that a whole lot more
If I hadn’t been so stubborn, been so selfish
Thought about her more, thought about me less
Joked and made her laugh, held her when she cried
A little more that.. maybe I…

Wouldn’t be driving like hell flying like crazy down the highway
Calling everyone we know stopping any place she might be
Going any place she might go beating on the dash
Screaming out her name at the windshield tears soaking up my face
If I had loved her this much all along, maybe maybe, yea maybe…
She wouldn’t be gone.. she wouldn’t be gone..

His mistake? He assumed she knew. He assumed that he didn’t have to express love and appreciation. And because he assumed, he paid for it.

Does God assume that you are thankful… or does He know it?

Does your spouse know that you are thankful… or do you just assume they know you are?

If you have not said it, written it or expressed it in real action, do not assume that they just “understand”.  The Bible says that in worship, we are to come into God’s presence with thanksgiving. We are to come into God’s presence expressing our gratitude for things that God has done- past, present and future. 

I can always find something to complain about– always. But complaining only expresses my frustration that things are not going the way that I want them to go (major emphasis on the “I”). Thanksgiving is just the opposite, it focuses on what others have added to you. That means you need to be humble enough to recognize that I need others, that others bless me, that others add to me, that I would have less and be less if it were not for others. Thanksgiving reflects a heart that is humble enough to say “thank you, you bless me and I appreciate it”. If you have problems saying thank you, you might want to check your pride meter- you are running a little too high.

This Thanksgiving, find ways to express your gratitude- in small ways and big ways. Don’t assume your wife, family, employer, friends or anyone else knows that you are thankful for them. Say thanks to those in your life that have been a blessing to you. Remember however to start with God, James 1:17 says “every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes from the Father of lights”. 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good”- Psalm 107:1

Post Election Euphoria? Gloom?…How about resolve?

OK, I have my TV back now.  I can watch my favorite shows without having sophomoric political attacks ads assaulting my senses.

Some of you may be happy today- one of your candidates that you wanted to win a certain office won. Some of you may be a little depressed today- your guy or gal didn’t win their post, the “evil” enemy won… and the world is close to being over.

When we go through moments like an election, a change in life situation, a change is job, relationship status, finances or anything that impacts the world around, we always seem to get tunnel vision. What I mean is that we cannot seem to think about anything else but what has changed.  This is normal and natural, your mind and your heart is trying to acclimate to your new environment, your new life situation. The problem is that we often get stuck. We focus on the change that has hurt us, disappointed us, confused us or caused us concern.

I have seen after this election, as with every election, people are either euphoric, believing that the right people are in the right places- and therefore have great hope for the future and believe that the needed changes have taken place to make things right in the world. On the other hand some are filled with gloom, believing that we got this all wrong, the wrong people were elected, the wrong policies are going to be put into place and their outlook is not very bright.  For a season that would be alright, everyone had an idea going into this election what they wanted to see done and not done. And we all need to adjust to the new situation. But let’s not get stuck…

Because in two years another election, more changes, two years later, another presidential election, more changes. And in between elections, we will have a hundred life changes. So the real question comes, in the midst of all of this, how do we find the stability to build from?  How do we find our place to put our feet down and resolve to move forward? By focusing our attention on that which does not change.

My family and I are going through a change right now. We have two girls in foster care who are ready to either move in permanently or move out to be reunified with parents. We have an existing home that we have been unable to sell or rent, and we need to make a decision that will involve a change in our life.  We have two boys in college who are growing into young adults, that is a life change in our relationship with them. What do you focus on in the midst of these kinds of changes?

First I focus on my relationship with Jesus Christ. In an ever changing world, the Bible says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). The same. Think about that for a moment. Can you point to many things in your life that are the same now as they were 3, 5, or 10 years ago?  You look different, the people or the place you work may be different. Maybe you have moved to a new town or lost weight or a loved one has passed away… all the while, Jesus has remained the same.  There is something very comforting to me about that… no matter how much things change, He remains the same.  James 1:17 says that with God there is no “variation” or “changing shadows”, which means that I can always depend on God and His character.  It reminds me of the lyrics to the little chorus “Praise the name of Jesus”

Praise the name of Jesus
Praise the name of Jesus
He’s my rock, He’s my fortress
He’s my deliverer in Him will I trust
Praise the name of Jesus

So in this time of change in our country, as Christians, should our eyes be on the ever changing political landscape or upon the unchanging mission that God has for His people?  This is one of the reasons that the church, I have come to believe, has gotten itself off track. We focus on things that don’t last, or are temporary and earthly. We pour loads of time, effort and energy into an election or an issue and yet we realize that these things change. They come and they go. You get one law passed today, they pass a different one a year from now. I am not saying that these things are not good, but what about the unchanging mission of God?  What about the reason for which Jesus came and died- to seek and to save the lost?  The church as a whole is baptizing less people, attendance is down, commitment to the body of Christ is lagging. Now this may be controversial to some, but could it be that we can no longer get passionate about God’s mission, but we can get worked up for an earthly political or social issue?  Could it be that the church has exchanged the big heart of God to love the world for a few scraps from the table of the world?

The deeper I dig into trying to grasp the heart of God, the more and more I am persuaded that God’s heart is aching for the same world that the church often rejects.  We think the world has changed too much for the church to be effective. We think the world is too far gone for the gospel to really change people. Yet, in the midst of this world, there is a God whose love, passion, desire and heart to love this world and to see people turn to Jesus has never… ever… changed.

The longer I live, the more changes I experience, the more I know that this world is not what I am to grab onto. God gives me the wonderful privilege of experiencing Him in the world, to live an abundant life, but that abundance is not wrapped up in what I get from the world… but in His unchanging love for me.  Abundance in life is not in keeping your changes to a minimum or keeping your life orderly or in getting your way in an election. Focus your heart upon that which will never disappoint you and that which will never change.

Let me close with a few passages of Scripture for you to think upon…

Romans 5    ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

1 Peter 1    ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, ²⁴ because “All flesh is as grass,And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.The grass withers,And its flower falls away, ²⁵ But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

… and listen to God’s own words as He speaks about that which will last and be unchanging and let His words wash over you to give you hope and resolve…

Isaiah 51  ⁴ “Listen to Me, My people; And give ear to Me, O My nation: For law will proceed from Me, And I will make My justice rest As a light of the peoples. ⁵ My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait upon Me, And on My arm they will trust. ⁶ Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished.”

Amen to that.

Where’s the Love in this world?

Clara Peller became famous many years ago in a Wendy’s commercial asking the question, “Where’s the beef?” The commercial became a favorite, and she became known as the “Where’s the beef?” lady. The point of the commercial was that, unlike other hamburger places, Wendy’s didn’t just have a fluffy bun, but had the beef to go with it. There was some substance to their hamburgers that was lacking in other places. The saying came to be used in business and social circles, even political campaigns, to challenge whether or not there was really anything to a proposal or idea, or was it just fluff and show.

Although a little dated, this is the question that is challenging the church today- where is the substance of our Christian faith and where is the character of God that is supposed to mark our fellowship. The church is known for its’ rhetoric, its’ stances on some social issues and for…. but what should be the first thing the church is known for?  What is the real “beef” of our existence as a body of believers in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord?

Read the quote by Ed Stetzer from the book Compelled by Love (which I highly recommend for your reading)

“We would all agree:  Christians ought to be the most loving people in the world- but we aren’t. Let’s face it; every church in North America would be overflowing if we didn’t have the reputation of being hypocrites, liars. etc. ... We cannot be loving and live for self. Love does not operate selfishly. Love changes us. “And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised (2 Cor 5:15 HCSB).  The enormity of God’s forgiveness compels us to live differently. Since the God of the universe has treated us in a most loving and forgiving way, Christians should be the most loving and forgiving people on earth. When we fail, we dishonor the One to whom we belong. Christians and unbelievers alike share the sin of hypocrisy, but we are without excuse because we know better… when we claim allegiance to the King of kings and the Lord of lords, who died on a Cross as the outworking and fulfillment of His love and forgiveness, then we should not act in unloving ways. Something is wrong when a person claims to belong to Christ and yet fails to love others” (p. 23-24)

When we talk about who we are to be as a church, we cannot start with us, but with God. Who is He?  What is He like?  What is His mission?  Too often our conversation begins with what programs we run, what kind of music we sing, what group of people we are trying to reach… but the substance of the church is the character and the work of God. To some this may seem to be overly obvious, but there are two issues to deal with…

1) The rest of the world does not see this as overly obvious- in fact they are probably wondering why they don’t see more love from the church. Here is the question, “If God is so loving, why is there _____ in the church?”.  The question is a valid one- why is there fighting in the church, why is there racism/classicism in the church, why is there hatred in the church.  Even further, why is the church not more involved when it come to the issues of loving the least? Why does the church seem to reject so many people?  Why is there not more acceptance of those who are not like church people?  Why is there still such segregation in the church?

So how do we answer these things?  Do we just assume that since the church has been this way it is alright to be this way?  The answer is an emphatic no. As Stetzer says, we have no excuse. We simply are not living out the true character of God. In some way we have taken God and put Him through the filter of our culture, experiences, preferences, prejudices and pet peeves and emerged with a God that is not supernatural in His love toward man, but is much like us- picking and choosing how and who we love. When the world looks at us, does it see a supernatural love, a God love, that draws them to Him… or merely another group of people with their ideas and ideologies asking people to be like them.

2) Christ expects it. Love is the motivation of God’s work and needs to be at the core of who we are as His people. We have in some cases replaced love in the church with our way of doing things– which we sometimes mistakenly call righteousness– defending to the death minor issues of preference (what we wear, do we have tattoos, do we go to certain kinds of movies, what political party are we affiliated with, etc) while allowing the love of God to take a back seat. Love drove God to forgive us in Christ. Christ calls us to forgive as God forgives… no wiggle room here… so that our motivation in dealing with the world is God’s love, not our level of acceptance or tolerance of someones sin.

Christ says that He loved, and gave His life. He loved and forgave those who crucified Him. He loved and He graciously taught people how to love their Heavenly Father. He loved and He fed the multitudes. He loved and He healed the sick. We love and we….. What could you fill in the blank with there. What is the evidence of our love for the world?  What could we point to in order to demonstrate the deep, passionate, and sacrificial love of Jesus Christ flowing through us?

So the call to the church, coming from above (God) and beside us (the world), is to love. We have everything we need to be the “love leaders” of our world. Yet…  Well, it just bugs me that the church, the people of God, can possibly have any other attitude when it comes to looking at the world full of hurt, pain, disappointment, confusion, hunger, homelessness, abuse, neglect… and you can fill in the blank with what you see in your workplace or in your family or on your streets or on the news.

One thing strikes me about Jesus, who really was righteous in all His ways, when He encountered the hurting. Read the gospels, Jesus approaches those who are hurting with compassion. He had compassion on the multitudes who were hungry, the blind who were begging, the sinner who was stealing, the woman who had been with five husbands, and the list goes on. The harshest words Jesus ever spoke were for those who were not loving to the world and were filled with self-righteousness (that would be the Pharisees). They were known for what they were against, the people that they accepted and rejected, the rules that they kept, the days and traditions they observed– all done in the name of God, just not done with love.  Unfortunately, their description and the description of much of the church today, is identical.

There needs to be a revolution in the church today, a revolution of love for God and love for the world. God commands it, the world needs it, and we should want it. My heart is alternately excited at the possibilities of a church loving the world the way Christ loves imperfect sinners to bring them into a relationship with their Heavenly Father…. and concerned that it is going to require too much change from some people. Let love be what motivates us to live this Christian life. Let’s be supernatural in our love for the world, and see a world drawn to God in the midst of the chaos, hate, evil and confusion of this world.