Hope

I'm told I worry a great deal and tend to carry the weight of the problems around me, and I know there's some truth to that. A feeling of helplessness and sadness came over me yesterday as I thought about how difficult life can be. Not just for myself, but every one of us.

My mind is my own worst enemy most of the time and it had gotten me once again. Aren't those the most frustrating times? Battling back and forth between cognitively knowing the hope I have in Christ and the joy that belongs to me as his child, and the overwhelming power of my emotions pulling me toward the cares of this world. It's exhausting and can often leave me feeling defeated.

Despite feeling defeated I knew I needed to work on preparing the music for this coming Sunday's worship service at my church. Our worship leader is out of town and it is my responsibility for the week. I had a few songs in mind so I pulled all my music out and started listening to songs and watching DVDs. Before too long I found myself worshipping God all alone in my apartment (in a closet actually, long story), wholeheartedly singing songs like 'My Redeemer Lives', 'He Has Made Me Glad', 'Hear our Praises', and 'Lord Most High' to name a few.

There's a reason God created us to worship, and that's to give Him all the glory, reverence, and honor He deserves. By singing or speaking of his attributes and his truth he is given the highest place in our hearts. The great side-effect of worship though is that God Almighty rewards us in turn with renewed hope and strength.

So I'm learning that before, during, and after all else fails...worship.

"O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love." ~Psalm 59:17

"I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you; I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good." ~Psalm 54:6

If only I were a bird

"So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not." ~Matthew 6:25-27

This verse came to mind today when I spotted a bird gliding its way around trees and rooftops. I thought what an easy life it must be to be a bird, and in fact any animal or even a tree. There are no big decisions to be made. No real worries about what to do next, what to eat, or where to go. They probably never get bored. They certainly do not have to battle against sin and doing the right thing. Yeah, I know I'd like that kind of life.

But yet, Jesus says I am more valuable to Him than that bird. Okay. Except that today I'm thinking that if I am so valuable God, couldn't you have made my life as simple as the bird's life?

That is more of a rhetorical question folks. I know better and I can give myself all the right answers in fact. But sometimes I have questions, and I bet you do too.

As the song says, 'life goes on'. And as it does I keep learning how to trust my Provider for all the big and small things alike.
Jehovah Jireh!

Since when do we call the shots?

"I believe more in heaven. Because there is hope in heaven and there is no hope in hell." These are the words of a Chicagoan recently interviewed by the Chicago Sun-Times for an article on religion, heaven and hell. I read this article during a break at work and later found myself in an interesting conversation with two of my co-workers, one Catholic and one Muslim. The three of us agreed that both heaven and hell must exist, although I was the only one truly believing 'good' people could end up in the latter.

What struck me most about this article was the use of individualistic and opinionated language. 'I think', 'I believe', 'I was taught', etc. We ask someone whether or not they believe in heaven and hell, but does their opinion matter? If I choose to believe in heaven rather than hell, will hell cease to exist? If I dislike the rain, can I pretend it isn't touching me and watch it disappear? I suppose I could, but those watching me would have some questions about my sanity and I would still end up wet. The laws of nature, morality, and spirituality are not up to me. They were decided long ago.

Two more things: 1) I am amazed at Satan's ability to deceive. By preying on the goodness of mankind he has helped twist the truth so far that we can convince ourselves some things do not exist. 2) When did everything become about us?

Although I do not agree with Catholicism in many respects, my congratulations go to Cardinal Francis George for his comments in the Sun-Times article. He hit the nail on the head when he said that "religion is about conversion, self-surrender as opposed to self-righteousness. That's hard in any culture but particularly our own."