Lessons for Living | Ain't Complicated

Counting Trials as Joy

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds . . .” (James 1:2).

Have you ever met a person who actually, literally did what this verse says? I have. Marilyn (not her real name) phoned and told me that her husband has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, her son is recovering from multiple stab wounds inflicted by a crazed stranger in Center City, and her daughter-in-law is so weakened by some bizarre condition that she is unable to hold her newborn. And she was radiating joy.

Marilyn figured that God must be really up to something! He must be really shaking things up for a good purpose for all this to be coming down at once. This, she reasoned, must be nothing other than the “testing of faith” of verse 3 that issues in a new level of “steadfastness,” whose “full effect” makes “perfect and complete” (verse 4). Marilyn wants that “perfect and complete” thing, for herself and for her family. She wants it more than she wants their or her health.

[…]

I know that Marilyn’s counting all of her inherently difficult circumstances as joy is accompanied by a fair amount of muscular thinking and believing. Her logic seems to be this: God is love; He sends trial to build faith; He will reward tenacious faith with something wonderful that no eye can see nor ear can hear nor the heart of man can conceive. Immediately, that understanding of Marilyn’s yields a quiet hope and a joy. It turns out that God really does keep at perfect peace the heart that is steadfast, because it trusts in Him (Isaiah 26:3). Who’d have thought it?

I accept that.

To such an extent that I want to live it.

But I haven’t enjoyed the pain in the process.

PS: Be sure to read the whole piece; I left out several paragraphs: Counting all difficulties as joy.

Love. First. Always.

As is my wont, last night before going to bed I read the day’s portions from Daily Light on the Daily Path. Here’s the morning’s section:

The fruit of the Spirit is love.

God is love: and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. — The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. — Unto you … which believe he is precious. — We love him, because he first loved us. — The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. — This is my com-mandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. — Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. — Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.

GAL. 5:22. I John 4:16. -Rom. 5:5. -I Pet. 2:7. -I John 4:19. -II Cor. 5:14,15. I Thes. 4:9. -John 15:12. -I Pet. 4:8. -Eph. 5:2.

I got to thinking, “How do I try to avoid obeying the divine command to love? Do I figure there are other verses that somehow free me from obedience to this command? For instance, do I ever think that the imperative to confront error and sin somehow minimizes the overarching requirement to love?”

Let me ever remember this: All other commands hang from the twin commands to love.

It does not work the other way.

So let me love — first, foremost, last, in between, always.

Dropping that, I have nothing left upon which to securely hang any other obedience.

Period.

(You can read the evening’s section here as well: Daily Light on the Daily Path – March 1.)

Schrocks “Implored Us All to Forgive”

Jeff and Carolyn led the way.

“As a Christian, I realize that forgiveness is the only way I can be a Christian.” said Jeff. “And in return for that, forgiveness is required of me. So, in that sense, I don’t have a choice.”

They implored us all to forgive a man named Clifford Helm. He was driving the other truck that November night. Original theories ranged from cell-phone distraction to a suicide mission. In court, Helm’s lawyers told the jury he had a coughing fit and blacked out. Before their children were even buried, Carolyn and Jeff visited Helm in the hospital. And, when he was found not guilty of vehicular homicide, the Schrocks stood by his side.

“We personally believe that Cliff was just as much a victim in all this as we were. It was outside of his control,” explained Jeff.

Five years later, that bond remains strong. The two families have dinners together and say their friendship is both strong and necessary for their healing. How do they do it? The Schrocks say – simply – faith.

“As a human, it’s hard to understand that,” said Jeff. “It’s the way we believe God has designed it.”

Please, read the rest: Grace in Grief: The Schrock Family, Five Years Later.

How to Be Perplexed

Paul admitted to being “perplexed but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8). I am curious about what could perplex a mature believer like Paul to the extent that despair was in the ballpark of contemplatable reactions. He doesn’t go into detail, so we must imagine.

[…]

I would suspect that what perplexed Paul was what has perplexed God’s people of all time—God seeming to act inconsistently with his promises or character. One psalmist asked God: “Why, O LORD, do you stand afar off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1). That’s my perplexity too. Recently I prayed according to Hebrews 6:11 for “grace to help in time of need”—and I felt no different afterward, no abating of symptoms.

There are two different choices you can make at that point. You can be perplexed in doubt, or you can be perplexed in faith. Francis Schaeffer had said that there are at all times only the two “chairs” in the room: unfaith and faith.

[…]

Here is the other way to be perplexed when your soul is in distress. The first part of the sentence may be the same:

“Lord, I’m perplexed. I came to the throne like You said [but at this point it takes a different turn] and I didn’t feel any differently after I prayed, nor any abating of my distress. I am tempted to think You didn’t hear me. But I will not go there. I know that You require faith. You said in your Word that if anyone would come to You he must believe that You exist and that You reward the one who earnestly seeks You (Hebrews 11:6). So I will believe that You heard me. I believe that as soon as I asked for help, You heard me and You are working something out. I will put my trust in You. Help me to be perplexed without unbelief.”

Really, you would do well to read the whole piece: How to be perplexed.

Crazy Behind the Wheel

Or on the sidewalk.

Or in Walmart.

I hope I get pulled over for illegal cell phone usage; then I can tell the officer what I was really doing. Maybe plant a seed.

[…]

My son who lives in the heart of Philly says it’s no good now with everybody packing a cell phone and moving their lips as they walk down the street alone: “You can’t tell who the crazies are anymore.” Personally, I find the whole development liberating. I can talk to God all I want while cruising down Easton Road and nobody cares anymore. Between the tweeters and drunkards and prayers, it’s hard to tell who is crazy.

I like that!

And if you are a Christian, you really ought to read the rest of Andrée Seu’s piece at World Magazine Blog.

Vitamins to Fight Stress

Some days are more stressful than others. When stress hits, knowing which nutrients to incorporate into your diet, either with fresh foods or natural care supplements, can really help you tackle the load and come out on top. A good multivitamin that includes the B complex vitamins, or just a targeted vitamin B complex supplement, is a good choice. These nutrients help in the production of serotonin and dopamine, both of which play a role in relieving anxiety and relaxing. Foods that are loaded with B vitamins are another good choice: whole grains, nuts, dried fruits and eggs. Folic acid is an especially key nutrient, helping to stabilize your mood. It can be found in dark leafy green veggies and beans. And of course there’s L-tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey that has become a legend for its ability to calm you into a post-Thanksgiving dinner slumber.

Their source: Natural Health Magazine

My source: Swanson Health Products

Indonesia: Beauty in Ashes?

I receive a monthly newsletter from The Voice of the Martyrs [….] This month, the cover is a picture of a woman, Yubelina, from Indonesia. She was burned in an attack by Muslims on her Christian village.

Her skin is splotchy & ranges in color from light brown to red to white. Much of it is leathery. Her nose is disfigured. She has a purplish-colored patch of skin in between her bottom lip & the bottom of her chin. Her upper lip is peeling. Her left eye is white & red; her pupil is clearly no longer able to see.

But she is smiling. A huge smile. Joy radiates from her. Why?? She must receive stares. Children are probably afraid of her. The world would call her damaged. Ugly.

Yubelina has figured out where her identity lies. She is a treasured child of the King. She has traded “a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning” (Isa. 61:3). Her smile reveals Jesus.

Yubelina is beautiful. I guarantee she has a joy, a contentment, that no name-brand, trendy clothing; no perfect haircut & makeup; no flawless skin or toned body can bring.

I want to be beautiful like that.

Source: Beauty

Here’s the photo and the magazine in question:

Yubelina of Indonesia
Christian Persecution Blog

Frankly, I don’t know if I’m very gung-ho about using Third World images like this. Or any such image, for that matter.

Is it sensationalism? Is it…ah…now I can’t remember the word I thought of a bit ago. Oh, yeah…is it some form of exploitation?

I hope not.

To be sure, it puts a face to persecution.

And it reminds us of how people treat each other.

And of how Christians should pray for each other.

And of how Christian joy surpasses circumstances.

And of how we should be thankful for freedom of religion.

Of what else does it remind you?