Monthly Archives: March 2014

Finding goodness – Sharing goodness

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We are made for goodness just as we are made to breathe. – John Eldridge

 

The Cedar Rapids Gazette ran a recent article encouraging local folk to share what makes them proud of their city.

My sister shared wrote what happened on Valentine’s Day when our mother had car trouble on First Avenue in Cedar Rapids:
“Within minutes, not one, but two, kind citizens pulled over to help her, moved her car safely out of traffic, and stayed there with her until I could get to mom,” Elizabeth wrote. “They were such a comfort to her rattled nerves. This is a big SMALL town where strangers reach out to help, even during their busy morning commute. And even though it made them late to work. “I’ll take Cedar Rapids any day over a big city,” she wrote.

When we traveled to Bolivia, South America for a month, we lived in the mountain valley town of Cochabamba. With a metropolitan population of 1 million people, it was much noisier than our small town of 15,000. But we both were impressed that it was like coming home for the first time. I thought it funny when people at the local church referred to their sprawling metropolis as a small town. But when we both became so sick someone we hardly knew brought us homemade chicken soup. And when we moved on to Santa Cruz de la Sierra (2-3 million) for additional recuperation, a person we had met just once, also brought us homemade chicken soup and helped us get to an English-speaking doctor.

If you experience such compassion, you will not likely forget it. And if your heart is open, hopefully it encourages you to share that same goodness with others. Goodness is all around us. We only have to stop complaining to see it, exercise our grateful heart to grow, and share that same goodness with others.

There’s nothing quite like celebrating goodness. Let’s reach beyond ‘random’ acts of kindness. Let your actions be purposeful and deliberate. Let your compassion help someone up when they fall, forgive a mistake, and bring a light of truth and encouragement to a dark world.

In good times and tough ones, go light our world with goodness.
May it be said of you…”surely goodness and kindness will follow me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6

Draw me close to you

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Every day, do something that brings you closer to God.

 

Taking time to meditate is vital to a growing faith. But meditation can be a challenge. We aren’t conditioned in our society to be in silence. In fact, much of our life is filled with noise and activity, leaving little time for God. So how do you quiet yourself so you can enjoy the peace of his presence?

Sometimes I reflect on a particular passage of scripture, focusing on one word or phrase at a time. Sometimes I ponder one of God’s attributes (his love, mercy, goodness, power, etc). Sometimes I will focus on a hymn or praise song that helps to bring me into his presence. It’s all about drawing close to Him in the quiet of the day and in the busyness of life. God promises that if we will draw close to him and humble ourselves, he will draw close to us. Donnie McClurkin’s song Draw Me Close To You may be a good place to start. Read through the words and let there be periods of rest and silence between verses, so you have a place where God can speak to you. You may even want to stop and focus just on one word or phrase. Resist the temptation to rush on to some other activity. We may well make more of a difference by doing less and drawing close to God more. Be blessed in the time you spend with God.

“Draw Me Close To You” – Donnie McClurkin

Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I’m Your friend

You are my desire
And no one else will do
‘Cause nothing else can take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace

Help me find a way
Bring me back to You

You’re all I want
You’re all I’ve ever needed
You’re all I want
Help me know You are near

You are my desire
And no one else will do
‘Cause nothing else can take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace

Help me find a way
Bring me back to You

You’re all I want
You’re all I’ve ever needed
You’re all I want
Help me know You are near
Help me know You are near
Help me know You are near

 

Check engine light

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I took the car in to the repair shop. The ‘check engine’ light had come on again. They put it on the diagnostic machine and it came back with, “engine below operating temperature.” Really? You know, at -24 degrees wind chill, I think EVERYTHING is below operating temperature these Iowan winter days! Sometimes that little alert light can be really crucial. Ignoring it could lead one to real danger! But in this case, the repairmen reset the alert light and sent us on the way at no charge. (Thanks guys!)

Don’t you wish WE had a built in ‘check spiritual engine’ light? It could come in handy when we are operating too much on our own power, instead of relying on the Holy Spirit. Or it could tell us the oil is low and it is time for a fresh anointing. It could warn us when our battery is worn down and we need spiritual recharging. Or it could flash repeatedly when we are entering dangerous ‘road conditions’.

Actually, God already thought of this when Jesus gave us His very Spirit to teach, guide, convict, and comfort us. This ‘alert’ never goes off unless there is a real cause and never needs resetting. It doesn’t flash a light so we have to train ourselves to listen for the warning. Like any soft whisper, we have to tune out the distracting sounds and events around us and lean in to hear a still and soft voice.

For your car, keep your eye on the check engine light. To make sure you are operating under the best of guidance, train yourself to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit throughout the normal routines of the day.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26

Unopened gifts

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What would you think if you brought a valuable gift to a friend’s house only to have them put it on a shelf, unopened?

A story like that is told of a faithful but tired Christian man who died and went to heaven. An angel greeted him and offered a tour of heaven’s grandeur. Along the way, the man noticed an unusual building with no windows and only one door. Asking to see it, the man was advised that he really would not want to see what was inside. But the man pleaded to see inside the building. Once inside, he saw rows and rows of shelves from floor to ceiling, all filled with beautifully decorated boxes. Examining them further, he found one that had his name written on the tag. Again, against the warning of the angel, the man opened the box. Instantly, he recognized its contents. They were blessings God intended for him to enjoy on earth, but some, he never asked for, and others he had not accepted.

It is the same with us. God wants the very best for us, but we have to ask. And once offered them, we have to accept them. Otherwise, there is no blessing received. God tells us that if we, being mortal parents would give good things to our own children, how much more would our heavenly father give to us, His children?

We might not always FEEL it, but there is no end to God’s goodness. We just need to ask for it. I’m not talking about some name it and claim it prosperity gospel too often preached today. I’m talking about the goodness of God: his grace when we deserve none, his strength when we are oh so very weak, his truth when we face lies, his hope when we are in despair, his faithfulness when we feel betrayed.

Have you ever felt nudged by God to step out in faith but you declined, because it seemed awkward or weird? Unopened blessings are like that too. When we know what God desires for us, but don’t respond, we also miss out on blessings that remain instead unopened.

Do you really want God’s best for you? Ask Him and respond when he answers, no matter how awkward it feels. Tell Him that you want to experience His joy, even if you can’t hear him respond right away. Enjoying God’s goodness and enjoying the life he gives you are one and the same.

Believe God, seek him, desire His goodness, and it will be yours. Enjoy God and open the gifts he offers you each day.