♪A Note of Thanks ♪
I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. Philippians 4:11-12
The morning slowly and sweetly awakens; so still and early, even the birds haven’t begun to sing. The day dawns in silence as most of the community is still sleeping. It’s early…much earlier than normal for me. The wind is soft, with an early spring chill, and the sky is filled with distant lights twinkling, the lonely sound of a train over Ruffner Mountain coming through Norris Yards in Irondale and a dog barking, yonder in the distance. I give God thanks and praise for the day, for the contentment moving easily through me as I begin to pray. I believe the reason Paul learned to live in contentment regardless of his circumstances was because he prayed, meditated and communed with God in deep, contemplative ways, everyday and continuously throughout the day.
Paul knew that the trials and experiences of this life are only the beginnings of our journeys, He had an up-close-and-personal encounter with Jesus, and after that, all that mattered was sharing the spiritual freedom and truth that transformed him and changed his life, and Christian history, forever. I consider my own circumstances: Life hasn’t exactly been a piece of cake for me; however, unlike Paul, I’ve never been thrown in prison because I follow Jesus. I’ve never been beaten or tortured because of my religious faith. I’ve never been homeless, and I can’t even say, as Paul does, that I rejoice always and in everything. Today, however, I’m determined to rejoice and be content with what I have – which is more than I deserve- and I’m equally determined to share what I have with others.
The dictionary says that contentment means to be satisfied. I pray that everyone reading this devotional will examine closely all of their gifts and learn to be content with what they have. The other Sunday, for offertory, I chose a hymn tune that speaks to my heart about God caring for us. I can sing this with joy and thanksgiving because I’m certain that God always will take care of me…and of you.
God Will Take Care of You
Be not dismayed, what-e’er betide, God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.
Through days of toil when heart doth fail, God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.
Chorus
God will take care of you, through every day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you, God will take care of you.
- Civilla Durfee Martin
Thank you, God, for the gift of this most amazing day. Guide us and help us. May Your Peace be our highest priority today. Amen.
With a grateful heart for serving alongside you, I remain…
Your friend,
Mark David Jackson
Monday, March 22, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Pain and Suffering
♪A Note of Thanks ♪
“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” Psalm 119:50
“Isn’t He, beautiful? Beautiful, isn’t He? Prince of Peace, Son of God, isn’t He, isn’t He?
Isn’t He, Wonderful? Wonderful, isn’t He? Counselor, Almighty God, isn’t He, isn’t He? Isn’t He?” - John Wimber
Feeling pain…as we get older, we have aches and pains, physical, spiritual and emotional. Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest and professor has written a book recently, “An Altar in the World.” Basically the book is about discovering God in every part of your life. One of the chapters entitled “The Practice of Feeling Pain” hit home to me. Do you have a practice feeling pain? Taylor is quick to point out that feeling pain, though generally unwanted, is a necessary part of being human.
Taylor says that it is actually the times of pain and suffering that allow us to break through our old habits, our old patterns of living, our old ways of understanding God. The Psalmist, writing more than two millennia ago, sang, “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” Can that be your song in the midst of heartache and suffering? As Christians, we proclaim that God is with us in good times and in bad, but it actually may be the bad times that have the power to break open our hearts so that we can encounter God and become more fully human.
My friend, Rev. Randy Kessler, pastor of Bessemer’s First Presbyterian Church, says that many times, during those difficult times in our lives, God seems to have us in a protective bubble. We don’t always understand it, but upon looking back, during the pain and suffering, He is with us, right along-side us. Friends, family and His Holy Spirit are there to comfort us, when seemingly things look as if they might cave in. As we come through the pain to the other side, we are, many times, stronger and with a determination to keep on keeping on - that’s perseverance!
The refrain of a familiar invitation hymn says: “I surrender all. I surrender all. All to you my blessed Savior, I surrender all.” I wonder if the reason this song speaks to us when we sing it is because we all know what it is like to get to a place in our lives where our pain, be it physical or emotional, leads us to the reality that all we can do is surrender our lives – heart, mind, soul and strength – to God. Perhaps that is what Lent is all about: Coming to grips with the fact that surrendering our lives, including our pain, to God is the path of Jesus, the suffering servant, who led the way and taught us that our comfort in suffering is our God, who will not leave us nor forsake us.
Holy One, You alone know my pain and my suffering. Come to me and remind me of your promise to love me and be with me. Let your promise be enough. In Jesus’ Precious and Holy Name. Amen.
As we go through this Lenten journey and looking beyond the pain into the eyes of Him who suffered and gave Himself for us, I remain, your friend,
Mark David Jackson
“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” Psalm 119:50
“Isn’t He, beautiful? Beautiful, isn’t He? Prince of Peace, Son of God, isn’t He, isn’t He?
Isn’t He, Wonderful? Wonderful, isn’t He? Counselor, Almighty God, isn’t He, isn’t He? Isn’t He?” - John Wimber
Feeling pain…as we get older, we have aches and pains, physical, spiritual and emotional. Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest and professor has written a book recently, “An Altar in the World.” Basically the book is about discovering God in every part of your life. One of the chapters entitled “The Practice of Feeling Pain” hit home to me. Do you have a practice feeling pain? Taylor is quick to point out that feeling pain, though generally unwanted, is a necessary part of being human.
Taylor says that it is actually the times of pain and suffering that allow us to break through our old habits, our old patterns of living, our old ways of understanding God. The Psalmist, writing more than two millennia ago, sang, “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” Can that be your song in the midst of heartache and suffering? As Christians, we proclaim that God is with us in good times and in bad, but it actually may be the bad times that have the power to break open our hearts so that we can encounter God and become more fully human.
My friend, Rev. Randy Kessler, pastor of Bessemer’s First Presbyterian Church, says that many times, during those difficult times in our lives, God seems to have us in a protective bubble. We don’t always understand it, but upon looking back, during the pain and suffering, He is with us, right along-side us. Friends, family and His Holy Spirit are there to comfort us, when seemingly things look as if they might cave in. As we come through the pain to the other side, we are, many times, stronger and with a determination to keep on keeping on - that’s perseverance!
The refrain of a familiar invitation hymn says: “I surrender all. I surrender all. All to you my blessed Savior, I surrender all.” I wonder if the reason this song speaks to us when we sing it is because we all know what it is like to get to a place in our lives where our pain, be it physical or emotional, leads us to the reality that all we can do is surrender our lives – heart, mind, soul and strength – to God. Perhaps that is what Lent is all about: Coming to grips with the fact that surrendering our lives, including our pain, to God is the path of Jesus, the suffering servant, who led the way and taught us that our comfort in suffering is our God, who will not leave us nor forsake us.
Holy One, You alone know my pain and my suffering. Come to me and remind me of your promise to love me and be with me. Let your promise be enough. In Jesus’ Precious and Holy Name. Amen.
As we go through this Lenten journey and looking beyond the pain into the eyes of Him who suffered and gave Himself for us, I remain, your friend,
Mark David Jackson
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