Bible

Stop & Consider.

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Living in Texas there are a lot of thunderstorms. These roll in often and typically include some magnificent clouds and incredible lightning shows. These are the kind of storms you just want to pull up a chair and watch for hours. I like calling them “God’s fireworks” because the skies are often so beautifully colored as the lightning goes off in the midnight sky. Texas storms are truly a masterpiece of God.

Nature is and always has been one of my favorite things. I love being outside all the time, enjoying nature by going on hikes, running, and exploring. I love nature because it shows me more about who God is.

A verse struck me tonight as I read in Job 36-37. Elihu is speaking to Job. He points out a variety of types of nature, like wind, snow, rain, and ice. He goes on to say that each of these things are from the Lord, that God is the one who holds the power of these things. He is reminding Job of the magnificence and power of God, and how this is displayed in His creation.

Elihu says things like this: He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. (Job 27:3) He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ (Job 37:6) The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. (Job 27:10)

And then he says the thing that stood out:

“Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.”

Job 27:14 (NIV)

Job is told to stop and consider God’s wonders. Other versions of this verse say, “the wondrous works of God” (ESV) and “the wonderful miracles of God” (NLT). Job is asked by this friend to consider the ways and works of God. He is not God, and he does not control the earth. God is God. God is the only one who can speak things into existence, command the skies, and control the winds.

As I read this verse I thought, “How do I stop and consider the works of the Lord?”

In a world, culture, and era where busy is new normal, fast food is not fast enough, and Amazon allows us live a life of immediate gratification, we do not stop and consider often, if ever. And this life of non-stop busyness and hurry leads us to the false belief that we do not need God, nor do we need to consider His works.

But I think I want to stop and consider the Lord and His ways. This seems so important, like an essential aspect of being human in the ways God intended for us to be human because it reminds us how small we truly are in comparison with God. Job is told to consider the ways of the Lord, His marvelous and miraculous works. I want to live a life that is slow enough to stop and consider the ways of the Lord, like Job is encouraged to do. And this includes taking time to stop and simply enjoy God’s creation.

So, what are the marvelous and miraculous works of God around me and in my life that I can stop and consider? What are the miraculous works of God around you? And what should our response to these be?

As we consider the ways of the Lord and His miracles, I believe the only right response is worship. When we consider how he commands the lightning, controls the wind, and created all of the earth, there is nothing else for us to do but bow down in worship towards our great God!

So today, I want to encourage you to STOP and CONSIDER. Take a moment right now to stop what you are doing. Look out your window and praise God for something you see that He made. Maybe it’s your kids playing outside. Maybe it’s a bird perched on a branch. Maybe it’s a newly planted tree just beginning to bud. As you look at these things, consider the Lord. Consider that He created each of these things with intentionality, purpose, and creativity. He created these things out of joy that we might worship Him all the more!

Take time today, friend, to stop and consider the ways of the Lord.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!

Psalm 34:8a (ESV)

P.S. I love the way The Message tells of these verses, so I have copied that below for you to enjoy and worship God with these words today!

“Job, are you listening? Have you noticed all this? Stop in your tracks! Take in God’s miracle-wonders? Do you have any idea how God does it all, how he makes bright lightning from dark storms, how he piles up the cumulus clouds—all these miracle-wonders of a perfect Mind? Why, you don’t even know how to keep cool on a sweltering hot day, so how could you even dream of making a dent in that hot-tin-roof sky?

Job 37:14-18 (MSG)

The Comparison Trap.

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Comparison is a trap. It does not lead to life or truth in anyway. Comparison causes us to look at what other people have, who they are, and what they do and then tell ourselves, “I am not enough because I am not like them!”

Comparison is a problem. It’s a big problem because it traps us in a cycle of believing lies about ourselves and often about others too. When we compare ourselves to others, we are ultimately telling God, our creator, that He messed up in some way and we are not pleased with that.

Social media heightens the awareness and accessibility of comparison. We can instantly compare ourselves to hundreds of people, both those we do life with and those we have never met. We can see their best moments, their newest things, and their fanciest vacations. It is easy to get sucked into a social media binge, looking at all the things the “rest of the people” have that you do not.

Comparison pulls us down. It leads to depression, overspending, excessive desires, and controlling thoughts. It leads us to believe that we need more things, we need to do more things, and we need to be more. Comparison tells us that we can be better than the person next to us if we just try a little harder.

Do you see the trap yet? You probably didn’t need to read this to instinctively feel the trap I’m talking about. We’ve all felt this trap because we have all had times of feeling like we are not enough because of our perception of others.

God does not want us to live in this world trapped. He created us for freedom! He created us in unique ways, with specific gifts, and placed us in distinct places for certain times. He is not unaware of those around you and the gifts He gave them too.

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV)

So today, consider how you are comparing yourself to others. What is causing comparison? Is there something you can avoid (like social media) to help you not compare yourself to others?

And then be thankful! I try to end each day in gratitude by writing down one specific thing I am grateful for that day. Gratitude is the antidote to comparison. More on that in a future post! … 🙂

Purpose.

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We all want to have a purpose in life, we want our life to matter in this world. Purpose is something I believe we are all searching for in life.

Some people find purpose in their jobs by reaching the highest positions and simply being really good at what they do. Some people find purpose in their families, seeking to raise children with good manors and kind hearts. Some people find purpose in their hobbies, by starting non-profits, giving their time up for charities, or traveling around the world. None of these things are bad. In fact, these are all really good things that most people should aspire to! We should all desire to be good at what we do, raise up families that are known for kindness and compassion, and use our talents and loves to make the world a better place.

But there is just something more when we think of the word purpose.

Purpose. It’s the reason we are created, the reason for existence. And there just has to be more in our purpose than being a good employee, having a good family, and doing the things we love. Purpose is something deeper because we want to matter in this world. We want to know why we were created and then live into that purpose!

For the year 2020, PURPOSE is my word. I want to know what my purpose is and live into it. I want to help others see their true purpose in life too. And I believe that the Bible answers the question: What is my purpose in life?

From the very beginning pages of the Bible, we see that our purpose was to be with God. Yet, sin entered the world causing a vast separation that could never be bridged… until Jesus! And now, because of Jesus, we can be with God again! So our purpose is to be with God!

Not only are we to simply be with God, but we are to be a reflection, an imitation, an image of God to a broken and lost world. The more you are around certain people the more you become like them. This is true about being with God too! The more you are with God, the more you will be like Him!

Purpose. It’s a big word, but it holds a lot of important meaning. And I believe that our purpose is to be with God and glorify Him forever! 1 Peter 2:9 is the verse that comes to mind and the verse I want to live into this year.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

And I pray this year you will find your purpose in God as well. I pray that you will know that God loves you, cares for you, and desires for you to be with Him!