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Enjoying Life With Gladness

April 22, 2024April 8, 2024 krisshetter

At this point in your life, you’ve probably been asked one or both of these questions:

If you were told you were to die tomorrow, what would you do?
If the world were to end tomorrow, what would you do tonight?

They are two different scenarios. The first sees life moving forward for the rest of the world without you in it. The second is a complete destruction of all we know. For me, however, the answers are both the same. I would gather my family and others that I love. We would spend time in prayer asking God to sustain us through the trial so that we would see His face at our end. I would want us to gather in laughter, remembering all the wonderful times God has provided us throughout our time together. We would eat a scrumptious meal, most likely prepared by my husband, enjoy good wine, and pray some more.

Here’s the thing, we should always assume these two questions are a distinct possibility. That is, if we truly believe the message of the Bible. First, we will all die, just as we have seen in earlier chapters of Ecclesiastes. It’s not if but when. For every single one of us. Secondly, if it’s not the rapture coming upon us then we should be honest that the world is now filled with weapons that could easily kill us all. Does this mean we live every day in fear of these two truths? No, but truth can and should set us free to live in reality.

^“All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.” Ecclesiastes 9:2

That “common destiny” is the evil we call death. So, what do we do with this truth? We live each day serving the one true God and live in gladness.

^“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.⁸Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.” Ecclesiastes 9:7-8

Gladness is not hedonism. Gladness is not escapism. Gladness isn’t folly. You could easily imagine, in fact movies and books have taken the “if the end were tomorrow what would we do” topic and shown us the possibilities the unrighteous might take. Some might go on drug, alcohol or sexual benders. Getting blotto to ease their fears or pain. The age-old “eat and drink because tomorrow we might die” path toward annihilation. It’s a twisting of the message found throughout Ecclesiastes. Other might go on a theft and destruction rampage. That thinking shines the light on people who live without wisdom or God.

Why shouldn’t we think this way? I mean your life is about to end, right? Let’s remember the times when Moses and Abraham negotiated with God to save their people.

^“Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not sparethe place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”  Genesis 18:23-26

^“But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? ¹²Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people.” Exodus 32:11-12

So here you are, you’ve committed every sin possible against man and God the night before you are to die and suddenly a righteous person pleads for mercy on the world’s behalf. The ungodly will surely find themselves on the wrong side of that historical moment. Or maybe that person is praying for your healing because you have been personally given that death sentence. Will God abide or will He see justice done?

That’s what the “fear of God” is about. Knowing there is a presence higher than us who will one day serve justice to all. Do we love God and therefore want to live our lives in service to Him? Or do we grieve the Holy Spirit daily, hourly even, and turn our backs on Him?

^“For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. ⁶Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:5-6

Until the day we actually die we still have time. Time to submit ourselves over to the Lord Most High. Time to reconcile with loved ones. Time to give out mercy and forgiveness in abundance. Time to enjoy our lives with gladness. Because once your time is up, the dead have no such chances.

Joy is the serious business of heaven.”
C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcom

Rejoicing our lives in gladness means we make the most of every moment. We make as many everyday moments special. Because they are special. That moment right now, you will never have back. The moments pass by so quickly in our short lives. Do you want to live them in bitterness and anger? In the fog of folly and hedonism? Or in joyfulness and with endurance?

I saw a great example of taking everyday moments and making them full of gladness. Once a month a mom of four young children creates “Fancy Dinner Night.” The children all dress in their finest clothing. She makes picture menus of the meal she has planned. There’s candles and cloth napkins and the fancy china. She plays the role of waitress and hands out the menus as though she is serving clients at a 5 star Michelin restaurant. Even the toddler has a picture menu from which to choose his meal. She is training them not only to enjoy an everyday moment but how to act with character at mealtimes. It was so sweet and beautiful!

Console yourself, dear Battos. Things may be better tomorrow. While there’s life, there’s hope. Only the dead have none.”
Greek Poet Theokritos

There is always hope for tomorrow; a tomorrow filled with gladness. Why? Because we have the life and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He suffered the most gruesome of deaths to take on our sins. He sacrificed not only His human body but His heavenly one when he came to earth to live among us. He showed us what the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven will look like – ones who fully rely on God, they forgive and are forgiven, they put others ahead of themselves, they mourn over their sin. And when He was resurrected, He proved that those Kingdom Citizens will also be raised from the dead and be given yet another new life. What amazing hope we have for our eternal lives after this short time here on earth.

When we live in gladness and joy, we seek to serve others in His Holy Name. We love others well in His name. We take every moment, even in the trials and tribulations, and thank Him for providing for us, for healing us, and being our guiding light. So why oh, why would we want to miss out on that hope? Why would we not want to share that hope with those around us who choose daily leaning toward something less?

It’s not by searching for special things that we find joy, but by making the everyday things special.”
Warren Wiersbe

Friends, our time here is truly short so consider well your answers to the first two questions I presented. Because eternity is forever. A forever spent in the presence of the glory of God or of the pain of hell.

"So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them.” Ecclesiastes 9:1

King Solomon eventually, in his study of the meaningless life, discovers that we do, in fact, know what awaits us. If we take the narrow path set before us by Jesus we are greeted with unmeasurable love. Our knowledge of that truth should give us the endurance to live each day in gladness. And to spread that truth to so many others.

Are you the type that tells your family and friends that your best china is sitting locked away in some dusty cupboard? “It’s for special times.” And those times never seem to come? Break out that china, the linen napkins, the candles, even if it’s just you enjoying it or grab a few neighbors you’ve always wanted to meet. Make your everyday special in some way and rejoice with gladness!

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
C.S. Lewis

Enjoying A Wisdom-Filled Life Part Two

April 17, 2024April 10, 2024 krisshetter

Did you miss part one? Click here!

I knew the mistake as soon as I made it. But it was too late. I gave my consent and the ball began to roll. I knew the mistake I had made because for the last few years I’d heard the advice I disregarded over and over in my church home group. Ask God first. Not during, not after, but first. And here I was doing the exact opposite of that good advice. I kicked myself for still being what is called a “baby Christian.” Knowing the Word and knowing the wisdom dispensed therein but not living it out.

I’ve mentioned this unwise situation in which I placed myself in past posts. However, when I was pondering the “most unwise decision I ever made” this kept coming to mind. Mostly because of the pain and suffering it caused me and my family, even to this day.

You see, about 11 years ago, I begrudgingly agreed to be my kids’ elementary school PTA president. For a year prior, I told the PTA board I would not be president. It wasn’t my lack of ability that held me back because I knew I could do the job. No, instead I warned the board that they weren’t ready for my leadership style. Big changes were ahead for the school which meant big changes for the parent-teacher association. We would need to adapt and change in ways I knew would make people very uncomfortable.

At the time my Christian faith consisted of going to church occasionally, hosting a home group, and not much else. I wasn’t closely tethered to the Lord. I hadn’t gained the wisdom necessary to handle political and interpersonal conflict graciously and with self-control. On the other hand, I was organized, comfortable with leading, and skilled at creative solutions. I knew how to get things done.

As that year wound down and the nominating committee kept pestering me, I found myself resigned to being the only one willing to step into the role of president. So, late one evening I heard my voice telling a person over the phone, “Yes.” As soon as I hung up, I realized I hadn’t sought out the one opinion I needed most, God’s.

For the next two years my family’s life was filled with endless meetings, long phone calls, strife, and an absent mother. When I wasn’t physically occupied with the details of this volunteer job, I was absent mentally. At home, I cried frequently and raged about problem parents. I’m sure there were some good times sprinkled in between. But those memories have been squeezed out.

It’s not that I believe that had I prayed, the Lord would have told me “no.” It’s that if I had gotten a “yes” after praying it would have put a completely different spin on the entire experience. Had I taken all that wise advice I would have kept close to the Lord those two years and been at peace, even during times of trouble.

"Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way." Ecclesiastes 8:5

It’s one thing to seek wisdom, as we saw in the last post, but it’s another to actually use that wisdom every day in our lives. What would it look like in your life to heed the advice of say a Christian whom you trust? The advice of your pastor? The advice given in your Bible study or devotional? The advice spread throughout the Bible?

"Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. ⁵And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” Nehemiah 2:4-5

Nehemiah was desperate to see to the rebuilding of the second temple. A noble venture for sure. Just like me stepping up to lead our PTA. But, he also knew if he went behind the king’s back there would surely be trouble. You can see tucked in the verse the most important step he took – “So I prayed to the God of the heavens.” And the right words came out of his mouth to the king.

Some sources suggest that the average person makes an eye-popping 35,000 choices per day. Assuming that most people spend around seven hours per day sleeping and thus blissfully choice-free, that makes roughly 2,000 decisions per hour or one decision every two seconds.
Eva M. Krockow Ph.D., Psychology Today

Is it possible to ask God to impart His wisdom for each and every one of those seemingly small decisions? Maybe not, but we can wake each day and ask Him to direct our steps through the Holy Spirit. He gives us that nudge, that convicting tap on our shoulder, that encouragement throughout our day.

Too often, however, when we seek to make decisions about life, we seek only knowledge. And knowledge is not wisdom. Knowledge is data, facts, numbers. Wisdom is experience and life.

“Our knowledge is a receding mirage in an expanding desert of ignorance.”
Historian Will Durant, Store of Civilization

One thing I always admired about the disciples is how many questions they asked Jesus. Although Peter seemed to rely on his own knowledge so often, we get to see him use not only his experiential wisdom and the wisdom imparted by Jesus as he grew more and more faithful. From Peter thinking he needed to defend Jesus in the garden by attacking the soldier, to denying his association to Jesus, he reflected us all. We know better than the Almighty God. We know how best to defend ourselves, how to protect ourselves. When it all fails, we become destitute and hopefully turn to the Lord.

How many times have you found yourself spiritually or emotionally destitute because you didn’t heed good advice or even seek it? Wouldn’t it be nice to turn to God first? To hear the Holy Spirit whisper to us and heed the good advice?

“For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
though a person may be weighed down by misery.

⁷Since no one knows the future,
who can tell someone else what is to come? Ecclesiastes 8:6-7

Experiential wisdom is gained in its proper time and procedure. Which is why we all should be leery when people say a young person has an “old soul.” An “old soul” is one that has been on the battlefield of life and has come out with a few scars.

I started paying attention to my own prayer life and the results thereof. I went from praying after a decision for God to help it not be a bad one (like running the PTA) to praying in the midst of the process. Finally, I’ve stopped myself so many times lately and said, “I need to pray first.” It might be a quick prayer about something seemingly insignificant. Or it might be a few days, seeking God’s counsel. And surprisingly, this whole wisdom seeking works pretty good. I can now enjoy my decisions.

Friend, let’s be honest, we can never know all the “right answers.” If we wait until we have them all you will never take any forward steps. For some, that keeps them from putting their trust in God. Because they haven’t gotten all the answers cleared up about the mysteries. We have to be ok with trusting that God is the Almighty Creator and He hasn’t imparted us with all the facts He has about life. We have to be ok with asking Him for help and being satisfied with what He gives us.

^“..then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.” Ecclesiastes 8:17

Being ok with not knowing everything but acting wisely is not ignorance as some might accuse the Christian. We can and should rest peacefully in knowing what we need to know. And living our lives out with wisdom, peace, joy and goodness the information we do know — That God is a god who loves us and teaches us and will never leave us. He is a god who seeks us and wants us to live forever in His Holy Kingdom!

“Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with  those who fear God, because they fear before him.  ¹³But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.” Ecclesiastes 8:12-13

When we first, seek God, then seek His wisdom for our life, and finally live out that wisdom each and every day “it will be well.” We can watch and be at peace when the unwise, godless people around us make bad or even evil decisions. We pray for them that they would know God, who can give them a new life.

We all need wise people around us who fear the Lord first. We all need to use their wisdom and our experiential wisdom each day so we can enjoy our life especially in times of trouble. Let’s start by placing God as our most Holy Rabbi front and center.

Enjoying A Wisdom-Filled Life

April 15, 2024April 17, 2024 krisshetter

A teenager asked his father if he could go to an unsupervised party where there would surely be drinking. He denied his request. “Aw Dad, why not?” he complained. “I’m in high school now!” Dad replied: “Because some will drink and the party could get out of control.” “But, Dad, those are just very small parts of the party! “My answer is ‘no,’ and that is my final answer. You are welcome to stay home tonight, invite some of your friends over. But you will not go to that party. End of discussion.”

The teenager walked dejectedly into the family room and slumped down on the couch. As he sulked, he was surprised to hear the sounds of his father preparing something in the kitchen. He soon recognized the wonderful aroma of brownies baking in the oven, and he thought, “Dad must be feeling guilty, and now he’s going to try to make it up to me with some fresh brownies. Maybe I can soften him up with lots of praise when he brings them out to me and persuade him to let me go to that party after all.”

The teen was not disappointed. Soon his father appeared with a plate of warm brownies. He took one. Then his father said, “Before you eat, I want to tell you something: I love you very much. That is why I’ve made these brownies from scratch with the very best ingredients. The best stone-milled flour. The best free-range eggs. The best organic pure cane sugar. Premium vanilla and the finest chocolate.” The brownies looked mouth-watering.

“There is one ingredient I added that is not usually found in brownies. I got that ingredient from our own backyard. But you needn’t worry, because I only added the tiniest bit of that ingredient. The amount of the portion is practically insignificant. So go ahead, take a bite and let me know what you think.”

“Dad, what is the mystery ingredient before I eat it?” the teen asked. Dad answered, “Why? The portion I added was so small. Just a teaspoonful. You won’t even taste it.” The teen said, “Come on, Dad; just tell me what it is.”

“Well, OK, if you insist. That secret ingredient is organic…dog poop.” The teen instantly dropped his brownie back on the plate and began inspecting his fingers with horror. “DAD! Why did you do that? You’ve tempted me by making me smell the brownies cooking for the last half hour, and now you tell me that you added dog poop! I can’t eat these!”

Dad asked, “Why not? The amount of dog poop is very small compared to the rest of the ingredients. It won’t hurt you. It’s been cooked right along with the other ingredients and you won’t even taste it. Go ahead and eat it.” His son replied, “No, never.”

The wise dad continued, “And that is the same reason I won’t allow you to go to that party. You won’t tolerate a little dog poop in your brownies, so why should you tolerate a little immorality in your life? We pray that God will not lead us unto temptation. So how can you in good conscience entertain yourself with something that could easily get you into trouble?”

The teenager lowered his head, then looked up at his Dad. He smiled. He finally understood. He never did go to high school parties where there was drinking.

Ah, the wisdom of a father. Don’t most parents wish and hope we can provide such clever and wise examples to their children? And best of all, they listen and obey? But alas, so much wisdom dispensed, even to us, falls on deaf ears. We know better and usually think we can do better than the person trying to save us from heartache or hardship.

The Old Testament can be broken into four categories of books. The Pentateuch, the first 6 books, Israel’s history, the prophets, and then wisdom. Two entire books, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, have as their focus the topic of wisdom. It must be something God finds very important in the lives of us humans. Yet, wisdom and the enjoyment of having a life filled with it, seems so elusive to many.

We all have that family member, friend, neighbor, co-worker or acquaintance who causes us to scratch our heads each time they make yet another disastrous decision. A decision that looks a lot like the same mistake they made last time when they sloughed off good advice. Or maybe that person is…you.

Much of the wise advice we hear throughout our lives has its roots somewhere in the book of Proverbs, authored mostly by King Solomon. In Ecclesiastes 7 & 8, he goes on to remind us to seek wisdom but that wisdom, by itself, is not to be the end-goal. He should know. Having asked God to grant him the wisest mind, he eventually managed to really mess up his life pursuing all manner of fleshly desires of which his gift of wisdom afforded him by becoming a wealthy king. He became the poster boy for “do as I say, not as I do.”

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Proverb 9:10

Had he heeded his own wise words he might have produced offspring that didn’t want to betray him or destroy the kingdom once they were in power. It’s a good lesson to learn when we dispense wisdom to our fellow, earthly travellers. As Jesus once reminded us, remove the log out of your own eye before you comment on the speck of another.

All that aside, it appears that at end of Solomon’s life he recognized so many of his faults, sins or indescretions. The result was his study of life in Ecclesiastes. And with that we get such wonderful pearls as:

“For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.” Ecclesiastes 7:12

If there was one thing, after seeking and thirsting for Christ, that we should spend our life attaining it would be wisdom. It’s not easily gained. So often the attaining requires we suffer first. Isn’t that what we so often try to impart to others? How to avoid pain, suffering, loss by taking our hard-earned advice?

“It is for discipline that you have to endure.  God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  ⁸If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”  Hebrews 12:7-8

Like the son in the brownie story all of us need discipline sometime in our lives. It’s the first step in wisdom seeking. The person who learns from their mistakes or experiences (or others’) gains one step closer to being wise. One step closer to living a peaceful, joy-filled life.

None of us can come to the highest maturity without enduring the summer heat of trials.”
Charles Spurgeon

“The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” Ecclesiastes 7:4

Solomon isn’t telling us in the above verse to not have a good and happy life. What he is saying is our seeking joy and happiness at all costs is a shallow goal and not wise. When our yearning for closeness to God can only be satisfied during joyful times, we miss out on the richness that tough times can bring. Life, as we all know, isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. As he has said throughout Ecclesiastes, life is frequently about toiling and repetitiveness. Wisdom is rarely sought and found while we are whooping it up at a party.

Wisdom is found before we enter the door and remember the terrible hangover we had that last time. Or the fight you and your spouse got into because of inappropriate behavior at the neighborhood BBQ. Or even maybe the DUI your friend got when you drove home together. When we brush all that aside for a “good time,” we’ve entered into the land of folly.

Wisdom is gained by remembering. Remembering the wise words shared with you. Remembering the results of poor decisions, either by yourself or someone you know.

Wisdom isn’t just knowledge. My mother-in-law was a very wise person. She didn’t go to college, she didn’t have some big shot important job. She was a mom, a sometimes employee at dress shops and florists. She was a devoted Christian and a ready-hand at many volunteer events. She was creative and quick-witted. And she dispensed wisdom with ease. Wisdom gained from a dirt poor childhood with an alcoholic dad. From watching her brother make one bad decision after another ending up on drugs and in jail. She didn’t need self-help books to know about life, she lived it and remembered it.

To know is not to be wise. To know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”
Charles Spurgeon

Friend, in this first look at wisdom let’s make a good evaluation of our own lives. Are we enjoying a life of wisdom or are you continuing to make the same bad decisions? Are you saying “talk to the hand” when someone who has wise words wants to impart them to you? Do you brush aside past mistakes thinking things will be different this time? Have you prayed, as King Solomon did, to the Lord asking for wisdom, in each and every aspect of your life?

Wisdom will keep you from the extremes, as Solomon reminds us in verse 7:9. It will preserve you, your good name (Ecc 7:1), your family and other relationships. Seek first to be obedient to God and then ask Him for insight and wisdom.

I want to leave you today with a prayer that many may be familiar with written by theologian Karl Paul Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971), called the Serenity Prayer.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.

Enjoying A Wisdom Filled Life Part Two now available! Click here.

Bible, bible study, Christian, Christian Church, christian encouragement, christian men, christian parenting, christian podcast, Christian women, Faith, god, Jesus, Jesus Follower, prayer, proverbs, religion, Uncategorized, wisdom

Enjoy The Ever-Changing Sameness

March 4, 2024February 28, 2024 krisshetter

We took a chance that night. My husband wanted to go to the coast, about 20 minutes away, to capture the sunset with his newly revived photography interest. The weather app said cloudy without even a chance of sunlight. Being free of any other obligations, we decided to go anyway. We might not catch a glorious sunset but standing high on the cliffs above Torrey Pines State Beach is never without its own beauty. Just watching the waves take their turns kissing the beach, people and dog watching, silently encouraging each surfer as they paddle furiously to catch one more wave before the light is gone, peering with hope to see a dolphin or even a whale spout – it’s all the draw of standing at the edge of the sea.

We hopped on our Vespa scooters (realizing too late we weren’t dressed for the chilly air!) and wound our way to the coast. The “parking gods” were with us and we found a place to park with the beachside cliffs just over the short berm. At first the sky was just as the weather app had predicted – slightly gloomy. For some reason we kept watch.

Off on the distant horizon a glimmer of gold began to break through the greyness. Minute by minute a tear in the clouds began to emerge. The scene soon revealed a fiery, heavenly furnace with bright golds, oranges and red bursting through the clouds. As the sun continued its nightly, predictable path to the west, soft pink and blue cotton candy-like clouds joined the canvas. At one point the sun itself made an entrance in blinding suddenness. Its rays glowed across the surface of the sea. As it lowered further and further toward distant lands, the furnace became a gentle glow of a dying campfire. My eyes drawn into the soft light of God’s glory on full display.

Soon the torn sky began to heal with clouds marching together to close the scene. And those of us standing there wanting to squeeze every ounce of beauty out of what was before us looked around and finally breathed.

Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.  The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.  The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course…All things are wearisome more than one can say.” Ecclesiastes 1:4-8

It seems easy to enjoy life when surrounded by such beauty set before us. An hour of admiring the ending of another day. Yet, how often do we get caught up in what King Solomon repeats throughout his study of life in Ecclesiastes, “the meaningless life?” We wake up each morning with our to-do list firmly planted at the front of our mind. We trudge through our morning routine and either go off to work or begin our work at home. We stop for lunch then pick it all up again. Dinner time, tv, reading, our evening routine, and then to bed. It’s the life Solomon laments in its “routineness.” He asks what is the point of our toil (Ecc 1:3)? The sun rises and sets and nothing ever changes. It’s meaningless.

Now I warn you. The book of Ecclesiastes has its pitfalls just as the Book of Job. There’s danger in opening either book and grabbing a piece of scripture to represent the whole message. It’s why I avoided quoting Job in any post for a long time. And the first few chapters of Ecclesiastes could be used in destructive ways. But I’m going to give you the spoiler – life is meaningless, unless you have God as your Lord. We will toil for selfish or pointless reasons. We will lose or not ever have any hope. We will feel like prisoners. We might even see God as evil or unloving. We lose sight of how beautifully made this cyclical world really is.

But God.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called  the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." Genesis 1:1-3

King Solomon was gifted by God to be one of the wisest men ever to exist. But I find myself challenging him straight away when he says, “Is there anything of which one can say, ‘Look! This is something new’? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.” (Ecc 1:10)

Why do I disagree to some degree with that statement? Because God is the god that bursts into our lives and upsets the world from time to time. There once was nothing and He created something magnificent! There was a time the sun didn’t rise or set. A time were there weren’t any seasons. God then gave us constants like knowing the sun will rise in the east and set in the west, every. single. day. of our human existence.

But then He goes and puts His finger to the artist’s canvas again for that unique sunset, the duplicate of which will never be seen again. The giant oak tree in front of my daughter’s house will bloom this spring again and produce giant leaves. In the fall the leaves will change color and fall to the ground. The cycle goes round and round. But each new leaf will never look exactly like another. The fall color change pattern will never be repeated exactly the same.

And you, when you were formed in your mother’s womb, may look like your parents, you may have some of their mannerisms, you may have similar beliefs about the world. You generally look like everyone else and your body performs pretty much like everyone else’s. But you, you will never be repeated. His artist’s finger has touched you and made you beautiful. Yes, you. You with the aches and pains. You with the slightly longer left leg than right. You with the hair you always wish were the opposite. You with that funny freckle right there.

In the infinite wisdom of the Lord of all the earth, each event falls with exact precision into its proper place in the unfolding of His divine plan. Nothing, however small, however strange, occurs without His ordering, or without its particular fitness for its place in the working out of His purpose; and the end of all shall be the manifestation of His glory, and the accumulation of His praise.
B.B. Warfield

In His omniscient wisdom He gave us constancy and variety all at once. We can thank Him for both. He gives us blessings and trials – all so we can give Him glory for His hand at work. It’s not meaningless monotony God created but a sturdy white canvas ready for something new each day.

Friend, like I said, it is easy to take an hour and enjoy a sunset. But let me finish the story of our trip to catch the sun on its nightly, guaranteed journey. You see, the city where we chose to park is very strict with their parking. We rolled up our little Vespas to the perfect spots and decided not to walk the half block to pay for parking passes (I think it’s their evil plan to spread the meter machines so far apart). After watching God’s performance, we hiked back to our rides. And yes, each had a $50 parking ticket. Did we let it ruin what we had just witnessed? No, we knew we had willfully disobeyed the set rules. Instead of getting angry I said, “Well, we stayed home for our date night this week so we can just look at this as our date night. A bottle of wine and a nice meal would’ve cost us just as much!” I shocked myself realizing the work God has done in me. How He has changed this typical, average woman into one that gives Him the glory. I enjoyed the lesson and message He set before me – follow the rules and don’t be lazy.

This year the Lord has put upon my heart to “ENJOY.” Not just seek joy, but as a friend noticed, to take action. Enjoy is a verb, not a feeling. When I researched “enjoy” in the Bible, I found it repeated throughout the book of Ecclesiastes. So, for the past few months I’ve been reading, researching, noodling and most of all praying. And here we are with the new series, “Enjoy Life — From meaningless to meaningful.” I’ll be posting a least once a week for the next few weeks. To be honest, the Holy Spirit and I haven’t worked out the full length of this series.

I want to leave you today, however with this piece of scripture and a quote by Warren Wiersbe to encourage you to enjoy today, enjoy this hour, enjoy the sameness and the fact that you will never have another day quite like today. Enjoy not only the good, but the bad and sometimes ugly. Because the Lord is always with you. He can always be found touching your life. When we believe that, we can see Him making all things work for those who love Him. Without Him, everything will seem so meaningless.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-30

“Since early dawn, that bird has done nothing but try to survive. He’s been wearing himself out hiding from enemies and looking for food for himself and his little ones. And yet, when he gets to the end of the day, he sings about it.”
Warren Wiersbe

Enjoy.

Treasures of God

January 26, 2024 krisshetter

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

Hello Friends! I’m currently working on my next series based on the book of Ecclesiastes. The idea was born of my word of the year, Enjoy. Enjoying every moment by seeking the Lord in every circumstance, whether good times or times of trial.

In the meantime, I’ve joined a church Bible study group which will focus on the names of God. And as usual, the Lord is intertwining all my various times of study and prayer. The first name we looked at was Elohim, God the Creator of all things seen and unseen. In my longtime Bible study group we are digging deep into how our sins block spiritual revival. And lastly, in my devotional I’m learning how to grow in wisdom. Putting all these together I was struck with the concept that I need to remember who I belong to, who I was created by, and what my purpose is here on this earth. When I confess that I’m not in charge, God is, and when I remember that I was created in the image of God to do His will and give Him all glory, honor and power, it opens me up to spiritual revival.

Friend, you are a beloved son or daughter of God. You were created by Him through your earthly family. And even if that family has failed you we need to remember we are loved so immensely. None of us were created to go about our lives willy nilly placing our hopes and dreams in the idols of this world. When we realize that our sole purpose is to honor God the Creator, God the Sovereign Lord, we re-align our minds and hearts with the Holy Spirit.

I want to encourage you to sit in prayer during the next few days and ask God to reveal any roadblocks you have put up for receiving and surrendering to Him fully. Ask Him to help you remember who you belong to. Ask Him for a revival in your heart. Ask Him to make His will be done in your life.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

One of the women in my church study group is a poet. She shared her amazing poem yesterday about being His beloved children. She gave me permission to share it with all of you. Enjoy.

Treasures of God’s Heart

By Jill Becker



I know I’m Your child, Lord, but what does that mean?

What treasures await me that I have not seen?

Many You’ve shown me, so many I know,

Others I let slip from my thoughts long ago.

You tell me of great things that You want to do,

Yet at times I take paths that I’ve chosen, not You.



Lord, since I am but clay, and You’re the wise Potter,

How could it be that You made me Your daughter?

You could have formed me into what I deserve:

A warped and cracked pot not even worthy to serve.

But You set me before You, Your grace made me able,

To be part of Your family and feast at Your table.



You sent for me Jesus, my Savior and Brother,

Who demonstrated love for mankind like no other.

He gave us His life, all that was heavens to give,

Then He sent forth His Spirit, so within me He lives.

Great riches He left me, those fit for a Royal,

No longer a pauper left to struggle and toil.



Amazing to me is what You’ve given beyond measure,

And more awesome than all is that I bring You pleasure.

You tell me I’m precious, the love of Your life,

A jewel set in this dark world to sparkle with your Light.

Lord, I know all that’s needed is mine for the taking,

To care for this beloved child of your making.



So, I’ll open the treasure chest to see what’s inside,

It is filled with God’s Word so I’ll grow and abide.

There are gems of Your mercy, Your faithfulness and more,

My heart and my mind can’t contain what’s in store.

For when I asked what it means to be a Daughter of the King,

My Father answered in one word, “O child, EVERYTHING!”

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Fake, Dead or Alive?

December 18, 2023December 17, 2023 krisshetter

"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."  John 15:8

My pastor yesterday asked a very controversial question of our congregation and the results were surprising to me. ”Raise your hand if you have a fake tree. Now raise your hand if you have a real tree.” The majority of people have a fake tree. I, however, will always have a real tree gracing my living room! He went on to talk about how a real tree is really just a dead tree cut off from the earth. He used this analogy to talk about dead faith and not abiding in God.

However, I wondered, how many Christians out there are actually relying on a “fake faith?” A faith in which we go through the motions and do all the right volunteering and giving. We pray and do Bible Studies. And yet, we also despise our neighbor or that person who hurt us years ago. Forgiveness? Forget about it! We compare ourselves to others, especially during the Christmas season. We give to charities but ignore the person in need that’s right in front of us! We play victim that no one gives us the attention we need and deserve. We make excuses for our language, our thoughts. We look so much like the world but “at least we go to church.”

Today was the first day of my challenge to love and serve others. I wonder how you did? Did you stop and help a person struggling to get a cart loose from the cart corral? Did you let someone go ahead of you in line at the grocery store — without feeling like you deserved a badge? Did you help out that person at work who just is so annoying? But you did it with love? Send a comment about what you did in His name without any benefit to you!

Yesterday, as my church continues through the book of John we focused on John 15:1-17. It’s the famous verses on Jesus declaring Himself to be the vine and His disciples being the branches.

When my husband and I left church I asked Him what new things he learned. He hadn’t realized that Jesus was the root stock and we are the branches that grow out of that stock along the strings which the “vine dresser” makes. As Jesus’ branches we can only exist as an outgrowth of Him. I shared that I learned that the verse John 15:2 isn’t what I originally thought:

"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15:2

On face value this seems a bit scary. We think we need to work really hard at serving the Lord, serving others and bringing people to Christ. It may seem so difficult that we don’t even try. Or we make halfhearted attempts to love the Lord by serving others. And if the fruits of our labor aren’t successful then chop, chop! But the words “takes away” in Greek actually are “airo,” meaning to elevate. So the Father doesn’t cut off believers when they supposedly fail. No, in His loving and glorious way He picks us up off the ground and gently puts us back along His life giving strings. It is only those folks who consciously choose to hate God that get cut off. (John 15:6).

True love for Jesus, true “abiding in Him” means thinking on Him every minute of the day. It means asking Him when we wake up to place people in front of us to serve. It means before we head out to work that we ask Him to help you be at peace in traffic and to guide you in being kind and loving to those challenging people you encounter. It means when you are tasked with something difficult you immediately turn to Him for strength and wisdom.

We glorify God when we tap into every ounce of power and wisdom He has available to us. Like an inert seed placed in the ground, it can’t do anything without the soil around it, the water to feed it, and the sun to give it life. WE are that seed. And when we stay close to the Lord we grow and produce fruit, not on our own, but because of the work He has done through us.

Jesus’ love and care for us produces fruit. Our love and abiding in Him gives Him the opportunity to serve the flock. And the results for us personally?

"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:10-11

And I don’t know about you but I want and need joy in my life. A joy that is so deep and everlasting that only our Glorious Savior can provide. Let us all, as we approach the celebration of our Lord’s birth this week remember to abide so closely in Him. Allow Him to shine out of you so brightly that the world wants to know more.

Soli Deo Gloria

Savior King

December 15, 2023December 14, 2023 krisshetter

"Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!" Psalm 24:10

Yesterday, in the Advent study I’m working through we were tasked with listing the names and characteristics of Jesus from various Old and New Testament scriptures. The names included: child, son, Son of the Most High, Father, Counselor, God, Prince of Peace, Lord, King, Jesus and Messiah/Savior. Attached to these names were adjectives such as wonderful, mighty, great, everlasting, zealous, wise, and upholder of justice and righteousness.

We were then asked to highlight the name and characteristic that we believe to be the most significant. Which would you say? It may depend on your current state of mind or the situation you find yourself in. But let me back up a bit and take us to the year 2019. There were just a few small things going on in the world that year. A worldwide pandemic for one. And the U.S. election for a new president.

What was your state of mind at the time? Were you afraid for your health? Worried about who would lead the world’s most influential country? Concerned about the status of your job? Upset about the situation with your children’s schools? Angry about people wearing masks or not? Abandon by your church for shutting their doors? Distraught over a loved one’s death? The year 2019 certainly held a lot of opportunity for all those emotions. At the time, the bigger question was: being honest, who did you cling to? The TV newscasters? Health officials? Elected leaders? Family? Or God?

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:12-13

“When His glory is revealed.” What does that mean for us in the here and now? We suffer through leaders seeking their own glory through greed and immorality. We hear false teachers leading Christians astray with destructive heresies (2 Peter 2:1). Neighbors and even family and friends follow their sensual desires and blaspheme the truth (2 Peter 2:2). And we shouldn’t be surprised. It is all written in God’s Holy Word. But what is also written is that there will be a day of judgment.

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." 2 Peter 3:9-10

My friends, if we believe that Jesus is a real person who walked this earth as both God and man; if we see how the truth of the prophets in the Old Testament came to pass over and over; if we have experienced our glorious God working throughout our life, then we must place the banner of truth on the promise of times to come. We must look different than the world. Our choices both physically and emotionally must cause others to ask us questions. ”Why aren’t you worried?”

I’ll tell you honestly the Lord was doing a might work in me in 2019. On one hand, I allowed myself to be carried away with all manner of worldly emotions. On the other, I began clinging to God. The battle of the heavens was revealed in little ‘ole me. I know that God is winning and will be victorious. Just the other day a good friend shared her husband’s observation of me. He told her how much I’ve changed over the years. I almost cried when she shared that he called me “gentler.” And I raised my hand up giving God, the Victorious, all glory.

Jesus is all the names I listed during my study. He has all the characteristics found in those scriptures. Surely the name Savior should speak most to us especially during times of trouble and strife. He came to save us from a terrible judgement. He is the Savior King who will uphold all final justice and righteousness. Knowing that this glorious and powerful God cares about those two things should bring us everlasting peace.

The world is a mess, just like it was hundreds of thousands of years ago. Just like it was when the Romans ruled throughout Israel, Judea, Samaria and the far reaches of Europe when the Jews sought an earthly king to save them. The Word of God promises us it won’t get better until Jesus returns. So, let’s put our hope and peace and love in His hands. He is the only one who will lead us into victory.

Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen

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Speak For Those Who Can’t

January 31, 2023January 17, 2023 krisshetter

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.  Proverbs 31:8

It’s interesting that in the three major monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) equality between rich and poor is a major theme. Not only are the wealthy on equal footing with the needy in God’s eyes but those who “have” are admonished to help those who “have not.” And although God doesn’t challenge believers to eliminate poverty, He does challenge us to ease the suffering of those experiencing it. Jesus, Himself, reminds us there will always be the poor. He also gives us the great command to love one another as He loves us. We are, ourselves, living in the full poverty of sin. Yet He loves us immensely.

This last proverb we are looking at in this series, 31 Days of God’s Wisdom, isn’t just about helping and loving those who are destitute. It pushes us to speak up for those who cannot. A person need not be poor in the traditional sense to require a champion. A group of people who come to mind, especially these days, are children. They own nothing. They have no power. They have no influence.

Prior to Jesus’ days many children were seen as property or even slaves. They were used as pagan sacrifices and for sexually immoral acts. They were traded and used like cattle. When Jesus came He told those who would listen to be more like children. To be innocent and curious. He allowed the children to come forward and listen to His words. He asked us to have a child-like faith. These people who had nothing to their name, He wanted us to emulate.

God’s world, if you haven’t already discovered, always seems to be an upside down version of the world of the flesh. He requires us to love the unlovable. To be humble when challenged. To speak up in the face of adversity for those who cannot. To take courage in the unseen, not the seen.

If there’s ever a time to heed God’s words it is now. When I read and write about how children were treated in years gone by, I have to ask myself, “Are we really any better now?” Are we protecting our helpless children from sexual immorality? Are we providing for all of their basic needs when so many have been abandoned? Are we protecting them from death starting even in the womb and then in the streets?

Friends, as we arrive at the end of the Book of Proverbs, we see chapter 31 in two parts. The first tells us to stand up for those who have no voice. The second, more famous part, describes the Proverbs 31 woman. But Proverbs 31:10-31 could be about a man or a woman. A person who takes the responsibilities of life laid out throughout proverbs seriously. Who places protecting family front and center. A person who works hard to keep from being on the poverty rolls. A man or woman who respects their bodies and their relationships. If we were to take on at least half the roles outlined in these last verses I’m sure we would have the beginning part covered. Let’s look in the mirror today and ask the person looking back at us if we are doing our part to be upright enough to stand for those who cannot.

Gracious Lord, you remind me over and over that I live among equals. Equally loved by you but not equally treated by this world of the flesh. Help me to stand among those today who speak up for your children and others in need. Amen

God’s Flawless Words

January 30, 2023January 17, 2023 krisshetter

“Every word of God is flawless;
    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”  Proverbs 30:5

In January 2020 I embarked on a faith journey of which I am still on today and will be for the rest of my life. It was a simple journey, for which I only needed one book and the desire to converse with God. I added a few new friends and a few old timers who understood God a lot better than me. And so began my study of the infallible Word of God, the Bible. I appreciate the way one of the “old timers” I’ve had with me describes this amazing book.

We have a more sure word of testimony, a rock of truth upon which we rest, for our infallible standard lies in, “It is written.” The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible, is our religion.”
Charles Spurgeon

What I found, having researched the Bible’s origins and its mind-boggling consistency in truths over thousands of years and multiple writers, is that God is never wrong. He’s never been mistaken. He has never told a lie or broke a promise. Most “confusion” over His Word is typically because we humans can’t understand a being that loves us so much that He hates sin. Other issues with His Word abound because we don’t take the time to place the stories in context of the times or within their original language.

More importantly what I have found is comfort, peace, joy and hope. Comfort that He never leaves us and is always teaching, guiding, encouraging, forgiving. Peace in that He wants a relationship with us free from strife and He shows us how to live in this world knowing of the beautiful eternity to come. The joy He brings is through His love of this place we call earth. His creation is so gloriously beautiful and intricately woven together. And of course, the hope that Jesus gave through the forgiveness of our sins. Knowing that when the day of judgment comes, He will welcome us into the New Eden with open arms. Hope that sees no pain or suffering. No sadness or despair.

My friends, don’t let the unbelieving world define God’s Word for you. Read it for yourself. Study it with all your heart, mind and soul. There is nothing else that will bring you such comfort and hope. There is no other book that will tell you as much about the world, its people and its creator as the Holy Bible.

Thank you, Lord God for your infallible Word. Speak to me in my confusion, my pain, my sadness, my joy and my hope through the pages of your book. Amen

Final Justice

January 29, 2023January 17, 2023 krisshetter

 
Many seek an audience with a ruler,
    but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.  Proverbs 29:26

I am an avid reader. In fact, by the time you read this post I will have probably finished about six books this year. Since I was a child, I devoured mystery and spy novels. My flashlight and I were well acquainted with Nancy Drew’s escapades! But I suffer from one big issue when reading mysteries. When the champion of the story finds him or herself accused of the murder or some other terrible crime, I frequently jump to the last few pages of the book just to make sure all ends well for the hero.

I’m not sure where my deep sense of “justice” evolved. I struggle watching movies where the good guy is shamed and blamed for something they didn’t do (although now with Netflix I can also zip to the end!). This justice-driven thinking spills over into my relationships as well. I stand up for friends and family who feel uncomfortable or unwilling to defend themselves. On the negative, I also will argue my side of the story ad nauseum, seeking justice for myself.

Here’s the problem with always seeking justice, not only for myself but for others: sometimes true justice just isn’t possible. The person from whom you seek justice may not have the ability, emotionally, mentally or physically, to repair what you feel needs doing to receive forgiveness. The situation may even be grander, say an injustice by a corporation or government has occurred. Although money may salve some wounds, true justice from such behemoths is unlikely.

Friend, we can wish, hope, prod, complain, sue, fight all we want to try and get justice for ourselves or those we care about. In the end, we must seek a satisfactory result that we know to be imperfect, and then forgive. We can forgive because we have been forgiven yet still slap God in the face every day with our sinful behavior. We can forgive because we know true justice is waiting on the other side. We should forgive because “those people” won’t be the only ones being judged. God wants us to stand up and for those who can’t. He wants us to defend the innocent. But we cannot give up our peace and joy when the results aren’t everything we hope for in this world. An account is being written in the heavens. And courts will be in session with the Lord comes again.

Holy God, help me to understand when to seek justice in this world and when to just step back and forgive. I thank you Lord for the mercy you have already shown me with my transgressions. When you come again, I know you will judge the living and the dead and I thank you for this promised justice. Amen.