Basic Truths | Finding God in Everyday Life

 I broke a bone in my foot several years ago and had to wear a short leg cast for 6 weeks. When the cast came off, I was surprised to see how much smaller my calf muscle was. It doesn’t take long for our muscles to begin to atrophy if we don’t use them at all. The same principle is true for our brain. Studies have shown that the best way for people to maintain their cognitive function as they age is to actively exercise their brain by reading, doing puzzles, and other such activities.   It should come as no surprise, then, that the spiritual part of our being needs constant exercise as well.  If the only exercise we get is going to church once per week, we’re likely to find that we are pretty flabby Christians.   Paul wrote two very personal letters to Timothy, advising and encouraging him in his work, writing, “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life...

  A few summers ago, I was walking along the side of the house when I noticed a tiny tomato plant growing in the space between the air conditioner and the fence. The seed must have come from a bird eating a tomato from the vegetable garden on the other side of the house. I was amazed to see it growing in a little area between the bricks, unwatered, getting very little sun. I started watering it and the plant grew to be enormous. It produced over 200 grape tomatoes before the first frost hit.   The “little tomato that could” was a perfect example to me of persistence in the face of adversity, the idea that we should “bloom where we’re planted”.  Whatever situation you may find yourself in today, God has a plan for you that will lead to your best life. This must be true if we believe in an all-powerful God whose love is infi...

I was pretty clumsy when I was little (I’m still not the picture of grace).  When I fell down and got a scrape or a cut, I’d run home so that Mom could take care of me. She would clean things up, put some Mercurochrome and a Band-Aid on it, give me some comfort and send me back out on my way. I’m not sure which of those was the most effective but I know that I felt better afterwards.   We live in an imperfect world.  Bad things happen to us, people we love get sick or die, until sometimes all the color gets sucked out of our lives and everything just seems black.  The darker it gets, the more we need to run to our loving God for comfort.  There is no cure for the sadness when a loved one dies.  Grief is a natural part of our human existence. We can, however, cling to God and express to Him our deepest thoughts and emotions, asking Him to help us to have peace in the midst of our trials, knowing that He cares for us and will always be with us. We can see...

  I have always been easily distracted. I find it hard to focus on any one thing for very long and I have a tough time finishing projects. I’ve never been diagnosed with ADD but I can certainly relate to those people who have.   Over the course of my lifetime, the distraction potential of modern life has increased exponentially.   A recent study indicated that the average American picks up their phone 58 times per day and spends 3 hours per day on their mobile devices.   John the Baptist was a striking figure to the Jews of his day. He lived in the desert rather than in Jerusalem where all the religious leaders were. He dressed simply and he ate locusts and wild honey. He limited all the possible worldly distractions so that he could concentrate solely on his message of repentance and preparing the way for Jesus, who said of John, “Among those born of women there is no one greater than John” (Lk 7:28).   Jesus spent 40 days in the desert prior to beginni...

  What would you do if you saw someone walk into the street in front of an oncoming car? I’m sure you’d want to warn them. It wouldn’t be a quiet, “Excuse me, but I think you should get out of the way before you’re run over”.   You’d most likely yell, “Look out!”.     God loves us more than we can even comprehend. He wants only the best for us. His love demands that He try to reach out to us if we are going off in the wrong direction.   Sometimes that may be in a quiet voice, other times it might be “Look out!”. If we are feeling a sense of disquiet or a lack of peace in our lives, we would be well-served to pray about it, to ask God whether He is trying to lead us in a different direction.   “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isa 30:21).   I’m a very direct person, which is to say that I can’t take a hint....

  We enjoy going to the local botanical gardens and walking among the flower beds and other plantings. Surrounded by beauty, I feel relaxed and at peace. I feel the same way when I view a beautiful sunset. In contrast, I remember times when I was out walking in a cold rain without an umbrella, slogging through the mud and feeling totally miserable.   Our surroundings affect our mood.   The same is true in a spiritual sense.   We are more likely to experience God’s peace if we surround ourselves with godly pursuits. This is not to say that we should become hermits and go off to live in some remote place. We are called to live in this world. We should, though, stop to ask ourselves whether the things we surround ourselves with -   our jobs, our social life, our relationships, our finances, our entertainment, and so on – draw us towards or away from the peace God wants for us.     “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever i...

  Over the years, I’ve been blessed to meet some special people who just exude peace.   They are also joyful and loving and otherwise filled with the Spirit. They make you feel good when you see them and you look forward to the next time you can get together with them. When I am with them, I greatly desire to be like them.   As believers, we should expect that God’s desire is that we become that same type of people. Paul writes to the Galatians, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).   I used to think that they were the fruits of the Spirit and that I might receive one or another, similar to spiritual gifts. However, it is the fruit of the Spirit that we receive, which means that the Spirit provides each of us with love, joy, peace, and all the rest.   If God wants to fill us with His Spirit of peace, why don’t many Christians feel very peaceful much of the ...

  Snow in our part of Texas is ephemeral. It’s usually gone by the end of the next day (last winter notwithstanding). In contrast, the two years we lived in upstate New York we still had huge mounds of snow in the parking lot of our apartment building on Memorial Day. What’s the difference?   It’s pretty obvious – it stays cool in upstate New York.   Going back to our post from earlier this week, the new year is a good time for making resolutions. We should try to remember that resolutions, like snow, last longer if we can keep cool. This is more than trying to control your anger. It means letting God’s peace reign in your heart and not letting all the cares of the world or the snares of the evil one raise our temperature by intruding on our peace.   The busier and more stressful life gets, the more important it is to have some quiet time with God. Make it a part of your daily routine if it is not already. Let God reassure you of His love and aid on those days wh...

  As a doctor, I’m required to take continuing education courses to help maintain my skills. Many of these courses have a pre-test to assess your knowledge level prior to taking the course. I guess it’s my pride, but I’ve never liked doing those. I feel bad if I score poorly even though I know that there wouldn’t be any reason to take the course if I already knew the information.   The beginning of the year is a good time for making resolutions. We can turn the page on the old year and start over.   We can ask the Spirit to guide us in our resolutions for the new year and for help in keeping them. If you’re unsure about making any resolutions or what they should be, perhaps you can take a pre-test. Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, gave them goals for living that we can use as our pre-test to see where we are as we start this new year.   “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gent...