Honest Reflections

Two-minute read.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 

“In” all circumstances, not “for” all circumstances. Giving thanks to God “in” all circumstances makes all the difference when applying this verse to our lives. Miserable, awful, tragic things happen in life; the Lord doesn’t expect us to thank Him for those things, but amid them, we can find hope when we discover something praiseworthy.  

Corrie Ten Boom spent ten months in a Natzi prison, arrested for hiding Jews. Landing in Ravensbrück Concentration Camp with her sister Betsie, they smuggled a Bible into Barracks 28, a dismal, flea-infested place. 

“‘That’s it, Corrie! That’s His answer. “Give thanks in all circumstances!” That’s what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!’  

Betsie Ten Boom¹ 

As fleas nipped at Corrie’s legs, her sister focused on today’s verse and found things to thank God for “in” the midst of their terrible situation: assigned to the same barracks, the Bible the guards didn’t see, the other women in the prison, the crowded room of people that could hear the gospel, for the fleas that kept the guards away and allowed them to do Bible study. 

“‘Give thanks in all circumstances,’ she quoted. It doesn’t say, ‘in pleasant circumstances.’ Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.” 

Betsie Ten Boom 

Betsie explains this verse better than I ever could. “In,” not “for,” find things to thank God whatever your circumstances. Betsie died in Ravensbrück two weeks before they released the prisoners; her heart tuned to God with words of thanksgiving for the fleas. 

Praise: 

Praise God in our circumstances, not for them. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for the example Betsie set for Corrie and us with her obedience to You amid horrible circumstances. As we traverse the day ahead, help us find things to thank You for in our circumstances. Let our hearts praise You in the events, not for them. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” 

Psalm 107:1 

Psalm 107 begins with an invitation to give thanks as the congregation prepares to confess God’s faithfulness. The Lord gathers His people from all directions, finding them regardless of location. Experiencing God’s deliverance motivates people to praise Him because of His steadfast love that endures forever.  

The image of Jesus carrying the lamb across His shoulders comes to mind as I meditate on today’s verse. Leaving the 99, Christ goes after the one lost lamb (Matthew 18:12-14). Knowing God pursues us fills me with hope. At times, I’ve stumbled off the righteous path and found myself lost in despair and misery, feeling far from the Lord. But He always finds me and draws me back to Him. The Creator doesn’t lose sight of His creation. With a watchful eye, the Shepherd leads us back to Him when we go astray.  

And so, we can lift our voices in praise, thanking God for His faithfulness and enduring love that never leaves us. Feelings lie, and circumstances distract us, but the Lord watches over us, nudging us back onto the narrow path. Beginning a month of thanksgiving and praise starts with a reminder of God’s faithfulness.    

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!”

Psalm 139:7-8  

Spend a few minutes thinking about how the Lord has shepherded you during difficult times. Thank Him for drawing you back into the fold when you’ve strayed. Meditate on God’s unconditional love for you and His constant presence in Your life. Like the congregation, lift songs of praise for the Lord’s love and faithfulness. 

Praise: 

Praise God for His faithfulness and steadfast love. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for never leaving nor forsaking us and for finding us when we go astray. Please help us stay on the straight and narrow path today, honoring and serving You well. We love You, Lord, now and always. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” 

Matthew 13:31-32 

What we plant determines what we grow. A mustard seed, small in stature, grows large with proper care and nutrition. Faith, planted with a decision to believe, grows huge as we take steps to follow Jesus, doing what He tells us to do: love, forgive, honor, cherish. What we put in the soil will grow, whether good or bad. If we plant seeds of hate, we will harvest hate. If we plant seeds of love, we will harvest love. We choose the fruit we produce from the seeds we plant.  

As we end this month of harvest blessings, consider the seeds you plant in your heart. You control what you let into your being. If you spend more time watching the news than reading the Bible, seeds of hatred, bitterness, and resentment may take root. But if you plant seeds of scripture in your heart, you will produce a bountiful harvest of love and mercy. God’s word teaches love, forgiveness, and mercy. Faith in the Lord grows large when we spend time with Him daily.  

When life’s pressures squeeze you, the Spirit of the Lord will spill out of you. Instead of reacting like the world, you will respond like Jesus because you planted seeds of faith in your heart. Each day, we plant more seeds; we determine the crop by what we plant. Spend time filling your soul with God’s word and enjoy bountiful harvests of peace as you become more like Jesus, dying to self, living for others. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for planting seeds of love in our hearts through Jesus. As we take steps of faith, let it grow bigger than we can imagine as we give ourselves to You.  One day at a time, transform our lives and help us produce good fruit. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish. 

Psalms 107:37-38 

God causes bountiful harvests with His provision. Turning deserts into pools of water and flowing springs causes the fields to blossom. The Lord specializes in bringing things to life, as He did with Jesus. Taking our sins upon Himself, our Savior’s death immediately brought life:  

“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.”  Matthew 27:51-52   

Reading through Matthew with friends, the pastors leading the study made the point that others came to life at the moment of His death. Now, over 2000 years later, people continue to experience new life through Christ, placing faith in Him and receiving His Spirit and purpose as they follow Him. Deserts become fields when the Lord gets involved. Springs flow, harvests grow, and life happens with the Creator.  

Each day with the Lord, your herds grow. You have a circle of influence in your life: family, friends, and co-workers. As you become more like Jesus, sharing the good news of His resurrection and the unconditional love He has for them, your circle will grow. God’s light draws people to Him, and receiving the Lord’s grace and mercy helps them let go of their past and begin again. Love like Jesus and watch your herds grow as people learn about the transformational power of Christ. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for turning deserts into productive fields as we give our lives to You. Please help us love well today, honor Christ with our actions, and share the good news of His resurrection through our words and deeds. Bless our efforts as we live for You. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 

Proverbs 6:6-8 

Ants, lowly creatures in the scheme of things, have a productive life. Lord knows we have plenty of them around our house, scurrying to gather food for winter and prepare for the future. Solomon uses them to exemplify the difference between sluggards and industrious people. The Lord created us to work and gives each of us a unique purpose. Pursuing life with Christ reveals our divine tasks, ones only we can fulfill. 

“And when I run, I feel His pleasure. To give it up would be to hold Him in contempt. You were right, it’s not just fun. To win is to honor Him.” Eric Liddell⁴ 

Eric Liddell ran in the 1924 Olympics to glorify God. After winning gold, Liddell moved to China, becoming a missionary. Dying in 1945 from an inoperable brain tumor, the Olympian spoke his last three words, “It’s complete surrender.”  God wants our whole life, disciplined and focused on Him, doing His work. Whether we run in the Olympics or raise our children to know Jesus, we each have divine tasks to complete. Once we fulfill our duties, the Lord will call us home to glory.  

Don’t waste the time the Lord gives you. Seek Him and discover His purpose for your life. Sometimes, God only reveals the next step; other times, He gives us divine vision; either way, we have a job to do. Like the ants, we prepare for the future one day at a time as we do the jobs God created us to do.

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for creating us for a purpose. Please guide and direct our steps, revealing Your will for our life as we follow You.  Let us complete our divine tasks well, honoring You with all we do. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

They do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’ 

Jeremiah 5:24 

Jeremiah chapter five investigates Jerusalem’s morals, diving into the ingrained sin of the nation, which leads to the revelation of the low spiritual state of the people. Instead of heeding the Lord’s gracious calls to repent, the country refused to submit to God’s sovereignty. And just like that, Jeremiah reveals the same struggle we have today. Staying surface doesn’t dig into the depths of our hearts to reveal the ingrained sin we all have.    

Picking up our crosses means we must die to our selfish desires—and we all have selfish desires. A friend called me a Pharisee yesterday because I questioned his heart’s motivation. As I said to him, we are all sinners needing grace.    

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” Prov. 12:1  

Fearing the Lord means acknowledging His sovereignty and our sins. Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior begins a journey into the depths of our soul, revealing the darkness within and exposing it to God’s light. Looking at the good, bad, and ugly in our lives takes work and doesn’t happen quickly, but it does transform us. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for searching our hearts, revealing our iniquities, and recognizing our need for Jesus. Please help us keep our eyes focused on You, giving us the strength we need to deny ourselves and pick up our crosses. Let us experience a regular harvest of love, joy, and peace as we submit to You. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 

Isaiah 9:3

Promising total redemption, Isaiah prophesizes the coming joy as Israel experiences total deliverance from their oppressor. For us, redemption comes through Jesus, who rescues us from our sins, cleans up our mess, and frees us from the struggles of this world. Life comes with suffering. Every person you meet today has hidden challenges. Just because you can’t see their pain doesn’t mean they don’t have it. Learning how to control our emotions and hide our misery comes with maturity.  

Writing from a booth in a local restaurant, I wonder about the people’s struggles around me. At noon, a man sits alone at the bar, drowning his sorrows in a margarita. What does he want to forget? Or why the three people to my right have animated faces over their topic? And the older couple who requested a table change, what story hides within them? Each of them has burdens no one can see and heartaches that cause them to lose sleep. Viewing them through God’s lens makes me wonder what He knows that I will never know.  

Because the Lord knows the struggles we face, the temptations we endure, and the heartaches we suffer, He sent Jesus to redeem us. In Christ, we have hope that waits for us. As my pastor says, “The first 100 years are a struggle; the rest is all glory.”  We can rejoice in the glory we will one day experience and persevere because we know today’s struggles won’t last long. One day, we will enjoy freedom from our pain, healing from our heartache, and indescribable joy as we bask in the glory of the Lord. 

Prayer: 

Dear Lord, thank You for Jesus and the glory that awaits us when You call us home. Please help us keep our minds tuned to You, especially when our struggles overwhelm us. Let us live in the light of Your glory as we trust You. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

James 3:18 

As an amateur gardener who only grows “hardy”  plants that survive my futile attempts at gardening, I’ve learned a few things about flowers and vegetables. For a seed to thrive, it needs certain conditions; the right temperature, soil, moisture, and light all play a part in its outcome. Too cold, the seed stagnates; bad soil does not allow it to thrive; too much water causes it to die, and plants can’t grow without light. Growing a healthy garden takes a lot of effort and the Lord’s help. 

When I tried to start a vegetable garden from seed, I used our upstairs window as my light source. Setting up a card table beside the glass panes, I planted the seeds using old egg cartons filled with dirt. The amount of work it took for me to grow those seeds gave me a new respect for farmers. The little crop didn’t do much; not all the plants grew to maturity, but I did receive a small harvest.  

Planting the seeds of righteousness in peaceful soil will yield peace. But we must prepare the soil of our hearts to receive the seed by allowing the Lord to search our souls, illuminate any lousy soil, and shed His light into the dark places. Daily time with Him waters the seeds and helps them grow the fruit of righteousness, which we can share with others. With intention and perseverance, we can produce a harvest of peace.    

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for helping us produce the fruit of righteousness by creating peaceful soil in our hearts. Please show us any bitterness or resentment we need to get rid of today so that we can pass Your peace on to others and plant good fruit. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 

Hebrews 12:11 

Regular chastisement leads to a harvest of righteousness and peace.  Every day, the Lord corrects me in some way, shape, or form.  Most days, His lessons come in the way of nudges from the Holy Spirit, a word spoken in haste, an action that didn’t communicate love or an errant thought that needed addressing.  At other times, the correction hurts more and causes me to wrestle with the Lord as I strive to find His will. 

When the tenth anniversary of my nephew’s death occurred, I struggled.  The gravity of the loss swept over me, and I did not feel like loving anyone.  With a short fuse and little patience, kindness took work.  By Wednesday of that week, my humanity reared its ugly head, and I did something I regret, and the Lord chastised me.  At that moment, I did not feel joy; I felt sorrow.  But as I worked through the situation, seeking restoration, I found God’s peace again.  Doing the right thing, putting God first, and living for His approval transformed me as I learned the lesson and restored the relationship. 

Sharing my faith publicly holds me to a higher level of accountability and helps me mature in my beliefs as I follow the Lord. I can only fulfill my divine mission by honoring God and serving Him with discipline and correction. 

No matter when we turn to the Lord, He loves us in our sins.  But He doesn’t let us stay there.  As we give our lives to God and follow Jesus, He begins to discipline us, molding us into new creations.   The correction doesn’t feel joyful at the moment, but as we learn the lessons the Lord has for us, we will discover a harvest of righteousness and peace. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for loving us enough to correct us, help us mature, and prevent us from staying stuck in our sinful ways. Please give us eyes to see and ears to hear Your disciplines, training us to become more like Christ as we submit our lives to You. 

IJNIP. Amen 

Two-minute read.

Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 

1 Corinthian 9:10-11 

Paul addresses the question of supporting God’s servants as they labor in their work. Giving his life to the Great Commission and sharing the Good News with the world, Paul argues that the church should support the efforts of those working for the Lord. Quoting Deuteronomy, the apostle makes his case:  

“Do not muzzle the ox when it is treading out the grain.” Deut 25:4  

In ancient times, while the oxen pulled the threshing sledge over the grain or treading it with their feet, the farmers fed them while they did their work. Placing a feeding bag over their mouths, the oxen received nourishment as they labored. Paul argues that caring for the cattle teaches us about the Lord’s care for us. Just as the plowman and the thresher expect God’s blessing when they do their work, those laboring for Christ expect the same as they share in the crop.   

We need physical nourishment for our bodies to serve the Lord. As an ex-flight attendant, the company trained me to put an oxygen mask on myself before helping others do the same. If I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t help others breathe. In the same way, we need to support those working for the Lord, sharing the gospel. Helping nourish their physical bodies through tithing to the local church supports their mission and their bodies to do the work God called them to do. 

Prayer: 

Lord, thank You for giving us a mission and the resources to complete it. Please help us willingly support those working hard for You.  When we see a need, allow us to meet the need, spurring Your laborers to do great things for You. 

IJNIP. Amen