Have you ever had something precious snatched away from you?  Something you labored for and treasured?  Have you ever lost something special and despite an exhaustive search, you couldn’t find it? I have…

Our initial response to loss is typically, ‘Why?’ – as if understanding erases pain.  But I’ve discovered that understanding doesn’t eliminate pain, and oftentimes it makes things worse. This is not to say we shouldn’t try to understand, but don’t overestimate the results!

If you live long enough you will encounter some losses.  While some are more significant than others – all losses cause grief. The only thing that makes grief bearable is time and good company.  

The Comforter is with us.  Thank God that we needn’t journey alone. Thank God that we can provide both for one another – just a little time and some good company! 

² And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 

 Matthew 5:2–4

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

When things fall apart, when we lose a loved one, when a relationship fails, when a job is lost, or when something or someone we relied on goes away,  we can feel like we are at an end.

When we encounter these types of losses, we can feel discouraged, disoriented, and teeter on the brink of despair.  

And as much as we would like to avoid these things, all of us will at some point have to endure these things.  It’s not always a judgment against us, but rather a reminder that everything in life is fleeting.  

But we must endure these ‘ends’ if we will ever encounter the possibility of a new beginning.  Such is even true of our spiritual lives.

For Christian’s, new life begins when we are born again, and our baptism into Jesus is our reminder. Old things must pass away in order for all things to be made new.  This is the paradox of pain and passion culminating in the power and promise of Resurrection.  This is the way of Jesus.

So while we lament the loss of some things and some people too, we rejoice all the more in the hope of the Resurrection.  We have not come to the end inasmuch as we find ourselves at the precipice of a new beginning.  

It is not over for us.  Beyond these obstacles lie the opportunities to imagine and embrace the new! Just ‘hold on a lil while longer; everything will be alright.

Remember…

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 

Romans 6:4

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

When God blesses us, it is to the end that we would be a blessing to others. When we forget this, we miss the point and neglect God’s purposes.

It makes us feel good to be set aside, elevated, and blessed, but we must never forget that God has a goal that entails more than just making us feel special.  

When God called Abram out from among his relatives and away from all that was familiar, it was for a purpose.  Abram’s consecration and elevation – his great name – was not an end in and of itself!

God’s plan was always to extend God’s blessings and to redeem all of humanity – Abram was to be God’s conduit – the one through whom God blessed others. Abram is an example.

Get it? 

We are the means through which God wants to bless others. We must never forget this.  Otherwise, instead of conduits we will become like clogged pipes – bursting rather than blessing! 

² And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 

Genesis 12:2

As we aim to ‘be blessed,’ may we never forget to be a blessing!

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

There is no blessing that comes from God, that cannot be shared.

Let me say it again.

There is no gift from God that cannot be shared.

Didn’t hear me?  I’ll say it again.

There is no fruit of the Spirit that does not bless others.

The grace that God gives us matures when we extend it to others – when we love others as God loves us.

Selfishness and stinginess is immature, destructive, and  antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus.  

Whether in our personal lives or in our public policies – the Christian calling is to be a blessing. Get it?

Any rationalization, any attempts to reframe this fundamental truth, is to undermine the very foundations of Christianity.  

So you say you want to be blessed? Be a blessing.  Period.

38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Luke 6:38

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

One way to guarantee that we will never be satisfied is to misuse the gifts that God has given us. This misuse is often caused by  misunderstanding the purpose of a thing.  Let me clarify.

God gifts and blesses us because God loves us.  But God’s gifts to us – the abilities, the talent that God gives us are not simply for our own selfish interests, self-promotion, or personal gains!   

Trees do not consume their own fruits. If we are the Lord’s plantings, then what we have and what we produce, even the fruits we bear are not simply for our own sakes (Isaiah 61:3)

When God blesses us, and we misunderstand the reason why God blesses, and we misuse these blessings, we will never fully enjoy the benefits of the blessings.  Enough will never really be enough… 

Listen…

¹⁰ As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:10–11

As you are blessed – Be a blessing today!

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

If success was guaranteed and failure was an impossibility, what might you attempt?  What goal might you pursue?  What dream would you chase? 

Now that’s faith!

Most of us set goals based on what we ‘think’ we can accomplish.  Unfortunately, these accomplishments rarely lead to lasting satisfaction and in a moment we start feeling restless and stuck!  And, on top of that, these are rarely the things that God calls us to.  Without faith, we can’t please God! (Hebrews 11:6)

It’s never too late to pursue a dream – to stretch out and pursue that thing that God laid on your heart when you were a child!  But the longer you delay, the more difficult it will be to get started! Start now.

Can I tell you a secret? I am often afraid.  I am regularly confronted with challenges that I feel ill-equipped to face. My superpower is showing up even when I can’t see my way clear.  But honestly, I can’t even really claim credit for that…it is a gift from God.

It is faith in God that encourages and sustains me. It is faith in the grace of God that stirs my capacity to imagine better days when things look grim.  It is faith that gives substance to my hope when obstacles seem like impasses.   

It is faith that calls us to remember that there is no failure in God who catches and can keep us from falling! 

Knowing this, what will you try today – If you knew that failure was not an option?  When God calls and sets His plans in our hearts, God guarantees the outcomes! Which means as we begin, we must keep the end in sight!  God’s got you!  God’s got us.

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. 

Jude 24–25

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam