"Wow!

     "Wow, Superman socks!"

      During our walk this morning, Frances and I stopped by a drugstore to pick up an item.  While walking the aisles, I came upon a rack of socks.  Not just ordinary socks, mind you.  No, these were superhero socks, and most importantly, included Superman socks.  To appreciate the story that follows, you have to know that I have been a Superman fan since my childhood in the early 1960s.  I loved the comic books.  I loved the old reruns of the 1950s TV show.  I loved donning a bathroom towel as a cape and pretending to fly like the Man of Steel (don't worry, I don't do this anymore.  It's literally been months since I took flight wearing one of our towels).  Most of all, I loved the character Superman, no less for his virtue than for his amazing powers.  I suppose, as the principle for which Superman lived affirms, I loved his stand for "Truth, Justice, and the American way!"

    Of course, I had to buy socks.  Not only were they Superman socks, but they perfectly match the shorts I wear when we walk in the summertime (yes, they are that color of blue).  So I left the store with my new foot apparel in possession, and sat down on the curb to put them on.  Perfect fit, of course, and if I do say so myself, I think they make a pretty good fashion accessory for my bony ankles and shins! (see accompanying photo).

    Now, back to "Wow, Superman socks!"  I didn't say that (although as soon as I saw them on the rack in the store, I thought it).  No, a little boy uttered those words when we had to make another stop at a grocery store on the way home.  The boy said this to his father upon looking down and seeing my footware.  This led to my enthusiastic response, of course, and to my informing the lad and his dad that the drugstore sells all kinds of superhero hosiery (Batman, the Flash, the Green Hornet, and yes, for you Marvel comic book fans, they sell some of those inferior models also.  Did I ever mention to you, by the way, that Superman could squash Spiderman like, well, like a bug?).  The boys eyes grew bigger and bigger as I spoke, and I could tell by his father's smile that a visit to that drugstore would soon occur.

   I loved the wonder in that little boy's face and voice.  Indeed, I'm gladder to have bought the socks for his response than for any other reason (although, did I mention how good they look on my… oh yes, I did suggest that, didn't I?).  The truth is, I love wonder.  We were made for it, we were created to behold glories unimaginable, and to be thrilled, filled, and fulfilled by beholding the God whose "greatness is unsearchable" (Psalm 145:3).  Consider the following superlatives declared by Scripture regarding our wondrous Lord:

   "His understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:5).

   "Who is like unto Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?!" (Exodus 15:11).

   "The love of Christ, which passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19).

   "The unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8).

   "O the depths both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33).

    Born again believers in the Lord Jesus will experience an eternity of wonder.  The glory begins now for all who believe that our God is already presently and actively involved in our lives to the degree that we are in Christ and Christ is in us (Colossians 1:27; I Corinthians 1:30).  Many "Wow!" moments present themselves to our hearts and minds as we live in confident expectation.  We don't attempt to manufacture or produce them.  Our Heavenly Father is more than capable of doing that.  We simply acknowledge the Bible's declaration of the Wondrous God, who does wonders.  Most will present themselves in quiet and small matters that we may miss if we fail to live in anticipation.  Some may be huge, and nearly impossible to overlook.  Whatever the mode or the measure, we do well to expect the "Wow!" of life lived in the glory of God.  A pair of socks and a little boy united to remind me of such blessed Truth today, and to provide another wonder of our Lord's involvement to experience and to share with you.  "Wow!"

"Thou art the God that doest wonders."

(Psalm 77:14)

Weekly Memory Verse

    All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.

(John 1:3)

    

“In the Day of Adversity”

       The Lord is my strength" (Psalm 118:14).

      "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small" (Proverbs 24:10).

      David and his son Solomon unite to teach us that failure to deal well with adversity indicates our need for growth in our relationship with God.  Indeed, if He is our strength, and if trouble overwhelms us rather our seeing it as opportunity to overcome, the problem must lie in our knowledge of the Lord and our understanding of His truth.  We all need growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.  However,  if the God-determined or allowed difficulties of our lives consistently seem more than we can handle, we do well to acknowledge that our weakness involves more than merely the natural process of spiritual maturing.  There may be rather be truths about God's presence and working of which we may be unaware, or that we do not know well enough.  We may even be wrong in some aspects of understanding our Lord's truth.  

     One of the reasons we so desperately need to apply ourselves to a strong relationship with the Lord is that trouble is coming.  Trouble is always coming, whether in minor irritations, major calamities, or the everyday challenges faced by all.  "Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7).  If we don't take the opportunities God gives to prepare ourselves spiritually, we will find ourselves far less likely to avail ourselves of the strength, wisdom, and presence He provides to enable the overcoming of difficulty.  As we frequently reference, our Lord is "a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).   Failure to know this truth, or to know it well enough, means that far more strength than necessary will be present and accessible for every challenge.  But we will fail to avail ourselves of it.  

    "It is a good land which the Lord our God doth give us.  Notwithstanding, ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God… The Lord your God, which goeth before you, He shall fight for you… Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 1:25-26; 3032; ).

    Israel unnecessarily languished for forty years in the wilderness because they did not know the Lord well enough to adequately experience His presence and power.  Tragically, the same can be true of born again believers in the Lord Jesus, with even greater culpability and consequence.  The Spirit of God literally dwells within us to enable our triumphant facing of every challenge.  "Now thanks be unto God, which always caught us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place" (II Corinthians 2:14).  To the degree we know Him will be the degree to which we trust and submit ourselves to Him in times of trouble.  Thereby we reveal the power that magnifies our Lord, helps us, and enables others to see the glory of the Lord Jesus in open display of His goodness and greatness…

"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.  Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world with end.  Amen."

(Ephesians 3:20-21)

"Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

(Ephesians 6:10)

Weekly Memory Verse

    All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.

(John 1:3)

    

"Afar Off? Very Present!

(a repeat from 2012)

       Trouble causes us to feel alone, even as the Psalmist bewailed the sense of orphanage experienced during his difficulties.

     "Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD?   Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 10:1).

    The same David, however, unequivocally declared God to be more than near in times of trouble.

     "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

      Which is it?  Afar off or very present?  The answer is both, that is, trouble causes us to feel as if our Lord is a trillion miles away.  The truth, however, is that God draws closer to His trusting children when we hurt than at any other time.  The Apostle Paul wrote that the Lord "comforteth us in all our tribulation," meaning that from the beginning of trouble, our Heavenly Father is on the scene with help and balm (II Corinthians 1:4).  Indeed, an unfathomable magnetism of grace and mercy draws the heart of God near to the need of man. 

     Again, however, we initially do not feel it.  Emotions, thoughts, and even physical sensations whisper or scream at us that God has hidden Himself, and rather than being "very present," He seems very far away.  This challenge calls us to trust His Word in times when such faith seems especially difficult.  We must "endure, as seeing Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27).  We open the eyes of our heart to behold that "the Light shineth in darkness" (John 1:5).  We make a choice, against all the world, the devil and the flesh throw against us, to believe the Lord's promise of His keeping, comforting and providing presence.  "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Psalm 56:3).

    In a lifetime wherein trouble comes "as the sparks fly upward," we must expect much opportunity to offer prayers of faith flying upward to the throne of God (Job 5:7).  "Trouble's sure!" wrote the poet Housman.  More sure is that the "faith… once delivered unto the saints" works in the saints by the Holy Spirit's quiet moving to draw us unto confidence in God's abiding and involved presence (Jude 1:3).  Contrary feelings pave the path for believers to walk in conscious faith.  The challenge is great, but our hearts are never more vibrantly alive than in those times when we must arise to decisively affirm, "I will trust in Thee!"  Or, as the prophet and the apostle unite to proclaim…

"The just shall live by faith."

(Habbakuk 2:4; Romans 1:17)

Weekly Memory Verse

    All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.

(John 1:3)