Comfort

At least once every year, usually around Christmas, I take the time to listen to Handel's Messiah. The blend of music and Scripture is inspiring and stirs something deep within my soul. I never tire of listening to it, and even sing along here and there! This past year was no different. As I baked cookies with my daughter, my mind was also meditating on the words that were being sung and the tenor solo "Comfort Ye My People" from Isaiah 40 really captured my attention.

When you think about "comfort" it usually connotes feelings of happiness, contentedness, relief, and peace. We are familiar with phrases like "comfort food" and "comfort blanket." Have you ever stopped and thought about why comfort is needed? The need for comfort is born out of pain, sickness, distress, confusion, fear, etc. Isaiah 40:1 says, "Comfort, O Comfort My people, says your God." God calls us to comfort others, and to be effective in this, it comes at a personal cost to the believer. In order to comfort those who are afflicted by the storms of life, we must understand it first hand. This means that we must be willing to walk down those dark roads of trial with a humble and teachable heart. I just wrote a blog on the need for going beyond mere survival of our trials and actually conquering them. Not only do we learn the lesson(s) that the Lord has for us in each situation, but we benefit from learning first hand what it means to be comforted by the chief Shepherd. Each trial gives us a very real understanding of pain (physical, emotional or spiritual), and by His grace we receive His divine care and comfort. This experience equips us to provide comfort to those whom the Lord may place in our path in the future.

Pondering all of this brought new light to a verse that I will admit I have always struggled with. James 1:2 tells us to "consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials." I have never understood how to accomplish this. How do I find genuine joy when I am in the midst of emotional agony? Learning these lessons on conquest and comfort shed new light on this. Colossians 3:2 instructs us to set our minds on the things above. If we train our minds to view every aspect of our lives from an eternal perspective, even the trials, we discover that not only is God accomplishing a good work in us, but He is teaching us first hand how to bless and comfort others. I John 4:11-12 says, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us." God calls us to love others. It is amazing to consider that if we keep an eternal perspective and a teachable heart through our trials, we learn how to love and comfort others more effectively, and His love is perfected in us! This is cause for joy!

Being More than a Victor

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, 'For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:35-37)

Paul is writing to the Romans about the reality of trials and distress in a Christian's life. In verses 38 and 39, he correctly points out that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and in this we can take great comfort. We all go through valleys and trials -- the book of James tells us to expect it. It was the word "conquer" that caught my eye in this passage. The dictionary defines "victory" as "the overcoming of an enemy or opponent," and "conquest" as "the subjugation of a defeated opponent." The difference is subtle, but quite distinct. In the context of war, to conquer an enemy means to assume complete and total control, often taking possession of its food, supplies, riches, etc. leaving no hope and no means for rally or retaliation.

Seeing this distinction, I began to consider how I react to my trials. More often than I care to admit, I usually come limping or crawling off the battlefield of a trial feeling blessed to have survived it and perhaps enlightened in the particular lesson that the Lord wanted me to learn from it. I have been content with this result, thinking of it as a victory, and eager to move on with life. What I have found lately though, is that the next trial I encounter has similarities to the previous one, and this has confused me. I pray, "Lord, I thought I understood the lesson. What did I miss? What did you want me to see? Why must I go through this again?"

I'm learning that the Lord expects more than a victory. He wants His children to conquer their trials. As we go through a trial, we often miss the riches that are right there for the taking. Do we take the time to ponder His immeasurable grace and mercy? Do we take the opportunity to deepen and intensify our prayer life? Does our desire to praise and worship Him intensify as the battle rages around us? Rather than simply surviving the trial, we need to not only learn the lesson, but master it. James 1:3-4 says that "the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." God uses trials to strengthen us and equip us for His service in life, or perhaps the next trial. If we don't conquer the first trial, we either continue on in life, or enter the next battle ill-equipped and/or unprepared.

We must remember that He does not give us more than we can handle, and He never pitches us out on the battlefield and says, "See you on the other side." Look again at Romans 8:37 -- it says that we "overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." He does not expect us to conquer our battles on our own. He is our Shepherd, and leads us through each and every valley. We only need to call on Him for strength and wisdom. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." When we learn to conquer our trials through Him, our faith will be strengthened, and we will be more effective in accomplishing His goals for our lives and for His kingdom.

In Remembrance

On Sunday, January 17, my grandmother went home to be with the Lord. This past Friday was her memorial service. She was such a special woman, and I take great comfort in knowing that I will see her again some day in heaven. Many of her grandchildren submitted memories to be read at the service. Below is the text of my contribution.

Grandma touched my life in so many tangible and intangible ways. In reflecting on her life these past few days, it struck me as quite fitting that she was gifted at quilting. Over the years, she lovingly made beautiful quilts for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Quilting is a craft that requires time, patience, precision, and an eye for the beautiful blend of pattern and color. Grandma always seemed to have time to listen, play games, and attend special events in the lives of her family. Her life reflected a beautiful pattern of what it means to be a woman of God in her roles as wife, mother, and grandmother. Her life was rich with family and friends, and the one common thread through it all was love -- love for the Lord as well as her family. Just as a quilt displays an intricate blend of pattern and color, so are my emotions as I say goodbye to her for now. I feel sorrow for her death, joy in knowing she is with the Lord, hope in knowing that I will see her again, and thankfulness for the many wonderful memories of time spent with her. I will treasure the quilts that I received from her, and I will treasure her in my heart always.

Ravioli Soup

Ingredients

1 lb. lean ground beef (2 1/2 C browned meat)
1/4 C soft bread crumbs
1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 tsp. onion salt
2 tsp. minced garlic (2 cloves)
1 T olive oil or vegetable oil
1 1/2 C finely chopped onion
1 28 oz. can Italian style or plain crushed tomatoes in puree
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 14.5 oz. can beef broth or bouillon
1 C water
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves
1/4 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/4 tsp. oregano leaves
1/4 C chopped fresh parsley (or parsley flakes to taste)
1 12 oz. pkg. plain ravioli without sauce (frozen, or in the refrigerated section)

Directions

Brown the ground beef in a large pot; combine remaining ingredients except ravioli. Bring soup to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Thaw and cook ravioli according to package directions until just tender. Drain ravioli and add to soup. Heat through.

Notes

This soup is so easy to make and is a hearty meal! I had a friend taste test this and she has been raving about it ever since! The only note that I would add is that I didn't have all of the specific spices (for example, I had oregano powder, not leaves), so I just eyeballed it. I chose to use a family sized package (20 oz) of ravioli from the refrigerated pasta section instead of the frozen kind. I cooked all of the ravioli, and then added approximately 12-15 oz. worth, and saved the rest for lunch the next day.

Possessing the Land

The holidays are over and I find myself at the beginning of a new year. To be perfectly honest, this isn't my favorite time of year. Many people find a new year to be a "fresh start" in their lives. I find it to be somewhat daunting. I do not make resolutions. I am aware (sometimes painfully so) of my shortcomings and those areas in my life that need improvement. The last thing I need is to resolve to be better and then inevitably fail again. Some might call this a fatalistic, "glass half-empty" sort of attitude. I call it being realistic. When people make resolutions, it is usually with the coming year in mind. More often than not, the resolve holds for a few months, and then people move on. As a child of God, I try always to view my life with an eternal perspective. The changes that I need should be eternally based.

I read Deuteronomy 11 this morning during my devotions, and was greatly encouraged. This chapter is full of instruction and promise on what the Lord expects from His followers. The very first verse instructs us to "Love the Lord your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments." How's that for a new year's resolution? My spirit resonates with this because I know that by doing this, I will be a living example of Christ to those around me and will be focused on my eternal relationship with Him. Verse 8 states, "You shall therefore keep every commandment which I am commanding you today, so that you may be strong and go in and possess the land into which you are about to cross to possess it." Did you notice the promise in that verse? By keeping His commands, we will be strong and able to possess the land! We are told in verses 11 and 12 that "the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year." I have lived enough life to know that this year will possess hills and valleys, just like last year and the one before that. What a comfort it is to know that by loving the Lord and following His commands, I will be strong as I head into the new "land" of 2010. As I encounter the hills and valleys that are sure to come, I can rest in knowing that the Lord cares, and that His eyes are always on me.

Colossians 3:1-4 says, "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."

It is with these thoughts in mind that I plan to go forth and "possess the land" of 2010.

Happy New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I enjoy spending the day with family, relaxing and sharing a good meal together. It also serves as a reminder to reflect on all the ways in which God has faithfully provided for me throughout the year. I am thankful for His care, provision, protection, and guidance in every aspect of my life. As I get older, I realize more and more that life is not always linear. There is a measure of predictability to our days, but God remains sovereign over all things and allows trials in our lives. There may be many reasons why we encounter trials, but I believe one of the underlying reasons is to learn from them and be drawn into an even deeper and closer relationship with the Lord.

In 2 Chronicles 20, we read about Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, who has just learned that a great army of Moabites, Ammonites and others is marching against him. As you read through this chapter, you can learn a great deal from his response to this situation.

• The first thing he did was to seek the Lord (v3).
• He recognized God's sovereignty in the situation (v6).
• He recalled His faithfulness in previous trials (v7).
• He recognizes his lack of wisdom and capacity to handle this situation (v12).
• He declares his intent to wait before the Lord for direction by standing before Him and turning his eyes to Him (v12-13)

The Lord responds in v15 and says, "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's." He continues in v17, "you will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you."

It says in v 21 that the next morning, Jehoshaphat appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised {Him} in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, "Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting." Verse 22 states, "When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed."

How should we respond to those trials in our lives that often take us by surprise and can overwhelm us with fear? Scripture tells us to give thanks. Jehoshaphat didn't lead his army into battle with weapons, he lead it with people who were offering praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for His lovingkindness. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Note that this passage instructs us to give thanks in everything....that means the trials of life too. This lesson is a difficult one to master, but so rich with encouragement and promise. Hebrews 13:15 says, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." To praise and give thanks to the Lord in the midst of a trial is a sacrifice. It is a sacrifice of our will and our pride. It often takes every ounce of our will to do this, and according to this verse, we find the strength to do it in the Lord Himself.

I am thankful for God's sovereignty in my life. He is my Shepherd and I willingly submit myself and my life to His care and governance. I will praise Him on the mountaintops and I will praise Him in the midst of the storms.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. (Psalm 118:29)

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins

'Tis the season for making pumpkin goodies! This recipe (from recipelion.com) caught my eye, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. The muffins made my house smell wonderful, and taste good with Autumn Spiced Tea!

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup solid pack pumpkin
1/4 cup melted butter
1 egg
1 6-ounce package of semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; make a well in the center. In a small bowl, combine milk, pumpkin, butter and egg; add to the well in flour mixture. Add chocolate chips, stir until dry mixture is moistened. Spoon mixture into greased muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Cool 5 minutes, remove from pans, completely cool on racks.

Notes
Instead of pouring the batter into the muffin tin, I decided to use the paper liners. Unfortunately, the muffins stuck to the paper! I've never had that happen before. Next time, I will either pour the batter in the pan or try foil liners. These muffins are very dense and rich, and oh so yummy!