“…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

I’m sure many of us have heard this Bible verse before.  I’ll confess, I’ve fallen way short of heeding it’s all-encompassing scope – “all circumstances”.  It seems like I’ve been closer to writing my own line of scripture lately – “give complaint in all bad circumstances, because it just feels better to do it.”

I don’t know about you, but it is certainly a struggle sometimes to truly be thank-ful in every circumstance.  While we do have so much to be thankful for, it is easy to have your gracious gaze clouded by all the annoyances, inconveniences, and down-right sufferings we often endure in this life.

I was reading lately about one somewhat obscure Christian mystic of history named Julian of Norwich  (now, “mystic” does not imply magic here – it refers to Christ-followers throughout history who have excelled at “experiencing” the love and presence of God in Christ and sharing that devotionally with other Christ-followers).

Julian of Norwich lived in the 14^th Century.  Now, in case you didn’t know, the 14^th Century was pretty awful.  According to one writer, “It would be difficult to decide which century in the history of western civilization was more calamitous, the twentieth or the fourteenth.  In both, it seemed, everything that could go wrong did go wrong.”  The black plague ravaged civilization, leaving as many as 1 in 3 people dead from India to Iceland.  Wars consumed more lives, as well as horrible weather conditions which destroyed crops and caused mass starvation.  On top of this, there were seemingly hopeless divisions in the church as both kings and popes were consumed by corruption and disregard for the general welfare of people.   So, yeah…fun times, right?

And then comes Julian of Norwich, right in the middle of all this misery.  As if life in general wasn’t bad enough, Julian experienced her own deep suffering with a near-death experience with sickness.  However, right in the middle of this sickness as death is panting ravenously for her, God gives her a series of revelations (what she would refer to as “showings”) – visions concerning the suffering passion of Christ and the burning passionate love that drove Him to such suffering for us.  Almost immediately following these “showings”, Julian regains her strength and shrugs off the sickness that nearly killed her.  The rest of Julian’s life and writings would be devoted to understanding and explaining these revelations, and encouraging others to become consumed with nothing else but the incredible love of Jesus.

In her most famous work, “Revelations of Divine Love”, Julian ends with a lengthy “thank you” to God for His love and kindness.   She leaves us also with this amazing summary (which I have paraphrased into more modern English):

“What I learned in all this is that love is our Lord’s meaning.  I saw completely that before God made us, He loved us.  His love has never run out, nor will it ever.  In this love, He has done all His works.  And in this love, He has made all things gain to us.  And in this love, our life is everlasting.  While we have a ‘beginning’, His love is without beginning or end.  This love is our beginning.  And all this we shall see in God, Himself, who is without end.   Thanks be to God.”

Julian of Norwich was able to look at all the horrible situations in her life and in her world, and look through them – like a laser beam through foggy mist – to see an Almighty, and all-loving God who gave Himself in Christ Jesus for us.  To this mighty, loving God, she unapologetically says “Thank You – you are GOOD”.

How about you?  How about me? Can we do the same today?  My challenge to all of us is to not only enjoy the family, the food, and perhaps the game on TV, but to look through all this, and especially the junk in our lives, to grab hold of the gracious love of our Savior, and to give Him our full devotion, our full burning love, and our fully heartfelt “thanks”.   Maybe that’s really what Paul meant in that verse from 1 Thessalonians.

Wishing and Praying your Thanksgiving is full of thanks-giving to Jesus : )
In HIM<
Jeremy

P.S.  for you history nerds out there (like me), check out this short “history of Thanksgiving Day” video – to see the Christian roots of this holiday.  Good stuff  :)
http://www.history.com/videos/thanksgiving-becomes-a-holiday

“Shlama Enoch” (rough English transliteration) – it means “Peace Upon You” in Aramaic. Not something you expect to pick up from your hair stylist. But then again, Jakleen is not your typical hair stylist. Jakleen is an Iraqi woman who fled to the United States with her son about a year ago. She started working as a hair stylist when she moved to Charlotte. I met her as a “walk-in” appointment, and now cherish every opportunity I get to have her cut my hair….and expand my worldview.

Jakleen’s joy and enthusiasm for the Lord instantly draws you in and energizes your spirit – like cold water vapor excited by a penetrating beam of sunlight. When Jakleen cuts my hair she also shares with me stories about the plight of Iraqi Christians (and Christians in other predominantly Muslim nations). Sobering stories….like stories of her family in Iraq who were affected not even a week ago by a recent bombing campaign by radical Islamists against Christian churches and neighborhoods. Dozens of people were killed. Of course, this isn’t something we ever hear about in our very American-Centric news media. No one simply cares enough.

Or, the story about cousins and brothers who have been murdered in Iraq for their faith. Or, most compelling, about her own son’s abduction for ransom, and attempted murder (which is the sad outcome of the majority of such abductions). God miraculously spared her son, and she immediately packed her bags and moved her family to the United States – which in itself is a miracle in today’s immigration climate.

“Shlama Enoch”. Strange blessing from a person whose world has been turned upside down time and time again. Strange blessing from a woman who has lived much of her life under tyranny and the constant threat of losing loved ones, or her own life, on account of her Christian faith. Yet, when Jakleen tells me “Peace Upon You” I know she absolutely means it – because she dwells in the abiding peace of Christ. It oozes out of her.

Jakleen said something else that was interesting to me in the context of the latest rash of bombings targeting Iraqi Christians. She very matter-of-factly stated about the radical Islamist bombers –
“They must do this. They can’t not do it. It is what their book tells them to do. They must.” But then, she goes on to say about Christians – “we must love our neighbor as ourself. This is what OUR Book tells us”.

It’s that simple. Christ has said to love our neighbors as ourselves. He’s even said to love our enemies. For Jakleen, and many Iraqi Christians just like her, retaliation is not an option, but unreciprocated, unconditional love – the kind of love that Jesus has shown us.

Lately, I’ve been involved in a lot of discussion concerning worship – what it means, why it’s important, and how it’s lived out in our lives. I heard a really eloquent definition lately. Worship is simply love expressed. When we worship God, we are expressing our affection, adoration, selfless devotion, and heartfelt LOVE for our Savior. This naturally leads to us loving others out of that same supernatural, overflowing, life-changing love.

Jakleen knows all about this. This is why she’s able to say “Shlama Enoch” not only to those she considers family and friends, but also to those who consider themselves her natural enemy.

I desperately want to have that kind of unrelenting joy, love, and peace in Christ. How about you? What must we let go of in our lives to truly be able to embrace Jesus this completely and unapologetically. I hope and pray you wrestle with this one too, so that you and I both can learn to be as passionate in our faith as Jakleen.

Shlama Enoch – Peace Upon You in Jesus’ Name –
Jeremy

“The Sovereign Artist”

Today is a special day.  Today is my 13^th Wedding Anniversary – 13 unbelievable years married to one unbelievable lady.  Tina, thank you for your devotion, your ministry to others and to me, and for not giving up on me (though, I’m sure at times you’ve wanted to : )

In fact, when I think back on all that God has brought us through in our marriage so far, and when I stare in amazement at the absolutely brilliant way He’s orchestrated all the experiences of my marriage and life (the good and the bad), I’m reminded all over again about one important aspect of God’s character – His Sovereignty.   He’s more than a masterful designer, He’s an uncompromising artist.

When we say “God is Sovereign”, it tends to sound overly theological, or emotionally disconnected and churchy.   We say things like “don’t worry, brother, I know it’s hard right now but God is sovereign”.  I’m certainly guilty of saying things like that without really knowing what I’m saying (and maybe even really caring how it affects the person I’m saying it to).  Just WHAT does that mean –  that God is Sovereign?

At the very least it means “God is in control”…. “of EVERYTHING”.  But it’s more than that.  It’s not like God is some wizard-of-Oz-type-character, pulling switches and pushing buttons in a robotic manner, keeping everything “going”.  He’s also not the god of agnostic deism who simply starts the ball rolling, so to speak, and then stands back uncaring and disinterested in what comes of His Creation.

Scripture seems to indicate God is an Artist.  The difference to me between cold, mathematical engineering and intricate, masterful artistry boils down to one thing….heart.  Nothing God does is disconnected from the burning passion and perfect emotion that characterizes Him.  He is both unimaginably holy, and mind-bewilderingly loving.

God is an Artist.  Think about it – in Genesis (first book of the Hebrew Scriptures), God creates everything, and then says what?    “Hey, it works!” ….no, I don’t think so.   “It’s Biologically Self-Sustaining!”.   No.  He says “It is GOOD”.  That’s so much more than admiring how well something works – that’s an admiration of its inherent artistic beauty.

Now here’s the crazy part.   Did you know that God looks at your life as a masterpiece – or at least as a masterpiece in the making?  That’s not to say we don’t have the capacity or will to tear up the canvas of our lives or to stubbornly refuse to allow God to craft us as He desires.  We can certainly do that.
But look at what the apostle Paul says in his letter to the Christ-followers in Ephesus:

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece (“workmanship”). He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
(Ephesians 2:8-10 / New Living Translation)

Other Scriptures talk about how you are a work conceived in the mind and heart of God before a single word of Creation was ever spoken.  Now that’s crazy!  There isn’t a moment or decision in your life that ever catches God by surprise.  God even uses our failures and sufferings to transform us into the masterpieces He envisions.  When you think everything is out of control?  God isn’t.  When you think there’s no possible way you can be redeemed, forgiven, or restored?  God does it.  He’s faithful, and He’s sovereign.

God desires to use you to demonstrate His incredible artistry.  God desires to propel you towards supernatural and life-transforming relationship with Him – the kind that leads to those “good things he planned for us long ago” – Good works, supernatural exploits in Jesus’ name.  It all starts by believing in Him – Jesus Christ, and choosing to surrender to His leadership for your life.  He desires to make your life a painting of His grace and restoration, but you must first turn from selfish living, and put your trust in His Hand to paint the strokes.  It isn’t easy, I won’t lie, but it’s far more beautiful than anything you can possibly dream.

Is God Sovereign?  Absolutely.  Trust in Christ and follow Him – and you will see an Artist at work like you wouldn’t believe.