Barbara's Banter

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because God never slumbers or sleeps. I’m a person who loves my sleep. However, as we age, we don’t sleep as well as we used to.

Studies show our bodies need to rest. Sleep is therapeutic, healing, and replenishing. Unfortunately, many today suffer from sleep disorders. Lack of sleep leads to miscalculations and mistakes due to poor concentration or coordination. It also weakens the immune system, making us vulnerable to disease and infection.

It’s interesting how sleep patterns have changed through the years. Before the Industrial Revolution, people slept in two shifts. Known as biphasic sleep, this meant going to bed shortly after sunset, waking for a brief period in the middle of the night to tend to a few tasks, and then sleeping until morning when the sun came up. This all changed with the introduction of electricity and the light bulb which allowed people to stay up later. Brighter evenings gradually changed our internal clocks.

Today, we live in a 24/7 world. Video games, television, and computers provide us with lots of late-night options. Grocery stores are open all night long. Telephone service is always available. We can literally wake up in a city that never sleeps all over the world.

Add to this the pressure and stress of life which can weigh heavily on our minds. Concerns can make sleep difficult. At least, that’s something I don’t need to worry about. I can lift my burdens up to God. He has everything under control. He allows me to dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8). Plus, God never slumbers or sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4). He stays awake so I can sleep in peace.

Now if He could only make it possible for me not to have to use the restroom at three a.m., I would sleep even better!

“…He who keeps you will not slumber…nor sleep.” ~Psalm 121:3-4

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because although I’m old, I’m not yet a nonagenarian! When I become a nonagenarian, I will still rejoice if I am alive, because there is a lot to be said for still breathing.

Some say old is always twenty years from the age you are. It’s a nice thought but I don’t think it’s accurate. I won’t lie to you. I don’t find a great deal of joy in growing older, but I do find a great deal of joy in being alive!

Having just had another birthday, I’m very cognizant of time running out. Let’s just say I’m numbering my days so I can rejoice and be glad in all of them (Psalm 90:12-14). And let’s just say that I’m too old to procrastinate, so if there is anything on my bucket list I still have the energy to do, I’d best be doing it!

While the aging process is not all that pleasant, it still beats the alternative. Most of us older folk will probably not swim the English Channel, set marathon records, or find a cure for cancer. However, there is something wonderful in aging gracefully, finding ways to serve others, and living a full, rich life.

God’s purpose for us has no age limit (Isaiah 46:4). He says, “Even to gray hairs, I will carry you!” I’m counting on that for two reasons. Under this brownish dyed hair is a mop of natural gray and the older I get, the harder it is to walk! 

“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does
not long-life bring understanding?” ~Job 12:12 NIV

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because I have an invitation to come and dine with Jesus. So do you!  

When I was young I used to love to sing the old hymn called “Come and Dine.” The song was written in the early 1900s. The chorus goes like this:  

“Come and dine,” the Master calleth,
“Come and dine!”
You can feast at Jesus’ table anytime.
He who fed the multitude, turn the water into wine.
To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine!”    

What an incredible invitation! God has shown us unbelievable kindness. He has brought us into His family, given us provision, favor, and a place at His table. We were lame, forgotten, and unworthy when Jesus found us and invited us to sit at His table.

We dine with Jesus every time we spend time with Him, feasting on His Word. He is the bread of life (John 6:35). We dine with Him every time we partake of Communion (Matthew 26:26-30). We even have an invitation to dine with Him at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).

When we dine with Jesus, we always partake of a sumptuous feast. It’s good to know that we have a place at His table—now and forever!  

“Blessed are those who are called to the
marriage supper of the lamb.” ~Revelation 19:9

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because I have something most of the world doesn’t have. I have hope! Hope is one of the big three Christian principles: faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

It’s difficult to have hope in a world filled with poverty, war, hunger, epidemics, hatred, and the ability for one crazy person to push a button that will annihilate civilization as we know it. No wonder people  are hurting and uncertain about what the future holds.

A groundbreaking study from the University of Missouri shows hope may be even more essential to well-being than happiness or gratitude. They found that hope isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s a powerful emotional force that gives our lives meaning. Hope is a feeling the future will be better.

Believe it or not, hope is as necessary to the human spirit as oxygen is to the physical body. When we lose hope we are overcome with despair and lack of purpose. Without hope we lose all desire to go on. Our problems overwhelm us. Not having hope can literally destroy our lives.

Christians have hope. Hope is not something that magically appears. It comes from Christ living in us (Colossians 1:27). Christ is our hope (1 Timothy 1:1). Our hope is connected with our relationship with God. When Jesus died and was resurrected, we were begotten into a living hope (1 Peter 1:3-5). We have an inheritance that will not fade away. Our future is secure.

“Happy is he…whose hope is in the Lord his God.” ~Psalm 146:5

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I can rejoice today because I have treasure within me.

2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not us.” Some translations use the phrase “jars of clay” but I think I prefer “earthen vessels.” Although at my age, I feel more like a jar of clay. Whatever! The truth is that these earthen vessels are you and me. The treasure we hold is Christ living in us (Galatians 2:20).

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He actually comes to live in our hearts (Ephesians 3:17). He lives and dwells in us. Paul calls it the glorious riches of a mystery, but one we know is true (Colossians 1:27). When we surrender to Jesus, our old selves die and we become a new creation with Him living in us (1 Corinthains 5:17).

So on the outside I may look like a jar of clay, but looks can be deceiving. Inside me, I’m holding some very valuable treasure!

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…” 2 Corinthians 4:7

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because I have much I can share with others about what God has done in my life. God has done so much for me that I want to be ready to share it with someone who asks (1 Peter 3:26). Some shy away from any discussion about Jesus which I find odd if we call ourselves Christians.

On the other hand, I don’t believe in pouncing on unsuspecting people and force-feeding them a sermon to “repent and be baptized or they will burn in a lake of fire.” This is not really an effective way to accurately portray what Jesus is all about.

Our firsthand accounts about our encounters with Jesus are personal and unique. It might include how we became a Christian or perhaps specific times when God protected, delivered, or did something special that impacted our lives greatly. When someone asks we can share our heartfelt stories of what Christ has done for us.    

We don’t have to convince others to follow Christ or talk them into becoming Christians. Christ does that. Actually, I think God  will make sure we come in contact with people He wants us to know. He will put it in their hearts to ask us questions about Him that we can answer. If we say a little prayer before we speak, He’ll even put in our mouths what to say.

“In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to
give an answer to everyone who asks you to the reason for the hope
that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” ~1 Peter 3:15 NIV

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because nothing can separate me from God’s love.   

In Romans 8:35, we are asked a question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

The answer is given in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Truthfully, nothing can separate us from God’s love because He loves us unconditionally. He loves us whether we are good or bad, whether we win or lose, or whether times are smooth or rough. We don’t have to be pretty, smart, wise, talented, or good. We don’t have to earn God’s love. God knew we would never be good enough to earn His love, so He just gives it to us. 

Since God is love, His love is limitless (1 John 4:8). It’s wide and deep, long and high (Ephesians 4:17). It is so great that God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). In fact, God loves us so much He calls us His children (1 John 3:1).

So whether we believe it or not, God loves us. It’s a given. All we need to do is accept and embrace it because nothing can separate us from God’s love!

“…God is love.” ~1 John 4:8

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because I have many choices, so I choose to rejoice!

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words. It is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.”

God places the responsibility for the choices we make on our shoulders. God is all powerful. He could have created us to blindly follow Him, but He didn’t. God does not force us to do what He wants us to do. God in His infinite wisdom has given us freedom to make choices. How we use that freedom can determine our quality of life.

Being responsible for one’s choices is a heavy burden to bear because we have no one to blame but ourselves when we go astray. Which reminds me of another quote by Hubert Humphrey: “To err is human. To blame someone else is politics.”

Ultimately, right choices bring peace of mind; bad choices bring difficulty. God does not need to punish us for a bad choice because it will bring its own distress. It’s the cause-and-effect principle. What we sow, we reap (Galatians 6:7-8). While it’s true God forgives sin, the effects of sin will remain. 

God longs for a relationship with us, but He will not impose it on us. He will beckon or encourage us to come to Him. He will make Himself available. He will love us. He will stand at the door and knock, but He won’t come in and fellowship with us unless He is invited (Revelation 3:20). He initiates, but we must choose to respond on our own.

“…choose for yourself this day whom
you will serve…” ~Joshua 24:15

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because I have victory in Jesus. I’m reminded of this every time I sing the classic hymn “Victory in Jesus” written by Eugene Bartlett (1885-1941). Song origins fascinate me and this one is no exception.

Bartlett was born in Missouri but raised in Arkansas. He was an educated man and prolific song writer who co-founded Hartford Music Company in Arkansas. Most all of his songs were in the Christian sector except for a few county songs such as “Take an Old Cold Tater and Wait” recorded by Little Jimmie Dickens. I throw this little tidbit in because I remember seeing Little Jimmie sing this song when I was a child. You see, I’m from the “neck of the woods” where Bartlett called home.

Bartlett wrote over 800 songs but probably his most famous hymn is “Victory in Jesus” which was the result of a difficult time in his life. In 1939, Bartlett had a stroke that left him partially paralyzed and virtually bedridden. Although he missed traveling and performing, Bartlett continued to study his Bible. As he dealt with his physical pain and limitations, he also looked forward to the eternal victory he knew was approaching.

 “Victory in Jesus” was the final song Bartlett wrote. It became his best known and most embraced hymn. Its down-to-earth message continues to remind us of  Christ’s sacrifice, our salvation, and the heavenly home we have waiting for us.  

What does victory in Jesus actually mean? To me it means Jesus fought the battle against sin and death for me through His life, crucifixion, and resurrection. My old identity is gone and I have a new identity in Christ. His victory was my victory. So now I have the freedom to live a meaningful life with His guidance and His strength holding me up. Plus, He gives me blessed assurance of an eternal life with Him forever, which gives me hope in a hopeless world. 

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~1 Corinthians 15:57

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because I can ask God for wisdom and He will give it to me.

We are told that wisdom is a key to happiness (Proverbs 3:13). Wisdom is the ability to discern and judge what is good or true. Perhaps that’s why the Bible says wisdom is better than gold (Proverbs 16:16). Most of us lack wisdom but not to worry. We are told to ask God for it and He will generously give it to us (James 1:5).

One way He gives us wisdom is through biblical instruction. We are told the beginning of wisdom is learning to acknowledge and respect God (Proverbs 9:10). We learn that wise people are humble, not know-it-alls (Proverbs 11:2). A wise person listens to advice and instruction (Proverbs 19:20). The book of Proverbs alone is full of advice for those who seek wisdom.

The author of Proverbs was Solomon, and although he is considered the wisest man who ever lived, there is one wiser. His name is Jesus. Jesus spoke about the queen of the south coming to hear the wisdom of Solomon, then went on to say, “…and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here (Matthew 12:42).” He was referring to Himself. What an understatement!

Jesus is wisdom personified. He is the very wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). Staying close to Jesus gives us access to all His treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Jesus said, “Whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them is like a wise man who builds his house upon a rock (Matthew 7:24).” Our Rock is Jesus Christ, so we should implement what we learn from Him into our lives.

God is eager to give us His wisdom. We just need to ask and look in the right direction!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who
gives to all liberally without reproach…” ~James 1:5