Laced With Grace

As I sat down to eat breakfast this morning,  I somehow got the feeling that I was forgetting something.  I’d spent my usual quiet time with God and pondered what to write on my own blog this morning.  Then I thought to myself: “What day is this? the 22nd? the 23rd?”.  I checked my calendar, verified the date was indeed the 23rd and remembered that I had a blog post to make here at Laced With Grace.  Ahhhh!!!! And as I type this at 8:11 am Central time I still need to shower, write the new post and leave my house by 9:00 for a meeting.  No shopping on Black Friday for this gal!! No way… But I digress.  In my helpless feeling, I remembered a post from almost a year ago on my Bread Crumbs blog that would not only be good to post here as a quick fix but would also be pretty timely in light of the stresses and “helplessness” that sometimes accompanies the mad dash of holiday preparations between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  So, without further adieu, let me share with you “Feeling Helpless”.  I pray that you will be encouraged today through God’s Word. 

FEELING HELPLESS – From Bread Crumbs, 11/20/2006

Feeling helpless is not a very fun place to be.   I’m sure we can all think of a few times when something painful or challenging has come upon us and we had no place to turn but to lift our eyes and voices up to heaven crying out “Why?’ or “Help!”.   In 1 Samuel 30, David, along with his faithful troop of 600, also found himself facing catastrophe. 

Remember, David had been hiding from Saul and living in the land of the Philistines in a city named Ziklag.   David had temporarily “forgotten” his faith in all of his fear of being tracked down by Saul.  He and his men returned home (to Ziklag) from fighting one day and discovered that the city had been burned down and their loved ones had been taken captive (1 Sam 30:3).   Even David’s mighty men had a problem keeping it together with this sight:

Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. (1 Sam 30:4 NKJV)

I can’t imagine the helplessness these men felt.  David had even a larger burden to bear.  Had he not led his men out to battle, they would have been able to protect their city and their families from ruin.  David was extremely distressed, however, we see that “David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Sam 30:6 NKJV).

In the middle of his distress, David sought God for comfort and found it.   Although he had temporarily left his faith behind for awhile, (I say this because had he not, he would have been living with the rest of his people, the Israelites, and not been hiding out from Saul), he still knew that when things got rough, God would be there for Him.   After seeking God for direction (30:8) God directed David and his men to the place where their families were being held captive and saved the day.  David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away.  (30:18)

God proves time and time again that He is in control and that He can deliver us in our time of need.  I wonder, though, how things would have turned out had David not taken the time to strengthen himself in God in his distress.  We need to do the same.  How do we practically find comfort in God in the midst of the trying circumstances of our lives?  How do we strengthen ourselves in Him?

To strengthen ourselves in God is to purposefully remember His goodness, power and strength to accomplish all that He desires for us in our lives.  If we can remember that He is able to overcome any obstacle for us and that He only wishes the best for us, we can be strengthened and encouraged to press on to “fight” another day. 

You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle;
Are they not in Your book?
When I cry out to You,
Then my enemies will turn back;
This I know, because God is for me.
In God (I will praise His word),
In the Lord (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
(Psalm 56:8-11)

Sometimes it seems that on Thanksgiving Day we remember the great feast that the Pilgrims (maybe) shared with the native peoples on that day so long ago.

What we should remember is what made that day so memorable to the new immigrants who feasted on that day.

The fact that they had plenty would have been shadowed by the memories of the days of hunger. The feasting together would have been sobered by the memory of the friends and family who had died.

And yet, they praised God for what they had.

Sometimes is seems that we need to go through times of sorrow in order to fully experience (or recognize) joy. It is through times of need that we more fully appreciate times of plenty.

Traditionally, Thanksgiving time has been a difficult time of year for me because of great losses in my past. I came to the place where I had a choice…to dwell on the loss or to focus on the gifts that I have and to look to the future.

Paul was like that.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5:15-18,NIV)

He knew the secret:

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Phil 4:11-1, NIV)

David knew this too:

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.

Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.

Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always. (Psalm 105: 1-5, NIV)

On this day, we give thanks.

My middle child will be eight on Thanksgiving day and I can think of nothing more appropriate. This is a child who, when it is her turn to pray, will pray, and pray, and pray, listing all those she can think of who need prayer as well as all those she knows and all those things which she is thankful for, and that is just our dinner prayer. This is a child who knows and loves the Lord and loves to sing new songs of praise to Him–made up on the spot, just for Him. Wherever and whenever you will find her with music on her tongue and just as likely it is a song of praise and thanksgiving.

What a reminder she is to me to give thanks always for all things and to sing songs of praise and thanksgiving–even when I am a little off key and it might not be the most appropriate time. (Both of these things are things she is often faulted for–she has a beautiful voice but she longs to stretch it and make it grow and often practices doing so at the most inappropriate moments.

“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”- Psalm 95:1-2

As Thanksgiving approaches and then the Christmas season encroaches, remember to sing songs of praise and thanksgiving–whether out loud or in your heart. As all the world rushes about trying to find the perfect gift and stay on schedule, tell Him that you remember all He has done for you. Singing songs of praise isn’t just for His sake, but also for our own–reminding us of all we have to be thankful for and all He has done for us.

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart, I am glad for what I have that’s an easy place to start–Junior Asparagus in Madame Blueberry. (We hear that one a lot around here.:))

Dearest Lord, thank you for all you have given us. We are so very blessed, each and everyone of us, regardless of country or nationality, regardless of heritage, if we are in You we are greatly and abundantly blessed because of your Son, Jesus Christ.

What are YOU thankful for?