Are You Quitting On Your Blessings?

Happy are the people with such blessings. Happy are the people whose God is the Lord. Psalm 144:15 (CSB)

Years ago when we first got our dog my wife was very anxious because she never had a dog growing up, and the little fellow had caused enough stress that I had decided we would send him back. But God stopped me in my tracks and told me very clearly: “If you do not keep him you are going to miss a blessing.”

I called my wife and told her we were keeping the dog. God’s words to me those years ago have proven to be true one hundred times over. That little fellow is so loving and sweet we could never imagine not having him today.

I think many times in life we are at the point of giving up our dreams and hopes right at the place when blessings arrive. If we would only be patient a little longer the blessings will come. Things are often hardest just before the blessings arrive.

There have been a number of times in my life when I was tempted to give up yet held my ground a little longer, pushed my faith a little farther, kept hope alive just one more day, and blessings came after the darkest days and stormiest nights.

Every day you have choices to make. Each day presents us with options. If we will be sensitive, pray, and listen for God to speak, blessings will come. Yet first comes faith, patience, obedience and trust. The seeds are planted in dark ground, but sunlight comes and abundance follows.

Wait upon the Lord. Be patient in affliction. Trust Him and see what blessings He brings your way.

Prayer: Dear Lord, You shower us with blessings of many kinds. And often those blessing come after days of doubt and worry, trouble and hardship. Help us to remain faithful until You bring us a harvest of Blessings! Amen.

Karlton Douglas

Copyright 2017

It Is Our Scars That Show Who We Are

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.” John 20:27 (CSB)

"God will not look you over for medals, degrees, or diplomas, but for scars." — Elbert Hubbard

I ran my hand across my side and down my belly feeling my new scars. It is not the first time my stomach has been cut open and the new scar follows the path of the old underlying scar. The scar on my right side is new, the result of a nearly year old wound that refused to heal and the location of my old stoma.

When we think about Jesus and His scars we think of an act of faith that took Him to a cross of suffering where He paid the ultimate price for our sins. The battle scars of Jesus are from a fight fought on our behalf, a battle to His glory and our salvation. His scars are an eternal reminder that He loved us enough to give His all for our redemption.

When I think about my scars I think about pain, misery, and what is to me--unjust suffering. No one should have to endure one such surgery, much less two surgeries just six years apart. I did not choose my scars, they chose me. I did not volunteer for my terrible ordeals. Considering this and what I went through, it is all the more remarkable that Jesus would choose His scars and terrible suffering.

Perhaps you have your own scars, whether physical or mental and emotional, and perhaps you would never have chosen those scars. Yet I have found my suffering tolerable and endurable because of Jesus. He is with us in our pain and misery, both our suffering and healing. Because of Jesus we endure and carry on even with our scars.

Our scars mark us as fellow sufferers. And our scars, even though on a smaller scale, help us to relate to our suffering Lord. We better understand the pain and misery He endured on this earth. Also we find we have a Lord who sympathizes with our misery because He is uniquely qualified to understand everything we endure on this earth.

Your scars mark you, they show you to be someone who has endured and overcome much in this world. We weep, we sorrow, and we feel the pain that brought us our terrible scars. Yet when we invite the Lord into our pain and suffering there is meaning and purpose and someday recompense for the misery we suffer here will be more than repaid in eternity with our Lord.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we owe You everything. Thank You for being with us in our pain and suffering, and thank You for the promise of a day free of all pain and misery where scars will be marks of valor instead of reminders of our pain and suffering. Amen.

Karlton Douglas

Copyright 2017