A few weeks ago, I was teaching my Sunday School class. I chose a series from Children Desiring God (John Piper) and the curriculum about God’s Redemptive Plan through the ages. I chose this particular curriculum because it begins with Creation and traces God’s sovereign plan for redemption from the beginning of time until Christ’s death on the cross.

Recently, we were talking about God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea. You remember that story don’t you? God’s people had been miraculously delivered from Egypt. They had seen his MIGHTY hand in the plagues that God had brought on Israel. They had seen how God held the heart of the Pharaoah in His hand. Yet, when they came to the Red Sea. They murmured and complained and questioned why God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt.

It was at this point that I asked the children what was wrong with the Israelites murmuring and complaining. I asked them what the Israelites were focusing on. You and I know (hopefully) that the Israelites did NOT have their focus on God….but rather on their circumstances and thus, they began complaining. My question to the children centered on how the Israelites were sinning. I expected the answer to be centered on their lack of focus on GOD and His might that we had spent so many weeks studying. Instead, a guest in my class raised his hand and said, that the Israelites were sinning because they were not thinking positively.

Oh my! That was such a picture of where many of us as adults are and truly, it was a reflection of the current educational system. We are taught to focus on ourselves…..what WE can do….what WE can be. Most are not taught of their sin and definitely not taught of God’s holiness and of His character.

As I write this, I wonder how many people reading this will understand what I’m trying to say. In a nutshell, we are man-focused society; many of our churches “preach” man-focused sermons. The answer to our woes and our problems is to be God-focused: in our living, in our learning, in our WORSHIP, in our families and in every area of our lives.

Besides, HOW IN THE WORLD can any of us think positively about anything without focusing on the great grace of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. How can we find anything in and of ourselves to think positively about? Knowing how weak, sinful and inept we are, how can we think positively in and of ourselves? Isn’t it said in scripture that, “I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me.”

I pray that during this Christmas season……we won’t find ourselves thinking “happy” and “positive” thoughts alone, that we won’t be so influenced by the humanistic and postmodern culture around us that we forget to focus on the God of the Universe who gave us such an amazing gift and showed such immeasurable grace when He sent His Son to the world. I pray that not only will He be a part of our thoughts, but that he will be the center, the focus of our thoughts this holiday season.

“For what is man, that you are mindful of him, and the Son of Man that you visited him.”

Faith and Courage,

Lori

We had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving. We were in Kansas and I was able to spend time with my Grandmother on Thanksgiving Day. She is 91 years old………and although in a wheelchair…she is as feisty as ever. She made me laugh so hard when she hugged me this time.

What’s so funny about a hug? Well, you see, I bent over her chair to give her a hug and a kiss when I saw her and she reached up and put her arms around me and patted me on the waist……well, the place where my waist used to be……and THEN, she patted again……and THEN, she patted AGAIN! I pulled back and looked at her only to see an inquiring face looking back at me.

“Yes”…..I said………”that’s me your patting there! I know it didn’t used to be there……but it’s winter where I live and I need some extra padding.” She laughed and wanted to hug me and pat that “bowl full of jelly” once again. We had a good laugh and my great aunt who was also there…….told me….to remind my grandmother that at one time she ALSO had a bit of a “jelly roll”. Another big laugh followed!

You know…….it dawned on me again how life is a cycle. When we are young, we want to be older……when we are small, we want to grow……….when we are “chunky”, we want to be skinny, when we are ………. Sooner or later, we do experience all those things. It just takes time! I know…I know……I do need to shed some pounds…..and believe me, I’m working on it. (I’m coming off some meds, changing diet, following my naturopaths instructions etc.etc.) But honestly, I’m okay with me at the moment. Kind of sounds like a worldly philosophy and I don’t mean it to be.

I’m trying to say……..that sooner or later I will be skinny again….just like my grandmother. Time passes, things change……..I want to enjoy where God has me now…..and be the best I can be….so that I can be and do all that God has for me to be and do. I remember my grandmother’s “jelly roll”…..and I remember wondering why she was always so upset about it. The only person it seemed to really bother was her. Now, I have that same “jelly roll”…..and while I try to lose it, I’m going to smile at my grandmother’s reaction to it……..and feel joy and wonder at the cycles of life!

Faith and Courage,

Lori Lane