God's Cure for the Effects of Simulants

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. 

~Job 12:7-10 ESV~

Lately I have noticed that we, as a people, have become detached from creation. We often prefer to seek stimulation from simulations rather than experiencing pure, organic fun. 

There is something called Nature-Deficit Disorder that I believe is at the root of many of the physical and emotional struggles that mankind faces today (if you would like more info on this disorder, you should visit https://www.childrenandnature.org/about/nature-deficit-disorder/). Nearly everything you can think of under the sun is available via a television, computer, or smart phone screen, so the outdoors can virtually be avoided altogether. 

I've thought a lot about this; my struggles with unexplainable health issues have caused me to do a good deal of research in many different areas in an effort to get better. Two things that I have found are, 1) too much screen time/artificial light can be detrimental to our health, and 2) God's creation provides for us a better (in fact the best) quality of life.

If we take the time to notice, we can see that all things in God's natural order (from plants, to animals, to human relationships, and right down to our very atmosphere) work for our own good.

Have you ever looked at a tree and just felt happy or played with your dog and forgotten about being grief-stricken?  Have your ever taken a bite out of freshly plucked fruit and felt satisfied or received the touch of another person and felt comforted? Have you ever taken a deep breath with your arms stretched wide and felt your stress melt away?

This tree captured my soul while my husband and I were on a hike in Sacramento, New Mexico.

There is a reason for these phenomenons, for the positive effect that Creation has on our lives: God was purposeful in His work.

Scientific studies have shown that trees promote happiness. This is due to the fact that they produce oxygen and to their color (other studies have shown that viewing the color green has positive effects on mood and reduces fatigue). Even during the lowest points in my life, if I look up to a tree, even if just for a moment, I feel peace. Other studies have shown that people who own pets are happier people. I know my little dude, Seamus helped me through some lonely times (he even comes to give me snuggles when he sees me crying or upset).

God's creation brings us joy and nourishment because it was created specifically for us. 

Earth's atmosphere is perfectly balanced to suit OUR needs. It protects us. If it were to be tweaked by even a minuscule amount we would not be able to breath, we wouldn't have enough water to survive, we could freeze to death, or be burned up by the sun. 

This is no accident. This is the care of a loving Creator.

When we stay copped up, alone in our homes we become anxious and melancholy, we become trapped in ourselves; our bodies start to feel less like an instrument and more like a shell. This is no way to live. 

God does not want us to live detached and solitary lives. His creation reveals this much to us.

Why would flowers be so beautiful if we weren't meant to take in their colors? Why would we have vocal chords if we weren't meant to sing and share our stories?  Everything God created serves a good purpose (Genesis 1:31).

Mountains are meant to be climbed and sunsets are meant to be viewed. 

Our Creator has made such beautiful things, the least we could do is take the time to step away from our screens and get outside to appreciate and enjoy them. 

Showing Up for the Storm

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?"

(Mark 4:35-41)

I heard a preacher speak on this verse while I was in grad school and I'll probably never forget what he said. He said: "being with Jesus means getting to go OVER the storm." I left that service upset, upset at the negligence of this preacher, upset for the minds of all who were there listening and clapping at his words.

I was upset because, the message he preached was counter to the message that Jesus gave us. Jesus made it clear that with Him we sill suffer, there will be heartache and persecution. But, with Him we have the assurance that our sorrow will one day cease.

Believing that being a Christian means getting to live a carefree, danger-free life is DANGEROUS. It is the type of weak foundation that causes faith to crumble. However, being a Christian does mean living a life of peace, not a life empty of war, but a life full of serenity.

William Barclay wrote that "in the presence of Jesus we can have peace in even the wildest storms of life."

David, the shepherd anointed to be king, offers a great illustration of the peace that comes with trusting in God. In the story of his showdown with Goliath, David used the little he had; he was small and his weapon was small. He knowingly walked into a difficult situation. The odds were against him, this Philistine was a large and mighty warrior. But, because David walked with God (because he was anointed by God), he walked in confidence. And against the odds, counter to the opinions of the men who surrounded him, he was triumphant; God was triumphant through him!

The last verse quoted above has confused a number of Bible readers. It seems as though the disciples are still questioning Jesus' identity. However, when you really examine it and consider it in it's original language and context, you find that it is actually proclaiming Jesus as divine. For, who other than God has control over nature? Who other than our Creator is able to calm a storm in an instant?

Christ served knowing there wasn't a thing that could get in the way of his will, for He knew that He and God were One; His will was God's will. We need to serve Him with such an assurance. He has shown us time and time again that WE CAN serve with such an assurance.

When Jesus said "Let us go to the other side," He wasn't just offering commentary for their next action, He was stating His will. And, being God Himself, His will is not merely a hope for the future, but a promise for the future. So, when Jesus said that they were going to the other side of the river, He was saying that NO MATTER WHAT they were going to make it to the other side.

We are able to live (to survive, endure, to flourish) because God is our strength, and it is His will for us to do so.

There is nothing new under the sun, after thousands of years we are still fighting wars--wars against the Enemy, wars against our neighbors, and wars against ourselves. We must allow God to be our strength as we struggle to live as the Body that He created us to be, as we strive to live counter to the racism and persecution that thrives in this world. We must trust in His promises and take Him at His word, even when we're in the eye of life's storms.

This was not the first time the disciples sailed the sea of Galilee, many were fishermen, so they knew it's tempestuous nature--how it is known to have sudden and violent storms. Meaning, they most likely got into that boat knowing there was a good chance that they'd be met with struggle. But, they also knew Jesus would be sailing with them.

Here's the thing, we can trust and have faith that Jesus will help us through our battles and our storms, but we still have to show up; we still have to grab our sling shots and our oars. For, though God is our strength, He still uses us to flex His muscles.

Resolved, To Stick To My Resolves

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

~2 Corinthians 5:17~

Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

~Jonathan Edwards, Resolution 17~

The new year is a time for making resolutions; it is when we feel like we can make a new start, so we determine upon certain actions that we believe will improve our lives. 

When I think of resolutions I think of the theologian, Jonathan Edwards (who doesn't?), whose list of 70 resolutions I'm sure all of us have memorized... he took his resolutions seriously, constantly examining himself. Yet, here we are into day eight of 2016 and I imagine many people have already skimped or given up on their determinations. 

I think Edwards understood something that eludes many a modern-day folk--that, especially as Christians, we should stick to our resolves; as a matter of being true to our word, we should treat our resolutions as we are meant to treat promises--as a covenant--we should "let our yes be yes and our no be no."

So, in order to stick to our resolutions, we should make them realistic as well as righteous. That doesn't mean we shouldn't challenge ourselves; it means instead of resolving to lose ten pounds a week, maybe resolve to be consistent in a healthier lifestyle. 

The Lord honors righteousness. For righteousness stems from a desire to please Him, not from selfishness. When we make plans for our own glory, they often fall apart. But when we make it our goal to walk closely with God, He uses all for HIs glory; and He blesses those who glorify Him.

Though I have made a list of goals/desires of things I would like to do/achieve each day, my actual resolution is simple: to create rather than merely consume. I want to contribute, I want to be involved, instead of letting others do it for me. I don't want to give in to living, buying, or enjoying the way that the world around me tells me to. My Father has much more in store for me than the world, or even I, can imagine. So, I will use the gifts He has given me to live rather than exist. In living I make room for Him to move in me.

Now, even with the most realistic and righteous resolutions, we are not immune to falling off of the wagon. When this happens, the key is not to just quit, but repent, forgive ourselves, and begin again. 

Each experience, negative or positive, is an opportunity for improvement.

I believe Jonathan Edward's 53rd resolution is a simple promise  that all would do well to make. It goes as follows:  "Resolved, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance... knowing that I confide in my redeemer."

After all, isn't that why Jesus died? Not to cast some magical spell that would keep us from sinning, but rather to give us a chance at redemption. 

He knows we are going to mess up, and if we're honest with ourselves, so do we. However, this is no excuse to stop trying. He gives us all we need to push forward and use each day to be better than we were the day before.

The Lord desires and deserves perfection. Let's not be so insulting by claiming that we cannot even strive to achieve it.