The Blessing Bunch

By Cheri Cowell –

Henry Ward Beecher is quoted as saying, “A proud man is seldom a grateful man because he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.” Those of us with a personality prone to the weakness of pride can also agree with the Apostle Paul. He said that although he knew what he wanted to do, he couldn’t seem to do it—at least not all of the time.

Pride tends to slip up when we feel unappreciated, unnoticed, overwhelmed, and taken advantage of—all signs of a self-focused person. God has given us a remedy for this sin. He tells us we should get our eyes off of ourselves and onto our blessings, especially those we receive through others. When we realize it is not “all about us,” it is easier to think of how we might be a blessing to others. When we put others first, we become a member of God’s Blessing Bunch, and soon discover that the blessings go both ways.

“When you think about them, let it be with great love in your heart because of all the work they have done. Let peace live and reign among you” (1 Thessalonians 5:13 VOICE).

Prayer: I want to be a part of Your blessing bunch, whose members take their eyes from themselves and who place others first.

Covenant Keepers

By Cheri Cowell –

A disturbing trend has crept into our society. There is an alarming lack of the ability to make and stick to a commitment. We like to keep all options open. We see this in children who sign up for lessons or teams and then drop out or don’t show if they change their mind or have a better offer. We see it in adults who won’t RSVP to an invitation because something might come up.

Our God is a Covenant Keeper who makes and honors His commitments. Even when we did not hold up our end of the bargain, God kept His covenant of peace with his people. He expects no less from those who claim His name. This means that we, too, should honor our commitment to peace, even when others break part of the agreement. This is the hard work of peacekeeping—it is the hard work of following after Christ.

“So tell him that I am making a Covenant-of-Peace with him. He and his descendants are joined in a covenant of eternal priesthood, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the People of Israel” (Numbers 25:12-13 MSG).

Prayer: When others break our agreement I admit I want to also throw in the towel, but more than that I want to be a Covenant Keeper like you.

My Redeemer Lives

By Cheri Cowell –     

Whether you celebrate Easter with contemporary praise and worship music or traditional hymns, you will no doubt join in singing the joyous proclamation “My Redeemer lives!”
But do you know this phrase is actually taken from the mouth of Job? That’s right. And they weren’t said after his family, wealth, and health were restored. The words were said after Job complained bitterly about his misfortunes, about his abandonment by his friends, and he asked God where He’d been when Job had been assailed on every side. After this angry and sad plea, Job added these words.

The Hebrew word translated “Redeemer” can also be rendered “Avenger,” “Guarantor,” or “Vindicator.” What a wonderfully rich Easter proclamation. It is not a call for celebration removed from the sufferings of this word. Rather, it is rooted in the midst of suffering, in a faith that our sufferings are indeed redeemed, vindicated, and avenged by a God who suffered greatly and willingly for our redemption. When you hear these words this Easter, remember Job and how he offered them in spite of His sufferings and because of his sufferings…and so can we. Because our Redeemer lives.

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:25-26 NKJV).

Prayer: Give me the ability to do as Job—to sing God’s praises in the midst of suffering and loss. Thank You for not being a jelly-bean, sunny-life, Redeemer God, but a God who redeems, avenges, and vindicates those who are suffering through the shedding of Your own blood and through Your own suffering.

Too Good To Be True

By Cheri Cowell –  

If it sounds too good to be true, we are told, it probably is. This is a great truth to live by as it protects us from falling prey to untrue advertising, unscrupulous contractors, and false promises.

On the other hand, if we make this a cornerstone of our interplay with the world we risk becoming skeptics who never believe anything. We risk losing our ability to suspend disbelief in order to hold only to the explainable. This is the opposite of faith. Faith requires that we set aside this “rule” of protection and make room for that which is simply too good to be true—forgiveness of sins and the resurrection.

David had no proof; only belief in what seemed too good to be true. Yet, David chose to cling to the promise of forgiveness (remember, he murdered a man, committed adultery, and then lied to cover it all up) and the hope of resurrection for his son whom God had taken because of this. Sadly, the prophets foretold of many others who would choose not to suspend their belief in what they understood—they would never believe. Thus they would never see. Only those with the eyes of faith can hope to see.

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39 NIV).

Prayer: Thank You Lord being too good while also being true. Help me suspend my need for protection and joyfully abandon myself to that which seems too good to be true—forgiveness of all sins and a resurrection life.

The Twist

By Cheri Cowell –  

Call it good parenting. Call it bribery. But all of us have done it. We have several more errands to run and the children are getting restless. So, we offer to take them to the park, stop for Happy Meals, or allow them to choose the movie that night “if you will help me get these last few errands done.” If you will…then I will… God uses this same parenting technique with us, but His comes with a twist.

II Chronicles 7:14 is often quoted to make the point that God set up this “if you will do this (humble yourselves and turn from evil)” then God will forgive and heal the land. Some say that because we have not humbled ourselves and turned from evil, God is withholding His forgiveness and blessing.

What this explanation leaves out is that throughout history we’ve repeatedly not held up our end of the bargain, and yet, God still sent Jesus. Jesus is the twist. He rewrites this parenting technique to say, “even if you don’t. . . I will still forgive and shower you with blessings”.
“. . . if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).

Prayer: God I praise You for being the ultimate parent who, although maintaining the “if you will” goal, steps in with a twist—the twist of grace. Help me see Your grace as the reason to fulfill my end of the bargain.

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