Flash-Bang - June 23, 2009

Good Tuesday morning! We had one of those lightning strikes that cause levitation, exclamations, and other signs of being awakened rather rudely at 0438 this morning. You know the flash-bang ones that cause a person to think rude thoughts about the weather forecasters and their "virtually no chance of a thunderstorm..." Here, Mr. weatherman, take this ten-foot copper pole and go tell me if that cloud is a thunderstorm or not :-) really, trust me there is virtually no chance that you will get lit up like a carnival ride. ;-)

Peace, contentment, joy, whenever a minister speaks about these things we might wonder how to achieve these wonderful conditions. In the case of peace, I'm not sure that we can strive for something that Jesus gave to us. You might recall His words, "My peace I give to you..." Like salvation, we cannot strive for something that we can only accept with gratitude. Gratitude as you know is a contraction for grateful attitude. :-) Actually I just made that definition up this morning. (Ed: He means that he heard it somewhere and can't recall who said it.)

Contentment is much like this lump of a cat over here. He is content to snooze beside me on a couple of towels. Hardly the bed of a king, but more than enough to make him content. We have a choice: to look at our situation and be discontented and unhappy, or to be content and experience the joy of knowing how bountiful is our God. But, wouldn't it be easier to be content with a billion dollar ranch and every luxury known to man? From what we have seen in the media, apparently not. Hardly a day goes by that we don't see a new example of some wealthy fellow getting caught trying to get more through illegal and unethical means. It has been well said that if you and I are not content with a little, we also won't be content with a lot. Oops, the cat heard some birds outside, contentment is now out the window...literally. He now goes to provide a negative example by striving for what he cannot have.

Joy, as we read in Pastor Rogers' devotional this morning, comes from Christ alone. There are things we will strive for in this life, but peace and joy are simply given to us.

Have a wonderful day in Christ Jesus!

Bucky