Remaining grateful even in hard times: Attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving

In the past two years, we have recently witnessed and/or experienced hardships around the world—the war in Ukraine, sickness and disease (Covid-19), and now most recently, inflation and scarcity of food.

This is not the first time people in the last three or four generations have experienced this. For this last current generation–it will be their first.

The current inflation we have today is pushing up food prices; it has gone up by 11%. Fuel and housing costs have also increased. The consumer price indices (CPI) in all countries show increased prices across the board. CPI measures the price change of the cost of a basket of goods and services.

The book of Revelation in the bible mentions similar pressures. The second seal’s red horse represents war. Today, we have Ukraine/Russia. Tomorrow, we might have other conflicts. The third seal’s black horse represents inflation and economic disaster. Read further in Revelation and we see the seventh seal and the seven trumpets with more disasters.

I’m not projecting disaster, sickness, and economic catastrophe. When bad things happen, it does cause some to think and remind us of what the scriptures have to say about bad times.

Every generation that experiences hardship think they have it bad. Our recent generations have not experienced anything even remotely close to what previous generations have experienced.

Hard times will continue for the next little while but it will not last. What will help us get through the hard times will be an attitude of gratefulness. Gratefulness is a gift. Difficulties are an opportunity in life for us to show gratitude to the Lord God our Creator. We will be blessed to remember to be thankful and show thanksgiving for every little thing we have been given.

As human beings, as in all creation, we are designed to count our blessings and thank God for the things we have. It is by God’s grace that we have food on the table, a roof over our heads, schools our children can attend and learn, and freedom and liberties that allow for joy and happiness. These things are not a right, but they are a privilege and a blessing.

Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday in November. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the second Monday in October. Thanksgiving is also celebrated in Germany, Netherlands, Japan, and other countries–mostly around October and November.

God wants us to remember to be grateful each day. May we remember to give God thanks and keep an attitude of gratitude. It will keep us on the right track as individuals, as peoples, as cultures and societies.

Law and gospel: Law is still a thing

In a previous blog post, I said that both law and gospel are good things. As people, we mostly try to distance ourselves from the law. We generally prefer to see the law as something a person must do or must not do. It’s kind of like when we know the traffic laws like we should not run a red light.

The written law is external (or outside of us) because it’s written in the by-laws of the city or municipality.

The law is good because it shows us when we’ve broken the law. It reminds us that this is something we should not do. They are outside of us, so if we happen to break one of these laws, our attitude might be like, “so what?! It’s just another law, one of many thousands of civil law. We just pay our $100 traffic ticket and start a new day.

For some, it might be so impersonal and distant from our psyche that a person no longer cares very much. A person might just break the law and think to oneself, okay I’ll just pay the fine, especially if it’s just about the same as paying for the parking fee.

In the Old Testament, God’s people broke their covenant with God. As human beings, whether redeemed or unredeemed in Christ, we still break the law.

Martin Luther says we are Simul Justus et Peccator (Simultaneously Saint and Sinner). Even in our sin, God loved us enough to send his one and only Son to this earth to die on the cross for erase our sins. This is good news…that we have nothing to fear but fear itself because we have a greater love in Christ’s love.

Calling to ministry

If I may continue in the vein of calling. When people look to hire someone brand new straight out of school. People go for an interview. They might first look at their resume. Maybe where did they go to school? What program they studied? Maybe their marks and experience. What they accomplished in school and in their work experience. Then we look at their outward appearance. Are they sloppy, sharp? Do they relate to people well? Do they stand up under pressure? Do they have a good positive attitude toward other people, potential co-workers whom they like and don’t like? Can they get along with others? How do they handle difficult situations? Sounds like a lot of pressure when a person goes through interviews. They want to look for the best candidate.

If you weren’t the sharpest knife in the drawer… if you weren’t the best dresser… if your attitude in life wasn’t the best, well then, don’t count yourself out just yet. There is something more that God is looking at. That is one’s purpose and calling from God.

When I look back into my life, I have noticed certain people that I have gotten to know. They’ve influenced my life for the better. In a different way, that might have been God’s calling on that person because there was a time and place and person who was supposed to do something or say something to a particular person.

When you look back in your own lives, you might be able to remember that God has put certain people in your life. Maybe without them, you would not have experienced a blessing, or have been able to learn or do something without the influence of that particular person.

In your life, God may call you for a specific purpose. You might ask yourself: “Can God actually use a person like me? When God chooses and anoints a person for a specific task, there’s no way of getting around God’s calling. If God can call a shepherd boy like David, God can call anyone.

May we be open to hearing the voice of God in our lives. Maybe God may choose you and anoint you to serve in a different way at some point in your future?

One’s inner calling is greater than one’s external appearance

A person’s calling is essential. Look at how God chose David to be king instead of Saul. The anointing is the result of God’s calling. With God, He doesn’t look at age. Well, what does God look at? God looks at the heart. David is known as a man after God’s own heart.

In 1 Samuel 26:7, the LORD said to Samuel: “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

When we see the life of King David, we can see he was also far from perfect. But God still chose him for a purpose. This is why God’s grace and mercy is so amazing. He chooses us despite our imperfections.

Scripture shows us that God also look at the heart of a person. Now I must say that if God was to really examine every little thing going on inside our hearts, He would find a lot of messy , complicated, and undesirable things inside all of us.

God has cleansed us and is still constantly sanctifying us through the forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus. As long as we come before the Lord, the merciful God is always reckoning us as righteous in the eyes of God the Father.

Remain in the vine: aka Jesus

In the previous post, it addressed eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ. I won’t ask if the next few verses are meant to be literal.

There is also a relationship between God’s people, the church, and with God in Jesus Christ. Jesus also taught that we must remain in Christ. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. If we do not receive and are cut off from the vine who is Jesus, we will not be nourished with the living water and nutrients that come from Jesus.

Jesus said in John ch.15, v.5-6:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers;…”

This shows there is a direct relationship between us and with Jesus. We need to feed on Jesus’ body and blood. Without him, we can do nothing. We need to seek what is eternal and long lasting.

We are utterly reliant upon Jesus. We have to stick with Jesus no matter what. Veering off from him means we as branches get cut off from the vine. Oooh, ouch.

What’s your practice or what things do you do to stay in the vine with Jesus?

How literal was Jesus: “I am the bread of life”

Question: How literal was Jesus when he said, “I am the bread of life”?

In John 6:53, Jesus reiterates in order to make it very clear by expressing this in the negative. He said, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”

Jesus probably knew what they were thinking when he said this. Some would misinterpret what he said and have the idea of cannibalism. Cannibalism existed. Back then, Roman Emperors believed that if they ate the flesh and blood of their enemies, they would be victorious over their enemies. Pharoahs also believed that eating the flesh of gods will allow them to live forever. This type of cannibalism existed in many cultures in many nations. It existed amongst the Greeks, Persians, in South America, Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands. All over the world.

So maybe it wasn’t so off the wall or strange that Jesus carried over this idea as a tool to teach, as an example, that if they were to follow him and gave victory over death, they needed to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood in order to live eternally.

Jesus said in v.40, that the will of his Father was that all who sees Jesus and believes in him may have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day. Jesus came to earth IOT do the will of his heavenly Father. He said “very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.” (v47-48).

My condolences and prayers to the Royal Family

Dear members of the Royal Family,

I will remember her majesty Queen Elizabeth II as one of the finest women who has ever lived. As a 54 year-old …, I have gradually grown fond of her as an individual. She has also been the finest head of state that [my nation], and my generation, has ever known. We will dearly miss her.

….

My prayers will that Your Majesty King Charles III and all members of your family be protected under God’s mighty hand. May God’s holy angels guard Prince William and Prince Harry and each child and grandchild to come. May the Lord continue to richly bless your family and give you long life.

Long live the king.

Respectfully,

[signed]

—

(My sincerest condolences to the Royal Family upon the news of the passing of Her Majesty QE II on 9 September 2022.)

Queen Elizabeth II: May she rest in peace

The world has heard, Queen Elizabeth the Second had just passed away yesterday morning. I was ‘glued to the tube’ for several hours. For me, she was one of the finest women who’s ever lived. I confess I didn’t always see it that way. Growing up, I did not understand her role and purpose as head of state. I was 13 years old and I recall an ignorant comment I had made in class (I was joking of course). The teacher (a British expat) heard it and he was NOT happy and said he’d throw me outside the window (and he was joking of course). I realized I had offended not only him but also what she represents to the nation.

Today, decades later and with lots of schooling under my belt, I have grew fond of her. My respect for her as head of state and for her character as a person has increased manifold. (See my previous post here on source of our rights and freedoms).

Of all the royals, she has been stable and upstanding. Not many people could endure the turmoils she has experienced within the royal family. Families are never perfect–this family included.

Officially, what is her role? The Sovereign holds the title ‘Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England’ There is a very famous and symbolic picture of her 1953 coronation when Her Majesty was anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and took an oath to “maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England”.

Her faith has helped her be the rock of family. She has strong unbending faith and is an ardent believer in Jesus Christ. This is an example she has set not only for British citizens but also for commonwealth nations.

I look forward to watching her funeral. She will be honoured because she has fulfilled her role as defender of the faith and as head of state in the most dignified way. She will be remembered by this generation and the last three generations as one of the finest individuals who has given of herself to service of God, nation, and family.

May Her Majesty rest in peace… and long live the king.

Jesus’ feeding of 5,000: There’s more where it came from

People followed Jesus wherever he went. Jesus fed 5,000 followers and gave them bread from heaven. It was a real miracle. This gave people a reason to follow him. After the crowd realized that Jesus was no longer there to provide them with food, the crowd follows him to Capernaum. They got a taste of food in the flesh but they thought Jesus could somehow provide more. They were hungry. They had come to satisfy their want for temporal earthly needs. But Jesus knew that they needed more – something deeper than just the physical.

Next day, he began to teach his disciples about himself being the living bread from heaven. Jesus used this miraculous feeding of the bread from heaven and began to teach them that there is something that can feed them permanently.

There is food, a spiritual food, that can feed them in such a way that they would never go hungry again. There’s more where it came from, and they would never thirst again.

He taught them by using an analogy. He takes them back to the Old Testament days when their ancestors were hungry and and were wandering in the wilderness. He taught that God gave us manna from heaven. He reminded the people that Moses and their ancestors had once eaten manna from heaven but they went hungry again (read v.31). There’s a lot more where it came from.

So Jesus compares this to what God can give today. This same bread is Jesus himself. God has sent Jesus from heaven in the form of a man and God. One who is living and breathing; made of flesh and blood. And is yet real live bread. That whoever believes and eats of him spiritually will not perish.

What’s so good about Law and Gospel

On the outset, law seems bad. Gospel seems good. Both ought to go hand-in-hand. Both are good; or the outcome ought to be good.

Example: John says, “every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Lk. 3:9). Then he continues talking about how the Messiah will clean up the threshing area, gather the wheat into his barn but burn the chaff with a fire that never ends (Lk. 3:17).

Sounds kind of bad…but it’s actually good. The law is kind of like a mirror. It reveals the bad in our lives, but the gospel is like fire. It burns away the bad.

Together, both law and gospel bring about a change of heart in a person. It changes a person’s heart from the inside out because the law is used to bring conviction to our hearts and our lives. But the gospel is our salvation; it saves us from the wild fire that can burn uncontrollably.

Then the message of the gospel, or good news, brings a renewal and it heals us inside after we see what the power of sin has done to our lives. The law causes us to see ourselves as we really are. The gospel gives us a way out from what we’ve become.