Sufficient God

Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,

Doth still my table spread;

My cup with blessings overflows,

Thine oil anoints my head.

Isaac Watts

Sufficient:

: having or providing as much as is needed

The question, "how much more would it take to make you happy," and the answer, "Just a little more," have become cliche'.  Wisdom furrows our brows, and we nod in subdued condescension as we consider the discontented masses.  Ah, those discontented masses  - from within whose ranks, very few of us will admit to membership. Yes, are we not all, to some extent, discontent?  None of us would mind having just a little bit more - be it wealth, or skills, or power, or prestige - few would turn down a small boost or bonus if it was offered to us.

But God's sufficiency goes far beyond being content with our possessions or position.

Consider the following story pulled from NBC News' Today Parent page - titled:

This is the most effective way to discipline kids, according to science

"Getting small kids to behave can be a delicate science for parents. Some worry about being too harsh; others are left exasperated by children who seem out of control. Many try to avoid yelling or spanking, and even time-outs are seen as too strict in some parenting circles.
But parents shouldn't be afraid to punish: techniques like timeouts can be effective if done correctly, researchers at the American Psychological Association's annual convention in Toronto said on Thursday."

So far, not too bad - right?  Let's keep reading.

"[The] study looked at the most effective way to deal with misbehaving toddlers. Based on detailed interviews with 102 mothers, [Robert] Larzelere divided the kids into two categories, depending on their behavior, and found each type responded best to a specific approach.
Easy-to-manage kids:
These are toddlers who whine or try to negotiate with you when you ask them to do something they'd rather not do. But they're not very aggressive or disruptive.
Best way to immediately improve behavior: Offer compromises.

Hard-to-manage kids:
These toddlers are much more aggressive: They may act defiantly, ignore you or hit a sibling. "If a parent says one thing, like 'Time for bed,' they not only say no, they run in the other direction or they have a temper tantrum," Larzelere said.
Best way to immediately improve behavior: Offer compromises."  

With a toddler?!

We all justifiably begin to wonder if Robert Larzelere has actually ever raised kids, and from which progressive corner of Madison or Berkeley he extracted those 102 mothers for the interviews.

But don't get me wrong, I don't criticize the logic, because in a way, this makes complete sense.  In our progressive age, who's to say that your way is right, and the child's way is wrong?  If divine authority has been hijacked, then exactly where do we derive authority from? What gives a parent the right - to be right?  Why is the kid necessarily wrong? Compromise makes complete sense if we understand the basic premise of humanistic progressivism.

These ideas are merely an expansion of the progressive humanistic philosophical foundation, that rather than God being sufficient - Man is sufficient.  Each man or woman is self sufficient.  The ramifications of such a philosophy are broad - so broad, in fact, that even as Christians we have adopted wide swaths of the philosophy for ourselves.

Let's do a quick analysis.  Ask yourself - Is God enough for me?  Now ask yourself that question as I begin a rather personal and intrusive list...

Do I really need:

My day to go as planned?

That relationship?

My hobby?

My music?

My health?

That skill?

Do I really need the affirmation that I get from Facebook?

My children's success?

My success?

My social status?

My reputation?

My friends?

My children to be quiet?

Now, we need to note which items from the list made us cringe, and then take flight for a bird's eye view and a reminder of our smug selves criticizing those discontented masses. Remember your criticism of the discontent?  Look down there - do you see yourself among them?How many of us are an automobile accident away from discontent?  How many of us are a mere phone call away from doubting the all sufficiency of God?

We need to note which of those made us cringe, and not be so hard on the liberal progressive psychologists who infer from our behavior that there is no higher authority than our own desires. If we decide that what God has given us, is not enough, then we too have demanded a compromise from God.  We too have petulantly stormed in the face of our Heavenly father, and expected Him to capitulate.

Is God sufficient for you?  Pause and think.  Is God sufficient for me?

I want to quote for you some of the lyrics we sang a few weeks back in church.  I presented this theme that day, and we coupled these songs to the theme of God's sufficiency.

Ask yourself as you hum these familiar tunes - is God enough for me?

The love of God is broader

than the measure of man's mind;

and the heart of the Eternal

is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more faithful,

we should take him at his word;

and our life would be thanksgiving

for the goodness of the Lord.

Great is Thy Faithfulness,

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone

And live so all might see

The strength to follow Your commands

Could never come from me

Oh Father, use my ransomed life

In any way You choose

And let my song forever be

My only boast is You

What love is this, that you gave your life for me

And made a way for me to know you

And I confess you're always enough for me you're all I need

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find, to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

What God deems best to give each of us, each day - is enough.

He is Sufficient.

I've included links to a few of the songs below.

There's a Wideness In God's Mercy - Frederick Faber

Great is Thy Faithfulness - Thomas Chisholm

All I Have is Christ - Sovereign Grace

What Love is This - Kari Jobe

Day by Day - Karolina Sandall-Berg

Article noted above can be found here:

by: A. Pawlowski, Aug. 6, 2015 at 1:06 PM

http://www.today.com/parents/how-discipline-kids-new-research-shows-what-works-t37141

God, Our Source of Joy

I have a handful of unforgettable snapshots framed on the walls of my memory.  One was the view out the window of my truck as I was driving one night.  The high fog had been rolling across the Diablo Valley, compelling the full moon into a game of hide and seek.  As I drove, a steady glow proved that the moon had, at least temporarily, run clear of the clouds.  I leaned against my side window to glance up at that familiar yet condescending white face. The view took my breath away.   The moon shone like a searchlight surrounded by a salting of veiled stars - in the exact center of a perfectly round, giant, glowing hole in the clouds.  I nearly drove off the road as I stared up through that heavenly portal.

Another is a mental snapshot of the Martinez Hills above the Carquinez Strait.  Out running early one morning, I came up into the hills from the east.  The sun still lingered below the horizon behind me, the air was heavy but not quite foggy.  It was early spring and the hillsides were carpeted with young green grass.  As I crested a ridge, I could see the hills rolling away, piling atop one another until at about a mile distant, the verdant hilltops touched, then blended into the sky.  The scene was so simple in its beauty.  A mere duet of color - spring green grass against the shifting gray of a cloudy morning sky.

How can photos capture those moments of beauty that stop you in your tracks?

In both scenarios, I was alone, no one to share the beauty with, and really no way to adequately capture the moment for sharing later.  I used to be disappointed at times like that, knowing that I couldn't share the moment with anyone.  Until one day it occurred to me that I was sharing the moment with someone.  And, not only that, I was enjoying the moment with the Artist who had conceived and created such a magnificent setting.  I recognized that God, the original, quintessential artist, had prepared that particular view for Him and me - alone.  That scene in that moment was ours to share.  He had given me a gift, and it was mine to enjoy in his presence.

When I began thinking about joy, those were the first images - the first thoughts that came to my mind.  Often men talk about the joy of holding their children shortly after birth.  For me, births were times for other emotions and other thoughts - bewilderment, fear, anxiety - what have we gone and gotten ourselves into now?  For me, the joy came later as I built a relationship with each child.  Joy comes in seeing them recognize me across a crowded room.  Joy comes in hearing them say "daddy's home!"

We read the list of spiritual fruits that we should be cultivating and joy can be found there. We read Paul's letter to the Phillipians where he speaks eloquently about his joy in the Lord, and of his joy in so many different situations - including painful and difficult ones.  And those illustrate how joy can be maintained in spite of circumstances and can be utilized to serve others.  Sometimes it does take a little work to be joyful.

But just for a moment, I want you to think about the Source of joy.  Settle back into the joy of being alone with He who is the benevolent Source of joy.  ...the joy found in a pause, to draw in a scent that takes you back to a happy time.  ...the joy found in a sunrise or a sunset.  ...the joy of being in God's presence as you sip His coffee and turn the pages of His book on a rainy Saturday morning.  God loves us, and that alone should bring us joy. But don't forget that he is a giver, and he anxiously awaits opportunities to demonstrate that love and bless us with joy.

Henry J. van Dyke wrote the following verses and attached them to the most familiar passages from Beethoven's 9th Symphony.

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

hearts unfold like flow'rs before Thee,

Opening to the Sun above,

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays,

stars and angels sing around Thee,

center of unbroken praise:

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,

chanting bird and flowing fountain,

call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,

ever blessing, ever blest,

well-spring of the joy of living,

ocean-depth of happy rest!

Thou the Father, Christ our Brother,—

all who live in love are Thine:

Teach us how to love each other,

lift us to the Joy Divine.

Mortals join the mighty chorus,

which the morning stars began;

Father-love is reigning o'er us,

brother-love binds man to man.

Ever singing, march we onward,

victors in the midst of strife;

joyful music lifts us sunward

in the triumph song of life.

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;