Rev. Richard Smith
| Psalm 145:3 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised… |
Some of you have heard me tell the story of an experience I had while pastoring in Shreveport, Louisiana. Pat and I were at Broadmoor UMC where I was the Associate Pastor.
A young mother came to me and shared with me an experience she had with her little boy. It was winter time. The little boy had been hoping for many days that it would snow; especially as we hadn’t recently seen many snows. Well, it began to snow and the snow began to cover the ground. As he was preparing to go play in the snow, he was watching the snowflakes fall to the ground and also collect on the windowpane. His mother happened to walk by his room just as he exclaimed, while watching the snow, “Atta boy, God! Atta boy!”
Are you an “Atta boy, God” person? That is, are you one who regularly celebrates the wonder and miracle of everyday life? Even as there is much to challenge us and drain us, there is much we should celebrate and in which we should rejoice! Let me illustrate…
The Wonder Of God’s Unmerited Grace
None of us, of course, deserve God’s wondrous grace and love. You know that as well as I do! And yet, God loves his children and He wants us to know that his grace and love are ever available to us.
One of my favorite Biblical passages comes from the Gospel of John. This passage, in essence, tells us that a primary truth Jesus sought to bring to humankind is our God is not a harsh and stern God, but rather a loving and ever-giving God. The passage is John 1:16: From his fullness, we have all received grace upon grace.
True Christian maturity encompasses the theological and Biblical truth that we are the undeserving recipients of a magnanimous, loving Father who gladly offers us “grace upon grace”.
The Wonder Of Life’s Serendipitous Moments
God often works in our lives through inexplicable, serendipitous moments; experiences when some things just fall in place for our good without necessarily any rational basis. These experiences often seem like coincidence. However, remember what one thinker said, “Coincidence is simply God’s way of remaining anonymous.”
Each of us knows these kinds of moments, don’t we?
The phone call that comes just when we need that particular call.
The letter or note we receive which makes a positive difference just when we need that word.
The song that plays when we need the uplift that song brings.
The person who reaches out to us just when we need what that person offers us.
The door which opens and enables a much needed opportunity.
Again, none of us can deny that there are inexplicable moments of breakthrough in which we receive something that makes all the difference in our well-being. Give God thanks!
The Wonder Of People Who Love Us
Aren’t we each blessed to have people in our lives who love us in spite of ourselves; who stand with us in our best and worst moments? There’s family, dear friends, and colleagues who believe in us and support us.
I really do believe God nudges us into encounters with people who can be our support partners; our arm-in-arm companions; our heart connections; people without whom we could not and would not find life as good as it is.
The Wonder Of Strength For Trying Times
When was the last time you stopped and deeply reflected on the amazing strength you have felt in the midst of some real life challenges?
With you, I recognize that I have found some unbelievable strength in the midst of really trying and demanding times!
This is one of God’s greatest gifts to us!
He may give that strength through encouraging words or an inspiring piece or a hang-in-there-with-us person or a mental insight or just the sense that we’re not alone. Sometimes God’s strength comes in the innate feeling that something (Someone) is sustaining us.
I really like I Corinthians 4:7 where Paul capsules this belief with the words: We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…Therefore we do not lose heart.
SO
Are you an “Atta boy, God” person?
Who recognzies the bountiful blessing of God’s unmerited grace.
Who intentionally notes the serendipities of life.
Who gives thanks for the people who enrich you.
Who celebrates God’s strength and help amidst life’s challenges.
