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Gifts

That Good Thing

by TerryLema

Black Friday deals no long wait until the day after Thanksgiving. I think they started advertising them the day after Labor Day.

I have been exploring various websites trying to find ideas for my loved ones for Christmas. I am trying for something meaningful, but not too expensive. I can find all manner of things outside my budget and a few things inside it. Choosing gifts that matter, however, is not always easy.

As I have been looking to find that good thing for each person, I thought about the gifts of God. The Psalmist reminds us that the Lord “gives” grace and glory (GREAT things) and that He will not withhold any “good thing” from those who love Him.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” [Psalm 84:11 HCSB]

Paul also reminds us of God’s gift of grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8-9 HCSB]

I am always blessed when I think of God’s grace. And especially so with the reminder that God’s grace is a gift. God graciously gives us the gift that meets the deepest needs of our hearts. We usually do not realize just how deep those needs are, but He does. He does and He meets them.

Thank you, LORD, for your gift of grace. It is the greatest gift ever granted to us. Amen.

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To Each As He Wills …

by TerryLema

Today is Veteran’s Day, a day to honor and acknowledge all those who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Coast Guard.  Their sacrifice and that of their families should be greatly appreciated by all.

I often think of my father on Veteran’s Day, even though he was not a veteran. He tried to enlist during WWII but was told he had a talent needed elsewhere. He was a shipfitter. He worked in the Philadelphia Naval Yard and when the war was winding down on that front, moved to California to work in the Vallejo Naval Yard. He told us once that when the ships came limping in from Pacific battles, often bodies were still contained in compartments that had been sealed off. He said he still remembered opening those compartments.

My dad’s service in WWII was not readily seen but vitally important. Without people like him who built and repaired, the soldiers on the frontline would have been unable to do what they were called to do.

In the NT you can find lists of gifts. You will find them in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4. Some of those gifts are resident in us, some of them are resident in the Holy Spirit who indwells us and makes them available to us as needed.

Paul reminds us that while we all have different gifts “one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills.” [1 Corinthians 12:11 HCSB]

Some of our gifts are exercised in front of people where all can see … like those veterans who served on the frontlines. Some of us have gifts that work behind the scenes, gifts that may not be readily seen … like my dad who repaired ships. Yet the Spirit of God is active in every gift, and He is the One who determines which gift we have.

Today I honor my dad and those who served as he did. Not veterans but people who served this country quietly in ways not always seen by others.

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God’s Calling

by TerryLema

I am about to step out of my dream, goal, and passion of the last decade, that of having a Pentecostal Church in the little town of Middleton, Idaho. I can sense in my spirit, the beginning of the exit. I know God’s will in this is sure. What may have prompted me initially to think about turning this church over to another was my diagnosis of PMR and GCA. The fatigue and pain made me unable to pastor as I should.

That, however, led to the realization of the Spirit’s determination for that little church. It is time for the one waiting in the wings to take that church into the future. God has His person picked out. Now even though I seem to have remission from the autoimmune diseases and my energy level is picking up, I know it is time for me to step out and allow another to step in.

So now what? Does God’s calling just disappear?

In my heart I know that it does not. It may reshape into a different dream, a different goal, but it never ceases to drive the heart to be relevant and honorable to the One who called.

In Romans 11, Paul wrote of Israel and that God’s current “rejection” of them is neither total nor final. They will be restored. Paul makes the statement toward the end of his argument for Israel that “God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.” [vs 29 HCSB]

“God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.” While true for Israel, I think it is also true for all who have received His gracious gifts and surrendered to His wondrous calling.

I know that I know that I know that God is not done with me yet. So, I pursue His dream …. Wondering where it will take me now.

 

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Gifts & Boldness

by TerryLema

As I look back on Christmas 2020, I see sadness and joys. One sadness came when our California children were locked down so far away. Our plans to be with them faded long before the Thanksgiving holiday, so it was not unexpected. When Christmas arrived, while we knew we would not have them with us, that sadness enveloped us anew.

While sad over our California kids, God blessed us with newfound joys. Our youngest son met a lovely young woman with three children. They became part of our 2020 Christmas celebration, and we laughed and loved and enjoyed watching once again small children amid Christmas Day “chaos!”

I find that the greatest gifts are not usually the material ones. The greatest gifts are those which minister to my heart.

One of my favorite “let us” commands in Hebrews is one that revolves around receiving gifts. “Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” [Hebrews 4:16 HCSB]

We are told to approach God’s Throne of Grace with boldness. Boldness is not arrogance. The Greek word used by the author is “parresia” and it carries the idea of free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, and assurance.  It has none of the superiority attitude or overbearing manner contained in arrogance.

No, this boldness is based on our relationship with Christ Jesus our High Priest, and upon His invitation to come into His presence. When we accept His invitation to approach the Throne of Grace, we are to “fear not.”

And, it is at His Throne of Grace that we will find the gifts that minister to our hearts … mercy and grace. 2020 needed a lot of mercy and grace, I am betting 2021 will also!  So “let us” approach God’s Throne of Grace with free and fearless confidence and cheerful courage!

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