Author Archives: Shereen Lashua

Oh, Give Thanks

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I have had some great blessings this week. I was joyful, confident, faithful and grateful. I thought about God’s blessings in my life I was reminded of a simple Bible verse that has impacted me greatly over the years.

I was involved in a children’s program at our church for many years. One of the first verses the children learned in this program is Psalm 118:1. “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” It is a verse I have repeated hundreds of times over the years as I helped 5-year-olds memorize it. I will continue to repeat it forever.

Giving thanks keeps me strong. When I remember that God is good, it is easier to face all of life’s experiences with an indescribable power. Since I am a child of a good God who has my eternal best interest in mind always, I can face life with great confidence and strength. Nothing will be a true problem or disaster because “God works all things together for good to those who love God” (Rom 8:28). Knowing that God is good makes me strong.

Giving thanks keeps me grounded. When I think of God’s goodness, I realize that it is a free gift that I do not deserve. I am humbled by the depth of God’s goodness. “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3–7, NIV)

Giving thanks adds joy and gladness to my life. Many times in the Bible rejoice, praise and sing are listed along with give thanks. They go together. A rejoicing heart is a thankful heart. A thankful heart praises and sings. When I am grateful for all God has done, I rejoice, joy floods my soul.“Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.” (Psalm 33:1–4, ESV)

Oh, give thanks! It is not an option. It is a command. Give thanks. Why? We give thanks because it takes the focus off of the temporal and helps us to focus on our Eternal Holy God. The truth is that God is good all the time and that is where my focus should be. When I am obedient to this truth, I live in joy, I stand firm in my faith, and I am strong no matter what I face. And this dear friends is a great state of mind to be in.

Number Our Days

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“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12, NIV)

Today I read an excellent blog, Hope in Death, written by a brilliant young apologist who also happens to be my son. It reminded me of how short our time on this earth is and that it is important to live with an eternal mindset.

My son’s blog was challenging and thought provoking. It reminded me of Moses’ prayer in Psalm 90, a passage that has often challenged me. In this Psalm, Moses reflects on God, time and how short life is. I have some ideas about why Moses may have been dealing these thoughts.

First, I think Moses was disappointed about how his ministry was going. The beginning of the journey for the Children of Israel was filled with wonder and adventure as God worked in amazing and miraculous ways. Moses was at the peak of his ministry as he led the people out of Egypt and now they were going to the Promised Land. Whoops, the sin and stubbornness of the people changed the plan. They are actually going to be forty years behind schedule.

I think that is why he prayed these words: “We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:7–10, NIV)

Next, he realized he was getting older. He was over eighty and forty more years in the wilderness, meant he wouldn’t reach his goal. He started the job and really wanted to finish it, but this dream would go unfulfilled.

Another reason for Moses reflection was that he had seen so much death. Firstborn children of every family in Egypt had died. Remember Moses grew up in Egypt. How many of these families did he know personally? Pharaoh and his army were swept away in the sea. I wonder how often he thought about the Egyptian he had killed. And now to top it all off friends, neighbors and fellow sojourners would be kicking off as they wandered in the desert. Death has a way of making us focus on how fast time flies.

I also think Moses was in a spiritual slump. After all the miracles of the plagues, speaking with God, a mountain top experience, and now he was wandering through the desert with a bunch of whining, complaining backsliders, who were ready to stone everyone or anyone at a moment’s notice. This would discourage most people.

So what did Moses do to deal with these hard facts of life? He took time to reflect on God’s view of time and life. He reminded himself and others of the importance of keeping God’s perspective of history, especially God’s perspective on our personal history. He ends his prayer with these words, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90:14–17, NIV)

We would be wise to contemplate on our mortality. It is important to number our days. And then like Moses, we should remind ourselves that we are part of God’s history and plan. We should live each moment for the glory of Almighty God.

Lord, Let us remember how short life is so we will be wise with our time. Help us to focus on you in the midst of evil, even when we are afflicted. Help us to join in your work and bring you glory. Let our work be established by you.

The Lowly, Weak and Despised

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We are a group of oddballs in the church. There is no way of getting around it. People are added to the body from different cultures, age groups, socioeconomic situations, and education levels. We aren’t recruited because we are the best or the brightest. We are seldom the strongest or most powerful.

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:26–29, NIV).

Although we are a group of seeming misfits, we are called to love one another and cooperate together. “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited” (Romans 12:10–16, NIV).

I have been saddened recently at how difficult it seems for us to love one another in the Church. It seems to me that church goers are often surprised that other members are “different.” We are caught off guard when we discover that other believers are not wise, not influential, and not noble. We are embarrassed by their weakness and sometimes by their lowliness. We find ourselves frustrated when working with such people.

How odd! We should never be amazed or surprised at who God places in the body. He has made it clear that he will call the ones we least expect to be called. He uses the lowly and weak and despised so His greatness and power can shine. Since that is who He chooses to add to the body, we should expect to be working with the lowly, weak and despised. No surprises there.

I think we also need to remember that we are included in the lowly, weak and despised list. We all have been brought by the grace of God from death to life. “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called” (1 Cor 1:26). A good dose of humble will go a long way in helping us to love one another with devotion.

A Healthy Mind

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This past week, I had been reading a book about psychology, specifically about how to have a healthy mind. In it, the author shared some principles and disciplines that would prevent or help correct neurotic behavior. I laughed as I read the list. The author’s brilliant ideas were plagiarized. Jesus had taught them two thousand years ago.

Although I did not find the information to be original, I did find it helpful. It reminded of healthy behaviors and attitudes. It also reminded me that God knows what is best and I really need to listen. Here are the plagiarized ideas and how the lessons I learned from them.

“Then he [Jesus] said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23, NIV).

Principle 1: Delayed Gratification is Healthy

Jesus knew that if we did not control ourselves, by denying our desires and passions, they would consume us. This does not mean that we never enjoy anything, it means delayed gratification. For example, we don’t eat everything in the refrigerator today. We delay our gratification and eat what we need rather than everything we want. Or, we don’t charge everything today; we save and plan so our finances do not become burdensome.

In essence, we control our passions, they don’t control us. In this way, we are free to follow Christ rather than becoming a slave to our passions. This saves us from excess stress on our mind. Less mental stress means a healthier psyche. A healthier psyche in turn allows us to have better self-control.

Principle 2: Be Responsible

Another principle is taking up one’s own cross daily. Simply stated, be responsible. Be responsible for yourself. That entails being accountable for your actions, words, thoughts and choices. But responsibility doesn’t stop there. It also entails dealing with the actions, words, thoughts and choices of others if they have affected you.

Many people live under the false assumption that until the perpetrator of the sinful act takes responsibility nothing can be done to improve the situation. That is not true. We can stop living like victims if we take responsibility for our heart, mind, soul and emotions. Taking up our cross means that we deal with the things that have been done to us. We are right in thinking that the sinner was wrong to sin. But we also must realize that they have sinned and the issue must be dealt with. If it has affected us, we must be the ones to deal with it. Take responsibility, not for their sin, but do take responsibility for getting the help you need to heal.

Principle 3: We Need Faith

Jesus and the psychologist agreed on another principle. Faith and trust are healthy when appropriately placed. We shouldn’t trust everyone, but if we trust no one, we miss out on emotional connections and love. We were created to enjoy community. We were created to love. So Jesus sums up the plan for healthy living as his disciples with one more thought. Follow Him. He is trustworthy. Our faith and hope and trust will never be missed placed if they are placed in the Almighty God.

After reading the whole book by a knowledgeable and learned doctor, I realized Jesus had said the same thing and it only took one sentence. If I want a healthy mind and life I realize I must listen to the wisdom of Jesus. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23, NIV)

Drifting Thoughts

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I woke up with good intentions. Today was going to be a day given to the Lord. I planned to do and think the things that would glorify God. I was excited to wake up and get going.

But a problem quickly surfaced. My thoughts quickly drifted, and I forgot about my good intentions. I thought about everything and nothing. One idea was bleeding into the next until my ideas were clotted together into an indistinguishable mess that prevented a free flow of healthy thinking. My thoughts were not evil or horrific. But they were not controlled, and they were about temporal things.

When I finally started my devotion time, I read these verses. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1–4, ESV)

I realized that my inability to think straight was a result of my lack of discipline and because I was fixed on the temporal instead of setting my mind on the eternal. So the very simple answer was to control my thoughts and think about eternal things. Wow! That is easier said than done.

During the first 5 minutes of Bible reading, I thought about food, many members of my family, work, a sick friend, the weather, the stock market, retirement, chores, refinishing furniture, scuba diving, the laundry, and on and on ad infinitum. I realized that my thoughts were out of control because I have not habitually disciplined my mind to think about what it should. Now I have a lazy brain that lacks restraint.

If I am going to “seek things that are above” and “set my mind on things above.” I will have to make an effort to retrain my brain to think correctly. I will have to set aside time to learn about heavenly things, so I can think about them. I will also have to unclutter my life. Right now I have too much other stuff to think about. That needs to change.

This all seems simple enough, but I know that it is going to be a battle. But in the end it will glorify God and give my life purpose. My life will be a consistent, disciplined walk where “whatever I do, in word or deed, I will do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17, ESV)

Praying Selflessly

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Pray Selflessly

This morningI was convicted while I was praying . I was praying for some people that have irritated me. I was praying that God would change them so they would stop bugging me. The truth is I wanted them to be different so my life would be easier.
In a gentle and loving way God brought to my mind the selfishness of my prayer. Questions started surfacing. One of these questions was, “Do you love these people?”

My kneejerk reaction was “Of course, I love them.”

The voice of the Spirit touched my mind with this thought. “Is it a selfless love that seeks their eternal best interest above all?”

I had to answer, “No, not at all.”

I realized that I loved me the most. I wasn’t putting the others’ interests above my own. I remembered these verses. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3–4, ESV)

I started to think about the difference that it would make if I prayed selflessly instead of selfishly. I realized that it actually benefits me more than being selfish. I discovered three benefits to changing my motivations.

3 Reasons to pray selflessly

First, my prayer will be answered. “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:14, ESV) I am praying in my own name and from my world view when I pray selfishly. When I pray selfishly, I am not likely to have my pray answered. When I pray in the name of Jesus, I am praying with His blessing on my prayer, this requires selflessness.

Next, my attitude will change. When I put the problem in God’s hand, I no longer stress or worry over it. By taking myself and my will out of the equation, I become free. When I no longer have a stake in the outcome I can trust God completely. As long as I am praying toward a specific outcome, I am trying to retain control and power over the situation. This control breeds tension and anxiety as I am on pins and needles waiting to see if my every wish comes true. Giving up my selfish plan allows God “to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20, ESV)

The last benefit will be a positive change in my life and character. I will learn to grant grace to the ones that have wronged me. As I look less at me and more at God, I realize the goodness that was poured out on me when I was undeserving. This love compels me to show goodness to those I deem undeserving. This is becoming like Jesus. This is surrender. We must show grace to those that oppose us. With the knowledge that God’s love changes people, we must be like Jesus and demonstrate His love to the world.

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, ESV) The least I can do is pray selflessly for the sinners that I encounter. It will be best for them and best for me.

A Bigger Vision, A Better Prayer

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“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9–10, ESV)

Today I prayed and then read my Bible. I read these verses in Colossians 1. Here’s what I learned from Colossians today.

The letter to the Colossians was written to instruct them in truth so they would not be swayed by false teachers. “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8, ESV) It seems that legalism and religious pluralism were infiltrating the church. Christians were getting confused on what they should believe and how they should live out their faith.

So Paul and his coworkers were praying for the Colossians. What did they pray? They prayed that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. They wanted the believers to become certain and convinced of the will of God. They wanted them to see the path ahead of them so they could proceed confidently.

They prayed that knowledge would come through spiritual wisdom and understanding. It isn’t of the natural mind. It is a supernatural understanding that comes from having the mind of Christ. “And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:13–16, ESV)

The purpose for living a life like this was to please God. Pleasing Him would include acting as children of the King should. It would also involve doing good works and growing in the knowledge of the Beloved. Paul had a great vision for the church at Colosse. He prayed toward that goal.

The final lesson I took away from all of this was that my vision for my friends and family is too small. My prayers are mainly about temporal things rather than eternal things. I forget that God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20, ESV). I can expect more!

I need to get a bigger vision and prayer for greater things for my family and friends. In fact, I can just pray this prayer. I “have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Lord, do a great work today in my household and in the communities to which I belong.

Let Me Give Back What You Have So Generously Given To Me

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“And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:33–34, ESV)

In the last blog, I wrote about the Children of Israel leaving Egypt with a great amount of treasure. I also shared that I needed to ponder this story. Well, I have to say, my contemplation over the last few days has made a big impact on the way I think about the gifts God has given me. I will just share three of the most important lessons that I have learned.

The first thing I learned was that God gives us gifts so we can give back to Him. It is like a kid at Christmas who gets money from his mom to buy her a gift. Even though it didn’t really cost the kid anything, the mom is thrilled and probably will never forget the gift. It didn’t cost the Israelites anything really, but as they gave, it pleased the Lord and made a difference for millions of people.

So if I give back what I did not earn and what isn’t even worth anything to me if I hoard it, I can please God and make an eternal impact. That seems like a no-brainer. God gave me a gift to give back to Him. I need to “just do it.”

Next, I realized that the generous gifts of the Israelites made way for the glory of God to appear in their midst. In obedience they gave their treasure, talents, and time to God. When they finished, the glory of God filled the tabernacle. What a blessed day that must have been.

One of my favorite thoughts is from the Westminster Catechism. It answers the question, “What is the chief end of man?” And this is the beautiful thought, “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” I must give my treasure, talents, and time to God. As I do this, His glory will shine brightly in the temple He now indwells, ME! (1 Cor 3:16)

Finally, the Israelites were given riches and treasure so they would have them for the building of the tabernacle, a testament to the True and Living God. Their gold and silver would have just been sentimental keepsakes that had no historical significance if they had hoarded them. They would have had no real benefits for the people in the long run. Also, they would not have been participants in bringing the glory of God to the world.

This last thought was the hardest for me to consider. I should concentrate on building a testament to the True and Living God, am I? What gifts am I hoarding? Do I have treasures that are actually worthless because I don’t give them to God? Am I using my talents so the glory of God can shine in this dark world? I had to be honest with myself. I am not always faithful.

God has blessed me beyond measure, and not because I deserve it. He has poured out gifts, talents and time, and I often squander them. Even worse, I sometimes try to save them just for me and then have nowhere to spend them, and they become worthless. Jesus words from Matthew make a lot more sense to me after deliberating the Israelites situation. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25, ESV)

Lord, let me give back what you have so generously given to me, and then let your glory and splendor shine for all the world to see! “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11, ESV)

The Israelites Plundered the Egyptians

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“And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.” (Exodus 3:21–22, ESV)

“The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.” (Exodus 12:35–36, ESV)
jewelry[1]
The chronicle of the Exodus is very exciting. It was one of my favorite Sunday school lessons when I was a child. Through this story, I learned that God cares about His people. I also learned that God protects his people, and I liked that the bullies were put in their place. One of the things I loved most as a child was that it was an account of the Israelites going from rags to riches overnight.

When I was a child, it seemed great that they got rich. I felt they were paid back for all the years they were treated like slaves. All the hard work paid off in the long run. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I saw this financial gain in a very different light. I wonder how long it took the Children of Israel to understand the true reason they were rich?

God had predisposed the Egyptians to be kind to the slaves. The Israelites were given so much stuff that they were able to dress their children in silver, gold, and fancy clothing. They left Egypt with the finances they would need to set up homes in a new nation.

A funny thing happened on the way to their new home. They didn’t get there. The children of Israel ended up wandering in the wilderness for forty years. There was nothing to buy. There were no stores. With no place to spend the wealth, the treasure was worthless. If the money was of no use, why did God give riches to his children?

God gave them gifts so they could give them back as a freewill offering to Him. “And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the LORD.” (Exodus 35:21–22, ESV)

The people were so generous that Moses had to tell them to stop giving. “and [the craftsmen] said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do.” So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.” (Exodus 36:5–7, ESV)

Wow. God had given the people good gifts so they could give them back as a sacrifice to God. In this way, they glorified and honored Him. They could have easily hoarded the riches. That would have been silly though. They still didn’t have places to spend the money. It was of no benefit unless it was freely given for the glory of God. By giving the gifts away, they became worth far more than their actual monetary value. They were worth eternal glory.

What gifts has God given me that I have been hoarding? Do I have things that I think are very valuable, but they are really of no benefit in my present circumstances? When I give them to God will they bring eternal benefit and glory? How? These are questions I intend to ponder. And probably write about again.

First Thing In The Morning

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“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” (Psalm 92:1–4, ESV)

Many employers these days are encouraging their employees to live a healthier lifestyle. It is good for the individual and good for the companies. My employer focuses on health for 6 weeks each year and provides incentives for exercising and eating healthy. I always participate.

This year I have really been focusing on exercising. I am pretty active, but I do routine activity. I need to do varied exercises so I can work different muscles. So I have been trying a lot of different kinds of exercise. The other morning I got up and first thing, I went out and turned on the Wii. I started the fitness disc and weighed myself, listened to a health tip and played a few exercise activities.

Although I knew this wasn’t enough exercise for the day, it was good for me to focus on a healthy day first thing in the morning. I noticed that I ate healthier that day. I thought about burning calories, and I pushed myself a little bit harder that day. It was good for me to think about a healthy life first thing in the morning.

In the evening when I reflected on the day and realized I had focused my mind all day on healthy choices, I was amazed. It all started by making fitness my first choice and fixing my mind on healthy choices early in the morning.

If what you do first thing in the morning sets the mood for the whole day, it is only logical that our first thoughts should be of God. It reminded me of the many times in the Bible where it speaks of praying, praising or seeking God in the morning. It makes sense that starting the day with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving was a habit of the faithful throughout history.

I looked at Psalm 92 and was amazed at the Psalmist’s experience. He also discovered that what he thought about first thing in the morning set the mood for the whole day. The writer of this song would praise God for his love in the morning and at night he was compelled to think on God’s faithfulness.

Thoughts of God brought a song to the Psalmists’s heart. My desire is for my heart to be full of songs and praises for God. That means that I need to start first thing in the morning. So this is my prayer for the morning, “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 143:8, ESV)