I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. – John 16:33 [ESV]

There are people on this earth who just exude joy.  Even in the hardest of circumstances, they hold it together.  They project an inner peace and calm and confidence in something beyond them.  By all worldly standards, their situation should have them shaking in their boots.  But… they keep on smiling, resolute and defiant in the face of opposition.

People like this used to befuddle me.  I couldn’t figure them out.  I could only come to conclusion as to the source of this seemingly inappropriate joy.

Drugs.

Thankfully, over the years God has shown me a few things through my own circumstances. I’ve had – still have – plenty of battles with anxiety, depression and worry. Do you mind if I share just a few thoughts on the subject of joy and troubles?

It’s Faith, Not Drugs

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1 [KJV]

Faith – that assurance in God in all things – is the substance, the thing that makes our hopes tangible.  Not just some pie-in-the-sky dream, but reality.  The NIV uses the word “confidence”.  The ESV says “assurance”.

The Greek word for “substance” is ὑπόστασις (hupostasis).  This term indicates faith is our very nourishment.  It is by faith  in God through Jesus that we grow.

It’s Faith, Not Human Perception

Simply put, we don’t know what we don’t know.  Likewise, we don’t know what God knows.  We are not omniscient, omnipotent or omnipresent.  We do not know what will happen in ten seconds, let alone ten hours (or days or weeks or… you get the picture).

This is why we must learn to see through eyes of faith.  We have to trust the Lord.  We have to give Him our burdens and not take them back.  We have to believe that, despite the circumstances we see and perceive, our situation is not hopeless.  Our hope is in the Lord.

It’s Faith, Not Navel Gazing

The big problem with fear, anxiety and worry is the focus they bring.  They cause us to look inward.  We spin our wheels worrying about how we’ll fix this or that problem.

Worry and anxiety are unproductive at best. And, when we spin in the mud of doubt and fear, we just end up slinging filth and ick and burying ourselves in the mess.

Am I saying we should do nothing to fix the problems in our lives?  Not at all.  What I am saying is this:

1. Go to God.  Tell Him your troubles.  Confess your doubts.
2. Believe in God.  It is in faith – the true reality of our lives – that we find joy, calm, peace and strength.
3. Rest in God.  Stop letting anxiety and worry call the shots.
4. Go with God.  Live your life without fear.  Cast off the anxiety.  Proceed with great confidence in the Lord, knowing in the deepest recesses of your soul that God loves you. He will guide you and care for you and see you through your trials.

As you walk through life, walk with God.  Always.  Stay in His Word.  Pray without ceasing.  Make the Lord your first priority – not your worries.  Focus on God.  Find your nourishment though faith in Jesus.  Set aside the fear and anxiety.  And, when the self defeating thoughts come, stop. Set them aside.  Go to God, in faith, knowing you are safe in His very capable hands.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:7 [KJV]

​4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, s but in everything by prayer and supplication t with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be a content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:4-13 (ESV)

I’ve been meditating on this passage a lot lately.  Whenever I’m troubled or anxious, I find great comfort in these promises.  I find myself pitching a tent and just camping here.  I read and re-read the words until they overtake my anxious thoughts.

I want you to do the same.  No matter what you’re facing, it isn’t beyond God’s reach.

Camp out here a while.  Revel in His promises.  Let God show you the reality of your situation in Him.

God bless!

I have heard the journey of self discovery described as a path, or long, winding road.  For me, this “adventure” is more like racing on a figure eight dirt car race track. Everything’s great rounding the outer curves.

Then it gets a bit hairy careening toward the center with all the other racing obstacles speeding tow hard the exact same spot in the middle.

Race enough laps and a crash is inevitable.

Eventually, the time will come when one narrowly escapes the mid-point – perhaps with a few scratches or banged up fender – and, entering the calm of the outside curves, has an epiphany.  

I’ve been so busy on this exhausting, anxious “adventure” to discover who I am, all I’ve been doing is driving in circles, getting nowhere.

 And beating the tar out of myself doing it.

My point is simple: if you find yourself on the crazy right track of finding the real you, pull off to the side.  Stop looking inward and begin looking Upward.  Just live.  Do for others.  Truly, selflessly love others.  Just be, and forget all the distractions and detractors.  Only when you stop looking for the real you and start seeking Jesus will God reveal who you truly are.

I don’t know what’s got you awake at this waaaaay too early hour.  If you’re up worrying about some situation, I want you to know you are loved.  

I want you to know you are not alone.  

I want you to know there is hope.

I want to remind you things look worse in the dark of night than the light of day.

I want you to rest.

I want you to rest in Jesus.

I want you to trust the Lord with whatever has you bugged.

I want you to realize God is greater than any trouble.

I want you to cast your cares on God, our Heavenly Father, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

I want you to remember you aren’t meant to carry your burden alone.

I want you to talk to God.  Pray.  Have faith.  Let go.

I want you to walk in the Lord’s strength.

I want you to experience the peace of Jesus.

I want you know you are loved, cared for, and never alone.

And I want you to sleep easy, confident in our Father.

Rest, dear friend.  You are loved.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24 (KJV)

Be glad!  The Lord God is your Heavenly Father.  He is not some theological construct.  Not an idea.  He is very real – the One Eternal Designer, Creator and Sustainer of All.

Including you.

God our Father is not only real, He is personal.  Jesus called Him Abba, which roughly translates to “papa”.  Our Father made a way by faith in and through Jesus Christ for you to be His child.

And God loves you.  That’s not some lofty ideal but the absolute truth. God sent His Son to die for you.

God loves you.  God cares for you.  God is with you.  Let Him be your comfort.  Find your joy in Him.  Go to the Lord with all your troubles and needs.  Trust in Him.  Stay in tHis Word.  Follow His voice.  

Rejoice in the Lord always!  Let His grace and mercy and love pour over you. Live in peace.  And be glad!!

Rest in Jesus and sleep well tonight.  There’s no fear in God.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. – Proverbs 17:22 [KJV]

I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.

I’ve prayed.

I’ve wrestled.

I’ve started.

I’ve stopped.

I’ve fussed and fidgeted and wrangled and thought and thought and thought…

You get the picture.

You see, for a long time, I’ve wanted to write a humor blog.  Something to make people smile, laugh, chortle, until milk comes out their noses.  I really enjoy making people laugh, bringing them a reason to chuckle.

The problem has been a question of balance.  How do I balance ministry and humor?  What if the Humorist overtakes the Diarist?  What if, by being comical, I lose street cred?  What will the Old Time Religionists say?

Then it dawned on me.  What a hypocritical moron am I?  Street cred – what on earth?  Where did that come from?  And since when did I care one bit what the religious-at-heart think of me?  Who am I to write about not having fear while being afraid of what others might think?

The truth is, this is me.  I am an armchair theologist.  I am an encourager.  I am a teacher.  And I am a humorist.

And I need to use all of these gifts.  Otherwise they go to waste.  And isn’t it a slap in the face of God Almighty not to put the gifts He’s given each of us to good use?

Besides, it occurred to me while trying to find a comedy special on TV that wasn’t oozing with profanity and “f”-bombs that there’s no reason the devil should have all the laughs.  God created humor.  I want to use it for good.

For now, the Bouville Humorist will only be available on Facebook.  Eventually it will be expanded to WordPress and Twitter and other outlets.

The first post is out there.  Please find The Bouville Humorist on Facebook (@bouvillehumorist).  And please let me know what you think.  (Not that I’m pandering for approval, mind you.  But a bunch of “likes” and “follows” never hurt anybody right?)

And, don’t worry.  The Bouville Diarist isn’t going away.

Street cred.  Seriously…

“Christianity is not about building an absolutely secure little niche in the world where you can live with your perfect little wife and your perfect little children in a beautiful little house where you have no gays or minority groups anywhere near you. Christianity is about learning to love like Jesus loved and Jesus loved the poor and Jesus loved the broken-hearted.” – Rich Mullins at Carpenter’s Way Christian Church, Lufkin TX, 19 July 1997

“I went to an older Protestant gentleman that I’ve respected for years and years, and I asked him, “When does faithfulness to Jesus call us to lay aside our biases and when does it call us to stand beside them?” His answer to me was that it is not about being Catholic or Protestant. It is about being faithful to Jesus. The issue is not about which church you go to, it is about following Jesus where He leads you.” – Radio interview with Artie Terry, “The Exchange,” WETN, Wheaton, Ill., April 1997, quoted in An Arrow Pointing to Heaven, James Bryan Smith, p54

Twenty-two years ago this past Thursday, we lost an artist and ragamuffin who set religious conventions aside and left Indiana to follow Jesus Christ, to seek Him with his whole heart.  I am grateful Rich Mullins came along and so openly shared his very personal journey with all who would listen.

Think today I’ll dig out my copy of The Jesus Record and sing my praise to the Lord!

She had long, brown hair.

I know she had long, brown hair.

And, when I go out to eat at American-style restaurants, I like to order meatloaf.

Meatloaf rocks.  And I am very particular about my meatloaf.  With one exception, it has to be topped with ketchup.  Not brown gravy.

Never brown gravy.

If a politician wants my vote, he or she will promise, if elected, to ban slathering meatloaf with brown gravy.  (And, here comes the one exception I mentioned earlier: Clive’s Roadhouse serves up a mean meatloaf with onion straws, mashed potatoes and brown gravy that will make the hardest construction worker well up with tears of gratitude after one bite.)

Here’s something else that never belongs on meatloaf.

Hair.

This is how I know the chef had long brown hair.  I took a bite of what had previously been delicious meatloaf, only to end up extracting from my mouth a roughly 8-inch long brown hair which had somehow broke free from it’s follicle and landed in my lunch.

I had expected ground beef, mixed with egg, onions and bread crumbs and baked to juicy perfection.

I had expected wonderfully carmelized ketchup baked on top.

I had not expected to need to almost eat a hair nearly as long as my forearm.

Nor had I expected the confirmation that my gag reflex worked just fine.

We sometimes build up amazing – unrealistic – expectations about life.  We were taught at an early age that, here in America, we could grow up to be anything we wanted to be.  Even president!

But, the truth is, we can be anything God wants us to be.  As the Lord promised His children:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV).

We have dreams.  Make plans.  Set goals.  Sometimes they turn out.  Sometimes they don’t.  And, when our plans blow up in our faces, it can be very discouraging to say the least.

But, as Christians, our agenda isn’t supposed to be our agenda.  It’s God’s.

We should be pursuing His will.  Seeking His guidance.  Trusting in His grace and mercy.  Sharing His love.

Am I saying we shouldn’t dream or plan or set goals?  Absolutely not!  By all means we should plan and work to achieve.  What we shouldn’t do is get so wound up in our own schemes and desires that they become what we desire over God Himself.

Jesus should be our first, overarching goal in life.

As Christ pointed out, He is our only sure expectation:

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (ESV)

To quote 18th century poet Alexander Pope, “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”  Granted, that sounds a tad depressing.  But not when we realize GOD is our hope.

Our only hope.

It isn’t that we’ve lost hope and now God is our last resort.  He’s the only true hope we’ve ever had!

So, here’s my challenge to all of you.  Do a quick heart check.  Are you more concerned with success or seeking the Lord?  Where is your treasure?  Is it in your bank account?  Your personal goals?  Achievements? Or is your heart set on following Jesus?

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)

It’s no accident that, immediately after this passage, Jesus begins teaching us not to worry.  To trust God with all our needs.  To not toil for that which has no eternal value.

Expect God.  Seek Him.  Wait patiently on Him.  Let the LORD be your expectation.

Of course, you shouldn’t have to expect a long hair (brown or otherwise) in your meatloaf.  But maybe – just maybe – I need to ease up on the brown gravy issue.

(c) 2019 by Chris Courtney.  All rights reserved.

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by Chris Courtney

There are certain, open-ended questions we should never ask.

Never ask someone, “How are you doing?”  All you do is open the door for a potentially  insincere (if not entirely honest) “Ok”.  Ask instead a more direct questions (How are things at work?  How is your mom?  How’s your health?  How have the [insert name of favorite sports team here] let you down this season?)

Never ask “Where is your faith?”  Seriously.  Never ever.  It’s a slap in the face of a struggling believer.

And never ask, “How was your day?”  Unless you want to open the floodgates of complaining and grumbling (“It was awful!  The boss yelled at me.  My husband complained about the Egg-and-Dairy-Free Tofu Kale Omelet I made for dinner.  My youngest drew a moustache on his sister’s face while she was sleeing – with a black permanent marker, which doesn’t even match her blonde hair.  And the cat destroyed my Bobby Goldsboro album [don’t even ask me how!]”)

Etc.

Etc.

And so on.

As with most things in life, there are two views: our skewed perception, and the right view.

God’s view.

You see, God’s goodness bathes our lives with His grace, hope, love and mercy at all times.  Even when we can’t feel it.

When we can’t see it.

When we can’t perceive it.

When we question whether He hears our prayers, or stays with us, or even cares.

Let’s look at the 103rd Psalm:

⁶ The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
⁸ The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
¹⁰ He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
¹³ As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
¹⁴ For he knows our frame;^[a]
    he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷ But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.
¹⁹ The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

As believers, we are each the recipient of many, many great and wonderful blessings from our Heavenly Father.  Shall we count our many blessings?  According to to the above Psalm of David:

1. We are forgiven of all our sins – our transgressions removed from us “as far as the east is from the west”
2. We are healed of all our ailments
3. We are redeemed from the hell sin provides, and given new life with Him
4.  We are “crowned” with God’s never bending, never ending love and mercy
5.  We are fulfilled by His goodness and revitalized
6.  We are the beneficiaries of His justice and righteousness
7.  We are blessed by God Who made His ways known to His people
8.  We are the recipients of amazing grace and mercy from God Who chooses to be “slow to anger” rather than wrathful (a wrath we deserve through our sin, but are forgiven through His “steadfast love”)
9.  We are treated with compassion by our Lord – just as a father has compassion for his children
10.  We are known – in astoundingly minute detail – by our Father God Who created us.  Think about that one for just a moment.  God knows your weaknesses.  He knows your gifts.  He knows everything about you.  He has placed you in His great plan.
11.  We are given eternal life through Him (through Jesus) – “from everlasting to everlasting”.  We are rescued from the brevity and pain of life ib this material world.
12.  All of this is the loving, gracious, merciful gift of God Who is Lord over all.

David and many of the Old Testament saints figured out the secret to life.  Are you ready?  Here it is:

You have to take it on faith.

You have to take God at His Word.

You have to trust that what He promises will come to pass.

And, understand this:

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴ For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. – Hebrews 11:13-16 [ESV]

This world is not what’s important.  It isn’t where our hearts should yearn for.  This place isn’t home.

It just isn’t.

I know not every illness gets healed on this earth.  I also know God can heal any disease.  He can also work through us to exemplify His grace, mercy and love to others.

Despite what we perceive, we need to keep our eyes on the prize, as Paul says.  Keep believing.  But keep a heavenly perspective.  It’s like my beautiful wife Jennifer likes to remind me when I’m feeling hopeless or down: will what’s got you bugged matter in a week?  A month?  A year?  A decade?  Most likely not.

Please know this: God is always with you.  He will work through those who love Him.  He will bring great things to pass.  We just have to keep faith, worship and praise the God Who so loves us and fills us.  Count your many blessings.

Name them one by one.

And see what God has done.

He lights your darkest path.

He fills your every longing.

Just look for Him.

See that our daily troubles and cares and worries are nothing compared to the greatness of our Father in Heaven.  Sometimes we just have to ask: what is important?  What does God treasure?

Now… knowing all this, let me ask you again.  How was your day?

(c) 2019 by Chris Courtney.  All rights reserved.

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You are loved far more than you can imagine, by God Who is far bigger than we can fathom.

 

 

 

 

Bob Hall from Christchurch, New Zealand [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)%5D

The United States of America: 50 states, 5 territories and a federal capitol district, each (well, most of them) with their own state / territorial motto.

Some of them are fiery, a reflection of the revolution that bore our country (Sic Semper Tyranus, or “Thus always to tyrants” [Virginia]; “Live free or die!” [New Hampshire]).

Others are a bit strange, certain to mean something to the locals but just odd-sounding without proper context (“John is his name” [Puerto Rico]; “By and by” [Washington]).

My home state is the “Crossroads of America.”  (A shout out to my fellow Hoosiers!)

But my favorites are the inspirational mottos.

“God enriches” (Arizona).

“Samoa, let God be first” (American Samoa).

And, best of all, Ohio’s motto.  They went straight to the Bible for theirs: “With God all things are possible”.  Right from Matthew 19:26.  Verbatim.

It’s a beautiful motto to live by.

It’s a wonderful truth to cling to.

Here’s the bad news: we can do nothing on our own.  We are utterly reliant on God.

And, here’s the good news: we can do nothing on our own.  We are utterly reliant on God.

And God, our Heavenly Father loves us.  Cares for us.  Forgives us.  Sets our paths straight.

He knows our needs.  He hears our prayers.  When God seems silent, He’s not.  He’s working on our behalf.  He’s taking care of all the details.

And, when God’s timing is right… wow!  Be ready.  The LORD may move in ways beyond your dreams, beyond your expectations.  There is nothing beyond His ability.  Nobody beyond His grasp.  Nowhere He can’t reach you.  No one He cannot save.  No situation He cannot repair.

With God, nothing – nothing – is impossible.  Now that is a motto to live by.  Even better than Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice: If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you (Michigan).

(c) 2019 by Chris Courtney.  All rights reserved.

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