hope

Resolutions (or, Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht)

/ Chris Courtney / Leave a comment

German half-hour sand glass, first quarter of the 16th century, bronze-gilt and silver-gilt, Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

“Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht.” Or, “Man Plans, and God Laughs.”

Old Yiddish saying

2023 is speeding toward its inevitable conclusion, and our thoughts now turn to hopes and prayers for the soon-dawning new year. 

Plans and resolutions.

So much we want to accomplish.

I have a list of goals – not “resolutions”, a term that makes me a bit squeamish because it doesn’t carry the same weight of intentionality as “goals” – for the new twelve months. 

I’m going to need to start right away on 1 January 2024. 

  • Create a Daily Bible Reading Plan that will deliver maximum impact for effective spiritual growth. (Or is that effective impact for maximum spiritual growth. Or effectively im;pactful to the max.)
  • Create and launch The Bouville Diary podcast to reach millions of listeners with the message of Christ’s love, grace and peace.
  • Write a best seller (ECPA, New York Times and Bono Indiana Picayune charts) that will also deliver maximum impact for effective spiritual growth for millions of people. (Look out, Max Lucado.)
  • Have above best seller published in 52 countries, translated into a minimum of 52 languages (including Budukh, spoken by only about 200 people in Azerbaijan, according to UNESCO).
  • Travel the world by boat (I don’t like flying), visiting all seven continents and personally seeing to it every nation has heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • Broker peace in the Middle East and Asia. (To be done concurrent with aforementioned evangelical world boat tour.)
  • End hatred, racism, drug addiction, homelessness, cancer and all other nefarious diseases, broken families, greed, corruption…
  • Take away all anxiety and worry, filling the void with God’s peace.

That’s just a partial list. I left out the more personal items (weight loss, reading a book a day, training myself to eat beets without gagging, etc.). I also didn’t mention bringing an end to reboots of old TV sitcoms, but that seems fairly insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

I’m being a bit facetious here. Ok, maybe more than a bit. My intention is neither to belittle these very important subjects, nor to offend anyone. My point is, simply, resolutions and goals are great. But if we make our plans without the Lord’s direction, we strategize in vain.

And while these lofty goals are noble and good (except perhaps the sitcom reboot thing), I believe my efforts would be far better focused on the below:

  • 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV)
  • 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
  • 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, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:4-8 (ESV)
  • 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. – Proverbs 3:5-8 (ESV)

Instead of grand plans and resolutions, perhaps simply following and focusing on Jesus is a far better path. He will lead us to opportunities to bless. He will take us where we need to be if we follow His path in faith. Our call is to love God, love others and share the Gospel. If we are lead by God’s love with pure motives, we will succeed in playing our part in God’s plans.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established (Proverbs 16:3, ESV).

Impossible? Never!

/ Chris Courtney / Leave a comment

“But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” – Matthew 19:29 [ESV].

100 years old.  A century.  Think about it… someone who is 100 years old today was born the same year Woodrow Wilson became president.  The average wage earner brought home just under $1300 per year.  Milk cost 32 cents a gallon, gas was 12 cents and the average car $490.  World War I was still a year away.  Cracker Jack started putting prizes in their boxes, and the IRS started collecting federal income tax.  Stainless steel was invented that year, Henry Ford introduced the assembly line, and Charlie Chaplin began his film career.

Let’s face it.  A lot happens over the course of a century.  If you live to be 100 and still live on your own, you are doing remarkably well.  If you’re really blessed, Willard Scott will show your picture on the “Today” show.  The last thing you expect is to hear is, “Next year, you two will have a baby!”   Especially of you and your spouse were never able to conceive a child.

Consider Abraham and Sarah.  Abraham is no Tony Randall.  His wife is a spry 90 years old.  And, when Sarah overheard the proclamation that she would give birth at her age, she laughed.  (Wouldn’t you?)  And God’s response: “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:13, ESV).

Likewise, upon receiving the news from an archangel that she would conceive our Savior as a virgin, and that her cousin Elizabeth (who, coincidently, had never been able to conceive and had passed her childbearing years) was pregnant, Mary was astonished.  The angel’s response: “Nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37, ESV). 

And then there is the account of the rich young ruler, where we see how difficult it is to put God above all else, including / especially earthly wealth.  Jesus explains that, in and of ourselves, salvation is impossible.  We simply do not possess the wherewithal to save ourselves.  “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:29, ESV).

The Bible is filled with examples of the impossible: bodies healed, impossible battles won, astounding rescues, dead raised, thousands fed on the lunch of one child, lives turned around and set right, amazing grace and eternal love. 

This morning, our pastor challenged us with this: when was the last time you considered what God is possible of doing?  When did we last step out in faith, knowing nothing with God is impossible?  When did you last trust the LORD to see you through a difficulty, a hardship?  Sometimes it is easier to give up, to find a cave to crawl in and hide. 

But know this: God can do anything.  Whatever you are facing is no surprise to God.  Never will He say, “Whoa!  I didn’t see that one coming!”  Bad stuff happens.  But know that, when are at our lowest, “God works for the good of those who love him, whohave been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, ESV).

There is a really good reason Jesus instructs us to seek the kingdom of God first, and do not worry (Matthew 6:33-34).  Worry binds us.  Anxiety torments us.  Fear freezes us solid.  But, realizing nothing is impossible with God… now that frees us! 

Tonight, I challenge us all with this: what are you afraid of?  What is holding you back?  What’s keeping you up at night?  Whatever it is, lay the worry aside.  Go to God.  Go to your quiet place, get down on your knees before the LORD and talk to Him.  Give Him your fears and doubts and anxious thoughts.  Trust Him to work in your life, in your circumstance, whatever it is.  Accept God’s will and realize that simply having God with you is greater than anything outcome you may fear, anything you dread facing, anything that causes you anxiety or fear or doubt. 

You are loved, more than you can comprehend.  Rest in the LORD.  Trust Him without exception, for that is what faith truly is.  And hang in there.  Our circumstances are rarely what they seem, and God can bring you an outcome of great blessing.  Just cling to Him and find your joy in the LORD through Jesus Christ.