DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD

Let’s continue our blog series from Psalm 37 with emphasis on finding personal peace.

We have never lived in more trying times when we have desired peace like we do today. It seems as if we meet two kinds of people today. There are those whose lives are in major turmoil bouncing though life like bumper cars at a carnival. And then there are those who are oblivious to what’s going on about them. That unmindful person may not even realize they lack peace until they encounter the first bump in life’s road. They have built up no reserve of strength to endure and get past the bump.

Psalm 37 reminds us that “delighting yourself in the Lord” is one of the building blocks for finding peace. Verse 4 says: “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

To delight in the Lord is to desire being near the Lord and enjoying his presence. There are only two good ways to establish that nearness. First through Scripture where the Lord speaks his truth to us. Second, nearness is established through pray and worship. These are the basic building blocks for inward peace.

If we delight ourselves in the Lord, he promises to give us the desires of our lives. That does not mean if I want a Maserati sport’s car, I will get it! It does not work that way. The desires of our heart must be born out of the will of God. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, he will plant the desires of his heart within our very own hearts.

Those Godly planted desires are more likely to be fulfilled by the Lord assuming our personal wills are not getting in the way. When Godly planted desires are fulfilled we rejoice in the Lord. When unfulfilled, we do not collapse and lack peace because we trust the Lord’s timing.

Robert Parlante

June 2016

Finding Personal Peace - Part 2

With this blog I continue a series of reflections about finding personal peace. Why do we crave peace? Why do we feel so much turmoil in our spirit that makes us feel downtrodden? Much seems to be wrong with the world we live in. Just read a newspaper or watch cable news. Take an honest look at our personal family situations. It can get downright discouraging, and we find what peace we may have is displaced easily by anxiety.

Previously we talked about “not fretting or agonizing” over our personal circumstances or the prosperity of evildoers That is the first step. If we persist on fretting Satan does not have to be too concerned with us. Our hearts and mind are preoccupied with turmoil and we think less about walking the believer’s walk that should bind our peace in Christ’s redemption.

Let’s continue our journey with Psalm 37, verse three:

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”

To trust in the Lord is to place our confidence in God. When we face difficult circumstances, we must place our trust in the Lord to make a way. I’m reminded of the first time I tried to dive off a high board. Climbing up the ladder my feet wobbled with every step. When I reached the top and looked down, I chickened out. That’s what it’s like to trust God. A part of us thinks nothing is going to happen, why bother or we should take care of it ourselves.

Be actively involved in doing good.
Be happy where God has placed you.
Believe the Lord will keep you safe even though “life” happens.

But it all starts with trust. Are you ready for the high board?

Robert Parlante

May 2016

Finding Personal Peace (1)

With this blog I begin a series of reflections about finding personal peace. So much seems to be wrong with the world we live in. Rather than experiencing the peace we crave, we find ourselves dealing with an undertow of concerns that seem to never completely go away. Questions about political leadership, terrorism, the economy, health issues and personal/family relationships consume our thoughts no matter how hard we try to submerge or contain them.

I recall dealing with a forgiveness issue involving a friend who hurt me and my family. I reached a point in life where I could mouth the words ‘I forgive you.’ But was it true forgiveness? It still felt like an irritating current of water swirling about my feet. Deep down, I kept agonizing and wanted revenge! Sometimes the most picayune event would occur and turn that undertow into of flood of anger all over again. The cycle took decades to overcome. It took more than uttering words.

Let’s begin our journey with Psalm 37, verses one and two:

“Do not fret (agonize) because of evil men (women) or be envious of those who do wrong, for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.”

In hindsight, I realized I failed most often with the wisdom pointed out in these two verses. Fretting does not accomplish anything, except take a personal toll on the person doing the agonizing. Fretting is like a seed lying dormant waiting for the right set of conditions to emerge and destroy our peace.

Scripture reminds us that the rain falls on both the just and unjust. This means unjust people sometimes prosper more, accomplish more, and have lives that seem to be more desirable than those who are believers.

But, believers live for the promises of eternity. That should be the big difference. We are not grass or green plants that only look good for a season, and have no promise of a “new heaven and a new earth.” (Rev. 21:1)

So, wisdom number 1 is “Do not fret.” I know it’s easier said than done. Focusing on the long-term rather than the immediate aspects of life helps to move us forward.

Robert Parlante

May 2016

Happy Anniversary, Six Years Late!

Six years ago we celebrated a special anniversary. One of our friends gave us a gift certificate to a great local Spanish restaurant. We put the gift certificate away for safe keeping, lost track of it and uncovered it six years later. We weren’t even looking for it. I was long past the idea of having had that gift certificate.

Last week, we had decided to shred some records and receipts, and lo and behold, in the mishmash of papers was the gift certificate. I immediately started salivating, thinking about the tapas served at this restaurant.

I called the Spanish restaurant and explained my dilemma. I couldn’t believe they were still in business! They thought it was all humorous and not unusual. They said I likely set a new benchmark for late gift certificates, and they would gladly honor the gift.

Given my ministerial nature, I had to make a spiritual connection to the gift showing up unexpectedly and at that given moment!

This was a reminder of how the Lord works, unexpectedly and on time. That seems like a contradiction of words. If it’s unexpected, it is not on time. But one has to be careful … time from God’s view is not the same as human view. We want prayer answered immediately. We want our finances resolved immediately. We want to live life in microwave spurts, fast and furious.

When things happen according to a different timeframe than you expected, wait upon the Lord and see where it takes you. That may be the purpose of lateness.

My first reaction to the gift certificate was a night out with my wife eating tapas. Now I’m not sure! I’ll keep you posted!

Robert Parlante
May 2016