The first summer I came home from college, my mom told me
that my Grandpa had been waiting anxiously for me to get home and that he had a
surprise for me. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be tickets to the
Senior Citizens Jamboree! This was a “talent show” put on by some of Amarillo’s
golden agers. There was square dancing and there were guitars. There was
singing, with some of the selections including “Listen to the Mockingbird” and
"The Moon Shines Tonight on Pretty Redwing”. (Grandpa, as was his habit, sang
along to these). Then there was the junk band. The instruments, and I use the
term loosely, included a saw, a harmonica that played something close to the
melody, a 5 gallon plastic bucket for a drum, and what I can only describe as a
contraption with a cowbell, a triangle and a pie plate welded onto a metal
stand. As I write this I can hear Grandpa laughing and clapping along with the
music which he apparently thought was terrific.
Does your life seem out of tune and like something that is
not up to par? Whether we compare ourselves to others or just look at how far
out of reach our dreams are, it is easy
to get discouraged. We may try to pray and not feel effective and try to minister and not see results. Two factors behind this are our own humanity and the enemy of our souls. The solutions are the blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the love of God.
One of the names of the enemy is the Accuser of the Brethren in Revelation 12:20. In 1st Peter 5:8 he is described as a roaring lion seeking who he may devour. He is quick to point out both the ways that we do not measure up to others. He will highlight our failures and downplay our successes. We have to be wary of him, because in John 1o we are told that he comes to steal kill and destroy. We can do harm to ourselves without his help though. We see where we want to be and when we are still struggling we get frustrated and discouraged. Sometimes life is just hard because this is a fallen world
There is a solution to all these and it is found in God. First we must realize that God know our weakness and our strength. The beautiful verses in Psalms 139 remind us that he knit us together in our mother's womb. He loves us with an everlasting love and as he told Samuel when he went to anoint David to replace Saul as king, "Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.1 Samuel. He loves us and our efforts like a parent cherishes a clumsy handmade gift from a child. When it comes to the accusation from the enemy, we have great ammunition. Romans 8:1-2 says "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death. Because of Easter when God looks at us he sees jesus and when he hears our out of tune lives and praises He hears something beautiful. Finally like the filters that engineers in a recording studio use to mix sound levels and eliminate imperfections, the holy spirit is our interpreter with God. When "we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26
Knowing this, sing your heart out and give your love freely. Just because it sounds like a junk band to you, it is a symphony to the God who created and loves you.
One of the names of the enemy is the Accuser of the Brethren in Revelation 12:20. In 1st Peter 5:8 he is described as a roaring lion seeking who he may devour. He is quick to point out both the ways that we do not measure up to others. He will highlight our failures and downplay our successes. We have to be wary of him, because in John 1o we are told that he comes to steal kill and destroy. We can do harm to ourselves without his help though. We see where we want to be and when we are still struggling we get frustrated and discouraged. Sometimes life is just hard because this is a fallen world
There is a solution to all these and it is found in God. First we must realize that God know our weakness and our strength. The beautiful verses in Psalms 139 remind us that he knit us together in our mother's womb. He loves us with an everlasting love and as he told Samuel when he went to anoint David to replace Saul as king, "Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.1 Samuel. He loves us and our efforts like a parent cherishes a clumsy handmade gift from a child. When it comes to the accusation from the enemy, we have great ammunition. Romans 8:1-2 says "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death. Because of Easter when God looks at us he sees jesus and when he hears our out of tune lives and praises He hears something beautiful. Finally like the filters that engineers in a recording studio use to mix sound levels and eliminate imperfections, the holy spirit is our interpreter with God. When "we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26
Knowing this, sing your heart out and give your love freely. Just because it sounds like a junk band to you, it is a symphony to the God who created and loves you.
