Abundant Life

It's been a beautiful spring day -- warm and wonderful. The sun has been shining brightly and signs of life are everywhere! In my garden, crocuses open wide in vibrant violet, lavender and a soft white with yellow centers. The lenton rose has little pink buds that will soon unfold into full bloom. These are the prelude to even more signs of lush outdoor life. How much we enjoy these first touches of color and the light fragrances that are gently lifted by the breezes.

Jesus has said, "I am come that they might have life." The life that Jesus offers is two fold. He can give our temporal life a sense of daily peace, knowing that eternal life will be granted in the future, beyond the grave. We can have contentment by walking with our Lord moment by moment, day by day.  The eternal life in His very presence is something more, more than we could ever imagine with our eyes and all of our senses. The beauty in spring then summer that we encounter through flowering orange blossoms or below in the hyacinths with delicate bell shapes, pales in comparison to what lies beyond.
                       

John 10:10 "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." In just a few weeks, the sights and scents of spring will be rich and full. We have confidence that every year the lilacs will fill the air with their sweet perfume. Just as sure as the tulips spread their brilliant petals, our Lord has promised us life -- not just an existence, but abundant life in Him and through Him. We'll be given a future that does not stop in death but with the Hope of Heaven. My daughter Heidi has shown me this sentence from CS Lewis in his book Mere Christianity. I think you will agree with Mr. Lewis' keen perception when he states:

                                Public Park with Gardens in Barcelona Spain - Summertime July

"If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy, we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world." How very exciting to contemplate that other world and know we will be a part of it, abundantly, eternally.

The Lord Upholds Us

"The Lord Upholdeth Him with His Hand"

Have you felt the hand of God?  Have you felt the lift when you've been disheartened?  As  parent, I've been particularly discouraged over the decisions I've made to press and seek the direction most pleasing to God.
When children are involved these times can be unbelievably weighty since it is their goodwill that is our ultimate result.

Often along our path, the Christian walk, we meet with a roadblock. The trials may be of an extremely difficult nature or could be something rather trite and irritating. The book of Psalms draws us to King David and we are reminded of the extreme tests of faith that he underwent as a shepherd, a servant, a soldier, a husband, a king and yes, a father -- parenting!! David reminds us that though we are oppressed and downcast, though we are fighting or fleeing from the wicked, though we may be consumed by evil, our Lord is there with us. Psalm 37 is an amazing comfort along the path which seemingly is amiss.

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way. Thou he fall he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth and his seed is blessed." Psalm 37:23-26

So many promises in these few verses: The Lord has ordered our path! We are a delight to our Lord! We will not be totally downcast! We have the Lord's strong hand holding us up! Our God will not forsake His people! God is merciful! He lends to us in times of need! He will bless His descendents! So many phrases that bring comfort to God's people in just four short verses. Praise Him for His love and care especially in our times of distress and discouragement.   Those very moments when we struggle with our parental decisions has been addressed so simply: "and his seed is blessed."

Here scanned is a sketch of Jonathan Edwards, Puritan Preacher, Pastor, Theologian, Author, and President of Princeton whose works influenced the Great Awakenings of the early 1730-1740s.  He is featured here because of his humble dedication to the God he served and diligent study of the Scriptures.  His wife Sarah Pierpont gave birth to eleven children.  Below is their legacy, a testimony to Psalm 37:26 "his seed is blessed."

http://www.joymag.co.za/article.php?id=96    -   Link to JOY! Magazine with this passage Aug. 2006.

Jonathan Edwards (born 1703) was a man wholly devoted to Jesus Christ. ...  On their wedding night they committed their marriage to the Lord. By 1900, their descendants included 300 clergymen (pastors, missionaries and theologians), 100 attorneys, 60 judges (one dean of a law school), 60 doctors (one dean of a medical school), 60 authors of fine classics, 100 professors and 14 presidents of universities, 3 mayors of large cities, 3 state governors, a controller of the US Treasury and a Vice-President of America who became President Theodore Roosevelt.

Erin Georgiou, Editor of JOY! Magazine.      

This sketch of Sarah Pierpont may have been drawn sometime before her wedding ceremony to Jonathan on July 20, 1727.  Sarah was 17 and Jonathan 23, their marriage lasted over thirty years until Jonathan's death from small pox. George Whitfield commented on the marriage, complimenting Sarah's home management style that was cheerful, efficient, peaceful; the couple shared a mutual support and admiration toward each other.  Whitfield stated, "a sweeter couple I have not seen."
Upon his death, Jonathan's last words were to his wife:  "...give my kindest leave to my dear wife and tell her that the uncommon union which has so long existed between us has been of such a nature as I trust is spiritual and therefore will continue forever; and I hope she will be supported under so great a trial and submit cheerfully to the will of God."

Great and Precious Promises

An amazing sense of peace and pleasure comes from knowing that our Heavenly Father has filled His Good Book with numerous promises for us to enjoy while living on this earth, here and now!
Simply put, a promise is an expectation of success to come, improvement or excellence. It can also be a provision that will likely yield good results, a successful prospect.

That we may embrace these promises, knowing our Creator is the benefactor, is an extraordinary blessing. He made us -- certainly He would know how to improve us and provide goodness to us!! The apostle Peter refers to "great and precious promises" in his second epistle verse 4. These promises accompany a precious faith through Christ, as well as a special calling to glory and virtue. And, why are these precious promises strongly connected to faith and a calling? I believe it is because our Lord would encourage us to strengthen our faith and firm up our calling.

As we move forward on God's path, we can take hold of His precious promises (improvements in our lives). Peter speaks of godliness, a life of knowing Christ which seems to precede the gift of these promises. Peter also asks for grace to be given to his readers. Grace which will help us hold on to God's promises(provisions) in the walk of faith as struggles arise from the bonds of sin.

And, what is the ultimate promise or "expectation?" Look just a little farther in this chapter, it is revealed: His Kingdom. II Peter 1:11 ... "an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."