With Benefits

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.    Psalm 103:10 ESV

Today is the kind of day I’ve been waiting for - a kind of laid-back, free-to-do-things day, and so far, it’s off to a good start.  In the course of life, moving across the country, and jumping right into long, hard work days, I’ve fallen behind in my Bible reading plan.  This morning I was able to get in a couple of extra days’ reading, so I’m finally feeling like I’m on my way to catching up.  And though technically I’m still behind, I feel like today’s passages were exactly where I needed to be today, so I guess I’m right on target!

Which is exactly what I am seeing in the Scriptures today!  My big God has EVERYTHING under control!  Little ol’ me can’t mess things up so much that God can’t accomplish His will.  And His timing is always perfect.

Thus I found myself reading Psalm 103 today.

Side note: I memorized this Psalm in elementary school.  I am SO thankful for the blessing of those years in Christian school where memorizing scripture was just part of the curriculum.  Those verses remain firmly planted in my heart and mind, and the Lord continues to use those words to guide and encourage me all these years later.  As life happens in the course of the day, He is able to bring to mind those verses that speak to me in the moment.

Anyway…

I was reading the assigned passages from April 29, looking for my “God shot” (that’s a term from The Bible Recap plan I’m following this year, challenging readers to view Scripture from the perspective of what it says about God rather than how it applies to us personally).  The funny thing is that my “God shot” was about how even the Psalmist took note of how following God benefitted him personally.

Certainly, following, serving, worshipping the Lord is all about who He is.  He is Creator, Eternal King, Father - so many names and nuances.  He is worthy of ALL glory, honor, worship.

I am worthy of death and hell.

And yet…

The Eternal King of the Universe knows me, loves me, saved me, and offers little me big benefits.  BENEFITS!

The Psalmist lists just a few of them:

• Forgiveness
• Healing
• Redemption
• Love
• Mercy
• Satisfaction/provision
• Renewed strength 
• Righteousness
• Justice
• Grace

He chose not to deal with me according to my sins.  He elects to not give me what I deserve! 

“Forget not all his benefits.”

I forget.

Sometimes I feel like all I ever do is come to God asking.  I also come to God complaining and doubting and questioning, expressing worry and concern.  How silly of me!

As the Psalmist notes, God’s got all of the “stuff” under control.

ALL OF IT!

Last week I paid rent.  That sounds like a pretty normal thing to do, but it was not at all normal.  It is hard for me to wrap my brain around the going rate for housing in 2024!  Before we made this most recent move, I argued with God about the impossibility of our being able to afford to live in south Florida.  I reluctantly consented to go, but I really didn’t see it working out.  I figured to go along for the ride, and then find a more sensible, affordable plan.  

But God made bank!

I just love how His benefits are not limited by my unbelief!

“He does not deal with us according to our sins.”

A little over a month into this new adventure, meditating on Psalm 103 today, there is freedom, and blessing, and so much hope!  

That doesn’t mean that life won’t still be hard or that there won’t be struggles.  None of this is about me.  It’s all about my faithful God.

Today, I simply want to bless Him and not forget His benefits. 

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy Name!

…Just a thought…

Weepy and Broken

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.     ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This morning finds me still a bit weepy from the emotional roller coaster on which I found myself yesterday…. Meanwhile, this post may stray a bit from my usual format.  Today I bring you part movie review, part reflection, and, prayerfully, part encouragement.

One of my favorite bands has been making a film over the course of the past few years.  I’ve been eagerly awaiting its release.  Yesterday, we took the time to watch said film.  I was entertained, inspired, informed, and basically reduced to a blob of emotional goo.  So much in the film hit so close to home for me!  

The movie is Unsung Hero, produced by the Smallbone family.  If you are at all familiar with contemporary Christian music, you will probably be able to identify this as the family of the band For King and Country and solo artist Rebecca St. James.  The film chronicles the family’s journey in moving from Australia to the US, and it walks viewers through some of the struggles they faced and some of the obstacles they’ve overcome.

Without revealing too much detail (because you really should see this film!), while in Australia, Mr. Smallbone made what would turn out to be a very costly business move that prompted him to seek out a new opportunity in the States.  With his pregnant wife and six children, Smallbone journeyed to the US, only to find that the opportunity he’d been offered was no longer on the table.  And so the family found themselves basically broke and stranded.

Wow, did that hit home for me!

Learning to live on very little, trust God’s provision, and become humble enough to accept help from others - these are hard lessons.  Watching these scenes play out on a large screen took me back…

To the Walmart parking lot in a city where we’d never been, where we were out of money, out of gas, and basically stuck after an opportunity had been cancelled last-minute…

To the church parking lot where we sat regrouping, not knowing how we were going to move on with a vehicle issue we could not afford to fix…

To the roadside where our vehicle caught fire…

To so many moments where I wondered what impact my life choices were having on my children, praying the Lord would protect them from bitterness and resentment, and that He would somehow supernaturally enlighten them with knowledge and wisdom when my parenting and homeschooling efforts fell so short, so often…

As we drove home yesterday, there wasn’t a huge lot of conversation between Jeff and I.  But we talked a little…

“So that one mistake [choosing to do such-and-such with so-and-so] is what really messed them up,” Jeff commented.  “And then when [so-and-so did such-and-such] when they got to the US, that just sealed it for them.  I can’t believe he did that!” 

Initially, I was tempted to agree.  That’s how I would have seen it in the moment.  “It was MY mistake.”  “HE put us in a bad situation.”  

BUT…

On this side of the story, I can see things very differently.  “Mistakes,” struggles, letdowns, scarcity - all of these were steps along the road that has given the world the music of Rebecca St. James and For King and Country and movies like Unsung Hero and Priceless.  Had David Smallbone’s life and career gone as it was “supposed to,” many, many lives would be different.  

Including mine.

The film kind of broke me, but (I think) in a good way.  I was reminded of God’s faithfulness throughout our adventurous life thus far, and reminded that my God has not changed.  My story may not be as dramatic as some, but the story’s still being written.

And that would be my encouragement to you today: your story is still being written.  The mistakes of your past are being redeemed by God in ways you may not be able to see just yet.  What someone did to you set in motion the series of events that brought you where you are today.  It may have brought you in touch with people you would not otherwise have met, or it may have taken you to places you would not otherwise have gone.  And maybe it still doesn’t feel like a good place or situation.  Just trust that God is using it.

Because He is.

HE IS.

Hang on, my friend.  Hang on.

…Just a thought…

PS - If you knew us during the road years, there’s a very particular vehicle in Unsung Hero that looked VERY familiar and left me wondering…