We have just enjoyed my favorite holiday of the year- Thanksgiving!
It might be my favorite due to the various traditions our family enjoyed throughout the week and over the years.
From visiting friends every other year, to playing RISK throughout the week, to eating too much pumpkin crisp, or playing football outside, the week was filled with enjoyment.
Family traditions can be so enjoyable and fun, especially when you are a dad! One tradition that my dad has is that anything that could be poured was accompanied by the line, "...say when...". If you did not say "when", then you were going to be drowning in whatever liquid it was or cleaning up a mess from the overflow.
Orange juice in your cup? "Say when" or it would be pouring all over the table.
Gravy on your turkey? "Say when" or your cranberry sauce would be floating in a sea of brown liquid.
Water for your mop bucket? "Say when" or you would be adding water to the floor you were moping.
The delight dad had on his face each time was hilarious!
I am proud to say the "tradition" continues with my own family.
Psalm 68:19 speaks of God's goodness that overflows our capacity to receive or understand it each day; even the overflow of future deliverance from death!
This is a common theme for the Psalmist as he would speak of each day being packed full of the evidence of God's goodness.
David's word choice reminds me of a suitcase that is too full, bulging from being closed or standing under a waterfall with a cup to get a drink or standing in the soda aisle at Jungle Jim's trying to select just one- it is just TOO MUCH!
I fear I am often SO focused on the person, place, or thing that seems to be robbing my happiness that I willfully climb over the mountain of blessings God has given me and is to me as if they did not exist.
How do we fix this?
As David began his text, so should we- blessed be the Lord. Focusing on the WHO before we move on to any what that we want to thank Him for or any what we are upset about, grants us the proper perspective biblically. His nature and character should command our attention due to our relationship with Him rather than the goodies He gives. Jesus said something like this, "...Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..." as a good starting point. (Mt. 6)
Recalibrate our view to an eternal one regarding what He has given and allowed in our lives. David spoke of God's blessings being a perpetual, daily allotment. God, in His holy kindness, has blessed us as His crowning creation, as able to receive salvation, as able to have a relationship with Him, as able to enjoy His creation, and as able to find His sustainment through any ailment. In fact, Jeremiah reminded us that it is His mercy upon us that we even draw breath and are not judged today. (Lamentations 3)
Remember the future He has promised us- David remembered that God's overwhelming blessings do not stop on earth but are merely a shadow of what is to come when we are delivered from death to enjoy eternal life with Him. CATCH THIS- all of the layers of blessings in your life- spiritually, emotionally, relationally, tangibly, sexually, intellectually- are all still somewhat shallow compared to what lies ahead for us fully as children of God. Paul mentioned something about our brains not having the full capacity in this realm to comprehend what eternity with God will be like (1 Cor. 2).
This reality is challenging to us in our current frail, finite existence because of the curse of sin on our bodies, the difficulties of sin in our relationships, and the deceitfulness of sin in our minds. We go through real and perceived hardships that test our faith in God's goodness. Without sounding insensitive to real pain, tragedy, or frustration, it is often true that we must force ourselves into faith-based thanksgiving rather than it coming naturally or fully.
When I am struggling with the "grumble pants", it helps me to remember that my heavenly Father has and is pouring out goodness upon my life to the point I should say, “when".
Serving together,
Pastor Paul