All Good Things from God

Recently I read an article mentioning that all good things come from God (James 1:17). What a beautiful reality.

If we truly start to think often on this, that all good things flow from God, we'd have countless opportunities to thank God. The sun shining and the way the cool wind feels on a hot day can be a cause for quiet awe and reflection.

Or even on a winter day full of snow and cold, the type where people like to complain about the cold, there's a chance to see the beauty of snow or feel the heat inside.

There are hundreds of possible things to be grateful for each day. That doesn't mean that life isn't sad at times, but that gifts are always around us. A beautiful sign from God of his blessings to us. Big and small.

Consumerism as Therapy

In the modern world we see a lot of people using consumerism as a "cure" against the stress of life. The modern commercial world strongly tries to encourage this viewpoint.

The reality is the consumption of material goods is at best a poor momentary fix for the problems of life. In reality using consumerism in this way frequently hinders people from obtaining financial stability which often cause them more emotional grief that if fixes.

The reality is that life's struggles were never meant to be solved by purchases of material goods. God has always meant for our struggles to be solved through relationship with himself.

God is the one who heals broken hearts. Much of the brokenness of man is actually found in his alienation from God. God was the only one meant to fill the holes in our broken heart.

Many people with great brokenness in their hearts believe that God will not accept them. The reality is that it is hard to imagine who God will not accept if we are willing to accept our state and ask for his mercy.

A great example of this is the apostle Paul who by his own account was the "chief of sinners," his persecution of the church would certainly make one think that he could not have found peace with God. But the reality is that God calls all men to himself, it is simply if they will accept the offer.

God's Wisdom in Creation

The wisdom of God in creating material things has really struck me lately.  We take for granted material things and cannot conceptualize an immaterial world.  But, think of before creation.  God is a spirit and angles are spirits.  It is quite possible that the angles had no concept of what materialness was.  And then this new incredibly rich and inexplicably foreign material named matter sprung forth into existence because at God's command.  Imagine how they must have marveled at matter and how they must have worshiped the wisdom of God and incredible inspiring it must have been.  And then humans are created.  Humans are created not fully material and not fully immaterial.  We tend to think matter something very ordinary.  But, it is something radically inventive indeed!  The immaterial has an eternal history in God, but the material is a radically wonderful and inventive creation of God.  The material world so intricately created with its many fold wonders and balances and laws all crafted and governed by an infinitely wise God.  It is a shame we do not feel more awe overwhelming our souls because of God's wisdom in creation.