Suffering

Psalm 60.3

We do not have a theology of suffering today. In fact, many in the church today have a haughty attitude toward anyone that remotely experiences hardships. We’ve more and more begun to sound like Job’s accusatory friends than hold to the biblical picture of suffering.

The Psalmist is direct with the Father in identifying that Israel is undergoing struggle. Amazingly, he notices that this is the will of God, since God is the one who has caused it. “You {Jehovah} have made Your people suffer hardship; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.”

Woven into the fabric of following the Lord is suffering. Suffering is not something we would volunteer for or even pursue. However, suffering is ordained by God as a pathway to righteousness and many times an indicator of His presence in our life.

There are four basic reasons we experience suffering. Quickly, let’s consider these and see if they do not hold true in our Christian experience.

1. Sin and selfishness: this is the tragedy of self induced suffering because of unconfessed sin in our lives. Suffering comes as a sign of discipline.

2. Satanic attack: this is the temptations and enemy tactics attempting to cause us to derail our pursuit of the Father’s plan for our lives.

3. Strengthening: this is trials introduced into our lives by God and for God’s purposes of increasing our faith and fellowship with Him. (Interesting to note: when Satan tempts you it is for you to fail; but when God places trials on you it is for you to FAITH).

4. Stretching: this is testing and examination of spiritual principles we have learned and are now called into application in our lives.

Now, if you have read this far I have to admit that no amount of suffering is pleasant. I want you to take courage. Your suffering is producing in you purification for holiness. In hardships you need to stuff your ears with cotton so as not to listen to the naysayers. You must get into the Word of God and grow. Dig into the gold of the pure word of God and come out with His promises.

Be of good courage and count it all joy when you suffer, especially suffering for righteousness sake. You can survive. You will make it through stronger on the other side.

Always Enthusiastic,
Dr. Rusty Newman

You are such a delight

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Psalm 149.4

You’ve heard the old southern phrase I am sure. I say it when I look at our dog – Rascal the pug. Honestly, it works with him perfectly. Almost daily when I look at his face the thought hits me, “Here’s a face only a mother could love.”

But oh what a face! Come on now, you know that there is a face that just came to mind for you. It’s the face of someone you love dearly. And every time you see their face either in person or with your mind you cannot help but smile.

The reason that person makes you smile is because of the relationship you have with them. I am the father of four unbelievably talented children. All of them are athletes excelling in their individual sports. Here’s a challenge, all of them are leaders too. (Try raising four leaders in one household, it’s awesome and loud.) And, no matter which one of them I see first their face always makes me smile.

I know what you are thinking. Sure, they make you smile they are your kids. Okay, guilty as charged. But here’s the jump to the point for you today. Are you a child of God? Are you a Christ follower? Has salvation come to you through Jesus Christ?

If so, guess what? Just the sight of your face creates pleasure in our heavenly Father. He loves you. He delights in you. He is even pleased by the sight of you. Listen to this: “For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation” (Psalm 149.4).

The Hebrew word of pleasure is ratsah. This is awesome because it means to delight in the appearance of one. Oh yeah, it even means to believe in you. Don’t let this slide by you today. Our Father, Jehovah, when he adopted you into his family signified through that moment that you are his child. Because you are his child you are delight to him and he really does believe in you.

How can you fail today? Jehovah believes in you. After all you have a face your Father loves.

Always Enthusiastic,

Dr. Rusty Newman

Conditional or Unconditional Praise

Conditional or Unconditional Praise
Psalm 118.24

I can remember as a child stating emphatically to my father, “I just don’t feel like it.” Funny now I cannot remember all those things I didn’t feel like doing. The list most likely included cleaning my room, cutting the grass, doing my homework, clearing the dishes from the table, and going to school.

There was one time I remember vividly when I didn’t feel like it! The “it” was going to church. I think someone had said something about me in the youth group. I am sure that surprises you since you are in a church that never talks about anyone. Laugh, Laugh, sigh.

What surprised me is the response from my Pastor-father. It was probably one of the first “grown-up” conversations we ever had; opening the door to many wonderful ones since. Shockingly he revealed calmly to me that there are times we don’t feel like it. As he guided me through the discovery of why I didn’t feel like it, both human and also heavenly Father(s) helped me recognize that praise and worship of the Lord has little to do with feelings. Oh sure emotions are involved, but they can be so fickle and rest so on our selfish agendas.

There are days you don’t feel like praising the Lord. Sure circumstances can be tough. This world leaves many wounds and scares. However, there is an amazing thing that takes place when we praise the Lord.

The Psalmist did not place any conditions on daily praise. Listen to his song; “This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Since this is the day the Lord made, and simply because that fact alone is true, we will rejoice and be glad in IT. Oh yeah, look at this, the Hebrew word for rejoice means “to go around in a circle”. Almost sounds like a dance of joy – oh no, it is the dance of joy.

What? Oh what happened with me not feeling like it? Dad blew my mind. He said the choice on that day was mine. I could even chose to stay home from church with no parental discipline. The only thing he said was, “you know what the right thing to do regardless of how you feel…so it’s your choice.”

Huh? Oh, I went to church! It wasn’t half bad either.

This is the day the Lord has made, let’s go around in a circle with exultation and gladness of the Lord!

Always Enthusiastic (and maybe about to be dizzy),
Dr. Rusty Newman