When Upon Life's Billows

I usually call the song, “When Upon Life’s Billows,” “Count Your Many Blessings.” That is funny to me because those seem to be two very different places in life. It can be easier sometimes to realize how blessed I am when everything is going my way but harder to see when things are not going my way. I am reminded of Paul and Silas in Acts sixteen in prison singing and praying or the apostles in Acts five rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. Those seem to be times of moaning not rejoicing and singing. Maybe that is what the song is trying to get us to do: change our perspective. Instead of looking at the glass as half empty, we need to see that we have a glass half full.

The song says these things: “When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost. . . Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?. . . So amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be discouraged God is over all.” When we experience trials and tribulations in life, it can be discouraging, but we must remember that God is over all and cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). That can be difficult to remember in the middle of the storms of life.

How might we handle these trails, then? The song suggests to: “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” I do not mean to trivialize your struggles, hardships, and difficulties. We live in a fallen world, and sin has brought many terrible things to us. Even in this fallen world, God blesses us over and over (James 1:17). It might do me well to count my blessings not on just one day a year but every day, even when upon life’s billows.

Does the World Have Our Kids?

I read an article the other day by Adam Faughn from his email group, “A Legacy of Faith,” that was somewhat shocking and soul-searching. He has worked with youth for many years and talks about kids that are disinterested in church. They might show up but do not seem interested in what is going on or do not show up to anything else besides worship. It is easy to complain to elders or ministers that it is the church’s fault. Adam claims that parents might want to look at themselves.

Wow! That is the last place I want to look. I would like to think that I am doing a good job. Maybe you are; not all of our kids’ problems fall back on us. They are people who have to make their own decisions. But his point is, if the world has the parents then the world has an easier path to the kids. When parents do not participate in worship or are bored with worship, what do our kids see? When parents find more value in other things than being at worship, what do our kids see? When we make excuses for not doing the Lord’s work for worldly things, what do our kids see?

The reason this article was so tough is because I have to do some self-evaluation. Does the world have me? In my life do I seek first the kingdom of God? Do I set my mind on things above? Do I love the Lord my God with all my everything? If the blind lead the blind, they both fall into a pit. This article is not about throwing stones. Parenting is tough. The article that I read was a reminder to me to check my priorities because the most important thing I can do in my parenting is to set my kids a foundation in the Lord and point them to Him. I do that not only in word but in action. Prayers for you as you examine your life and try to raise kids for the Lord, and prayers for our kids that they can overcome our shortfalls.

Dead Man Walking

The other day I was on the roof cleaning out the gutters and hanging Christmas lights when I noticed some birds (probably buzzards) flying around in circles on the other side of the road. I am sure they were looking for something to eat, but I wondered if they were just waiting on me to fall off the roof. I chuckled to myself and thought that would be a terrible way to go. That incident has caused me to think about the phrase “dead man walking.” When the buzzards saw me on the roof, did they think “dead man walking”?

That phrase has caused me to think. The reality is that I am a dead man walking. The fact is, we are all dead people walking. Unless the Lord Jesus Christ returns before I die (which is a real possibility), I will die (Hebrews 9:27; Ecclesiastes 7:2). I know some do not like to think about that, but whether we like to think about it or not, it is a reality. We had better prepare for it because in death we will face judgment as Hebrews said. How do I prepare? I die now. I am not talking about taking your life physically now but dying to self and living for God.

This thought of dying yet still living comes from Galatians 2:20 where Paul talks about dying with Christ yet still living. I die to self in that watery grave of baptism and arise to walk in a new life. That is a daily struggle. I do not have to be baptized every day now that I am a child of God, but Jesus does call me to take up my cross daily and follow Him, dying to my wants, passions, and desires that lead me away from Him and living a life in pursuit of being more like Him. No doubt, that can be a struggle as even though we are “dead,” our wants and desires “resurrect” themselves and cause us difficulties. I want you to know you can overcome these struggles through the power of God. Let’s be dead-to-self people walking for Jesus.