A "Dynamic" Rant

(I haven't written a rant in a while. Here goes...)

It is a dynamic of faith that is ours. What I mean by that is ~ it's the opposite of ritual, it's the opposite of "dead religion." There's a change. There's a power. It's real. It's substantial. (Selah ~ pause to reflect)

I shake my head sometimes (smh) when I think about a few Christian leaders / teachers (even well known ones who I enjoy) that say the miracles, etc., were only meant for the early Church and Apostles in the First Century.

Huh? That makes no sense. Why would God hamstring us (His people)?

I know, I know. The Word of God is dynamic all by itself. (Hebrews 4:12) I'm not intending to minimize that. (Please, hear me.) But since the canon of Scripture is complete / closed and the "perfect has come" (1 Corinthians 13:10) we have no need of what the early believers needed?

Jesus talked about the dynamic of faith. It starts when we confess our sins to Him and repent. He said it Himself, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:37-38) That's "dynamic."

Christ goes on, "Truly I say to you, whoever ("whoever" means anybody, not just the Apostles) says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him." (Mark 11:23) That's "dynamic."

And furthermore, our Lord is very clear, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." (John 14:12)  That's "dynamic."

And just one more. The Son of God speaks through Paul, "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." (Romans 8:26) That's "dynamic."

I want it. I long for that "dynamic."

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Who's In Your Boat - Part 1

"When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep." (Matthew 8:23-24)

(This one's in preaching style.) I want to talk about faith. But more than that, I want to talk about who's in your boat - the focus of your faith.

And actually it could be a question, too. Who's in your boat? (with a question mark). Do you know the answer to the question? Do really know who it is that's in your boat if you're a Christian? It's a serious and important question to answer and discuss I'm convinced.

And some of us - it affects us, our understanding of who Jesus is. And this is how it affects us. When the storms of life come up, we either remain calm or we become frazzled depending on our understanding of who Jesus is. We either are at peace or we're a bundle of nerves. We either have a heart rate that's steady or it shoots right up and through the roof. How many of you know what I'm talking about? Which one is you? Some of us - it affects us, our understanding of who Jesus is when the storms of life come up.

And so we need to know who this Jesus is that's in our boat. It'll make all the difference. (Elbow the person next to you and say, "He's right." Go ahead.)

Of course, the disciples sure didn't know who they had with them in their boat in Matthew 8:23-27.

And let me just give you a real quick point before we look at the passage.

And it's never until you're put in a situation where you need faith - like Peter and James and John and the others in our story - that you find out whether you have any. Right?

Which brings me to...

WHO'S IN YOUR BOAT POINT #1: SOMEONE WHO HAS POWER OVER ALL DISEASE.

And it's really something when you think about it. Because they (the disciples) have already been around Jesus for a while. I mean, it wasn't a huge and long while, but you would have thought it would be long enough for them to realize who He was.

I mean - and if you just look up prior a few verses to Matthew 8:14-17. And here we read about some pretty amazing things the disciples have been around Jesus for a while seeing.

He heals Peter's mother-in-law in v. 14-15 of a fever. (Matthew 8:14-15)

And then in v. 16 - and I have the verse in a block quote below because it's just so powerful. And let's just read and consider it together, shall we?...

And when evening had come, they brought to Him (Jesus) many who were demon-possessed; (and now here's the part of the verse I wanted you to see) and He cast out the spirits with a word, and HEALED ALL who were ill - and He cast out the spirits with a word, and HEALED ALL who were ill. (Matthew 8:16)

Do you see that there? Jesus "HEALED ALL who were ill." is the part I wanted you to see.

And it would have been quite amazing if Jesus healed 90% of them, or 80% or even half - 50%. But He healed 100% of the cases that were sent His way.

And I was thinking, can you just imagine the health care system today if you had somebody like that around? Wouldn't have to worry about prescription drugs for one thing. Right? Wouldn't you like that? Nowadays, it's one of the biggest costs. Isn't it?

And it's really point #1 here now to remind you who's in your boat. Who's in your boat? Someone who has power over all disease.

Not just three quarters of the diseases. Not just nine out of ten. But over all disease and sickness.

Are you in need of a cure?

Watch for Who's in Your Boat - Part 2 to come soon.

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Marks of a Defective Faith - Part 2

I'm continuing a discussion of faith in this second of a two-part blog post series. (To read Part 1: click here.) I'll be highlighting three final marks of a defective faith from three parables of Christ. To be defective means there's a flaw with whatever it is you're talking about. Right? I remember I drove away a used car I bought in Minneapolis from the used car dealer. And right when I got out of the parking lot that's when it began to spit and sputter and miss and cough. No lie. Can you imagine having something like that happen to you? (And then imagine having to explain it to your wife!) Did you ever buy a lemon? - a car that had problems - that was defective? Some people's faith is a "lemon." If it's marked (characterized) by any or all of the following three things it is...

Three More Marks of a Defective Faith:
(I gave you the first three in Part 1)

Mark #4: When You Think Gaining Stuff/Notoriety Is A Higher Priority Than Caring For The Less Fortunate.

In our Lord's parable of "The Sheep and The Goats" (Matthew 25:31-46) we are given a peek into eternity. We see Judgment Day. At that time Jesus will be looking over His followers. And what He's going to be interested in seeing is how much money we made? No. What we did for a living? No. What car we drove? No. What house we owned? No. How many followers we had on Twitter? No. How many friends we had on Facebook? No. Christ is not going to be looking for any of those things. Quite to the contrary. Those are the things that the world measures by. Right? Those are important things to the world. But not to Jesus. Sometimes we need our priorities rearranged. Are you putting people's needs ahead of gaining stuff/a name for yourself?

Mark #5: When You Think Just Because You're A Christian You're Better Than Others.

In our Lord's parable of "The Publican and the Tax Collector" (Luke 18:9-14) we are given a peek into an attitude that can overtake church people. Even Christians can begin to get caught up with themselves if they're not careful. I mean, when you've overcome tough habits and conquered them and replaced the old habits with new good ones like you ought to as a Christian (and as undoubtedly the Pharisee/religious person in the parable is representative of this very thing) and then you don't do things that sinners are known for doing anymore. "And, after all, those awful wretches and despicable individuals that live like that. How can they do such things?" And, of course, we're not like them. We don't go to movies. We don't go to carnivals. We don't go to bars. We go to church. We go to Bible study. We go to prayer meetings. Aren't we just so good? No, we're not. We're just forgiven. "'Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?'" (Matthew 7:3)

Mark #6: When You Think God's Okay With Your Refusal To Forgive Someone.

In our Lord's parable of "The Unmerciful Slave" (Matthew 18:23-35) we are given a peek into the heart (of some). It's a selfish heart. It's a bitter heart. And in the story a king wishes to settle accounts with his slaves. One slave owes the king ten thousand talents. To understand the depth of payment required to settle accounts, you need to know the worth of a "talent." A single "talent" was equal to 20 years worth of wages. Do the math. 10,000 talents times 20 years equals 200,000 years worth of wages. Let's say you make $20,000 a year. That means one talent equals ($20,000 times 20 years) $400,000. Then ten thousand talents equals 4 billion dollars! Bottom line: The slave can't repay such an enormous debt. But the king forgives the debt of the slave any way. (It's a picture of God's forgiveness of us.) The problem is the slave goes out afterwards and demands payment of a (in comparison) $7,000 debt he's owed from a fellow slave. Think of all the people in your life that have hurt you. Now think of that one person that's hurt you the most. And now consider, as much as these have pained you, their debt to you isn't even a drop in the bucket to how much you've hurt God in your unbelief. "'He who is forgiven little, loves little.'” (Luke 7:47c)

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About "Fixes" (Are You in a Fix?)

"Then the Egyptians chased after them (the Israelites) with all the horses and chariots of Pharoah, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea." (Exodus 14:9)

A "fix." Simply put, it's a place where we find ourselves trapped. (Been there? Done that?) Think back to the fixes you've found yourself in. (Are you in one now?)

In Exodus 14 God directs His people into a "fix" (a corner). He's freed them from Egypt. (That's great.) But now God places them in a trap. (So what's up with that? Doesn't God know what He's doing?)

Of course, we know how the story turns out. (Btw, all stories turn out like that if you love Jesus. See Romans 8:28.)

And let me just give you a few more thoughts about "fixes." Sometimes God puts us in fix because He's got a higher purpose behind the scenes and we need to be in a fix so He can accomplish what He wants to accomplish and He couldn't accomplish it unless we were in a fix. Make sense? (Read it again to let it sink in.)

Think again back to the fixes you've found yourself in. Evaluate: What was God's part in it? (I happen to be in a fix right now. It's one of the tightest traps I've ever found myself in in my life, quite frankly. Btw, America is in quite a fix right now, too.)

And sometimes we're put in fixes just because we're serving and obeying God and living our lives surrendered to Him. (Read that again, too, to let it sink in.) We are required to just do what God tells us to do and not worry about the rest. (Like tithing.) If we end up in a "fix," we end up in a "fix."

Some people are out of the will of God. They won't submit to the "fixes" God has planned to put them in. (Read that again to let it sink in. I know I've been saying it a lot.)

One last thing about "fixes" to not forget: God will make a way where there seems to be no way.

"The sons of Israel went through the midst of the [Red Sea] on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." (Exodus 14:22)

(Picture above in the public domain: HERE. PD-US)

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Tworship Heat Map

That's me in Sonora towards Yosemite (technically up the hill in Mono Vista) :)



(click to enlarge)

Parable of the Jogger

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." (1 Corinthians 9:24)

I am a jogger. That's me jogging at Christmas time in the clickable picture (or a very skinny Santa!). I get up in the morning and I run. (Not every morning. I'm getting older.) I've been running now for well over three decades.

I've run in the day. I've run at night. I've run in the rain. I've run in the snow (deep snow). I've run in the heat (100s+). I've run in extreme cold. (I think 17 degrees in downtown Minneapolis is still the coldest. We've had some lower 20s that I've run in here in the foothills towards Yosemite.)

I've run when I felt good. (I like those days the best.) I've run when I had a pulled muscle in my leg (ouch). I've run with a twisted ankle (double ouch). I've run with a sore neck and bad back. (I know. I should have taken those days off.) I've run and fallen down. (I pride myself on not falling, but it happens.) I've slipped on ice and landed on my rear. (Ooo. I can still feel that one.) Another time I dislocated my shoulder in a fall in a field where no one could hear my calls for help. ("Can somebody please help me? Somebody?")

I've been chased by dogs (including ravenous chihuahuas). I've been bothered by drivers getting out of their cars. (I won't go into that.) I've seen dead deer (road kill). (I had to break the news to one person about their cat lying crushed in the street. I hated that.) I've even been hit by a truck that ran a stop sign. I know it sounds crazy. (Thankfully, I saw it coming.)

There are just a ton of analogies from a jogger's experience (mine) that relate to the Christian life (mine, too).

And we don't always "feel good", but we must keep running the race of faith (/following Jesus). Right? And even when the snow is deep and the cold is extreme, we must keep running. And even when our ankle is twisted, our neck is sore and our back is bad, we must keep running. When we fall down, we must keep running. When no one can hear our cries for help (/listens to us), we must keep running. When we're being chased (by "barking" circumstances), we must keep running. When we're "bothered" (assailed by principalities and powers ~ and sometimes including people, too), we must keep running.

Were you about to give up?

"Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; 'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home."

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Demons Over The Balcony (Crisis Prayer)

My mom had a heart attack. The next thing I knew I was on a plane from Minneapolis (where I was going to Bible college) to San Francisco. What added to the tension was it took place as the first Gulf War (1991) was starting. The airports were under heavy guard, fencing and all. Upon landing, my brothers drove me from the airport to the hospital. I entered CCU (the Coronary Care Unit). My mom didn't look good.

I didn't sleep well that night at my parent's house. (I can still remember the nightmare.) Very early the next morning my dad spoke to the nurse on the phone. She said they almost lost my mom in the night. I panicked. (It happens.)

My mom would tell me later that morning that she felt herself leaving her body (going up), but said to God, "I can't leave yet. I need to see Mike's baby." (My wife was five months pregnant at the time.) That's when she said she fell back down into her body.

When we got home that afternoon, I went on a prayer walk. This wasn't just any ol' prayer walk. This prayer walk lasted the next two and a half hours. (Selah ~ pause to reflect)

I prayed a lot of things. I prayed against the demons. (They were in my nightmare. I was throwing them over the side of the balcony in the college chapel.) I also prayed that God would grant my mom ten more years of life. (Isaiah 38:1-7) It was like the woman before the judge in the parable. I wore him out. I beat him down until he judged on my behalf. (Luke 18:1-8)

God not only granted my mom ten more years, but it's twenty and counting now (in the year 2011). Thank you, Lord.

You may or may not be in a crisis. If you are, it's time to "crisis pray"?! If you aren't, you just may be in one in the near future. Why not "crisis pray" ahead of it? ~ for God to strengthen you when it happens, for God to be a sun and shield (Psalm 84:11), for God to make a way where there seems to be no way.

"Demons over the balcony in the name of Jesus!"

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7 Glimpses of Christ in the Passover Lamb

"'And you shall keep [the lamb] until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight.'" (Exodus 12:6)

This is the height of the Scriptures. Exodus chapter 12 is. It is equal to Isaiah 53 and any of the Gospel accounts of our Lord's passion.

(Selah ~ pause to reflect)

It's a most precious passage. I think we succumb to familiarity. We've been serving the Lord for a number of years and His Word loses the specialness that it once had. It happens. We know the stories. And we become "dull."

Awake!

This is the height of the Scriptures! (Did I already say that? I'm saying it again.) Exodus chapter 12 ~ about the Passover lamb ~ is! It is equal to (let it sink in) Isaiah 53 ~ about the suffering Servant ~ and any of the Gospel accounts of our Lord's passion.

This is the height of the Scriptures as we look into God's heart and there discover "the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world." (Revelation 13:8b; NIV).

"He who has ears, let him hear." (Matthew 13:9)

Here are...

7 Glimpses of Christ in the Passover lamb:

1. A lamb unblemished. (Exodus 12:5; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
2. Scrutinized over time & proven w/o fault. (Exodus 12:3, 6; John 18:38c)
3. Killed in a public execution. (Exodus 12:6; Luke 23:33)
4. Substitutionary sacrifice. (Exodus 12:6; John 15:13; 1 John 2:2)
5. No bones broken. (Exodus 12:46c; John 19:33, 36)
6. Blood saves from God's wrath. (Exodus 12:12-13; Hebrews 9:12)
7. Belief in delivers from death. (Exodus 12:13; John 3:16)

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Miracle Boy

No one could tie a tighter knot if they tried. Except this wasn't yarn, a string or a piece of rope. It was an umbilical cord. I remember glancing at it just moments after our son was born. The doctor was saying, " This just doesn't happen. This is a miracle. This is a miracle boy." "Michael" is 16 today (named after his dad). The reason why I bring up "today" is because it's the 16th anniversary of his surgery (July 12, 1994). He was five months old then and was suffering from the condition referred to as: "Craniosynostosis," an abnormal forming of the brain due to a premature closing of the skull. It showed itself in that Michael had a cone-shaped head. The days leading up to the surgery were a challenge. Of course, in the back of our heads (my wife and I) were thoughts of fear (Christians do get scared), "Why us?" questions and more. Beyond that, Michael got sick so the surgery had to be postponed. (It was supposed to take place in June.) We had to continue to pray and trust, believe, hope and lean on friends and family. And I guess what I really wanted to say with all this is that God is faithful. Michael is sitting in the chair early this morning (as he likes to do) watching his favorite: "Star Wars - The Clone Wars" while I (his dad) reflect on how glad I am to have him (is that a tear welling up in my eye?) and how grateful I am to God who answers prayer, comes through when you need Him most and is always there. Even when our story doesn't quite work out the way we would have it, it's still true. Did you need to be reminded? "He (God) Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5) "Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name." (Psalm 103:1-3) (flickr image by katiedee)

Marks of a Defective Faith - Part 1

I want to talk to you about faith in a two-part blog post series. You've probably purchased something that was defective before. To be defective means there's a flaw with whatever it is you bought. Right? There's something wrong with it to cause it not to function as it said it on the box it was supposed to function this way, but it doesn't. And you're frustrated. You might even be pulling your hair out and wanting your money back. (Been there. Done that.) It can happen with faith, too. Faith can be defective, too. In Christ's Parable of the Marriage Feast (Matthew 22:1-13), the king comes in to look over the guests who've come to the dinner and he sees a man "not dressed in wedding clothes." (Matthew 22:11) And so the man has a defect. And the king who's throwing the party notices it, asks him about it - to which the king receives no answer. (Matthew 22:12) The king then literally has the man thrown out of the building is how the parable ends. (Matthew 22:13) And why is the man thrown out? Again, it's because he has a defect. He's not wearing wedding clothes. And ultimately, it's a defective faith that this man not wearing wedding clothes represents. With this as a background, here are...

Three Marks of a Defective Faith:
(I'll give you three more in Part 2)

Mark #1: When You Think You Can Attain Heaven On Your Own.

It's interesting to note how those who sent out invitations to weddings in Bible times would also send out the clothes the invited person should wear was the custom. And so for the above guy in the parable to show up not wearing the clothes the king sent him was another slap in the face. It wasn't just that he didn't have the right clothes to wear to the wedding, but he literally decided to not dress himself in the clothes the king sent him along with he really thinks he can come to the wedding wearing whatever he decides to wear. It's a picture of the person who thinks he can attain heaven on his own apart from being clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Mark #2: When You Think Getting Baptized Makes You A Christian.

Having been raised a Catholic I understand the Catholic tradition of infant baptism quite well. (I was baptized as a baby myself.) The thinking behind infant baptism is that it somehow guarantees a person's acceptance into heaven. It's wrong thinking. The fact is baptism confirms you're a Christian, but it doesn't make you a Christian. You must become a Christian by expressing faith in Christ first, then you are to be baptized. (Mark 16:16) No matter what your age, they can dunk you under water or sprinkle you all they want and the only thing that's gonna change is you'll be all wet, but you won't be saved.

Mark #3: When You Think You Don't Need To Meet Regularly With Believers.

You run into people - Christians! - and they're just simply not committed to the Body of Christ like they ought to be. And they suffer for it. And the Body suffers. "I can be a Christian and not go to church," some of these say (or think). It is in direct contradiction of Scripture which exhorts us to make meeting with fellow believers a top priority. (Hebrews 10:23-25) Each of us has gifts that others need (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) and each of us has needs that only another brother or sister in the Lord can meet. When was the last time you went to church?

(Watch for "Marks of a Defective Faith - Part 2" to come soon.)

An Optimistic Cynic in the New Year

I don't do New Year's Eve. What I mean by that is I don't stay up 'til twelve, I don't participate in the countdown as the bell tolls and I don't shout "woot woot" when the clock strikes midnight. And it's not that I'm against having fun and celebrating and getting excited. I'm not against any of that at all. But I am getting older, it's past my bedtime (I'm almost always asleep by nine~I'm a morning person~check out the date stamp on this post) and quite frankly, it's just a change on the calendar after all ~ December 31st to January 1st, isn't it? All cynics (me) and cynicism aside (not), there are a number of superstitions associated with New Year's and New Year's Eve that I was considering recently. (Thanks to "In Season" December Real Estate mailer.) You may have heard of some of these:

(1) Starting out the New Year with your cupboards full, bills paid and debts settled is said to guarantee prosperity and riches. (I'll use my credit card for the food?)

(2) Schedule a friend to drop by with a gift so that you're adding (versus subtracting) from your household. (This will "guarantee" prosperity and riches just in case #1 doesn't work?)

(3) Eat beans (contributing to global warming?), black-eyed peas and lentils (wasn't that a movie?) to attract good luck.

(4) At midnight on New Year's Eve shriek, shout and scream to rid yourself of the evil spirits that are around. (Don't you know the devil scares that easily?)

I share these superstitions (and in a cynical sort of way) to point out the foolishness of belief in them versus trusting in God. He alone controls the future. He alone moves history according to His desire and plan. He alone has power over demonic forces. (It's enough to make a cynic optimistic!) You don't need to shriek, shout and scream. You don't need to eat beans, black-eyed peas and lentils. (Who likes that stuff any way?) You don't need to set up a friend to bring you a gift. Neither do you need to charge your credit card to fill the cupboards. You just need to place your faith in Jesus and His Word in 2010. And everything will be okay. And everything will turn out right. Who needs to hear it?

"'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

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

Moving Forward by Looking Back

And so here we are with another year gone by the wayside. And, if anything, we have another chance for evaluation. And so to begin with, where does 2007 rank in your life experience? I mean, on a scale of one to ten (ten being the best and one being the worst) how do you see 2007 in areas like career, relationships, personal development, etc.? And maybe it was a five in career for you and six in relationships and a six and a half in personal development. And maybe the five in the career area - it wasn’t so much your fault as it was a lot of things took place that were beyond your control. And maybe the six in relationships – well, you see, in 2006 you had a one in that area so you’ve been improving big time. Do you see any areas of improvement in your life where you know you were going in the wrong direction, but now, at least you’re going in the right direction? And then what about the area of attitude? How’s your attitude on a scale of one to ten? And I think I heard somebody say somewhere, “Attitude is everything.” And no matter what the New Year may bring, if we can have a positive attitude, I think it’s half the battle. With this in mind I’ve included some quotes on attitude that I thought you might appreciate. May they help point you in the positive direction in 2008.

Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats. ~Voltaire

I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet. ~Ancient Persian Saying

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious. ~Bill Meyer

Defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it. ~Joe Clark

Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude. I like fun. ~Colleen C. Barrett

Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost. ~Robert H. Schuller

An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere; while a pessimist sees only the red stop light. The truly wise person is color blind. ~Dr. Albert Schweitzer

Finally . . . whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~Philippians 4:8

(Quotes gleaned from the following websites: Quote Garden, Wisdom Quotes, Inspirational Quotes and BibleGateway.)

Trust The Guide

"And I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, In paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them And rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, And I will not leave them undone." (Isaiah 42:16)

While reading my Bible the other day I came across this verse and I wanted to share with you from H. A. Ironside's commentary on it since it's just so very encouraging. I don't know what you're going through or what lies just beyond today for your life (or mine), my friends. (I guess if I did I could make a lot of money?!) But God knows. And because He does we can rest assured that we are safe in His loving care and He will complete the work He's started in us. Now here's what Ironside says: "If God explained all His ways with us beforehand we would no longer walk by faith, but by sight. He leads us along strange paths, and through new and peculiar experiences that we may learn how marvelously His grace can sustain, and how blessedly His wisdom can plan. It is not necessary that we should see the road ahead. It is only necessary that we trust our Guide. He knows the end from the beginning, and He never deviates from His purpose of blessing. When, at last, we have reached the city of God and look back over the way we have come, we shall praise Him for all His dealings with us, and we shall understand the reason for every trial."