Blessed!

“Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O men of little faith?” Luke12:27-28.

It’s lily season! These are from my gardens. Each flower pictured is a daylily, so named because it blooms in all of its glory for one day ONLY, and fades away. How extravagant is our Lord!

Beloved,

I did a word study recently, and it’s just so illuminating, I’m delighted to share it with you! We, as a fellowship of believers, use the word ‘bless’ frequently and almost offhandedly. ‘God bless you!’; ‘Have a blessed day!’; ‘Blessings!’; ‘He/She is so blessed!’ It is a very familiar term and we all use it to express affection, goodness and wellbeing.

The word translated ‘blessed’ in the New Testament is like many Greek words in the Bible; their English translations have several possible meanings that should not be lumped into one literal translation.

Usually when I say, “God bless you!” I mean “may your circumstances be favorable,” or something vaguely positive like that. One word translated ‘blessed’ is makarios, which means, “to be declared as indwelt by God and therefore fully satisfied.” Makarios means possessing the characteristic of deity, and indicates the state of the believer in Christ. The believer is indwelt by God because of Christ and as a result is fully satisfied. The Greek word ‘happiness’ (eudiamon/eutuches) which means ‘lucky’, never occurs in the New Testament. The Lord never promised happiness, good luck, or favorable circumstances to the believer, but ‘blessedness.’ This means His indwelling and the consequent peace and satisfaction to the believer no matter what the circumstances may be. To be makarios (blessed) is equivalent to having God’s kingdom within one’s heart; the one who is in the world, yet independent of the world, because his satisfaction comes from God and not from favorable circumstances.

Another translation for the word ‘blessed’ is from the Greek word eulogeo, which means, “to speak well of.” Our familiar word ‘eulogize’ has its basis in eulogeo, and we all relate that word to funerals and the eulogy, or favorable words, spoken on behalf of the deceased. When we ask God to bless us, or speak well of us, we are asking Him not merely to approve our plans but to interfere in our lives. God’s words are God’s actions. He acts for our benefit as He sees what we need most, and not merely on what we desire. Therefore, having God eulogeo (bless) us is His perfect will in action for us.

Whew! What a different perception of God’s blessings! Not connected with circumstances?! Blessed in tragedy and sickness and lack and challenges? Yes!! Blessed in prosperity and fruitfulness and joy and good times? Yes!! Always, because we are inhabited by the Spirit of Jesus Christ! Every circumstance becomes subject to the reality of believers being the habitation of the one, true, holy and living God of the universe.

Oh, my goodness! I am blessed, every moment, every place, in every situation because He has promised that He will never leave me nor forsake me. I will desire earnestly His blessings! Inhabit, Lord, and interfere!

Beloved, God BLESS you, now and forevermore!! And I do mean makarios and eulogeo!

Passionately pursuing Christ,

Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family

Information from Lexical Aids to the New Testament, Spiros Zodhiates, The Hebrew-Greek Study Bible, NASB, AMG.

Treasures, Here and There

Beloved,

My thoughts this week have been repeatedly drawn to the brevity of life and how quickly my focus stays on the things of this world instead of heavenly things. We returned from a 2-1/2 week trip on Monday, and I am strangely noticing my closets, home and outbuildings harboring things that I don’t use much and keep packing a little farther back or burying a little deeper from view. You may know what I mean: Rubbermaid containers stacked and labeled with obscure items; quilt fabrics folded and stored on dreams; projects that, all things considered, will never materialize; bargains that seemed too-good-to-be-true on the purchase date. I’m painfully aware of things I purchased with money that we took the time and effort to earn, but which proved to be unnecessary and not very useful. Please don’t think I don’t recognize the need for storing legitimate things and owning seasonal and not-often-used items. I’m referring to the great American surplus.

My thoughts compelled me to re-read the story Jesus told in Luke, Chapter 12, about the man who became rich in this world’s goods, built bigger barns to store it all and decided to retire and live comfortably from his excess. The truth of the situation was that this man’s life was cut short and God called him to accountability right then. His earthly goods were dispersed, and tragically, he had stored up no heavenly treasures with God. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’” (Jesus continued) “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21)

I realized that I have closets full of futility and a barn full of potential, but my heart’s real desire is to be called heavenward with checks in the mail to ministries carrying the Gospel of Jesus, and my bank account uncomfortably low because I support the poor and destitute around the globe. I really want to be leaning hard on the Lord for my own needs because I focused on the needs He presented to me for others. I deeply yearn to walk in His two greatest commandments, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:28)

Oh, dear God! Let me deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You, disregarding my own desire for possessions and worldly security! As I thank You for each new morning, may I exhibit Your generous heart; may I be a living river of blessing and not a stagnant puddle that reeks of decay! Increase the storage of my heavenly home, Lord, ‘cause I’m cleaning out the closets here below and my treasures are taking on an ‘Otherworldly’ aura! Moths and rust, be gone! Let me not fear this day if it were my last, but invest this day and all its benefits in ‘futures’ with a guarantee of unbelievable return. The checks are in the mail, Lord!

"Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." (Luke 12:15)

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”

(Luke 12:32)

Passionately serving Christ,

Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family

The New Work Continues. . . . .

Sterling climbed a 50' tree to capture this sunset over the Rocky Mountains

Beloved,

We had the weekdays uncommitted this week (June 20th) , and spent our time camping high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. As the fire faded one evening, the night sky was brilliant with stars and constellations and a multitude of heavenly lights. We talked about quasars, the Milky Way, the sun, moon and planets, and time in light years. The vastness was incomprehensible.

My heart cried out to God, “Who are You? I cannot fathom Your eternity, your enormity, Your magnitude!” His night sky alone speaks volumes about His Sovereignty. His creation reveals His glory!

How astonishing that He knows me! Not just knows me, but He dwells with me, in me! How can we contain Him? We cannot!! How does the Infinite indwell my heart? Somehow He condescends to live in His beloved, and yet His habitation is unspeakably limitless. He knows my thoughts and the meditations of my heart. In Him, my potential is beyond my imagination.

Beloved, why do we wonder if God can complete the work He has started in His people? Why do we worry about our loved ones’ walk with Him? Why so much concern for our children finishing the race and receiving their crown? Why do we not trust in the leadership He has placed throughout His Kingdom? How can we look at the churches around us and not believe that they are the body of Jesus Christ, the work of His hands, being brought to completion under His authority? Why can we not be “confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” ? (Philippians 1:6) If we are redeemed, purchased with the blood of the Almighty One, where is our confidence that the Almighty One can lead His own to fulfill the dreams He has ordained for them?

Consider today the infinite ability of the Lord, Jesus Christ; meditate on His unsurpassed power; multiply that thought with His unsearchable love, and “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil 4:6) If we can remember each moment who He is, we can stop criticizing the hands and feet and toes and elbows that He has placed around us to complete His body here on earth! We can stop worrying, fretting, and fearing the outcome of the walk of our loved ones who journey with Him. Comparing, evaluating, judging and dividing the Church He called to unity and peace, have the beginning of their end right here in the middle of our redeemed hearts! We have received every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus our Lord. He has boldly revealed His glory! If the whole universe exists in orchestrated harmonious symphony, can we not also make one, unified joyful noise unto our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and bring Him glory?

I guess I must confess to you today that answering the call to work among the many and varied churches across this continent also places us in the midst of sheep from many flocks, but we all share the One Shepherd. Seems we all vie for the most-favored position, not realizing that that position simply does not exist.

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Abba! Our Father! Jesus! One Lord! Let us worship Him in spirit and in truth!

Passionately serving Christ,
Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family

"You thought that I was just like you."

Psalm 50:21

Sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico, Henderson State Beach, Florida

Copyright Simple Grace Ministries, 2009

Beloved,

One of the things I love about being on the road is that without a two-story house, a yard and flower garden, or extended family and friends nearby, my time for reflection, study and prayer increases dramatically. The hours spent traveling afford opportunity to pursue Godly things without neglecting any responsibilities.

This week, through a series of “coincidences,” I have been pointed three times through different sources to the scripture in Psalm 50 which says, “You thought that I was just like you”. (Ps. 50:21) Somehow amid seeking His will and following His call, feeling His love and studying His word, I still find it difficult to absorb how empirically and intrinsically different He is from me. I long to comprehend His GOD-ness, His indescribable sovereignty that scrutinizes the universe from wide expanse to micro-atomic detail, and yet is somehow devoted to me in my obscurity. I am chosen by Him. I am beloved. I am His defended possession, treasured more than His life, for He gave His life for me. Not like me at all!

In the familiarity of scripture, He can sometimes be sensed as too common, too much a peer, and it is tempting to reduce His majesty to a fraternal level. Though I am not tempted to consider Jesus my ‘buddy’, He is my closest Friend and I confide in Him all day long. Casually. Intimately. Informally. He is my ‘Abba.’

Existing far beyond that capacity, I am thankful to be reminded that sometimes I DO think He is just like me. Tragically so. Limited by earthly boundaries. Restricted in resources. Perplexed by circumstances. Wounded by words or relationships. Broken by sin.

“You thought that I was just like you.”

Those words are a wake-up call to consider Him. From Genesis to Revelation, He is NOT like me! I delight in pondering His untouchable holiness, His limitless power and astonishing creativity. If at any time I entertain thoughts of being ‘like Jesus’, a moment’s consideration of Who He is places me back into the realm of reality.

I am simply an extremely grateful servant who, in humility, passionately desires to be His disciple. Transformed by His love and redemption. Dependent. Vulnerable. Sustained by grace. For today, at least, I am awestruck by the King of Kings: He who alone puts the ‘Awe’ in Awesome, the ‘Wonder’ in Wonderful, and Who loves me personally enough to remind me of Who He is.

Passionately serving Christ,

Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family