Thursday, January 2, 2014

MICK'S MUSINGS; God's "things" - enjoying them...without guilt.

In our connections with the servants of God around the world we discovered a blight on the Christian psyche among many wide-open-for-God servants....a conviction that somehow to do anything even a tad bit extravagant in our celebration of life is spiritually suspect. So anniversaries go unballyhooed (sp?).  Events meriting killing the fatted calf wind up a hot dog at home and watching a DVD. More often than we wanted, we heard servants convey their fear a $25 restaurant night out to mark a life moment would offend some of their supporters. Like the Apostle Paul, we need to learn how "to be dead broke or to be loaded" (Mick's loose translation of Philippians 4:12). Having too much? Rarely. Not  having it? More than we liked. But God, whose faithfulness kept us clothed, fed, and not head over hills in debt, also called us to enjoy what we did have. A family of imperfect lovers but who are committed to living it, offspring of the best friend kind, the necessities of life, amazing friends, and an occasional over the top extravagant gift like a week in Vail, CO trying not to break a leg skiing in that winter wonderland. The list is endless because God is endless in His goodness.

Here's the latest extravagance...Sir Gibby, Mick's Christmas gift from his offspring. Gibby is a Cavachon, loves people, doesn't shed, not yappy, smart, and has already let me know that my shoes are fair game. He is and will be "richly enjoyed".

Enjoyment of life's "good things" ought to mark us who have found in our Lord the ultimate "good thing".
Enjoyment is not sinful. It is expected of us on God's part. Otherwise we're wasting His "richly".

4 comments:

Barb Hayes said...

Well said, Mick. In striving to save for retirement, Hal and I ate a lot of hot dogs instead of splurging on steak. He never enjoyed the fruits of retirement and I regret we did not celebrate more.

Know you are enjoying your new "best buddy".

Happy New Year to you and Martha.

Barb

Bud Schatz said...

Some of us had those thoughts so often spoken that we could not feel any other way than to know "it did not please the Lord." Thanks again, for giving us freedom that He has given to us...our command it "to glorify Him" and we can do that in many, many ways and loving out pets is one of them!! Blessings on you two (actually three now). We are rejoicing in Him. Ginny & Bud

Bud Schatz said...

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Deb Martin said...

Tears are falling as I read this blog just now Mickey. You verbalized thoughts I have struggled with in secret & unexpressed these past ten years as we have served full time with Wycliffe Associates. Others have tried (in vain) to tell me that times of fun, & special gifts (on occasion) were just fine, and in fact blessings from The Lord, while I fought feelings of any such embellishments being sinful & too extravagant for the Lord's servants.
How can I thank you for these words of wisdom from a fellow servant of God whom I have admired & looked up to for many years now?
Thank you for reminding me that "it's o.k." :-)
We, too "splurged" a few months ago, when we found & purchased our little maltipoo puppy Rufus, and he has been a comfort, and a blessing to ALL of us these past 6 months, and has brought joy into the house!
Thanks for sharing your heart, and being a special blessing yet again, Mickey!