One day, I overheard heard a doctor tell a friend after surgery, “your knee’s beautiful.
To me, it was unsightly and swollen. But the doc was right.
I’m prone to think of beauty in a surface way. But the Bible speaks of a deeper attraction, of “the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:2)
Thankfully, despite the fantastic beauty in our world, God sees past my scars, bruises and blunders. Past mine, and past yours.
Psalm 29:2
Dave “Tud” Nance
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A while back I was driving long distance. My book on tape had finished and there were no radio stations in range.
So, miles and miles of silence.
After a few miles my mind began drifting toward scripture. And I found myself focused on what it said, and what it meant.
When the music came back my thoughts left the scripture.
And then I realized: for me, if not for you, unfilled silence is a powerful way to claim Malachi’s promise: “And the Lord listened and heard them…who meditate on His name.”
Malachi 3:16
Dave “Tud” Nance
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“We were given a vacation to Yellowstone, but he preferred go to the beach.”
I overheard this conversation while I was standing in line at the grocery store. She won a drawing for a free vacation prize to Yellowstone National Park, but wasn’t really happy it.
She said “every time we saw something awesome, he brought up the fact that he had wanted to go to the beach.” It was really hard to enjoy at all.
Sometimes I notice myself doing this grumbling too. God has given me an awesome number of blessings, but rather frequently I manage to focus on something that isn’t quite as perfect as I want it to be.
How much more happy would I be if I actually paid attention to the many many blessing Jesus has already given me?
Then it would be a great day!
Proverbs 17:22: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Dave “Tud” Nance
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The other day, a friend told me that his hobby “speaks to me!”
Another friend added, “that’s the way I feel at a NASCAR race!”
And yet, for me, my daily life has only a few moments of passion. It’s filled with every-day normal stuff—the “stuff” of life.
The day-in, day-out, over and over sunrise, sunset, teeth-brushing, traffic-light-waiting, bill paying-type experiences.
But truthfully, God is in even the smallest details. So I don’t need big things to make today a great day.
“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10
Dave “Tud” Nance
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My son and I were trying to get my eight year old push-mower going (self-propelled, so I suppose “push” isn’t exactly right).
I had done a bit of work to it, so we took turns pulling the starter. It wore us both out. Then we remembered the starter fluid in the garage. One small squirt — it starts immediately!
It ran rough for a few minutes, then smoothed out comfortably.
My son suggested that starter fluid might be a good way to think of Jesus.
Philippians 4:13
Dave “Tud” Nance
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I like reading spooky books.
One author wrote: “Scary stories sell because everyone fears a lot of things that won’t happen. Even things that have no chance of happening.”
I suppose, for myself, my life is so blessed that I enjoy moments of anxiety with the characters of the movie. But if I were mired in anguish and fear for real, I’d not be interested in a scary book.
The spiritual difference is that I have hope. A deep hope because, in Christ, “all things work together for good.” I pray I can maintain this faith.
Romans 8.28
Dave “Tud” Nance
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I enjoy a nice nap every now and then. In fact, I enjoy sleeping late too.
And, I never really thought of sleeping as a spiritual experience, until it occurred to me one night, while I couldn’t get to sleep:
I’ve known some children who were afraid to go to sleep. They were afraid that something bad would happen when they weren’t watching.
When I give in to sleep, I’m giving up control. I’m trusting God. What could be more spiritual? I suppose that’s why Jesus was able to sleep in a boat in the storm!
Matthew 8:23-25
Dave “Tud” Nance
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I suppose that most of us have had moments, when hope was as scarce as eggs in a hardware store.
But God’s hope somehow manages to creep into my heart!
And, I’ve noticed something— when I keep hope to myself it seems to fade like a whisper of a dream.
My hope is more powerful when I share it with someone. And David too felt the power of shared hope:
Therefore my heart is glad
and my tongue rejoices
my body also will live in hope! (Psalm 16:9)
Hope, yes! But hopefully, a hope shared!
Psalm 16:9
Dave “Tud” Nance
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I received an email today. She wrote: “I’m at a hard place in my life. Yesterday, I went to a small chapel. It was like I was somehow drawn.”
“I knelt there. Silently I cried hesitant tears. My heart was full, but the words I spoke weren’t the reason for my tears.
“I think that my tears were my prayer – I just couldn’t find the words.”
Romans 8:27—“Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
Romans 8:27
Dave “Tud” Nance
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My wife went to sit with an elderly Alzheimer’s patient, thinking to make some phone calls while he cat-napped. But she forgot her charger, so naturally it died.
And likewise, I find it too easy to forget my connection with Jesus sometimes.
I forget to pray, or forget to read and meditate about the word. I ignore chances to make someone’s life a little better, getting caught up in petty personal issues.
He said: “I’m the vine. You’re the branches…without me you can’t do anything.” I’ll do well to remember that.
John 15: 5
Dave “Tud” Nance
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