Last Thursday was a wonderful day! In the morning I spoke to almost 500 Pastors and other church leaders gathered at The Cove, had meaningful discussions over lunch, and felt really encouraged that God had blessed a lot of people.
In the afternoon I attempted to study for the upcoming weekend sermon, but couldn’t concentrate. The weather was beautiful in Asheville so I decided to take a walk and enjoy the mountain scenery and pray.
Believe it or not, sometimes I have pity parties. Yes, sometimes I feel sorry for myself that I don’t have more impact, more influence for God, or more ability. That shocks some people, but it is true.
During my walk somehow my thoughts turned down pity-party lane.
That’s when it happened! I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. I remembered the hardscrabble Tennessee farm on which I grew up, my mother and father and other humble people who guided my early years. The contrast between that and what I had just experienced hit me with force. Here I was walking on the gorgeous grounds of The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, living the life I’d always dreamed and prayed for. In addition to a marvelous family in Tennessee, back home in Albany I have a wonderful wife, two wonderful children, a church that loves us, and friends who really care. I enjoy excellent health, plenty to eat, a meaningful vocation, and lots more! God seemed to be saying, “My son, if I never did another thing through you, your life is a miracle story of my grace. What do you have that you did not receive?”
That question is from 1 Corinthians 4:7. As I thought of it I actually said it out loud and through tears I responded each time, “Nothing Lord. Everything I have is pure grace. Everything I have is a grace gift from you.”
The depth of my emotion surprised me. But there was more. God then emblazoned another verse on my mind, this time from Ephesians 4:7. It says, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” I had never noticed that last phrase: “as Christ apportioned it.” In other words, if I was complaining and unhappy that I didn’t have more grace in a certain area of life, more influence or impact, my “beef” was really with Jesus. My portion of grace was not the result of a random lotto drawing, but the personal choice of my Savior! I’m still working on that one!
Coincidentally, both verses happened to be from chapter four, verse seven of their respective letters. So I’ve dubbed it “The 4:7 Principle.”
I’ll never forget that walk. God met me in a mysterious way with grace and truth. I returned from it with renewed energy, fresh insight, and a heart brimming with gratitude.
Insight for the Journey 
I have never blogged before but here goes….
I think the longer I am a Christian the more restless I get. When God is doing big things in my life and through my life, I am very content. When things slow down or plateau, I get very restless and if I am not careful, it would be easy to forget just how much I have learned about God and backslide.
It is as if life has become, ‘Grow or Die!’ John Eldridge could write his next book on ‘Surviving a Plateau’ and make millions. Who will rescue me from this body of conflict?
I am grateful that I have my wife and so many Christian brothers in my life to help me keep my focus on contentment and patience and Gratitude! And mercifully, the Lord has me in a growing phase right now so these spiritual fruits are a tad easier to harvest.
Speaking of gratitude, I have this great pastor who builds into my life every week without speaking directly to me because the character of his life is so evident in everything he does. He is one of the most influential people in my life. I try to take all the wisdom he passes on and use it so that my life will look something like his. I should tell him more just how much he means to me. (I expect to skip the pity party part this week though.)
God is doing great things. May gratitude reign this week! Amen.
Wow another first time blogger….. What are the chances? Anyway, I am so thankful that I am not the only one lacking grace in certain areas. I have been beating myself up for years (although Jesus and I have made great strides in that area, still so far to go) that as a Christian saved relatively late in life I have so much worldly baggage to overcome. I take great comfort in the fact that I am in good company.
Pastor Rex,
Thanks for sharing the scriptures and insights that the Lord gave you. I love the way we are encouraged and given insights through other members of the Body of Christ.
Blessings!