Robert Engstrom

God’s providence means that God “provides” in a loving, benevolent way. As I see it, there are at least expressions of God’s providence:
1) Providence of Design (the foundation of reality, the ocean of life that buoys us up in our daily life)
2) Providence of Direct Intervention (less frequent perhaps)
3) Providence of Sustaining Presence (constant/always)

The Providence of Design has to do with how God so generously created our world’s life-giving and life-sustaining rhythms of day and night, the seasons of the year, even the seasons of our lives. Just at autumn is traditionally the season of harvest…at a certain point in your life you will likely begin to experience the harvest of your life…as you build a legacy and share the wisdom of a lifetime with those who are younger.

The Providence of Design is also expressed in the reliable ways the human body works, how our bodies grow to maturity, how they repair and heal themselves when we get injured or sick. Scripture tells us that God has also designed each of us to have a life purpose as we develop our gifts, grow in our vocational skills and experience, and simply learn to be our best selves. The love and compassion we show towards others is part of God’s Providence of Design.

Once in a while, we experience something beautiful that’s out of the ordinary. Have you ever experienced what felt like a miracle? That happens to me whenever I seem to be in the right place at the right time in the course of my ministry – it’s uncanny! We might call that God’s Providence of Direct Intervention, perhaps as God’s angels help coordinate events and special processes in our lives.

Finally, there is the Providence of God’s Sustaining Presence portrayed by the God of Hebrew Scriptures whose name, Jaweh (Jehovah) means “the ever present God,” the “I AM THAT I AM” who says, “…do not be terrified…(or) discouraged, for the LORD (YAWEH) your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.

This is the sustaining God who is always at your side at every step of your life’s journey.

A New Name – Part II
By Chaplain Bob Engstrom

I mentioned last time how the Biblical Patriarch Jacob had tricked his brother Esau out of the family birthright blessing and inheritance and had to flee for his life to a distant land where he lived 20 years with his uncle Laban who took every opportunity to take unfair advantage of Jacob. However, the same God who helped Jacob grow into an honest, honorable man, also prospered him despite Laban’s trickery.

Finally, God said, “Jacob, Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives and I will be with you.” (Genesis 31:3) In other words, “Jacob, you have unfinished business to take care of – you need to go back home and heal your wounded relationship with Esau.” So he makes his way home with his large family and flocks. One night enroute, he goes off to a quiet place to have some quiet time alone with God…when suddenly, he feels a hand on his shoulder! Thinking his assailant is surely an enemy, Jacob begins a valiant wrestling match that lasted all night long!

As a new day dawned, it also dawned on Jacob that he had been wrestling with God in the form of an angel. God spoke up and said, “Let me go, for the day is dawning.” Jacob, not about to let this golden opportunity slip by, vehemently replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me!”

And so God blessed Jacob by giving him a new name. It was no longer Jacob which bore the disgrace of his reputation as “cheater” or “deceitful, tricky one.” His new name was to be “Israel,” (Genesis 32:28) which meant “he prevails with God” and “he rules with God.” It also meant “prince.”

Likewise, when we’ve made poor decisions or even have a reputation that’s hard to live down, God offers us a new start…always! He offers opportunity for a new reputation…for a “new name,” so to speak. It may take some spiritual wrestling before we can feel the assurance of that hope, not because we have to wrestle, but because that’s what human’s do. We resist change.
God doesn’t want to wrestle. He only wants to hold us in his arms, is he likely embraced Jacob at the end. God offers us a new identity, that of being his children…his “princess” or “prince,” as he is our King of the Universe. And that “new name” is really your true name, your true identity, the true and honorable self God created each of you to be!

The Biblical patriarch Jacob was the younger of twins, brother Esau had slipped out of the birth canal first, making him the first born entitled to a special birthright, as we read story in Genesis 27. God revealed to their mother Rebecca that he had a special purpose for Jacob and that Esau would be his subordinate. Being all too human Rebecca and Jacob jumped ahead of God’s providence and tricked Esau out of the birthright blessing. Thus Jacob’s name took on the meaning of “deceitful one” or “cheater.”

Jacob had to flee from Esau’s murderous threats of revenge…fleeing to a distant land where his uncle Laban had pitched his tents. Can you imagine how lonely young Jacob felt that first night under the stars as he began his journey? This may have been his first time away from home…and no doubt he felt God had forsaken him for committing such a horrible deed. With his heart aching with sadness, loneliness, and depression, he lay down to sleep with a stone for a pillow. And God gave him a dream he would never forget. In it he saw:

“…a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: ‘I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac….’” Then God reaffirmed to Jacob the same promises he made to Jacob’s father Isaac and grandfather Abraham…that all peoples of the earth would be blessed by his offspring.

Finally God assured him, “I am with you and will watch over you and wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” What a promise! After what Jacob had done, God still had a purpose for his life! What was Jacob’s response? “The LORD will be my God,” a commitment which began a period of twenty years of spiritual growth and rehabilitation, with plenty of ups and downs at the hands of his deceitful uncle.

God never gave up on Jacob, nor does God ever give up on us! God doesn’t love just “good boys and girls.” No matter how badly we’ve behaved, nothing can change how passionately God loves us. We don’t have to shape up before we come to him any more than we have to get well before seeing a doctor. And he’ll help us clean up any mess we’ve made in our lives.

12-year old Linda volunteered to get milk for Christmas Eve dinner and as she crossed the darkened street for the store, she stepped into the path of an oncoming car which sped off after it hit her. Firemen rushed her to the nearest Emergency Room struggling to keep her airway open, starting an IV and quickly examining her for wounds. But her skin was grayish and her partially opened eyes were unfocused. She died on the ER table before Nurse Rachel and her team could even cut off her clothes.

For ten years after that Rachel could not shake the question, “How could God have let a thing like that happen on the night we celebrate the birthday of his son?” Not until we reach “the other side” will we likely have an answer to that question. Yet as the years passed she was able to find comfort in scripture, especially ones that tell us God not only shares in our grief but “has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases,” (Isaiah 53:4) fulfilled in the death of God’s own son on the cross. So perhaps God did know what it is like to have a child die. Other passages she read included the following:

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted.” Psalm 34:18. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” Isaiah 43:2. “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:10

Rachel found comfort in Jesus’ parting words, “Remember, I am with you always.” Matthew 28:30. But was he there that night in the emergency room? I can do no better than quote Rachel’s reply to her own question:

“…after more than twenty years, I can see that God was in the hurried, careful pace of the fireman who scooped Linda up off the street; God was in the tears and compassionate manner of the police officer; God was in the gentle hands of the emergency department personnel (including mine), in the tenderness and unspoken sympathy that my colleagues share.” Rachel continues, “God was in the arms of my husband who waited up for me that night. God was even in the anguish of the child’s family, in true love that broke apart and spilled out over the loss of someone so precious.”

God is present in your skills, compassion, and care as you live to bless the lives of others while at work, at home, or wherever you are.

Psalm 63:9-11 – A Strange Ending?
By Chaplain Bob Engstrom

We covered portions of Psalm 63:1-8 in previous devotionals and have only begun to mine the riches of inspiration to be found there. However, as sometimes happens with inspirational Psalms, Psalm 63 seems to end with an anticlimax!

In verses 9-11 we find the Psalmist predicting the destruction of his enemies as “they will be given over the sword and become food for jackals. But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God’s name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.” So what is going on with the Psalmist? It helps to put a few things in perspective:

• First, the Psalms reflect very human reactions, including thoughts and feelings of revenge against the enemy. What better way to keep control of one’s anger than to vent our feelings before God. Or in the Psalmist’s case, he journals his anger before God for us all to see. Such prayer can be therapeutic!

• Jesus balances out such human impulses by his words, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you….Be merciful, just as your Father (God) is merciful.” (cf. Luke 6:27-36) In Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus points out such love is evidence we are God’s children who ‘causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous….Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” One often-used New Testament word for perfection describes maturity rather than technical perfection. In this case, perfection is equated with mercy.

So how do we balance out these sentiments for ourselves? The Psalms model prayers of anger which also give us permission to process our anger (and other emotions) before God, our Divine Therapist. Additionally, God helps us, if needed, through human coaches trained in the field of mental/behavioral health. As we grow in our love relationship with God as his/her children, our hearts may grow and enlarge so as to embrace all people, including those we don’t like very well! Jesus’ ultimate example of such love is seen in his words on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34.

Psalm 63 is also an invitation for us to grow!

In a much simpler era, a privileged young man by the name of Paul received a new car from his older brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a poverty-stricken child was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. “Is this your car, Mister?” he asked. Paul nodded. “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was astounded. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you nothing? Boy, I wish…” And he hesitated. Of course Paul knew what the boy was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels. “I wish,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.”

Well it was Paul’s turn to look astonished. Then on impulse he said, “Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?” “O yes, I’d love that!” After a short ride the boy turned and with his eyes glowing, said, “Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?” Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again. “Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked.

He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his crippled little brother. He sat down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car. “There she is, Bobby, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and didn’t cost him a cent. And some day I’m gonna give you one just like it…then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying to tell you about.” Paul got out and lifted the crippled lad to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.

That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when He had said, “It is more blessed to give….” And of course, that’s why Jesus came — to show us how to give.

Note: I adapted this beautiful tale from a collection of Christmas stories. I regret beting unable to give specific credit it’s author who to me is unknown

A Christmas Message
By Chaplain Bob Engstrom

I will never forget a Christmas day back in 1962 when I was eight time zones from my childhood home in the San Francisco Bay area. It was a bitterly cold day a the snow-covered city of York, England — home of the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral. I was on a Christmas trip through England and Scotland during my year at Newbold College near London. During the frigid Christmas Eve night before I unknowingly scorched the shoulders of my jacket as I huddled too close to a single bare heating element on the wall in a bed and breakfast room I had rented. For one shilling, I could have an hour’s worth of heat.

The family of one of my schoolmates, had invited me to join them for Christmas dinner. They were kind, hospitable English folk. But of course it was still lonely, because I was far from home.

During wartime our soldiers have had to be away from home – like our American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. There is a well-known song from World War II that talks about a longing for home: “I’ll be home for Christmas./ You can plan on me./ Please have snow and mistletoe and presents on the tree./ Christmas Eve will find me/ Where the love-light gleams./ I’ll be home for Christmas”…and then come the poignant last words, “If only in my dreams.”

There are in the Bible two Christmas stories – the story about the wise men and the story about the shepherds.

The wise men were wealthy, educated men of noble birth who traveled 400 treacherous miles to follow a brilliant star…because of a longing. They seeking to fill an emptiness that only God could fill. And at the manger they found their spiritual home. Many times we feel an emptiness like that – like something is really missing from our lives. Christmas is about filling that emptiness!

By contrast were the rough and ready shepherds – poor, perhaps uneducated… they too suffering from deep hunger or longing or a better life. Maybe in the darkness that night they had been talking about what they had heard about a coming Messiah. When suddenly God startles them by the brilliance of angels! Instead of appearing to kings or presidents, this magnificent choir honors them with the most dramatic announcement of human history. And as if that was not enough, God’s heavenly messengers personally escort these humble shepherds to the temporary home of His Son Jesus — at home in a barn in Bethlehem.

That barn symbolizes our own hearts where God and Jesus have offered to make their permanent home — and we find them there through the pathway of love.

Psalm 63:3-5 – Thankfulness a Road to Peace
By Chaplain Bob Engstrom

As we make a fourth pass at Psalm 63, the author gives a couple of reasons for praising God: “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you….My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.” Additionally, he says, “I will praise you for as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”

Regardless of how attractive or alluring counterfeit values may be, in the end they leave us unsatisfied. Accumulating material wealth or power, or endless pursuit of pleasure leaves us empty. But as we focus on loving relationships with God and other people, we will eventually discover a life so precious that we’d rather die than lose those relationships. Jesus described it in his words, “I have come that you may have life…and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10. Once again, the Psalmist says, “My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods.”

So what might this “more abundant life” look like?

1) We will be at peace with what we cannot change – and focus our energies upon what is doable and satisfying!
Thus we live out the “Serenity Prayer.”

2) We will look beyond people’s faults to their magnificent gifts – most of all the gift of their personhood.
together.” That same holds true for other deep relationships.

3) We will build our marriages into a relationship that gets more deeply loving as the years go by – as we “grow old

4) We look beyond the ugliness of our world to its utter beauty, both in the natural world and in the fascinating
diversity of human cultures and faiths.

5) Satisfaction in our personal callings and vocations – our lives have purpose as we keep on growing!

6) What if we feel we’ve been unfairly blessed? Or have survivor’s guilt? Then it is our privilege to share of our bounty with those who have been not been as blessed with loving childhoods or with the same opportunities to get ahead as we have had.

7) When we die, we will not die into nothingness. We will die into God’s loving arms as we await future adventures of eternity.
Add your own blessings to the list!

Yes, we have much for which to be thankful