Michele
McLean

Contributing Writer

Michele is a former CBN staff contributor to CBN.com.

More from Michele Mclean

More from Michele Mclean

Heavenly Contemplations

I have no home. I’m not homeless per say, but I having no dwelling to call my own. It’s a long story, but basically because of a job layoff, my husband has been traveling the past year for the job he currently has. As of July, our family sold our home and we have been moving around. So far we have been to California, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas. Yes, we have driven all these places with three energetic boys ages 5-14; and yes I still retain my sanity!

I tend to be a thinker and reflect on all that is happening around about me. Traveling has afforded me many opportunities to ponder the amazing greatness of God. Our second day traveling back from California we were driving through New Mexico and the mountains were purple; and it clicked in my head, “Oh, that’s what the song means ... purple mountain majesty!” I was so amazed by the different vegetation that grows in Southern California. It seemed so foreign and yet so strikingly beautiful. I have a whole picture folder of trees, cacti, plants, and flowers I had never seen before. I was able to see breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean from high atop cliffs and close up in the surf and sand. There is an eeriness of the desert as you drive through miles and miles with nothing in sight. At times I missed the green of the East Coast and all the trees that clutter its landscape. What an amazing creation; even better, what an amazing Creator.

I have only seen a fraction of this world. Truth be told, outside the USA, I’ve only visited Canada. As I sat in the car day after day, I took it all in and pondered over everything I was seeing. My one thought was, “How amazing heaven must be!” No sin has marred it. It is home to our awesome God. There is no need for the sun, for His glory illuminates His paradise. There is only happiness and peace. What will it be like to be so enveloped in God’s love? What will it be like to breathe in His goodness? What will it be like to see the fierce, compassionate eyes of our Savior? It is too much to comprehend.

Ah, but here we find ourselves back on this stained earth. Wars, uncertainty, famine, suffering, stress - it goes on and on. We can begin to let the things of the world overwhelm us, worry us, stress us out. Fear would like to come in and make a home in our hearts. When this begins to happen we need to take a minute and think on good things.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who goes to him for safety” (
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
).

No matter what is going on around us, God is good, He is amazing. He does wonders in the earth; and He is never, ever shaken. One day we will meet him face to face. All of these temporary trials will seem but a moment. We will be with Him forever.

“But we are citizens of heaven. And we can hardly wait for a Savior from there. He is the Lord Jesus Christ.” (
).

Copyright © Michele McLean, used by permission.

God's Positioning System

The other day, I needed the GPS to guide me to an appointment in an unfamiliar area of town. I dropped the kids off at a friend’s house and was on my way. As the voice began spouting off the first direction, I immediately questioned the direction it told me to go. As soon as the notion came to my mind, I remembered when I ignored the GPS directions to my last appointment. I ended up getting lost and was late, all because I was sure I knew better than the GPS (I mean, I am the intelligent human with a pretty good sense of direction; it is only a machine). Against my inner compass, I gave in and followed the directions from the little black box on my dashboard. Low and behold, I made it safely to my destination.

While I was driving, the thought occurred to me that I have been guilty of taking the same stance with God. When the Holy Spirit prompts me in a certain direction, there are times I insist I know a better route. Sometimes, it is because I am uncertain where that road will lead me and I do not want to be out of my comfort zone. At other times, I can’t seem to make sense of the road God has placed me on. Why is this road so bumpy at times? Shouldn’t it be smoothly paved? Don’t I deserve a nice, easy ride?

Psalm 16 is referred to as a psalm of confidence. In the psalm, David tells of God’s goodness toward him. He testifies that the Lord is his teacher and gives him good advice. He declares

"You are my Lord. Without you, I don't have anything that is good" (
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
NIRV).

This psalm was written at a time of uncertainty and upheaval in David’s life. Saul was in pursuit of his life, even though he had done nothing wrong against him. The prophet had anointed him to be king, yet he found himself an outcast and a fugitive of Israel. I am sure he wondered at times why this was happening to him. His own men told him he should kill Saul when he came into the cave where they were hiding. Yet David knew that was not God’s plan for him to take the kingdom in his own strength. He tells Saul he could have killed him but He will let the Lord judge him and pay him back. He trusted God to save him from Saul. (

).

David chose to trust God alone, no matter the circumstances, no matter the outcome. At the conclusion of Psalm 16, he pronounces

“You always show me the path of life. You will fill me with joy when I am with you. You will make me happy forever at your right hand” (
 NIRV).

At times, in our Christian walk, we come to a juncture and we need to know the direction God has for us. At other times, the road may be filled with obstacles, littered with potholes, or tied up in construction. Just like David, we need to hear God’s advice and counsel. Here is the cool part: all we have to do is turn on our GPS (God’s Positioning System). He is our creator, our Father, and friend. God says in

(NIRV)

“I will guide you and teach you the way you should go. I will give you good advice and watch over you with love.”

He will never lead us down the wrong route or leave us when the road gets rough. Although we may not always understand why he steers us on a particular road, we can be confident that He knows how to get us safely to our final destination.

Copyright © Michele McLean, used with permission.

Thanksgiving pie

In All Things, Give Thanks

We are coming upon the holiday season and Thanksgiving is a time where we again reflect on what we have to be grateful for. Prayers are said, thankfulness is expressed and we celebrate God’s blessings once again on Thanksgiving Day. On this day it is relatively easy to conjure up these warm feelings in our heart. Isn’t that the whole point of the day? I mean, it isn’t all about the turkey and pumpkin pie.

As this season approaches, I am reminded we are to recognize the blessings in our life each day. Thankfulness is not a once a year novelty. It’s not to be put on once a year like our reindeer holiday sweater! I believe we need to daily cultivate a heart of thanksgiving. Scripture tells us,

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Give thanks no matter what happens. God wants you to thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIRV)

We are to give thanks in all things, not some things, not the great and wonderful things, but in everything.

Does that mean I am thankful if my car gets totaled? Well, I can be thankful that I wasn’t hurt. What about the really tough things in life like losing a job, a home, or the death of a loved one? Ouch! Thankfulness? Seriously? Oh I know we can say the right, “spiritual” thing in such circumstances. It’s harder to have a thankful heart in the circumstance. God isn’t saying to be thankful that something awful has happened. He knows we are human, we get hurt, we lose hope, and suffer grief. No, rather he wants us to give thanks in the face of it.

I was told at 20 weeks pregnant that my child had a syndrome that was rare and incompatible with life. They were uncertain if she would even survive the delivery. The second half of my pregnancy was filled with moments of fear, worry, prayer, and hope. Through a difficult and complicated delivery, my daughter was born with breath in her lungs. Her father and I, along with those most precious to us, were able to love on her in the little time her lungs sustained her.

Losing a child at any age is an unbearable burden, an indescribable despair. My sorrow was long and deep. In the midst of my sorrow, I found myself doing a peculiar thing. I was thankful. I was thankful Caitlin was born alive and that I could spend a few precious moments with her. I was thankful the nurses taking care of us felt God’s presence in our room. Although they didn’t understand it, they expressed what peace and love they experienced around us, that we were “different” somehow. I am thankful God was glorified in the midst of our sorrow. If only for a day, I was thankful for the time God gave me with my little one before she went to Jesus. In the face of my pain, I was able to give thanks.

Perhaps this past year you are one of the millions who lost their job, maybe your house is in foreclosure, perhaps you have lost one dear to your heart. This may be a season of grief and loss for you, but please know that you have a hope that does not disappoint. For you have a Father who understands you. He comforts the brokenhearted. He promises to never leave you or forsake you. His love is extravagant toward you. His love never fails. Your sadness may last for a time, but joy will come,

“... but Joy comes with the morning. You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing ...” Psalm 30:5 and Psalm 30:11 (NLT) 

Oh, what we have to be thankful for. Such a great God! Such a great love!

~

Scripture quotations as noted are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version (NIRV), Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations as noted are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.