God Nuggets Blog

Thanks for the link. Will check it out.

You're welcome! Thanks for your visit. :)

I Will cyndi! God bless you!

I have for some time viewed the definition of the word loss as merely a more descriptive and less necessary form of the word change. Let me try to explain-

Change happens all the time whether we are conscious of it or not. Trillions of things, be they physical or not are always in a constant state of change. Some things will change more frequently than others, but even that balance is changing.

Loss happens a bit less frequently. I see loss as the inevitable effect from any perception of ownership. Someone must believe they possess something or that they are connected to something they feel should be constant. When change causes that constant to change, the feeling of loss comes as a result.

One could say from a numbers perspective, we are loosing one breath in our lives for every one we take. Looking further into this scenario, if someone wanted to directly prevent the loss of those breaths – that prevention would in turn end the very life you would find at the root of that same desire.

Change is at the very nucleus of life – constantly evolving and growing into something more spiritual by the creationist presence of our God. Finding the strength to conquer loss in the same way we deal with change is the definition on one of my essential spiritual workouts. I’ll end my post with a passage: Luke 9:59-60) But he said to him, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' 60) But he said to him, 'Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God

Mikes - God bless you, too!

ku-ryan - What a thought-provoking comment! I never really thought of the sense of loss being determined by the sense of ownership. And isn't God the owner of everything in our lives? Although we are but dust, and the phenomenon of loss is inevitable, as we turn increasingly more over to the care of God, we certainly will have greater peace and well being.

Cyndi- do you have thoughts of contrast to my observation on the difference between loss and change?
I do believe that God is the one and only true owner but don’t believe that we are dust, as Genesis tells us we were created in His image and likeness.

Dear ku-ryan,

Yes, we are made in God's image, but His word also says, "for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust" (Psalm 103:14). And this in the same Psalm that expresses how we are wonderfully made. In this context, dust does not mean that we have no value, but that we are frail, human, susceptible.

Hi Cyndi-

I feel there is a bit of an optimist/pessimist view on God’s Children here on Earth. I am a firm subscriber to the optimist side of things.

Although this wording may sound a bit raw... I believe there is a link of sorts between optimism and positivity, just as there is one between pessimism and negativity.

Looking for, finding and focusing in on the good in everything you see I feel is a vital aspect to the life Jesus showed us we could live. With this in mind, wouldn’t you rather reference Psalms 103:15? As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

Hi Cyndi & Hi Ku-ryan,

This is a really long comment, sorry!

I just wanted to comment in defense of the gospel on some of the more confusing comments made by Ku-ryan. I hope with what I have to say that God by his grace will strengthen and not hinder.

Ku-ryan, I thought your idea about loss being associated with a perception of ownership was a good one.

I agree with both of you that the bible says all things come from God. Thus our salvation, our earthly lives, our faith, thoughts, emotions, ideas and material possessions are always our possessions only by grace.

So our response needs to be humility, thankfulness and joyful using it rightly, 'giving it all back', in other words using it for God's glory not our own.

God in his sovereignty also has the power & right to take away what he has given or to withhold his gifts. So our perception of loss will be related to how we have received the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Job 1:21
and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

Matthew 21:43
"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

Mark 10:21
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Mark 12:17
Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.

Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Philippians 3:8
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

con't....

Re: the dust issue. I recommend re- reading Genesis 1,2 & 3 Ku-ryan. But here are some quotes....

Gen 1
26 "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them."


.....So yes you are correct but so is Cyndi......


Genesis 2:7
"the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

Genesis 18:27
Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes..."


....That we are dust is a biblical & physical truth, as is being image bearers of God....

Psalm 103:15 is not an optional reference in this case as it says that man's "days" are "like" grass & he flourishes "like" a flower. Both images are very clearly metaphors.

Can I humbly suggest that it is not a case of being positive or negative, optimistic or pessimistic in our lives. It is a case of being faithful and that means living according to biblical truth.

The bible is not about being positive or negative. That is a worldly philosophy created by humans and we need to put it in its rightful position of authority which is under God's Word.

Although it is a helpful philosophy in most cases we cannot use it to argue against the bible.

If we consider that Jesus speaks more about hell than he does about heaven, in the bible, we could easily find ourselves suggesting that the Lord himself need an injection of optimism & missing the whole point.

Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Last bit,

Ku-ryan, I would also advise caution in your "Change is the very nucleus of life" argument.

God is the very nucleus of life...

1Corinthians 8:6
"yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."


....and our God is unchanging....

Malachi 3:6
"I the LORD do not change."

James 1:17
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."


Whether or not loss is a lesser word than change is purely a semantic observation, and not a salvation issue. So hours discussing it in this forum could pervert the gospel which I doubt is your intention.

I hope this is a helpful addition to the dialogue as we all work out our salvation in fear and trembling.

Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Thanks for your blog Cyndi. It is very encouraging & your posts really are "nuggets"!

Humbly & with love,

Your sister in Christ,
Lauren

Wow, Lauren! Thank you for taking the time to so eloquently clarify things for everyone. Very insightful and interesting. I don't mind it being long at all. Very valuable comment.
~ Cyndi

Hi Lauren, awesome comments!!

After reading through all you have said however, I first feel the need to truly apologize if my words appeared as if I was trying to argue or prove a point. I always strive to simply share the truths I feel I have learned through God’s infinite wisdom which have guided me to overcome many trials & tribulations throughout my life. These self expressions occasionally vary from others’ beliefs and are oftentimes enriched through conversations [like this one :-)] on how these differences manifest themselves with others.

Agreeing with you that individually we were created on Earth from dust and will end our days by replenishing that very dust back to the Earth from which we were taken – the life and soul which God has breathed into our nostrils has the capability of bearing spiritual fruit when abiding by Christ, this divinely constructed dust also serves as the vessels to allow that growth and provides the means for those who shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

In this context, my perception about optimism & pessimism goes far beyond the flesh and has deep roots into our spiritual well being. Jesus spent many years on this earth and what is written about his teachings in the Bible could be read in a matter of days. With this in mind I don’t feel it would be fair to say he spoke more about one thing over another. All specifics aside, he did what ever he was guided to do and held steadfast to God in an effort to impart our Father's wisdom to all of mankind.

One of Christ’s parables which speaks to this perception of mine begins in Luke 15. Why be angry with someone who has learned a needed lesson? Be happy, rejoice, be optimistic, be positive!

Also agreeing with you that God is the very nucleolus of life, I was attempting to submit that “Change is AT the very nucleolus of life”. Understanding that God does not change, my offering was to the fact that all of the lives I have had the pleasure to interact with here on Earth in addition to that very Earth, have been in a constant state of change. Speaking to Cyndi’s original post, I too am no stranger to loss and my comments were based simply from that place – looking at loss as a change I needed to find spiritual strength to deal with more appropriately and trying to testify in an effort to help others in a way I would have wished in those times to have been helped.

Semantics can sometimes bare the necessary things which could help someone to understand something better – they can also carry the difference between what will make someone happy and what could potentially leave them otherwise. Wouldn’t you rather agree that healthy conversations with Spiritual intentions strengthen our understanding of faith itself rather than a pervert the Gospel?

Lovingly,

Hi Ku-ryan,

Thanks for your reply. Great to look at Luke 15 with regards to loss!

This parable unveils the reason we can be true optimists in times of loss... We have assurance of what God has done at the cross! As we see in Luke 15 He has done everything to make sure that what He lost(us), He found again.

Another good one to check out if you want an optimistic look at loss & trial is 1Peter 1, in fact, the whole of 1Peter is awesome encouragement when you're suffering. (v6 Rejoice!)

Please don't think I want to discourage you or anyone else in times of suffering I just know the only way to really encourage people and offer them any kind of true happiness is to tell the whole truth about Jesus. So I have to rely on the bible.
1 John 4:1,

And I do agree with you that we are in a constant state of change (and all change is 'painful' [a la Skip Ross], whether that pain comes now or later - so I agree that loss in this sense is a lesser form of the word change)

In Christ,

Dear Lauren and ku-ryan,
Thank you for the lively discussion on loss and optimism. Lauren, I really appreciate your knowledge and application of Scripture. ku-ryan, I am a big fan of scriptural optimism. Thanks for bringing that into the picture.