Out-rejoiced by a dog?

   

   Bingley enjoying a little quiet time...his head on my lap.  We're studying the book of Philippians together.  We both love it...a lot.
   And you know what?  I think the apostle Paul would like Bingley a lot too.  You see, Mr. Bingley's got "Rejoice in the Lord, always; again, I will say rejoice!" (Phil.4:4) down pat....especially when food, another dog, or any member of the human species is involved.  
    Boy, how many times have I said it, but there's nothing like a dog--always so happy to see you, always thrilled to simply be with you, and always grateful for whatever you give them--whether time, toys, attention, or anything edible.  Clearly, God put Bingley--with his enormous appreciation for a good meal--in the right family.
     Okay, I know, I know.  Dogs can't rejoice "in the Lord."  God only gives that privilege to us humans.  But dogs sure can teach us something about thankfulness and rejoicing, can't they?
    You leave the house for 10 minutes to run to Target, and when you return, it's time for a happy dance!  "Oh," you can almost hear your dog saying, "I've missed you soooooo much!  I'm so glad you're home!  I love it when you're home!  And I love those shoes...maybe I can chew on them a little later and loosen them up for you.  Or we could get something to eat--wouldn't that be fun?!  Oh, you're home...I'm so happy, happy, happy!"
     Yep, dogs know a little something about rejoicing and gratitude, and here's what I'm thinking: Heavenly Father, don't let a puppy out-rejoice us!
     Seriously, might we be quick to rejoice in all things and in all ways for we know that come what may, our Lord reigns and His love for us has no limitations or no conditions.  Surely we're not going to allow a bunch of dogs to outdo us when it comes to rejoicing and thanking?!
     This day, just this day, Father, You have graciously given us so much! You've provided us with another day of breathing lungs to speak of Your goodness.  Walking feet to go where You tell us.  Tasting tongues to enjoy the delicious bounty of foods You've provided.  Hearing ears to listen to and enjoy the voices of those we love.  Seeing eyes to behold this wondrous creation all about us.  Thinking minds to consider all You are and all You have done.  Beating hearts to expend in love, love, and more love for those You've placed in our lives and for You, our Heavenly Daddy.
     And most of all, we have You, Lord Jesus...and Your gift of eternal life for all who believe in You by faith.
     No, our lives might not be perfect, not this side of heaven..but Lord, You are perfect.  We rejoice not in our ideal circumstances but in our ever-faithful, ever-loving, ever-forgiving, and everlasting God.  In Him, we can rest...and rise up rejoicing.   For in Him, we always have infinite reason for rejoicing.
     So it's about time for Bingley and me to get going...but by the grace of God, we'll be rejoicing throughout this day.  And we're trusting that if God gives us tomorrow, He'll give us the grace to rejoice in Him tomorrow as well.
     To God be the glory.  
   

When not much snow falls...

     I awoke this early this morning anticipating several inches of snow--and a day full of happy sledding, snowman building, snowcream making, and fire building...at least for the kids.  I was trying not to think about all the wet floors, wet puppy, and wet clothes...with our old dryer hopefully holding out for several days of active duty.  We were ready--lots of the obligatory bread and milk from the grocery store.  Not sure why we always have to have those two items--it's not like we plan to eat mild-soaked bread all day--but thankfully we do have a good store of chocolate as well, so we're good.
    "Unfortunately" (of course, that all depends on your point of view here), there's just a light dusting of snow.  Now, our children will surely be mighty disappointed--and truth be told, I am too...at least a teeny, tiny little bit--but still, I can't hide my relief that we didn't get socked with a heavy snow that would necessitate days and days of mess and muck and make-up days for school over spring break.  Sorry to be such a curmudgeon, but there you have it.
     But I was just reading Paul's words in Philippians 3: "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.  Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.  But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil.3:12-14)
     I couldn't help but think of how many of us are paralyzed by our past--by our past failures, our past shame, our past guilt...or sometimes even our past successes that we fear we can never again match.  And then there's all those past disappointed expectations--we think or hope that we (or someone we love, perhaps) will do or be better tomorrow.  But when tomorrow comes...there's nothing but a light dusting of snow and all those expectations are shattered yet again.
     That's simply no way to live!  No, not with Christ!
     For in Him, we are to forget what lies behind and strain toward what lies ahead.  Paul tells us to keep pressing forward in Christ.  I love something I read recently that said we need to cultivate the discplines of focus, forgetting, and following.  The discipline of focusing on that one goal--that "one thing I do"--and that's focusing upon Christ and upon our ultimate destiny of heaven.  Focusing upon Him in His Word and seeking to keep our focus fixed upon Him like a laser.
     And then cultivating the discipline of forgetting--refusing to allow our minds to dwell upon either past failures or successes.  Sure, we choose to remember God's faithfulness to us in the past and rejoice in His goodness, but we refuse to dwell upon our failures.  Focus on God and not ourselves.  Remember--and rejoice in--God and not ourselves and our mess-ups.  The past can paralyze us and rob us of all the joy God has for us in the present.
     Forget the past--it's done.  "This is the day that the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Ps.118:24)  God's given us today--rejoice and be glad in it...even if there's just a dusting of snow!
     And finally the discipline of following.  Follow hard after the Lord Jesus.  The only way we can follow is to daily--no matter what--delve into His Word.  Think of it--we get to listen to whatever the God of the universe has for us today!  The Almighty Lord wants to have breakfast with us and feed us from His supernatural supply so we can follow Him and live this day with joy and hope and power.  We have the choice today whether or not to eat of His nourishing manna...and if we do, He will sustain and strengthen us as we follow Him through whatever this day brings--snow or no snow.  Wet floors and boots and puppies or not.
    So Lord, we're ready.  Focusing on the goal, forgetting the past, and following hard after You.  Bring it on!  To God be the glory.
     

Always and forever faithful!

There's a mountain of laundry--and I mean that literally--that needs folding.  Sigh.  But somehow I know that laundry can wait for just a few minutes while I reminiscence about the goodness and greatness of our Lord this past weekend.  Every prayer answered immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine!  (Ephesians 3:20)

Folks have sent me a number of photos, so this is just a tiny smattering...but wanted to remember and rejoice in God's faithfulness--

The girls getting ready before the wedding.  What wonderful young women--O Lord, there's nothing like dear friends! 

     And then there was the cake.  Oh my, God surely said, "It is very, very, very good!" when He gave man the idea and know-how to make cake!"
     "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." Ps.34:8

And this cake tasted as good as it looked!  Thank You, Father, that You are infinitely greater, tastier, and lovelier than the most beautiful  of wedding cakes!  Oh might we delight in feasting on Your Word even more than enjoying the choicest of delicacies...(including chocolate!).

      Then, we were at the church waiting in the Bride's room--

      "I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His Word do I hope." (Ps.130:5)  "Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield." (Ps.33:20)  Help us to wait patiently and filled with hopeful anticipation on You, Father.

     "I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore." (Ps.86:12)
    After the ceremony, all the wedding party having a blast--even though it was coooooold outside--

     And finally, my favorite picture of the night--let there be light!

     "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:4-5)  Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are the Light of the World and You are the Light in our darkness.  Help us to walk in the light of Your love.  Might we reflect Your light in a dark world.
     Just a few little reminders of God's faithfulness and goodness...to one little couple and their family and friends...on one little night in January...in one little city.  God's faithfulness to just one...
     But consider--God does this over and over and over again to countless millions and millions of folks...in countless places...and in countless ages...all over this globe.  He knows the names, understands the hearts, and sees the hopes and dreams of every single one of His beloved children...and God loves each one of His own individually, infinitely, and perfectly.  He plays no favorites--we are all the apple of His eye, and He is always and forever faithful; always and forever good and gracious.  What a Lord!  What a Daddy!
     Thank You, Father.  To God be the glory.

Overwhelmed

     "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.  And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you all partakers with me of grace..." (Phil.1:3-7)
        Post wedding and pictures and pre-celebration--

     Lord, this is simply the prayer of an overwhelmed, overjoyed woman.  A woman overwhelmed by Your grace and goodness.  A woman overwhelmed with the certain knowledge that she is a  selfish, prideful sinner and undeserving of even one single blessing in her life.
     And yet...overwhelmed, first, by the treasure You have given in the Lord Jesus.  Yesterday at the wedding, our precious niece Emily and our Janie sang of the astounding, overwhelming and beautiful truth of Your love poured out for us in Jesus Christ:

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that left Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
     Those words still ring in my ears this morning: "Why should I gain from His reward?  I cannot give an answer.  But this I know with all my heart--His wounds have paid my ransom."   Thank You, Lord Jesus, for paying my ransom with Your wounds.  If you gave us nothing else ever again in this life...that would be infinitely more than enough. O might we treasure the priceless Treasure we have in Christ.  And in that, this morning, I am overwhelmed and overjoyed.
     But Father, I'm also overwhelmed with the treasure You have given us in our friends and family.  This wedding, this glorious joining of two children who adore You, has been a labor of love by so many friends. We truly could not have done this without them...and we would not have wanted to do this without them!  They have quadrupled--no, way more than that--they have infinitely multiplied our joy in this celebration! 
     The gift of those friends and all they have done, all they mean to us, are too many to name.  Too much to absorb.  From engagement parties to food brought by to encouraging phone calls and texts to running last minute errands to prayer, prayer, and more prayer, to rushing to get the wedding rings right before the service (that had been left behind in all the excitement), to creating astounding beauty with flowers and lights (as one of those dear friends shared yesterday: "Let us walk in the light of the Lord." Isa.2:5) to giving great joy in bridesmaid lunches to powerfully ministering as our pastor to leading as wedding director to coming to the wedding to celebrate with and shower love upon us...and on and on and on.  
     Paul had it right--we thank our God in every remembrance of our dear friends and family as we partner with them in life for the glory of God.  Life is so full of ups and downs, but boy, there's nothing, nothing, nothing like the treasure of those we love to pull us through, to spur us on, to pick us up when we fall, to cry with us in our sorrows, and to celebrate with us in joys.  
     Yes, what a gift God gave us in one another.  And this morning, we "hold you in our heart, for you are all partakers with [us] in grace."  Don't we all need it--that grace?  That glorious grace that lifts the burden of our sin and the weight of our shame and tells us afresh: "Forgiven.  Forgotten.  Now move on in the boundless depths of Your Father's love for you."  And we are "partakers together."  Aren't you glad He gave us one another?  Aren't you thankful we're not in this thing all on our piddly lonesome?  
     So thank You thank You thank You, Father.  Thank You for weddings.  Thank You for beloved children and seeing the happiness on their faces as they join their lives together before You.  Thank You for dear friends and family--there are simply no words, Lord, for our gratitude for each and every one of them.  What irreplaceable treasures in our lives.
      And thank You for Jesus--
     ...But this I know with all my heart--His wounds have paid my ransom. 
     To God be the glory.
    

Our Honored Wedding Guest

     "On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  Jesus also was invited to the wedding with His disciples." (John 2:1-2)
     The guests have been invited.  The beautiful wedding cake ordered (top priority, of course--though not chocolate!).  Food and beverages selected.  The flowers lovingly prepared by dear, talented, amazing friends.  The band ready to go for some serious dancing.  The soloists and pianist  practiced and prepared.  Bridesmaids' dresses picked up; tuxes too.  Wedding programs ready.
     Mercy, so many details, details, details in a wedding!   And some of us are not terribly good--to put it mildly--at keeping up with details.  This is waaaay beyond my very limited abilities.  But we have a mighty sovereign Lord who is the God of the micro and the macro...and He specializes not only in details, but He delights in providing and proving His strength in our weakness.
    "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has not might He increases strength.  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isa.40:29-31)
     Ah, what wonderful promises.  Spurgeon says of every one of God's never-failing promises: "Our Heavenly Banker delights to cash His own notes.  Never let the promise rust.  Draw the sword of promise out of its scabbard and use it with holy violence.  Think not that God will be troubled by your importunately reminding Him of His promises.  He loves to hear the loud outcries of needy souls.  It is His delight to bestow favors.  He is more ready to hear than you are to  ask.  The sun is not weary of shining, nor the fountain of flowing.  It is God's nature to keep His promises; therefore go at once to the throne with 'Do as Thou hast said.'"
     Lord, thank You for Your promises.  Thank You for the inexhaustible flow of Your power and provision behind every one of those promises. Thank You that in our weakness, You are strong and mighty to save.  Thank You that we can never exhaust Your limitless patience and love....and we can never outstrip Your infinite power and ability.  Thank You that You are our Daddy, our Abba, who delights to hear and answer the cries of Your needy children.
     Father, I pray for all who desperately need You and Your promises today.  I know many are enduring hard, hard circumstances right now.  Might they see and know the omnipotent, omniscient, loving Lord who stands behind all of His powerful promises. Lord, hear their cry...and move and act as only You can.  Might they feel the irrepressible flow of Your love this day.
     And Father,  I also humbly lift up this wedding.  How I praise You that You are our tender Savior with us always--not only in hard places like hospitals, prisons, and gravesides, but also with us in happy times of weddings, births, and birthdays.
     Lord, our prayer is that You would be the Honored Guest, the Hallowed Bridegroom, and the Holy One who is lifted high and glorified in every aspect of this joyous joining of these two beloved children.  We're told in John 2:2 that "Jesus was also invited to the wedding..."   O Lord Jesus, even if everything on earth goes awry at this celebration, if You are invited, if You are present, and if You are glorified, well then, we will greatly rejoice!
     Come Lord Jesus, come.  To You--our perfect, powerful, gracious, and wonderful Bridegroom--be all the glory.

Blue pens...or blessings from God?

      Bingley's been teaching me a bit more about the sin nature.
      I know, I know, dogs can't sin (the verdict is still out on cats)...but they can surely teach us about our sin nature.
     Yes, it's true.  This precious little face--

(Well, two precious faces--that of our wonderful niece, Emily Oglesby, with Mr.Bingley)
...this sweet little fellow with a relentless propensity to carry sticks--

....this loving puppy who craves to snuggle in your lap--

(with the bride-to-be...dreaming of weddings...and wedding cake)
...also seems to vastly prefer chewing on shoes, brooms, firewood, pillows, pens, and pencils rather than his very nice and readily available dog toys.
     What is the deal with that?
     We've tried to explain to him that these are not just any toys.  Noooo...a number of these doggie playthings were purchased from the fancy doodle dog store at North Hills.  These toys feature multiple bright colors, enticing squeaks, and interesting chewing surfaces.  We have ropes, dragons, lambs, and several fabulous balls.
     No matter.  Bingley wants the blue pen rather than the blue, squeaky, lifetime-guaranteed dragon--

(Please note the completely desiccated, chewed-up blue pen.  Maybe Bingley's a budding writer.  He especially enjoyed the pencil...we have the vet bill to prove it.)
     But isn't that just like us?  God pours out His blessings upon  us.  Gift upon gift of health, home, family, friends, music, laughter, books, chocolate (of course).  Not to mention His glorious creation--the brilliant blue sky...the bracing, clear, cold air...the nightly light show of stars...the soaring hawk and crimson cardinal.
    And yet, how often do we whine and moan and long for more...for different...for those gifts over on the other side of the fence where the grass is surely greener.
   God gives us bright blue squeaky toys and fun red balls...and all we want is to chew on some old blue pen that will make us sick.  One leads to joy and thankfulness and hope and the full, abundant life...while the other leads to discontentment, irritability, selfishness, pride. ingratitude, and ultimate misery.
     O forgive me, Father, for how often I'm like my silly puppy...running after all that would harm me (and those I love) while discounting, ignoring, or missing the daily wonders of Your abounding, generous grace all about me.
     "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it." (Prov.15:16-17)
     Good reminders for those of us planning weddings...or prone to discontentment.   Time to keep the main thing the main thing.  Time to focus on the Lord...keeping Him and His glory and His goodness front and center.   Thanking Him.  Praising Him.  Loving Him.  Seeking Him.
    "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Heb.13:5) It's a choice--choosing contentment with what God has given us...or withheld from us.  Choosing gratitude.  Choosing joy--
     "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." (Phil.4:4)
    O Lord, help us to choose wisely!  Help us to choose to be grateful with all You have done for us, with all You are doing right now, and with all that You are.  In You, we have a continual Source of joy and a continual reason to rejoice.
    Let's stop fixating on the blue pen and focus instead on the Giver of all good gifts and on His goodness in our lives.  To God be the glory.  

God's powerful, singing love

                           A little food for weekend thought--
     With our daughter getting married in less than a week, I've been thinking a lot about "love."         What a blessing to be loved!  To be loved not only by another person (though this is unquestionably one of God's choicest gifts to be savored and treasured), but to be loved by God.
     Can we truly grasp the earth shattering significance of that?   We are not just "loved;"  we are the beloved of the Creator and Sustainer of the far-flung galaxies.  To be the beloved of such a One staggers the imagination.  What else could possibly compare?
     C.S. Lewis writes: "When Christianity says that God loves man, it means that God loves man: not that He has some 'disinterested,' because really indifferent, concern for our welfare, but that, in awful and surprising truth, we are the objects of His love.  You asked for a loving God: you have one.  The great spirit you so lightly invoked, the 'lord of terrible aspect,' is present: not a senile benevolence that drowsily wishes you to be happy in your own way, not the cold philanthropy of a conscientious magistrate, nor the care of a host who feels responsible for the comfort of his guests, but the consuming fire Himself, the Love that made the worlds, persistent as the artist's love for his work and despotic as a man's love for a dog, provident and venerable as a father's love for a child, jealous, inexorable, exacting as love between the sexes.  How this should be, I do not know: it passes reason to explain why any creatures, not to say creatures such as we, should have a value so prodigious in their Creator's eyes."
     Yet how often does our conception of how much God "loves" us depend upon whether we feel like He's giving us what we want?  Oh my, our understanding of the unfathomable depth and riches of His love falls so infinitely far short, doesn't it?   Truth be told, we'd often settle for that "senile benevolence" who "drowsily" seeks our short-term superficial happiness rather than our long-term holiness.  Make us happy, Lord, we whine.  Make our children happy.  Take away all their problems and give them an easy, cushy life.  
     No--that's not Love!  That's not the white-hot fire of perfect Divine Love that burns with holy intensity and seeks the ultimate and absolute best for His dearly beloved!  Forgive us, Father, for seeking so little when You have so much more.  Forgive us for settling for the mud puddles of temporary success and comfort and pleasure...when You are offering us the crystalline lakes and fathomless oceans of Your glorious Love.
     Remind us, too, Lord, what Your Love unleashes...Your power.  Your grace.  Your forgiveness.  Your joy.  William Gurnall says "God's love for His saints sets His power in motion.  He who has God's heart does not lack for His arm.  Love rallies all other affections and sets the powers of the whole man into action.  Thus in God, love sets His other attributes to work; all are ready to bring about what God says He likes."
     Such is the supernatural power of God's love!  How dare we forget!  And what a comfort and encouragement to recall all that His perfect, powerful love makes available to us.
     So today, might we remember His love.   Rejoice in His love.  And rest in His love.
     "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing." (Zeph.3:17)  
     A God who even sings His love...incredible.  Might we hear His love song for us this day...and rejoice and rest in Him.  His love will never fail you.  Never.  To God be the glory.