A little food for weekend thought--
From The Valley of Vision (a set of Puritan prayers)
Thou incomprehensible, but Prayer-Hearing God,
Known, but beyond knowledge,
revealed, but unrevealed,
my wants and welfare draw me to Thee,
for Thou hast never said, 'Seek ye Me in vain.'
To Thee I come in my difficulties, necessities, distresses;
possess me with Thyself,
with a spirit of grace and supplication,
with a prayerful attitude of mind,
with access into warmth of fellowship,
so that in the ordinary concerns of life
my thoughts and habits may rise to Thee,
and in habitual devotion I may find a resource
that will soothe my sorrows,
sanctify my successes,
and qualify me in all ways for dealings with my fellow men.
I bless Thee that Thou hast made me capable
of knowing Thee, the author of all being,
of resembling Thee, the perfection of all excellency,
of enjoying Thee, the source of all happiness.
O God, attend me in every part of my arduous and trying pilgrimage;
I need the same counsel, defense, comfort
I found at my beginning.
Let my religion be more obvious to my conscience,
more perceptible to those around.
While Jesus is representing me in heaven,
may I reflect Him on earth,
While He pleads my cause, may I show forth His praise.
Continue the gentleness of Thy goodness towards me,
And whether I wake or sleep, let Thy presence go with me,
Thy blessing attend me.
Thou hast led me on and I have found Thy promises true,
I have been sorrowful, but Thou hast been my help,
fearful, but Thou hast delivered me,
despairing, but Thou hast lifted me up.
Thy vows are ever upon me,
And I praise Thee, O God.
Yes, Lord Jesus, yes. Might this be as true of us today as it was of the Puritans hundreds of years ago. How grateful we are that today--at this very moment--our Savior is interceding for us at the throne of all mercy and grace. (Rom.8:34 and Heb.4:16). While He prays for us in heaven, might we "reflect Him on earth. While He pleads my cause, may I show forth His praise."
What confidence that gives us. Even when the way ahead is dark and uncertain, even when we've failed, even when we're discouraged or frightened, even when we're worn, weary, and weak...
Jesus is praying in heaven...so we can be praising on earth.
Our job isn't to figure it all out...or work it all out...or find a way out...our job is simply to know and trust that our Redeemer is praying in heaven, so we, His redeemed, will be praising by faith on earth. And praise is not a choice of our feelings...it's a choice of our faith. It's choosing to praise based upon Who our God is, all He has done, and what He is doing.
Father, even when we don't feel like it, teach us, help us, to praise Your mighty and miracle-working Name. For You are infinitely, gloriously worthy. Thank You for always living, 24-7, to intercede for us (Heb.7:25). Might we live to praise Your Name. To God be the glory.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
The Dash
Thinking today of all those innocent lives that were taken thirteen years ago today and praying for their families and friends. We lift them all up to You, Lord, and praise You that You are sovereign even over such horrific events. We may not understand, Lord, but we trust that You are working and moving even in the midst of such tragedies. Please continue to bring healing to those shattered lives as only You can.
But one thought came to mind this morning while praying and thinking about this solemn day: What if we knew that this day was our last day on earth? What would change? Would our priorities alter? What things would we mark off our to-do list as utterly insignificant...and what items would we suddenly add or move to the top of the list?
Not long ago I heard Louie Giglio declare: "We are all on our way to our own funeral." And one day on our tombstone will be the date of our birth, the date of our death, and in between will be a "dash." That brief "-" marks the few years that God gives each of us on this planet. For some of us, it will be many years...for others of us, fewer. But in light of eternity, what difference does a few years more or less really matter?
The point is, God has given us these days and months and years on planet earth to love the Lord, to love others and to live to God's glory. And then it's eternity--forever and ever and ever. So if the dash is what we've got now, we have the choice today, this hour, how we will live it--
We can live it filled with resentment and bitterness...or we can live it forgiving others and enjoying the freedom and grace such forgiveness gives us. We can live it paralyzed with fear over the future...or we can live it by placing our faith in the Great I Am who is the God of past, present and future and has all things under His control. We can live it grieving over what we've lost...or we can live it rejoicing over all we have left. We can live it suffocated by selfishness and preoccupation with ourselves...or we can live it in the joy and expanse of serving and loving others. We can live it complaining and downhearted...or we can live it praising God and grateful for His gifts.
None of us is guaranteed tomorrow...or even the next hour. But we have this moment, this hour, to love and to live to God's glory with every fiber of our being. Martin Luther often prayed, based on Ps.90:12, "Lord, teach us to think about death so that we might learn how to live." Oh Father, teach us, empower us, strengthen us to live this day, this hour, this moment loving You, loving others, and keeping our focus ever and always upon our Savior, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
Might we live any and all of the days we have left in our "dash" in such a way that we are joyfully and fully ready to step into eternity and see You face to face. Heaven is coming, praise God, but until that glorious day, let's live fully and faithfully by His grace, for His glory, all the way to the finish line.
To God be the glory.
But one thought came to mind this morning while praying and thinking about this solemn day: What if we knew that this day was our last day on earth? What would change? Would our priorities alter? What things would we mark off our to-do list as utterly insignificant...and what items would we suddenly add or move to the top of the list?
Not long ago I heard Louie Giglio declare: "We are all on our way to our own funeral." And one day on our tombstone will be the date of our birth, the date of our death, and in between will be a "dash." That brief "-" marks the few years that God gives each of us on this planet. For some of us, it will be many years...for others of us, fewer. But in light of eternity, what difference does a few years more or less really matter?
The point is, God has given us these days and months and years on planet earth to love the Lord, to love others and to live to God's glory. And then it's eternity--forever and ever and ever. So if the dash is what we've got now, we have the choice today, this hour, how we will live it--
We can live it filled with resentment and bitterness...or we can live it forgiving others and enjoying the freedom and grace such forgiveness gives us. We can live it paralyzed with fear over the future...or we can live it by placing our faith in the Great I Am who is the God of past, present and future and has all things under His control. We can live it grieving over what we've lost...or we can live it rejoicing over all we have left. We can live it suffocated by selfishness and preoccupation with ourselves...or we can live it in the joy and expanse of serving and loving others. We can live it complaining and downhearted...or we can live it praising God and grateful for His gifts.
None of us is guaranteed tomorrow...or even the next hour. But we have this moment, this hour, to love and to live to God's glory with every fiber of our being. Martin Luther often prayed, based on Ps.90:12, "Lord, teach us to think about death so that we might learn how to live." Oh Father, teach us, empower us, strengthen us to live this day, this hour, this moment loving You, loving others, and keeping our focus ever and always upon our Savior, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
Might we live any and all of the days we have left in our "dash" in such a way that we are joyfully and fully ready to step into eternity and see You face to face. Heaven is coming, praise God, but until that glorious day, let's live fully and faithfully by His grace, for His glory, all the way to the finish line.
To God be the glory.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Sea monkeys...dogs...and grace
I'm thinking today about the vast difference between pet sea monkeys...and sweet black labs. And it brings tears to my eyes...for it's really a picture of grace.
You see, waaaay back before the earth's surface had cooled, our oldest children attended Aldert Root Elementary school. Back in those days we had a couple of children at Root and one at White Memorial Preschool--those were some fine, fine days--even if I was in an exhausted haze half the time.
Before we'd learned we were having our fourth child, we had promised the children we would get one of the William's lab puppies. We'd never had a dog or pet of any kind so this was big doings...that is, until we received the happy news that God was sending us another baby.
So, we served the children their favorite dinner (to grease the skids, so to speak) and then, when everyone was in a happy mood, asked them if they'd rather have a puppy or a new baby. Thank goodness, the answer was "New baby!" Thus, no puppy...or cat...or pet, but we all sure did enjoy Preyer from the moment he came into our world.
Fast forward several years later and still no puppy or cat or even gerbil, for that matter. Life, however, seemed to be rocking along pretty nicely despite the absence of any canine or feline companions...
Until the night we went to parents' night at Aldert Root. My husband and I enjoyed going to the classrooms, meeting the teachers and other parents, and examining all the artwork. Well, that is until we read the cute essays all the children had written about their favorite pet.
Our son, Richard, who was in about second grade at the time, had written a sweet little story about his...wait for it...his beloved pet sea monkeys.
Surely you know what I'm talking about. Remember those sea monkey kits you could buy at Stuckey's along the highway? You'd add the tiny packet of dried sea monkeys to the water and the special sea monkey food...wait a few days...and viola, pet sea monkeys. Yes, they are supposedly microscopic shrimp or something like that. And yes, you really can't see them. You simply "see" some sort of dust-like substance that seems to cloud the water and that occasionally seems to possibly, maybe, perhaps, move a little bit. Yeah right.
The children would shout excitedly, "I think I saw them! Was that them, Mama? I really think I saw one!"
And you respond enthusiastically, "Absolutely! There they are! How about that?!" (All the while thinking guiltily about your own childhood when you grew up with dogs, cats, canaries and a couple of gerbils. And our children are growing up with imaginary rehydrated miniature shrimp. Parenthood can be one guilt trip after another.)
So back to parents' night. There were lots of precious stories about loyal old dogs. playful cats, and cute bunnies and guinea pigs. But trust me, there was one--and only one--story about "My Pet Sea Monkeys." Talk about humiliation. My poor, dear son wrote about how sweet his sea monkeys were and how much fun they were. Oh my stars--this was beyond pathetic. I figured we might as well go ahead and book the intensive therapy-due-to-pet-deprivation that each of our children would need.
And then, praise God, many, many years down the road, we finally got a real pet--our sweet old black lab, Moses. He was a special delivery by the Bunns on Christmas morning. We adopted him from another family that could no longer keep him when he was five years old. I don't care how many Christmases I'm alive, there will never, ever be a sweeter, more joyful Christmas morning than that rainy, but oh so happy, one.
Richard and I were so excited about the surprise, we didn't sleep a wink that Christmas Eve. When Moses arrived that Christmas morning, the children were beside themselves. They nearly walked Moses' legs off that day. In fact, his tail wagged so much his first day in our home that he hurt it and couldn't wag it for a day or two!
What a gift--
We loved--and I mean loved--Moses for the rest of his life. Oh my, he brought us so much joy. And we kept asking ourselves, why on earth did we wait so long to get a real pet?
When Moses died (which nearly killed us), we grieved for months and months...but oh my we were so thankful God had given him to us. Then this past November, our second pet--sweet, energetic Mr. Bingley. A wee bit different when you get an eight week old puppy as opposed to a five year old...but so much fun! Another incredible gift that keeps on giving and giving--
Let me tell it to you straight--sea monkeys are a mighty poor substitute for a dog. I don't care how nice the container the sea monkeys come in...they can't wag their tails or lick your hand or run to the door to greet you enthusiastically when you've only been gone thirty minutes. Sea monkeys can't sense when your child has had a rough day and come sit in their lap and offer their unconditional loyalty and love. They can't gather sticks or run after balls or bark at strangers or crawl in your lap or gobble up scraps of food that fall on the floor.
Nope, sea monkeys pretty much do nothing but swirl around in some cloudy water.
And here's what I'm thinking--how often do we settle for something that is the pale, poor, imitation of the real joy, the real peace, the real love that God offers us in Jesus Christ? We run after the world's pitiful substitutes and miss out on the real deal--God's best...His presence, His power, His forgiveness, His grace, His fullness...Himself.
Here's how C.S. Lewis put it: "It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
Yes, how often have we settled for mud pies and sea monkeys...when God has so infinitely much more for us if we will but come to Him. As the song says "This world is empty, pale and poor, compared to knowing You, my Lord. Lead me on, and I will run after you."
Thank You, Lord Jesus. You are abundantly more than all we could ask or imagine, and nothing, nothing, nothing compares to the wonder and joy of knowing, loving, and following You. We join with Paul in saying, "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (Phil.3:8)
You are the best of the best...keep reminding us, Lord, when we forget and start running after sea monkeys and mud pies. We love you, Lord.
To God be the glory.
You see, waaaay back before the earth's surface had cooled, our oldest children attended Aldert Root Elementary school. Back in those days we had a couple of children at Root and one at White Memorial Preschool--those were some fine, fine days--even if I was in an exhausted haze half the time.
Before we'd learned we were having our fourth child, we had promised the children we would get one of the William's lab puppies. We'd never had a dog or pet of any kind so this was big doings...that is, until we received the happy news that God was sending us another baby.
So, we served the children their favorite dinner (to grease the skids, so to speak) and then, when everyone was in a happy mood, asked them if they'd rather have a puppy or a new baby. Thank goodness, the answer was "New baby!" Thus, no puppy...or cat...or pet, but we all sure did enjoy Preyer from the moment he came into our world.
Fast forward several years later and still no puppy or cat or even gerbil, for that matter. Life, however, seemed to be rocking along pretty nicely despite the absence of any canine or feline companions...
Until the night we went to parents' night at Aldert Root. My husband and I enjoyed going to the classrooms, meeting the teachers and other parents, and examining all the artwork. Well, that is until we read the cute essays all the children had written about their favorite pet.
Our son, Richard, who was in about second grade at the time, had written a sweet little story about his...wait for it...his beloved pet sea monkeys.
Surely you know what I'm talking about. Remember those sea monkey kits you could buy at Stuckey's along the highway? You'd add the tiny packet of dried sea monkeys to the water and the special sea monkey food...wait a few days...and viola, pet sea monkeys. Yes, they are supposedly microscopic shrimp or something like that. And yes, you really can't see them. You simply "see" some sort of dust-like substance that seems to cloud the water and that occasionally seems to possibly, maybe, perhaps, move a little bit. Yeah right.
The children would shout excitedly, "I think I saw them! Was that them, Mama? I really think I saw one!"
And you respond enthusiastically, "Absolutely! There they are! How about that?!" (All the while thinking guiltily about your own childhood when you grew up with dogs, cats, canaries and a couple of gerbils. And our children are growing up with imaginary rehydrated miniature shrimp. Parenthood can be one guilt trip after another.)
So back to parents' night. There were lots of precious stories about loyal old dogs. playful cats, and cute bunnies and guinea pigs. But trust me, there was one--and only one--story about "My Pet Sea Monkeys." Talk about humiliation. My poor, dear son wrote about how sweet his sea monkeys were and how much fun they were. Oh my stars--this was beyond pathetic. I figured we might as well go ahead and book the intensive therapy-due-to-pet-deprivation that each of our children would need.
And then, praise God, many, many years down the road, we finally got a real pet--our sweet old black lab, Moses. He was a special delivery by the Bunns on Christmas morning. We adopted him from another family that could no longer keep him when he was five years old. I don't care how many Christmases I'm alive, there will never, ever be a sweeter, more joyful Christmas morning than that rainy, but oh so happy, one.
Richard and I were so excited about the surprise, we didn't sleep a wink that Christmas Eve. When Moses arrived that Christmas morning, the children were beside themselves. They nearly walked Moses' legs off that day. In fact, his tail wagged so much his first day in our home that he hurt it and couldn't wag it for a day or two!
What a gift--
When Moses died (which nearly killed us), we grieved for months and months...but oh my we were so thankful God had given him to us. Then this past November, our second pet--sweet, energetic Mr. Bingley. A wee bit different when you get an eight week old puppy as opposed to a five year old...but so much fun! Another incredible gift that keeps on giving and giving--
Nope, sea monkeys pretty much do nothing but swirl around in some cloudy water.
And here's what I'm thinking--how often do we settle for something that is the pale, poor, imitation of the real joy, the real peace, the real love that God offers us in Jesus Christ? We run after the world's pitiful substitutes and miss out on the real deal--God's best...His presence, His power, His forgiveness, His grace, His fullness...Himself.
Here's how C.S. Lewis put it: "It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
Yes, how often have we settled for mud pies and sea monkeys...when God has so infinitely much more for us if we will but come to Him. As the song says "This world is empty, pale and poor, compared to knowing You, my Lord. Lead me on, and I will run after you."
Thank You, Lord Jesus. You are abundantly more than all we could ask or imagine, and nothing, nothing, nothing compares to the wonder and joy of knowing, loving, and following You. We join with Paul in saying, "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (Phil.3:8)
You are the best of the best...keep reminding us, Lord, when we forget and start running after sea monkeys and mud pies. We love you, Lord.
To God be the glory.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Wonders at dawn
Early in the predawn darkness, Bingley and I walked out to the street in front of our house for his morning you-know-what. I was a bit sleepy and preoccupied--thinking of all the evil that seems to be overrunning our world at the moment. Despite the grogginess and heaviness, I began to pray.
What God gave me was wonder.
The black sky was overflowing with sparkling stars. Where did they all come from? Even the city lights couldn't hide their dancing presence. There's nothing like gazing at the heavens to remind you how awesome, vast, and glorious is their Maker. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." (Ps.19:1-4) Wonder in the skies above us.
Thank You Lord for that reminder--You are the Maker, Sustainer, and Redeemer of this magnificent planet. And no matter how things may appear, You are in absolute control and working all things out according to Your mighty and perfect plans.
Then, as Bingley and I sauntered out to the street, there in the neighbor's yard stood three magnificent deer. Still, alert, staring at us---or, more specifically at Bingley. Clueless, he lumbered along doing his thing completely unaware while I stood transfixed, watching them. Such beautiful, magnificent creatures. And here they were in the big city--right there in front of us. What a Creator to make such a dizzying array of animals. Wonder all around us.
Finally, Bingley noticed them...and took off. More wonder--watching the joy of a dog running at top speed and the grace of a deer, leaping off into the darkness. "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights." (Ps.18:33) I couldn't help but laugh as Bingley came jogging back within less than a minute. He knew he couldn't catch them, but he seemed to have a smile on his face with the thrill of the race. And I had to laugh too at the simple joy of it all.
You know, God's wonders are all around us. The shrill cry of the hawk, the glint of the sun, the laughter of a loved one, the smell of food cooking, the coolness of a fall morning, the carpet of leaves on the greenway, the warmth of a hot mug of tea, the sound of your child's voice, the joy of holding the words of God Almighty in your lap.
From dogs to deer, from stars to sizzling steaks, from family to friends...wonder all around us. All gracious gifts from our Heavenly Father.
Sometimes we simply forget to open our eyes and behold them with fresh vision and full and thankful hearts.
Just read this morning an old Puritan prayer from The Valley of Vision: "Thou art my good in times of peace, my only support in times of trouble, my one sufficiency when life shall end. Help me to see how good Thy will is in all, and even when it crosses mine, teach me to be pleased with it. Grant me to feel Thee in fire, and food and every providence, and to see that Thy many gifts and creatures are but Thy hands and fingers taking hold of me. Thou bottomless fountain of all good, I give myself to Thee out of love, for all I have or own is Thine, my goods, family, church, self, to do with as Thou wilt, to honor Thyself by me, and by all mine."
Yes, Lord, You are our "bottomless fountain of all good," and we praise You for Your every gracious gift in our lives. As Jon Bloom has written, "all around us reality is dense with wonders, layer upon layer." Father, would You help us this day to turn our gaze away from all that worries and weakens us and instead focus squarely upon You and Your wonders that surround us at every turn. From the irreplaceable people You have so generously placed in our lives to the glories, big and small, of Your creation...give us seeing eyes, thankful hearts, trusting minds, and obedient hands and feet.
To God--our bottomless Fountain of all good, our only Support in times of trouble, our one Sufficiency when life shall end, and our glorious Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer--be all the glory.
What God gave me was wonder.
The black sky was overflowing with sparkling stars. Where did they all come from? Even the city lights couldn't hide their dancing presence. There's nothing like gazing at the heavens to remind you how awesome, vast, and glorious is their Maker. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." (Ps.19:1-4) Wonder in the skies above us.
Thank You Lord for that reminder--You are the Maker, Sustainer, and Redeemer of this magnificent planet. And no matter how things may appear, You are in absolute control and working all things out according to Your mighty and perfect plans.
Then, as Bingley and I sauntered out to the street, there in the neighbor's yard stood three magnificent deer. Still, alert, staring at us---or, more specifically at Bingley. Clueless, he lumbered along doing his thing completely unaware while I stood transfixed, watching them. Such beautiful, magnificent creatures. And here they were in the big city--right there in front of us. What a Creator to make such a dizzying array of animals. Wonder all around us.
Finally, Bingley noticed them...and took off. More wonder--watching the joy of a dog running at top speed and the grace of a deer, leaping off into the darkness. "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights." (Ps.18:33) I couldn't help but laugh as Bingley came jogging back within less than a minute. He knew he couldn't catch them, but he seemed to have a smile on his face with the thrill of the race. And I had to laugh too at the simple joy of it all.
You know, God's wonders are all around us. The shrill cry of the hawk, the glint of the sun, the laughter of a loved one, the smell of food cooking, the coolness of a fall morning, the carpet of leaves on the greenway, the warmth of a hot mug of tea, the sound of your child's voice, the joy of holding the words of God Almighty in your lap.
From dogs to deer, from stars to sizzling steaks, from family to friends...wonder all around us. All gracious gifts from our Heavenly Father.
Sometimes we simply forget to open our eyes and behold them with fresh vision and full and thankful hearts.
Just read this morning an old Puritan prayer from The Valley of Vision: "Thou art my good in times of peace, my only support in times of trouble, my one sufficiency when life shall end. Help me to see how good Thy will is in all, and even when it crosses mine, teach me to be pleased with it. Grant me to feel Thee in fire, and food and every providence, and to see that Thy many gifts and creatures are but Thy hands and fingers taking hold of me. Thou bottomless fountain of all good, I give myself to Thee out of love, for all I have or own is Thine, my goods, family, church, self, to do with as Thou wilt, to honor Thyself by me, and by all mine."
Yes, Lord, You are our "bottomless fountain of all good," and we praise You for Your every gracious gift in our lives. As Jon Bloom has written, "all around us reality is dense with wonders, layer upon layer." Father, would You help us this day to turn our gaze away from all that worries and weakens us and instead focus squarely upon You and Your wonders that surround us at every turn. From the irreplaceable people You have so generously placed in our lives to the glories, big and small, of Your creation...give us seeing eyes, thankful hearts, trusting minds, and obedient hands and feet.
To God--our bottomless Fountain of all good, our only Support in times of trouble, our one Sufficiency when life shall end, and our glorious Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer--be all the glory.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Weddings and crosses
This past weekend, we had the privilege of attending the wedding of the daughter of some very dear friends. The backdrop: God's astounding creation in the North Carolina mountains. The wedding was outside on a perfect evening--slight breeze, deep blue sky dotted with a cloud or two. As we sat watching the joyful joining of a young couple who so clearly love not just one another but also passionately love their Savior, we were surrounded on every turn by green mountains and hills. Enjoying the gift of being with family and friends. Celebrating love. Eating and dancing with gusto. Savoring the wonder of God's glorious world. Remembering the happy blessings of recent (and not so recent) weddings. Ah, what a night!
But here's what I'll never forget. The backdrop of the ceremony and the silent, but beautiful sentinel over the whole evening--
Oh Lord Jesus, I wanted to weep. Thank You for making all of this possible. For giving us the gifts of family, friends, love, creation, food, and music. But most of all--for the unfathomable treasure of the cross by which You bore our sin and shame and gave us instead forgiveness, grace, acceptance, eternal life, and Your righteousness.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal.2:20)
What a terrible...beautiful exchange. Because You bore our filthy rags of selfishness, shame, pride, envy, gossip, hatred, ingratitude, greed and in exchange gave us Your brilliant robes of righteousness. Good in exchange for bad. Joy in exchange for despair. Life in exchange for death.
Might we never, ever tire of gazing at Your cross and praising You for the greatest, costliest, most precious of all our blessings--salvation. A thousand lifetimes of the best this world could ever offer could not begin to compare to the glorious wonder of knowing Christ...and Him crucified. Yes, as the words to a song put it, "This world is empty, pale and poor, compared to knowing you, my Lord."
Thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord Jesus. To God be the glory.
But here's what I'll never forget. The backdrop of the ceremony and the silent, but beautiful sentinel over the whole evening--
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal.2:20)
What a terrible...beautiful exchange. Because You bore our filthy rags of selfishness, shame, pride, envy, gossip, hatred, ingratitude, greed and in exchange gave us Your brilliant robes of righteousness. Good in exchange for bad. Joy in exchange for despair. Life in exchange for death.
Might we never, ever tire of gazing at Your cross and praising You for the greatest, costliest, most precious of all our blessings--salvation. A thousand lifetimes of the best this world could ever offer could not begin to compare to the glorious wonder of knowing Christ...and Him crucified. Yes, as the words to a song put it, "This world is empty, pale and poor, compared to knowing you, my Lord."
Thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord Jesus. To God be the glory.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Even so it is well with my soul
Here's what I should be working on right now--a Bible study lecture. Oh well.
I'm blaming this detour on the Lord--He keeps gently, but insistently, tapping me on the shoulder, reminding me of this special day...and of all He teaches us through suffering...and of His faithfulness...and of His grace to bring us through whatever He allows in our lives.
You see, on the day after Labor Day two years ago, Janie first began to awaken from her coma. She had just been moved from Greenville to Chapel Hill by what was essentially a traveling ICU. Amazing.
The doctors warned us that the trip would be hard on her. And they were right. When Janie arrived in Chapel Hill her temperature shot up to 110 degrees. I didn't even realize you could survive a temperature that high. We were back close to home--praise God--near our immediate family, my brothers and sisters, and our friends. But Janie was still unconscious, struggling to breathe, and with an infection, a badly shattered ankle, no movement on her right side, and an extraordinarily high fever. It was a tough time. By all accounts, nothing signaled any hope of change or improvement, but still...home.
And then in that dark moment, when it had appeared she'd taken a big step back, in the very early hours of the day after Labor Day, it happened. Isn't that how God often works? It truly is darkest just before the dawn. Around 2:00 a.m. my husband glanced at Janie's face as the nurses were tending to her...and seemed to see her eyelids suddenly flutter and then crack open just the tiniest bit.
I cannot write about it even now--too many tears of wonder and gratitude. But Richard said the nurses rushed up to her face and began shouting to her, "Janie, Janie, can you hear me? Janie, if you can hear me, wiggle your toes." And there it was--faint, weak, but nonetheless clearly a little movement of her toes.
It was the beginning of the most extraordinary few days of our lives--where we stood amazed as we witnessed God slowly awaken and raise our blond-haired Lazarus seemingly from the dead and bring her back to her family and friends. I'll never forget the first time I saw her awaken for a minute or two. The nurse yelled her name and told her if she could understand, to give us a thumbs up. And there it was--my forever favorite sign--a small, weak, but beautiful, thumbs up with her left hand. (She still couldn't use her right side at that point.) I wanted to dance down the halls with the joy of it--thumbs up to the One who had sustained us by His grace through every up and down of the whole ordeal and thumbs up to the One who, in His sovereignty, had allowed Janie to awaken.
I share this once again, because we have several dear friends who are going through a very difficult season right now. Richard and I have talked a lot recently about all that God taught us and all the ways He powerfully used this time of suffering in our lives. Stripping away the extraneous and the sinful. Teaching us dependence, contentment, trust. Giving us depths of compassion, empathy and love for others we'd never had before. Scouring away those chokeholds of pride, preoccupation, and selfishness.
We will never be the same for the things He taught us, the ways He carried us, and the grace and mercy He extended to us in those dark times. We wouldn't trade any of the suffering, because of all the gifts, all the good that God brought out of it.
But oh my, I so want others who are struggling to know that your suffering is not wasted--that God works best in the darkness and He will teach, refine, and draw you closer to Himself as never before in those moments of hardship...if you'll let Him.
David Jeremiah calls these unexpected times of suffering or difficulty "disruptive moments"--when life takes an unexpected, unwanted turn...due to disappointment or disease or accident or betrayal or suffering of any kind. Jeremiah has quoted a poem by Helen Steiner Rice about these disruptive moments, or what she refers to as "a bend in the road." Here are her words--
Sometimes we come to life's crossroads
And we view what we think is the end.
But God has a much wider vision
And He knows that it's only a bend--
The road will go on and get smoother
And after we've stopped for a rest,
The path that lies hidden beyond us
Is often the path that is best.
So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load
And have faith in a brighter tomorrow--
You've just come to a bend in the road.
Please forgive me for talking about the accident again, but we've prayed all along that God would use this to encourage others who are struggling and that His mighty name would be lifted high and glorified.
God is more than enough to guide you through whatever storm you're enduring. Look to Him, depend upon Him, seek Him, trust Him. Don't waste your suffering. God will use it in ways far beyond anything you can imagine--in your life and in the lives of other people whose names you may never know until you reach heaven. Oh my, how that redeems our suffering.
God's Word, of course, says it best--
"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart." (Ps.27:14)
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will uphold you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isa.41:10)
"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the feeble hands which hang down and the feeble knees" (Heb.12:11-12).
In our disruptive moments, in those bends in the road, might we all turn our eyes upon Jesus, in dependence and trust, knowing that He is ever moving and working out all things for our ultimate good and His greater glory. We may, or may not, see it this side of heaven...but we will see it...and He will make all things beautiful in His time.
"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way; When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul."
Yes, Lord, even so it is well with my soul. To God be the glory.
I'm blaming this detour on the Lord--He keeps gently, but insistently, tapping me on the shoulder, reminding me of this special day...and of all He teaches us through suffering...and of His faithfulness...and of His grace to bring us through whatever He allows in our lives.
You see, on the day after Labor Day two years ago, Janie first began to awaken from her coma. She had just been moved from Greenville to Chapel Hill by what was essentially a traveling ICU. Amazing.
The doctors warned us that the trip would be hard on her. And they were right. When Janie arrived in Chapel Hill her temperature shot up to 110 degrees. I didn't even realize you could survive a temperature that high. We were back close to home--praise God--near our immediate family, my brothers and sisters, and our friends. But Janie was still unconscious, struggling to breathe, and with an infection, a badly shattered ankle, no movement on her right side, and an extraordinarily high fever. It was a tough time. By all accounts, nothing signaled any hope of change or improvement, but still...home.
And then in that dark moment, when it had appeared she'd taken a big step back, in the very early hours of the day after Labor Day, it happened. Isn't that how God often works? It truly is darkest just before the dawn. Around 2:00 a.m. my husband glanced at Janie's face as the nurses were tending to her...and seemed to see her eyelids suddenly flutter and then crack open just the tiniest bit.
I cannot write about it even now--too many tears of wonder and gratitude. But Richard said the nurses rushed up to her face and began shouting to her, "Janie, Janie, can you hear me? Janie, if you can hear me, wiggle your toes." And there it was--faint, weak, but nonetheless clearly a little movement of her toes.
It was the beginning of the most extraordinary few days of our lives--where we stood amazed as we witnessed God slowly awaken and raise our blond-haired Lazarus seemingly from the dead and bring her back to her family and friends. I'll never forget the first time I saw her awaken for a minute or two. The nurse yelled her name and told her if she could understand, to give us a thumbs up. And there it was--my forever favorite sign--a small, weak, but beautiful, thumbs up with her left hand. (She still couldn't use her right side at that point.) I wanted to dance down the halls with the joy of it--thumbs up to the One who had sustained us by His grace through every up and down of the whole ordeal and thumbs up to the One who, in His sovereignty, had allowed Janie to awaken.
I share this once again, because we have several dear friends who are going through a very difficult season right now. Richard and I have talked a lot recently about all that God taught us and all the ways He powerfully used this time of suffering in our lives. Stripping away the extraneous and the sinful. Teaching us dependence, contentment, trust. Giving us depths of compassion, empathy and love for others we'd never had before. Scouring away those chokeholds of pride, preoccupation, and selfishness.
We will never be the same for the things He taught us, the ways He carried us, and the grace and mercy He extended to us in those dark times. We wouldn't trade any of the suffering, because of all the gifts, all the good that God brought out of it.
But oh my, I so want others who are struggling to know that your suffering is not wasted--that God works best in the darkness and He will teach, refine, and draw you closer to Himself as never before in those moments of hardship...if you'll let Him.
David Jeremiah calls these unexpected times of suffering or difficulty "disruptive moments"--when life takes an unexpected, unwanted turn...due to disappointment or disease or accident or betrayal or suffering of any kind. Jeremiah has quoted a poem by Helen Steiner Rice about these disruptive moments, or what she refers to as "a bend in the road." Here are her words--
Sometimes we come to life's crossroads
And we view what we think is the end.
But God has a much wider vision
And He knows that it's only a bend--
The road will go on and get smoother
And after we've stopped for a rest,
The path that lies hidden beyond us
Is often the path that is best.
So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load
And have faith in a brighter tomorrow--
You've just come to a bend in the road.
Please forgive me for talking about the accident again, but we've prayed all along that God would use this to encourage others who are struggling and that His mighty name would be lifted high and glorified.
God is more than enough to guide you through whatever storm you're enduring. Look to Him, depend upon Him, seek Him, trust Him. Don't waste your suffering. God will use it in ways far beyond anything you can imagine--in your life and in the lives of other people whose names you may never know until you reach heaven. Oh my, how that redeems our suffering.
God's Word, of course, says it best--
"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart." (Ps.27:14)
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will uphold you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isa.41:10)
"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the feeble hands which hang down and the feeble knees" (Heb.12:11-12).
In our disruptive moments, in those bends in the road, might we all turn our eyes upon Jesus, in dependence and trust, knowing that He is ever moving and working out all things for our ultimate good and His greater glory. We may, or may not, see it this side of heaven...but we will see it...and He will make all things beautiful in His time.
"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way; When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul."
Monday, September 1, 2014
God's gift of labor
On this Labor Day, I'm thinking about work. Duh.
We don't always love the thought of work, but it's one of the reasons God placed us here--to "Do business till I come." (Lk 19:13) And God's work comes in all shapes and sizes. Yep, there's work in an office or hospital or classroom or courtroom or restaurant. But there's also work in a home, yard, laundry room, or church. And surely our most important work can be with a sick friend, a teething baby, a grumpy preschooler, a confused teenager, or a lonely college student.
God gives each of us work to do, in every season of our lives. Just as summer's heat transforms into fall's foliage, our work constantly changes in different seasons of our lives, but thankfully our God does not. Whatever work He's given us to do in each stage of our lives, we're to do it to the best of our ability, offered as unto the Lord and always to His glory...but then trust the results to our eternally faithful and changeless Father.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for me, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Col.3:23-24)
I cannot tell you how this radically changed my attitude towards work years ago. I've been a stay-at-home mama for many years now. And for a number of those years, I somehow missed the point. I failed to truly grasp that, yes, my work at home was indeed work, and every single bit of it was to be done with thanksgiving and to the glory of God. Oh my, when you have that as your goal each day and in every job you need to perform, it radically and completely transforms even the most menial of tasks.
Back in the day, I had a number of friends who were doing big, splashy, important things while living in the hot shot metropolis of New York. They were traveling the globe in exciting careers--all of which was grand. Except here I was "wasting" my education while changing diapers, cleaning up cheerios goo, and trying to figure out how to cook a decent meal (still working on that one). And sadly, I was not alway doing it with a joyful attitude. Well, actually, let me rephrase that--I was rarely doing it with a joyful attitude. My attitude might've often been described as slightly resentful. "I went to college and law school for this?" Sigh.
But one day, God in His great mercy and grace revealed the truth to me--this was God-given, God-ordained, and God-enabled holy and beautiful labor! Every bit of it. And that which God had given should always be received with thanksgiving and, yes, even excitement. "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer." (I Tim.4:5)
God has given me the privilege, the honor of mothering and caring for five eternal souls (well, actually six--don't want to forget about my husband!) The Lord has bestowed upon me the gift of work to serve and help them and to do it all, all, all to His glory. Folding clothes in order to love and bless those in our home...and doing it to the glory of God. Cleaning up a messy kitchen...or reading bedtime stories...or helping with homework...or running to pick up last minute supplies for a project...all to be done as an offering of love for these wondrous souls God has placed in my life, as well as an offering of love and thanksgiving to my Savior.
Yeah, some days that work is laborious beyond belief. Some days you feel like shouting, "How about somebody serving me?" (Hello selfish, prideful sin nature.) Some days "your get up and go, just got up and went" and you cannot imagine how you're gonna dredge up an ounce of strength to do what needs to be done. Shoot, some mornings you wake up and wonder, "I've got to this all over again? I've got to face the insane, blast-from-a-canon morning routine again? How on earth will I get everyone up, dressed, fed, devotions...oh mercy."
But those are the days, we have to cling harder to the cross. Oh how we need Him--every day, every hour, every chore, every unseen,ungrateful, and unkind motive. When that selfishness and pride start to rear their ugly heads (which for me is daily), we go to Jesus in our utterly bankrupt estate and ask for His love, His energy, His compassion, His forgiveness, His kindness, His strength.
And you know what? That desperately needy, totally inadequate position is the very best place to be--completely dependent upon Him for our next breathe, our next word, our next bit of work, and our next transformation of attitude.
There's lots more to say about work, in fact, there may well be more on this subject, but for now, let's just God to give us grateful hearts that readily and happily receive whatever work He has for us to do. Let's offer it all to Him--whether it's working in an office, a school, a hospital, or a home--asking Him to enable us to do it heartily, completely, prayerfully, and thankfully.
And whatever our work, might we remember that we are to do it all by God's grace and all to His glory.
To God be the glory.
We don't always love the thought of work, but it's one of the reasons God placed us here--to "Do business till I come." (Lk 19:13) And God's work comes in all shapes and sizes. Yep, there's work in an office or hospital or classroom or courtroom or restaurant. But there's also work in a home, yard, laundry room, or church. And surely our most important work can be with a sick friend, a teething baby, a grumpy preschooler, a confused teenager, or a lonely college student.
God gives each of us work to do, in every season of our lives. Just as summer's heat transforms into fall's foliage, our work constantly changes in different seasons of our lives, but thankfully our God does not. Whatever work He's given us to do in each stage of our lives, we're to do it to the best of our ability, offered as unto the Lord and always to His glory...but then trust the results to our eternally faithful and changeless Father.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for me, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Col.3:23-24)
I cannot tell you how this radically changed my attitude towards work years ago. I've been a stay-at-home mama for many years now. And for a number of those years, I somehow missed the point. I failed to truly grasp that, yes, my work at home was indeed work, and every single bit of it was to be done with thanksgiving and to the glory of God. Oh my, when you have that as your goal each day and in every job you need to perform, it radically and completely transforms even the most menial of tasks.
Back in the day, I had a number of friends who were doing big, splashy, important things while living in the hot shot metropolis of New York. They were traveling the globe in exciting careers--all of which was grand. Except here I was "wasting" my education while changing diapers, cleaning up cheerios goo, and trying to figure out how to cook a decent meal (still working on that one). And sadly, I was not alway doing it with a joyful attitude. Well, actually, let me rephrase that--I was rarely doing it with a joyful attitude. My attitude might've often been described as slightly resentful. "I went to college and law school for this?" Sigh.
But one day, God in His great mercy and grace revealed the truth to me--this was God-given, God-ordained, and God-enabled holy and beautiful labor! Every bit of it. And that which God had given should always be received with thanksgiving and, yes, even excitement. "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer." (I Tim.4:5)
God has given me the privilege, the honor of mothering and caring for five eternal souls (well, actually six--don't want to forget about my husband!) The Lord has bestowed upon me the gift of work to serve and help them and to do it all, all, all to His glory. Folding clothes in order to love and bless those in our home...and doing it to the glory of God. Cleaning up a messy kitchen...or reading bedtime stories...or helping with homework...or running to pick up last minute supplies for a project...all to be done as an offering of love for these wondrous souls God has placed in my life, as well as an offering of love and thanksgiving to my Savior.
Yeah, some days that work is laborious beyond belief. Some days you feel like shouting, "How about somebody serving me?" (Hello selfish, prideful sin nature.) Some days "your get up and go, just got up and went" and you cannot imagine how you're gonna dredge up an ounce of strength to do what needs to be done. Shoot, some mornings you wake up and wonder, "I've got to this all over again? I've got to face the insane, blast-from-a-canon morning routine again? How on earth will I get everyone up, dressed, fed, devotions...oh mercy."
But those are the days, we have to cling harder to the cross. Oh how we need Him--every day, every hour, every chore, every unseen,ungrateful, and unkind motive. When that selfishness and pride start to rear their ugly heads (which for me is daily), we go to Jesus in our utterly bankrupt estate and ask for His love, His energy, His compassion, His forgiveness, His kindness, His strength.
And you know what? That desperately needy, totally inadequate position is the very best place to be--completely dependent upon Him for our next breathe, our next word, our next bit of work, and our next transformation of attitude.
There's lots more to say about work, in fact, there may well be more on this subject, but for now, let's just God to give us grateful hearts that readily and happily receive whatever work He has for us to do. Let's offer it all to Him--whether it's working in an office, a school, a hospital, or a home--asking Him to enable us to do it heartily, completely, prayerfully, and thankfully.
And whatever our work, might we remember that we are to do it all by God's grace and all to His glory.
To God be the glory.
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