See

This is a re-post of something I worked on last Christmas. I need reminders often, particularly in such a hectic season.

See

See the donkey, bearing Mary,
See the dark and barren stall,
See the Christ Child, squirming, crying,
See the God who made us all.

See the shepherds, breathless, frightened,
See the sky alive with song,
See the travelers with their presents,
See King Herod’s rage grow strong.

See the Teacher, squatting, speaking,
See the crowd that mutters, eats,
See the broken-hearted mother
Hug her child whom Jesus treats.

See the leaders, growing darker,
See the hatred in their hearts,
See the Maker, quiet, moving
Toward the storm that broils, starts.

See the friend betray his Master,
See the frenzy of the crowd,
See the Sovereign Jesus, standing
Waiting there with head bowed.

See the fear in Pilot’s actions,
See the mocking soldiers laugh,
See them beat Him, bruise Him, break Him,
As He ripped the veil in half.

See the angels, vast, unnumbered,
Poised to smite the crowd below,
See the Father, silent, bidding
Evil men to crush their foe.

See the soldiers laughing, gambling,
For the tunic, smooth and whole,
See the broken body, bleeding,
By His wounds to save their soul.

See the realms of darkness shouting
As they view the death they crave,
See the silent women weeping,
Bringing spices to His grave.

See the first soft light of morning,
See the radiant Son arise,
See the claws of death are broken,
See the King has won His prize.

See Him, and in seeing, trust Him,
Let His coming be for you
Not just Christmas cards and gifts, but
Awesome pardon, life made new.

Come

This hymn is good for my heart today.

Come Ye Sinners

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and power.

Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.

View Him prostrate in the garden;
On the ground your Maker lies.
On the bloody tree behold Him;
Sinner, will this not suffice?

Lo! th’incarnate God ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood:
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude.

Let not conscience make you linger,
Not of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.

I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.

Words: Hart. Music: Walker.

CT2010 Reflections from Executive Chairman

Doug Birdsall, the executive chairman of the Lausanne Movement, sent a "thanksgiving" e-mail reflecting on God's work through Cape Town 2010.

It is far too soon to fully assess the significance of CT2010. Indeed only the Lord truly knows how CT2010 will impact his church and the world in the years to come. As I reflect on the Congress, read blogs, emails and articles from participants, I am in awe of God’s blessings on this gathering. Please join me in praising the Lord...

Read the full letter, including his assessment of some of the most significant impact of the Congress.

Cape Town Reflections: Language, Part 2

The office manager for Cape Town 2010 was a Finnish man named Kari. Kari is a sober-countenanced man with a great work ethic and humble, earnest heart.

At first glance, he may appear a bit on the dour side, but working in the office with him, we soon saw past that. (When the robust conference worship music reverberated through our cubicle office walls, he would say, "Look," with toe tapping to the beat, "I think I am picking up the African rhythm!")

Ben and I worked closely with Kari and grew to love the quiet man. Every day he was in the office before we arrived, with a button-down shirt and suit coat. And every night he was still working after we left (except for the last night, when we walked back to the hotel together at 1am).



Kari acutely felt the pressures of coordinating the office. He was in charge of ordering office supplies (with a very limited budget), coordinating the print jobs for the Congress, overseeing the copy room, and shaping the process for archiving Congress materials (a task which weighed heavily on him).

His English was very good--in fact, I hardly thought about the fact that it wasn't his first language. But one encounter sticks in my mind.

Toward the beginning of the Congress, when each department was in a flurry setting up office space, and the demands on our sparse supplies were mushrooming, some fellow came in with a fairly extensive request. Kari tried to explain that we were trying to share resources among offices as best we could and he couldn't accommodate all he was asking for. The fellow left again, not perfectly satisfied.

Kari looked at me. "Was I too harsh to him?" he asked. I assured him I didn't think he was out of line.

Kari sighed, "It is not easy, you know. You have to think of the right words to say and then think if there are any wrong ways that could be interpreted and what order do the words go in, and with all that you can't always get the emotion in that you mean. You don't know if it is coming across right."

It was a bit of an epiphany to me. Of course, it makes perfect sense that non-native speakers of a language have to work harder to communicate in it. But it made me want to urge everyone who came into our little office to listen with an ear of special grace.

And it made me consider, how often have I been rebuffed or offended by someone's rough tone or curt response, not considering how many other factors are at play in his life? Heaven forbid that I am so obsessed with my own image and identity that I evaluate every nuance and inflection of someone's demeanor as though it related exclusively to me.



I'd like to write more about Kari. Riding up the elevator with Ben on our last morning (having said our final good-byes to him), I told Ben that I suspected he might be one of the greatest spiritual giants we've met. In such a quiet, unassuming form.

Others' Reflections

Here is a series of blog posts from the "official Cape Town 2010 bloggers" about their primary takeaways from the Congress.

Helpful to hear.

Cape Town Reflections: Language, Part 1

Virtually every time we left or returned to our hotel, entered or exited the convention center, or came and went from the hallway of our offices, we passed South African doorkeepers, guards, or porters. And virtually every time we passed them, Ben would greet them with their native tongue (sometimes Afrikaans, but usually Khosa).

“Molo!” (if there was only one… or “Molwheni” if there were multiple), “Kunjhani?”

The first time he greeted the evening doorkeeper at our hotel in Khosa, the man grew so animated I truly thought he might hug him. Every one of those men would beam like a proud parent as Ben tried to learn new words or try out more phrases with them.

I generally hung back, holding Ben’s arm like the smiling, dumb wife (i.e. mute, though the other meaning fit fairly well too).

To be honest, language is for me a place of convenience and ease. In the majority of the world (certainly everywhere I’ve been so far), I have been accommodated in my native tongue. I don’t have to exert myself to communicate, and I assume that I will be able to function as needed in virtually any context.

But other languages are everywhere, not just overseas, and the quick rapport that Ben gained by being a learner of others amazed me. It even led to some significant conversations with a couple men.

More than I realized, I believe learning someone’s language may express honor, interest, a willingness to come into another person’s view of the world. It’s not easy for me, and I probably will never be natural like Ben is, but I hope to grow in it as a way to express love.

Reflections on Cape Town 2010

Ben and I arrived home from Cape Town on Tuesday afternoon. It was a wind-blown entrance (later in the afternoon all but one of the MSP airport runways were closed due to the wind). We were thankful to be home.

The past few days have been a bit foggy. We've been back at work and trying to fit into a normal sleep pattern again. I know my body will acclimate soon.

More than that, I want my heart to sift through all the senses and sounds and lessons of Cape Town 2010 to fully absorb what the Lord may do in my own heart through the time. I may log some of those reflections here in the days ahead.

Thanks to you who prayed during our trip; so many requests were heard and answered. I hope to share some of those stories as well.

Writing from Cape Town

I am writing from Cape Town, South Africa, where we are preparing for Cape Town 2010: The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization. It is a privilege to be a part of what God will do here.

My role here is to be a session summarizer, and the first session I am assigned to is "People at Work: Preparing to Be the Whole Church."

You can read an advance paper for this session here.

For the Fame of God's Name

Since all things are from Him, through Him, and to Him, God deserves and will be honored for all the evidences of grace in our lives.

At last weekend's Desiring God National Conference, Pastor John was surprised with a presentation of a book of essays in honor of his ministry. (One of the perks of being a ministry assistant is that I got to proofread David Livingston's article a couple years ago when this was being compiled!)

You can read more and watch the presentation of the book here.

HT: Justin Taylor

Redeeming Singleness

I just read John Piper's foreword to a new book Redeeming Singleness.

Not only does it make me want to read the book, but the foreword itself was a very good word.

HT: Desiring God blog

Wave Upon Wave of Grace

This is a beautiful prayer from Valley of Vision.

HT: Justin Taylor

When Capsizing

From last night's "evening" portion of Spurgeon's Morning & Evening:

“And for My arm they wait.” Isaiah 51:5

“In seasons of severe trial the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust, and so he is compelled to cast himself on God alone. When his vessel is capsizing, and no human deliverance is at hand, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! … Now that you have only God to trust, make sure that you put your complete confidence in Him. Do not dishonor your Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that your God is worth ten thousand worlds to you … Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord your God will certainly, as surely as He built the heavens and the earth, glorify Himself in your weakness and magnify His might to the face of your distress … your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the physical eye. May the Holy Spirit enable you to rest in Jesus on this closing day of the month.”

Such an encouraging call for confidence in the One who has given us every reason for confidence.

Waiting

I've been praying lately for close friends going through a bone marrow transplant. The wife recently quoted Charles Spurgeon on their Caringbridge site, and it is a word worth remembering:

Wait in quiet patience, not rebelling because things are difficult, but blessing your God for the privilege of affliction. Never grumble … but accept the circumstance as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any selfish agenda, into the hand of your covenant God, saying,

Now, Lord, not my will, but Yours be done. I do not know what to do. I am at an end of myself, but I will wait until You part the floods … I will wait, even if You test me for a while, for my heart is fixed upon You alone, O God, and my spirit waits for You in the deep conviction that You will still be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower (Spurgeon).

Sulking

Elisabeth Elliot has been one of my favorite authors for many years. I was tickled to find some audio messages from her on the Blue Letter Bible website.

Here is a refreshing and convicting message on sulking. I love how she pulls no punches in asserting biblical truth and speaking frankly on our so common temptations.

Human Flourishing

I found this essay on human flourishing on Justin Taylor's blog. It's been sitting open on my computer for several weeks now, but finally I read it.

The essay is oriented on college students and the frenetic, high-pressured life most of them lead. But its topic found a good mark for me in this stage of life too.

I'd encourage you to read it if you find yourself grappling with:

* Overworking
* Pressure to climb the corporate ladder
* Finding time for rest
* Anxiety about income
* Pressure to succeed.

I love the reminder of Psalm 127:1-2.

Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors, for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

This Task

I read this in Keep a Quiet Heart last night:

As Baron Von Hugel said, "The chain of cause and effect which makes up human life, is bisected at every point by a vertical line relating us and all we do to God." This is what He has given us to do, this task here on this earth, not the task we aspired to do, but this one (Elisabeth Elliot, 227).

Good words for my friends who begin a stem cell transplant today, and for the mother of three little ones who feels helpless to accomplish anything of a productive nature, and for me, as I plug away at the little tasks that fall next on the list.

Remarkable

It is good to have heroes, role models of virtue and humility and faith. Today I went to the funeral of one such woman—of all the people I have known, I believe she stands in a category by herself. Her spirit was courageous, her skills remarkable, her acceptance of the portion God gave her uniformly sweet, and her others-oriented service unparalleled in anyone I have ever met.

Ruth Rabenhorst was a sinner, and we were reminded in the meditation today, her remarkable life was borne out of a redeemed heart and a blood-bought pardon. I aspire to know Christ and be so conformed to His likeness as she was. May it be so, Lord.

Struggling in Service

For me, August 1 means it's fall. And the fall rush at work is an intense season which generally stretches me to my limits. (Thus, very few blog posts!)

Here is a portion of a blog post from Matt Perman. He shared an excerpt from an article by Ajith Fernando, a man whom I hold in high regard. (It was a privilege to meet him and share a couple meals with him when he stayed with some close friends here last year.)

Here is the excerpt:

I have a large group of people to whom I write asking for prayer when I have a need. Sometimes my need is overcoming tiredness. When I write about this, many write back saying they are praying that God would strengthen me and guide me in my scheduling. However, there are differences in the way friends from the East and some from the West respond.

I get the strong feeling that many in the West think struggling with tiredness from overwork is evidence of disobedience to God. My contention is that it is wrong if one gets sick from overwork through drivenness and insecurity. But we may have to endure tiredness when we, like Paul, are servants of people [emphasis added].

The New Testament is clear that those who work for Christ will suffer because of their work [emphasis added]. Tiredness, stress, and strain may be the cross God calls us to. Paul often spoke about the physical hardships his ministry brought him, including emotional strain (Gal 4:19; 2 Cor 11:28), anger (2 Cor 11:29), sleepless nights and hunger (2 Cor 6:5), affliction and perplexity (2 Cor 4:8), and toiling — working to the point of weariness (Col 1:29). In statements radically countercultural in today’s “body conscious” society, he said, “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor 4:16); and, “For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you” (2 Cor 4:11-12). I fear that many Christians approach these texts only with an academic interest, not seriously asking how the verses should apply in their lives.

The West, having struggled with the tyrannical rule of time, has a lot to teach the East about the need for rest. The East has something to teach the West about embracing physical problems that come from commitment to people. If you think it is wrong to suffer physically because of ministry, then you suffer more from the problem than those who believe that suffering is an inevitable step on the path to fruitfulness and fulfillment. Since the cross is a basic aspect of discipleship, the church must train Christian leaders to expect hardship. When this perspective enters our minds, pain will not touch our joy and contentment in Christ. In 18 different New Testament passages, suffering and joy appear together. In fact, suffering is often the cause for joy (Rom 5:3-5; Col 1:24; James 1:2-3).

I pray that the Lord gives me the right balance of struggling, suffering, and finding refreshment.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for My yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

HT: What's Best Next

Faith vs. Worry

Here is a message on faith vs. worry... probably one of the most perennially applicable topics for most women.

HT: Mars' Hill Church

Sufficient

I signed up for a half marathon run in August. I’ve run half marathons before, so I knew what I was getting myself into—however, I’ve always trained in the very early spring and been finished with the whole affair by mid-May. When I did my first semi-longish run this June (a mere 5 miles), one humid Saturday afternoon, I realized that this was going to be a different animal.

I like to run, generally speaking. But the summer heat and humidity just flatten me. I have typically trotted for an occasional 2 or 4 miles over the summer—and been glad to end at that. But the kind of long, intensifying training runs that a half marathon require are a humbling reminder of how weak I really am.

This morning it was 9 miles. I woke up feeling depleted and weak. To be honest, I’ve been dreading the 9 mile run ever since I finished the wretched 8 mile run last week. And this particular week has been one of the more grueling (not bad, just packed with demands).

By mile 1, I was tired. I typically count off the half-mile stretches and mentally track my course, but I just couldn’t. I knew I wasn’t strong enough to finish. So for the remaining 8 miles of the run, I fixed my eyes on a spot on the sidewalk 10 or 20 feet ahead and ran to it.

Then I picked another spot. And so forth. Every time I lifted my head to see the long hill ahead or the distant mile marker I was crawling toward, I wanted to quit. So I’d look down again for the next crack or tuft of grass or paint splotch and run 10 feet farther.

The verse that has been cropping up the past few weeks is 2 Corinthians 12:9:

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for [My] power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

I finally crossed the official ending line (the crack in front of the neighbor’s driveway) and slowed to walk. My left pinky toe had a blister (developed at mile 7), and I was spent. But at the same time, it was exhilarating to experience, in my own body, a spiritual reality that will hold true no matter what the traumas, trials, or temptations may come in the days ahead.

One leg at a time, one aching step at a time, His grace will carry me through.

Recognizing God at Work

Here is a wonderfully encouraging message by CJ Mahaney about drawing attention to God at work in others' lives.

HT: Covenant Life Church

Self-Righteousness

Just read this quote on Josh Harris's blog... it rather cuts to the quick (because of how often I feel this in myself):

Self-righteousness is being more aware of and irritated by the sins of others than you are conscious of and grieved by your own. -@PaulTripp

HT: Josh Harris

Common Duties

I read this yesterday morning, before a day of company and dishes and busyness. Bishop Brooke Foss Westcott on faithfulness:

"Great thoughts go best with common duties. Whatever therefore may be your office regard it as a fragment in an immeasurable ministry of love" (Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a Quiet Heart, p. 84).

When I have time pressure and long to-do lists, it can be hard to regard general household duties or other menial tasks as anything particularly significant--and not just a burden of mandatory labor.

But I want a heart that regards common duties as a small stewardship, an expression of love for the One who gave them to me, and an opportunity to cultivate faithfulness.

"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master'" (Matthew 25:21).

I Never Made a Sacrifice

“For my own part, I have never ceased to rejoice that God appointed me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. . . Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege.

"Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us.

"I never made a sacrifice."

David Livingstone 1813-1873

How Firm a Foundation

A hymn I've been singing in my head for several days now:

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Words: John Rippon, 1787. Music: Early American melody.

Delight and Consolation

Psalm 119:92, “If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction.”

Spurgeon writes in his Treasury of David on this verse:

In our darkest seasons nothing has kept us from desperation but the promise of the Lord: yea, at times nothing has stood between us and self-destruction save faith in the eternal word of God. When worn with pain until the brain has become dazed and the reason well-nigh extinguished, a sweet text has whispered to us its heart-cheering assurance, and our poor struggling mind has reposed upon the bosom of God. That which was our delight in prosperity has been our light in adversity; that which in the day kept us from presuming has in the night kept us from perishing. (vol. 3, p. 316)

Psalm 94:19, “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”

Planning

This is a Bible study, part of a series in Proverbs, on planning. It has some very helpful discussion and consideration points for anybody who would like to take a careful look at preparing for the years ahead.



HT: Mars Hill Church

The Astonishing Miracle of Life

The chapter "Creation" in Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology has some awe-inspiring points.

Considering the scientific difficulties of the evolutionary theory, he writes:

Probably the greatest difficulty of all for evolutionary theory is explaining how any life could have begun in the first place. The spontaneous generation of even the simplest living organism capable of independent life (the prokaryote bacterial cell) from inorganic materials on the earth could not happen by random mixing of chemicals: it requires intelligent design and craftsmanship so complex that no advanced scientific laboratory in the world has been able to do it. Johnson quotes a now-famous metaphor: "That a living organism emerged by chance from a pre-biotic soup is about as likely as that 'a tornado sweeping through a junkyard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the materials therein.' Chance assembly is just a naturalistic way of saying 'miracle'"...

In fact, some attempts have been made to calculate the probability of life arising spontaneously in this way. Kofahl and Segraves give a statistical model in which they begin with a very generous assumption: that every square food of the earth's surface was somehow covered with 95 pounds of protein molecules that could mix freely, and that are all replaced with fresh protein every year for one billion years. They then estimate the probability that even one enzyme molecule would develop in each one billion years of the earth's history. The probability is 1.2 times 10 to the eleventh power or one chance in 80 billion. They note, however, that even with the generous assumptions and starting with fresh protein every year for a billion years, finding one enzyme molecule--for all practical purposes an impossible task--would not solve the problem at all:

The probability of finding two of the active molecules would be about 10 to the 22nd power, and the probability that an active enzyme molecule, once formed could find its way through thousands of miles and millions of years to that randomly formed RNA or DNA molecule which contains the code for that particular enzyme molecule's amino acid sequence, so that new copies of itself could be produced? Zero for all practical purposes.

Kofahl and Segraves report a study by an evolutionary scientist who formulates a model to calculate the probability for the formation, not just of one enzyme molecule but the smallest likely living organism by random processes. He comes up with a probability of... one chance in 10 with 340 million zeros after it!...

One only hopes it will not be too long before the scientific community publicly acknowledges the implausibility of evolutionary theory, and textbooks written for high school and college students openly acknowledge that evolution simply is not a satisfactory explanation for the origin of life on the earth.

(Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 284-286)

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created" (Revelation 4:11).

I Love You, Dad

They didn’t tell you what fatherhood meant
Before the babies came.
They didn’t warn you that kids don’t outgrow puking
And you never stop jumping at the midnight jangling of the phone.

They didn’t mention it means you are
The donkey in the Christmas story, the king to your princess,
The game show host for birthday quizzes before you hand out presents.

They didn’t say fathering included tutorials
In geometry, algebra, physics, and calc.
That coaching would mean a lot less waving trophies
And a lot more hugging your girl’s shoulders
While she cried on the bench.

They didn’t say anything about all the dim-lit evenings
You’d spend watching school musicals
And cheering for the second sheep in the third row.
Lots of time at tournaments, track meets, recitals, and plays
And not so much time playing golf.

They said something about bedtime stories,
But they didn’t tell you that meant just one yellow book
They’d pull out night after night after night after night
To read in purple nightgowns curled up under sheets.

They didn’t tell you fathering meant loving their mother
And showing them the way a real gentleman will
Whistle while he empties trash
And make sure that her gas tank stays full.

They didn’t mention the many investments
You wouldn’t make in fast cars, fancy restaurants, and hot beaches
But in piano lessons, orthodontists,
And road trips with the luggage packed on top.

They didn’t say how much patience it would take
To teach them we’re the Andersons, not the Bickersons,
That everything takes practice,
And that hard work is a good gift in life.

They didn’t tell you how they’d watch you all the time
To see if you were the same at church as you were at home
And learn how the Bible talks about real life,
And find their earliest glimpse of God in the face of their dad.

Even When It Doesn't Make Sense

Psalm 119:137 says, "Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments."

About this, Spurgeon writes:

That which comes from the righteous God is itself righteous. Jehovah both saith and doth that which is right, and that alone. This is a great stay to the soul in time of trouble. When we are most sorely afflicted, and cannot see the reason for the dispensation, we may fall back upon this most sure and certain fact, that God is righteous, and his dealings with us are righteous too. It should be our glory to sing this brave confession when all things around us appear to suggest the contrary. This is the richest adoration--this which rises from the lips of faith when carnal reason mutters about undue severity, and the like. (The Treasury of David, vol. 3, p. 390)

The Reason John Bunyan Stayed in Prison (and Thus Wrote Pilgrim's Progress)

“If you let me out of prison today, I will be preaching tomorrow, by the help of God."

-John Bunyan 1628-1688

In No Way Alarmed

In Philippians 1:27-28 Paul writes:

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that … I will hear of you that you are standing firm in on spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, in no way alarmed by your opponents, which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.

Paul was writing from prison to the church at Philippi, where the church was also experiencing some persecution. Paul’s charge and rallying cry was that they draw together, with no alarm (Greek “terror”) at the forces that oppose them, but resting secure… and in that confidence establishing another sign that they are bound for their Savior’s victory.

In my circle of friends, there are several who are facing heavy attacks (severe health concerns, disheartening, sustained temptations, weariness). None of these have a human enemy in the fight, but I believe these verses speak to their struggle nonetheless.

After all, Paul assures us in Ephesians 6 that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Jesus triumphed over those ultimate enemies on the cross, and in the attacks that come—whether health, temptation, or otherwise—we may wield the word of Philippians 1:28 like a sword…

I will not be overcome. The Lord has secured my soul. The opponent will be destroyed one day, and I will stand firm. There are brothers in the fight. I do not stand alone. The enemy has no weapon that can overthrow the One who sealed my pardon.

May we press on, in no way alarmed.

Fighting Fear

"Fear comes from a wrong focus."

Andree Seu spoke at the Women's Conference this year at Bethlehem Baptist, and her answer for fighting fear is to change one's focus from the many anxiety-producing facts of your life to the biggest fact in your life... that God is your Father.

Her messages are honest, personal, Scripture-filled, and wise. I hope they may be an encouragement.

‘You Are Mine’ Do You Believe It? - Women's Spring Conference, Session One

‘You Are Mine’ Do You Believe It? - Women's Spring Conference, Session Two

‘You Are Mine’ Do You Believe It? - Women's Spring Conference, Session Three

Lord, Save Me

Today is the memorial service for Buzz Sawyer, a man of God, simple in words and great in giving.

Psalm 119:94a, “I am Yours; save me.”

Spurgeon writes in his Treasury of David on this verse:

A comprehensive prayer with a prevailing argument. Consecration is a good plea for preservation. If we are conscious that we are the Lord’s we may be confident that he will save us. We are the Lord’s by creation, election, redemption, surrender, and acceptance; and hence our firm hope and assured belief that he will save us. A man will surely save his own child: Lord, save me. The need of salvation is better seen by the Lord’s people than by any others, and hence their prayer—“save me”; they know that only God can save them, and hence they cry to him alone; and they know that no merit can be found in themselves, and hence they urge a reason fetched from the grace of God,--“I am thine.” (vol. 3, p. 317)

We belong to the Lord by grace, and we lay claim to His help by grace. Since He has already gone to the utmost expense to bring us into His favor, He won't refuse anything else that would be for our good.

Romans 8:32, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"

Summer Vacation

This 3-part blog series seemed very practical and helpful as we enter the wonderful season of summer.

The intro reads:

Summer is fast approaching. The kids will soon be out of school and families will be loading into the minivans and SUVs and merging with millions on their summer road trips. In anticipation of the coming travel season, C.J. posted a series to encourage husbands and fathers to begin preparing their schedules—and their hearts—to lead their families in a “God-glorifying, grace-filled, relationship-building, memory-making time together.”

Hope it may make the season even sweeter.

HT: Sovereign Grace Ministries blog

Sanctification

C.J. Mahaney shared a helpful quote on sanctification, from John Murray:

God’s working in us is not suspended because we work,
nor our working suspended because God works.
Neither is the relation strictly one of co-operation
as if God did his part and we did ours
so that the conjunction or coordination of both
produced the required result.

God works in us and we also work.
But the relation is that
because God works
we work.

All working out of salvation on our part
is the effect of God’s working in us,
not the willing to the exclusion of the doing
and not the doing to the exclusion of the willing,
but both the willing and the doing....

The more persistently active we are in working,
the more persuaded we may be
that all the energizing grace and power is of God.

[source: Redemption Accomplished and Applied (Eerdmans, 1955), pp. 148-149. Line breaks added.]

HT: C.J. Mahaney

My Portion, O Lord!

Psalm 119:57a "The LORD is my portion."

In The Treasury of David, Spurgeon reflects on this verse:

A broken sentence. The translators have mended it by insertions, but perhaps it had been better to have left it alone, and then it would have appeared as an exclamation,--"My portion, O Lord!" The poet is lost in wonder while he sees that the great and glorious God is all his own! Well might he be so, for there is no possession like Jehovah himself. The form of the sentence expresses joyous recognition and appropriation,--"My portion, O Jehovah!" ... Like the Levites, he took God to be his portion, and left other matters to those who coveted them. This is a large and lasting portion, for it includes all, and more than all, and it outlasts all. (v.3, p. 254)

It is a wet and gray morning, but our portion is nonetheless amazing.

Day by Day

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till with Christ the Lord I stand.

Karolina W. Sandell-Berg

2 Hours with Paul Tripp

A very good friend recommended this interview.

It's a two-hour Ask Paul Tripp session, hosted by Desiring God.

As Tyler Kenney writes: “The discussion ranges from Paul’s mustache to parenting, marriage, and beyond. A very worthwhile two hours—seriously.”

HT: Justin Taylor

2 Years Ago Today

On May 31, 2008, Benjamin asked me to marry him.

Just before proposing, he gave me a black book, with this written in it:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

This is one huge thing that the Lord has been teaching me... Problems, issues, everything in this world will pale in comparison to Christ Jesus, when we see His beauty. I want to be a means of that for you. I see it in Ephesians 5. By grace, the Holy Spirit, Lord willing, will use me to make you more holy, to sanctify you, to wash you with the water of the word. I pray that the Lord will allow me to be the kind of influence on your life that helps you...

"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God; and such we are."

And from two years later, I can say, Benjamin...

You have.

Laboring Well

I've been thinking lately about what it is to labor well and be faithful in work. It troubles me to see how pervasive a "slacker" mentality is reaching, even in Christian circles and even in my own heart.

I've been reading through Ephesians lately, and Eph 6:5-8 stands out to me:

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ, not by way of eyeservice as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

Elisabeth Elliot has a meditation called "The Gift of Work" in her Keep a Quiet Heart. Here is a helpful portion:

Wouldn't it make an astounding difference, not only in the quality of the work we do (in office, schoolroom, factory, kitchen, or backyard), but also in our satisfaction, even our joy, if we recognized God's gracious gift in every single task, from making a bed or bathing a baby to drawing a blueprint or selling a computer? If our children saw us doing "heartily as unto the Lord" all the work we do, they would learn true happiness. Instead of feeling that they must be allowed to do what they like, they would learn to like what they do. (101)

Two Brief Good-byes

Here is a post from Justin Taylor's blog. I didn't know Zac Smith. But I did know Mary Pearson and have been praying for her and (still am) for her family.

Zac Smith and Mary Pearson Didn't Waste Their Cancer

Zac Smith is with Jesus. He fought the good fight of faith. He finished the race. He kept the faith. He’s entered into the joy of his Master. He didn’t waste his life, and he didn’t waste his cancer.

Here’s the video he made several months ago:

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

Please also remember in your prayers the family of Mary Pearson, wife of Desiring God board member Mitch Pearson and mother of four.

Jon Bloom writes:

O God, thank you for the life of Mary Pearson. Thank you especially that you gave her new life. Thank you for delivering her from the domain of darkness and transferring her to the kingdom of your beloved Son (Colossians 1:13), which she is now experiencing in a measure that just a few short hours ago she could not have even imagined. And have mercy on her precious husband and children. Sustain them as they endure the painful amputation of her presence and the difficult road ahead.

And, Father, we want your Son, Jesus, to return and bring all these tears and pain and death to an end. May it be soon! In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

As Justin says, Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

For My Mom

Mother's Hands

They were the hands that brushed my coarse red mane
And wove the sections into tidy braids while I squirmed.
They fed the cloth into chewing teeth of the sewing machine
To stitch together my favorite Easter dress, blue with tiny peach flowers.
And tucked little pieces of Kleenex behind each hot curler
So it wouldn’t burn my ear.

Those fingers probed my swollen, angry thumb where the splinter had lodged.
Cool hands smoothed back sticky strands of hair from a flushed forehead
And held the straw in lukewarm 7-Up to sip.
Those hands didn’t shake
When they poured the sweet, sticky Triminic into a spoon.
Didn’t shake even when the doctor brought bad news.

Mom’s hands pounded and pressed smooth, elastic dough,
Forming tender bundles into loaves, side by side to rise,
With one small lump left to snuggle in my little pan.
Like magic, those hands could crack an egg and slip the yolk
Back and forth, back and forth, saving the white
For my angel food cake, a doll dress cake, with ribbons of frosting.

Her hands loved the clean of a fresh, straight sheet
With the corners folded and tucked like a tidy envelope.
They rubbed the rag on the mirror until it squeaked like a chick
And probed every ceiling corner with her long, fuzzy duster,
Stalking down the sticky strands of silky spider webs.

Her hands loved the dirt of a fresh tilled patch,
Tucking small green tendrils into damp, dark soil.
She didn’t hate the spider with the long, long legs,
Daddy-long-legs are our friends, she would say with a smile.

Her fingers traced the page in her open-spread Bible,
Held the notebook with its worn, crinkled pages
Where she wrote her prayers for us in soft, curling letters.
She’d press her fingers together when she tried to remember
That one next phrase in the passage on the notecard.

They’d spank us too, those hands of our mother,
With a short wooden spoon from her purse or the dresser.
Or set us on the chair to think until the timer beeped.
But they’d always hug us back and press our head to her shoulder,
And rub in slow circles until the shaking crying slowed.

Those hands were busy from the first song of morning,
Pouring milk on Cheerios and zipping jackets tight.
And they met us in the parking lot on carpool days
On the wide steering wheel of our big station wagon.
Mother’s hands were busy from the first song of morning,
Until they tucked us in like a snug little bug in a rug
And framed our faces for a soft kiss good-night.

A New Affection

In the book Total Church, Tim Chester and Steve Timmis write,

I love being married, but I love being married because it unites me with my wife. In the same way, I love the gospel, but I love the gospel because it unites me with my Savior. We are not saved by principles or strategies but by a person.

They also point us to consider the sermon by Thomas Chalmers, "The Expulsive Power of a New Affection."

Preparing for Suffering

In a post quite a while ago I linked to an article about Matt Chandler (the pastor in TX with brain cancer). I'm sure you probably know him.

This message at the Together for the Gospel Conference is worth watching, if you have 50 minutes. Matt's introductory words, about 25 minutes, are encouraging and moving. C.J. Mahaney's portion offers some really helpful resources to prepare your own heart for suffering or to share with someone else. And it's a privilege to join in with the prayer time at the end... and I know the Lord will move, in some good way, in response.

T4G 2010 -- Session 8 -- Matt Chandler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

Not Fair

From Al Mohler's talk at Together for the Gospel,

“Fair" is not applicable to a sovereign God who is holy and perfect and acts in accordance with His own perfection. Perfect ... is better than fair. And perfect cannot be interrogated by fair. Perfect is infinitely superior to fair.

It is not fair, they will say, that some are not saved. It is not fair, of course they argue, that any might be in hell. But if we are going to understand anything even close to what is fair, it is not fair that anyone would be in heaven. It is not fair that anyone would be saved. It isn’t fair, in particular, that I would be saved.

T4G 2010 -- Session 3 -- Al Mohler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

How to Disarm an Angry Person

This helpful post How to Disarm an Angry Person came from Justin Taylor's blog:

Ed Welch talks here about how to respond when someone is sinfully angry at you. He ends with these practical-theological suggestions:

1. Don’t minimize the destruction of anger. You are getting shot at! Of course it hurts.
2. You are setting out to learn a disarming strategy that takes humility and love, and this is way over your head. As such, “Lord have mercy on me” is the order of the day.
3. Remember that angry people are blind to their own anger. They are the last to know that they are killing people. Instead, all they see is that they are right and others are wrong. Assume that they are spiritual lunatics.
4. Divest yourself of all the things you desire and cherish for yourself. Do you want love? Toss it and keep only the necessities, such as the desire to love. Do you need respect and understanding? It will only be an encumbrance. Get rid of it.
5. Move toward the angry person in love and humility. Fear runs away, anger attacks. Humility and love move toward. In a surprise attack they blindside angry people with weakness. Your timing will be important. Sometimes you can say something while the gun is aimed. Other times you will wait and speak later.
6. The person’s anger could have many reasons – you being one. But murderous anger is always wrong. At some point, from your place of love and humility, you will hold up the mirror and help angry people see themselves (Matthew 7:5).



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The Redemptive Violence of Grace

Here's a point that stuck out to me from a Paul Tripp series Portrait of a Struggle:

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4).

Our Redeemer has an end in sight in His work in our lives--that we will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. He will not stop short of His goal, and the vehicle of our growth is suffering. Suffering is not unfaithfulness or inattention from God but an expression of His love.

God's Faithfulness

This morning I read Psalm 89 and part of the corresponding exposition from Spurgeon's Treasury of David.

Note,... he speaks of faithfulness, which is the mercy of God's mercies--the brightest jewel in the crown of goodness. The grace of an unfaithful God would be a poor subject for music, but unchangeable love and immutable promises demand everlasting songs. In times of trouble it is the divine faithfulness which the soul hangs upon; this is the bower anchor of the soul, its holdfast, and its stay.

Masculinity

This message by Russell Moore on "crucified masculinity" is chock-full of wise considerations for raising sons who will be protectors, providers, and faithful men.

Easter Message

The message we heard on Easter was one of the most moving and powerful I recall.

It looked at Ephesians 1:15-23 and the knowledge that Paul prayed for the Ephesians to have (experiential... not merely intellectual or factual, like the devil has).

And it explored the power at work in the lives of believers... a power that correlates to God's power in:

1) Raising Jesus from the dead,
2) Seating Him at the right hand of His throne,
3) Exalting Him above every other authority in the universe,
4) Putting all things under His feet, and
5) Making us the Church His body.

Why do we not feel like an incredible power is working in our lives?

Because we have eyes that need to be enlightened. We need help to see:

1) The blinding, deadening power of sin. Any measure of victory over sin is an awesome display of God's delivering power.
2) The magnitude of the demonic power that comes against us every moment of our lives. Any measure of safety is an awesome display of God's power keeping the evil one at bay.
3) What happened to Jesus after the resurrection... and we need help to recognize that the same power is working in us.

I'd highly recommend listening to the whole thing.
"The Immeasurable Greatness of His Power Toward Us"

Praise Adonai

Ben asked me today what my favorite (contemporary) worship song was. At the moment, this is what came to mind: "Praise Adonai."

Who is like Him
The Lion and the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Mountains bow down
Every ocean roars
To the Lord of hosts

Praise Adonai
From the rising of the sun
‘Til the end of every day
Praise Adonai
All the nations of the earth
All the angels and the saints
Sing Praise

Who is like Him
The Lion and the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Mountains bow down
Every ocean roars
To the Lord of hosts

Praise Adonai
From the rising of the sun
‘Til the end of every day
Praise Adonai
All the nations of the earth
All the angels and the saints
Sing Praise

Praise Adonai
From the rising of the sun
‘Til the end of every day
Praise Adonai
All the nations of the earth
All the angels and the saints
Sing
Praise Adonai
From the rising of the sun
‘Til the end of every day
Praise Adonai
All the nations of the earth
All the angels and the saints
Sing Praise

Paul Baloche

A Gospel Poem

Justin Taylor posts A Gospel Poem


In a new book of collected talks on Atonement, J. I. Packer writes on the necessity of the atonement and cites an old hymn by Joseph Hart. Packer writes: “Read it carefully, for this is the true gospel.”

O ye sons of men be wise,
trust no longer dreams and lies,
Out of Christ, almighty pow’r
can do nothing but devour.

God you say is good. ‘Tis true.
But he’s pure and holy too;
just and jealous is his ire,
burning with vindictive fire.

This of old himself declared:
Israel trembled when they heard.
But the proof of proofs indeed
is he sent his Son to bleed.

When the blessed Jesus died
God was clearly justified:
Sin to pardon without blood
never in his nature stood.

Worship God, then, in his Son,
there he’s love and there alone.
Think not that he will, or may,
pardon any other way.

See the suff’ring Son of God,
panting, groaning, sweating blood!
Brethren, this had never been
had not God detested sin.

Be his mercy therefore sought
in the way himself has taught:
There his clemency is such,
we can never trust too much.

He that better knows than we,
bids us all to Jesus flee.
Humbly take him at his Word
and your souls will bless the Lord!

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Perfect Lamb

Like a lamb that is led to slaughter.
Your lamb shall be an unblemished male,
And the blood shall be a sign for you,
And when I see the blood
I will pass over you.

He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering
And slay it for a sin offering
In the place where they slay the burnt offering.
The priest shall make atonement for him.

He shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD
For his sin which he has committed.
It is a guilt offering;
He was certainly guilty before the LORD.

Never, by the same sacrifices
Which they offer continually,
Can the Law make perfect those who draw near.
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats
To take away sins.

Sacrifice and offering You have not desired,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
For the Law was given through Moses;
Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

If the distance is so great for you
That you are not able to bring the tithe,
Then you shall exchange it for money,
And go to the place which the LORD your God chooses.
You may spend the money
For whatever your heart desires;
For oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink,
And there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD.

Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot,
Went to the chief priests, and said,
“What are you willing to give me
To betray Him to you?”
And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver.

He looked at Jesus as He walked
And said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said,
“Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
Then they came and laid hands on Jesus.

Yet He did not open His mouth
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.

Then Pilate said to Him,
“Do You not hear how many things
They testify against You?”
And He did not answer him with regard
To even a single charge.

Pilate said to them,
“Then what shall I do with Jesus
Who is called Christ?”
They all said, “Crucify Him!”
And he said, “Why,
What evil has He done?”
But they kept shouting all the more,
Saying, “Crucify Him!”

And when they had crucified Him,
And when they had crucified Him,
They divided up His garments.
And sitting down, they began
To keep watch over Him there.

But the LORD was pleased to crush Him,
Putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself
As a guilt offering,
He will see it and be satisfied,
As He will bear their iniquities.

And Jesus cried out again,
And yielded up His spirit.
And behold, the veil of the temple
Was torn in two,
From top to bottom.

But He, having offered one sacrifice
For sins for all time,
Sat down at the right hand of God.
For by one offering
He has perfected for all time
Those who are being sanctified.

(Isaiah 53, Exodus 12, Leviticus 4-5, Hebrews 10, John 1, Deuteronomy 14, Matthew 26-27)

Hope in the Worst of Times

The sermon this weekend was on Ben's life verses, and it was excellent.

A Note from Ben

From a note my husband left me:

Spurgeon says today "He giveth grace unto the humble." James 4:6. "Humble hearts lie in the valleys where streams of grace are flowing, and hence they drink of them." Let us strive to "be humble that we may not need to be humbled, but may be exalted by the grace of God."

A good word.

Other Peoples' Answered Prayer

God is always showing us kindness. But this answered prayer (not my own) is a huge reminder.

http://mollypiper.com/2010/03/we-had-an-ultrasound-today-wanna-know-more-2/

Called to Work

“It is an error to think that those who flee worldly affairs and engage in contemplation are leading an angelic life… We know that men were created to busy themselves with labor and that no sacrifice is more pleasing to God than when each one attends to his calling and studies well to live for the common good.” John Calvin

HT: Matt Perman

Spring Break

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow (James 1:17).

Ben and I just got home from a "spring break" vacation with my family. We had such a grand time, just being together. I love my family, and they are one huge way the Lord has saturated my life with grace.


My gracious and generous parents. I am who I am in large measure due to their influence.




My cup runneth over...

In God Whose Word I Praise

Three times in Psalm 56, David says, in God “whose word I praise” (verse 4, twice in verse 10).

Why should we praise God for His word?

His Word is solid food for the mature (Hebrews 5:12, 14)
His Word is the tool of a workman of God (2 Timothy 2:15)
His Word is inspired by God and equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
His Word penetrates to the deepest heart (Hebrews 4:12)
His Word will never fail or end (Psalm 119:89)
His Word illuminates our darkness and confusion (Psalm 119:105)
His Word shows us His love (Psalm 119:76)

Bridal Shower

This afternoon I got to help host a bridal shower for a very dear friend of mine. I shared the devotional thought (even though out of all the married ladies in the room, I probably had been married the shortest!).

The basic outline:

In my experience as a wife, a lesson the Lord has underscored is this instruction, for wives to win their husbands (even husbands disobedient to God) “without a word” (1 Pt. 3:2).

Women in general tend to be full of words, so why did Peter include this little phrase in his directions to wives?

What does it not mean?

A wife should not be:

Without words of encouragement (1 Thess 5:11).
Without words of truth (Eph 4:15).
Without words of honor and love (Titus 2:4).

What does it mean?

A wife should be:

Without unwholesome words (Eph 4:29).
Without words of disrespect (Eph 5:33).
Without words of rebellion (Eph 5:24 and 1 Pt 3:1).
With actions and attitudes of a chaste, respectful heart (1 Pt 3:2).
With prayer and hope in God (1 Pt 3:4-6).

You can read the whole thing here.

Satisfied

I read in Romans this morning:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith (3:23-25a).

It seems a shame to me that “propitiation” is such an awkward, hard-sounding word, because it has such a wonderful meaning. Satisfied.

God had a proper and incinerating anger against my sin. And Jesus stepped forward and chose to absorb all that wrath in my place. There are no remnants of judgment left for those who trust in Jesus—God’s required punishment has been totally satisfied. That is propitiation.

And what’s more—God goes beyond absolving our guilt and actually puts on us the righteousness of Jesus (what an exchange), meaning that we may receive His favor and pleasure and all the sweet promises of our own hearts finding satisfaction in Him.

Double satisfaction. Amazing.

Leaning Upon Christ

“Everything that a man leans upon but God—will be a dart which will certainly pierce his heart through and through. He who leans only upon Christ—lives the highest, choicest, safest and sweetest life.”

- Thomas Brooks

HT: Of First Importance

Freedom in Design

A couple weeks ago, I re-read (for the "how-many"th time?) the book Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot.

One section I particularly appreciate:

What a relief it is to know that there is a divine design. This knowledge is the secret of serenity. Jesus is the perfect example of a human life lived in serenity and obedience to the Father's will. He moved through the events of His life without fuss or hurry, He met men and women with grace. He was able to say, "I do always those things that please the Father"--and it must have been with no variations of even twenty-four seconds.... In the face of the betrayal that He knew was coming, in the face of His own death, He took the place of a slave and washed the disciples' feet. He could do that because He knew who He was and whose He was. He could face also the events of the coming night and day. It was not weakness which enabled Him to become a slave. It was not resignation that took Him to Calvary. He had both accepted and willed the Father's will.

You and I can be steadied, directed, and held by the knowledge of where we came from and where we are going. To know that the whole world moves in harmony at God's bidding is wonderfully stabilizing. (p. 111)

The Lord Is a Warrior

For some reason, several weeks ago reading through Exodus 15, the song of Moses struck me.

I’m sure I’ve read it multiple times before, but this time I was unexpectedly taken with the notion that I should memorize it. Aside from Psalms, I’m not sure I’ve memorized a large portion of the Old Testament before.

Here’s how it goes (I’m typing without looking … but I’ll go back and correct it before posting!):

I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted;
The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.

The LORD is my strength and my song,
And He has become my salvation.
This is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will extol Him.

The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is His name.
Pharaoh’s chariots and His army He has cast into the sea,
And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

The deeps cover them;
They went down into the depths like a stone.

Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power.
Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.
And in the greatness of Your excellence
You overthrow those who rise up against You.
You send forth Your burning anger,
And it consumes them as chaff.

At the blast of Your nostrils, the waters were piled up.
The flowing waters stood up like a heap,
The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said,
“I will pursue.
I will overtake.
I will divide the spoil.
My desire shall be gratified against them.
I will draw out my sword.
My hand shall destroy them.”

You blew with Your wind.
The sea covered them.
They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Who is like You among the gods, O LORD?
Who is like You,
Majestic in holiness,
Awesome in praises,
Working wonders?

You stretched out Your right hand;
The earth swallowed them.

In Your lovingkindness
You have lead the people that You have redeemed.
In Your strength
You have guided them to Your holy habitation.

The peoples have heard.
They tremble.
Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.
Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed.
The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them.
All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.

Terror and dread fall upon them.
By the greatness of Your arm,
They are motionless as stone
Until Your people pass over, O LORD.
Until Your people pass over, whom You have purchased.

You will bring them and plant them
In the mountain of Your inheritance,
The place, O LORD, which You have made for Your dwelling
The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

The LORD shall reign forever and ever.

(I butchered the last three lines. But otherwise, not too bad.)

I wonder why God had me memorize these particular verses. I’m sure there is a reason.

Numbering Our Days

One of the prayers that I pray for myself is Psalm 90:12, "Teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom."

This morning I was feeling restless and somewhat troubled in my heart, and I happened to the site Grace Gems, and this was the daily "gem," drawn from that very prayer from Psalm 90:12. Thank You, Lord, for little reminders that You think of me.

The whole thing is worth reading.

Here is one excerpt that was especially meaningful:

You had sorrow. Did your sorrow leave your heart sweeter and purer? Did it make you gentler, more patient, more compassionate, more mindful of others? Did it bring you nearer to God? Or did the sorrow hurt you, leaving your peace broken, your trust in God impaired, your spirit vexed and troubled?

Or you had temptation. Did your temptation make you stronger as you resisted it, and overcame the tempter? That is the way we may make our temptations blessings, to make even Satan help to build up our spiritual life. An evil thought resisted and mastered, leaves us not only unhurt—but stronger in the fiber of our being. But temptations parleyed with, and yielded to—hurt our life. What has been the effect of the year's temptations on your life? Have you come out of them unhurt, with no smell of fire on your garments?

Or take the year's business or occupation. How has it affected your spiritual life? Business is not sinful, unless it be a sinful business. A right occupation ought always to be a means of grace. What has been the effect of your secular business—on your spiritual life? Has it been helpful, strengthening, ennobling?

Or take your companionships and friendships; what have they done for you in the year that is gone? Have you been helped Godward and heavenward by them? Have they been full of sweet and good inspirations for you? Have they made a summer atmosphere for your heart, a weather in which all spiritual fruits and all beautiful things have grown and flourished?

What marks has the old year left on your life? Are you carrying hurts and scars from its experiences? Or have they helped to build up a truer, stronger, holier manhood or womanhood in you? We ought to be ever growing in whatever things are lovely. That is what life is meant to do for us.

From J. R. Miller, 1912

Anger

Pastor Sam shared a thoughtful and thought-provoking devotional word at Tuesday's staff meeting.

His premise: Anger is a result of one of two things.
1) You expect something; it doesn't happen.
2) Something happens; you didn't expect it.

At the bottom, anger is related to expectations.

The emotions that come from thwarted expectations (disappointment, frustration, rage, etc) are common experience to us all. James 1:19-20 says, "This you know, beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God."

As Sam pointed out, anger is like a "light on the dashboard," pointing to disappointed expectations. When you notice anger "lit," consider these three questions about your expectations.

1) Were they realistic?
2) Were they biblical?
3) Could you yield them?

Bumper sticker in the neighborhood: "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention."

Better: "If you're outraged, you're not paying attention."

Why? Because God is the only being in the universe who has a pure right to be outraged at how He is treated.

At the moment when the most catagorically evil act in the universe was being committed (the death of Jesus at the hands of wicked men), God did not respond as every reasonable expectation (both realistically and biblically) would dictate.

Instead, by the death of His own Son, He opened the way of mercy for undeserving wretches like me.

I think I'd be a lot less likely to get angry if I just kept that in the front of my mind.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while w were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Even Then...

We sang the second verse of "It Is Well With My Soul" in staff lunch this week.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is not always easy to "let this blest assurance control," especially when Satan buffets and trials come.

But--I know it, even then--because of Jesus' kind regard of my helplessness (not only helpless, but hateful, rebellious, and despicable), my soul has been plucked out of all the worst horrors and given all the best promises possible.

So, it is well.

Though the Earth Should Change

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride

(Psalm 46:1-3).

Such familiar words, and comforting. But yesterday reading them, I was struck by the particular aptness of the words “though the earth should change.” Change is often what I fear. Not that the way life is right now is perfect, but I know it. Not that the world has no problems, but right now I feel comfortable facing them. But what if things change? What if I can’t take what comes?

So basic and uncomplicated. There is a refuge which can never be shaken. There is an unchanging reality who promises to be near, whatever comes. Bank on Him, and I won’t fear. Whatever He sends me, even if it is a cataclysm that destroys the whole landscape of my life, He will send His own presence and help too. He is not just present, in fact … He is a very present help. May it be so, Lord, and knowing it, let my heart be calm.

For Teachers of Children... Or Anybody

Over the past several days, I have been listening to messages from the 2007 Children Desiring God Conference. What encouraging words!

Wayne Grudem wrote Systematic Theology, and hearing him talk in simple, humble terms about how such complex and majestic truths can be shared with young people was very refreshing to me.

And his explanation of the variety of biblical motivators for why we obey God was illuminating... and gave me renewed gratitude for what a gracious, wise God we serve. (That portion starts at about 28:25 in his second talk, I believe.)

I don't even work in children's ministry, and I gained a lot through this.

2007 Children Desiring God Conference
Standing on the Truth: How Great A Salvation

Do the Unwelcome Task

A great quote from C.J. Mahaney's "Biblical Productivity":

No unwelcome tasks become any the less unwelcome by
putting them off till tomorrow. It is only when they are behind
us and done, that we begin to find that there is a sweetness to
be tasted afterwards, and that the remembrance of
unwelcome duties unhesitatingly done is welcome and
pleasant. Accomplished, they are full of blessing, and there is a
smile on their faces as they leave us. Undone, they stand
threatening and disturbing our tranquility, and hindering our
communion with God. If there be lying before you any bit of
work from which you shrink, go straight up to it, and do it at
once. The only way to get rid of it is to do it.
‐Alexander MacLaren (1826‐1910), Scottish preacher

Busy With the Right Things?

Someone on our retreat today mentioned this article by C.J. Mahaney on "Biblical Productivity." I've only read about one page, but I'm already struck by this thought:

Our Savior understood priorities. Although his public ministry was
shorter than one presidential term, within that time he completed all the works give to him by the Father.

The Father evidently called him to heal a limited number of people
from disease, raise a limited number of bodies from the dead, and
preach a limited number of sermons. As Jesus stared into the cup of
God’s wrath, he looked back on his life work as complete because he
understood the calling of the Father. He was not called to heal
everyone, raise everyone, preach copious sermons, or write volumes
of books.

While we must always be extra careful when comparing our
responsibilities with Christ’s messianic priorities, in the incarnation he entered into the limitations of human life on this earth.

So join me over the next few days as we discover the root and nature
of laziness, so that we might devote ourselves to biblical priorities and join our Savior in one day praying to the Father, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do” (John 17:4, ESV).

I have a hunch the rest of this article will be very good food for thought for me.

HT: C.J. Mahaney

Retreat

Tomorrow through Thursday, I get to join a pastors' wives retreat (a silent retreat, at that). Everyone has her own room, and we come together for meals but otherwise the time is ours to spend as we please.

I'm looking forward to it ... and praying that the Lord will meet us each in special ways and help me to hear what He may have for me.

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her (Hosea 2:14).

Beloved

Sometimes God amazes me with His tenderness. Yesterday was a delightful day, and I felt very cherished (which shouldn't surprise me, since Ephesians 5 does say Jesus nourishes and cherishes His Bride).

For example...

-Ben decided not to go to his Friday morning men's group but stay home and have breakfast with me.

-In the ten minutes I had to go shopping, I was able to find a sweater for 60% off (and an extra 15% on top of that) to wear for our special evening out.

-A friend from small group had given us a flyer with a special for the Minneapolis Symphony ... 2 tickets for $10. And we got to hear Ben's favorite composer, Grieg.

-Ben's class ended an hour before the orchestra began, but he got out a few minutes early, so we had time to eat dinner without rushing.

-I had packed food for supper, but we were downtown and had nowhere but our cold car to eat it. But providentially, we parked right next to a facility (virtually empty) with comfy chairs and tables, even a sink to rinse our strawberries.

-Just yesterday morning I was listening to a sermon about how culture and the use of music glorify God, who made the very concept of music. (If you're interested, you can hear it here.

-We both really enjoyed the evening of excellent music. I read this morning: "Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy" (Psalm 33:3).

God is always kind to me, but sometimes I am numb to it. Yesterday was certainly a reminder of His unmerited favor to us in Jesus.

God of Justice

A friend sent me this stirring song today, reminding me to be faithful with what I've received.

God of Justice
Tim Hughes

Listen to it here.

God of Justice, Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served

Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God

You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out

The Ultimate Meaning of True Womanhood

This message by John Piper was so encouraging to me:

The Ultimate Meaning of True Womanhood from Desiring God

Hard to Get Up

On the Girltalk blog, women are invited to join the 5am Club... dedicated to rolling out of bed early enough to have a regular time with God.

Responding to a new "club member," here is their helpful word about fighting laziness:

Just because rising early (or fasting) is hard, doesn’t mean we can’t do it or that it isn’t worth it. J. Alec Motyer explains in his comments on Philippians. 1:9-11 Read it carefully. Then read it again:

And this is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

“Our obedience, discipline and hard graft are not insignificant or optional. On the contrary, they are the God-intended context for growth. But something else energizes the growth till the fruit is ready for harvest: all is done through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (verse 11)….In this setting the daily task of obedience remains hard, but not fruitless. We are often neglectful, frequently failing, ever inadequate; yet the end is secure, for God is at work.”

See the whole post.

When Trouble Comes

Some further notes from Paul Tripp’s talk at our church on Wednesday…

Look at Hebrews 11:17-19:

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your descendants shall be called.’ He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

It makes no sense to us. It seems to be lunacy, absolute folly even to consider the command to offer up that one miracle son that God had promised and then finally given.

But it says, “when he was tested.” There is no extricating God from this mess—He is the one who is actually testing Abraham. This is no sadistic “pop quiz” kind of test like you have in junior high. Here God is refining, tempering, doing something good in him.

I am yet in need of refinement, so grace will take forms of violence and pain as God works to bring my heart closer and closer to Him. God will take you where you haven’t intended to go … to produce in you that which you could not produce on your own. This is uncomfortable grace.

The psalmist says, “May the bones You have broken rejoice.” In order to purify your heart, God will break your bones. Relief and release are ultimately coming, but right now what I most desperately need is refinement. I am tempted to be satisfied right where I am … but God won’t leave me there.

Many times we cry, Where is the grace of God? And we’re getting it. Loving arms of redemption wrapped around us when we could never deserve it. We are so content with where we are; we’re so arrogant. We’re so good at swindling ourselves out of a deeper and sweeter life. I have a perverse ability to feel okay about things in my life that I should not feel okay about. God wants you to have nothing but Him because He is your only hope.

If I were “on the joystick,” I would choose not to go through difficult times. Yet when they come, we meet God in ways we would not have done otherwise.

Looking at Abraham’s example, here are three things to embrace when the difficult comes:

1. God’s promises (Hebrews 11:18). Abraham did believe God would be faithful to His promise. Do you rest in God’s promises? Do you see them as reliable in every circumstance? The words in Hebrew in the Genesis account where Abraham builds the altar (on which he will offer his son) indicate a man at rest—he is working neatly and in order. Abraham’s rest in the promises of God is visible even in how he constructs the altar he did not understand.

2. God’s power (Hebrews 11:19). Abraham considered God strong enough even to raise Isaac from the dead, if that’s what He chose. Do you believe the remarkable, creative, sovereign power of God? Remember the story of David and Goliath. The Israelites looked at the equation Little Us vs. Big Giants and trembled. But David looked at the equation as Little Giant vs. Huge God and did not fear.

3. God’s faithfulness. Abraham was convinced that God would not turn from His purpose. In that moment of crisis is not where faith quits—it’s where faith lives. Our hope is not in a system of redemption but in a great Redeemer. And because of His kindness to us in Jesus, this moment, albeit painful, is grace. I know it because His face toward me is grace. Let my heart cry, “Give me the grace to receive this as grace … and be glad.” We can’t work up faith; it’s a gift.

Lord, let me truly sing, My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.