Life in the Valley

Personal No Blog Posting Month (PerNoBloPoMo)

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

I'm going to take January off from blogging. We're going to have another one of these in a month and a half:

Life will be a little fuller then, (to say the least!) and there is some work I'd like to do on this page to update it and such BEFORE that time comes, as well as praying/thinking through the purpose of this site. I invite you to pray for me over the month, as well ... please! Maybe I'll be able to do what I want sooner than I think and I'll be back in action before the end of January, but we'll see.

Until then, I wish you and yours a very

Happy New Year!

I Resolve to ...

2011-12-29T07:04:00.001-05:00

As a child, we had a family tradition of making new year's resolutions together. Perhaps it seems strange to you, but these are great memories to me. My siblings and I would build "resolution booths" out of couch cushions and throw pillows and my father would record our goals for the coming year (seriously, he still has them in a file in his office); I shared a little about this tradition in this post last year. I wonder if I ever achieved any of my goals? Probably not, but that doesn't make the memories any less sweet.

Since this is part of my heritage, every year about this time I start thinking about what I should do or not do, what new habits to develop or stop, in the coming year. This year feels different, because one and a half months into 2012, we will be having a baby. I've been wondering how I should let this influence the loftiness of my goals.

Babies take a lot of your time, your sleep, ... and your love. And there are the two others to love and care for, as well. Not to mention that Colin and I would also like to maintain our relationship!

I guess what I've really been asking myself is, what/who do I hope to be one year from now? What do I need to do or let go of to move in that direction?

This has led to some major generalities and reminded me of my need to trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. Of course, I can think of some specifics for 2012 - projects, life changes, etc. But this year I'm leaning more toward a short list of things I hang in the kitchen and/or on the dashboard of the car that move me in the direction of being transformed by the renewing of my mind. I wanna let God have His way with me in new ways this year more than I did last year; I want to love Him more at the end of 2012 than I do now.

Here are a few things that have popped into my mind:

Remember God's mercies are new every morning - do not live by shame or guilt; I belong body and soul to my loving Father.

Extend to others the mercy I've been given - this will take a lifetime, but will get at the hard places in my heart for sure!

Read God's Word - one cannot live by bread alone (though I do really like bread!), I need the life-giving bread of God's Word.

I think that my "theme verse" this new year will be Micah 6:8 -

He has showed you, O man, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.

Yeah, that should keep me busy this year ... and for the rest of my life! What would it look like to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God in my marriage, in relationship to my children, with my neighbors, in the church, in my writing, in my personal thoughts that He alone knows? I wonder....

So, that's what this lady is thinking for 2012. I think it's fun to think about a new beginning and what the future holds! Ultimately, it's in the Lord's hands of course, so I encourage you to ask Him what He's thinking for YOU in 2012. Are there things you need to do? New ways to step out in faith? Things to release to Him? Do you need to choose to follow Him for the first time? Oh, it'll be a year of transformation if we step into it and walk through it with our God!

I pray today you can look back on 2011 with thanksgiving and ahead to 2012 with hope.

Cheers!

PS I'm taking January off from blogging. At some point I'll likely make the blog private until I get some things set up that I'd like to change. One more post tomorrow and then I'll "see" you in February!

A Tale of Three Christmases

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

This year we celebrated Christmas for three consecutive days. It was very fun AND wore us all out! What the days had in common:

family
food
stockings & gifts
food
napping
food
playing
food

Do you notice any trends?

Christmas Eve we celebrated Christmas amongst ourselves;

Santa obliged and came one night early

If you like Christmas cards, pretend you got this in the mail.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

After dinner we headed to the Christmas Eve service at church. Elizabeth wanted to sing with the choir, so she and I did that this year (very fun!) We spent the night at Colin's parent's house.

Christmas Day we celebrated with Colin's family.

We have some family photos that Colin took with his camera, but this is the best that I have of the group.

These paper crowns come from Christmas Crackers, a fun British tradition.

Boxing Day (the 26th) we celebrated with my family, as is the custom.

We let the children open presents first ... all at once!

Then we put on what my dad calls "the electric pacifier" (tv) and we adults exchanged gifts. This worked out quite well; I sure love the electric pacifier!

My dad is leaving soon for Rwanda for work, where he and my mom will live for 1-1/2 years.

He likes Grey Poupon and I think my mom got a kick out of getting him this large supply.

I love holiday-set tables!
That thing on the left in the front is a pre-popped Christmas Cracker.

This is the next generation ages 7.5, 6, 5.5, 3.5, 3.5, almost 2, and 6 months - book-ended by the girls!

I hope you had a Merry Christmas and that you have a peaceful beginning to the new year!

Redemption

2011-12-27T07:55:00.002-05:00

The shower is a great thinking space, is it not?

After reading in Boice's The Christ of Christmas about the men who didn't miss Christmas - the shepherds and the wise men - I hopped in the shower to get cleaned up before the kids' tv-time was yesterday morning. My thoughts were still on Boice's words about those men coming, from their very different backgrounds, to worship the King that was born in the manger. The Lord had invited them to come, and they did, bowing their knees and hearts before the One that God had sent. Then, after the account ends in the gospels, we never hear of them again.

I wonder how the encounter influenced the rest of their lives?

* * *

Perhaps, like me, you spent time with extended family this weekend in familiar places from years gone by: a childhood home or hometown, the place you moved when you were a teenager, the home where your children grew up.

As I showered in the bathroom that I used from age 14 through college, my heart was taken up into worship as I considered the remarkable ways that God has guided and directed my path and the paths of my family members to bring us where we are today. We're a loud, opinionated, rambunctious bunch, too easily annoyed with one another and not all politically aligned. But we do still love being together enjoying traditions and sharing hilarious stories of the past and present over large meals and noisy children. My parents gave us a good foundation and great opportunities & experiences growing up (thanks!) and I think my siblings are two really cool human beings. This bunch is pretty remarkable too:

The Next Generation!

When I think back, I remember how I made all kinds of poor decisions growing up that could have had a number of different results. What hit me in the shower was just how good God was to protect me, carry me through, forgive my sin, give me second, third, forth chances, and (even more amazing) fill my life with blessings well beyond what I deserve. What grace! I'm sure each of my family members can testify to the work of that grace in their lives, as well.

Too often I lean toward being consumed by shame. Yesterday, I was reminded that there is now no condemnation. The Spirit lives in me, the law is no longer my master; shame, you have no place here because Jesus paid for my sin and gave me His righteousness!

At a time of year when we look back in reflection and forward with resolve, how can we worship the Lord for His work in our lives? How can we seek Him as we look ahead to the new year? How can we invite others, as God invited the shepherds and wise men (and us!), to take a look at His redemption plan and consider joining in the worship?

God, we are in awe at the forgiveness of sins and the extent to which you went to allow us to enter into your family as Your children. Jesus, you took on flesh and you hung, cursed, on a tree. Then you rose! Spirit, continue to rescue us from cowering before shame because You now live in our hearts. Remind us as we leave Christmas, start a new year, and work our way toward Easter, of your full and complete redemption of our souls and cause our eyes to see how deeply and widely you have loved us. Open our lips to tell the old, old story, of Jesus and His love that we may see your kingdom come in new hearts in 2012. Amen.

Go For It!

2011-12-23T06:18:00.000-05:00

Have you had an inkling over the last few weeks of something you could do for a family member, neighbor, friend, co-worker, or other person or group of people in your life? For example: an invitation to a Christmas Eve service, giving an unexpected gift, taking cookies to a neighbor, calling up an old friend, inviting someone to join you for Christmas dinner, etc.

Encouragement for the day: DO IT!

I have had several things on my mind in the last weeks that I know have come from a Holy Spirit nudging. I want to go for it, but quickly insecurities about how I'll be perceived or doubts about logistics threaten to keep me from action.

DON'T BE A WIMP!

Why? Because if you belong to Christ, His very Spirit lives in you. And if He's spoken to your heart and mind, you can be sure that He's got something good up His sleeve. Not to mention the fact that you, as a child of THE KING need not live by fear; you are loved beyond your wildest dreams. Have you paused to consider this Christmas just how ridiculous it is that God should care to rescue us from sin and give us new life? I think it's nuts. It is the kindness of God that leads to repentance. Nuts, but oh. so. wonderful!

So we rejoice!

And we can BE BOLD!!

I write this ~~post~~ pep-talk mostly for myself, as there are a couple of things I need to prioritize and attend to today to love God and love my neighbor as the Spirit is leading. If this means anything to you, then join me in "rolling with the Spirit" and let's see what God will do in our lives and the lives of those to whom we minister.

For Christ's love compels us, because we are all convinced that the One died for all and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15

For God did not give us a Spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

Back from Beantown!

2011-12-19T15:57:00.001-05:00

If this post does not get written today, it will never happen. So here it goes; it might win a "longest post ever" award. And I apologize for typos; I'm not editing this any more!

Last Monday we flew to Boston.

For the record: I love JetBlue and their tvs, free first bag, and free drink & snack.

We spent two nights with the Carters. This is their daughter Addy below with Elizabeth. Much fun was had; even the American Girl dolls enjoyed each other's company. (Sadly, I did not get a single photo of their other two children, Jesse and Mary Ella, playing with Brian. Nor did I get a photo with Lydia. Fail.)

Day 1 was spent hanging out with the Carters. Taking it easy was a perfect start to our visit.

Day 2 we headed into Cambridge, played at the Museum of Science, visited the Cambridgeside Galleria because they have the funnest Christmas decorations, stopped by the library to see our previous librarians, strolled through MIT and stopped in to say hello to Colin's thesis advisor, had a snack at the Student Center Dunkin' Donuts, took pictures along the river, walked to Central Square, to the subway to Harvard Square, and got some new Christmas books at the Harvard COOP before returning to the Carters. I was very satisfied with our "Cambridge Day."

The infinite corridor at MIT was thoroughly decorated with little green and grey army men
arranged in various shapes, designs, and equations.
Thanks MIT students, you seriously made our day!

Day 3 it was a little rainy, so we went to the Children's Museum and saved our "Boston Day" for Friday. This worked out perfectly. Really, the weather cooperated so well with our plans; God heard and answered our prayers. He's so good. Getting around town on the T was so much fun in itself. Boston has the best public transportation, and area where Pittsburgh is greatly lacking.

After the museum, we headed to Westgate, where we lived for 5 years and still have a small handful of friends who are quickly approaching the end of their tenure at MIT. Gyda hosted a little open house in the afternoon and had invited us for dinner as well. Brian remembers nothing of his time in Boston, but not Elizabeth. She jumped right back into playing with Bjarney (the blonde) and Martina (the dark-haired). In fact, the first hour they were together was SO LOUD as their excitement at seeing each other burst out in joyous screams and noisy chatter. Gyda, Maca, and I sat in the living room and talked calmly, as good adults should; though we were no less thankful to be together!

Brian's self-portrait

Day 4 began in the home of the Standridges, our second hosts of the trip. Brian woke early most days and started with some Netflix while I got my act together. Elizabeth got to see Lucy for just a short bit that morning, before the Standridge clan headed off to school & work and we began our "Boston Day." On our way into town, we met with our friend Solange and her daughter in Porter Square (no pictures, boo!) before getting into town. Did I mention how much I love the T?! In town we started in the Public Garden with the "Make Way for Ducklings" ducks and walked the freedom trail from the State House to Mike's Pastry on the North End. I marveled at how much parts of Boston had changed since we had first moved there and tried hard to "soak up" the city as much as I could. I wanted to take it home in my inmost being! We wrapped up the day at Westgate again; Elizabeth had a sleepover scheduled with Bjarney and Martina. On the playground we found some old favorites; things don't change that much around there. At this point I must also mention that Brian and I returned to the Standridges. In addition to their Lucy, they have three older boys. Brian called them "the big brothers" and LOVED them. I think he might have moved in there and never missed our family. Bummer I didn't get a picture of them together!

If you know how small my hands are, you'll appreciate how small Brian's little french fry box was.

what I wanted to get (in addition!)

what we got at Mike's

pre-dinner entertainment at the Standridges

Days 5 & 6, the weekend, were spent with the Mamedovs. As you'll note, I took very few pictures. The weekend was pretty calm, a good way to wrap up after several days of go-go-go. The Mamedovs let me their car and we got to shoot up to Melrose to meet my new first-cousin-once-removed, Katelyn. She's a beauty and one month old. My cousin, Brian, married this lovely lady from the Boston area, Lori; it was such a treat to see them! (And I got to hold that sweet, sleeping child the entire time we were there; lucky me!) We returned to the Mamedovs to play with some other old friends from Westgate, the Bakers. The girls all played together a lot when we were all living together there. In the evening, Rick and T Downs, the pastor and his wife, joined us for a delicious dinner that Nara prepared for us. (no pictures!) Sunday morning we went to church, saw many familiar faces, heard a fantastic sermon on Romans 14:17 reminding us of the Gospel and what we have in Christ, and then we had lunch at an old favorite post-church locale: the Central Sq Wendy's. We met up with Colin's friend from high school, Adrian, and his lovely lady-friend, Margaret.

left to right around the circle: E, Farah, Leila, BRIAN!, Leilani, Alana

Our trip ended with a 5:30am cab to the airport on Monday morning. Needless to say, Monday was a wash; we were all so tired all day! But it was worth it. I'm glad to be home with my husband and in Picksburgh again, with my Boston cup overflowing from having seen so many dear friends and places with so many memories.

If you read this whole post, eat an extra Christmas cookie; you deserve it!

Christmas, the Gateway to Easter

2011-12-19T15:08:00.000-05:00

Christmas is less than a weekaway. Have you been thinking aboutEaster?

Wait … what?

Allow me to explain.

This year, as I’ve been readingthe Bible on my own, in Advent reflections, hearing it preached, and ponderingthe Christmas story, I have found myself overwhelmed by the connection betweenChristmas and Easter. Perhaps it’sobvious – Jesus is the central person in each of these historical events – butthis year I find myself especially fixed on how Christmas is thegateway to Easter and the “spirit” ofboth of these holidays should mark the life of the Christian 365 days a year.

In our country, there is a well-definedChristmas season, beginning sometime around Thanksgiving and continuing untilDecember 25^th. (Excluding theretail world, of course, in which Christmas begins before Halloween!) As I discussed in this post, Christmas is a timewe’re invited into “wonder” and “belief” with little more basis than animaginary (but fun) benevolent fellow in a red suit. We’re invited to “hope” and “wish” for giftsand dreams that may or may not come true, because we live lives on limitedincomes and in relationships with real people – who are not always jolly … likeOld St. Nick. I don't mean to be cynical; Christmastime is delightful. What the culture offers, however, usually leaves us wanting something deeper and lasting, no matter how magical the holiday is.

Friends, Scripture too invites usto wonder, believe, and hope. But theinvitation of the Word that became fleshfinds its basis not in futile wishing and dreaming. Oh no. This invitation groundsitself in truth, the historical reality that Jesus became the God-man that we mightbecome members of God’s family through faith.

J.I. Packer offers an interestingconnection between John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made its dwelling place among us.

and 2 Corinthians 8:9

You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He wasrich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty you mightbecome rich.

that has synthesized for me whatI’ve been thinking throughout this Advent season. Packer offers that John states the factof the incarnation and Paul explains its meaning, that we might move fromsimply marveling at the nature of the incarnation to wondering at itsgrace. (Guthrie, p. 70*)

I would summarize it thisway: Easterexplains Christmas.

In this season, sentimentality can easily take over as we enjoy traditions, spend time with family, attend parties, wrappackages and, even, contemplate the birth of Jesus apart from the whole andintense story of redemption that we read in the Bible. We cannot create a Christmas spirit that theLord never intended, which is why December 26^th can be such alet-down of a day. Or worse, despair can take over as we find we just. can't. get. into. the "holiday cheer" everyone else seems to be enjoying so whole-heartedly.

He became poor, so that through His poverty we might become rich.

Packer says this (Guthrie, p 71-2):

We talk glibly of the “Christmas spirit," rarely meaning more by thisthan sentimental jollity on a family basis. But what we have said makes it clear that the phrase should in fact carrya tremendous weight of meaning. It oughtto mean the reproducing in human lives of the temper of him who for our sakesbecame poor at the first Christmas. Andthe Christmas spirit itself ought to be the mark of every Christian all the yearround.

The Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor - spending and being spent - to enrich their fellow men ... in whatever way there seems need. If God in mercy revives us, one of the things he will do will be to work more of this spirit in our hearts and lives.

Do you find yourself thinking about these things this Christmas? Have you considered spending and being spent to the glory of God the Father to enrich your fellow man - whether they live in your house, down the street, or on the streets? Or are you so lost in the busyness and confusion of the season, trying to create the perfect holiday while ignoring or mistreating your fellow man (even those under your own roof) and missing the Creator who became flesh, dwelt among us, rescued fallen humanity, and calls us to look not to our own, but the interests of others?

This Christmas, I pray that this Christmas spirit would grip your heart. That the Holy Spirit would move in you to believe and follow with renewed vigor as you contemplate and celebrate the birth of Jesus - the Word become flesh that died on a tree, that we might have new life, even life eternal with our God!

Merry Christmas

and

Happy Easter!

*Come Thou Long Expected Jesus ed. Nancy Guthrie

Guess Where I am This Week?

2011-12-14T22:46:00.003-05:00

In this place you can ride trains - almost anywhere you want to go.

You can see crazy-huge mall Christmas decorations.

There are Universities with some interesting architecture.

And some classic architecture.

There's a big river and some skyscrapers.

Not sure yet where I am spending the week with my children?

Here's a final clue:

And this photo is for my husband.

He spent many years participating in the research happening on "the green floor."

He's also kind enough to let me get up here now and then to see so many people and places I hold so dear.

God: Setting Us Free and Making Us Stand Firm

2011-12-10T13:51:00.001-05:00

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect* the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

* or contemplate

2 Corinthians 1: 20-11 and 2:15-18

Christmas Interrupted? No, Christmas for Real.

2011-12-07T07:02:00.001-05:00

Yesterday sadness threatened the "Christmas cheer." We received news of miscarriages from two couples, a total of three babies gone to be with the Lord. My heart grieves with my friends as they walk through this encounter with the shadow of death during a time when, at least the songs tell you, everyone's chugging down cups of cheer and enjoying the delightful hustle and bustle of the Christmas season.

Prayer had me reflecting on how perfect a time Christmas is to be thinking about death. Jesus, coming into the world to save His people from their sins, with a mission to see God's plan to its end - hanging on a tree to die, despised, rejected ... that we might have life. In times of sorrow, what blessed assurance it is to look to our Father who knows grief and to cling to our Savior who entered into this world gone wrong in sin and death, pain and sorrow. We can pray for our friends with confidence because we know the foundation of Christmas is unshakable Truth: God the Father, Son, and Spirit working out their plan to rescue mankind and one day make all things new. We can grieve with our friends because Christmas reminds us that God knows that "it's just not right" for little babies to go to Him before we even get to meet them, for the old to waste away in hospital beds while death slowly consumes them, for disease to ravage bodies and rob them of their strength and, ultimately, breath.

At Christmas, God, in the person of Christ, became flesh and dwelt among us, experiencing all of life from birth to death, to satisfy God's wrath and express the depth of His love for His creation.

You, too, may find that this Christmas season is not full of cheer. Perhaps pain, sorrow, or grief is threatening to crush you and others' smiles simply drive the knife deeper into your aching soul. Turn to the loving embrace of our gracious, understanding, and tender Father. He offers not empty cheer, but real hope and lasting joy that won't gloss over the painful reality of life this side of heaven and will see you through to the end.

May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

DIY Fireplace

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

We don't have a fireplace in our house. In fact, since marrying we have not. For some reason, this year it occurred to me that we could try our hand at making a hearth for ourselves. Here's how it went and how it turned out.

Materials Used:

three strips of paper from a white paper roll, measured and taped together to fit the space where you'll hang your final product
pencils
acrylic paint
paint brushes
a couple of kids to help

The Process:

Originally I'd planned to do a nice wooden frame fireplace, but as a poor artist I was unsure how to give it any perspective. Using a Google image search, I found lots of pictures of stone fireplaces - perfect for this immature artist! I sketched out the stones and Elizabeth (age 7.5) drew in the fire. Then we painted. To get Brian (age 3.5) in on the action, I painted black outlines on the stones so he knew where to paint in with grey ... more or less ... he is only three! Brian and I worked on that (I filled in stones with him after finishing every several outlines) while Elizabeth painted the logs and fire.

The finished product turned out even better than I could have imagined.

I repainted some stone outlines that had been somewhat painted over, to clean it up a bit.

Our new mantel, taped up on the front of a bookcase.

And the fully completed project with stockings and tree!

Merry Christmas!

Believe.

2011-12-06T07:13:00.000-05:00

'Tis the season! Stockings are hung, halls are decked, carols are playing (everywhere you go!) It is a season of wonder, of joy, of hope, of delight. And according to Macy's we should Believe.

Believe in what?

Yes, surely it has something to do with the fun of Santa Claus making his yearly appearance (without being seen!) in the homes of those with little ones. But for the Christian, often referred to as "a believer," that word and this season offer so much more.

These weeks leading up to Christmas are a time of wonder, joy, hope, and delight because we believe not in one we outgrow, but rather in One who is eternal, all-knowing, ever-present, and almighty. The One who came on that first lonely Christmas night so many years ago.

Emmanuel. God with us.

Jesus. The Lord saves.

Christmas is no blip on the screens of our lives, to be momentarily enjoyed and immediately forgotten. Christmas is, rather, a major "we interrupt this program" service announcement than changed the course of human history. God, set in motion events that would bring real justice and real peace between man and Himself. Christmas looks toward Easter and points to eternity.

For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Believe.

Our culture invites us to believe in something during this magical season, but offers no real consensus on what. And it leaves most of us disappointed on Dec. 26 when the fun ends, the decorations are down, the gifts are opened, and the parties are over.

But God invites us to believe in Him, the only wise God who offers a living hope, a new life, the true light that is the light of men and does not fade when the decorations come down.

Christmas IS and invitation to believe. (Thanks for the reminder, Macy's!) Will you? Do you?

St. John does not include the Christmas story in his gospel account; he zooms out to the bigger picture, looking from eternity past into eternity future:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

God has made Himself known in Jesus. (Woah!)

All the longings of creation are met in Him.

The waiting is over;

the kingdom is near;

repent and believe the good news!

Dissolved in perpetual joy?

2011-12-04T08:03:00.001-05:00

We must both read and meditate upon the nativity. If the meditation does not reach the heart, we shall sense no sweetness, nor shall we know what solace for humankind lies in this contemplation. The heart will not laugh nor be merry. As spray does not touch the deep, so mere meditation will not quiet the heart. There is such richness and goodness in this nativity that if we should see and deeply understand, we should be dissolved in perpetual joy.

~Martin Luther on The Maiden Mary in Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Joy to you on this second Sunday of Advent!

We Never Outgrow Our Need for the Gospel

2011-12-01T07:12:00.001-05:00

A friend (thanks Shelby!) passed along this short interview with Jerry Bridges, author of the books I gave away at the end of October. He's 82 years old and still "preaching the gospel to himself every day." I am so thankful for God's work in Bridges' life and how He has used it to change mine. Things get pretty bad in my heart and around me when I try to do life any other way than beginning and continuing in the gospel. Please take a few minutes to give this interview a listen.

I'll leave you with a quote from an Advent reading about Jesus becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Christmas is all about the Good News!

'From the creche to the cross is an inseparable line. Christmas only points forward to Good Friday and Easter. It can have no meaning apart from that, where the Son of God displayed his glory by his death.'

Grace is a person; Truth is a person - Jesus, come to you in the flesh.

~Joseph "Skip" Ryan (quote from John Donne's Book of Uncommon Prayers)

Observing Advent 2011

2011-11-27T08:09:00.001-05:00

This year, we'll be doing these readings through the Jesse Tree symbols at breakfast or dinner each day. Until a few years ago I didn't know of the Jesse Tree Advent symbols; but I wanted a simple advent wreath we could use annually and found the one above online. I hope to pick up a round glass centerpiece mirror to go under it this year. We've never done any readings to go with it, so I guess we're starting a new tradition!

For personal reading, I cannot recommend this book enough and look forward to reading it every year:

Adding to my collection, I've picked up a used copy of this (by one of my favorite authors/commentators James Montgomery Boice) to read this year, thanks to AbeBooks, the best place to find used books online!

There's nothing magical about Advent and observing it, no sin if you don't, it's simply a time of building up expectation to the celebration of Jesus' birth at Christmas - a great opportunity for extra focus and heart preparation, similar to Lent. Boice reminded me yesterday that the Christmas story is far from sentimental and cuddly - it's raw, rough, and intense. The Angel told Joseph to give the baby the name Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins.

To do that, He knew He was coming to die, and did so willingly and joyfully, that God's people might be restored unto Him. The wonder of Christmas points to the toil of the crucifixion and the glory of the resurrection. Christmas turns our hearts and minds to the God our Emmanuel, who came to be with us, and who will one day make His dwelling with men, forever and ever.

Amen!

May God bless you in the Advent season

as you prepare your homes for the holiday

and your hearts for the celebration!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-25T06:38:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving Eve, preparing for our traditional breakfast:

Challah French Toast and Egg Casserole

Ready to go into the fridge!

Got the dishes washed

and, later, the table set.

Thanksgiving morning!

Thanksgiving afternoon!

We were at my folks with my side of the family.

Since we'd been sick, I'd been relieved of my cooking duties.

But we were all (thankfully!) well enough to enjoy the best meal of the year.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Here's to a great holiday season!

And, for those not on Facebook, here's how I'm looking these days.

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Psalm 65

Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
O you who hear prayer,
to you all men will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple.

You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness,
O God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,
who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,
who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
Those living far away fear your wonders;
where morning dawns and evening fades
you call forth songs of joy.

You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows
and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers
and bless its crops.
You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
The grasslands of the desert overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.

May the day run out before you run out of words of thanks to God the Great Giver!

(Hopefully this psalm will get you off to a good start.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

She's This Kind of Mom

2011-11-21T13:59:00.001-05:00

We are all sick, well, the kids have done their sickness but today Colin and I are good for nothin'.

I'm thankful for the television & Wii sitters who were available to care for the kids.

I called my mom to bring us a few things. THIS is what she brought:

I want to be this kind of mommy and gramma, someday.

Thanks, Mom!

Wampanoag Wetus and Pilgrim Houses

2011-11-18T16:23:00.000-05:00

Next Thursday we celebrate Thanksgiving; I love the excuse to make holiday crafts! We have spent the last several weeks learning about the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag People. Most of the books we read came from Sarah Clarkson's Read for the Heart in the history section about pre-colonial times. I thought it would be fun to make some Wampanoag Wetus and Pilgrim Houses. A Google search helped me fine this site, then I adapted their craft to suit our needs and make them look slightly more authentic. If you'd like to give either a try, I've included supply lists and some rough directions below.

Wetus and Pilgrim Houses

Materials for the Wetus:

pipe cleaners
paper lunch bags or brown construction paper
white glue

We did a Wetu Google Image search to see what the frames looked like and built little frames, starting with a pipe cleaner formed into a circle. Then we made arcs of pipe cleaners to create the shape. They mold and twist so easily it worked out great. The outer covering we made with squares of cut-up paper bags. This was a little complicated. We put glue on the pipe cleaner frame, then starting at the bottom, and putting glue on the squares, we made the base circle of paper squares, then put on an outer pipe cleaner circle to hold it in place while it dried. Then we did another circle of paper above that, securing it the same way as the first. Finally we glued a little flap onto the top, where the smoke could escape from the fire inside. Once it was all dry, I cut a little door flap on one side.

Materials for the Pilgrim Houes:

top halves of orange juice containers
paper bags or brown construction paper
Raffia or straw
glue (stick and white)

Having the frame for this one made this much easier than the wetus. Cut a bunch of strips of paper bags or construction paper for the "logs." Glue stick all over a side and place the strips, trim as needed. Continue with the 4 other sides. You can add a door if you'd like and cover it with a solid piece of paper. For the roof we covered each side with a solid piece of paper bag, so that the raffia would stick better. Then we smeared it all over with white glue, (thick enough to just place pieces of Raffia into it and they would stay), and covered each side with little strips of the Raffia. Also, we decided not to bother with the indented sides of the oj container tops, as you can see.

Age Appropriateness:

Brian, 3 years, was not terribly interested in the Wetu craft and I did it myself and helped Elizabeth, 7 years, a lot with hers. But she persevered through the tougher things, like holding down the glued paper and twisting pipe cleaner shapes, and enjoyed herself.

Brian was sick and slept through the Pilgrim House craft time, but I'm sure a 3-year-old would need a lot of assistance with this craft, though it would still be quite enjoyable. Elizabeth, was able to do most of it herself, though I cut some things ahead of time like the oj containers, the long strips of paper for the logs (she then cut them to size), and the pieces of Raffia.

Thanksgiving Cards

2011-11-17T08:09:00.001-05:00

When we lived away, we made a habit of making holiday cards for family. It seems less of a necessity now that we see them all so often, but the Great Gram lives away so we have a good excuse to keep up the tradition! I got the idea for this year from the DLTK website. We adapted it a little, using watercolor paints, gluing on a 3D construction paper beak, and I drew light pencil lines on the paper for Brian to follow (and helped him with the first one, his is on the left and E's on the right.)

Brian, at 3.5 years old, seemed capable of trying it on his own. He exercised his artistic freedom and some family members will be receiving a blue Thanksgiving turkey this year. Or maybe it's a Thanksgiving peacock?

One more week before we get to stuff our faces. Our menu is absurd and I CANNOT WAIT!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I've Never Read a Parenting Book Like This One

2011-11-16T17:04:00.001-05:00

Last night I finished reading Hints on Child Training by Henry Clay Trumbull.

Wow, what a book.

Trumbull penned this book in his sixties in the year 1890, having raised eight of his own children and in the midst of being a grandfather to many more. (Cool fact: He's Elisabeth Elliot's great-grandfather.) This book came highly recommended by the Clarkson family, founders of Whole Heart Ministries; Sally Clarkson has written many books on the call of motherhood that God has used to change my life and dynamics in our family. So I picked it up at the MomHeart conference last spring. But, I was skeptical. Really? Wouldn't a book from the late 19th century be just another treatise on spanking, speak-only-when-spoken-to, authoritative parenting?

The answer to my question, as I read through chapter after chapter was a resounding, "NO!" *

I would summarize Trumbull's book with one word: tenderness. Paragraph after paragraph I was left desiring to love and value the little ones God has put in our care each and every day, from the moment they boisterously wake to the whispers we share at bedtime.

Chapters that made me pause and think ... and already make some changes:

Honoring a Child's Individuality
Training Children to Sabbath Observance
The Value of Table Talk
Never Punish a Child in Anger
Dealing Tenderly with a Child's Fears
Good-Night Words

The influence of Trumbull's words has little to do with specific methods. Rather, he presents child training as a journey of respect and delight shared between parent and child. He offers some suggestions for how to train children in specific areas, how to make the Sabbath or Christmas special, how to take advantage of the bedtime routine to bless your children, how to include children in dinner conversation, etc. However, one does not finish reading thinking, Okay, I've now got to put Trumbull's plan into action to "get it right." I was left thinking, Wow, our relationships in our family can be so much richer, our celebration of the Sabbath can be so much more special, our work to raise these kids is such a blessed calling and God will help us do it as we turn to Him and let ourselves really love our kids and take seriously their training.

My strong opinion: you can pitch all of your other parenting books, as long is this one is on your shelf (and it has been read!) Pittsburgh peeps, my copy is now available for borrowing if you'd like to "try before you buy!"

* I should have known better than to think the Clarksons would recommend anything but the best. My apologies, Clay and Sally!

The Means of Grace Vs. A Twelve-Step Program

2011-11-14T09:18:00.001-05:00

I want to follow up on yesterday's post about the simplicity of the call of Jesus, Follow me.

There is a sense of let-down when someone says to us, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Really? Just trust? I want to DO something, make progress, be able to check some things off of a list so I know I'm doing it right. How exactly does this work?

We live in a world of self-help and 12-step programs. While these can be very helpful means of change and growth in certain areas of life, they can be damaging to our faith, giving us the sense that we can "arrive" at some point where we no longer need the blood of Jesus daily. Growing in faith requires discipline, yes, but we can never disconnect ourselves from the Father, Son, and Spirit in favor of a "growth program;" no matter what kind of promises it makes, nothing can be better than the promises of God.

That said, simplicity does not imply complacency. There are things we can "do" here and now to take hold of Jesus and grow and change. The Westminster Catechism calls these "the ordinary means of grace." Brace yourself, though, because there's nothing fantastic about them. As the phrase indicates, they are ordinary:

The Word
The Sacraments (Lord's Supper and Baptism)
Prayer

I don't feel qualified to speak at length on the means of grace and all of the theological intricacies. From what I can gather, however, we're to understand that the means of grace are the ways that God communicates with His people. Yes, you read that right; God communicates with His people. The Rev. Bruce Buchanan wrote a helpful series of articles he posted here. At the beginning of the final section (prayer) he makes this comment: My desire has been that you would grow in your appreciation for the worth and the benefit of participation in God's regular and non-flashy, non-gimmicky means of communicating with His people.

That is I was getting at yesterday. Walking with Jesus is really quite simple; we seek to know Him and take hold of Him through the Word, the Sacraments, and prayer. It's in the midst of this "ordinary" life of faith that we will see GOD work, doing supernatural things in our life and the lives of those around us: freedom from sin, growing to love others more than ourselves, daily provision, and more. When we are walking by faith, practicing the ordinary means of grace, our eyes are open to see many ways God is at work in and around us - the supernatural begins to invade our ordinary, little lives, our faith is strengthened, and God is truly glorified as we acknowledge His handiwork!

I mentioned in one of the October posts a period in college when I was seeking a flashy Spirit experience that would assure me that I was "getting it right." I was so very wrong, looking for the right books to read to figure it out, when God's Word was ever before me to communicate to me how beloved I was, how secure my salvation, how present the Spirit already was, and so on and so forth. God is awesome, yet He's chosen ordinary means of communicating with us. Bless the Lord, O my soul! There are no big secrets; God wants us to know Him and makes it possible!

In Isaiah 30:15 we read,

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,

in quietness and trust is your strength,

but you would have none of it.

Will YOU have it? Will you apply yourself to getting to know God in the "ordinary" ways He's chosen to make Himself known to us? For despite the ordinary-ness of the means, we're still speaking of the Lord of all Creation communicating with those who rebelled against Him.

Friends, there's nothing ordinary about that!

Keep It Simple

2011-11-14T06:49:00.001-05:00

In Acts 10, we find the story of a man named Cornelius. He is a military man and a Gentile (not a Jew). Here is how he is described in verse 2:

He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

The story continues about God working in his life and the Apostle Peter's. Big things happen: God shows Peter that the Gospel is for the Gentiles, not just the Jews (a MAJOR paradigm shift) and Cornelius' family receives the Holy Spirit and is baptized. The story is famous in Christianity and many applications can be drawn. Today I'd like to focus on that second verse.

Cornelius' family feared God. How did that express itself in the way Cornelius lived? He was generous to those in need and he prayed regularly.

Seems so simple. But these simple behaviors are the expression of a life that was surrendered to God. He trusted God enough to share what he had. He trusted God enough to talk with Him regularly. The base-line reality of Cornelius' life was a trust in God.

From there, God did some amazing things through and in his family. All of Christendom knows His story. But it began with the day-by-day life of faith, nothing flashy or dazzling. Trust and obedience ... reminds me of a song I know.

* * *

I have wondered a lot lately what being a Christian should look like. Is there a mold? Should we all look the same? Is my life too void of amazing supernatural works, indicating that my faith is too weak or, worse, not authentic at all?

When I look around me and try to determine what it means to "be a Christian," I'm going about it all wrong, aren't I?

Lord, forgive us for seeking an experience or recognition, rather than seeking You.

Lord, forgive us for comparing ourselves with others, rather than asking You what You have for us.

We need to look to the Lord Himself, the one who's calling us to be His, to know how to live with and for Him. This year as I've read through the gospels a couple of times, I've been jarred by how simple the call of Jesus is. All He said to the twelve was, Follow me. In his teaching he fleshed out the call - it would require their all - but that never changed the simplicity of the invitation to follow Him. He's the vine, we are branches. Being a Christian at it's most basic level, is connecting to that vine: daily, intentionally, whole-heartedly.

He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

So my word to you today is KEEP IT SIMPLE. Cornelius put one foot in front of the other WITH the Lord, praying regularly and giving generously. He sought God, not a chance to get his name in the Bible. God does move among His people as we walk by faith. But usually, it's not glamorous or profound. Today most of us will do our jobs, eat our meals, talk with family and friends, and so on, without any radical supernatural events. How long did Cornelius live obediently in relationship with God before and angel showed up and he met Peter? And I'll bet he continued to live the same way afterward! Most of his life was like ours: work to do, family to care for, the needy to tend to, etc.

Jesus said, Follow me; repent and believe the good news! Jesus calls us to Himself, not an experience, not human praise, not someone else's experience. John Stott says it this way:

Faith has absolutely no value in itself; its value lies solely in its object. Faith is the eye that looks to Christ, the hand that lays hold of Him, the mouth that drinks the water of life.

THAT is the Christian life. God may have in store for you a story that is recorded on paper, encouraging future generations of Christians. Or not. Either way, KEEP IT SIMPLE because that is the nature of the call.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

As you "do life" today, ask God what that might mean at different moments, with different people, and in the midst of the various tasks you have to do. And may He bless you as you simply walk with Him.

Lewis is Messing with Me Again!

2011-11-13T07:03:00.001-05:00

There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendor. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously - no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity much be a real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner - no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian neighbor, he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat - the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden.

C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory p. 46

Have a good Sunday as you worship and interact with the immortals around you!

Veterans Day: a poem and a craft

2011-11-11T06:10:00.000-05:00

Today we are grateful to and honor the many men and women who have served and currently serve in our armed forces. Thank you.

The symbol of the day is a red poppy, that comes from this poem by John McCrae, May 1915:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

You can learn more about the poem and McCrae here.

Pittsburgh has a yearly parade to mark this day, so we'll head downtown, all bundled up, to salute our veterans. We'll be wearing these (not at all durable) poppy pins on our coats. Perhaps you'd like to make the craft with your kids; I've posted a few pictures below.

Supplies you'll need. Just hand-draw a couple of poppies per pin.

After cutting them out, glue one on top of the other, but not lined up together, and fold up the petals of the top piece of paper for a more 3D effect. Glue in the center dot, tape a pin on the back, and you're done!

Front

Back

The finished product!

Who Can You Encourage Today?

2011-11-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Sally Clarkson is in the midst of a short series about loving our children. She began by sharing how voices of criticism so quickly deflate the joy in our hearts and how important it is for parents to be agents of encouragement and love in their kids' lives. If you are a parent, I encourage you to catch up on Sally's series (she's only three days in.)

But this post is not for parents, it's for you - whoever you are, wherever you are - to consider today how YOU can be a voice of encouragement in someone's life today. In a world where we're asked to place our identity in our accomplishments or relationships, so many are walking around defeated, deflated, and depressed; sometimes we can't achieve what we thought we could and people let us down, not meeting our expectations. Many will talk with you today who simply need someone to say to them, Hey, I'm really thankful that you are here. Or Wow, that was really good work. Or I noticed that you really excel at something and wanted to let you know I think it's great! Or I'm praying for you and trusting God for you in this difficult time.

The Bible speaks often of the power of world to build up or destroy. Who can you build up today? A coworker, a friend, a spouse, a child, a pastor, a neighbor?

An anxious heart weighs a man down,

but a kind word cheers him up.

Proverbs 12:25

Since You Can Already Buy Christmas Decorations ...

2011-11-08T06:46:00.000-05:00

*I posted this last year about this time; I want you to have time to get the book before advent (which begins on November 27. I've read it over the last couple of Decembers; excellent for Christmas heart-preparation!

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Advent begins in just a few Sundays, Nov 27. Advent: the season where we remember the waiting for the long-expected Messiah, the many promises of God, the cries of the hearts of His people.

Then, Christmas Eve we celebrate the arrival of that promised Savior, THE King of kings, and Lord of lords!

Okay, now I am getting excited about Christmas and will henceforth quit my complaining when I hear the carols in the stores. Here's my book recommendation to prepare your hearts through the Advent season: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus ed. Nancy Guthrie, a collection of readings by a collection of well-known Christian theologians, preachers, teachers & speakers.

My pastor recommended this when I was seeking some Advent "enrichment" last year. You will not be disappointed if you get your hands on this book! (There's plenty of time to order before November 27th.)

How the people of God waited for their Messiah! How he challenged their expectations!! How he changed so many lives!!!

May the Scriptures and these reflections do the same for us as we approach Christmas Eve. Jesus is the reason for the season, let's not lose Him in the lights, the gifts, the festivities, or even the religious traditions.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7

A Fun Fall Weekend

2011-11-07T09:22:00.000-05:00

These photo posts are mostly for the benefit of grandparents and far-off friends.

Enjoy!

FRIDAY:

The Circus!

I'll call this one 'Mom and Child with Snot & Cotton Candy Face' - a masterpiece!

SATURDAY:

Last (very chilly) day of soccer!

Brian spent quite a bit of time watching from this position. He said it was cozy.

Saturday afternoon fun playing in leaves my dad spent all day raking and then eating hot dogs roasted over the open fire. Yum!

Cousins smiling

Cousins "sleeping"

Cousins yawning

And cousins exploring!

SUNDAY:
A stroll in the woods - someone had built a really cool lean-to.

Sunday dinner - we're working on making the Sabbath day extra special around here.
Why have china if you never use it, right?!

I hope you had a good weekend, too!

Sunday Meditation: He's in Charge

2011-11-06T15:15:00.000-05:00

In Scripture, we find a wonderful concept known as the sovereignty of God - His extreme authority and power over all of time and creation.

This can seem a scary or limiting thought; that someone else is ultimately in control, can bother those who would like authority and power over their own lives. Uh, wait, isn't that all of us? Aren't we all struggling to rule over our little domains?

I believe that in Scripture, the constant references in prose, prayer, and praise, to God's sovereignty cause God's people to both revere Him and find great comfort in Him. Once a soul knows God as the One who quenches thirst, gives rest, and forgives sin, growing trust in this sovereign, tender, loving, heavenly Father, brings great peace and freedom as we meditate on and surrender to His sovereignty - over the world and our individual lives. We are left wondering at the majesty of His ability to see all of history and creation at once, and being able to guide and sustain it all justly. And we are able to rest, trust, and obey, knowing that the infinite is in the hands of the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God of it all. The Holy One is awesome, yet also lets us call Him Father. We fear and we draw near.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so we've been reading about Squanto and the Pilgrims. I've learned (for the first time) a little of the history on how Squanto learned English prior to the Pilgrims' arrival in the New World. Had Squanto not been there - unfearing of the English, able to speak their language - all of them would have perished, not just half. Those brave men and women came to worship freely in a new land; God provided the means for them to survive. It was not easy; wives, husbands, sons, and daughters were lost. But I wonder how they worshiped and thanked God that in that strange land was a foreign man, who "happened" to know how to communicate with them and was equipped to teach them all they needed to survive. In the stories, untold from a Christian perspective, I see the hand of God, merciful, all-knowing, and kind, taking care of His people. One day we will worship with them in His very presence!

After Thanksgiving, we come to Christmas, building up to it in the advent season of waiting for the celebration of the birth of our Savior. From the beginning, God had a plan to send His Son and save the world through Him. In the midst of the sin and darkness here on earth, God was always moving, making promises to Abraham, Moses, David, and speaking through the mouths of the prophets, calling His people to trust and obey Him - the Great Rescuer. Then, He came! Jesus, who would save his people from their sins. Immanuel, who would be God with us. The promised One came - lived, died, and rose - as promised. God, the sovereign, keeps His promises. Now, Jesus sits in heaven interceding for us.

When Jesus departed from the Earth, another promise was made. Stay put until the Spirit comes to you, Jesus told His disciples. Shortly thereafter, the promise was fulfilled. The Spirit of God came to live in the hearts of men who put their faith in Him, empowering them to live for Him as beloved children and bold witnesses and transforming them increasingly into Christ's likeness.

This morning in Sunday school our pastor gave a great summary of how a conviction of God's sovereignty and presence with us brings changes in our thoughts and our lives; I'll call it the Trinitarian Presence in the Life of the Believer.

God around me; Jesus for me; the Holy Spirit in me.

Oh, the blessed HOPE found in that summary, a HOPE supported by the words of Scripture and the actions of the Father!

I wonder if, looking back you can see, not only huge ways that God's will and timing have made a difference in history, but ways that His sovereignty has guided your steps. Consider not how God's sovereignty over your life limits, but rather how much it frees from worry, despair, fear, and doubt when you rest in the secure arms of such a capable, promise-fulfilling Father, who calls YOU daughter or son. When I look back, it's most awesome to me to see how God was guiding and protecting my life even at times when I was NOT looking to Him, living by His commands, or trusting His plan. The echos of mercy in the sovereignty of God get louder and louder the closer we draw near to Him.

Dare to draw near. You can make no better decision today.

It's One of Those Days I Need This Reminder

2011-11-03T13:44:00.002-04:00

ALL YOU'LL EVER NEED

by Andrew Peterson

The blood of Jesus, it is like the widow's oil:

It's enough to pay the price to set you free.
It can fill up every jar and every heart that ever beat.
When it's all you have it's all you'll ever need.
When it's all you have it's all you'll ever need.

The blood of Jesus, it is like the leper's river
Running humble with a power you cannot see.
Seven times go under, let the water wash you clean.
Only go down to the Jordan and believe.

Only go down in the Jordan and believe.

And I need it, I need it.
The closer that I grow,
The more I come to know how much I need it.

The blood of Jesus it is like Elijah's fire,
Falling on the alter of your faith.
All the wisdom of the world could never conjure up a spark,

But no power of Hell could ever quench this flame.

No power of Hell could ever touch this flame.

And I need it, I need it.
The closer that I grow,
The more I come to know how much I need it.

And I need it, I need it.
The closer that I grow,
The more I come to know how much I need the blood of Jesus.

The blood of Jesus, it is like the widow's oil:
When it's all you have it's all you'll ever need.
It is all you'll ever need.

Thanksgiving Tree Time, Again!

2011-11-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Last year around this time I posted about our Thanksgiving Tree, an idea I got from a book. Click here for some instructions for making your own (though most of you are pretty bright an can probably figure it out from the photos of this year's tree!)

We didn't have any brown paper, so birch tree it is!

It's a lot of tracing and cutting, but can be a fun family tradition - the making of the tree and leaves, as well as intentionally giving thanks to God who is the Giver of all good gifts.

Happy (month of) Thanksgiving!

We Did Some Stuff in October

2011-11-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

I did all that blogging in October, but didn't share much about what was happening.

To copy my friend Sarah, here's a photo post of what's been going on this month!

Elizabeth and I were in Washington, DC to see our dear friends.

(I wish they lived next door!)

We went to the Science Center.

We watched an amazing crew put a new roof on the house across the street.

We got to see more dear friends as they swung through Pittsburgh on their move from Boston to Atlanta.

We celebrated the favorite man in all of our lives a couple of times!

We enjoyed some nice days outside.

Sometimes things got a little silly ... that happens a lot around here.

The Firemen came to Homeschooling Group.

I was excited that the weather was getting appropriate for things like this:

We "got schooled."

(This is something Colin shared with Elizabeth over breakfast one morning.
Yeah, her dad is a scientist.)

We carved pumpkins in preparation for Halloween!

Can you guess which family member was responsible for this coolness?

We got the first "snow" of the season and enjoyed a family tradition in its honor.

Last night we got to know a few new neighbors while we trick or treated.

And sometimes, we just relaxed.

What were you up to in October?

Day 31: Wholly His, More Yourself Than Ever!

2011-10-31T08:26:00.001-04:00

This week, Colin and I (with the help of some friends) were able to give Elizabeth something special - going on the church hayride despite our unavailability to take her. How delighted we were to provide something her little heart desired; how delighted she was to receive! I was so thrilled to give her the news that she would be able to go with her friend Mei and her parents, because I knew exactly the joyful response she would have.

If you are a parent, doesn't it just tickle you to do something special for your child that you know he or she will love?

* * *

Jesus said something similar to this about our heavenly Father:

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁹ “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:7-12

Do you have some longing or dream? Have you shared it honestly with the Lord? He is the giver of good gifts!

This month, around the themes of abandoning the clamour of self-will and becoming more ourselves that ever, we have:

journeyed through the process of salvation by faith through grace,
lingered amidst some of our many sins and sought to apply the Gospel to those places;
considered how God works through our circumstances to mold and shape us, and
dwelt on the Holy Spirit, what Scripture says about Him and how we interact with Him.

I want to finish up the month by challenging you to take some time to think about what God might have you do next. Are there things you'd like to ask Him for that you've never officially verbalized to Him? Are there things you'd like to pursue for the Lord, but you've never had the courage to? What's your heart's desire these days?

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Your desires may seem out of reach, but if there's an inkling there, chances are Someone planted it there. God is not a tease; He's the good-gift giver!

* * *

A couple of years ago, I started prayerfully pursuing a dream. I wasn't praying about it all the time, but I had become aware of the need to use my gifts in the church and also cognizant of some specific gifts and personality traits that God had given me. So I began to work more intentionally at my writing, got bold enough to share my dream with others, attended a training conference, and kept read, read, reading.

What has ensued has astounded me. While I was doing things to prepare for the future, God had the idea of delighting me with a little dream-fulfillment in the present. Out of the blue, late last winter, I get an email from a woman at our church in Cambridge asking me to consider being their women's retreat speaker in the spring. Wow! (And the one who suggested she ask me did not know that part of my dream was a desire to speak someday for those dear ladies on their retreat.) Then God took it another step further and allowed me to share what I had prepared two more times, for the women at our church here in Pittsburgh and at a retreat at a friend's church in Washington, D.C.

All I can say is Thanks, God! with the same kind of enthusiasm Elizabeth had when she learned she would be going on the church hayride.

So I leave you with this final encouragement and challenge as we bid farewell to October and usher in a new month: PRAY and PURSUE.

PRAY that God would open your eyes to gifts He's given you and ways He's equipped you. PRAY and ask God for both the desires of your heart and how He'd have you use all He's given to you. PRAY and give thanks for the many ways He's already worked in your life.

PURSUE means and opportunities to strengthen and exercise your gifts. PURSUE growth in the fruit of the Spirit by reading the Word, praying, participating in the sacraments, and being with fellow believers. PURSUE the God who pursued you, becoming wholly His, because by belonging to Him you'll become more yourself than ever.

May God bless you richly in the journey!

* * *

And, oh yeah, the book winners are ...

Lydia!

Carol!

Congratulations, ladies!!

* * *

Special thanks: This month has given me the opportunity to synthesize many things I've learned over the past decade. I'd like to thank a few people and resources who've been influential.

Kit - for the 31-Days idea (and for being my friend!)

Biblegateway.com - for making it easy to post chunks of Scripture and to find Scriptures for which I don't know the reference

Authors - Jerry Bridges, Sally Clarkson, Os Guiness, C.S. Lewis, (to name a few)

Pastors Rick Downs and Matt Koerber - for faithfully preaching the Gospel on Sunday mornings

Tom - for reading a lot and always passing along great book

Friends and family - who have supported and encouraged me in life from the beginning until now through prayer and so may other means

God - for creating, redeeming, transforming, and giving hope to all His people

If you're just joining in, this is Part 31 of a month-long series you can learn more about by starting with Day 1 here. There are many others doing super cool series this month as well, perhaps you'd like to see the list?

Day 30: Sabbath Giveaway Reminder

2011-10-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

I pray that your Sabbath day is restful and that God meets you wherever you gather for worship this morning.

Tomorrow is the end of the series and giveaway day! There aren't too many on the list, so your odds are high to win one of these great books by Jerry Bridges. Click on the links below to learn more about each book or read others' reviews. Both have benefited me enormously.

Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate

The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness

To enter the contest, please leave a comment here, letting me know whether you'd like your name entered for just one or both of the books. If you have been with me throughout the whole month, I'll give you a bonus entry - be honest! And if you post about the giveaway on your own blog or Facebook, I will enter your name yet again. Wow, so many ways to increase your chances of winning; things are getting crazy around here!

Get your comments in before 7am tomorrow and look for the results of the giveaway in tomorrows final October post!

Day 29: The Greatest of These is Love

2011-10-29T16:01:00.001-04:00

Wow, this is the next to the last "real" post for October. I asked on Facebook a couple of days ago if you have any ideas for where we should go next. Please share if you have anything you're dying for me to talk about: topics, single posts, whatever! I will be cutting back from daily posts to 3-4 per week. This month has been fun, but not something I can keep up in this stage of life (or any stage ever?!) Thanks for joining me on this journey; it's been a blast! If you're just joining in, this is Part 28 of a month-long series you can learn more about by starting with Day 1 here. There are many others doing super cool series this month as well, perhaps you'd like to see the list?

* * *

^{Yesterday we closed with the cliff-hanger of Paul's statement Now I will show you the most excellent way, to eagerly desire the greater gifts.}

^{Guess what the most excellent way is?}

^LOVE.

Perhaps you've read this passage:

¹ If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹² Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

In this description of love, we hear echos of the Galatians 5 description of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Real love encompasses all of these things. In our reflection on who we are, what gifts the Spirit has given us, and how we might serve His church ... we have to take a look back at our hearts. It doesn't matter how awesome your Spiritual gift-bag is, if your very character is not marked by love. Are we growing in the fruit of the Spirit? Or are we trying to maintain a facade when it matters and doing whatever we want otherwise?

Just today I had to clean up soup from behind my sink and dish drying rack that got there, not because a child was clumsy, but because a frustrated woman, feeling overwhelmed by what she needed to do this afternoon,* threw a half-full bowl into the sink in a very not patient and not kind way, hoping to release a little of that frustration. The clean-up time allowed me to reflect on my need for a Savior, how much room I have to grow, to take note for the future that God's way of love is the better way.

Pressing into the Spirit (especially when we've just "failed"), asking Him to grow His fruit in us, actively working to change old patterns, confessing when we sin, praising God when we choose righteousness - in these things we will begin to see spiritual growth. As we practice these habits of faithfulness, we'll find God molding us into exactly what He created us to be. With good fruit growing inside, we don't become suddenly sinless or better than anyone else, but we do become more of who God wants us and designed us to be!

Elsewhere in the Bible it says that God is love. Jesus came and lived that love - he could do astounding things, but He loved first - both God and man. He knew that it didn't matter what kind of miracles He did, if He did not love. Paul reminds us, in the context of thinking about our own unique calling and gifting within the church, that the baseline call to love God and love our neighbor is the same across the board.

What this all draws out for me is that there's always a lot going on when we're walking with the Lord. Even as we love and serve in the church, we never outgrow our need for the blood of Jesus; we've grown and changed some, but God's always got more growth and change for us! Jesus is always interceding on our behalf. And the Spirit that is in us transforming and empowering us is the One who will also continually point us back to Him, to amazing grace. As we gaze on the Savior and meditate on His love, we are drawn to love the Father that called us and to love the neighbors around us, with whom we are equal at the foot of the cross.

With that focus, using our gifts is just another way to love God and love others. Our concern is no longer the specifics of the gifts, but rather the glory of the Giver, honoring Him by using what He's given to His glory.

In the here and now, to love God and our neighbor takes work, parts of us must die, we're constantly aware of our weakness, but Paul wraps up I Corinthians 13 with a breath of hope. One day the struggle will be over. We will see! We will know! We will worship in spirit and truth all the time. Right now we're in preparation for those glorious days.

And they're going to be eternally spectacular!

*Ironically, I was overwhelmed by things I needed to do to get ready for the Sabbath and the need to post on the blog today - things that are invitations to breathe-deep and trust God! How desperately we all need Him, huh?

Day 28: Christ's Body and You

2011-10-28T07:03:00.002-04:00

Oh boy, Bible study makes me tick. I'm so excited to dig into the rest of I Corinthians 12 with you today. Let's start by reading it "together."

¹² The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

¹⁴ Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But eagerly desirethe greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

There is much that one could go into here, a lot of which I don't know enough about to instruct well at this time. So, we'll proceed like we did yesterday, with a bullet list of overarching points (and a few comments.) I love lists almost as much as I love Bible study! And I know that you have a finite amount of time to be hanging out here at Life in the Valley.

Diversity in the Unity - Christ's body, just as our own bodies, is a single unit made up of many parts that work together to make us whole. The Spirit is our starting and unifying point; no matter what kind of body part we are, we all drink from the same source of life!
You're exactly the body part God wants you to be. I'm sure you've heard people say things like (or you've thought them yourself), He or she has so much more to offer, so I'll just steps aside or not initiate.... Dare we mock God and deny that in fact He has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be (v 18) and not seek to glorify Him with whatever He's given us at the moment, no matter how mature or immature, qualified or unqualified, sure or doubtful we feel? (I am so guilty of this.)
You need all of the other parts of the body. As my friend Kit pointed out in her post yesterday it's easy to hang with people like you, but quite another story to mix and mingle with those who are quite different ... or even a little different. And yet, as we look around on Sunday morning or other places we interact with fellow Christians, we find more folks unlike us than like us, don't we? And Paul strongly states here that we NEED each other. We can never say, I don't need so-and-so in my life, they're too weird, too charismatic, too dry, too slow, too fast ... (Guilty on this point, too!) Perhaps they are the VERY with whom you or I need a relationship!

Dear Christian, not only do you need the church (the body), but the church needs you! We're so united (whether it feels like it or not) because of the Spirit that if one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (v 26) I cannot write you off, nor you me!! God's always taking it to the next level isn't he?

Questions to consider:

How do I currently approach being part of the local congregation to which I belong? How could this passage influence my future interactions with people and participation in the church?
What are some of the gifts God has given me (spiritual gifts as well as talents, life experiences, etc.) and how can I put them to use for the edification of the body?
How can I be looking out for others' gifts and affirming the "body part" that they are?

In the final verse of chapter 12, Paul says, And I will show you the most excellent way to desire the greater gifts, to be fully invested in and part of God's body. We'll move that direction tomorrow; get ready!

Have a great day!

This is Part 28 of a month-long series you can learn more about by starting with Day 1 here. There are many others doing super cool series this month as well, perhaps you'd like to see the list?

Day 27: The Spirit and His Gifts

2011-10-27T13:28:00.000-04:00

As a follower of Christ, I know that His Spirit lives within me. Jesus promised the disciples He would come; He arrived on Pentecost, enabling them to preach with boldness and in new languages. A fire was lit, not only above their heads, but in their hearts. Now, God's people had within them the power of the very Spirit of God.

When I was in college, I had this phase where I was trying to figure out how to "get the Spirit." The root desire was that when I got the Spirit, I'd have it made, I'd get "the Christian thing" right, I'd be a superstar believer. Yeah, really honorable, I know. I honestly did want to follow God passionately and understand His will, but I was looking for an end, wanting to skip over the process of sanctification and my daily need for the blood of Jesus. In the midst of searching for some Spirit experience, I missed the fact that He was already dwelling within me. He was there; I just didn't get it.

Over the last several years, the Holy Spirit has become very dear to me. I'm in awe when I have an inclination to serve someone or when someone comes to mind who I need to call or write, because I know the Spirit is prompting. I'm even more in awe when my proud heart feels convicted of sin. That's not a sign that God's done with me, that's a sign God's at work in me, whispering, Hey, it's time to repent and believe, little one. The more we're aware of the Spirit of God at work in us, in fact, the less we feel like a superstar and the more we're drawn to worship the God at work in our hearts. It's cool and I wish I could dwell more in that place ... so looking forward to heaven!

But we're here now, given days to love and serve God on this side of heaven. What should that look like?

Over the next few days, we'll consider a couple of chapters of I Corinthians, 12 and 13. Here's how this connects to what we've been talking about there rest of the month. God calls us as individuals to believe and follow Him, but he calls us into a new community, a new family. He's got work for us to do there. In previous weeks, we've looked at our need to be saved from our sin, several specific sins and how the Gospel frees us to admit them & root them out, and ways that God uses our circumstances to shape us - all of these are means God uses to help us abandon the clamour of self-will. Now we're getting into the becoming more yourself than ever part of Lewis' quote. Who are you? How has God knit you together? What do you bring to the body? Beyond the basic call of all Christians, what specific calling does God have for you?

That's too much for one post, for sure, but we'll get started today and see where it takes us!

¹ Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. ² You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. ³ Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.I Corinthians 12:1-11

Some overarching observations for consideration (verses in parenthesis):

Spiritual gifts exist. (1, 4)
There are a great variety of spiritual gifts. (4, 8-10)
The variety of gifts come one source, the Spirit. (4, 11)
Spiritual gifts are given with a purpose: the common good. (7)
Spiritual gifts are given intentionally, just as the Spirit determines. (11)

Here are some things I think we can take away from those general points:

If you call Jesus Lord, the Spirit lives in you and you have been given spiritual gifts.
Though there may be some overlap, your spiritual "gift bag" will not be the same as others'.
Our differences should bind us together and we should encourage one another in using our gifts, because the same Spirit has given these gifts intentionally for the good of the church.

Differences too often drive a wedge between us. I love the constant reminder through these eleven verses that all of that great variety of gifting comes from ONE source. The Lord expressing Himself in so many ways through His people. I think it's neat, to say the least. It also challenges me to think differently about how I interact with those next to me in the pews on Sunday or fellow believers I know in other spheres of life. We'll move on to that tomorrow, taking a look at the rest of chapter 12 to consider our interconnection with the body. Then we'll follow that up with chapter 13 on Saturday. Sunday will be a day of rest, and Monday I'll conclude the series and announce the book winners - comment here if you want your name in the running!

Day 26: The Spirit and His Fruit

2011-10-26T21:31:00.000-04:00

This morning, Elizabeth said to me, "There's something I've never told you before. But sometimes when I remember things I've done, I feel embarrassed." I pried a little to understand what she was getting at, but she couldn't give me any specifics. Nevertheless, what a delight to share with her that sometimes I feel shame, guilt, or embarrassment about things I've done and that are forgiven, but when satan tries to bring them up to keep me down and forget God's loving-kindness, I can look to Jesus (she can look to Jesus!) to be reminded of the Truth.

For you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

Wow.

* * *

Today let's take a look at Galatians 5. I love Galatians 5. It so very well describes us in our sinful nature and so very well gives us hope for the work the Spirit can do in us. The chapter begins:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

In verse 13, Paul continues:

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

We're called to live by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit. In doing so, we'll naturally be loving God and loving our neighbor, living by the two greatest commandments. As we live by and keep in step with the Spirit His fruit begins to grow in us; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control come more naturally as the nasty weeds of the acts of the sinful nature (self-dependence) are replaced with new blooms of Spirit-fruit.

Gardens need to be tended, cultivated, and protected to grow to their full potential. And we get to participate with the Spirit in making our heart a place of good soil, fertile ground for the roots of His fruit to go down deep.

Paul draws an interesting contrast between the slavery of life under the sinful nature/law and the life of freedom that we have when we're in Christ. We're free! We're free, not to do whatever we want, but to confidently begin putting to death the passions and desire of the flesh, opening our hearts to the work of the Spirit. The sinful nature gives us no choice, we naturally go it's way for it is a slave master. In contrast, life in the Spirit is lived not under compulsion, but in joyful relation to a Father who calls us sons & daughters and friends! When I walk hand-in-hand with my husband, I always adjust my steps so they match his. Getting in step with the Spirit is like that, doing a quick skip-step to align ourselves with Him. We won't do this perfectly, but the Spirit Himself will give us little reminders, so that in the middle of the day we see that our step is off and it's time to skip-step to get back in rhythm!

One final point before leaving Galatians 5: Paul talks in this passage about using our freedom in the Spirit to love and serve others. How much you think of and act on impulses to do things for others, withhold criticism of another, patiently wait for someone, faithfully pray for someone, etc, is a great litmus test for your "keeping-in-step-ness." Walking in the Spirit will keep us from the conceitedness Paul warns against, because our eyes are fixed in the proper place.

Let me be clear, your salvation does not ride on how well you're keeping in step with the Spirit. Jesus' blood has secured your standing before the God if you've believed in your heart and confessed with your mouth that He is Lord. Paul is reminding us, however, that in that new identity we're called to a whole, free, and wonderful new way of life, life in the Spirit.

For you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

* * *

This past Sunday we read the first question and answer from the Heidelberg Catechism. I'll leave you to meditate on that for the waning hours of today:

Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A. That I am not my Own,
but belong body and soul, in life and in death-
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven:
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
Because I belong to him,
Christ, by his Holy Spirit,
assures me of eternal life
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for him.

Day 25: Times of Transition

2011-10-25T21:51:00.001-04:00

Over the last few days, I've shared alittle from my experience about how God uses relationships to mold us. Today I thought it might be helpful to consider how He uses times of transition to do His work in us.

In Sunday school, (by the way, City Reformed folks, if you are not attending this Sunday School class, you need to be), our pastor has beentalking about how when we live under self-rule, we're in essence wanting fullindependence from God. But when we begin the lifeof faith, we move into full dependence on God. Times of transition can be used byGod to deepen our faith as the comforts of the familiar are diminished orremoved and we're forced into fuller dependence on Him.

Think of the many natural changes we mightexperience in this life: marriage, a child, new job, moving to a new city,starting or graduating from college. Sometimes we're rolling along and things are going "according to plan" and we're excited by the change. Other times the move comes too suddenly, the job's more or less than expected, or our dreams are not as fulfilled as we anticipated, and we despise the change.

Change is hard, even when it's one you're looking forward to. A year ago June, we moved back to Pittsburgh after 7-3/4 years in Cambridge, MA. When we moved to Cambridge, we were in a time of LOTS of transition: freshly out of college, newly married, two new jobs, and a new city. But we were young and fancy free, so all the change was rather exciting! Leaving Cambridge felt less natural. I'd put down a lot of roots there, loved the people where we lived and at church, both our babies were born there, had my roles and places in my groups, and Cambridge and Boston are really fun cities to live in. At the same time, we were coming "home." I grew up in Pittsburgh, Colin moved here for middle and high school, we both went to college in Pittsburgh, and both of our families still live here. It was almost like living the dream, returning to a place you'd long called home, familiar streets, taking the kids to places I loved growing up, and so on. Talk about a bitter-sweet transition!

What has been most interesting to me, however, is what transition does to one's identity. Having been in Cambridge for a while, I knew who I was there. I'd developed a sense of self and my role where we lived and at church. But I think God knew I was getting a little too comfortable. I was losing a little of my welcoming edge and sliding into sticking with people with whom I was comfortable. Maybe that's partially because I knew we were moving soon, but either way, it really was time for the boat to be rocked.

So we moved. And I'm so very glad to be here, despite the somewhat frequent desire to hop on a plane for a quick visit to Beantown - mostly for the people with whom I'd love to sit, chat, and drink coffee.

Transition is hard, because when we're new in a new place, we're not known.

But the God who is there knows us and draws near to us both to cheer and to guide. Taking me away from my comfort zones and dropping me into new relationships, a new neighborhood, and new church has required that I wrestle a with and confess my selfish insecurities. But it has also forced me to think about the ways God has gifted me and the importance of sharing those gifts within the church and with my neighbors. Just because I don't have my cozy blanket of familiarity to huddle down in, does not excuse me from serving God where I am with what He's given me.

Transition does not excuse any of us from loving God and loving our neighbor. How quickly we can slip into our natural self-absorption and use the time of change as an excuse to check-out for a while. I've wanted to do that, to wait for people to come to me, welcome me, make me feel loved. But I am loved. My identity is in Christ. I can initiate friendship, be the welcomer, love God by loving others RIGHT NOW. You can, too. Not only do you need the church, but the church needs you, fellow body part, to be the best ear, nose, eye, or mouth you can be!

The Good Shepherd has not let me stay where I am, and in the process is teaching me about myself and about how to listen to Him, follow His lead, and enjoy being who He created me to be, regardless of where I am at a given moment. (I've sure got a long way to go; I thank the Lord for his long-suffering love!)

There's always more in each of us that needs to die. But believe it or not, it's good news, because there's a Savior there giving life, breathing newness into old dead places, carrying light into the dark, dismal corners of our hearts, cultivating His good fruit where only weeds used to grow. Times of transition can bring into focus new places for growth and change in our hearts so we may abandon the clamour of self-will and become more ourselves than ever.

If you find yourself in the midst of a transition right now, how are you? Do you see how God is at work in you? Let Him know how you're really feeling about the situation, be comforted by His love and faithfulness, ask Him where you need to repent and believe, ask him for the things you need (He knows before we ask, remember!), and give Him thanks that He has not abandoned you. I pray that He'll amaze you with His goodness to carry you through and bless you with all you need to trust Him more.

This is Part 25 of a month-long series you can learn more about by starting with Day 1 here. There are many others doing super cool series this month as well, perhaps you'd like to see the list?

Day 24: Child Rearing ... (and a giveaway!)

2011-10-24T21:39:00.000-04:00

This is Part 24 of a month-long series you can learn more about by starting with Day 1 here. There are many others doing super cool series this month as well, perhaps you'd like to see the list?

Pretty much everyone will tell you that having a child changes your life.

That is true.

The statement is usually it's in reference to the loss of freedom that comes with having a living, human being for whom you're completely responsible. Yeah, it's a big deal. And when they're tiny, they demand every ounce of your energy (something I'm trying not to think too much about with the February due date getting closer and closer!) As they get older, their practical day-to-day neediness decreases, but their need to be loved, nurtured, and encouraged remains. (Think even now about yourself; don't you still want to be loved, nurtured, and encouraged?)

But that life change need not be only approached from the negative angle, Look at all that I'm losing. For Scripture attests to children being a blessing. From our children we can gain new insight into the depth of our own need for the cross. Believe it or not, this is a HUGE blessing - no matter how painful - and can take us from a look at the freedom lost to a look the freedom gained; praise the Lord perspective.

* * *

When Elizabeth was small, I thought I was a pretty good parent, mostly because I had rules and Elizabeth needed to (and often did) obey them. Comparing myself with other more lax parents was my measuring stick. At least I was doing it "right."

Hm.

As a result of my authoritarian parenting, I was so hard on Elizabeth. My expectations were high, as she was generally a compliant child. And my fear of what others thought of me as a parent was also high - leading to unnecessary harshness on many occasions to "get" her to obey or not embarrass me. I can remember one occasion being really mad at her coming up the stairs to our apartment, or maybe it was crossing the street to get to the building, I don't remember the circumstances exactly. But I remember how I felt,

angry, irate, furious.

She was walking way too slow and I was carrying a bunch of heavy things. Could she not just hurry up so my arms wouldn't break? For. goodness. sake?!

Um, no, she couldn't. She was one and a half, with short chubby little legs that had only been walking for a handful of months.

Dear Lord, have mercy. I hate that memory, and others like it. I could have made two trips with all of the stuff in my arms and gently gotten E to where she needed to be, without the rage. But I was so very self-absorbed.

* * *

Parenting a child will open up so many new doors for a parent to see new depths of his/her depravity, if one's eyes and heart are open to seeing. Early on in the series I spoke of death having everything to do with moving into the new life to which Jesus calls us. Admitting that I, as a parent, have a heart problem and it's not just my kids that "make me" do things, means that a little bit more of me has to die. But as the old sinful habits, reactions, and behaviors begin to change, we're ushered into a new era of parenting - no longer a constant battle of wills, but rather a training ground for both you and your child(ren) to trust the Lord for help with our actions and reactions. God brings freedom from the tyranny of getting it all right, with our kids' obedience indicating "how we're doing" as parents, and gives us freedom to entrust their little souls to Him, as much as we've entrusted Him with our own.

It is important for our children to be trained and disciplined, yes, but they also need to be respected as individuals with thoughts, feelings, needs, and unique personalities.* That's where the transformation has had to happen in me. Embracing the call of motherhood, not only to give my children rules to obey, but to disciple them, guide them, show them compassion when I know how hard it is to consider others before myself, to study their unique personalities and know when they need discipline versus when they need to be put to bed, etc., has made all the difference in our home and in my heart. (Special thanks to God for Sally Clarkson and MomHeart ministry.)

As a parent you've been called to raise up your little (or big) ones. When God calls, He provides all we need to pursue the calling. But he never promises it will be easy. Think about the call on our Savior's life, that cost Him his life! Most of us will not taste physical death as a result of rearing our children, but we may need to put big prideful chunks of ourselves to death to move forward in faith in this calling, becoming more of the parent God wants us to be.

I do hope and pray that my sin does not have deep, lasting effects on my children. Anyone else think this at times?! But knowing that the Jesus I point them to when they find themselves in sin is the same Jesus that I need each day puts a beautiful spin on being their parent. When they find it hard to share, not hit, respect their father, or obey, I can point them to Jesus. When I find myself getting all up in a tizzy or having an irritable day, I can say to them, "Wow, mommy's not doing well today. Please forgive me for taking it out on you. Please pray that I'll have self-control or patience, or whatever I need." (I had to do this just today, in fact - and, praise God, it really turned our day around!)

Parents, God bless you as your love, nurture, disciple, discipline, and train your children. It really is an endless job, but you are not alone and God has good things in store for you and your kids. Trust Him in and with it all!

* * *

Next Monday our 31-Day journey comes to an end. One more week. Phew, this has been a delightful and intense adventure in writing!

To celebrate, I'm going to give away a couple of books next Monday, October 31! Jerry Bridges is an author who has profoundly influenced my faith, so I'd like to pass along two of his gems.

Respectable Sins:
Confronting the Sins We Tolerate

The Discipline of Grace:
God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness

Entries will be received until 7:00 am on Monday, October 31. I'll announce the winners in the final post of the month!

*I wrote a 3-part series last year on What Should We Expect From Our Children. Click to read: Part I, Part II, Part III. The final post has a list of some of my favorite parenting/motherhood reads, if you'd like to go more in depth on this topic.

Day 23: A Sabbath Psalm

2011-10-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

Psalm 92

A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.

¹ It is good to praise the LORD
   and make music to your name, O Most High,
² to proclaim your love in the morning
   and your faithfulness at night,
³ to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
   and the melody of the harp.

⁴ For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD;

   I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
⁵ How great are your works, O LORD,
   how profound your thoughts!
⁶ The senseless man does not know,
   fools do not understand,
⁷ that though the wicked spring up like grass
   and all evildoers flourish,
they will be forever destroyed.

⁸ But you, O LORD, are exalted forever.

⁹ For surely your enemies, O LORD,
   surely your enemies will perish;
   all evildoers will be scattered.
¹⁰ You have exalted my horn^[a] like that of a wild ox;
   fine oils have been poured upon me.
¹¹ My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
   my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.

¹² The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,

   they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
¹³ planted in the house of the LORD,
   they will flourish in the courts of our God.
¹⁴ They will still bear fruit in old age,
   they will stay fresh and green,
¹⁵ proclaiming, “The LORD is upright;
   he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Footnotes:

Psalm 92:10 Horn here symbolizes strength.

Day 22: Child Bearing

2011-10-22T15:08:00.002-04:00

I would invite you to pray that this post would be received just as I intend. I've wanted to write about having children for a long time. Not raising them, we'll get to that next, but the process of getting the children (or not) in the first place. This is an area of heart ache for many women and couples; it can also be an arena of strife and discord for many couples. I do not tread here lightly. But I want to share a little about my experience and how God used my circumstances to change me and make me a greater instrument for His service through these childbearing years. My growing conviction is that God has quite a lot to teach us about His sovereignty and trusting Him as we navigate this phase of life.

Our Story

For us, infertility was not the issue; Elizabeth was a "surprise" and caused quite a stir for us emotionally. We had these plans, you know, to wait until the end of graduate school. Ah, plans.

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Elizabeth rocked the boat of our plans but, nevertheless, I was ready for another baby when E was about 9 months old, Colin was not. Now, some of this desire sprung from pure motives for E to have a sibling, enlarge our family, and such. But some of the desire was fueled by what others around us were doing and by a teaching I had heard while in college that if you didn't trust God and have as many kids as He wanted to give you, then, well, you were doing things "wrong." I didn't want people to think we weren't doing what God wanted us to do! (Hm ... maybe I shoulda been thinking about what God would have us do. But I just wasn't there yet.)

I was so very focused on having another child that it was detrimental to our relationship on many levels. But during this time God was also chipping away at my hard, selfish heart. (And thankfully kept Colin from kicking me to the curb!) As I look back, the theme verse I give those three years of waiting is Romans 12:15:

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Because while I was longing and waiting (and whining about it to Colin and others ... a lot) "everyone else" with kids Elizabeth's age had or was expecting their second. I had to learn that even when I was not getting what I wanted, I could (and should!) genuinely rejoice with those were were getting what I wanted. During those years, I also walked through miscarriages with friends, learned of the prevalence of infertility, and supported friends caring for sick infants or grieving for babies they'd not see again till heaven. Through that, I was learning how to compassionately grieve with people enduring such pain.

The final thing I learned in this wrestling with sin and hope deferred, was how important it is for me to respect and submit to my husband. He had very legitimate reasons for not following my plans for our life. It took me way too long to get to a point of understanding and accepting the situation - talking about this makes me want to hang my head in shame and crawl into a hole.

But, oh, the gospel! Jesus' blood covers over this multitude of sins against God and my husband. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!

Hindsight is 20/20

As God slowly drew my eyes away from myself and my idol worship, He enabled me to see the blessing of not having had a little one between Elizabeth and Brian. There were so many ways I was free to care for neighbors and church members, because I was not caring for an infant. We lived in university housing with many internationals and I was able to love and care for them more intentionally, welcoming them into our country and home, hoping to make their experience here just a little less lonely.

One great fear of mine that drove my "need" to have kids closer together, that God has more than addressed, was that our kids wouldn't have much of a relationship with one another if there were so many years in between. (They're 4 years apart.) At that point, I never imagined I'd be homeschooling. How God guides our paths! He's met a desire of my heart - that our kids have a relationship with each other - (despite all of my moping, weeping, and whining) by leading me in yet another unexpected direction. Reminds me of a Proverb I read a couple of days ago:

A person may think their own ways are right,

but the LORD weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2

For me, the overarching take-away from these child-bearing years is that God is sovereign and I can (and should!) entrust my desires, my present, and my future to Him. Darn it if He doesn't have way better plans for us that we could ever devise!

* * *

So, there you have it. God had plans for my life that involved dying to myself and learning to love my husband and others better. How hard I tried to get my way, my way; how thankful I am that God would not let me or our family escape His plan!

If you find yourself in the midst of these years, whether with a bunch of small ones, difficult pregnancies, a sick child, or still longing for God to fulfill your desire for a child or more children, my prayer is that as you seek the Lord you will find Him ... and that you will find Him FAITHFUL. Ask Him to help you entrust Him with the desires of your tender heart and to help you trust in His goodness, especially when life is not going according to plan. For surely, His plans for you are greater, wiser, and more wonderful that you might now imagine in the midst of the busyness, sickness, longing, or waiting.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

His peace be yours today.

This is Part 22 of a month-long series you can learn more about by starting with Day 1 here. There are many others doing super cool series this month as well, perhaps you'd like to see the list?

Day 21: Love and Marriage

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

Marriage is a beautiful institution created by God. I highly recommend it to those considering making the commitment. However, you must know that when you get married you are marrying a person - not an idea, not a fantasy, not a robot - a real, live person.

So when Colin and I tied the knot, we not only got the joys and pleasures of till-death-does-us-part companionship and one-fleshedness. We also brought our own sin and baggage into the marriage. Take two people who love each other, but also each love themselves quite a bit, put them under the same roof and ask them to make life work and you're bound to hear (if the couple is honest) of arguments, grumbling & complaining, judgmental thoughts, etc., even in the midst of the delights of establishing a home, family, traditions, and routines that are unique to that couple that God has brought together.

Since this is my blog, I'll not go into Colin's "issues" and how God has used being married to such a wonderful woman like me to show him errors in his ways and change him ... ha! If anything, being married to me has only grown him in patience and loving-kindness. Dear man; if you only knew what he has to put up with!

More seriously, though, two things have come to mind that I want to share with you. The first, is how God used the husband He had for me to address the pattern of guilt-tripping manipulation in my life. The second, is how God uses my husband to teach me how much He really loves me.

God Uses Our Spouses to Reveal Our Sin

Like I mentioned earlier, we come into marriage with our history. We can't leave it at the door; it's part of who we are. I brought with me my people-pleasing and tendency to try to manipulate people into doing what I wanted them to do. God, in his mercy, gave me a husband who will not be manipulated. How convenient for addressing one of my major character flaws - that's God's sovereignty for you! Because I could not make Colin do what I wanted him to do, I had to learn how to communicate better - talking about things that were difficult or uncomfortable - rather than reverting to passive aggressive behaviors, giving the cold shoulder, or just. plain. pouting.

It is hard to let go of ingrained patterns in our lives. God uses our spouses and the wow-we're-together-every-day nature of the relationship, within the context of vows made, to reveal patterns of sin that will crumble the relationship if not addressed. I'm so thankful that Colin is a strong enough man not to bow to a pouting wife. It's been good for me!

God Uses Our Spouses to Reveal Himself to Us

We'll wrap up a decade of marriage next summer, and honestly, I'm in awe that Colin is still loving me, still likes hanging out with me, still listens to all my jabbering, still tells me I'm beautiful - all in such an affirming and edifying way. Through his loving commitment to me and my good, I'm reminded that God calls me His beloved. At moments, Colin is the very voice of God speaking into my life: you are loved; you are cherished; you are precious ... and yes, I do know ALL about you.

That's the most amazing thing to me! I often find myself so unlovable, yet here is this husband who sticks around through the fun parts of life and through my moods, complaining, and sin. Praise God for what commitment in marriage teaches us about the great forgiveness of our Lord, the depth of His mercy and compassion, the beauty of belonging to another.

* * *

If you are married, Satan would love to undermine your commitment to one another. We must beware when we are proudly digging in our heels, rather than submitting to our spouse or putting their needs ahead of our own. Bitterness, judgement, and unforgiveness can creep in so subtly, can't they? In the book The Power of the Praying Wife, Stormie Omartian tells her readers they must begin with this 3-word prayer: Lord, change ME. That has always stuck with me. When the going gets tough, we look for something or someone to blame (Genesis 3 style.) In marriage, then, we're tempted to pray things like Lord, change HIM. Or, Lord, change HER. Omartain cautions that we must look at our own hearts first, so we can pray for our spouse for his or her good ... not our own!

Let's close today with some action points/questions:

In what ways can you let go of your own agenda to better serve your spouse? Try something new this weekend!
How has God used your spouse to conform you more to His image? Praise God for His work in you and let your spouse know how thankful you are God put him/her in your life.
Read I Corinthians 13:4-7. Ask the Spirit to be working this kind of love toward your spouse into the fabric of your being - it's no lovey-dovey passage ... it's tough stuff not to keep records of wrongs, to be patient, not rude, and so on!

Remember that the point in loving our husband or wife better is to bring God glory. Look to Him for the strength and energy you need to love and serve your husband or wife sacrificially. May God bless your marriages as you look back to how He's been at work and ahead to loving one another better. And feel free to share your own "real life" marriage stories in the comments!

This is Part 21 of a month-long series you can learn more about by starting with Day 1 here. There are many others doing super cool series this month as well, perhaps you'd like to see the list?

Day 20: Shaping Circumstances

2011-10-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

Wow, Day 20. That is a lot of days of blogging for this gal. If you've been with me since October 1, thank you. I do pray that you're being encouraged and spurred on in the Gospel. It has been a delight and challenge to me to think through many things that have been on my heart and mind over the last long while.

For many days we've been "talking sin" around here. How much there is about our hearts that needs to be changed and how able and faithful God is to work in our hearts as we seek Him through repentance and faith. As we study the Scriptures, pray, listen to the word preached, etc., the Spirit works in our hearts convicting us of sin, helping us to root it out, and planting His fruit there: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Another way that God works in our lives to mold us more into His likeness, shaping our faith and character into something more beautiful to Him, is through this business of living life in a broken world. Walking through difficult circumstances often forces us to "abandon the clamor of self-will" and "become more ourselves than ever" - we find more freedom from sin and a deeper, richer faith in our God, that propel us into greater service to God and the church using the gifts we've been given.

That's what I want to talk about over the next few days. To do so, I will have to talk about what I know. My experience will not be the same as yours, but there may be some overlap. There are many incredibly challenging or painful circumstances in which you find yourself that I have not and may never endure. But I do want to and need to testify about how God has worked in some areas of my life to cause me to pursue Him with greater faith than I had before. Specifically, I plan/hope to talk marriage, child bearing, child rearing, and times of transition (in no particular order.)

None of these are fully fleshed out just yet, but I trust God will take us where He wants us to go!

To close today, let me just say that the Good Lord knows exactly where you are right now - what's making you tick and what's got you at your breaking point. I'm so thankful that when I write, I don't need to worry about making something happen in my readers' lives - that's God's work! - but I do want to help you remember and practice fixing your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of your faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Till tomorrow,

the LORD bless and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

Day 19: The Great Sin

2011-10-19T09:17:00.000-04:00

This is it, readers, the final post in string of sin posts. The list of sins has not been exhausted, but a month is only 31 days and we need to move on. I've saved the best (or worst) for last:

PRIDE

Pride is a beast, the sin that lies beneath the surface of all the others. C. S. Lewis calls it The Great Sin and devotes a chapter to it in Mere Christianity. (A book that you need to make it a priority to read if you have not.) I don't believe I can say much better on the subject that my friend Lewis, so I've invited him to be a guest writer linked to the blog today. Please click here to read his thoughts on The Great Sin. Thank you, Mr. Lewis, for obediently writing for the edification of the church in your own generation and the generations that followed.

I am a highly competitive, self-absorbed individual. Pride is a driving force in my life like none other. From fighting over the privileged front seat of the car with my siblings in childhood, to wanting to be perceived as a great parent as an adult, my need for admiration, getting the best thing, or being the very best has driven me to countless sins against God and my fellow man throughout my life.

It is a beast, my friends. I can think of no other way to describe it. Are you familiar with this beast in your heart? We must know the beast to properly identify and confront it.

* * *

On the other end of the spectrum from pride, we find

HUMILITY

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:4-5)

His name is Jesus.

Jesus did not seek equality with God. Though he was the only man who ever lived who could have! He humbled Himself, even to death on a cross. He took on the form of a servant, while knowing he was the King of kings. (Philippians 2:6-11) This Jesus, with power over life and death, laid down his life for us. He calls the proud to believe, be forgiven, and be transformed into His likeness.

Pride is the first and worst sin, so grace is most amazing when it embraces the fruits of pride rather than the the fruits of gluttony or lust, when it reaches the Pharisee souldrather than the profligate Mary Magdalene, when it wins the proud person made prouder still by calling rather than the sinner feeling unworthy to be addressed.

Only grace can dissolve the hard, solitary, vaunting "I" of the sin of pride in each of us. But the good news is that it does. Os Guiness' The Call, p123 (emphasis mine)

Let me leave you with this final encouragement,

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10

* * *

Looking ahead: Tomorrow we'll be shifting gears, looking into how God uses our circumstance to shape our faith and our character. Often in the most uncomfortable places, God does His best and most glorious work in us.

Day 18: Unwholesome Talk

2011-10-18T09:21:00.000-04:00

I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ~Jesus, (John 8:34-36)

Thank you, Jesus, for telling us the truth - the truth that we're worse off than we ever imagined, but that your grace is greater than we ever imagined!

For we were dead in our transgressions, BUT GOD who is rich in mercy, has made us alive with Christ. Ephesians 2:4-5, paraphrase

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. BUT NOW he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Colossians 1:21-22

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ALL THIS IS FROM GOD, who reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19a

For the last while, we've been talking sin and talking it in the context of the Good News ... the only context in which we can really look at our sin, admit it, and be freed from it. Like clay in the potter's hand, the Lord molds us in the here and now for eternity with Him, shaping us into what He intended for us in the first place by smoothing out the rough places, transforming our hearts from stone to flesh. In His hands, we are no longer shackled in slavery to sin, we serve a new and living Master who has plans for us! More on the plans toward the end of this series, though. For today, let's talk a little about our tongues.

* * *

I talk a lot. Sometimes in a conversation, even I am thinking, why am I still talking? You know it's bad when the person talking thinks it's gone on long enough ... imagine the poor soul listening. The life of a verbal processor can be an embarrassing road. I often long to be like my husband who can sit in a room alone and think and actually make sense of his thoughts. And he married me. God bless him!

But, though we should be growing in both self-control and love for others as we walk with Jesus, talking a lot is not the theme for today. Our concern is the content of our speech. WHAT are we talking about?

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

Unwholesome talk can take on many forms: gossip, dirty jokes, impatient command-barking at our children, criticizing another, lying, grumbling, complaining, angry outbursts, etc. We're all guilty. You know how I know? Because the Bible, the Word, tells me so:

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Matthew 15:18-19

In addition to these statements of Jesus', the gospels speak often of Him knowing what's going on in the hearts of those coming to Him, whether with impure motives or in faith. He knows our hearts are full of darkness and the nasty, rotten fruit is revealed through our speech. As I mentioned with anger and lust, there's no real thought that goes into having angry or lustful thoughts; they're just suddenly there - uninvited, but there none the less! Out of the overflow of the heart....

* * *

Yet again, we find ourselves at the foot of the cross, asking Jesus to change our hearts. He is willing! The Spirit lives within to help us. "Good fruit resources" abound to fill up the space left behind when we, by God's grace, have plucked out a piece of rotten fruit from our hearts.

Check out this post from the annals of Life in the Valley and consider what you're "storing up" to God's glory, that streams of living water might flow from you! And, hey, why not give the devil a little kick in the shins TODAY by making a point to intentionally say some "building up" things to folks you encounter: the grocery clerk, your spouse, a co-worker, a friend, your child, your roommate, or a complete stranger.

This is Part 18 of a month-long series you can learn more about by starting with Day 1 here. There are many others doing super cool series this month as well, perhaps you'd like to see the list?

Day 17: Are You a Sluggard at Heart Like I Am?

2011-10-17T21:21:00.001-04:00

We are half-way through October! Keep your eyes peeled for an end-of-month book give-away next Monday; winners will be announced on the 31st. I love books!!

I'm getting to this post late today because I figured I'd better try practicing what I was about to "preach." So rather than spend time today putzing around here, I actually applied myself to my work. What a concept! It was satisfying to know that I was doing what was right for me at the moment, rather than giving into the laziness, and some of the tasks even went more quickly than I expected, leaving time to post tonight and spend some time with the husband. Bonus!

Now, what you've all been waiting for: some thoughts on laziness/sloth.

Reading monthly through the Proverbs this year has highlighted my bent toward laziness and caused me to stop and think about the cost ... and then (sometimes) check my behavior and choose diligence. In the Proverbs, the title given to the lazy individual is sluggard. Quite a word, huh? Some examples:

How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest -
and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man.
Proverbs 6:9-10

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. Proverbs 13:4

A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing. Proverbs 20:4

The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. Proverbs 20:25

I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.Proverbs 24:30-34

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. Proverbs 26:15

The imagery here is so vivid and apt. The sluggard reaps what he sows ... and he's not sown much, apparently. And yet can find himself surprised at his own poverty and need.

I really do not want to label myself a sluggard, but if I'm honest with you and with myself, the tug to be a sluggard rather than a diligent individual is strong (and often wins) in my life. This is especially true with the television, internet, email, Facebook, blogs, etc. These elements of technology are wonderful! It is easy, however, to use them as an excuse to avoid other things that should take precedent at certain times.

In college, I had a professor ~~accuse me of being~~ accurately asses me as a "closet slacker." Oh snap! That was like a knife in the heart of that people-pleasing, performance-oriented young woman. He was so dead on, that I could not really argue with the statement. On the outside I wanted to appear diligent, enthusiastic, and industrious. But I was always trying to find the easiest way to do things or hoping I could get out of what I needed to or volunteered to do. Dear me.

The temptation then, of course, is to try to prove you one's self and others that you're not lazy, to really work hard and "show them!" One big thing I want you to take away from this post is that avoiding sluggardly laziness does not mean working all the time, never resting, never going out with friends or family, and turning in the Martha of all Marthas! Nope. As is our custom in this 31-day series, we're dealing with the heart and how it needs to be transformed. For we can be hard at work without our heart being in it - thanks for that line, Andrew Carnegie - longing to be on the phone, checking Facebook, at the beach, or in bed! And we can be on vacation, out with friends, even sitting for dinner with our family, fretting about how we're not accomplishing anything.

A verse comes to mind:

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31

My attitude while at work or play is not often solely motivated by bringing glory to God. How about yours? And yet how would that transform both? For God can be honored in our eating and drinking, our waking and sleeping, our working and playing. It's a heart attitude that I think could make both work and rest more satisfying, rewarding, and fulfilling.

In our days, then, we must listen to our heart. What is the wisdom of the Spirit telling us about how we should use each segment of the day? Are we working when we should be resting? Are we resting when we should be working? Dear Father, forgive us. Teach us to listen, to trust, and to obey.

On-going laziness has its rewards ... as described in the Proverbs, they're detrimental. Likewise, diligence comes with rewards. Does it not feel good to fall into bed at night knowing that you've fulfilled your obligations, run the race well, sought to do your best in each moment, accomplished a project or at least made headway? And isn't rest and relaxation after a good day's or week's or season's work just that much sweeter? When we try to mingle the two (a terribly bad habit of mine), neither the work God's gives nor the rest He's promised are what they could be. In fact, we're usually left deeply wanting in both areas of life. Dear Father, help us to strike a balance as we seek FIRST after you.

So, what do you say? Will you join me in rising to the call to be diligent for the glory of God also to rest to the glory of God? I wonder what life will be like as God changes our hearts to desire to do whatever we do for His glory? Little tastes of heaven, whetting our appetite for the real thing!

This is Part 17 of a month-long series you can learn more about by starting with Day 1 here. There are many others doing super cool series this month as well, perhaps you'd like to see the list?