Thursday, December 17, 2009

Twelve Days of Christmas

So many Christmas emails are flying around and while I can't vouch for the authenticity of this one, it IS an interesting explanation of a crazy carol!


Ever wonder what leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?  

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. 


-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit -- Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit -- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.


Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone!!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Stressed and calling out

For some reason I'm feeling compelled to get this down.  Well, I know that reason to be the prompting of the Holy Spirit. so I'm going to do it.  So to whomever stumbles on this -- God sent you here, so I hope this is helpful for whatever stressful situation you find yourself in. Or the one that may be headed your way ;)

I always envision stressful situations as waves on the beach.  When I was a little girl and we went to the beach, I hated the feeling of a wave knocking me down.  Salt water burning my sinuses, and murky water blurring my vision.  Shifting sand and crashing currents keeping me from getting a foothold.  Thrashing around and trying to get OUT, and then my dad reaching down in the surf and lifting me up in his arms.

So in the middle my current crashing waters, God is reminding me that He is the Dad who is going to scoop me up, brush the hair from my face and show me that everything is ok.  That HE IS going to MAKE everything ok.

This is my praise and prayer:
Lord,
  • You are Jehovah Jireh, my Provider. Like You provided a lamb for Abraham and Isaac to sacrifice, You will give me what I need in this situation.  
  • You are Jehovah Maccaddeshcem, my Sanctifier.  Like you set apart Your children from the world, You will use this situation to set me apart from the world and draw me closer to You.
  • You are Jehovah Nissi, my Banner.  You identify me as YOUR own, and like You gave Your children victory over their enemies, You will give me victory over all my worries and thoughts and emotions.
  • You are Jehovah Rapha, my Healer.  Like You healed the sick from their illnesses, You will bring healing and rest to me.
  • You are Jehovah Roi, the God Who sees me, my Shepherd.  You see my brokenness and my heartbreak, and like You led Your children through the wilderness and into the promised land, You will lead me thru this stress and into a place of rejoicing.
  • You are Jehovah Sabbaoth, the Lord of Hosts.  Like You fought for Your children in the heavenlies, You will fight the unseen dark forces of the world that are coming against me in this situation.
  • You are Jehovah Shalom, my Peace.  Enough said :)
  • You are Jehovah Shammah, my Constant Companion.  Your Spirit goes before me, stands beside me, guards behind me, and lives within me.  Where can I go from Your presence?
  • You are Jehovah Tsikidnu, my Righteousness.  Because of Jesus, I can come into Your presence and as I learn to more fully rely on You thru this trial, You will make me more like Him.

Thank You, Lord, that You are FAITHFUL.  Thank You for drawing me closer to You, for providing for me, comforting me, fighting for me and giving me victory.  And for teaching me to depend on YOU and not myself.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Mark 2

I'm not teaching our Sunday morning class again until the first of January so I'm not as immersed in the text as I would normally be.  That means these next few weeks will be short & sweet, which is probably a relief to some of y'all!

Bill taught a great lesson on Mark 2, specifically about the Pharisees asking Jesus questions with the intent of tripping Him up.  These men of the Law were so intent on keeping the letter of the Law that they totally missed the Spirit of the Law.  Matthew's Gospel records an interesting exchange in chapter 23, when Jesus seems to have had His fill of the Pharisees and tells them, "[you keep the Law] but you have neglected the more important matters of the Law -- justice, mercy and faithfulness... you strain at a gnat but swallow a camel..."  And unfortunately this problem didn't die in the first century.

There are certainly things that Christians MUST take a stand against because they compromise God's Word and quench His Spirit. (A personal aside -- love and prayers go out to Pastor Mark Graham and the leadership at St John's Lutheran Church for taking an unpopular but BIBLICAL stand against the ELCA.  Here is an article that ran in our Sunday paper.  Please pray for their congregation as they deal with this situation.)

But there are plenty of issues that create conflict and divide congregations that are simply issues of personal preference and tradition.  I'm sure all of us can look back at an incident that, at the time, seemed terribly important.  But after a little time passed... and a little maturity came... now we look back and are embarrassed to have made a mountain out of a molehill.  My father-in-law once jokingly (but truthfully!!) said, "A church can split over the color of carpet!"

I have some fun Facebook friends who post reflective thoughts which inspire some interesting comments, and quotes that challenge religious tradition can create quite a buzz.  But the older I get the more I (try to) remind myself that tradition is sometimes just a RITUAL, plain and simple.  While it's familiar and cozy to ME, it may seem uncomfortable and stale to someone else.  As long as the Message isn't compromised, the method can morph into whatever He needs it to.  Heck, God knew the best way to speak to Balaam was through a DONKEY (Numbers 22) -- how much more untraditional can you GET??  I trust that He can use

whomever/whatever/whenever/wherever/however He chooses to speak to the hearts of those He loves, and I don't want to miss Him because of my own blinders of tradition!

I love the 12th chapter of Romans.  That passage is a good (and short!) one that I am going to start reading on a regular basis -- probably the 12th of each month, which will make it easy for my blonde brain to remember.  The gist of the chapter is this, "Don't be self-indulgent, be like Jesus."  I particularly love verse 18: "as far as it depends on you, live at peace with one another."  Paul isn't telling us to abandon our personal convictions or allow the integrity of God's Word to be compromised.  (Even the most cursory glance at Paul's writing reveals his love of Christ and his passion for sharing the Gospel.)  But in his travels and his dealings with so many congregations, Paul learned to recognize what was worth fighting for.  And more importantly -- what WASN'T.

I've heard this quote attributed to William Penn, Martin Luther and Thomas a' Kempis but regardless of who originated it, it's a quote for the generations and a good one to commit to memory:
"In essential things, Unity;
in non-essential things, Liberty;
in all things, Love."
AMEN!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Christmas Love

I came across this when my children were in elementary school, and it helped me keep my sanity during the busyness of the holidays.  I would remember some of these lines as I counted out beads for 3rd graders, baked dozens of cookies, and helped with various other projects that seemed to be important at the time.

I wish I could claim it, but I'm happy to give credit where credit is due -- a wonderful Christian author and speaker, Sharon Jaynes.  Be sure to check out her website to see some of her other works!



Love I Corinthians 13 Style
by Sharon Jaynes©

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family - I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family - I’m just another cook.

 If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family - It profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s contada but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of your way.

Love doesn’t give, only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust.  But giving the gift of love will endure.


Keep this in mind as you're rushing around the next couple of weeks ~~  Merry Christmas, Y'all!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Mark 1

All four Gospel accounts are unique.   John’s is set apart for many reasons, including the fact that he recorded no parables, only seven miracles, and from chapter seven on his focus was on Jesus' ministry in Judea.  Matthew, Mark and Luke are referred to as “synoptic” Gospels: “syn” meaning “same” and “optic” meaning “sight.”  So we see many of the same events recorded in those three accounts, much of it focusing on Jesus ministry in the beautiful region of Galilee.

But even the synoptic Gospels are unique.    Matthew was writing primarily to a Jewish audience, Luke was writing to a Greek audience, and Mark was writing to a Roman audience.  In Matthew’s Gospel we see the things that would be important to the Jews, such as the lineage of Jesus.  In Luke’s Gospel we see a lot of detail because in addition to being a physician, Luke himself was a Greek and also was a historian.  The Greeks would have wanted plenty of explanations, particularly about Jewish customs, so Luke provided a lot of detail and background information that Matthew’s Gospel lacked.  Mark’s audience, however, was a “bottom line” kinda group.  Like Sgt Joe Friday of Dragnet fame, the Romans were interested in “Just the facts, ma’am.”  So Mark’s Gospel is a fast-paced, 'hit-it-and-git-it' narrative.

Mark wrote at a time when Christians were feeling the squeeze from the Roman government.  It’s believed that he was living in Italy and wrote his Gospel when Nero was near the height of his power.  In addition to being thought to be a slave to public opinion, Nero was also power-hungry and is believed to have ordered the execution of his rivals, including his stepbrother , his ex-wife,  and his own MOTHER!  According to Roman historian Suetonius, Nero "showed neither discrimination nor moderation in putting to death whomsoever he pleased."1

Hmmm… power-hungry, image-conscious, egotistical …with the exception of the murderous tendencies, I’m guessing you can think of a person or two who might fit this description!  So Mark’s audience was very much like us and felt the same kinds of pressures we do, and his Gospel message is one that blesses the 21st century Christians as much as it blessed the first century ones.


Mark opens his account with one of the many prophecies from Isaiah, this particular one that introduces us to John the Baptist in all his camel-hair-wearing, locusts-and-wild-honey-eating glory.  We also see the baptism of Jesus that was followed by the audible blessing of His Father.  Jesus was then called into the wilderness for a 40-day fast and to prepare for His earthly ministry.  Upon returning to Galilee He chose 12 disciples and traveled through the region preaching and teaching in the synagogues, casting out demons and healing the sick.

I find it interesting that when Jesus called the disciples to join Him that they immediately followed Him.  They didn’t ask questions, talk it over with each other or their families, they dropped what they were doing and WENT.  What was it about Jesus that caused them to do that?  Isaiah 53:2 tells us “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.”  He had no money, no position, no power, not even a place to stay, but these men left everything to follow Him.

No doubt there was something that drew them to Jesus, something in them that recognized Jesus' authority and sensed they could trust Him.  They may have heard some gossip about Jesus:  Anna the prophetess recognizing Who He was as a baby being presented for circumcision, teenage Jesus debating scripture with the priests in the Temple courts, and more recently His turning water into wine in Cana.  Galilee is a pretty small area, and I imagine that human nature is the same throughout the centuries -- something exciting or unusual happens and people want to TALK about it!

We know from John chapter 1 that Andrew had followed John the Baptist, and heard John’s testimony of Jesus’ baptism and his declaration that He was the Lamb of God.  Andrew told his brother, Simon Peter, and since several of the disciples were fisherman on the Sea of Galilee (which is SMALL), you might draw the conclusion that these guys were friends or at least knew OF each other.  So when they saw their friends following Jesus it may have influenced them to follow Jesus themselves.

Think about that – somebody we know, even the most casual acquaintance, may be influenced to follow Jesus because of US.  They may see our witness, spoken and UNSPOKEN, as the Holy Spirit reveals their need for a Savior.  And what they see in US might influence their decision to follow Him.  WHOA – that’s some serious responsibility!!

The curriculum outline for this chapter showed that Jesus offers us four things:  salvation, guidance, freedom and strength.  Salvation – saved from our sins to spend eternity with Him; Guidance – His leadership to live in a way that makes us mature and brings Him honor; Freedom – from sin and the things that tangle and bind us; and Strength – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual strength to face the troubles of the world.  But they are GIFTS we must receive and actually USE.

With Christmas less than three weeks away, we will no doubt scurry around looking for the perfect gift for someone we love.  Imagine your disappointment and heartbreak if you gave your special someone a gift that cost you a pretty penny, and they didn’t even TAKE it.  They just ignored it, unwrapped, left on the floor.  Or worse yet, kicked it across the room!  Now imagine how our Heavenly Father must feel when His Gift is ignored and despised.  Or when those of us who have accepted His gift of salvation don’t understand the way the Holy Spirit longs to help us?

Jesus sacrificed His life and died so that we could LIVE -- live WITH Him in Heaven after we die and live FOR Him on earth as long as we’re here.  His Spirit will lead us, free us and empower us; but we have to CHOOSE -- to discipline ourselves to follow and obey Him, let Him reveal what binds us, and strengthen us to overcome it.  And then let the world see our changed life and tell them that HE is the reason!


1   Lives of the Twelve Caesars. C. Suetonius Tranquillus.
University of Chicago, 21 July 2009. Web. 4 Dec 2009.
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Nero*.html

Friday, December 4, 2009

Love, Fun and Heaven on Earth

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  Oh, I love Christmas and Easter because of what they represent, but after Christmas there is the inevitable letdown that comes from weeks of preparation and anticipation.  Easter is different because after it passes, the days get longer, warm weather begins to settle in, and we get to box up the woolies and pull out the spring clothes.  Oh yeah, and baseball season starts :)

But thanksgiving is different to me.  It comes at the end of college football season (yeah, sports are big at our house) and it ushers in the Christmas season.  So once the roaster is washed and the china is put away, it's finally time to unpack the decorations and plan for the holiday.  But more than that, it's a special time for my Rinehart family because it's the weekend of our reunion at Alpine Lodge

We began this tradition about 15 years ago after the death of my grandmother.  She and my grandfather had a quiver FULL of children, nine total with eight surviving.  In fact, my middle given name (Hope) comes from my aunt who died in infancy.  With eight adult children and 20 grandchildren, many of whom were married with children of their own, the Alpine Lodge provided a place for the entire family to stay and all be together.  I think that year there were about 70 of us, and while we mourned the death of Grandma, we also rejoiced in her life and had fun spending time together.  So thanksgiving weekend at the Lodge was born and became a family tradition.

It is a weekend full of catching up, eating, playing games, eating, looking at old photos, eating, singing, eating... did I mention eating??  This is a family that can put a serious hurtin' on some grub, and having a constant spread of food is something that we all love.  The little kids love it because, for the most part, the healthy eating rules that are in place at home are tossed out the window at the Lodge.  The big kids love it because it means nonstop noshing and we have some fabulous cooks, including sweet Rachel who is a professional cookie caterer.  I hope someday she is able to offer shipping, but for now I will just drool over her website and look forward to having them once a year.  They are worth the wait :)



We are also a family of gamers, and I don't mean Xbox and Playstation.  Once the tables are cleared of the dishes, they become full of every sort of game you can imagine.  It seems that every year we are introduced to a new game, and this year (for me, at least) it was the card game "Set"and it will be under our tree Christmas morning :)  We also love Mexican train Dominoes, spades, spoons, progressive rummy, Boggle, goop (or nertz)... there is ALWAYS a game to join and extras are ALWAYS welcome.  Pull up a chair and you're in on the next round.



We are also a family of praisers.  Several years ago we had family reunion tshirts made that were captioned "a weekend of praising and grazing" and that captures the spirit perfectly.  Our Christian heritage is RICH and also musical, so at any given time you can hear some instrument being played and voices being raised.  Part of the weekend includes what we call "Share Time" and it's an opportunity for us to give testimonies of what the Lord has done in our lives the past year.  Some events, like the passing of my sweet niece Karis in February, rock the entire family.  Others, like new job opportunities, are news to many of us and give us a chance to get filled in with the details -- everybody all at once, instead of  having to tell the story 20 times :)



But in addition to all the fun and fellowship, for ME this weekend is also a foretaste of Heaven.  In fact, when my kids were young and asked me what Heaven was like, I compared it to the Lodge weekend.  All of your family is together in one place and is happy and hugging and laughing, there is plenty of food and fun, there is always somebody to catch up with, and at any given moment you will hear voices singing and praising the Lord Jesus.  Everybody will have their own places to retreat to, but it's so much fun being together that you're drawn to the group. Yes, there will be jobs for us (so don't be surprised and think you'll be playing a harp and sitting in the clouds all day), but the work won't be toilsome because you'll be doing it WITH those you love FOR those you love.

I've missed the past two thanksgiving weekends because I was recovering from surgeries, and not being with the family was more painful than the belly full of stitches!!  So this year was particularly precious to me, but it was also bittersweet because we were all missing Karis.  As we were singing on Friday night, my heart was torn as we sang contemporary praise songs and familiar old hymns such as "Amazing Grace" and "I'll Fly Away."  Two of my grandmother's favorite hymns were "When We All Get To Heaven" and "Glad Reunion Day," and as we sang those songs my eyes met those of my Uncle David and Aunt Lula whose eyes also brimmed with tears.  I knew we were all thinking of Karis, and as the tears spilled down my cheeks I envisioned the day when we all got to Heaven and had the ULTIMATE family reunion.

And NOTHING will compare to that, not even the Lodge!

Monday, November 30, 2009

The November of Thankfulness


I am a fan of Facebook.  It's been so much fun to see what is happening with my friends and their families, reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.  I especially like to see what my friends are thinking from day to day, and I'm so encouraged by a lot of their posts.  I'm also amused by a lot of what they say, but on November 10th I came across a post that challenged the FB community to spend the rest of the month listing things they are thankful for.  It was great to see how many took that challenge and how profound so many of them were.  Last week I listed some of the things I was thankful for on a daily basis, and since I spent the weekend with my family and missed Bible study on Sunday, I thought I would recap the my list from the month.  

Nov 10 (initial post) - "Let's see how many people can do this - Every day this month until Thanksgiving, think of one thing that you are thankful for and post it as your status. 'Today I am thankful for...' The longer you do it, the harder it gets! Now, if you think you can do it then repost this message as your status to invite others to take the challenge, then post what YOU are thankful for today....."

Nov 10 - Today I am thankful for... Steve, Scott and Sarah :)


Nov 11 - Today I am thankful for JESUS and everything He is! 


Nov 12 - Today I am thankful for my fabulous sisters!!


Nov 13 - Today I am thankful that the rain has let up enough for me to walk this morning!!


Nov 15 - Today I'm thankful for GREAT and SPECIAL friends, and thankful to live in a country where we can freely worship our LORD :)


Nov 16 - Today I am thankful for God's MERCY -- that I don't get what I deserve!


Nov 17 - Today I'm thankful for God's GRACE - that He gives me blessings I don't deserve!!


Nov 18 - Today I am thankful for Christian parents who brought me up in the Truth. I do NOT take that for granted!!


Nov 19 - Today I am thankful for friends who love, encourage & pray for me & my family. I LOVE y'all!


Nov 20 – Today I am thankful for Dr Bob Williams, who performed surgery on me two years ago today.  He and Kim are two of our dearest friends.


Nov 21 – Today I am thankful for Dr Pat Saul, who performed a tenuous gyn surgery on me one year ago today.


Nov 22 – Today I am thankful for God’s LOVE that’s unconditional, infinite and eternal.


Nov 23 – Today I am thankful for the HOPE I have in Jesus Christ, that this life isn’t all there is.


Nov 24 – Today I am thankful for the JOY I have in Jesus Christ, that I can wake up every morning knowing He loves me.


Nov 25 – Today I am thankful for my health, and that I am spending Thanksgiving AT HOME instead of in the hospital =D


Nov 26 – Today I am thankful for lessons that have taught me to be CONTENT.  They aren’t easy but they are effective.


Nov 27 – Today I am thankful that I do not have a hose up my nose, aka a nasogastric tube.  On this day two years ago I DID!


Nov 28 – Today I am thankful (again) for the Godly heritage He has given me in my wonderful family, and for the huge blessing of spending this weekend with them.  I’ve missed the last two thanksgiving weekends because I’ve been in the hospital!!


Nov 29 – Today I am thankful for FAITH, the confident assurance that God is in control & working out all the craziness of life.


Nov 30 – Today I am thankful that I live in the Church Age -- after the birth of Jesus. Think about all the blessings we have because He came to live among us!  I can’t imagine living without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or the many copies of the written Word (and study resources) that are in my possession!

The originator of that post said "The longer you do it, the harder it gets" but I didn't really find that to be the case. I guess because it put me in the mindset of looking for things to be thankful for, the more blessings I realized.

And THAT is a good lesson :)

Monday, November 23, 2009

Psalm 116

This week we studied another praise psalm with an anonymous writer.  Like so many of the psalms it begins with praise, recounts a time of hardship, remembers the Lord's faithfulness and deliverance, and then concludes with praise.  It's an overall picture of our lives:  good times, hardships, questions and struggles, learning curves, restorations, good times... and the cycle repeats.

Since we are entering the week of Thanksgiving, we took time in our class to share some of the things we are thankful for this year, and I went first!  This year I am thankful for my good health.  I've spent the past two Thanksgiving weeks in the hospital recovering from surgeries.  It's a long story, but the timeline is this:
  • Nov 2007 - partial hysterectomy, 10 days later developed a complication which led to
  • Nov 2007 - surgery to correct an obstruction, which resulted in
  • Nov 2007 - staph infection in the surgical incision
  • Nov 2007 - Feb 2008 - antibiotics & wound care, which didn't kill the staph and heal the wound, so
  • Feb 2008 - debriding surgery for the staph
  • Nov 2008 - pelvic pain caused by a large ovarian cyst
  • Nov 2008 - gyn surgery to remove the cyst and remaining ovary
Since I've spent the past two Novembers in the hospital, I was a little anxious this year as I flipped the calendar over!  I have actually asked friends to pray for what we've termed my "November Nerves," and so far, so good!!  But I've learned so much through that experience, and I am thankful every single day for the blessing of restored health.  I do NOT take it for granted and do my best to take care of my body.

But I am also thankful for little things every day, things like:
  • having enough milk for breakfast
  • clear sinuses
  • a paid-for car
  • technology (computers, cell phones, my blackberry, online banking, Facebook, cable tv, wireless internet...)
  • good weather for a morning walk
  • comfortable shoes
  • good hair days
  • jeans that fit
  • family, friends and neighbors
  • our community and the great schools my kids have been blessed to attend
  • text messages from the kids telling me about their days
  • emails of ALL kind - funny ones, uplifting ones, prayer requests...
  • my Bibles and all the study resources I have
  • my independence and mobility
And then I remember the spiritual blessings, which are endless -- salvation, hope, joy, peace, faith, grace, mercy, love, protection, victory...  I've found that it's hard to be "down in the dumps" when I count my blessings, so I try to make it a part of my day - EVERYDAY.

I recently heard a wonderful sermon on JOY, and it came right after a great devotional I read that was written by one of my favorite men, Andrew Murray (who had to be one of the most joyful, faithful, peaceful dudes in all of south Africa, and I can't wait to meet him in Heaven).  He wrote, "... there is nothing so attractive as joy, no preaching so persuasive as the sight of hearts made glad.  This makes gladness such a strong element in Christian character.  There is no proof of the reality of God's love and the blessing He bestows, which people so quickly feel the strength of, as when the joy of God overcomes the trials of life.  And for the Christian's own welfare, joy is just as indispensable; the joy of the Lord is his strength (Neh 8:10)..." (taken from Abiding  in Christ)

So as I enter Thanksgiving week, I remember the cycle of the past two years and the various struggles I've had.  But I also continue to remember God's attributes and His blessings and His faithfulness, and like the apostle Peter, "[I'm] filled with an inexpressible and glorious JOY." (1 Peter 1:8)


Thursday, November 19, 2009

My latest "last"

I'm having a hard time believing that in ONE WEEK it will be Thanksgiving!!  We've had a busy fall, but it still doesn't seem like it should be this late!  Is time flying at everyone's house or is it just mine?


The changes in the season also bring changes in activities at my house.  I hope to get started on Christmas shopping and decorating in the next two weeks, and then before I can turn around a time or two it will be February!!  In March (Lord willing) I will return to Israel to tour with some friends and I CANNOT WAIT for that fabulous trip!  When I return I'll be thrust into spring, which means SAPC baseball with Scott and helping with senior activities with Sarah's class.  My years of being a team mom, homeroom mom and pta volunteer are coming to a close and it's bittersweet.  


I loved helping with all those things.  I loved being part of the educational and recreational communities.  I loved getting to know so many of the kids and becoming friends with their parents.  A tennis buddy once told me that you never realize how your kids connect you to the community until they're gone.  I've kept that in the back of my head for a long time and have tried to savor these last few years.  And I will savor these next few months as this phase of my career comes to an end.


My latest "last" is Sarah's cheerleading.  She's cheered for almost as long as Scott played baseball, so it's been a big part of the fall months at our house.  This past weekend was the Virginia High School League State Championship for her competition squad.  She and her friends are some strong and focused ladies, and they are some of the hardest working and dedicated gals I've ever met.  August 1st begins their season which includes practicing 2-3 hours every day after school and then a couple of hours every Saturday.  They spend the off-season taking tumbling lessons or traveling with a recreational competition team, so they are serious about what they do and they work hard to have successful varsity seasons.



This year was no exception.  They won their district competition for the 6th time and then won their regional competition for the 3rd time.  Not bad for a school that is only 8 years old, huh?  And they had another commendable performance at the state competition and finished 7th overall.  Their routine was solid and flawless, their best performance to date, so they finished their season with heads held high and in great spirits.  But for six of the girls and two of the coaches it was the end of a fun chapter in their lives and one that many of us will miss.


I will miss going to football games and watching Sarah and her friends cheer for their friends on the field.  I'll miss the noisy chants and brassy tunes from the marching band beside us.  I'll miss seeing my kids' friends cheering in the stands, all of them donning some form of blue, gold and white TITAN wear.  Or paint :)  I'll miss sitting in the stands and chatting with the other parents and planning for the next cheer competition.  I'll miss the emails and the handouts and coordinating our calendars.  I'll still attend some of the home games but it will be different.  I'll be on the outside looking in, and I will miss being "in."


But most of all I will miss the GIRLS.  Many of them have been Sarah's friends since elementary school and it's been fun to watch them grow up into such beautiful and talented young ladies.  Their work ethic is remarkable and will serve them well as they enter college and begin their careers.  But they will go different directions and explore other interests, and they won't be a part of each other's lives like they have been.  Sure, they will stay in touch with each other, especially with all the social networking that's available, but it will be different.  Their worlds will expand as they leave home, and they'll have so many opportunities to learn and mature and grow.  They'll make new friends and become part of new communities.  They'll make good choices and stupid ones... they'll date nice guys and jerky ones... they'll have fulfilling jobs and frustrating ones...  they'll wrestle with their faith and their beliefs, and they'll need friends and mentors who are grounded and can help them navigate those waters.



So I hope they will foster a good relationship with their own parents and will stay in touch with some of their friends' parents.  Several of those parents have encouraged Sarah when she turned a deaf ear to Steve and me, and I know they would give her good advice again.  We love it when the kids' friends stay in touch with us, and it's an honor to share in the excitement of their new experiences.  Even though we'll always be "Scott and Sarah's parents," we look forward to the day when we become their friends.  And that can only happen with the passing of time, so I guess time passing isn't ALL bad ;)

Monday, November 16, 2009

Psalms 111 & 112

I love bumper stickers.  I don't have any but I love seeing how others advertise themselves on their vehicles.  Even though the November elections have passed there are still plenty of political bumper stickers.  It is college football season so I see a lot of fans sporting celebrations their favorite teams.  Religious bumper stickers abound where I live and while some of them are amusing ("Wear your Bible belt") some are thought-provoking.  "FROG - Fully Rely On God."  "WWJD - What Would Jesus Do?"  "No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace."  I found this one particularly interesting, "Think Spiritually. Act Righteously."


Righteous is defined as "characterized by uprightness or morality; morally right or justifiable; virtuous."  We so often hear this word with "self" slapped on the front of it, which totally changes the definition.  Self-righteous is a smug satisfaction and confidence in one's OWN beliefs & behavior while being critical and judgmental of the beliefs & behaviors of OTHERS.  God's Word has a lot to say about righteousness, both His and ours, and the psalms are a great place to learn about the two.


This week we look at Psalms 111 and 112.  They complement each other in that the first is a description of what God is like and what He does, and the second is focuses on how we are to behave in light of His character and works.


As you read through Psalm 111 we see the words righteous, glorious, majestic, gracious, compassionate, faithful, trustworthy, steadfast, upright, holy and awesome.  We know that He is also eternal, infinite, incomprehensible, loving, just, merciful, gracious, wise, generous and victorious.  And this is just a PARTIAL list! By studying His works in this psalm we see they are great, pondered by all, wondrous, powerful and redeeming.  But again, these few descriptions are just the tip of the iceberg and the author of this psalm is laying the groundwork for us:  Psalm 111 is WHY we are to live out Psalm 112.


Psalm 112 begins with praise and a blessing:  "Blessed is the man who fears (reveres, respects, values) God, who finds great delight in His commands." (emphasis mine)  This person will be provided for, leave a godly legacy, be firm in his faith, never fear bad news, have a secure and steadfast heart, be generous & trustworthy, be honest & fair, be honored & remembered, be victorious, and will have the attitude of an overcomer.


Verse four is one of my favorites because it hearkens back to Exodus.  "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man."  As Moses confronted Pharaoh to get him to release the children of Israel, the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart as He plagued the Egyptians.  In Exodus 10:21-23 we read, "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt - darkness that can be felt.'  So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days.  Yet ALL the Israelites had light in the places where they lived." (emphasis mine)


Imagine an entire country being dark except for one area!  And it wasn't just the darkness that the Lord spared His people from -- they were spared from EVERY plague.  Boils, frogs, bloody water, disease, hail, DEATH...  While the nation in which they lived was experiencing His punishment, God's people were experiencing His provision.  His mighty hand NEVER left them because they were HIS chosen ones and He delighted in them.  And even in the midst of fearsome and trying times, He revealed Himself and provided for them in amazing ways.


How encouraging are these words to believers today!!  Even though we aren't exempt from bad news and bad times, we know that He is providing for us and that His mighty hand will NEVER leave us!  Ps 112:7a says "He will have no fear of bad news."  Notice the psalmist doesn't say he won't HAVE bad news.  We WILL have bad news because Christians don't live in a protective bubble, but we won't FEAR bad news because the verse continues: "his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."


Proverbs 3:5-6 and Romans 8:28 are familiar reminders that God is working in the lives of His children and we are to trust Him no matter what our circumstances may be because His hand is on us and we are moving along a path that will grow us and glorify Himself.  As we navigate the storms of life it's important that we remember WHO GOD IS and that He has a plan and a time table and everything is RIGHT ON SCHEDULE!  He is in control and is faithful and loving and kind and gracious and watching over His children.  


John 16:33 sums it up beautifully, "I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have peace.  In this WORLD you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have OVERCOME the world."   


So... "No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace."

Thursday, November 12, 2009

"The Love Of God" lyrics

This is a gorgeous song with fabulous lyrics. I am serenaded by Mercy Me every morning as I get ready and I thought it'd be good to share.

"The Love Of God"

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell

The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky

Hallelujah 3x

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song



Here is a link to a video on YouTube, and the song is available for download on iTunes.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fla6EO07I3E&feature=fvw
LOVE IT!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Psalm 1

This is a gorgeous time of year in Virginia… the mountains are ablaze with color, the skies are clear, the air is crisp and cool.  I love unpacking my sweaters, boxing up my summer shoes and pulling out my jeans.  For the most part I like working in the yard and cleaning up the mulch beds, but I’m not all that crazy about the leaves.  I don’t have a huge yard with towering trees, but I spent several hours on Tuesday blowing and vacuuming and bagging leaves – six jumbo bags to be exact, and that was the first pass.  There will be at least one more unless I take my neighbor’s advice and just hope the wind blows them down the street.

This week I taught a lesson on Psalm 1 and one of my favorite verses in this short passage is verse 3, “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither…”   Whose leaf does not wither… those kinda trees aren’t found in the greater Roanoke Valley, but what expressive imagery!  The psalmist has just described a faithful person who seeks godly advice, walks obediently, and who continually mediates on the Word of God.

“… his delight is in the Law of the Lord… he meditates day and night…” records verse 2.  I like the picture of constantly pondering scripture to understand how it applies to life.  But what about today’s Christian?  Is meditating on God’s Word still important?  With dozens of self-help books written each year (many of them written by Christians) and hundreds available with the click of a mouse, is the Bible still relevant today?  YOU BETCHA IT IS!!

The Bible is as relevant today as it has ever been!!  As I prepared the lesson for Psalm 1, I thought of the Bible as God’s “record.”  (Before I get slammed by any theologians, I understand that God’s Word is WAY more than a mere record, but Psalm 1 is a simple psalm that called for a simple illustration!)  In the simplest of terms the Bible is a record of (1) God and His attributes, (2) us and our sinfulness, and (3) Jesus and His sacrifice.  Every page of scripture contains truth that instructs us and applies to our lives.

Not only do we have the written Word, but we also have the Holy Spirit of God.  If we think of the Word as the “Record” then think of the Spirit as the “Revealer.”  He illuminates the truths of scripture and causes them to jump off the page and plunge into the depths of our hearts. 
  • He reveals Who God is – holy and perfect and just, but gracious and merciful and compassionate.
  • He reveals who we are – sinful and separated from Him, but not without hope.
  • He reveals Who Jesus is – the One Who was punished for our sin and the ONLY way we can come into the presence of God.
When the Holy Spirit reveals these truths to us, we are faced with a decision.  Do we believe God’s Word and respond with a prayer of confession, or do we disregard God’s Word because it doesn’t line up with our personal beliefs?  Remember that our belief system is influenced by any number of factors:  our upbringing, our religious background (or lack thereof), our education, our friends, our culture, our experiences… but our notions are just that – OUR notions, and they are inconsequential in light of our holy and righteous God.  It really doesn’t matter what WE THINK, it only matters what HE SAYS, and what He says is written in His WORD.  “Your Word, O Lord, is ETERNAL.  It stands firm in the heavens.”  (Psalm 119:89)

How very different God’s view is from the world’s view!!  Many believe we live in an age of enlightenment and should be open to new ideas and revelations of “truth” which point to multiple paths to God that are all equal and valid.  Religion, some would argue, is personal and is best approached like a cafeteria – a little of this, a little of that… incorporate some of Jesus’ teachings but also some current popular teaching…  It’s almost as if there is an attempt to cover every religious “base” while fully committing to NOTHING…  Just figure out what works and seems right to you!?

Hmmm…  so do we base our beliefs on God’s Word – something that has endured for hundreds of years and has proven reliable through generations?  Or do we base our beliefs on our thinking – ideas that come and go and crumble like autumn leaves?

King Solomon said, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death“  (Proverbs 16:25).  Several hundred years later, Jesus provided the answer, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No man comes to the Father except through ME” (John 14:6).

 I know which WAY I choose!!


Monday, November 2, 2009

Psalm 102

The phrase "it came to pass" is one of my favorites in scripture because it reminds me that nothing lasts forever.  No matter the trouble, whether illness, financial problems, relationship issues, job situations, grief, etc. it will eventually come to an END, and praise the Lord for THAT!!


We wrap up our study of the psalms of lament with Psalm 102.  It was written by an anonymous author at an unknown time, but its message is timeless.  The psalmist pours out his heart to God with phrases like "my bones burn like a furnace," "my heart is afflicted and withered like grass," "[I] mingle my drinks with tears," and "You have picked me up and thrown me aside."  His troubles have hit him with a triple whammy -- they've afflicted him physically, emotionally and spiritually and he is worn OUT.


I know the feeling.


It's now November, and the past couple of Novembers haven't been all that good for me.  In fact, they've been downright BAD.  For the past two years I have spent Thanksgiving week in the hospital recovering from surgery.  And now it's November, and my mind is beginning to wander...


I envision the hospital rooms, and the view from each one.  I hear the hum of the heater and the growl of the hospital bed's motor.  I smell the antiseptics.  I feel the soft hospital gown and the starched bed sheets.  I taste the crunchy ice chips... and I wonder, what will THIS November hold for me?  Will I lay awake at night staring at the ceiling of a hospital room while I pensively examine my life?  Will I thank the nurse for tending my IV as I silently question God? Will I spend another Christmas holiday on Percoset in flannel pajama pants under a blanket in my chair?  Will I have to ask Sarah to shop for the bland foods that we know I can tolerate?  Will I be gingerly shuffling through my house again?  Will my sister Janet and my bff Susan L. have to put up my Christmas decorations for the THIRD YEAR in a ROW?


Since I've spent the past two winters recovering from surgeries, I've spent the last two winters wrestling with affliction-- physical affliction which led to mental affliction which led to spiritual affliction!  The Lord has created us in such an amazing way - body, soul and spirit - and when one of those areas gets out of sync it's easy for the others to follow suit.  At least it is for ME!  And it seemed it was that way for our psalmist too, but he didn't wallow in his sorrows for long.  He eventually turned his eyes from his situation to his God.


He acknowledges some of God's attributes: His eternal nature, His compassion, His grace, His forbearance, His love and His transcendence.  He closes the psalm with the understanding that heaven and earth will pass away, but Almighty God will remain the same and His years would never end.  What a comforting thought, that no matter what kind of craziness happens to us here, God never changes and He always acts in a way that is consistent with His character.


As I listened to my friends discuss this psalm, the Lord brought to mind a passage in 2 Corinthians where Paul explains that our afflictions are being used not only to draw US closer to God, but for others to see God work in our lives so that THEY will draw close to Him as well.  Paul writes, "Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor 4:16-18)


Afflictions are intended to draw us closer to God, but the results are often otherwise.  Instead of becoming Christlike, we become cranky.  Instead of becoming faithful we become fickle.  Instead of becoming patient we become petulant.


We need to remind ourselves one day we’ll be in Heaven and we’ll look back at this time in our lives with greater understanding.  We may be able to see how God used events in our lives to impact the lives of others.  When we can accept that God knows better than we do and remember that it WILL come to pass, we will be able to walk the path of affliction with grace and peace and confidence, and we will emerge with our faith strengthened.  When we become angry with God for allowing such hardship in our lives, the path of affliction can become one of contempt, anxiety and distrust.  The choice is ours to make: let affliction refine us or it will embitter us.


And so I look at the new page on my calendar, “NOVEMBER 2009” and I remember… and I wonder… and I choose to trust because regardless of what the month holds for me, I know that God is faithful and is working in ways I can’t understand.  What an honor it would be to get to Heaven and find out that somebody was there because of an experience I had.  And maybe the Lord would begin the story, “it came to pass…”

Monday, October 26, 2009

Psalm 73

I’ll admit I’ve wrestled with God.  I’ve doubted His goodness, His will, His ways, His lack of judgment… I think from time to time we ALL scratch our heads and wonder what possible good He could bring from a particular situation.  When a tragedy strikes it’s normal for us to be shaken and wonder why God allowed that event.  But even in the day-to-day dealings of our lives we can be tempted to second-guess God.  How is our faith affected when we don’t understand what God does or allows?


Do you know anybody who seems to live a charmed life with no troubles or cares, but who couldn’t care less about the troubles of others?  Who seems to be successful in every business venture they pursue, but for the sole purpose of having bigger and nicer homes, cars and vacations?  Who has plenty of money and power and influence, but use it to advance their own personal agenda at the expense of whoever happens to be in their way?


Psalm 73 is an honest look at one man’s struggle with the prosperity of the ungodly.  The psalmist Asaph was appointed by King David as a worship leader in the Temple.  Some event, or some series of events, came about in his life that caused him to doubt God.  Deep down he KNEW God was good and faithful and just, but he just couldn’t quite grasp how ungodly people could go on, day after day, with no consequences.  Asaph grew to envy those people because he was striving to live faithfully and honor God with his life but he didn’t seem to be prospering.  Instead he was having difficulty and hardship and confusion, and it caused him to DOUBT.


The psalm lists the things Asaph saw happening in the lives of the ungodly:  no health issues, plenty of money, no responsibilities, always carefree…  He saw their arrogance and contempt for God.  He saw them increase in power and influence, and watched curiously as people flocked to them in droves.


Asaph felt that his godly lifestyle was of no consequence.  Every day he woke up to a life of troubles and trials, and God was allowing it!  And God was allowing the ungodly to oppress the less-fortunate, manipulate justice, and worst of all – blaspheme His holy Name!  Asaph wondered why HE was losing and the bad guys were winning!


Because of Asaph’s position in the Temple, he quietly wrestled with his doubts.  He knew that a public declaration of his private ponderings would have misled those who looked to him for leadership.  Asaph understood that he had a responsibility to point others TO God and not AWAY from Him, so he prayed and contemplated and waited on God.


Worship remained a part of Asaph’s life and one day the Lord gave him some insight – the prosperity of the ungodly was temporal.  In the end it would all be swept away and NOTHING would remain.  But as for those who were upright and faithful to Him, God would bless and guide and provide both here on earth AND in Heaven.  Asaph understood what the apostle James would write several centuries later, our lives are like a vapor – here one minute and gone the next , so the godly must persevere and be patient until the Lord returns (James, chapters 4 and 5).


Asaph then recognized his twisted logic, confessed it to God, acknowledged Him for who He was, and his faith was restored.  The last line of the psalm is profound, “I will tell of all Your deeds.”  Now that Asaph’s private struggle with God had come to an end – an end that was TRUE and RIGHT – NOW it was appropriate for Asaph to share with the masses.  Even though Asaph wrestled with what God allowed, he came to the point that he could trust God because of Who He is.


All of us have been through a struggle that caused us to question God, and because we live in a fallen world we will continue to have struggles.  They may come in the form of a storm that crashes over us and turns our lives upside down, they may come in the form of a dry period in our lives when God seems to be silent, they may come in any variety of ways but they WILL come.  And the longer they go on, the more tempted we can be to doubt God and feel like giving up, so it’s important for us to have a strategy in place so we can remain faithful.

  1. Understand that while our perception is our reality, our perception is not FACT.  Many factors influence our reasoning: past experiences, attitudes, biases, what we notice, what we ignore… any NUMBER of things can cloud our perception and influence how we feel and react.  In any given situation, there is always more than meets the eye, and GOD is the only One who sees and knows the full TRUE picture.
  2. Realize that the longer the struggle, the harder it can be to stay focused.  Because our enemy wants to steal our joy and peace and confidence (John 10:10), we need to be careful about what we let fill our minds (2 Cor 10:5).  We live in an age with so many good Christian resources – books, music, tv, movies, Bible studies, counseling, worship opportunities… One of the best ways I’ve found to stay focused is to keep praise music playing in my house.  Invariably a song will get stuck in my head and I’ll end up singing it all day long.  While that may irritate my family, it inspires me!  BTW I’ve learned to hum quietly while I’m around them and save the vocals for when I’m alone ;)
  3. Last but not least, DON’T WALK AWAY FROM GOD!!  That will grieve His Spirit and cause the enemy to dance, so determine to grieve the enemy and let God dance!!  Stick with (or find!) a group of trustworthy Christian friends who will pray for you and walk you thru the struggle!!  Keep going to church!!  Guard your time in the Word!!  Confess your doubts and fears to Him and ask Him to strengthen you.  And when He does, tell of all His deeds.

Life is hard.  Troubles come.  Crazy things happen.  But always remember, God is in control.  He sees and He knows and He is working in ways we can’t begin to comprehend.  And even though we may NEVER understand what God DOES, we can ALWAYS trust Who God IS.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Psalm 56

The word for my weekend has been FEAR. I attended a retreat sponsored by the women’s ministry at my church and the theme passage was Luke 12:32-34 which begins “Fear not, little flock…”. I went to a breakout session that my friend Althea led and she taught from 2 Chronicles 20 which has a verse that has recently become a favorite of mine, “… For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you” (v12b). I went to Bible study Sunday morning and my friend Bill taught a great lesson on Psalm 56. Verse three of that Psalm is one I learned as a child, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”



David was running for his life when he penned Psalm 56. He sought refuge in a variety of places, always looking over his shoulder in an attempt to stay one step ahead of King Saul’s bounty hunters. (Think of Harrison Ford in “The Fugitive” and you get the picture.) Even though David was often in danger and was often just plain discouraged, he modeled the right response in verses 4 and 20, “[I will trust] In God, Whose Word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid…”.


What do you fear? That's an easy one for me – snakes and rodents. I know they are part of God’s creation and important in the food chain but those are two links I can do without, thankyouverymuch. But deeper than personal phobias, we fear things like losing our job, losing family members, national security, the future, ungodly leaders, the unknown, health problems, financial woes, CHANGE… the list is potentially endless!


One of the things we discussed was how fear affects us. It is interesting to study our physiological response to fear: increased heart rate and respiration, release of adrenaline, changes in blood circulation, etc. The “fight or flight” response is an amazing thing God wired in us, but beyond the initial bodily reaction, the way we respond to fear speaks volumes about our faith.


It’s perfectly normal to be emotionally-shaken when the storms of life come crashing down on us, but we need to remember that we don’t face them alone. When a violent storm arose on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus’ disciples did what we often do – they managed on their own until things got out of control, then they looked for Jesus. Imagine their disbelief when they found Him ASLEEP in the stern! The anxious disciples woke up the snoozing Savior and said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38). Interesting that they didn’t ask him to help reef the sails or bail water, they asked if He cared about their situation. It’s easy for us to fall into that same trap of wrong-thinking, “God, don’t You CARE that I’ve got cancer? Don’t You CARE that I lost my job? Don’t You CARE that…”


The answer to that one is easy, YES. Yes, God DOES care when the storms of life come because it’s in the storm that we look for Him and where He reveals Himself to us in a way that we’ve never before seen. When Jesus came up on deck, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves “Peace. Be still.” and the disciples witnessed a demonstration of His awesome power in a way they wouldn’t otherwise have seen. And I bet Jesus cast a reproaching glance toward His frantic friends as He spoke to the elements because then He turned to them and asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”


Feelings and emotions are powerful and they have the potential to send us spiraling into a pit of despair, but we can have command over them by the power of God’s SPOKEN Word. I’ve collected scripture over the years that address specific situations and when I begin to feel strangled by my emotions, I confess “This is what I FEEL (fear, anger, doubt, despair…) but this is what I KNOW (insert applicable verse here!)” and I continue on, reciting His attributes: goodness, faithfulness, compassion, love, grace, mercy; He is all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present… Psalm 22:3 tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people, so when we open our mouths to declare His praise, we open the door for His presence to wash over us with a peace that is incomprehensible.


Something else that I’ve found helpful is to ask myself, “What is the WORST thing that can happen to me?” and then remember that regardless of what happens and where I end up, God will BE THERE! That path may be steep and rocky and treacherous, but He will have walked EVERY STEP of that path with me and will have a PLAN for me THERE! And His plans are designed for our good and for His glory so FEAR NOT, little flock!!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Psalm 51

Ahh, it's always nice when you can identify the author and approximate timing of a psalm... and how nice it is for us that David was so transparent in this one. Psalm 51 was written after his confrontation with the prophet Nathan, who boldly exposed David's sin with Bathsheba. Not only did David commit adultery with her but he attempted to cover his tracks by plotting against her husband Uriah, one of his top military commanders. When Uriah remained true to his task he was rewarded with leading a venture that, unbeknown to him, was designed specifically to lead him to his death. Now how's THAT for rewarding loyalty?

A year passed before David's sin came to light. I wonder how he tried to excuse his behavior in those months... "well, I'm the king and everything in the kingdom is MINE... I didn't actually shoot the arrow that KILLED Uriah... others have done a whole lot WORSE..." Isn't justifying our actions one of the ways Satan deceives us?

Whatever his thoughts, David was eventually slapped in the face with the reality that what he had done was a slap in the face of his God, who had graciously blessed him with EVERYTHING he had. 2 Samuel 11-12 records the entire account, but several things stand out to me in that passage: "The thing David had done DISPLEASED the Lord... If all [the kingdom] had been too little, [God] would have given you more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in His eyes?"

These words rang in David's ears and penetrated his heart, and his response to his colossal mess was Psalm 51. Listen to the words he uses as he remembers God's attributes: unfailing love, great compassion, right, justified, desires truth, teaches wisdom, saves, cleans, purifies, restores, doesn't delight in sacrifices or take pleasure in burnt offerings. David knew that there was no sacrificial provision for adultery or murder. What did the Law demand for those two sins? Death. No lambs or doves or bulls... David deserved to die and he cried out to God with a broken heart and spirit.

These are the words David used to acknowledge what he had done: sin, transgression, evil, iniquity. He didn't make excuses or try to sugar-coat it, he saw it for what it was. His confession continued with phrases like "I know my transgressions... My sin is always before me... I have sinned against You... I have done evil in Your sight..."

Then David asked God to forgive him, and boldly asked God to bless him and restore him. And God, in His rich mercy and infinite grace, answered David's prayer. But his sin wasn't without consequences, and it set the wheels in motion for calamity in his family and eventually for the entire nation of Israel. Sin ALWAYS has consequences.

Thank God that He delights in restoring His children after they've stumbled, but isn't it worth considering how He might delight in not HAVING to always restore us? As we grow in Christlikeness, shouldn't we be learning some skills about AVOIDING the stumble? Wouldn't THAT delight Him as well??
What if we understood ourselves well enough to know that we get distracted and temptation finds its way into our lives? Instead of stumbling into sin (or worse, choosing it!), what if we prayerfully stopped and took a spiritual breath? Could we ask God to show us where we are weak and to reveal what's beneath the immediate temptation? If we could see underlying desire, wouldn't God show us a choice that honored Him (1 Cor 10:13)?

This psalm deals with David's adultery and murder, but we can apply it to ANY sin. For example, stealing. If someone is tempted to embezzle from their company, what is the underlying desire? Is it wanting more money to buy more stuff (greed - bad) or is it wanting the money to pay overdue medical bills (providing for their family - good)? Is the underlying desire evil or godly, and how do we deal with that? Or better yet, how do we let God deal WITH US in that area? We will always face temptation of SOME kind, but let's ask God to examine us and show us the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of ourselves so we can do what is right and avoid getting into a colossal mess of our own.

"Create in me a pure heart... renew a steadfast spirit within me... grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." God answered David's prayer and He will answer ours. With a pure heart we can see and discern our true desires, with a steadfast spirit we can recognize and stand firm against temptation, and with a willing spirit we can DESIRE to do what is right. Now wouldn't THAT please our Lord?

Thanks to Adean for this fabulous Donnie McClurkin link:

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Thoughts on Psalm 23

“The Lord is my Shepherd…” What familiar and comforting words!

I find some Psalms are a challenge to teach because so many of them have unnamed authors and were written at unknown times. While we don’t know the time that Psalm 23 was written, we do know it was a psalm of David and it’s his description of the Lord as his Guide. This psalm of comfort and assurance is commonly heard at funerals, but it’s a great daily reminder that our Lord is always near and caring for us.

Psalm 23 is so familiar that it's easy to overlook something profound: It is one of the few passages in scripture where we can see each of the Old Testament names for God. We see Jehovah Jireh (Provider), Jehovah Mekaddiskem (Sanctifier), Jehovah Nissi (Banner), Jehovah Rapha (Healer), Jehovah Rohi (Shepherd), Jehovah Sabaoth (Lord of Hosts), Jehovah Shalom (Peace), Jehovah Shammah (Companion), and Jehovah Tsidkenu (Righteousness). Some are obvious, others require some pondering, but if you look carefully and thoughtfully you’ll see they’re ALL there.

Sheep are curious creatures. Once you study them and their characteristics, it’s easy to see why Jesus compared us to them. Sheep are helpless, defenseless, easily distracted, prone to wander, don’t have keen vision, they are easily frightened in new situations (especially the dark), and when they are injured they often roll over on their backs and can’t get up!

Philip Keller’s book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23” is a wonderful book that describes the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep. Good shepherds were totally devoted to the care of their flock because the sheep were so highly valued. They were the preferred animal of sacrifice, they were a sign of wealth, they were a source of milk and their wool brought a considerable profit. Because the sheep were so special the shepherd gave them individual names, and the sound of the shepherd speaking gave them a sense of comfort and well-being. The tender voice and gentle touch of the good shepherd was all that was needed to bring calm and contentment to an agitated sheep.

Some notable Old Testament shepherds included David, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his 12 sons, as well as Moses; but the task of shepherding flocks was one of the lowliest of all jobs. It was hard work that required round-the-clock attention, they were often in danger, their accommodations were simple & sparse, and they were often dirty and smelly. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus, Who embodies the fullness of our holy and eternal and unimaginable God, is referred to as a lowly shepherd? It’s my personal opinion that it has more to do with us being like sheep than it does Him being like a Shepherd!

A good shepherd cares for his flock in a variety of ways: he provides a safe & comfortable place to rest, he keeps the sheep healthy and free from parasites and disease, and he makes sure they have plenty to eat and drink. He is faithful to examine the sheep to determine their needs, and then he does what is necessary to keep them healthy and well. Jesus cares for us in the same way: He examines us and then does what is necessary to keep us growing in Him.

Perpetually wayward sheep are a problem for a shepherd, and it's believed that a shepherd will wrap the sheep and draw it close to him so he can break it's leg. The shepherd then carries the sheep on his shoulders until it heals. During that time the sheep learns to recognize the shepherd's voice and through his gentle care grows to trust him and then obey him. The shepherd knows this relationship can't happen any other way, so I'm guessing it's a kind of ovine 'tough love.'

Hopefully we aren't so stubborn we need to have our legs broken, but sometimes He allows circumstances in our lives so we can adjust our focus to see ONLY Him. Sometimes He needs to “fleece” us to reveal what’s beneath the surface or to remove the things in life that weigh us down. Sometimes He takes us through a valley to protect us from something we can't see. Sometimes He disciplines us with His rod and sometimes He rescues us with His staff, but He ALWAYS has our well-being in mind and is ALWAYS working in our lives to draw us closer to Him. His love for His followers is a testimony to an unbelieving world, and His “Name’s sake” or His reputation is proven in the way He cares for us. It's important to remember that our response to Him during our trials is also a testimony to the world.

It’s interesting to note that in the Old Testament the sheep died as a sacrifice for the shepherd. In the New Testament the Shepherd died as a sacrifice for His sheep and then gave us His Spirit to live within us and give us comfort in any circumstance. I love the outline that Canadian evangelist J.R. Littleproud gave this psalm:

The Secret of a Happy –

Life: every need supplied
Death: every fear removed
Eternity: every desire fulfilled

But these promises are reserved for those who follow Jesus and boldly say, “The Lord is MY Shepherd.” Can you?