It may be a New Year to us, but to God, there are no surprises!! It is not "new" to Him!! It is kind of like there is no new water............it is all just recycled!!
Sometimes I think New Year resolutions are like that!! They are the same ones just recycled!! I was thinking about a lot of things from the past years of "New" things I wanted to do or old things I wanted to improve...........recycle, if you will!! And I wondered if posting blogs are a thing of the past for me.
Halfway through the year, this past year, I stopped journaling............for the first time in probably 40+ years!!! I just stopped! Cold turkey!! And now that it is January 1st, I am wondering if I am going to recycle and start in again with a "habit" or a "discipline" I felt called to do many years ago and continued to do for decades.
Everyone is talking about decades right now.......probably because we are entering today the end of the first decade of the new millenium and people are searching for ways to define the past 9 years actually, even though many are calling it a decade!! Is it because we live such fast paced lives now with iPods, iPhones, iTouch, etc. that did not even exist 10 years ago? Possibly!! ???
Or, I am wondering if it isn't more than that............deeper than that. I just put up my new favorite calendar made by Cindy Grubb which I have bought for the past 16 years (at least that is how many I have in my cabinet). As I read through the verses for this year and wrote in the special birthdays, anniversaries of weddings, deaths, memorable events, I was struck by how fleeting life is. It is but a vapor.................a dash on a tombstone between the year of birth and the year of death. BUT the GIFT of God is ETERNAL!!!!
So, whether or not I recycle my discipline of writing my prayers in a journal every day, whether or not I keep in touch with others on Facebook, iPhones, email, snail mail............or face to face ........I need to make sure it is about something that has eternal value!! It must be something that lasts!! Only two things on this earth will last beyond this earth: The Word of God and the souls of people!! It's pretty clear to me what will be my recycled resolution: His Word and people and doing my part to see that those two things intersect whenever and wherever I can!!
Have a Blessed New Year!!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Faith-Rest
Last week-end I attended a conference here in OKC called Deeper Still, featuring Kay Arthur, Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer along with Travis Cottrell, who was the worship leader in music. My first response is that I remember that I am not "1-of-a-9,000-women-conference-person". Not that they weren't all great..........just I guess I am not that crazy about crowds and finding parking when the Thunder was playing Celtics right across the street!!! YUCK!!!
But, with that said, I have been thinking about much that was said there. And just this week, I have been able to share it or pray about it with so many in difficult situations: no job, possibility of a growth being malignant, infertility issues, tragic murder of a close friend's family members, possible divorce, elderly parents, step-parenting issues.........to name a few!!
This is such a fallen world........the whole system and all of its influences. The wonder of all of this is that God does care, does listen, is full of lovingkindnesses to us that are new every morning...... not leftovers from some other day, goes through the fires with us, never leaving nor forsaking us. I am often blown away when I reflect on how blessed we are as His beloved children to have His very life within us to grant us the power and the peace that truly does surpass comprehension ........yes, and even apprehension.
One thing Kay Arthur said at the conference that I have pondered is "Rest is the activity of faith"!! I am thinking about the many times, when in a difficult situation, the first response is to fret not rest..........to resist not rest.........to complain not rest.........to get angry not rest. It is usually everything but rest that we do.
So, in actuality, that means, according to the inspired writer to the Hebrews, we do not believe God!! So, dear ones, based upon that fresh "refresher", I want to encourage you to put your faith to action and rest!!! Believe Him and rest!! As a group of us, who have been studying Jerry Bridges' Trusting God, have said many times to each other, it is all about His glory..........not our convenience nor our comfort.
We can help those who are hurting by interceding on their behalf that he or she can rest in His peace. We can fight the battles for each other at the feet of Jesus, on our knees, praying that their hearts and minds will be flooded with His peace, which Ephesians 2:14 tells us is Him...... HE is our Peace!! I just want to keep encouraging you to look to Jesus..........gaze not glance at Jesus.........allowing Him to give you that rest.
But, with that said, I have been thinking about much that was said there. And just this week, I have been able to share it or pray about it with so many in difficult situations: no job, possibility of a growth being malignant, infertility issues, tragic murder of a close friend's family members, possible divorce, elderly parents, step-parenting issues.........to name a few!!
This is such a fallen world........the whole system and all of its influences. The wonder of all of this is that God does care, does listen, is full of lovingkindnesses to us that are new every morning...... not leftovers from some other day, goes through the fires with us, never leaving nor forsaking us. I am often blown away when I reflect on how blessed we are as His beloved children to have His very life within us to grant us the power and the peace that truly does surpass comprehension ........yes, and even apprehension.
One thing Kay Arthur said at the conference that I have pondered is "Rest is the activity of faith"!! I am thinking about the many times, when in a difficult situation, the first response is to fret not rest..........to resist not rest.........to complain not rest.........to get angry not rest. It is usually everything but rest that we do.
So, in actuality, that means, according to the inspired writer to the Hebrews, we do not believe God!! So, dear ones, based upon that fresh "refresher", I want to encourage you to put your faith to action and rest!!! Believe Him and rest!! As a group of us, who have been studying Jerry Bridges' Trusting God, have said many times to each other, it is all about His glory..........not our convenience nor our comfort.
We can help those who are hurting by interceding on their behalf that he or she can rest in His peace. We can fight the battles for each other at the feet of Jesus, on our knees, praying that their hearts and minds will be flooded with His peace, which Ephesians 2:14 tells us is Him...... HE is our Peace!! I just want to keep encouraging you to look to Jesus..........gaze not glance at Jesus.........allowing Him to give you that rest.
Monday, November 23, 2009
What To Do?
I have just in the last 12 hours read/heard about the Manhattan Declaration. When it comes to me so forthrightly in two separate ways, I really try to pay attention. The first time was enough, I thought, and has made me prayerful about my place in it all. But, just now, I happened to have 30 minutes free in the car and listened to Chuck Colson on Focus on the Family with James Dobson.
So, I put this on Facebook just now, but I realized some of you are not on it and might want to know. Many of us are really concerned about the direction our country is heading and yet wonder "What can I do?"....."What should I do?".....which is really "God, what do You want me to do, if anything?" For me, this new information has given me food for thought, especially after listening to Chuck clarify some things.
I invite you to read through this document and listen to the discussion. Then talk to God about what He would have you to do.
So, I put this on Facebook just now, but I realized some of you are not on it and might want to know. Many of us are really concerned about the direction our country is heading and yet wonder "What can I do?"....."What should I do?".....which is really "God, what do You want me to do, if anything?" For me, this new information has given me food for thought, especially after listening to Chuck clarify some things.
I invite you to read through this document and listen to the discussion. Then talk to God about what He would have you to do.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Amazing Life
"Life sometimes gets so bogged down in the details, you forget you are living it."
I remember this quote from a book I read last summer. When I was preparing for teaching my Bible study this week, I realized that my living recently could be described that way. It was not an "Aha!" moment as much as an "Oh no!" moment. How could I have let myself forget what an amazing life I am privileged to live??!!
What I was studying was Eph 2:11-22. My overwhelming wonder was in the phrase Paul wanted those Ephesian Gentile believers to "know about the exceeding greatness of God's power toward them" (1:15-23) was that "HE (Jesus) IS our peace"!!
We never really truly realize the greatness of God's power until we realize the greatness of the obstacles which that power has overcome. Many people today are not amazed at the Christian salvation. They see nothing at all in it; nothing astonishing!! Why? because they have never realized the problem, because they are ignorant of sin, and know nothing about the wrath. of God. They do not realize the nature of these obstacles and problems. Not only was there the obstacle of their sin, which separated them from God, but also their "state" of being excluded and strangers from the covenant of promise and were without God in the world and without hope (Eph2). Honestly, is that not the condition of all of us?
The long and short of it: Ephesians 2:14...For He Himself is our peace.
"For" connects this statement to what has gone on before. This One by whose blood we have been made nigh IS OUR PEACE!! This is one of the most glorious things that is said about the LORD Jesus Christ anywhere. Of all the terms and titles applied to Him there is none more wonderful than this. HE is our Peace.
Hebrews 13:20-21 Now that God of peace, who brought up from the dead that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen
There it is!! God is the 'God of peace'. That is a very good way of thinking of salvation; we are saved, we are Christians, simply because God is a 'God of peace'. Everything is really the result of that.
I have been reading through the Gospels the past few days. Remember when one day someone came to Him and said, 'Master, which is the first, the greatest of all the commandments:' And this was His reply: 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. That is the first and the greatest commandment. And the 2nd is like it; You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
The important thing to notice is the order: First, the relationship to God; second, the relationship to your fellow man. The whole tragedy of the modern world is due to the fact that the first is entirely left out and men think you can start with the second. Man is not recognizing God, not starting with God, not submitting to God and is trying to reconcile himself to his fellow man. And of course he is not succeeding; he never can succeed.
That is the background to Paul's statement here! 'He is our peace!' Christ alone is our peace. There is no peace apart from Him. we must be in Christ before we can enjoy the blessings of God as the God of peace.
And so, after pondering the wonderful message Paul wrote to those Ephesian Gentile believers who had probably gotten bogged down in the details of life and needed a lift to the "Alps of the NT", and pouring over the writings of D. Martin Lloyd Jones on this passage.........I asked myself.......... "How could I have let myself forget what an amazing life I am privileged to live??!!
I remember this quote from a book I read last summer. When I was preparing for teaching my Bible study this week, I realized that my living recently could be described that way. It was not an "Aha!" moment as much as an "Oh no!" moment. How could I have let myself forget what an amazing life I am privileged to live??!!
What I was studying was Eph 2:11-22. My overwhelming wonder was in the phrase Paul wanted those Ephesian Gentile believers to "know about the exceeding greatness of God's power toward them" (1:15-23) was that "HE (Jesus) IS our peace"!!
We never really truly realize the greatness of God's power until we realize the greatness of the obstacles which that power has overcome. Many people today are not amazed at the Christian salvation. They see nothing at all in it; nothing astonishing!! Why? because they have never realized the problem, because they are ignorant of sin, and know nothing about the wrath. of God. They do not realize the nature of these obstacles and problems. Not only was there the obstacle of their sin, which separated them from God, but also their "state" of being excluded and strangers from the covenant of promise and were without God in the world and without hope (Eph2). Honestly, is that not the condition of all of us?
The long and short of it: Ephesians 2:14...For He Himself is our peace.
"For" connects this statement to what has gone on before. This One by whose blood we have been made nigh IS OUR PEACE!! This is one of the most glorious things that is said about the LORD Jesus Christ anywhere. Of all the terms and titles applied to Him there is none more wonderful than this. HE is our Peace.
Hebrews 13:20-21 Now that God of peace, who brought up from the dead that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen
There it is!! God is the 'God of peace'. That is a very good way of thinking of salvation; we are saved, we are Christians, simply because God is a 'God of peace'. Everything is really the result of that.
I have been reading through the Gospels the past few days. Remember when one day someone came to Him and said, 'Master, which is the first, the greatest of all the commandments:' And this was His reply: 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. That is the first and the greatest commandment. And the 2nd is like it; You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
The important thing to notice is the order: First, the relationship to God; second, the relationship to your fellow man. The whole tragedy of the modern world is due to the fact that the first is entirely left out and men think you can start with the second. Man is not recognizing God, not starting with God, not submitting to God and is trying to reconcile himself to his fellow man. And of course he is not succeeding; he never can succeed.
That is the background to Paul's statement here! 'He is our peace!' Christ alone is our peace. There is no peace apart from Him. we must be in Christ before we can enjoy the blessings of God as the God of peace.
And so, after pondering the wonderful message Paul wrote to those Ephesian Gentile believers who had probably gotten bogged down in the details of life and needed a lift to the "Alps of the NT", and pouring over the writings of D. Martin Lloyd Jones on this passage.........I asked myself.......... "How could I have let myself forget what an amazing life I am privileged to live??!!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Out of the Blue
Do you wonder where a saying like...."out of the blue" comes from? Well, this is not that explanation, but more an example of what it might mean. It is that I received a call recently from somewhere out there from a long-ago friend who is coming "back here" and would like to see Monty and me.
I am just so excited that we were still on the radar for them to call us........"out of the blue"!! We just hung up after finally being able to talk voice to voice.......... you know what that means.......not on email, not on voicemail, not even snail mail!!! What a pleasant time of reunion. In fact, we are going to have a party when they come so others can enjoy them as much as we will.
Our connection goes back over 20 years ago when they were here raising their family and we were the children's youth leaders. And it has probably been over 10 years since we last saw each other. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity for us to share the goodness of the LORD and how He has graciously carried us through the inevitable trials of life.
So now.....back to "out of the blue"!! This is a reminder that one day we will be out in the blue and sharing all sorts of stories about the gracious, lovingkindness of the LORD, praising Him for He is worthy.
I am just so excited that we were still on the radar for them to call us........"out of the blue"!! We just hung up after finally being able to talk voice to voice.......... you know what that means.......not on email, not on voicemail, not even snail mail!!! What a pleasant time of reunion. In fact, we are going to have a party when they come so others can enjoy them as much as we will.
Our connection goes back over 20 years ago when they were here raising their family and we were the children's youth leaders. And it has probably been over 10 years since we last saw each other. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity for us to share the goodness of the LORD and how He has graciously carried us through the inevitable trials of life.
So now.....back to "out of the blue"!! This is a reminder that one day we will be out in the blue and sharing all sorts of stories about the gracious, lovingkindness of the LORD, praising Him for He is worthy.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Sex....Now that I have your attention...read on!
Reading the Proverbs recently in the older version of The Living Bible has been such a blessing to me. I know that it has probably been 30 years since I have read the Bible in this particular version. I have given the Student Application Living Bible to high school and college graduates for many years, but decided I probably needed to read it for myself............to see if I really like what I had been giving away.
What a blessing it has been!! The notes added alongside on almost every page have been great and are still applicable to young people today. You know, the Truth never changes.
Well, back to the Proverbs. I am sure I have a heightened awareness to the verses that warn about sexual immorality so much because of the blatant lies of the enemy to young people today. We had worked with young people in our local church for 35 years. And much to our disappointment we were finding in the most recent years of ministry the onslaught of porn, sexual promiscuity and the like had increased exponentially as compared with the previous 25 years.
So, when I have come upon verses like Pr 22:14 "A prostitute is a dangerous trap; those cursed of God are caught in it"...........I stop and ponder a little longer than I would have 10-15 years ago. I scanned over many other Proverbs with similar warnings: "For a prostitute will bring a man to poverty, and an adulteress may cost him his very life. Can a man hold fire against his chest and not be burned? Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? So it is with the man who commits adultery with another's wife. He shall not go unpunished for this sin. ....But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool for he destroys his own soul. Wound and constant disgrace are his lot."
I want to put in here one of the Life Application points about all of this. "Sexual sin is a temptation we cannot escape. In movies and on television, sex outside of marriage is treated as a normal--even desirable--part of life, while marriage is often shown as confining and joyless. We can even be looked down upon by others if suspected of being pure. But God does not forbid sexual sin just to be difficult. He knows its power to destroy us physically and spiritually. No one shoud underestimate the power of sexual sin. It has devastated coutless lives and destroyed families, communities, and even nations. God wants to protect us from damaging ourselves and others, so he offers to fill us--our loneliness, our desires--with Himself."
I had lunch today with my daughter who was telling me about Nightline last night, which she happened to see for the first time ever. They are doing a special on the 10 Commandments in the OT (which everybody in this country has heard of in one way or another!!). Anyway, she was telling about the panel who were expressing their "open" marriage that allowed them to have affairs, which is okay since they are open about it. The man even has a business of setting people up for "safe" affairs and he profits from it..........earns a living doing so. However, they also had Ed Young, Jr, a pastor in Tx and his congregation to give the truth about how devestating affairs are to families. Men told how they lost their families and are continuing to pay the price............children told how horrible it was for them, etc.
So, I guess I just had to get this down in written form because I, too, have seen the destruction that comes to people when they choose to allow their sexual lust dictate "the rest of the story"......rather than using self-control and following purity for peace, joy and lasting relationships. Dear friends reading this.............please heed the warnings Scripture clearly gives. God is not kidding!!!
P.S. One final thought: I know the idea sexual immorality conveyed often is about "adultery" which technically means sex with another man's wife or another woman's husband. Just think about this, young man....if you are not married and think it is okay to have sex now and it is not adultery......well, whose wife will she someday be??? Probably not yours!! So she is another man's wife. OR, young lady, whose husband will he someday be? Probably not yours!! So he is another woman's husband. So it is adultery, even if you aren't married yet!!! And, if you are going to marry that person someday and you think it is okay............ what makes you so sure one of you won't think it's okay later to have sex with someone else "because you 'can't wait'"?
What a blessing it has been!! The notes added alongside on almost every page have been great and are still applicable to young people today. You know, the Truth never changes.
Well, back to the Proverbs. I am sure I have a heightened awareness to the verses that warn about sexual immorality so much because of the blatant lies of the enemy to young people today. We had worked with young people in our local church for 35 years. And much to our disappointment we were finding in the most recent years of ministry the onslaught of porn, sexual promiscuity and the like had increased exponentially as compared with the previous 25 years.
So, when I have come upon verses like Pr 22:14 "A prostitute is a dangerous trap; those cursed of God are caught in it"...........I stop and ponder a little longer than I would have 10-15 years ago. I scanned over many other Proverbs with similar warnings: "For a prostitute will bring a man to poverty, and an adulteress may cost him his very life. Can a man hold fire against his chest and not be burned? Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? So it is with the man who commits adultery with another's wife. He shall not go unpunished for this sin. ....But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool for he destroys his own soul. Wound and constant disgrace are his lot."
I want to put in here one of the Life Application points about all of this. "Sexual sin is a temptation we cannot escape. In movies and on television, sex outside of marriage is treated as a normal--even desirable--part of life, while marriage is often shown as confining and joyless. We can even be looked down upon by others if suspected of being pure. But God does not forbid sexual sin just to be difficult. He knows its power to destroy us physically and spiritually. No one shoud underestimate the power of sexual sin. It has devastated coutless lives and destroyed families, communities, and even nations. God wants to protect us from damaging ourselves and others, so he offers to fill us--our loneliness, our desires--with Himself."
I had lunch today with my daughter who was telling me about Nightline last night, which she happened to see for the first time ever. They are doing a special on the 10 Commandments in the OT (which everybody in this country has heard of in one way or another!!). Anyway, she was telling about the panel who were expressing their "open" marriage that allowed them to have affairs, which is okay since they are open about it. The man even has a business of setting people up for "safe" affairs and he profits from it..........earns a living doing so. However, they also had Ed Young, Jr, a pastor in Tx and his congregation to give the truth about how devestating affairs are to families. Men told how they lost their families and are continuing to pay the price............children told how horrible it was for them, etc.
So, I guess I just had to get this down in written form because I, too, have seen the destruction that comes to people when they choose to allow their sexual lust dictate "the rest of the story"......rather than using self-control and following purity for peace, joy and lasting relationships. Dear friends reading this.............please heed the warnings Scripture clearly gives. God is not kidding!!!
P.S. One final thought: I know the idea sexual immorality conveyed often is about "adultery" which technically means sex with another man's wife or another woman's husband. Just think about this, young man....if you are not married and think it is okay to have sex now and it is not adultery......well, whose wife will she someday be??? Probably not yours!! So she is another man's wife. OR, young lady, whose husband will he someday be? Probably not yours!! So he is another woman's husband. So it is adultery, even if you aren't married yet!!! And, if you are going to marry that person someday and you think it is okay............ what makes you so sure one of you won't think it's okay later to have sex with someone else "because you 'can't wait'"?
Monday, September 14, 2009
Be Happy!
For the many years Monty and I spent training our four children to become respectable citizens of our home, the community, our country, the world...........I often wished that my words had more power than they actually did. Over and over I longed for the words "Be Happy!" to be magical in that they produced the product I desired...........happiness for my children.
Well, as you know so well, happiness is a choice and cannot be imposed upon another human being, but can only be brought about by the decision of each person. You probably have often heard, as have I, that happiness is happenstance, and depends upon the circumstance that is most agreeable to the individual. Unhappy circumstance, unhappy person!! Right??
Well, watch this for a little challenge to your thinking. I have seen this video several times and am always touched by his always-timely message.
Well, as you know so well, happiness is a choice and cannot be imposed upon another human being, but can only be brought about by the decision of each person. You probably have often heard, as have I, that happiness is happenstance, and depends upon the circumstance that is most agreeable to the individual. Unhappy circumstance, unhappy person!! Right??
Well, watch this for a little challenge to your thinking. I have seen this video several times and am always touched by his always-timely message.
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