Forthright Fixation

Ever since we moved to the States I’ve had a severe dislike for reading or watching the news because it seems to me that there is always someone griping or complaining about something or someone else. All the complaining through the media only escalates during an election year. Everyone is whining that this isn’t fair, or so-and-so shouldn’t have done that. Everyone is stomping on others’ toes because they “have rights” and such-and-such a person infringed them. When all is said and done, however, all this complaining comes down to 1 thing: love of money; the root of this being sin.

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)

It’s easy to fall in love with money. Money can get you things that you want. And sometimes the drive to get money to spend can be dangerous. I sometimes find my heart inclined towards tendencies that make me think I’ll be content or satisfied when I have ‘stuff’; a car of my own, more books, more shoes, etc. But seeing as though I’m about to start college, I’ve realized that this is very thin ice I’m skating on. While college is primarily an opportunity to further one’s education, I also see it as a time to be a good steward with the resources God has given me. Over the next few years, before I’m out in the world on my own completely, I have a responsibility for school bills and living expenses, and as I’m sure you know neither of these are cheap nowadays. I can’t see what the future holds but there will probably be a few occasions when I won’t be able to buy exactly what I want when I want it. I’ve determined to be content with this, and to quietly do without something that I may really, really want.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” – Matthew 6:25, 26 (ESV)

I know that all of my needs will be taken care of by my Heavenly Father; it’s all my wants that I have to look out for. But, I’ve decided that instead of complaining or becoming money-hungry, I’m going to, by the grace of God, count my blessings. Instead of moping about what I don’t have, I’m going to remind myself of what I do have: my family, my home, my church family – be it local or universal. I have plenty of clothes to wear and I’ve never gone to bed hungry. I’m healthy and so is the rest of my family. The list goes on and on. I’ve innumerable blessings to count, gifts from God. What about you? Do you count your blessings?

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The most noticeable thing about being around a newborn is how much they want closeness. How much they want warmth, comfort, and -quite simply- you! My nephew Hank was a strong advocate for snuggling when he was tiny. Oftentimes whenever he was crying all he wanted was to be “swaddled” – cocooned tightly in a blanket and cradled securely up against someone. Because he would get cold, or nervous, or uncomfortable. And being totally engulfed in my protection made him feel safe. After all…he was so tiny and confused. Closeness was all he understood.

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…”
[Isaiah 66:13a NIV]

Over and over again, we are invited to be close to God. To come to him- to stretch out our arms to receive his love. He wants to protect us. He wants us to remain close to him.

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Henry is over four months now. He laughs constantly, turns his head to follow you across the room, and protests things by waving his left arm around. He’s also constantly wiggling. He much prefers to “sit” on you, normally, than squish up against you like he used to. Instead of being swaddled, he prefers that you pick him up and walk around with him, to divert him from discomfort. You, and your warmth, are not quite enough anymore.

Sound familiar? So often we lose interest in simply being close to God. We long for other things. The commonplace human desire for independence distracts us. We try to tackle problems on our own. We compare ourselves to other Christians who may seem to have loftier spiritual goals.

And, of course, change comes with growth. We can’t survive on milk forever- we must move on to bread and meat. But I don’t think that God ever wants us to outgrow wanting to be close to him. Plain and simple. When our ambitions lie in “being a strong Christian” instead of drawing nearer to our Heavenly Father…that is the mistake. Being close to God is the root of everything else we aspire to beyond that.

He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
[Matthew 10:14b, 15]

Like a little child. Little children don’t get stressed or depressed- they turn to their parents. They turn to a loving mother or father, who stands with open arms, and bury their faces in a hug. It’s enough for them. Is it enough for me? Do I say, “God, I will rest in you and wait on your direction” or do I strategically evaluate my strengths and weaknesses and try to figure out problems I can’t solve?

God gives us responsibilities, problems to work out, and tasks to face. But oh…let us not neglect to remain close to our loving Father first and foremost, and trust that he will hold us more securely than the best laid plans.

Filed under: Attributes of God, Christian Living, Trusting God | 1 Comment »

Debbie:

As my summer is about to really kick-off and be even busier and crazier than it’s already been, God is reminding me that my role is continually changing to one of leadership, mentoring, and serving. But He is providing Grace and Joy in the midst of what could be tough transitions.

O Bless the Lord, my soul!

Hännah:

Seeing God’s providence in the little things has been a blessing - like when the stone slipped out of my purity ring at work, but He answered my prayers and allowed me to find it behind a fridge. I’ve also been challenged to re-examine how I relate to my parents and walk in humility and submission. It’s not about what I want or how things seem - it’s my response that reveals my heart and what I believe about God.

Kaitlin:

 I’ve just come back from spending the last two weeks on vacation with my family. It was a wonderful time of relaxing and being with my cousins, aunts, and uncles. I also attended my great-grandmother’s 100th birthday party! I’m very thankful to the Lord for the good time He gave to us with all our family.

Kate:

I just returned from vacation and I’m so grateful for the time I got to spend away with my family just getting away from some of the things that normally distract us. It was truly a blessing to us all, and for that I thank God!

Kelsey:

I think God is working on strengthening me for his service. This week that has meant taking me out of my comfort zone. I’ve spent the last two weeks teaching highschoolers and at so many times I felt inadequate. Yet, I trust that he will use this experience to refine me in bunch of different areas.

Riette:

This Monday and Tuesday my brother and I were able to go visit some friends in Maryland. God was so kind in really directing our conversation to be very meaningful and intentional. I am so thankful for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ!

Stephanie:

As the date of the kids’ Art Camp I’m planning quickly approaches, I’m learning afresh the difference between praying: “Lord, please fill this need” and “Lord, fulfill Your purpose.” There’s a difference between trying to take what I think I need from God, and leaving my palms open, ready to receive whatever He wants to give me. His provision—whenever and however it comes—is always superior, and it’s worth the wait.

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One of the most enjoyable parts of my morning is reading the daily passage from Spurgeon, posted on the Spurgeon Archives. A few days ago I read his thoughts on Psalm 103:2. It’s a good reminder of the blessings that have been granted to us.

“Forget not all His benefits.”—Psalm 103:2.

IT is a delightful and profitable occupation to mark the hand of God in the lives of ancient saints, and to observe His goodness in delivering them, His mercy in pardoning them, and His faithfulness in keeping His covenant with them. But would it not be even more interesting and profitable for us to remark the hand of God in our own lives? Ought we not to look upon our own history as being at least as full of God, as full of His goodness and of His truth, as much a proof of His faithfulness and veracity, as the lives of any of the saints who have gone before?

We do our Lord an injustice when we suppose that He wrought all His mighty acts, and showed Himself strong for those in the early time, but doth not perform wonders or lay bare His arm for the saints who are now upon the earth. Let us review our own lives. Surely in these we may discover some happy incidents, refreshing to ourselves and glorifying to our God.

Have you had no deliverances? Have you passed through no rivers, supported by the divine presence? Have you walked through no fires unharmed? Have you had no manifestations? Have you had no choice favours? The God who gave Solomon the desire of his heart, hath He never listened to you and answered your requests? That God of lavish bounty of whom David sang, “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things,” hath He never satiated you with fatness? Have you never been made to lie down in green pastures? Have you never been led by the still waters?

Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old. Let us, then, weave His mercies into a song. Let us take the pure gold of thankfulness, and the jewels of praise and make them into another crown for the head of Jesus. Let our souls give forth music as sweet and as exhilarating as came from David’s harp, while we praise the Lord whose mercy endureth for ever.

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Beauty, creativity, purpose, splendor—it’s all reflected in Creation. Canyons, insects, the central nervous system, deep-sea creatures, an atom, waterfalls, volcanoes, autumn leaves—Oh, yes…

”—and the stars.” Genesis 1:16

Reading the account in Genesis, it seems as though God created the stars on a whim, as though they are extraneous expressions of His glory. It’s funny that the trillions of stars in their countless galaxies sprawling across empty space receive comparatively so little attention in the description of Creation.

So, why would God create all of that “wasted” space?

”The created universe is all about glory. The deepest longing of the human heart and the deepest meaning of heaven and earth are summed up in this; the glory of God. The universe was made to show it, and we were made to see and savor it.”  -John Piper

When was the last time you really thought about how incredibly expansive the universe is? When was the last time you pondered how infinitely glorious its Creator must be?

Watch this. It will help you marvel.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”
Psalm 19:1

Go look at the sky tonight and join with the stars in that happy declaration of His glory.

Let’s make a habit of delighting in our smallness for the glory of God.
”All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:2-3, 14-16

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Debbie:

God has been showing me through friendships with my companions, my siblings, and my parents, that I still have much to learn- and that I must never give up gleaning wisdom from God’s Word.

Hännah:

Seeing beauty in selflessness and taking joy in serving has been a delight to my heart this week. Whether I’m grateful to see God fostering such things in my own heart or rejoicing at them in the hearts of others, I’ve been encouraged and rather humbled. It’s something that’s quite contrary to what we think would be nice, but in God’s upside-down kingdom, it’s a glory.

Kate:

I’m on vacation this week and next, and God has been using this peaceful, uninterrupted time to draw me nearer to Him, both through His words, and through the beautiful creation I see around me every day.

Katie Marie:

I hardly know where this last week has gone! Yet with so much crazy business and my distracted heart, God has not stopped reminding of His truths. He is sovereign. His love is steadfast.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” [1 John 4:10, KJV]

Kelsey:

“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will…But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Corinthians 8:3-7

God made this verse come alive to me this week. I was challenged to strive to give myself to the Lord and to the saints even as I excelled in faith, speech, and knowledge.

Stephanie:

I confess that this week I’ve woken up many mornings with to-do lists distracting my mind and with anxieties attacking my heart. God has given me a renewed necessity and joy in prayer and, in turn, His presence has become sweeter and His peace a guard against the enemy.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice! Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:4-7 ESV

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A meditation on Psalm 119, verses 9-16 (ESV)

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to Your Word.

How foolish I often am to seek to fight sin in my life without wielding the Word. My fighting will be fruitless unless I pick up the sword of the Spirit, the most powerfully authoritative weapon against my sin. Not only is the offensive weapon the Word of God, but I am called to pick up the shield of Truth. And this truth is found in the Word of God.

With my whole heart I seek You,
let me not wander from your commandments!

Father, capture my whole heart. Keep my eyes from turning to the right or to the left. Protect me from being sidetracked by the temptations this world offers. Help me to see Your ways as being the path of true joy and hope.

I have stored up Your Word in my heart,
that I might not sin against You.

Memorization and meditation of Scripture is one of the primary means God has provided to aid me in wielding the Word. Just as Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress was able to escape Doubting Castle through the Promises he had stored in his chest pocket, having the promises and truths of Scripture stored in my heart will keep my hand on the hilt of the sword of the Spirit.

Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me Your statutes!

Here I must acknowledge my weakness. “Blessed are you, O Lord” for giving me Your Words. Such truth and righteousness spring only from You. “Teach me Your statutes,” Father, for I am not capable of understanding and applying Your truths in my own strength.

With my lips I declare all the rules of Your mouth.

How does the Word take effect in my daily life? By my preaching the truth to myself. Once again, none of this is possible without the work of the Holy Spirit enabling me every step of the way. Father, help me to be faithful to speak Your precepts to myself as I battle sins, try to discern truth from error, and seek to serve others.

In the way of Your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.

Oh how beautiful are Your words, Father! So often my eyes are turned by the flashy offerings of sin. So often my laziness is more attractive than obeying and seeking God. But how rich is the reward for digging deep into the testimonies and truths of the Word! Truly, they are more worthy than all riches. Father, thank You for not simply commanding us to know your laws, but for giving us delight when we delve into them.

I will meditate on Your precepts
and fix my eyes on Your ways.
I will delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.

Such a tall order from the psalmist! “I will meditate on Your precepts…fix my eyes on Your ways…delight in Your statutes…[and] not forget Your word.” I am called to live a holy life, meditating on, delighting in, and remembering the words of God. I mustn’t lower my expectations to those that my lazy tendencies would allow when it comes to living the Christian life. Nonetheless, the Psalmist continues in the next two verses to remind himself that the Lord must enable him to live this way.

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Father, help me to see the worth of Your word, and delight in it. Help me to meditate on and memorize Your truth so it is stored in my heart and ready when I face temptation and evil. Reveal Yourself to me through Your words for I am inadequate to understand scripture on my own. Help me to aim high, Father. Keep me from lowering my standards of Christian living to what I feel I can accomplish on my own. But foremost, Father…

“Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”
Psalm 119:17-18

Filed under: Christian Living, God's Word, Memorization | 1 Comment »

Have you ever been encouraged by reading the prayers of saints from years long past? I have–especially through the compilation of Puritan prayers and meditations called The Valley of Vision. Here’s some journaling of my own that might encourage you, or at least give you a peek into what the Lord’s been teaching me. Most of my journaling ends up in scattered bits of truth that I’m trying to speak to myself, combined with bits of Scripture, and ending in a prayer of sorts. The Bible translation I use is the ESV.

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Do you journal? How do you remember what our dear Father’s been teaching you? What helps you to meditate on His Word?

Filed under: Christian Living, Journaling, Weakness | 3 Comments »

David son of Jesse was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. And yet I’m sure we all remember him as being “a man after God’s own heart.” A man who was given to bouts of reckless emotion. An adulterer. A murderer. True, his “good” outweighs his “bad” – but is one sin any less important than a thousand in the eyes of a righteous God?

After reading a song of David, this passionate man suddenly appeared to me in stark contrast to another very famous Biblical character. One who also received many blessings from God, but seemed to be always just shy of provoking God’s holy wrath.

“The LORD said… So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

But Moses said to God, ”Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? ….O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

The LORD said to him, ”Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

But Moses said, ”O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”

Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses…

(selected excerpts from Exodus 3 & 4 NIV)

~

It’s easy to read that passage and just want to wring Moses’ neck! ”The Lord is blessing you, Moses! He’s speaking to you! He’s showing himself to you! Sure, he wants you to do a frightening thing…but everything pales in comparison to the I AM!” God promised to be with Moses. He told Moses what to do; He promised to tell him what to say.

The bottom line is: God had a plan, He wanted Moses to be His instrument to carry it out…but He was met with protest. He was met with fear, doubt, and insecurity. It seems foolish…protesting ”I’m not good enough!” in the very presence of Jehovah God who says “I am good enough FOR you.”

But we do the same thing. Over and over. We’re not good enough, qualified enough, spiritual enough, strong enough for this or that. We leave it to our more mature friends, our parents, or whoever- instead of seeing challenges as possible growth opportunities. Because God uses the flawed. He choses the small, the scared, the immature. The shepherds. The weakest links and the youngest sons.

David was one such boy. David was chosen by God to do some hard things, but David lifted his face in childlike trust…lifted his hands in childlike joy… and even through his blunders and sins, bowed before God, saying “Yes, Lord- if you say so. Use me!”

Moses couldn’t get past the awe of God’s majesty and his own fear and unworthiness. He protests. David takes the awe and instead praises God for his mercy and power, leaving his life and future in the Hands of the One who loves him best.

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: ”Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O LORD God.

”What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, O LORD. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises….

…”And now, LORD, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then men will say, ‘The LORD Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you.

”You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. O LORD, you are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”

(1 Chronicles 17:16-27)

Time after time Moses doubted and protested, but eventually gave himself up to the Lord, and God allowed him to gaze upon the Promised Land before he died. This stands as an example of God’s mercy even in the face of our weakness. Yet…it also stands as an example of how much God is willing to bless us if we only accept it! There cannot be any “might’ves” about God’s plan for us…only let us consider whether God’s hand in our lives will be met with protests… or praises.

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Debbie Jane:

This week God has been showing me gently, through daily occurances which are out of my control, that it is HE who holds me up…HE who directs my steps—and that I must live in childlike faith to follow where He leads, though I may be following blindly.

Hännah:

“I do not ask to see the way
My feet will have to tread;
But only that my soul may feed
Upon the living Bread.
‘Tis better far that I should walk
By faith close to His side;
I may not know the way I go, But oh, I know my Guide.”
- His Love Can Never Fail, E.S. Hall

I’ve been challenged to be like Mary this week, and to merely delight in the Lord and dwell at His feet, rather than glancing up ahead along the road, hoping I can see the way He’s leading me. Instead, I’ve been told to just rest in quietness and peace, and to look at Him – not the road.

Katie Marie:

I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. [Psalm 18:1-3, KJV]

Kate and Riette: Both girls are serving at a regional youth camp this weekend. Pray for grace and strength as they seek to serve the youth of our region.

Kaitlin: Kait’s out on her family vacation this week–pray for a lovely time visiting relatives and for rest.

Kelsey:

I’m learning that the battle between the flesh and the Spirit is ever present and that time Word makes the battle more visible. This has been discouraging because I see the power of my flesh over my actions. Yet, at the same time, it draws me back to Christ for the strength to overcome.

Stephanie:

I’ve been discovering that even the most exciting, God-honoring project is devoid of joy and motivation if I take too much ownership over it, bearing the weight of its outcome. God will not let a tool take credit for His craftsmanship. My job is to work to rest in His resources so that His wisdom and strength and joy can be glorified through me.

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