"However, the Holy Spirit wished to tell us that, if we wish to render glory to God and to bless his name properly, we must be persuaded that God does nothing without reason. So then, let us not attribute to him either cruelty or ignorance, as if he did things in spite and unadvisedly, but let us acknowledge that he proceeds in everything with admirable justice, with goodness and infinite wisdom, so that there is only entire uprightness or equity in all that he does (emphasis mine)."
Calvin, John. Sermons from Job. Selected and translated by Leroy Nixon: Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1952:29-30.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
autumn pictures
Autumn. So incredibly beautiful!
I wanted to post pictures of our family hike today in Mount Nemo, but they are stuck on my sister's camera! :) Maybe by next weekend....
These photos were taken Oct. 11/08 by the Grand River in Arthur, ON (up past Guelph).
Sunday, October 05, 2008
FREE
Wild flowers are beautiful!
Years ago, my friend Mandy and I wanted to share their beauty with others. We tromped through the fields near my country home and selected the most vibrant and sturdy looking flowers. Back in the front yard, we carefully arranged them into bouquets and tied them together with string. After gently placing them in a pail of cool water, we crafted a large sign: "FREE FLOWERS."
Cheerfully, we waited by the side of the road, excited to share our wealth with passersby. Yet car after car raced by and barely took notice of our sign. A few slowed but continued on once they saw the purpose of our endeavour. Only one car slowed and actually accepted a bouquet.
To my young mind, this was quite puzzling. Here were beautifully arranged, fresh flowers and they were FREE, yet people did not want them.
What I did not comprehend in my youth was that the flowers weren't actually free. They cost people the time to stop. They cost people the possibility of having to chat with two enthusiastic young girls. And they cost people the "burden" of having a bunch of "weed" wild flowers in their car.
God's gift of grace is absolutely free. We can not earn it or buy it or ever deserve yet.
Yet many people often turn and run from God's loving grace.
They run because they see that this grace, while free, is costly.
It is not a cheap grace; it cost Jesus dearly!
And it "costs" Christians too. It costs them sacrifice, obedience, renouncing of the flesh, and many other things.
But unlike some fading wildflowers, this grace is not something that we want to pass up.
And it is not something that we want others to pass up either.
This precious, blood-bought, redeeming grace....
Years ago, my friend Mandy and I wanted to share their beauty with others. We tromped through the fields near my country home and selected the most vibrant and sturdy looking flowers. Back in the front yard, we carefully arranged them into bouquets and tied them together with string. After gently placing them in a pail of cool water, we crafted a large sign: "FREE FLOWERS."
Cheerfully, we waited by the side of the road, excited to share our wealth with passersby. Yet car after car raced by and barely took notice of our sign. A few slowed but continued on once they saw the purpose of our endeavour. Only one car slowed and actually accepted a bouquet.
To my young mind, this was quite puzzling. Here were beautifully arranged, fresh flowers and they were FREE, yet people did not want them.
What I did not comprehend in my youth was that the flowers weren't actually free. They cost people the time to stop. They cost people the possibility of having to chat with two enthusiastic young girls. And they cost people the "burden" of having a bunch of "weed" wild flowers in their car.
God's gift of grace is absolutely free. We can not earn it or buy it or ever deserve yet.
Yet many people often turn and run from God's loving grace.
They run because they see that this grace, while free, is costly.
It is not a cheap grace; it cost Jesus dearly!
And it "costs" Christians too. It costs them sacrifice, obedience, renouncing of the flesh, and many other things.
But unlike some fading wildflowers, this grace is not something that we want to pass up.
And it is not something that we want others to pass up either.
This precious, blood-bought, redeeming grace....
Sunday, September 21, 2008
reminders
I like this photo because it reminds me that things in life have multiple perspectives.It makes me remember that peoples' lives on earth intersect and connect for a time, sometime for a short and sometimes for a long time, and how all of that is in God's all-knowing plan.
It highlights the ocean and the sky, which both seem endless, which both were carefully created by an all-powerful God and are mere reflections of His greatness and endless majesty.
It reminds me that in faith, we are called not to rest in ourselves but in the God who made and who will fulfill his promises.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
DELIBERATE
Most of us are deliberate about most things in our lives.
Deliberate about the places we go, the things we watch or read, the company we keep, and the vocabulary we use. Being deliberate adds order and structure to life and usually brings about purpose and routine.
We are also deliberate in our attitudes, our disposition, our outlook on life, and our reliance on the Lord. These are also important conscious decisions.
Yet I can't shake this feeling that we're not deliberate enough about sharing our faith!
I'll be more specific: I can't shake the feeling that I am not deliberate enough about sharing my faith.
It weighs on me, more lately than it has in a while.
I realize the incredible blessing of faith, the amazing grace of God, and I want to share that with others. I want them to know Him. I want them to feel secure, to have purpose, to love God, to share in the joy and fellowship, to live eternally. My heart yearns for that.
But how is that reflected in my day-to-day life?
It certainly is evident loud and clear with my students. I am deliberate.
But what about everyone else in this vast city? How can I be intentional about sharing my faith in a way that does not turn people aside or make them shake their heads? How can Jesus or His Word be brought up naturally in every day conversations?
Certainly Christians are called to be noticeably different in our actions...but we're not only called to that. We are also called to purposefully share this blessed news of the Gospel.
So I have again been thinking about what that looks like from day to day. How can it slip in during conversations? Like with the man at the post-office who I chat with about every other week. Or with the lady who asked me to help her at the grocery store yesterday? Or with the gas bar attendant who is stuck in his little cubicle all day. Or with the strangers I see at the laundromat. Or with the dentist, who I see only every nine months?
Sometimes little ways arise for me to say something, but often I'm unprepared.
Or maybe I'm lacking in prayer.
Do I not see the opportunities because I don't pray for them?
Do I not have the words because I've not been praying for them?
There is just so much to think about in this topic of evangelism, this idea of sharing the faith. I don't want to become disillusioned with North America simply because the opportunities seem like they aren’t here, because they are. I know they are! It's easy for me to fall into the mindset that it would be easier if I were back in Honduras (maybe it would be; there I was deliberate and seem to have opportunities abounding). But God's people are called in every part of this world, even a wealthy Canadian city that believes it is self-sufficient. What a clear indication that the love of God is needed.
So what does this look like?
Definitely prayer.
Definitely forethought.
Certainly being aware of those around me…and how I can refer to Creation, or to joy or hope, or to timing and purpose.
Being aware of how the everyday conversation (which is the weather, 98% of the time) can be used to proclaim the name of Jesus. And being approachable. And deliberate.
May the Lord grant wisdom as we are called to be faithful in this affluent, proud nation of Canada.
Deliberate about the places we go, the things we watch or read, the company we keep, and the vocabulary we use. Being deliberate adds order and structure to life and usually brings about purpose and routine.
We are also deliberate in our attitudes, our disposition, our outlook on life, and our reliance on the Lord. These are also important conscious decisions.
Yet I can't shake this feeling that we're not deliberate enough about sharing our faith!
I'll be more specific: I can't shake the feeling that I am not deliberate enough about sharing my faith.
It weighs on me, more lately than it has in a while.
I realize the incredible blessing of faith, the amazing grace of God, and I want to share that with others. I want them to know Him. I want them to feel secure, to have purpose, to love God, to share in the joy and fellowship, to live eternally. My heart yearns for that.
But how is that reflected in my day-to-day life?
It certainly is evident loud and clear with my students. I am deliberate.
But what about everyone else in this vast city? How can I be intentional about sharing my faith in a way that does not turn people aside or make them shake their heads? How can Jesus or His Word be brought up naturally in every day conversations?
Certainly Christians are called to be noticeably different in our actions...but we're not only called to that. We are also called to purposefully share this blessed news of the Gospel.
So I have again been thinking about what that looks like from day to day. How can it slip in during conversations? Like with the man at the post-office who I chat with about every other week. Or with the lady who asked me to help her at the grocery store yesterday? Or with the gas bar attendant who is stuck in his little cubicle all day. Or with the strangers I see at the laundromat. Or with the dentist, who I see only every nine months?
Sometimes little ways arise for me to say something, but often I'm unprepared.
Or maybe I'm lacking in prayer.
Do I not see the opportunities because I don't pray for them?
Do I not have the words because I've not been praying for them?
There is just so much to think about in this topic of evangelism, this idea of sharing the faith. I don't want to become disillusioned with North America simply because the opportunities seem like they aren’t here, because they are. I know they are! It's easy for me to fall into the mindset that it would be easier if I were back in Honduras (maybe it would be; there I was deliberate and seem to have opportunities abounding). But God's people are called in every part of this world, even a wealthy Canadian city that believes it is self-sufficient. What a clear indication that the love of God is needed.
So what does this look like?
Definitely prayer.
Definitely forethought.
Certainly being aware of those around me…and how I can refer to Creation, or to joy or hope, or to timing and purpose.
Being aware of how the everyday conversation (which is the weather, 98% of the time) can be used to proclaim the name of Jesus. And being approachable. And deliberate.
May the Lord grant wisdom as we are called to be faithful in this affluent, proud nation of Canada.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
new beginnings
Dear faithful blog readers,
I will soon remedy my negligence on this blog! However, in the meantime, please forgive my tardiness.
Priorities! :)
But...a quick update: today was a wonderfully invigorating first day back to school. I love my students and I am so grateful to God for the joy He grants in my work.
May you experience that joy as well!
More on that later.
I will soon remedy my negligence on this blog! However, in the meantime, please forgive my tardiness.
Priorities! :)
But...a quick update: today was a wonderfully invigorating first day back to school. I love my students and I am so grateful to God for the joy He grants in my work.
May you experience that joy as well!
More on that later.
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