the riches of Scripture memorization

I have always been convinced of the great importance and the great joy of memorizing Scripture. Therefore, I really appreciated John Piper's reflection from Dec. 8th Why Memorize Scripture?

Here are the key points of the blessings / "benefits" of memorizing Scripture:

1) Conformity to Christ

2) Daily Triumph over Sin

3) Daily Triumph over Satan

4) Comfort and Counsel for People You Love

5) Communicating the Gospel to Unbelievers

6) Communion with God in the Enjoyment of His Person and Ways

May we continue to grow by being grounded in God's word!

where are my sisters?

creative photography by Tim. what a goof.

simple point of view

God and feelings

I have come to love this quote. It is on my fridge and has been shared with many good friends.

"Our feelings do not determine what is real, though feelings themselves are real. We cannot ignore these feelings, but neither should we indulge them. Instead, we should acknowledge them without treating them as if they were ultimate truth. The feeling self is not the centre of reality. God is the centre of reality. To surrender to God, however contrary to our emotions, will lead to liberation from self and will open us to a world that is much bigger and grander than we are."

-- Jerry Sittser, A Grace Disguised

(thanks, Christy!)

overwhelmed by the good stuff

I must admit that sometimes I get overwhelmed.
There seems to be so many opportunities in life and it is so difficult to know how to best spend my time. That probably best sums up the reason for no blogs the past month.

There are the regular things I need to do (and also like to do):
-teach and all the prep work for it and extra-curricular stuff
-cook
-clean
-exercise
-sleep (of course)

There are the things I love to do and want to do MORE of (and that I also "need" to do):
-study and memorize Scripture
-volunteer and actively share Christ with others
-be a more active encouragement in my church (and school and family)
-pray more, for so many things: persecuted church, world events, students, family members, spiritual eyes to be opened, etc.
-keep up-to-date on current events around the world
-serve
-take action for social justice causes

And then there are the "other" things I still would like to add in:
-study Spanish and speak it with people in my community
-play piano
-learn to play various sports better
-read more, both novels and edifying books on theology, religion, world cultures, etc.
-get to know my neighbours
-become further educated in order to better do my job
-photography

How does one balance visiting one's family and visiting the shut-ins? serving in my teacher role and serving in the broader community? keeping myself healthy and giving of myself?

I realize some of the above things can be combined (ex. memorize Scripture while cleaning dishes, praying or encouraging while walking, etc), but it does seem difficult to "do it all." Am I trying to do too many selfish things?

The options just seem boundless and I often feel like I really end up doing "nothing" since I try to do "everything." That can feel frustrating and causes me to question if I'm using my gifts and talents wisely.

I long to live intentionally, purposefully, and in a Christ-exalting way.

...entire uprightness...

"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.

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).

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....

confession

I confess, I have been listening to Christmas music today! :-)

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.

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.

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.

SV 308

Four year reunion for the Dordt College Southview 308 ladies.

As much "in love" with one another as ever.

GOD is working in each life in such special and unique ways,

and GOD has sustained the friendship throughout these years (and distances!)

"Selling Jesus"

There is an definite information overload today, yet I am very thankful for some of the quality resources that exist. My pastor, Rev. Royall, has been encouraging his congregation to check out "The Whitehorse Inn" (http://whitehorseinn.org/index.htm). I did....and have been very impressed, encouraged, and challenged by what I'm reading and hearing so far.

One program I listened to this morning was entitled "Selling Jesus." Here are some of the main highlights that are definite concerns regarding our "Christian" culture / churches today:

~ People are trying to "improve" on the dead Adam rather than allowing Christ to create a new man; our greatest problem is no longer seen as our sin nature.

~ Individuals are turning away from the church and are becoming "self-feeders" rather than sitting under the Word, the sacraments, and the church leadership.

~ Church is being "marketed" and people are claiming to do this in the name of Christ, which is totally contrary to how Christ lived and taught.

I recommend listening to Selling Jesus, May 18, 2008. It's a free download....and you can easily play it as you clean or drive or walk or something.

May we as Churches and Christians preach and share the content of the Gospel!!!

http://whitehorseinn.org/previous_programs.htm
(Scroll down a while...and as you do so you will so a lot of other good information!!!).

"searching for the Spirit"

An excerpt regarding the current trend / obsession? to "experience" the Holy Spirit....

Whereas in older days our Protestant forefathers saw this search for the Spirit revealed in the Anabaptist separation of the Spirit from the Word, the problem today is bigger than that. In our time, people are taught to search for the Spirit apart from the church. The reasoning goes a little something like this: If individual Christians are "temples of the Holy Spirit," then they are self-sufficient seekers, free to look for experiences with the Spirit and spiritually energizing moments on their own.....

The purpose of this article is to instill confidence in you that the Holy Spirit is not found through secret mantras or merely in feel-good ways, but that he is inseparably linked to the visible ministry of preaching and the sacraments in the visible church.

Daniel R. Hyde, "In Search of the Spirit."

Check out the entire article at http://www.modernreformation.org/default.php?page=articledisplay&var1=ArtRead&var2=948&var3=issuedisplay&var4=IssRead&var5=100

satisfaction

Our gnawing hunger for purpose and significance can be satisfied by looking unto Jesus: by knowing Him and being united to Him.

Throughout the history of mankind, people have tried to "fill" themselves with every kind of medium. Yet only One can satisfy.
Our desires aren't necessarily bad - in fact, most are God-given - yet when they become "epi-desires" (over-desires), we put them above our need for God.
He has commanded that He is first place. No substitutes allowed.

"Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty,their soul fainted within them.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way till they reached a
city to dwell in.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!

For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things."

Psalm 107: 4-9 (ESV, emphasis mine)

another voice

it's been a while since i've posted

but if you're looking for something to reflect on

you could check out pastor darren's blog and reading wed august 6th

(and keep scrolling for more thought-provoking stuff further down too)

http://forhisglorybyhisgrace.blogspot.com/

....to GOD be the glory, great things he has done.....!!!

sacred/secular danger

"Here we see the danger of the secular/sacred split: It concedes the 'theories, concepts, and other subject matter' in our field to nonbelievers. Christians have essentially accepted a trade-off: So long as we're allowed to hold our Bible studies and prayer meetings, we've turned over the content of the academic fields to the secularists" (Pearcey, 37).



While this is a generalization and not true for everyone / everywhere, it is an interesting observation.

a beautiful revelation

"The law is wonderful in that it reveals the holy character of God....a beautiful revelation of the God who protected the oppressed and poor, hated injustice, loved mercy, offered forgiveness and cleansing, and was morally pure. In the law, God set a new standard for holiness that the world had not known" (Welch, 110).

ponder this

"When a heart is being filled with the greatness of God, there is less room for the question,

'What are people going to think of me?'"

(Welch, 119), italics mine.

VBS

It was a busy but wonderful week with the students of our VBS classes.

In the morning, we did classes with about 60 students in Brampton, many of whom had never heard the Bible before. (Flyers had been distributed advertising children's classes). The lessons centered on the foundation of the Gospel, using the first part of Genesis as a springboard. I spent most of my time with the 17 oldest students. It was disheartening to hear some of the lies they have come to believe about other religions as "truth," yet it was very encouraging to field some of their questions and to see their interest in learning about the Bible, singing Bible songs, and learning Scripture passages.


Interestingly enough, most families allow their children to attend these classes "just in case." Learning about another religion is similar to having a "security feature" in case their own beliefs aren't true afterall....They definitely don't possess the assurance that we have as Christians!

Our afternoon class was held in Etobicoke and had about 30 students. Most of these students had previously been in the program, and some of them even attend the weekly Bible studies. The lessons here were on Joseph with the focus on God's protection, providence, and plan. Again, it was exciting to see their enthusiasm to learn!

These two brothers (left) were new to the program. They have the typical hairstyle for the Sikh (which the very devout follow when they are young). They do not cut their hair and wear it up in a bun-like fashion, not allowing it to be uncovered in public.

The children loved to learn the songs. What a joy to hear them singing the truths of Scripture!

Now the follow-up work begins with those who faithfully work at the Hope Centre. Yet we trust the work began long ago with the Holy Spirit moving in the hearts of those who are called....and we trust the promise that God's Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11).

lifeless idols

Last week I taught Vacation Bible School (VBS) in Toronto among the Indian people, primarily those of Sikh background. I attempted to learn as much as I could about their native religion in order to better minister to them. One learning opportunity was to visit a Sikh temple, called a Gurdwara. It was very disheartening to see.

The book - the "living, lasting Guru" that is honoured and worshipped by the Sikh believers.

The bed where the book is literally put to bed each night.

The special place of honour where the book is kept during the day and is worshipped (bowed down to).

We could not help but to think of Psalm 115, which highlights the futility of trusting in worthless gods and idols. This was even more striking when we visited the Hindu temple, which was actually filled with multiple physical idols, one for each day of the week. How incredibly sad that people actually bow down and worship these man-made idols and attempt to find comfort and peace through this.

The VBS went very well, and I'll try to share more about that this week.

3 But our God is in heaven;

He does whatever He pleases.

4 Their idols are silver and gold,

The work of men’s hands.

5 They have mouths, but they do not speak;

Eyes they have, but they do not see;

6 They have ears, but they do not hear;

Noses they have, but they do not smell;

7 They have hands, but they do not handle;

Feet they have, but they do not walk;

Nor do they mutter through their throat.

8 Those who make them are like them;

So is everyone who trusts in them.

9 O Israel, trust in the LORD;

He is their help and their shield.

10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD;

He is their help and their shield.

11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD;

He is their help and their shield.

Psalm 115, NKJV

Augustine via Pearcey

"We help to build the City of God when our actions are animated and directed by the love of God, offered up to His service. We build the City of Man whenever our actions are motivated by self-love, serving sinful purposes" (Pearcey, 40).


A number of my fellow staff and community members are reading Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey. Above she describes a striking insight by Augustine regarding allegiance. It struck me again how we can do "Christian things" that really don't glorify God or build His kingdom at all.

avoidance

"We prefer to think about low self-image rather than nakedness before God. We are good at avoiding the holiness of God" (Welch, 124).

"...I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the
train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said:

'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!' "(Isaiah 6:1b-3, NKJV).

How can we possibly cling to our sin while claiming ignorance?
What mockery before God.

It is vital to be reminded of our dependence upon the Lord....It is also essential to remember that we are so sinful, Christ had to die, but that we are so loved, Christ chose to die (Timothy Keller).

Congrats, Char and Thom!

July 5, 2008

Unfortunately, this is the only picture I have of Char and Thom, since I was either busy doing bridesmaid / MC duties or the photographer was catching their precious moments.

May God continue to be the center of your lives! Blessings.

displacement

"A growing knowledge of God displaces the fear of people, and it casts out our tendency to be casual with our secret sins" (Welch, 107).

We all need a wake-up call when it comes to relinquishing control in every part of our lives. The dangerous tendency is to trivialize those "small" sins or to cling to those areas of our lives which we think bring us some advantage / pleasure.

If only we would have the eyes to see the beauty of Christ as revealed in the Word.
We would come to see, know, and experience that He truly satisfies as no other can.
That would bring about the fear of the Lord and the longing to share our joy with others.

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him."

Psalm 34:8-9, NKJV

Psalm 8 (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David.

1O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

5Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
7all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

where to start?

So where do we start in all of this?

"...When all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing. Assemble the people - men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns - so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law" (Deut 31:11-12).

The Word of the Lord.
Meditating on His law.
And learning - truly - who He is.

A life-long journey. And a beautiful one.

the fear of GOD

Society today likes to remedy our problem of fearing man (see yesterday) with the suggestion to love ourselves more.
Well-meaning Christians try to solve the issue with the call to remember that God loves us more than we know.

Neither solution gets at the root of the problem.

The root of the problem is that we humans are still at the center of the picture.
The place where God needs to be.

"The most radical treatment for the fear of man is the fear of the Lord" (19).

We need to think about ourselves less often and about God more often. This will change our perspective of ourselves, of others, of "our" time / gifts / etc, and our relationship with the Lord.

(Ideas paraphrased from Welch's book pages 18-19).

The Fear of Man

Choosing what to post first from Edward Welch's When People are Big and God is Small was not an easy task. The danger with book excerpts is that they can be misread / misinterpreted. I think this gives a good basis to the issue though. Tomorrow will be a look at the various ways to deal with this problem. TS

"I suddenly realized that I had mutated into a walking love tank, a person who was empty inside and looking for a person to fill me....Since those days I have spoken with hundreds of people who end up at this same place: they are fairly sure that God loves them, but they also want or need love from other people - or at least they need something from other people.

"As a result, they are in bondage, controlled by others and feeling empty...an epidemic of the soul called, in biblical language, 'the fear of man.' Although they were avowed worshippers of the true God, below the surface they feared other people" (13-14).

precious

Precious.

My cousin's new little baby boy that I had the honour of meeting today.

I couldn't help but diverge from my latest theme to post this picture!

And yet, it is not really a diversion.

A new life - one more testimony to the faithfulness of the Lord and His incredible, creative, awe-inspiring majesty. The amazing, intricate miracle of life....!

"it's all about me"

Teens are often accused of being eco-centric.
And sometimes they are.
But lately I’ve been struck me how they're not the only guilty ones.

It shocks me and saddens me how often "we adults" also act, talk, and think in ways that show our thoughts revolving around "self." I know I'm guilty too.
Adults are sneakier about it though. Or maybe just unaware.

Self-centered thoughts can be disguised in extroverted affection for others; they can be crowned with false humility; they can be mingled with continual spiritual talk.

But when it comes down to it, most of us think way too much of ourselves, in two ways: too highly and too often.
Our sin nature is rooted deep. Very deep.

It is a good reminder to get our eyes off of ourselves (again) and to fix them on Christ, where they belong.

Don't get me wrong. Self-depreciation is unhealthy and ungodly as well. But I think most of us tend to live in the fear of man rather than the Fear of the Lord.
In the following days, I'll try to follow up this post with some quotes from an excellent book by Ed Welch: When People Are Big and God is Small.

It's good to be blogging again. Yet… sometimes I wonder if this, too, is just another outlet for self-talk for me. Or at the very least, a time zapper that distracts me from other real-time things that should be dealt with.

Kind of rambling.
Guess that happens from time to time.
But I’m going to try to work on this direction-of-the-eyes-thing. Although it’s really a heart-thing, isn’t it?!

Word

The beauty of God's revealed Word is incredible.
Convicting, encouraging, directing, humbling, shedding light, inspiring awe....the Word of God is powerful, active, and alive!

We must be immersed in its wisdom,
upheld by its truth,
and guided by its instruction,
praying all the while that the Spirit of God would enlighten our dull minds and hearts.

"To understand God's Word we must meditate on it, return to it again and again, and roll it around in our minds. Like the ancient believers, we must enjoy the work of searching the Scriptures and enjoying their riches and depths."

~ Godrey, W. R. God's Pattern for Creation. Phillipsburg, NJ: R & P Publishing, 2003.

Psalm 131

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 My heart is not proud, O LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.

2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD
both now and forevermore.

bird of paradise

~T.S. 2007

Be Still, My Soul

"Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to thy God to order and provide;
in every change, he faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.


Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
to guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
his voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.


Be still, my soul; the hour is hast'ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last."

~ Katarina von Schlegel

I'm not always a huge fan of rhyme, but I like the comfort from this old hymn I came across....

coaching

I realized that I love coaching! Maybe almost more than teaching! :)

It is such a beautiful way to interact with my students outside of the classroom. I'm able to relate with them on a different level, and they're able to see more of who I am due to the relaxed setting. Great relationship-building times!

The soccer team did an excellent job this weekend! I was so proud of their enthusiasm, teamwork, encouragment, improvement, and sportsmanship! Rah rah rah! Way to go, ladies! They came in third overall in the Ontario Christian Schools tournament. :)

*s*p*r*i*n*g*

I am totally amazed at the beauty of spring.
Living with four seasons again has been such a delightful treat!

I think my favourite spring things so far have been:
- hearing the joyful chirps of birds
- smelling the fragrant flowering trees (I really need to get out and get some pictures of them!)
- observing the speed of which a bare tree branch can bud and produce healthy, glowing leaves!
- enjoying the longer days (and warmer weather of course)
- feeling encouraged and reminded of the cycles and patterns God has established in His creation!

children of the world

Young Honduran boys - who live in the Tegucigalpa's city dump - participate in a sports afternoon organized by Maycol (fourth from left), who lives at the Micah Project.

Rest

"Become a devoted admirer of Christ. The more deeply you appreciate and worship Christ in his perfection, the more confidence you will have in him. You will be less likely to trust in yourself. Rest must be rooted in faith. Don't try to simply plug rest into the problem. Be worshipful."

~ Smith, Winston T. Rest. Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, 2006.

This is one of the many very powerful quotes from Smith's short booklet on the Sabbath (literally, "cease" or "stop"). I have been once again reminded of the need for Sabbath rest in our lives....Not only is rest commanded / required of God, but it also has profound implications for where our trust lies and how we live our lives.
On what / whom is our rest, trust, and security based?

Side note: "New Growth Press" and "Resources for Changing Lives" both have published some very excellent quality material. I encourage you to take a look...and be prepared to grow!

Ascended Advocate

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."


Hebrews 4:14-16, NKJV
An appropriate Ascension Day reflection....

Risky Overflow

Life is full to the brim.
Not stuffed or crowded, but overflowing...and that word usually signifies blessings.

With the blessing of relationships comes sorrow and pain,
but only because we live and love in community.
In community we can be real.
And that reality includes sin’s brokenness.

I’m truly learning the importance of living by giving:
love, time, trust.
And in order to give, I need to be filled with the Giver.

Honest, unconditional love.
It hurts, twists my heart,
and involves an incredible amount of risk.
But it’s worth it.
And it’s commanded and taught by our Teacher.

Seeing hurt,
and wanting to feel and heal and alleviate.
Knowing that I’m so limited,
but also so privileged.
Knowing that I know the Healer,
the Redeemer,
I can continue to live out of His love.

May I be cautious and prayerful,
watchful and deliberate,
with all the relationships entrusted to me.
Conscious of the spiritual battle
and the wiles of Satan
and the power of our victorious Savoiur.
Living each day in His strength,
for His glory.

in awe of Him

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!

For praise from the upright is beautiful.

Let all the earth fear the LORD;

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

Psalm 33: 1,8

Tears for Bella

Yesterday I saw a movie in the theatres: Bella.
This was a unique event, besides the fact that I almost never see movies in the theatres. It’s unique since Bella is currently playing in only 11 Canadian cities.

And while there are a just one or two critiques I could write about this 2006 winner of Toronto’s “People’s Choice Award,” I will rather share praise for all of the outstanding, worthy things.

Bella is definitely pro-life on many levels.
Pro-life as in anti-abortion and pro-adoption.
Pro-life as in appreciating the beauty of the family unit.
Pro-life as in acknowledging the gift of each day and the opportunities presented in it, no matter what hardships come.
Pro-life as in understanding the need for compassion, brotherly love, and forgiveness.

From an artistic standpoint, the film is incredibly well produced. It effectively engages the viewer with foreshadowing and flashbacks, and it includes striking, powerful imagery.
The cast is extremely believable and pulls you into their lives, subtly aided by the great music and filming. The Mexican-Portuguese family is true to character and dialogues in Spanish, adding to the authenticity.
It is also unique in that it’s virtually free of anything offensive.

Bella is a powerful film.
On two occasions during the film, I was outright sobbing as I engaged in the lives of those portrayed.

I cried for those who have experienced incredible loss and pain,
and for those who have lived through broken dreams.
I cried for all the unborn babies.
I cried for those who want children but can’t have them.

I cried because they were speaking in Spanish,
and it made me miss Honduras incredibly.

Then I sobbed again after the movie when I tried to explain to my friends why I was crying!!
I realized I was also crying because I needed to release those tears.
For the grief-filled moments.
For the children who live on the streets, and for those who seem to have no hope.
For words that were said that shouldn’t be,
and for the families that are broken by sin and hatred.
For the unbeliever who doesn’t know God and doesn’t have a solace for their tears, who is perishing apart from the Lord.


Bella.
In Spanish, “Bella” is pronounced “Bay-ya” and means “beautiful” when referring to a female noun.

Beautiful.
How appropriate for this beautifully inspiring film.
And for the tears that were able to be shed.

Jesus

“You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.”
~ Corrie ten Boom ~

Do we know it
and live it?
Do we treasure Him
above all else?

Of course, one could argue
that Jesus isn't really "all" we "need."
What about food and shelter
and friendship and family...?

But.
Where is our source of strength?
That is at the heart of ten Boom's statement.
When all else is stripped away -
which sometimes it is -
where is your hope?

no condemnation

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit."

Romans 8:1, NKJV

perspective

... sometimes things are just a matter of perspective...

Part Five: Glorious God

(Sorry for the delay…part five of Exodus 33….)

The deepest longing of the fabric of our being is to be united with our Lord and Saviour.
The more we know about God,
the more we want to know and behold Him.

To behold his beauty and stand amazed.
To worship!

Moses was bold in his petition to see God’s glory (Ex 33:18).
And the gracious Lord allowed Moses to catch a glimpse of his presence, for his servant’s encouragement and edification.

May we, too, turn our eyes to behold God’s glory,
To catch glimpses of his majesty,
and to proclaim his incredible worth:
adoring,
glorifying,
exalting,
lifting high.

May we behold God’s
Lovingkindness
Mercy
Justice
Righteousness
Incredible, awe-inspiring, humbling Glory,
too great to be fully revealed to us sin-saturated creatures.

It’s amazing how He makes everything seem dim in comparison.
And also more beautiful.

But I saw no temple in [the city], for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. Revelation 21:22-23 (underline mine)

let it happen

Some goals / dreams, you must work hard to accomplish.

Other goals / dreams, you must let "happen" to you.

Those seem to be harder.
But I suppose they're more beautiful when they're fulfilled.


Post-script: if you have read this post, please also take a moment to read the comments as they "round out" some of the original thoughts. TS

Creator's hand

The final part of my Exodus "series" is missing yet - Part Five: Glorious God!

However, since it is promising to be a busy week, I thought I would post a picture to keep you all captivated until the time, most likely the weekend, when I feel inspired to write.

I guess this can count as a "welcome April" post. Tomorrow already!

Part Four: Mercy

“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Exodus 33:19b).

God’s rich,
abounding,
electing grace.

Bestowing on His chosen what they don’t deserve,
through Jesus’ work.
God’s eternal love.

What a comfort for His people!

And what a reminder that they are His ambassadors,
sent to proclaim the One who shows mercy and compassion for a time.
For the time is short.
Mercy and judgment walk hand in hand.

Part Three: Distinct

Distinct.

Separations are sometimes seen in a negative light.
And occasionally they are falsely created.
Yet Christians are commanded to be distinct,
“different,” if you will.
Yet not as some say they are to be different.

“If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here….What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:15)

Moses knew that God dwelling among the Israelites
was the only thing able to transform their lives
enough to make them different.
Good different.

Distinct and set apart in calling,
purpose,
and Power.

Distinguished enough that people wondered
and marveled
and recognized that the God of the Israelites
was GOD.

IS God!

Set apart by God
to reflect God
in Christ
by the Spirit.

Part Two: The Presence

The people have sinned grievously.
Broken communion with a God who had shown Himself to be so faithful and loving.
Unspeakable, piercing rebellion.

And now Moses intercedes for the people,
pleading their case
before the Sovereign.
“Remember that this nation is your people (vs 13).”

Remember, O God, your love for your people.
Not their sin,
not their stubborn selfishness,
but your love and mercy.

A type of Christ.
And God promises His presence,
His very self, to be with Moses.

Beautiful.

That Presence is with us too,
through the intercession of Christ.
The Spirit of God
dwelling among and within us.

Unthinkable.
But true.
Because of Christ and for His glory.

And with his Presence He promises rest.

Moses' conversation, Part One

The passage below from Exodus 33 struck and gripped me this morning.
Many, many things "jumped out" at me, too many for one blog.
So today I share the passage, which of course - as Scripture - speaks for itself.
Throughout the week I'll share a few of my feeble thoughts for your digestion.

12 Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people."

14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

18 Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

a taste of beauty

As we turn our eyes toward the cross,
may our hearts again be filled with wonder
at His grace and love.

May we yearn with our whole being
to make much of this Jesus,
our crucified and risen Lord.

May we glory in Him for our full satisfaction
and radiate,
yes even proclaim,
the beauty and majesty of Christ.

Lord, be glorified in us.

Wurmbrand

Today I offer this link for your edification and reflection. It is a moving summary about Richard Wurmbrand (1909-2001), founder of the Voice of the Martyrs, and his wife Sabina.

He was a pastor and evangelist to many nationalities during WWII, distributing Bibles and preaching the Gospel in the face of communism. I find it so encouraging and inspirng to read of people’s passion for sharing Christ in the midst of persecution!
http://www.persecution.com/about/index.cfm?action=WurmbrandStory

Of course, we know persecution for Jesus’ sake still happens on a daily basis. Please join in prayer!
http://www.persecution.net/
http://www.persecution.com/

Let me know what you think of the Wurmbrands….

Got hope?!

I want to expand on my citizenship post from last time, but not today. I'm still doing a bit of musing on that inexhaustible topic.
Today, I want to share a passage that came up in three separate things I read today.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear...." (1 Peter 3:15)

So it begs the question: is anyone asking us, the body of Christ, about our hope?!
Are we so proclaiming or even just living the hope - the truth - that people wonder about its purpose and source?
Do we even realize the depth of our hope?!

May the Lord open our eyes to the gracious gifts that are ours, in Christ, and show us how to live joyfully and purposefully out of that hope.

citizenship

I am a Canadian citizen
and a Canadian resident.
And for those freedoms and privileges I am grateful.

Yet lately,
more than ever,
I have felt the weight of my eternal citizenship, which is in heaven.

What does it look like to be a Kingdom citizen here on earth, in Canada nonetheless?
Am I living in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27)?
I desire to proclaim, with the apostle Paul that for me, “to live is Christ” (Phil 1:21), but does my life resound with that proclamation?
I long to live - and even to die - for His sake.
But sometimes I struggle with what that looks like on a daily basis.

What does it really mean to “die to self” and "live for Christ" in the daily, “mundane” tasks of life?
Lord, how do you want me to serve you, for the sake and glory of your name?!!

more good stuff

At the risk of becoming redundant, here is some more really good stuff from pastor Piper....

“God created me – and you – to live with a single, all-embracing, all-transforming passion – namely, a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. Enjoying and displaying are both crucial. If we try to display the excellence of God without joy in it, we will display a shell of hypocrisy and create scorn or legalism. But if we claim to enjoy his excellence and do not display it for others to see and admire, we deceive ourselves, because the mark of God-enthralled joy is to overflow and expand by extending itself into the hearts of others. The wasted life is the life without a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples” (page 31).

so there, MOM!

Well, Mom, now it's true!

I was quite kind in my selections, might I tell you! ;)

Any thoughts, now?

Is this "light-hearted" enough?

He he he.

don't waste your life

“It was becoming clearer and clearer that if I wanted to come to the end of my life and not say, ‘I’ve wasted it!’ then I would need to press all the way in, and all the way up, to the ultimate purpose of God and join him in it. If my life was to have a single, all-satisfying, unifying passion, it would have to be God’s passion. And…God’s passion was the display of his own glory and the delight of my heart” (page 28).

Piper, John. Don’t Waste Your Life. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2003.

I'm not far into this book, but it is quickly becoming a favourite....!

AMAZING GOD!

Amazing God!

pursuing holiness

"But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written, 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" 1 Peter 1:15-16

What does it mean to live a holy life, specifically, in the infamously affluent North America? This question has been on my mind for quite some time. Jerry Bridges offers some good, solid reflection material in his book The Pursuit of Holiness. Filled with Scripture, challenges, and encouragement, he walks the reader through the precarious balance between the work Christ already did to make us holy (a promise we can hold to) and the command we must live out to be holy.
I know my quotes won't do justice to his overall message, and there are too many good ones to pick out. :) However, they're a start for your reflection on the command of the Lord to be holy.


"...every time we sin, we are doing something God hates. He hates our lustful thoughts, our pride and jealousy, our outbursts of temper, and our rationalization that the ends justifies the means. We need to be gripped by the fact that God hates all these things. We become so accustomed to our sins we sometimes lapse into a state of peaceful coexistence with them, but God never ceases to hate them" (32).

"The holiness of God is an exceedingly high standard, a perfect standard. But it is nevertheless one that He holds us to. He cannot do less. While it is true that He accepts us solely through the merit of Christ, God's standards for our character, our attitudes, our affections, and actions is, 'Be holy, because I am holy.' We must take this seriously if we are to grow in holiness" (34).

"God has provided all we need for our pursuit of holiness. He has delivered us from the reign of sin and given us His indwelling Holy Spirit. He has revealed His will for holy living in His Word, and He works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose....Surely He has not commanded us to be holy without providing the means to be holy. The privilege of being holy is yours, and the decision and responsibility to be holy is yours. If you make that decision, you will experience the fullness of joy which Christ has promised to those who walk in obedience to Him" (157-158).

Bridges, Jerry. The Pursuit of Holiness. Colorado Springs, CO: Navpress, 1978.

fighting the lies within

Set up Thy standard, Lord, that we
Who claim a heavenly birth,
May march with Thee to smite the lies
That vex Thy groaning earth.

Yet who can fight for truth and God,
Enthralled by lies and sin?
He who would wage such war on earth
Must first be true within.

O God of truth for whom we long,
O Thou that hearest prayer,
Do Thine own battle in our hearts,
And slay the falsehood there.

~ Thomas Huges

** This poem is exerpted as found in Sinclair B. Ferguson's Discovering God's Will (1982). However, I did notice there are a few variations of Hughes' poem / hymn on the internet...but I just quoted it as it was in the book.

...thoughts abounding...

Go figure.
I decide to take a month off from blogging and feel like I could have written a book every day! :) ("Phew"- you're thinking - "good thing she took a month off or we'd be reading all of those posts..." ha ha ha). I've been deep in thought and prayer (and journals!) about many thing that are dear to my heart. During this month, I've also been blessed to discuss and interact with so many precious Christian brothers and sisters, whose prayers and guidance I deeply cherish! I love the community of the body of Christ.

[I was also lovingly accused of doing too much thinking and introspection, which I find funny but also potentially true! :) I guess sometimes I try to figure things out too much, which leads to my blog for today....].

One theme especially on my mind this past month was the relationship between God's providence and sovereignty as He directs our lives and our human responsibility to make decisions. God knows everything that will happen in our lives and has orchestrated each event. That still (rightly) baffles, humbles, and comforts me! Yet at the same time, we have our individual choices to make. They are to be made in light of the Scriptures and God's revealed will, and always with prayer, but when it comes down to it, we have to make choices.

Why have decisions always made me cringe? I remember getting stressed as a child because I couldn't decide on which ice cream flavour to choose or which game to play at recess. Such trivial things. Yet as I get older, the decisions become more and more "weighty."

Yet I find incredible comfort in the fact that God does indeed direct our paths when we desire to follow after Him. Decisions may not be clearly laid out, and there may sometimes be equally "right" options from which to choose. But Christians possess the gift of the Holy Spirit within them, and that is an assurance of guidance from the Lord Almighty when we stop to seek and listen.

I know I'm not really saying anything new. I just rejoice that, no matter how agonizing decisions sometimes seem (and there are always decisions), God is a faithful God who does not change!!! He is there. He does guide and lead. He does direct. And He also trusts us to step out in faith as His children, led by His Word and His Spirit.

May you feel the comfort of the Lord's leading hand.

Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation;

On You I wait all the day. Psalm 25:3-4

reminders

It was time for a summer picture, especially in light of all the snow we've had!

Sabbatical

For various reasons, this blog is taking a one month sabbatical.
Thank you.

"We Give Thee But Thine Own"

I was just playing through the Psalter Hymnal, enjoying the music but not reflecting much upon the words of the songs. I just finished We Give Thee But Thine Own and was about to move on when the title caught my attention. Whoa. I started to read through the words...and realized what a blessing this song is for me tonight. Lord, help me to truly continue to give back to you with open hands. May my dreams and goals and hopes be surrended at the foot of the cross and may I be purified in your love.

"We give Thee but Thine own,
Whate'er the gift may be;
All that we have is Thine alone,
A trust, O Lord, from Thee.

And we believe Thy Word,
Though dim our faith may be;
Whate'er for Thine we do, O Lord,
We do it unto Thee."

(verses 1 and 5; William Walsham How, 1823-1897)

Lonely people part 2

It occurred to me that some of the lonely people I wrote of earlier this week may actually be reading this blog! I guess most of us are somewhat lonely at some point in our lives, right?

Hence, here is a bit of encouragement from yours truly, Elisabeth Elliot. :) (I've quoted her seven pieces of advice and given a brief summary.)

1) Be still and know that He is God. Use the stillness and time to be quiet before the Lord and know Him as God.
2) Remember that you are not alone. See Deut 31:8 and Matt 28:20
3) Give thanks. The loneliness is used to help us look to things that are not seen, an eternal weight of glory (2 Cor 4:17-18).
4) Refuse self-pity. It is deadly and can destroy you. "Turn your thoughts to Christ who has already carried your griefs and sorrows."
5) Accept your loneliness. It is a stage on a journey that brings you closer to God - it will not always last.
6) Offer up your loneliness to God. God can transform our loneliness into good (and He does!)
7) Do something for somebody else. Bring someone else joy!

"The important thing is to receive this moment's experience with both hands. Don't waste it. 'Wherever you are, be all there,' Jim [her husband] once wrote. 'Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God' "(80).
Passion and Purity, Chapter 17: What To Do with Loneliness, pg 79-80.

May God comfort all those who are lonely, as He has promised!!!

lonely people

More and more I realize how lonely people are today.
In our world bustling with people, it seems there are so many scurrying about with a deep longing inside. There are homes filled with sadness and many people who lack purpose.
Generalizations perhaps, but observations from the past few months in Canada.

What is the deal?
Are our lives too full of work?
Are we too preoccupied with material things?
Are we "too busy" for meaningful relationships, or we don't know how to really form them anymore...as in our relationships are based on fluff rather than on substance?
Are we too busy thinking about ourselves and not busy enough thinking about and serving others?

Is it a God-sized hole in our hearts that we're cramming full with everything but God?

Or am I the only one who is observing this?

just a thought

I obviously don't blog very much anymore. Sorry! I guess I'm more "in touch" with the people that used to read this blog, so its less important to me. And I write less. :( I'll still try from time to time...

Here is a thought for today.

"Do not fear going forward slowly; fear only standing still."

~ Chinese Proverb