Centered on the Cross (8/31)
Telling is an act of faith (8/31)
Odds and ends—39 (8/30)
Dance of the Daughter (8/29)
Why go to church? (8/28)
“Save Your Life”—Newsboys (8/27)
Why you need to count (8/26)
What’s your passion? (8/25)
Friendly or Flirty? What to watch for (8/24)
What’s on your nightstand?—August ’11 (8/23)
A night in Holland (8/22)
Let go of overload (8/21)
“Forever Reign” (8/20)
Friday’s Fave Five #110 (8/19)
The Centrality of the Cross—Ch 1 (8/18)
I don’t want to need forgiveness (8/17)
Women of Faith—Find an event and go! (8/16)
Isn’t it enough? (8/15)
Are you available? (8/14)
“Here We Stand”—wedding song (8/13)
Be one in a million (8/12)
The hospitality of a wife (BONUS: Wedding pictures) (8/11)
If you hold a grudge (8/10)
“The Next Story”—Book review on living in a digital age (8/9)
What to do with your stuff (8/6)
It’s wedding day!—“Butterfly Kisses” (8/6)
5 reasons to attend a Women of Faith event (8/5)
How do you enjoy God? (8/4)
Mute (8/3)
August is here! (8/2)
“God’s Love Letters to You”—Book review (8/1)
AUGUST 2011 Posts
Centered on the Cross
~ thoughts from The Cross of Christ, Chapter 3, “Looking Below the Surface”
And beneficial—to get rid of the obstacle of sin that prevented us from getting close to God.
John Stott takes a closer look in chapter 3 at the importance of the cross in three main scenes within Jesus’s last 24 hours prior to his death.
1. The Upper Room
Jesus visibly symbolized his death with the bread and the wine (Matthew 26:27-28)—explaining it to the apostles, who subsequently explained it to us.
It was a memorial of his death. It is the cross that he doesn’t want us to forget.
2. The Garden of Gethsemane
What was in the cup that Jesus didn’t want to drink (Matthew 26:39)? Physical suffering? Surely not just that. Martyrs ever since have shown great courage in the face of brutal sufferings. Surely Jesus would show no less courage than they.
The dread was alienation from his Father. He knew that on the cross, he would be covered in darkness, in our sins.
3. On Golgotha
Why this cry from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)?
Some say from anger or despair. Others say it was a cry of loneliness. Or perhaps a cry of victory.
But perhaps we should take his words at face value: he cried out because he was God-forsaken. Could there be anything worse?
Truths from the Cross
Stott concludes chapter 3 with three truths we learn from the cross:
1. Our sin must be really bad.
It is impossible for us to face Christ’s cross with integrity and not to feel ashamed of ourselves. Apathy, selfishness and complacency blossom everywhere in the world except at the cross.
2. God’s love is exceptionally incredible.
God pursued us even to the desolate anguish of the cross. …Its proper name is “grace,” which is love to the undeserving.
3. Christ’s gift of salvation is free to us.
So what is there left for us to pay? Nothing! Since he claimed that all was now “finished,” there is nothing for us to contribute.
* * *
More from Chapter 3 at Challies
Telling is an act of faith
But that didn’t stop him.
We were all gathered to celebrate The Way, a faith-centered recovery program. This night was Open House, and we had already received a tour of the facilities by another young man, another breaking free from the shackles of addiction on his soul.
He, too, didn’t let our mere casual acquaintance stop him.
From telling.
Telling is an act of faith.
▪ Telling about your past. About the mistakes—okay, the sins (this word hurts more, yes?).
▪ Telling about your dreams. What you’re longing for.
▪ Telling about your salvation. Who you’re hoping in, for better or worse.
The man at our table told he’d messed up. Badly. He did things the wrong way.
But with God’s help, he was changing. He was staying clean. He was rebuilding a relationship with his child. And he was praying for guidance and blessing for his ex-wife.
He was telling us—despite barely knowing us—because he knew it was good for his healing.
Telling is freeing.
And in telling us, we also could pray for him. He asked us to.
Is telling risky?
Yes.
▪ We could retell his story to others in hurtful ways.
▪ We could judge him and spew shame.
▪ We could ignore his story and prove the telling fruitless.
But when we don’t tell, it’s riskier.
Telling is safer than not telling.
When we keep our stories to ourselves, are we fearing man’s reaction more than we’re fearing God? Are we missing out on help we could be receiving? Are we robbing others of help they could be receiving from our story?
If confession is good for the soul, why don’t we do it more?
We need more faith that our stories are safe with God. It’s in the telling that we prove we’re trusting him. Or at least trying to.
It’s an act of faith to say, “Here I am.”
And to affirm, “Here He is.”
Do tell.
* * *
I’ve been praying for the young man’s struggles and thanking God for his successes. Because he told me.
Who can you tell your story to this week?
Odds and ends--39
1. Are you frustrated with your local church?
I’m deep into Bonhoeffer these days, so this quote from Deitrich Bonhoeffer on Desiring God blog about not being an accuser of your church really got to me.
2. The newest U.S. mission field...women???
Is the church losing the ladies? Interesting statistics from a new Barna study.
3. How formal do you like your worship service? Carl Trueman offers an interesting perspective about formal liturgies.
4. The Myth of Mutual Submission
I read the chapter referenced, but I’m not sure what I think about it yet. You can see what you think.
5. A litmus test of whether you believe the gospel:
“If you want to know whether you love religion or whether you love the gospel, check and see how angry you are at God.” Read the rest here.
* * *
Dance of the Daughter
On Saturday night Jenna and I did something we weren’t particularly looking forward to:
Attend a tea party.
But since it was with mothers and daughters of our church and since everybody would be wearing hats (such an unusual thing for all of us) and since we had something to share, we went.
We chose to retell the story of the woman who bled for twelve years (Luke 8:43-48). She is the only woman recorded in scripture whom Jesus calls Daughter.
I sought to capture in words the facts of the story through the eyes of the woman, and Jenna chose to capture them in movements.
Below is a video (apologies for the poor quality of my camera) of what we came up with.
Here’s what I hope you get from it:
Because the woman was desperate for help, she took a chance on Jesus. In reaching out to touch him, she was healed.
And she discovered she was...we are...his daughter.
I relate. You too?
Dance of the Daughter
For so long I have hurt.
Alone in my pain.
Shamed by my weakness.
Who can help me?
Why can’t anybody help me?
The crowd is thick today.
I should not be here.
I am not like these other women.
I do not belong.
But I see him. There he is!
He’s close. Is this my last chance for joy?
I need reach just a little closer…
And I’m doing it!
Brushing my fingers—for just one glorious moment—along the tip of his clothes.
And I feel it.
His power. I feel the change.
Can this be? Am I healed???
But he’s turning around. He knows.
He felt it too.
An unclean, crippled woman has touched him.
What have I done?
I have soiled the Holy One with my dirty hands.
“Who touched me?” he’s asking.
Do I answer? Do I dare?
Good—his friends are blaming the crowd.
I am safe.
But...he’s asking again.
And looking at me.
He knows what I’ve done.
I’m trembling.
The crowd is staring.
I must find voice.
I’ll plead: “Jesus. Jesus.”
And he’s not mad at me!
He’s calling me: Thugater. Thugater.
Daughter?
Daughter? Me, Jesus? Daughter?
One acceptable to God, under His special care?
He’s smiling. Yes, daughter.
His daughter.
I laugh.
I sing.
I dance.
I DANCE!
Jesus says, “Go in peace, Daughter.”
...
Daughters, go in peace. ... Will we?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Continuing my grace count to 1,000.
# 345—353
hats...bite-sized sandwiches...accessible AV friends...laughing with ladies...singing with friends...watching my daughter dance...being a daughter...knowing the Healer...going in peace
* * *
Why go to church?
Is Jesus Christ real to me?
I am not asking whether you know things about Him but do you know God, are you enjoying God, is God the centre of your life, the soul of your being, the source of your greatest joy?
He is meant to be.
~ MARTYN LLOYD-JONES, Spiritual Depression
I’ve been a church-goer all my life.
- I’ve sat in umpteen Bible classes
- I’ve listened to thousands of sermons
- I’ve sung “Amazing Grace” and “Just as I Am” too many times to count
- I’ve read through the Bible several times and have memory verses hidden in my heart
But so what?
Who really cares?
Because those things aren’t the point.
Those things should lead to the point.
To the God-Man.
To Jesus Christ.
Am I loving him? Am I loving you?
If going to church and sitting in classes and listening to sermons and singing songs and reading your Bible and memorizing scripture isn’t centered around the highest goal—knowing God and glorifying him through loving him and loving others—um, aren’t you missing something?
Like, the main thing?
* * *
If you’re going to church this week (and do go!), why?
At least think about it.
RELATED:
“Save Your Life”—Newsboys
Sometimes we think the best things we can give people are, well, “things.”
But it’s not so.
The best thing we can give is Jesus.
Point to the Way out of the darkness.
Show Christ.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 34:8
Save Your Life
Newsboys
LYRICS
Dear Friend,
You've been trying again
Doing whatever it takes to fit in
Falling for the lies of the world
You tell me you'd pay anything just to not hurt
What you want I ain't got
What I have can't be bought
CHORUS:
There's something better I can give
If you surrender you will live
Just gotta taste and see it's good
I'd make you see it if I could
It's gonna save your life
It’s gonna save your life
Dear Friend,
I'd be lying to you
If I told you this road that we travel would be smooth
Sometimes you just wanna give up
Trying and trying but nothing is ever enough
Chasing things but what for?
You've seen it all but want more
CHORUS
I can see now you want this
And you know that you need this
Get away from the darkness
Get away from the darkness
I can see now you want this
And you know that you need this
Get away from the darkness
Gotta know who Christ is
CHORUS
* * *
Why you need to count
If you asked me, “How’s your week been?”, I’d probably have said, “Not good at all {grumble, grumble}.”
Several not-so-good things happened.
But today is Friday, my favorite day of the week.
And Friday is counting day.
Find five things that were good in your week.
So when I do that...wow!
It’s been an incredible seven days after all!
Try it yourself.
See if it makes a difference in how you’d answer the question, “How’s your week been?”
1. An evening for Kaitlyn
This was an awesome evening celebrating a special young lady and blessing her family.
2. Hanging out with Jeff
Debbie’s mom died this week. I hate it when moms die. But it gave Jeff and I another opportunity to go to a visitation together to see our friends. And to go get doughnuts together afterwards. And to run a few other little errands. I love hanging out with my husband.
3. A beautiful brain
Jenna’s headache doctor requested a brain MRI to rule out any unforeseen problems, so we got up early Tuesday morning and did that. Our doctor’s office then called us (!) Wednesday morning (!) to tell us everything was good (!). Praise God.
4. An opportunity to serve
Guilty.
I wasn’t happy about my “opportunity” to minister to a lady I didn’t know. And doubly not happy when I realized I had committed to it without realizing it was the same time as a lunch date with my old neighbors and friends.
But when you pray for openings to minister to people, you shouldn’t be surprised when they come. And it’d be nice to not complain about them either.
So I did it and was blessed by the woman I met. AND blessed that Jenna helped me out too so I could still have lunch with these ladies...
5. Paper doll friends
So I was thrilled when Beth set up a lunch date for all of us. We had SUCH a wonderful time!
(Can’t stop counting at 5 this week...)
6. A luau
We talked to several others who also have been working hard to pull their lives back together. Please pray for these guys and for those trying to help them. We all need God to get through!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So much for building more margin into my life this week.
I think God may be teaching me a different kind of lesson than I expected about what margin looks like? I’m not sure yet, but he’s got my attention....
* * *
How has your week been?
If your first thought is like mine, “Not good!”, sit down and take a count of your blessings. God may have a few things to point out!
What’s your passion?
When my grandfather died at the end of my 3rd grade school year, I cried. But not because of his death.
I cried because I would miss Mrs. Lowry’s going-away party. I would be in Mississippi at my grandfather’s funeral instead of at West Madison Elementary. (And yes, I still carry irrational guilt about my choice of tears.)
I remained passionate about my teacher and about becoming a teacher for awhile. I would play school in my spare time. I loved receiving educational junk mail to feed my habit and provide me with materials.
As I grew up, my passion to be a teacher faded in the background and other passions took over. Mainly to be a wife and a mom. But since I still needed to pick a career, I chose accounting because I could foresee doing that at home with my kids, if I needed a paying job.
But accounting was never a passion. Marriage and motherhood were.
As life happened, marriage and motherhood took some turns I didn’t anticipate. But the passion stuck. And eventually God worked it all out again, even graciously returning my passion for teaching, as I was given opportunity to homeschool my girls.
But through it all, I’ve learned that whatever our human passions are, coming and going, they are still secondary. Even good passions, like desiring to be a good wife and mother.
The first passion has to be God. Giving him glory in whatever you do.
It’s the inside passion that focuses the others.
Without God at the center of your passion,
your passion is pointless.But with God at the center of your passion,
your passion is purposed.
I’m back to being passionate about a teacher.
Not about Mrs. Lowry. I never saw her again.
But about the best Teacher ever. I’ll live with Him forever.
May this passion never fade.
Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
* * *
What are you passionate about?
RELATED:
Why did Christ die? Because we killed him?
~ thoughts from The Cross of Christ by John Stott—Chapter 2
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”
Tennessee Ernie Ford used to ask us that on Sunday mornings on my dad’s LP playing on our stereo. I still hear it like it was yesterday.
But was I there? Am I there?
Why did Christ die? Did I kill him?
“…and they crucified him”
Interestingly, none of the four Gospel writers go into detail about the actual crucifixion itself. (See Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:25; Luke 23:33; John 19:18)
But who was really responsible? Who killed Christ?
Pilate
So [Pilate] delivered him over to them to be crucified….
John 19:16
Even though Pilate believed Jesus was innocent, and even though Pilate tried four times to evade a crucifixion for Jesus, in the end he gave in to the Jews’ plea for His death.
- Do we ever sacrifice what we think is right because of peer pressure? By our passivity do we crucify Jesus anew?
Jewish Leaders
This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
Acts 2:23
Jesus told Pilate that his sin was less than the Jewish leaders who turned Him over to him (John 19:11). And why did the Jewish leaders’ hate Jesus? Scripture says even Pilate knew it was envy (Matthew 27:18)
Jesus was a threat to their authority. They had been in charge for so long and weren’t ready to relinquish their power without a fight.
- How do we feel about Jesus messing with the lifestyle we’re comfortable with? Do we welcome change, or do we also fight against someone else telling us what to do?
Judas the traitor
For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.
Mark 14:21
Can Judas really be held responsible if he was just fulfilling a prophecy (John 17:12)?
Yes. He had planned out the betrayal. Luke accused him of wickedness (Acts 1:18). And Jesus said it would have been better had Judas not been born (Mark 14:21). Judas’ greed was his demise.
- What do we value more than Jesus? Do we trade in our loyalty when other pleasures are more appealing?
You and me
...since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
Hebrews 6:6
So we crucify Christ too?
“We may try to wash our hands of responsibility like Pilate. But our attempt will be as futile as his. For there is blood on our hands.”
~ JOHN STOTT
Before we can celebrate in the victory brought by Christ’s death and resurrection, we need to own up to our guilt in causing it.
God
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32
But when all is said and done, why did Christ die?
Was he a passive victim of murder?
No.
“Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas, for money; not Pilate, for fear; not the Jews, for envy;--but the Father, for love!”
~ OCTAVIUS WINSLOW
He died in obedience to his Father’s will and out of love for us.
- Now what?
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:2
* * *
More from Chapter 2 at Challies
More chapter summaries
Friendly or Flirty? What to watch for
But the best way to avoid forgiveness?
Well, the obvious answer:
Avoid the sin in the first place, at least as far as it depends on you (Romans 12:18).
I heard some great advice for avoiding sin on a recent Focus on the Family broadcast, “Friendship or Flirtation: Danger Signs for Couples”.
The Rev. Dave Carder, author of Close Calls: What Adulterers Want You to Know About Protecting Your Marriage, shared a list of dangerous behaviors to avoid.
(Read the whole list of 19 Dangerous Behaviors. I’m excerpting 10 below.)
10 Dangerous Behaviors
Here are 10 questions to ask yourself about your own behavior:
1. Do you save topics of conversation for your "special friend"?
2. Do you share your marital/relationship troubles with your friend (e.g., "My husband (or wife) never … ")? Does your friend share his with you?
3. Do you anticipate seeing this person more than your spouse?
4. Do you compare the friend and your spouse ("If only my spouse was nicer to me like s/he is … ")?
5. Do you provide "treats" (coffee, snacks, etc.) for your friend?
6. Are you overly concerned for your friend's welfare ("How did you sleep?")?
7. Do you fantasize about marriage to your friend?
8. Are you hiding e-mails, texts, phone messages, etc., from your spouse?
9. Do you hide interactions with your friend from your spouse?
10. Do you allow sexual content to enter conversations with your friend?
Dangerous Partner Profile
Rev. Carder also gives a list of 6 cautions in a “Dangerous Partner Profile.”
It includes such things as:
- You may be attracted to a personality style that you wish your spouse had
- You may be attracted to someone in a particular age group
- You may be attracted to a certain type of attachment pattern
While some of our sins are spur of the moment, others build up over time. I’d guess adultery is one of those.
So if you don’t want to be asking for forgiveness for it someday, make sure you stay alert to the temptations in front of you today.
* * *
What kind of boundaries do you have in place to protect your marriage?
What’s on your nightstand?—August ‘11
Here are the books I’m reading.
Just started
The Cross of Christ
by John Stott
I regret that it took the death of John Stott at age 90 for me to finally read one of his books.
This is foundational material about the centrality of Christ’s cross.
I’m reading with the Reading Classics Together group at Tim Challies’ blog. It’s not too late to join the group if you want to read along.
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
I’m so excited to be reading this exceptionally-written biography about an exceptional Christian man.
It’s weighty—in content and in length (544 pages!)—but it has been a joy to read so far.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is truly one of the stand-out heroes in one of the darkest moments of our world’s history.
by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
This is another older book that I’m just now reading (although I’m reading it digitally—go figure).
But I’ve heard about it for ages. There’s a reason.
“I am not good enough.” It sounds very modest, but it is the lie of the devil, it is a denial of the faith. You think that you are being humble. But you will never be good enough; nobody has ever been good enough. The essence of the Christian salvation is to say that He is good enough and that I am in Him!
~ MARTYN LLOYD-JONES
The Millenials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation
by Thom S. Rainer & Jess Rainer
I’m listening to the audiobook, free from ChristianAudio last month. (The free download for August is the novel Hannah Coulter.)
It’s about the personal, professional, and spiritual lives of the 78 million kids born between 1980 and 2000.
I have two children that are millenials plus nine nieces and nephews. This book is of interest on many levels. So far, so good.
Eat the Cookie...Buy the Shoes: Giving Yourself Permission to Lighten Up by Joyce Meyer
This one caught my eye at the library so I grabbed it since it fits in well with my 2012 spiritual resolution of Depend and Delight.
It’s typical Joyce Meyer: blunt, personal, funny.
I’m not really into shoes, but I have been known to eat a cookie (or two) quite frequently... :-)
Finished from July’s nightstand
by Richard Swenson
This one hits home. Too many of us live too close to the edge instead of allowing breathing room to be available for the unplanned. More about it here.
...Margin is semivisible. Living without it does not cause a sensory pain, but instead a deep-seated subjective ache. Because the ache and heaviness are only semivisible, the pain of marginless living is hard for us to talk about. We feel guilty and weak if we complain.
~ RICHARD SWENSON
by J. K. Rowling
Yeah, yeah, I’m slow. I didn’t read it for years because of the bad press it got in certain circles of the Christian world. But now that I’ve read it, I don’t see that it’s much different than any other fictitious story about magical worlds.
So now that I’ve read Book One in the series, I’m done. Curiosity satisfied and I don’t want to invest thousands more pages of reading in the remaining books. (Yeah, yeah, go ahead and hate on me if you’re a die-hard Potter fan. ha.) Jenna, however, totally enjoyed the books; perhaps that balances out my indifference. Maybe I need to watch one of the movies?
Harry lay there, lost for words. Dumbledore hummed a little and smiled at the ceiling.
“Sir?” said Harry. “I’ve been thinking...Sir—even if the Stone’s gone, Vol-, I mean, You-Know-Who—”
“Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.”
~ J. K. ROWLING
by Hannah Hurnard
Now this is fictitious world I can get into. I’ve read it several times, and each time it means something new to me.
It was particularly meaningful to me as I started it again on the flight of my first mission trip out of the country.
She began to understand quite clearly that truth cannot be understood from books alone or by any written words, but only by personal growth and development in understanding, and that things written even in the Book of Books can be astonishingly misunderstood while one still lives on the low levels of spiritual experience and on the wrong side of the grave on the mountains.
~ HANNAH HURNARD
by Larry Crabb
This is an easy-to-read but meaningful devotional book written from God’s perspective through individual books of the Bible. Its parent book—66 Love Letters—goes through all 66 books, but this one can give you a nice taste from the buffet table.
As I’ve said before, I’m not crazy about authors speaking for God, but if read cautiously, you can still get a lot of good out of this book.
My Son’s mission was to change your life, to bring you into My kingdom of love by forgiving your self-worshipping rebellion that keeps you falling short of My way and by empowering you to bring My kingdom near to others. He never intended to keep you visibly good and pleasantly happy until heaven.
He came to reveal My nature for your sake and to change your nature for Mine.
~ LARRY CRABB
The Next Story
by Tim Challies
This was another freebie audiobook from Christian Audio, but after hearing it, I’m willing to pay money for a real copy.
Tim addresses critical issues about our ubiquitous digital use. I don’t really like to consider how heavily I depend on my digital devices, but I’m convinced that it’s worse to ignore it than to deal with it.
I want my teenage daughter to read this one too, especially before she heads off to college in a year and becomes even more engulfed in a digital world. It’s not necessarily a bad place, but one in which we need to keep our eyes open.
(the movie)
Since it’s based on a book, I’ll put in a plug for the movie The Help. Having loved both the book and the audiobook (amazing readers!), I still really enjoyed the movie. While it wasn’t all-inclusive of the book’s material, it stayed very true to it.
And if you like the movie but still haven’t read the book, go read it. It’s even better.
[I would NOT recommend it for young children though. Have a conversation one-on-one with them about the themes instead.]
* * *
What’s a book you’ve been reading lately?
A night in Holland
Nobody knew what to expect when she was born.
She was beautiful, but things weren’t right.
So her family prayed.
And our church prayed.
And I prayed.
Her medical label was eventually “Spastic Quad Cerebral Palsy.”
But everyone who knew her family knew better.
Kaitlyn was “Loved.”
But one thing has never changed: she remains very loved.
So in honor of Kaitlyn and her beloved family, her close-knit church family marked a special evening Saturday night for friends to bless them with funds for a much-needed ramp van.
And someone must have remembered to invite Jesus.
Because He showed up too.
- Through the hands that grilled steaks
- Through the artisans who donated items for auction
- Through the workers who set up tables
- Through the friends who gave funds
- Through the kids who served food
And through Kaitlyn’s mom and dad who spoke to us.
Her dad Philip shared some miraculous stories of how the Lord has taught him great lessons in love through loving Kaitlyn.
And her mom Karla shared the story of “Welcome to Holland.”
No, they didn’t get the “trip to Italy” that all parents expect when they have a baby.
But instead they got a “trip to Holland.”
And the things they’re seeing in Holland are beautiful.
Including this night with friends and family.
Karla said it was one of their best nights in Holland so far.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I add to my count of 1000 gifts of grace:
# 333—344
~ church families
~ benefit dinners
~ steak and potatoes
~ knowing Kaitlyn
~ knowing Kaitlyn’s precious parents and two sisters
~ a table of friends who feel the same as I do
~ catching up with friends from long ago
~ ramp vans
~ a night in Holland
~ answered prayers
~ unanswered prayers
~ a God who shows up in all kinds of ways
* * *
Let go of overload
Margin is something held in reserve for contingencies or unanticipated situations.
Margin is the gap between rest and exhaustion, the space between breathing freely and suffocating.
~ RICHARD SWENSON, Margin
If you feel super-stressed or always out of time, carve out a few hours to read Margin.
It won’t work miracles (I still don’t think I have enough time), but it will help.
The Problem: Pain
Swenson begins with our pain. He makes a compelling case that even progress (the great promised liberator!) has stolen our margin instead of adding to it.
We must now deal with more “things per person” than at any other time in history.
Yet one can comfortably handle only so many details in his or her life.
As humans, we have limits—physical, mental, emotional, financial. And left unguarded, we leave our linear limits for exponentially sloped lives, to our own demise.
It is God the Creator who made limits, and it is the same God who placed them within us for our protection. We exceed them at our peril.
When we live on overload, much suffers, including our relationships: with self, others, and God.
For each person suffering from a mental or emotional disorder, the lives of at least three other persons are significantly affected.
The Prescription: Margin
Unlike overload, margin doesn’t just happen. We have to intentionally build it into as many areas of our lives as we can: emotionally, physically, with time, with finances, etc.
The poor envy the rich, while the rich envy the richer.
We have to understand that “fallow times are just as important as productive times.” We have to make conscious, daily choices that honor God in our bodies, our activities, our money, our relationships.
If we [are able to say no], not out of self-serving laziness but for God-honoring balance and health, then this level of control will not only protect our emotional margin but will actually increase it.
The Prognosis: Health
I am not aware of a single person who takes seriously these words of Paul at their deepest level: “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
Swenson gives specific advice to regain health through “counter-habits” of contentment and simplicity and balance and rest.
- Instead of getting, try giving.
- Instead of replacing, try preserving.
- Instead of feeling covetous, try feeling grateful.
- Instead of feeling inferior before men, try feeling accepted before God.
- Instead of being ruled by feelings, try enjoying the freedom of contentment.
But still. It’s difficult.
I’ve lived an overloaded summer—with good things—but with very little margin. And now I hope to put on the brakes a little.
We do not love God, then spouse, then children, then self, then church.
We love God, spouse, children, self, and church all at the same time.
Similarly, we do not love God 100 percent, spouse 95 percent, children 90 percent, church 80 percent.
God's standard requires that we love all of them all of the time.
In the end, I know it comes down to faith:
How much do I trust God with allocating the resources he’s given me?
Am I ready to trust him with a hefty serving of margin?
Can I let go of overload?
* * *
Do you build margin into your days?
RELATED:
“Forever Reign”
This song has been around for a year, but I heard it for the first time at a Women of Faith event last weekend.
The words grabbed my heart. And haven’t let go since.
It’s my new favorite song.
It speaks truths about God. He is:
Good. Love. Light. Hope.
Peace. True. Joy. Life.
More. Lord. Here. God.
What more could we want?
Nothing compares. Run to Him.
Forever Reign
Hillsong United
LYRICS
You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin
You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost its sting
CHORUS:
Oh, I’m running to Your arms,
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
My heart will sing
No other name
Jesus, Jesus
CHORUS
* * *
Friday’s Fave Five # 110
Stopping to count your blessings is always beneficial.
Susanne is faithful each week to provide a spot to give our accounting.
Here are five blessings from my week:
1. Lunch dates
After a packed summer, I’ve been able to meet up with friends in the past several days for some lunch dates. Each one different, each one special.
Isn’t it good to not only talk with a friend, but to share food together too?
2. A nice neurologist
Jenna has been happy this week to update her glasses prescription. We hope this will help minimize her headaches again.
But since she’s had daily headaches for so long, we visited a headache specialist on Wednesday. Thankfully the doctor wants to proceed conservatively, so she suggested a new vitamin regimen to try for 6 weeks before prescribing any other medicines.
Please pray with us that it will help!
3. Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
Our 5th grade Sunday school class had our annual farewell luncheon on Sunday, followed by a Bible quiz contest between the students and the parents. I’m proud to report on behalf of the students that the 5th graders won quite easily!
But while the parents may have been disappointed about their own loss (the adults tend to overanalyze the questions!), they should feel very proud of their smart children.
4. An idea coming together
Jenna and I had initially decided to skip our church’s Mother/Daughter Tea Party next week (it just didn’t seem our cup of...you know). But I’m glad we changed our minds.
We’ve been working this week on something to share. Jenna will do a ballet dance while I narrate a retelling of Jesus’ healing of the “daughter” with 12 years of bleeding (Luke 8:43-48). We’re excited how it’s working out so far.
5. 1st day back to school (for the last time)
Even though we technically started back our homeschool on August 8, today is the first day for Friday classes with our homeschool covering. We love Fridays! It’s a little sad that this is the LAST time we’ll have this first day, but we’re excited about the things the Lord will bring this year.
That’s 12th grade.
But going back to the 1st day of 1st grade...my babies have definitely grown up!
* * *
What has been a favorite of yours this week?
The Centrality of the Cross (Chapter 1)
“From Jesus’ youth, indeed even from his birth, the cross cast its shadow ahead of him. His death was central to his mission.”
~ JOHN STOTT, The Cross of Christ
And so from page one onward, John Stott writes of the cross in The Cross of Christ.
Most religions have a symbol. The symbol of Christianity settled into the crucifix, the cruel object upon which Jesus died.
But was the cross the center of Jesus’ perspective? Stott answers yes.
We read in the gospels how Jesus often alluded to his own death.
- He obviously knew the prophecies written about the Messiah included his death.
- He saw the hostility towards him from the Jewish leaders.
- He knew the Father had willed his sacrifice, and he also knew he would be obedient to that will.
Jesus came to give his life away. His death was the hour for which he was purposed (John 12:23-28).
The writers of the Gospels all bear witness to it.
[They] show that they understand this by the disproportionate amount of space which they give to the story of his last few days on earth, his death and resurrection.
It occupies between a third and a quarter of the three Synoptic Gospels, while John’s Gospel has justly been described as having two parts, “the book of the signs” and “the book of the Passion,” since John spends an almost equal amount of time on each.
The book of Acts also recounts the story of the death and resurrection. And the three major writers of the epistles (Paul, Peter, John), write prolifically of it.
In the last book, Revelation, John introduces Jesus as “the first-born from the dead” (Rev 1:5). He writes most consistently of Jesus as “the Lamb,” the sacrifice by whose blood we are set free.
Do we do it justice? Do we keep the cross as central to our faith as it deserves?
I look forward to reading more of The Cross of Christ in light of Scripture as I examine my own priorities.
The four sections of Stott’s book are:
- Approaching the Cross
- The Heart of the Cross
- The Achievement of the Cross
- Living under the Cross
If you’d like to read along, please do so! I’m reading with the group at Challies, one chapter a week, starting now. It promises to be quite insightful.
* * *
How central do you keep the cross in your faith?
More about Chapter 1 at Challies
I don’t want to need forgiveness
Who would you rather be:
the one doing the forgiving
OR
the one needing the forgiveness?
Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us
(leading us to faith and worship),
we have to see it as something done by us
(leading us to repentance).
~ JOHN STOTT, The Cross of Christ
So when the hotel clerk said our room was on the 47th floor, I groaned audibly.
He said, “It’s a great view,” then looked at me and added,
“unless you’re afraid of heights.”
I smiled to assure him (and me) I’d be alright.
As long as no one talked to me while I adjusted.
No, I don’t want to look out the window.
No, I don’t think the clear elevator is cool.
No, I won’t look over the railing down 47 stories to the lobby.
Why does there always have to be challenges?
This was my weekend with Women of Faith, for crying out loud.
Spiritual uplifting, not physical lifting up.
But as I acclimated to less oxygen, my grouchiness level decreased.
Until the next night.
Because here is something else I’m scared of:
driving from the Marriott to Philips Arena in big-city traffic on a Friday afternoon.
So when we became uncertain about directions after only a minute into our drive, I took it out on my navigator, who also happened to be my 16-year-old daughter.
She doesn’t need a mama with a short fuse.
She needs one who trusts the Lord whether in transit gridlock or at Tower of Babel heights.
I can trust Jesus as the only Way for my eternal destiny,
but not on one-way streets in Atlanta, Georgia?
What kind of woman of faith is that?
It’s this one.
One who desperately needs forgiveness.
All the time.
I’d rather not need it.
I’d rather stop this sinning stuff altogether.
But until I do, I’m grateful for forgiveness.
On the 47th floor.
In rush-hour traffic.
From God the Father.
And from 16-year-old daughters.
* * *
Have you needed forgiveness lately?
P.S.
Is this crazy or what? [the hotel view looking up]
Who comes up with such things???
Thanks to Jenna for all the pictures. You know I wasn’t taking them!
Women of Faith—Find an event and go!
But because God knows what I need and He knows what you need, he helps us each zero in on those biblical truths He’s prepared for us to most hear and see.
He satisfies the needs of us both.
That’s how He works at the Women of Faith weekends.
He gives bigger miracles than the ones we ask for.
Because I received two free admission tickets from Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze, Jenna and I packed up our bags and our expectations (with our part-time chauffeur Jeff) and headed to Atlanta for Imagine.
SINGING
We sang new (to us) songs and old songs with the Women of Faith Worship Team.
And we praised God with fantastic artists like Natalie Grant, Laura Story, and Mary Mary.
- I’ve now downloaded songs like “Forever Reign” and “So Good” so I can keep singing back home.
- Mary Mary rocked us all with “Shackles” (my favorite) and more, even kicking off their shoes to encourage us to dance along with them.
- Laura Story (“Blessings”) not only sang, but also shared how she’s depending on the Father in her marriage. Pray for her husband’s full recovery from a brain tumor.
STORIES
We listened to speakers that encouraged us by sharing Bible stories as well as how God was working in their own lives. And how he can work in ours.
- Sheila Walsh and her lamb.
You don’t have to keep your tail straight. Peace is not the absence of trouble; it’s the presence of Christ. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. - Lisa Harper and her rock.
God won’t bruise you. We sometimes stand in the center of the circle of shame, or on the edge holding a rock to throw. Drop it. - Angie Smith and her life preserver.
When you try walking on water but start to drown, have one name on your lips: LORD (Kurios)! He is “the one to whom I belong.” - Steve Arterburn and his walls.
Let go of justifiable resentment. Build a bridge of forgiveness even while waters of anger rage underneath. - Nicole Johnson and her stained glass ornament.
Put your pieces in the right hands. He can make something of your brokenness. - Luci Swindoll and her basketball.
Everybody is afloat on a sea full of opportunities; take them. Lean into life. Do it today. Do it every day.
MORE
- We bought books, like Stumbling into Grace, What Women Fear, Doing Life Differently, The Shelter of God’s Promises plus a cute purse the books came in (Jenna claimed that).
- We made friends. Hello to my new Facebook friend Teresa!!! I was blessed that the Lord sat her beside me for a morning session so I could get to know her during the breaks. I loved hearing how God is at work in this sister’s life, using her to touch people through conversation.
- We re-connected. We kept running into our sweet next-door neighbors from home that we hadn’t even known were coming! As well as a sister from our home congregation.
- We ate. Gotta have food. Women of Faith served us well-organized box lunch meals each day. And we found our way to pizza and popcorn too.
- We tweeted. It was fun relaying thoughts on Twitter and reading what other ladies had to say.
- We got a boy! And after almost giving up, we finally found a World Vision table that had a child from El Salvador, so we’re now the proud new friends (although he doesn’t know it yet) of Casimiro Jose!
We each heard God in places we needed to hear Him.
And we each saw God in ways we needed to see Him.
Thus we knew and loved him a little more after we left than we did before we arrived.
It’s hard to imagine, but isn’t that just like God?!!!
* * *
One more shout-out: to the staff at Philips Arena in Atlanta! I’ve never seen such friendly workers in checking our bags, taking our tickets, helping us find seats, just overall being friendly. You don’t see that everyday. Another perk from God!
Have you been to a Women of Faith event?
What did you learn?
In what areas would you like to grow if you could go?
RELATED:
- A Woman of Faith needs forgiveness
- 5 reasons to attend a Women of Faith event
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