At present I have taught three of my Crew to multiply. My youngest isn't quite old enough yet. The definition in my teacher's manual is that multiplication is a fast way to add the same number again and again.
I'm reading about the plagues in Exodus. For the first few plagues, the Egyptian magicians try to duplicate them. This struck me as rather ridiculous. God turns the Nile (which was their main water source) to blood, and the magicians say, "Well, we'll just turn MORE of the water to blood." (That is a bit of conjecture on my part. The Bible doesn't tell us what they were thinking, it only tells us what they did.) Then when God sends swarms of frogs to overrun their homes, the magicians bring in MORE frogs. And I thought, "Why in the world would they want to multiply their trouble?"
As I stewed on that, I realized that they were trying to prove that they were equal to this unknown-to-them god. If they could do what he did, they need not fear him. And in the beginning they did duplicate His work. They turned water to blood. They brought frogs up out of the Nile. And they multiplied their misery.
Then I realized that there are many ways in which I try to live as though I don't need God. Living as a sinner among other sinners in this fallen world is often miserable. There are good things, pleasant things, times of happiness. But there is just a whole lot of YUCK. There is still SO MUCH sin in my heart. And I don't like it. So I make my plans, and then I work hard to accomplish MY plan. Usually I end up frustrated because my plans just don't work out. There are too many variables over which I have no control. So I multiply my misery.
What I need is not to prove that I don't need God. Rather, I need to realize MORE how much I do NEED Him. And because of Christ's sacrifice in my place, and the work of the Spirit in my heart, that is what's happening. Slowly. Slowly. Slowly.
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Sacrifice of Praise
Drowning. Pulled. Torn. Drained. Empty. Exhausted. These are the kinds of words that have frequently described how I've felt for the last few months. And while the last couple of weeks have seen marked improvement, Sunday mornings have been a bigger than normal challenge. Sunday morning worship has been a foundational part of my life since before I can remember. And much of the time, I was eager to meet with God and His people. I enjoyed (and still enjoy) singing praises to the Lord. I loved (and still love) communing with the Lord in prayer. I listened attentively (much of the time) to the preaching of the Word. And I was refreshed. But these last couple of Sundays, just as I feel that I'm about to get REALLY engaged in the worship service, one of my children begins to pull at me. They need to go to the bathroom. They forgot a bulletin. They don't want brother/sister touching them. What does that word mean? Why are you holding your hands like that? And I fall apart. You know when glass shatters and the shards scatter from one end of the room to the other? That's me, because I so DESPERATELY want to be refreshed, but I feel like I'm missing it.
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
Psalms 42:1-2
As I was pondering my fall apart earlier, I was reminded of this verse:
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Hebrews 13:15
I used to hear the phrase "sacrifice of praise" and wonder what that was. I know that it is never really EASY to worship the Lord properly this side of glory, but when you acknowledge that the goodness in your life is from the Lord, and it feels like there is a lot of goodness, it's pretty easy to praise. On the other hand, when you feel like you're drowning... or being pulled in too many directions... or exhausted, it becomes very difficult to acknowledge His name.
Then I was reminded of the widow who offered her two mites. There is something precious to God about us offering Him our best, like Abel. But there is also something precious to God about us offering Him the very last, bottom of the barrel, I'll-die-if-I-give-this-up. And that encouraged me for today. And for tomorrow. And hopefully for next Sunday, as I shepherd my Crew through another Sunday morning worship...
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
Psalms 63:1-8
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah. As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
Psalms 42:1-2
As I was pondering my fall apart earlier, I was reminded of this verse:
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Hebrews 13:15
I used to hear the phrase "sacrifice of praise" and wonder what that was. I know that it is never really EASY to worship the Lord properly this side of glory, but when you acknowledge that the goodness in your life is from the Lord, and it feels like there is a lot of goodness, it's pretty easy to praise. On the other hand, when you feel like you're drowning... or being pulled in too many directions... or exhausted, it becomes very difficult to acknowledge His name.
Then I was reminded of the widow who offered her two mites. There is something precious to God about us offering Him our best, like Abel. But there is also something precious to God about us offering Him the very last, bottom of the barrel, I'll-die-if-I-give-this-up. And that encouraged me for today. And for tomorrow. And hopefully for next Sunday, as I shepherd my Crew through another Sunday morning worship...
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
Psalms 63:1-8
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
...and God knew.
Exodus has been really rich for me this time through. So much so that when I tried to move to another book, I was drawn back. So now I'm just hanging out, trying to plumb the depths of this great book.
I'm one of those people who writes in my Bible. And you could probably tell in which books I've spent the most time by how much color is on the pages. Yesterday I read chapter one, and it is really marked up. Today I noticed, as I was reading, that there is almost no color on chapter two. Because I know how much color is in the remaining chapters, I found this lack interesting. So when I reached the underlined phrase at the end, it really packed a punch.
...and God knew.
Exodus 2:25b
God has shown Himself, throughout Genesis, to be intimately interested and involved in the lives of His creatures. He sees them. He walks among them. He grieves over their sin. He preserves them in times of difficulty. He promises and provides good for them. And in two verses here in Exodus, God heard, remembered, saw, and knew. Which got me thinking...
He knew their pain in slavery. He knew their hopelessness under the burdens of the Egyptians. He knew His promise to make them a nation with a land of their own. And He knew His plan for accomplishing that promise. Which means...
He knows my pain as I struggle with the idols of my weak, sinful heart. He knows His promise to one day fully free me from my sin. And He knows His plan for accomplishing that glorious promise. Which brings us to Jesus.
Jesus is the promised Son who crushed the serpent's head.
Jesus is the perfect Lamb of sacrifice.
Jesus is the King who leads His people faithfully.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-- every one-- to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53: 4-6
I'm one of those people who writes in my Bible. And you could probably tell in which books I've spent the most time by how much color is on the pages. Yesterday I read chapter one, and it is really marked up. Today I noticed, as I was reading, that there is almost no color on chapter two. Because I know how much color is in the remaining chapters, I found this lack interesting. So when I reached the underlined phrase at the end, it really packed a punch.
...and God knew.
Exodus 2:25b
God has shown Himself, throughout Genesis, to be intimately interested and involved in the lives of His creatures. He sees them. He walks among them. He grieves over their sin. He preserves them in times of difficulty. He promises and provides good for them. And in two verses here in Exodus, God heard, remembered, saw, and knew. Which got me thinking...
He knew their pain in slavery. He knew their hopelessness under the burdens of the Egyptians. He knew His promise to make them a nation with a land of their own. And He knew His plan for accomplishing that promise. Which means...
He knows my pain as I struggle with the idols of my weak, sinful heart. He knows His promise to one day fully free me from my sin. And He knows His plan for accomplishing that glorious promise. Which brings us to Jesus.
Jesus is the promised Son who crushed the serpent's head.
Jesus is the perfect Lamb of sacrifice.
Jesus is the King who leads His people faithfully.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-- every one-- to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53: 4-6
Monday, February 23, 2015
Hidden Beauty
I've been reading in Exodus during my devotions the last few weeks. This is not my first trip through, and I was struck again by the overwhelming beauty of the tabernacle. So much gold and silver and jewels. The vibrant red, blue, and purple embroidery. The intricate details of the furniture in the tabernacle proper. Then I remembered that, apart from the first generation of Israelites who helped build it, only the priests saw it. The embroidered curtains of the tabernacle were covered with plain old goat skin. Great for weatherproofing, but not terribly attractive. And even the Levites, who were appointed to carry the tabernacle furniture when their camp moved, weren't allowed to come get it until it was covered up by the priests. So all that extravagant beauty was hidden from the majority of the people.
Fast forward a few thousand years, and a lot has changed. God's people are no longer bound to a geographic location or a particular bloodline. We are told in John's gospel that those who worship God will worship in spirit and truth. The good news that Christ died for sinners is being proclaimed around the globe. We have access, through Christ, into the intimate presence of God. And yet I began to wonder if I am hiding the beauty of Christ. I've been called to proclaim the beauty of the gospel. But am I, by my words and actions (or lack thereof), hiding it instead? Have I taken my proverbial lamp and stuck it under a basket?
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-16
Fast forward a few thousand years, and a lot has changed. God's people are no longer bound to a geographic location or a particular bloodline. We are told in John's gospel that those who worship God will worship in spirit and truth. The good news that Christ died for sinners is being proclaimed around the globe. We have access, through Christ, into the intimate presence of God. And yet I began to wonder if I am hiding the beauty of Christ. I've been called to proclaim the beauty of the gospel. But am I, by my words and actions (or lack thereof), hiding it instead? Have I taken my proverbial lamp and stuck it under a basket?
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-16
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Weakness
I have been accused by my friends and family of being Supermom. She's the one who seems to always have something going, and be doing it all well. My Crew will tell a slightly different story depending on the kid and the day. But since actions speak louder than words, and they are perpetually asking me to commit to another "something", I think they must think I'm pretty super too.
Let me be incredibly honest. I don't have it all together. I try really hard to do what I do faithfully and with excellence, but I am weak. There are days, weeks, months, when I feel like I'm failing at everything. There are times when I feel like I'm drowning in responsibilities. I. Am. Weak. And that doesn't even begin to touch my sin struggles!
As I've struggled with my weakness and sin the past few weeks, three things have stood out to me. First, God is my rock. Inevitably the worst days are the ones when I try to make it in my own strength (which is insubstantial). Second, God loves me. He proves this by His patient and persistent correction, and by the care of His people for me. And third, His strength is highlighted by my weakness. To be able to utilize the strength of a mighty person isn't that impressive. But to use a weakling in mighty ways shows amazing strength. So, I will boast of my weakness for His might to be magnified.
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
Let me be incredibly honest. I don't have it all together. I try really hard to do what I do faithfully and with excellence, but I am weak. There are days, weeks, months, when I feel like I'm failing at everything. There are times when I feel like I'm drowning in responsibilities. I. Am. Weak. And that doesn't even begin to touch my sin struggles!
As I've struggled with my weakness and sin the past few weeks, three things have stood out to me. First, God is my rock. Inevitably the worst days are the ones when I try to make it in my own strength (which is insubstantial). Second, God loves me. He proves this by His patient and persistent correction, and by the care of His people for me. And third, His strength is highlighted by my weakness. To be able to utilize the strength of a mighty person isn't that impressive. But to use a weakling in mighty ways shows amazing strength. So, I will boast of my weakness for His might to be magnified.
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Rest
Last week at prayer meeting, a sister asked that we pray for her because she has many responsibilities. She said that every night when she goes to bed, something on her list remains undone. Shorty leaned over and whispered, "I've heard this before." He was poking fun at me because we've had that conversation monthly, maybe even weekly, for quite some time. Well, several of our brothers in the group prayed for her, and the consistent request was that she be able to rest.
As I have pondered work and rest this week, I've noted four reasons to rest. They've encouraged me, and hopefully they will encourage you as well.
1. Rest because you need it.
In the beginning, God gave us the model of rest after work. He didn't need to rest, but because we are creatures, we do. Our resting is a testimony that we are not God.
2. Rest because it is commanded.
God knows that we are not good at doing what is best for us. So, because He is a loving Father, He tells us what we need to do for our good.
3. Rest because God is in control.
The Bible tells us that God never sleeps. He never needs anything. And He is in ultimate control over the events and creatures in His world.
4. Rest because Jesus finished His work.
Again and again in the gospels, Jesus tells us that He came to save sinners. He did this by perfectly keeping God's law in our place, then bearing God's wrath against our sin in our place. The resurrection tells us that His sacrifice is sufficient. He completed His work, and so has become our rest.
So, dear Christian, be diligent in work, but take time to rest. Because even if you don't always finish what you set out to do, Christ did. Rest in His completed work.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
As I have pondered work and rest this week, I've noted four reasons to rest. They've encouraged me, and hopefully they will encourage you as well.
1. Rest because you need it.
In the beginning, God gave us the model of rest after work. He didn't need to rest, but because we are creatures, we do. Our resting is a testimony that we are not God.
2. Rest because it is commanded.
God knows that we are not good at doing what is best for us. So, because He is a loving Father, He tells us what we need to do for our good.
3. Rest because God is in control.
The Bible tells us that God never sleeps. He never needs anything. And He is in ultimate control over the events and creatures in His world.
4. Rest because Jesus finished His work.
Again and again in the gospels, Jesus tells us that He came to save sinners. He did this by perfectly keeping God's law in our place, then bearing God's wrath against our sin in our place. The resurrection tells us that His sacrifice is sufficient. He completed His work, and so has become our rest.
So, dear Christian, be diligent in work, but take time to rest. Because even if you don't always finish what you set out to do, Christ did. Rest in His completed work.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
Monday, January 19, 2015
All People Will Know
When I got up this morning, thoughts of doctors and hospitals were the furthest thing from my mind. It is a holiday, the weather was beautiful, and we had planned an afternoon trip to the zoo. Instead we had our first broken bone. My son had spent the night with a friend, and had an accident with his new ripstick. We met them at the local hospital where the doctor quickly began the process to fix the arm.
We had all the usual suspects for support, doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. Shorty has family who work at the hospital, and they were with us off and on. And my parents live in town. But we were also served by several of our church family through their presence, prayers, food, calls to check on us, and care for our girls.
After we got home and the excitement wore off, I was reminded of when Jesus told His disciples that they would be known by their love for each other. The world is watching how we love. The acts of love we were offered were quiet. So maybe sometimes they "see" because we tell.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:34-35
We had all the usual suspects for support, doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. Shorty has family who work at the hospital, and they were with us off and on. And my parents live in town. But we were also served by several of our church family through their presence, prayers, food, calls to check on us, and care for our girls.
After we got home and the excitement wore off, I was reminded of when Jesus told His disciples that they would be known by their love for each other. The world is watching how we love. The acts of love we were offered were quiet. So maybe sometimes they "see" because we tell.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:34-35
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