My grandparents are old. Perhaps "aged" is a better term, as "old" is overused and abused. After all, when each successive generation calls the ones before it "old", the term becomes diluted at the least. So, my grandparents are aged. All three are in their seventies. They have lived full lives. They've seen children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren grow. They've seen changes in technology that they perhaps wouldn't have ever dreamed possible. They have endured hard times. They have celebrated milestones. And now the years hang heavy in laugh and frown lines, in hair that is not as dark and thick as it once was, in muscles that can't carry the load they once did, and bones that have grown weak and thin.
I was thinking this morning about the inevitability of death, and the grief of losing those you love, and I was reminded of this verse.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Psalm 139:16
As I chewed on that verse, I was extremely comforted.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance... I thought about that first moment, the moment when the egg is fertilized and a new life begins. You were seen before your mother knew she was pregnant! I was known. My parents and grandparents were known.
...in your book were written... Books record and preserve information. It's not as though God needed to write things down so He wouldn't forget. It speaks more to the certainty of what is written. Most of the time, once something is written it is preserved as long as the page survives.
...every one of them... Again we're faced with the certainty of what is written. As a believer, it comforts my soul to know that each of my days and moments is certain. From what happens in a day to exactly how many of them there will be. And that certainty and comfort apply when I think about my friends and family who also hope in Christ. So, while it is painful to see my grandparents aging, I know that this day was written for them long before they were born.
...the days that were formed for me... In the flow of this verse we now have a contrast between "unformed substance" and "days that were formed". Forming doesn't happen by chance. It expresses a deliberate and careful attention to the way a day will go. When God wrote my days in His book, He carefully formed each one.
...when as yet there was none of them. This takes us back to the top, and it blows my mind. How can God see and know me when I don't even exist? And yet this verse says that not only did He know and see me, but He had already carefully formed each of my days. What a comfort!
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Happy Snowmen
I love snowmen. I got my first snowman decoration when I was ten, but in the Rocky Mountains snow and snowmen aren't much of a novelty. By late high school my family had moved twice, and in both locations snow was a rarity-- and I MISSED IT! So as a young adult I began to collect snowmen in earnest. I have figurines, sun catchers, candles, chalkboards, dishes, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, clothing, and more all featuring snowmen.
I have two different sets of snowman dishes, along with sundry pieces that don't match. Because my Crew do the dishes, and they're kids, something snowman gets broken almost every year. Invariably, whoever did the breaking is distraught, and sometimes in tears. As a young mom I was very volatile. I had not yet learned to control my temper, and I yelled a lot, especially when things got broken. But at this point, I think they are upset because they know that my snowmen make me happy. And it makes them sad when I am unhappy.
I've been trying to bring my snowmen out of hibernation for a few weeks now, and I've been thinking about what may get broken this year. And I began to wonder, how much do I know about what makes my Father happy? And does it make me sad to do what displeases Him because I love Him? Dear Christian, our Father has told us what pleases Him. He has shown us His love by sending Jesus to live and die in our place. So live to please Him!
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
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
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2
I have two different sets of snowman dishes, along with sundry pieces that don't match. Because my Crew do the dishes, and they're kids, something snowman gets broken almost every year. Invariably, whoever did the breaking is distraught, and sometimes in tears. As a young mom I was very volatile. I had not yet learned to control my temper, and I yelled a lot, especially when things got broken. But at this point, I think they are upset because they know that my snowmen make me happy. And it makes them sad when I am unhappy.
I've been trying to bring my snowmen out of hibernation for a few weeks now, and I've been thinking about what may get broken this year. And I began to wonder, how much do I know about what makes my Father happy? And does it make me sad to do what displeases Him because I love Him? Dear Christian, our Father has told us what pleases Him. He has shown us His love by sending Jesus to live and die in our place. So live to please Him!
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
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
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Who lives here?
When Goldilocks enters the house of the three bears, we learn a little bit about those bears. We learn that Papa Bear likes his porridge hot and his chair and bed hard. We learn that Mama Bear likes her porridge quite cool and her chair and bed very soft. And we learn that Baby Bear likes things much the same as Goldilocks.
I've been in the homes of several friends the past week or so, and I started thinking about how their homes reflect their personalities, and the dynamics of their families. One friend has very clean lines and neutral colors, and very little ones. Another likes bolder colors and patterns, and has medium-sized kids. And I thought about my house. My style (if you can call it that) is really more hodge-podge. There is very little continuity-- except when my snowmen come out of hibernation! And honestly, most of the time it looks like a tornado tore through (which may not be far from the truth!) For a minute I wished that my home looked more like my friends', a little more order, a little more continuity. But then I thought that I probably wouldn't like that look for long.
And then I pondered the whole reflection thing. The Bible says that when we trust in Christ for salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. We are told that God is just and true and beautiful and kind and holy. If a dwelling place reflects its occupant, then Christians should begin to display more and more of these characteristics. Dear Christian, are you reflecting the Spirit who lives in you?
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:17-22
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:4-5
I've been in the homes of several friends the past week or so, and I started thinking about how their homes reflect their personalities, and the dynamics of their families. One friend has very clean lines and neutral colors, and very little ones. Another likes bolder colors and patterns, and has medium-sized kids. And I thought about my house. My style (if you can call it that) is really more hodge-podge. There is very little continuity-- except when my snowmen come out of hibernation! And honestly, most of the time it looks like a tornado tore through (which may not be far from the truth!) For a minute I wished that my home looked more like my friends', a little more order, a little more continuity. But then I thought that I probably wouldn't like that look for long.
And then I pondered the whole reflection thing. The Bible says that when we trust in Christ for salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. We are told that God is just and true and beautiful and kind and holy. If a dwelling place reflects its occupant, then Christians should begin to display more and more of these characteristics. Dear Christian, are you reflecting the Spirit who lives in you?
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:17-22
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:4-5
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Follow the Strands
I was privileged to meet many of my great-grandparents. Some seemed vibrant, almost as young as their children-- my grandparents. Others seemed more like the stereotypical crotchety old people. And while I didn't particularly enjoy visiting the "crotchety" ones, there were things about their houses that I did enjoy. One of my great-grandmas made exquisite quilts. She pieced some, and bought printed tops that she then hand quilted for others. Her garage had a MASSIVE hanging quilting rack, always with a new work in progress. I guess in my mind she was the quilt lady. My favorite thing about visiting her was tracing the patterns and shapes and colors in the many quilts at her house. I loved counting shapes delicately stitched again and again. I loved following the "paths" around the corners and curves. And I loved watching the interplay of colors and patterns as they raced over the edge of the bed.
Yesterday I was thinking about a verse that I've recently taped on my mirror. And I began to follow the strands through Scripture.
This God-- his way is perfect, the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him... You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great
Psalm 18:30, 35
The words shield and salvation jumped out at me. And I was reminded of the passage in Ephesians about the armor of God.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Ephesians 6:16-17
I thought about how both a helmet and a shield protect, or guard, your body. My mind then skipped to Philippians.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
I slowed down to chew on verse seven. I wondered how the peace of God would guard my heart and mind. I thought of Romans where it says that we have peace WITH God.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1
And I thought perhaps that is the driving force behind the peace that surpasses understanding. Perhaps we have peace in the difficulties of life precisely because we know that we already have peace WITH God.
At that point I'd exhausted my memory, so I pulled out my Bible app and searched "peace of God". I was surprised when my search showed that that phrase doesn't occur in the Old Testament. And it only occurs once in the New Testament. At least in the English translation. What does occur frequently in the New Testament is the phrase "God of peace". So perhaps another reason we have peace in the midst of difficulty is because we worship the God of peace, and little by little we are becoming more like Him.
Friend, much like the repeated patterns and threads in my grandmother's quilts, the Bible has strands of similarity woven throughout. God has revealed Himself to us so that we may know and worship Him. We just have to believe, and follow the strands.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Yesterday I was thinking about a verse that I've recently taped on my mirror. And I began to follow the strands through Scripture.
This God-- his way is perfect, the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him... You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great
Psalm 18:30, 35
The words shield and salvation jumped out at me. And I was reminded of the passage in Ephesians about the armor of God.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Ephesians 6:16-17
I thought about how both a helmet and a shield protect, or guard, your body. My mind then skipped to Philippians.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
I slowed down to chew on verse seven. I wondered how the peace of God would guard my heart and mind. I thought of Romans where it says that we have peace WITH God.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1
And I thought perhaps that is the driving force behind the peace that surpasses understanding. Perhaps we have peace in the difficulties of life precisely because we know that we already have peace WITH God.
At that point I'd exhausted my memory, so I pulled out my Bible app and searched "peace of God". I was surprised when my search showed that that phrase doesn't occur in the Old Testament. And it only occurs once in the New Testament. At least in the English translation. What does occur frequently in the New Testament is the phrase "God of peace". So perhaps another reason we have peace in the midst of difficulty is because we worship the God of peace, and little by little we are becoming more like Him.
Friend, much like the repeated patterns and threads in my grandmother's quilts, the Bible has strands of similarity woven throughout. God has revealed Himself to us so that we may know and worship Him. We just have to believe, and follow the strands.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Friday, September 4, 2015
Killing the Hostility
hostilility: noun 1.a hostile state, condition, or attitude; enmity; antagonism; unfriendliness
I have been grieved in recent weeks almost every time I look at my newsfeed on Facebook. It seems like so many posts and links either recount or spew hostility. They swirl with tragedy, abuse, travesty, injustice, violence. And I am most bothered by the fact that some of this hostility comes from people who claim Jesus as their Lord.
Dear Christian, we of all people should be MOST COMPASSIONATE because we see our sin! We should be MOST GRACIOUS because we know what sinners need! We should be MOST KIND because we long for the grace and hope we've received to extend to others!
This does not mean that we cease to speak out against sin. Sin should grieve us because it is an assault on God's holiness. Sin should grieve us because it destroys people and relationships. And I should grieve first over my own sin. And then, because I love you, I should plead with you to repent of your sin and turn to the Savior.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Ephesians 2:13-16
We can talk about all kinds of differences. Race. Gender. Ethnicity. Political party. But really there is only one kind of person. Sinners. And Jesus came to break down all the walls we erect for ourselves, and unite us in Himself. He brought us peace! Peace with God and peace with others! And because of His work, we should have no hostility left for God's image bearers!
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:17-22
Dear Christian, preach the way to peace! Preach Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners! Preach the One who loves His image bearers and died to restore them!
I have been grieved in recent weeks almost every time I look at my newsfeed on Facebook. It seems like so many posts and links either recount or spew hostility. They swirl with tragedy, abuse, travesty, injustice, violence. And I am most bothered by the fact that some of this hostility comes from people who claim Jesus as their Lord.
Dear Christian, we of all people should be MOST COMPASSIONATE because we see our sin! We should be MOST GRACIOUS because we know what sinners need! We should be MOST KIND because we long for the grace and hope we've received to extend to others!
This does not mean that we cease to speak out against sin. Sin should grieve us because it is an assault on God's holiness. Sin should grieve us because it destroys people and relationships. And I should grieve first over my own sin. And then, because I love you, I should plead with you to repent of your sin and turn to the Savior.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Ephesians 2:13-16
We can talk about all kinds of differences. Race. Gender. Ethnicity. Political party. But really there is only one kind of person. Sinners. And Jesus came to break down all the walls we erect for ourselves, and unite us in Himself. He brought us peace! Peace with God and peace with others! And because of His work, we should have no hostility left for God's image bearers!
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:17-22
Dear Christian, preach the way to peace! Preach Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners! Preach the One who loves His image bearers and died to restore them!
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
I know you.
My mommy was a wonderful example to me of how to make your children feel special and loved when they are away. I often got little notes in my lunchbox when I was in elementary school. If I was gone for a more extended period, she'd send cards and things in the mail, or treats in my bag. Because of that, I spent part of last week buying little treats for my big girl's lunchbox. I wanted her to know that even though she is not physically with us, we are still thinking of her. I told her this morning that, for this first week, there will be a special SOMETHING in her lunchbox each day. Her response was, "I figured." I was intrigued. I asked why. She said, "It's logical." I asked her to explain, and she said, "I KNOW you."
This conversation got me thinking. We know and believe that God knows us. But how well do we know Him? In our conversation, my daughter explained that my past actions and character were consistent with my current display of love. Do we know our Father like that? Have we come to know His past actions through His word? Have we learned of His character? Do we KNOW Him so well that His present displays of faithfulness and love just seem LOGICAL? Dear Christian, our Father has revealed Himself to us so that we may KNOW HIM!
But the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land." God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Exodus 6:1-7
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalms 9:10
This conversation got me thinking. We know and believe that God knows us. But how well do we know Him? In our conversation, my daughter explained that my past actions and character were consistent with my current display of love. Do we know our Father like that? Have we come to know His past actions through His word? Have we learned of His character? Do we KNOW Him so well that His present displays of faithfulness and love just seem LOGICAL? Dear Christian, our Father has revealed Himself to us so that we may KNOW HIM!
But the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land." God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Exodus 6:1-7
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalms 9:10
Monday, August 24, 2015
Very Near
Today is a big day for our family. My oldest is attending her first day of school. First day of public school, that is, as an eighth grader. It is strange. Having had her present for the majority of the hours and days that make up her just-over-thirteen years, we are all feeling her absence. And yet I feel, in some way, that I am walking through her first day with her. I went with her to pick up her schedule. I walked through those halls with her, memorizing classroom numbers and locations. And she was shocked on Saturday to discover that I know her schedule. So, as the minutes tick by, and I work my way through another day, I'm thinking of where she is-- what subject she's being introduced to-- and I'm looking forward to the moment when I get to pick her up and hear all about her first day.
As I was thinking about how it almost feels like I'm walking through her day with her, I thought about God's nearness. It seems fairly easy, when we think about the universe which He created, to realize how BIG God is. How powerful. How awesome, kingly, too much for words. But dear Christian, do you also realize that God is NEAR to you! So. Very. Near. He is that attentive parent who walks new halls with you. He knows your schedule better than you do. And He CARES! And unlike the parent who has to wait until the end of the day to hear your joys and fears, He is actually WITH you. Every moment. Every hour. Every day.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Psalms 139:16
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20
As I was thinking about how it almost feels like I'm walking through her day with her, I thought about God's nearness. It seems fairly easy, when we think about the universe which He created, to realize how BIG God is. How powerful. How awesome, kingly, too much for words. But dear Christian, do you also realize that God is NEAR to you! So. Very. Near. He is that attentive parent who walks new halls with you. He knows your schedule better than you do. And He CARES! And unlike the parent who has to wait until the end of the day to hear your joys and fears, He is actually WITH you. Every moment. Every hour. Every day.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Psalms 139:16
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20
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