Have you ever thought about some of the many contradictions in life? For example: the medication we take to make our pain go away, causes liver failure. The surgery to cure us could very well kill us. To eat a healthy diet balanced with all the food groups, you have to eat too much food. We spend our time trying to save life all the while it slips through our finger as sand.
To be sure life is precious and it is a gift. We should be good stewards of it. We should do all within our power to protect and preserve it. But, we should also be ready and willing to lay it down for the call of the Cross.
I have been reading through Romans this week and have been chewing on the meat contained therein. I am reminded that we all fell in Adam's first transgression. As our covenant head, he chose sin and plunged mankind into an "estate of sin and misery", we would "surely die" as a result. Our state, from the fall in the garden was a hopeless one. All the while, planned from eternities past, God was working out redemption for His children. And in the "fullness of time", God sent His son, who by his active and passive obedience fulfilled the law and became sin for His people. To redeem us from the death we merited in Adam, another death was required. Death of the very Son of God, was the only satisfaction that could pay the penalty. And now, we as God's children are told that we "have become united with Him in the likeness of His death... that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin." Romans 6:5-6
As we go about this life trying so hard to stay young and live longer, we should realize that as Christians we are dead to this life and "alive to God in Christ". We should be spending our time in thankful obedient service. The irony that while in Christ we are more alive than ever before, while to this world we are as dead men, is overwhelming. I need to be weaned from this world. I need to have my vision refocused. I need to have feet which are swift to run after the will of my heavenly Father and hands busy about His work. I desire to have a mind and heart seeking to live uprightly and putting off sin. I want to pour out my life as a thank offering for the One who has died that I might die to sin, and the One who has been raised that I might too be raised to "newness of life". I so love my dear Jesus, He is more to me than thousands upon thousands. He truly is the Messiah, the "altogether lovely One", the Prince of Peace, the friend of sinners, the spotless lamb of God.
As each week, I try to prepare myself for worship, this week has been one that has brought me low as I see my great need of grace and repentance. I am a weak sinner. I struggle with silly sins that should have been mortified years ago. I desire my own way over God's perfect will. I am still a proud, arrogant worm. I need to be reminded that all my sin has been crucified with my flesh in Christ and that I have been raised in Christ so that I will, "...not let sin reign in (my)mortal body...but present (myself) to God as those alive from the dead, and (my) members as instruments of righteousness to God." Romans 6:13
Oh that my life would be a song that praises the Lord. May I be an "instrument" that sings a song of redemption, honor, and glory!
Take my life and let it be
consecrated Lord to thee.
Take my moments and my days,
May they flow in ceaseless praise.
From Take My Life
Friday, July 24, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
No Crutches Here
There are areas of parenthood that I did not expect. One of these is loneliness in my children. It breaks my heart as I see them struggle to "fit in" and make friends. Sometimes it is easy, others it is not. I have children who make friends fast, and other children who cannot seem to find a "bosom friend" as Anne of Green Gables would put it.
As I have thought about it over the last few weeks, I have had to confront my own struggles with loneliness as I seek to apply God's Word and to comfort my children. We adults are not that different than our children. We are only better at the charade. We mask our hurts, hide our emotions, and close them off from view.
What about you? Have you ever been in a room full of people and felt hopelessly lonely? Have you ever found yourself with fellow believers who completely do not understand you, or simply leave you out? Have you ever been let down by a friend who should have been there for you? Have you ever laid in bed at night, lonely for the comfort of a spouse who is physically or emotionally absent? If you can answer yes, than to one degree or another, you can say that you have tasted loneliness.
In the year after Matt's death, I wrestled with being lonely. My bed was empty, my home quieted from the loss of his voice, and my heart was broken. I closed off my sadness from many and put on a mask. In truth, I have not reached the point where I have removed the mask completely even now. As I think about my loneliness now, I must confess that it is due mostly to my own failure to "open up".
I would be remiss if I did not mention that self indulgent sorrow and pity is a sin. We should not wallow in it, but should seek to "put it off" and to "put on" (Eph. 4:22)thankfulness and contentment. It is hard to draw the line as to where one wanders from being lonely to being self consumed, but each of us who struggles, must ask the question and be willing to "take every thought captive unto obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ".
Yet, I digress. I write to encourage with the encouragement that I have been given and to "comfort" with the comfort that I have received. As we think of our loneliness, when our friends do not understand us, when we are ostracized for a conviction, and when earthly relationship fail to comfort we should think of our Savior. We have a great high priest, (as Hebrews 3:15 says, "...for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has in every respect been tempted as we are yet without sin.")who has walked the footsteps that we trod. Can you think of anyone who ever lived who was more misunderstood, mocked, and sorrowful knowing all the time that His end was to die the terrible death of the cross and pay the penalty for the sins of His chosen people. He was a lamb led to the slaughter willingly(Is. 53:7). Isaiah 53 continues to tell us that Jesus had, "no beauty that we should desire him" and that He was, "despised". Stop and think of the emotional pain and loneliness that our Savior as a man withstood. In Is. 53:4 it says, "Surely He has born our griefs and carried our sorrows...he was wounded for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities....the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all." How did Jesus not falter or quail? By the same power that He has purchased for us on His cross. You see the power that raised Christ from the dead is given to us by the Holy Spirit so that we can walk the lonely paths, put off sin, and find comfort for our souls. Dear reader, Come to Jesus. Find rest from your weariness in Him. Pray to Him asking Him to help you know the riches of His mercy and to be able to say with David, "Whom have I heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25
Jesus has purchased for us so much on the cross. Not only our salvation, but also a relationship with Him that rises above all earthly relations. His love for us in His sacrifice has secured assurance, peace, contentment, joy, and grace. We have to seek after it, we must be diligent, but he does reward. Let us not be lonely, let us be filled with the love of Christ and find our all in Him. Pray, and ask the Lord to be near. Attend the means of grace. Continue to, "seek the Lord while He may be found..."(Is. 55:6). We need not lean on any earthly crutch, let us cling to Jesus.
Nothin in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.
Naked come to Thee for dress, helpless look to Thee for grace,
Foul I to the fountain fly, wash me Savior or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shut close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown, see Thee on Thy judgement throne,
Rock of Ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.
Rock of Ages
As I have thought about it over the last few weeks, I have had to confront my own struggles with loneliness as I seek to apply God's Word and to comfort my children. We adults are not that different than our children. We are only better at the charade. We mask our hurts, hide our emotions, and close them off from view.
What about you? Have you ever been in a room full of people and felt hopelessly lonely? Have you ever found yourself with fellow believers who completely do not understand you, or simply leave you out? Have you ever been let down by a friend who should have been there for you? Have you ever laid in bed at night, lonely for the comfort of a spouse who is physically or emotionally absent? If you can answer yes, than to one degree or another, you can say that you have tasted loneliness.
In the year after Matt's death, I wrestled with being lonely. My bed was empty, my home quieted from the loss of his voice, and my heart was broken. I closed off my sadness from many and put on a mask. In truth, I have not reached the point where I have removed the mask completely even now. As I think about my loneliness now, I must confess that it is due mostly to my own failure to "open up".
I would be remiss if I did not mention that self indulgent sorrow and pity is a sin. We should not wallow in it, but should seek to "put it off" and to "put on" (Eph. 4:22)thankfulness and contentment. It is hard to draw the line as to where one wanders from being lonely to being self consumed, but each of us who struggles, must ask the question and be willing to "take every thought captive unto obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ".
Yet, I digress. I write to encourage with the encouragement that I have been given and to "comfort" with the comfort that I have received. As we think of our loneliness, when our friends do not understand us, when we are ostracized for a conviction, and when earthly relationship fail to comfort we should think of our Savior. We have a great high priest, (as Hebrews 3:15 says, "...for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has in every respect been tempted as we are yet without sin.")who has walked the footsteps that we trod. Can you think of anyone who ever lived who was more misunderstood, mocked, and sorrowful knowing all the time that His end was to die the terrible death of the cross and pay the penalty for the sins of His chosen people. He was a lamb led to the slaughter willingly(Is. 53:7). Isaiah 53 continues to tell us that Jesus had, "no beauty that we should desire him" and that He was, "despised". Stop and think of the emotional pain and loneliness that our Savior as a man withstood. In Is. 53:4 it says, "Surely He has born our griefs and carried our sorrows...he was wounded for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities....the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all." How did Jesus not falter or quail? By the same power that He has purchased for us on His cross. You see the power that raised Christ from the dead is given to us by the Holy Spirit so that we can walk the lonely paths, put off sin, and find comfort for our souls. Dear reader, Come to Jesus. Find rest from your weariness in Him. Pray to Him asking Him to help you know the riches of His mercy and to be able to say with David, "Whom have I heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25
Jesus has purchased for us so much on the cross. Not only our salvation, but also a relationship with Him that rises above all earthly relations. His love for us in His sacrifice has secured assurance, peace, contentment, joy, and grace. We have to seek after it, we must be diligent, but he does reward. Let us not be lonely, let us be filled with the love of Christ and find our all in Him. Pray, and ask the Lord to be near. Attend the means of grace. Continue to, "seek the Lord while He may be found..."(Is. 55:6). We need not lean on any earthly crutch, let us cling to Jesus.
Nothin in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.
Naked come to Thee for dress, helpless look to Thee for grace,
Foul I to the fountain fly, wash me Savior or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shut close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown, see Thee on Thy judgement throne,
Rock of Ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.
Rock of Ages
Friday, June 26, 2009
I find it uncanny that often the world can articulate truths about our depravity and sin, without even knowing it, much better than we who call ourselves Christians. It is so in a song by Billy Joel called "The Stranger". Here are the first lines, "Well we all have a face that we hide away forever and we take them out and show ourselves when everyone is gone..." This is a truth that we seldom hear discussed yet we all experience it. Personally, I like to put on faces during the rare moments that I am home alone that I am a great dancer. I can pretend that I can dance although the reality of that still eludes me. You get the picture. Unfortunately, these faces that we try on are often of a sinister vein as we play with the infernos of sin. I can remember another song from my early Christian days by Steve Camp that said, "Could I be called a Christian, if everybody knew, my secret thoughts and feelings and everything I do?" Let those words sink in... Could I? Could you? What are we thinking about and doing when we are alone? There are days that I must confess that this hard heart would rather choose its own way, "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love" but by His grace I can ask the Lord to, "take and seal (my heart) and seal it, seal it for thy courts above".
It is for this very reason and our many other struggles, that the Bible uses the term as shepherd in reference to God. There are many references, too many to list here, but here are a few: Psalm 23, EZ 34:12, John 10:11, 14. Ezekial 34:12 says, "For thus says the Lord God, Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out....I will seek the lost, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak..."
If we are honest, we realize that there is a battle raging in our souls. A battle that takes daily effort to just hold ground without losing all we have gained. Sin is ever present and ready, often we are not. And I do not just mean the big sins, I mean the thoughts of anger toward our spouses or children, the words that we would never say, but will think, the lack of contentment in what the Lord has given, the self pity and the envy of others just to name a few. Our hearts are a war torn region that has been devestated by the effect of sin within us. Yet, that is why we have a Savior! That is why Jesus came... to save sinners! He knew we were sick and He brings healing. He knew we were defiled and He brings righteousness. He knew our understandings were darkened, and He brings His Word to enlighten us. That is why we have a shepherd. Halelujah! What a Savior!
Today if you are tempted to play with sin, to try on a face that is of a stranger, I ask that you remember what your sin cost and turn from it. Let each of us not linger in the false ideas of being unseen, and realize that all is open before the God of all ,who sees all. Let us come to Him, our shepherd and lean upon Him. He is able!
"O thou who the shepherd of Israel art, give ear to our pray'r and thy favor impart.... No more shall we wander, delighting in shame, revive us O Lord, we will call on thy name. O Lord God of hosts, us restore to thy grace, and then we shall live in the light of thy face." ARP Psalter 80:1-3
It is for this very reason and our many other struggles, that the Bible uses the term as shepherd in reference to God. There are many references, too many to list here, but here are a few: Psalm 23, EZ 34:12, John 10:11, 14. Ezekial 34:12 says, "For thus says the Lord God, Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out....I will seek the lost, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak..."
If we are honest, we realize that there is a battle raging in our souls. A battle that takes daily effort to just hold ground without losing all we have gained. Sin is ever present and ready, often we are not. And I do not just mean the big sins, I mean the thoughts of anger toward our spouses or children, the words that we would never say, but will think, the lack of contentment in what the Lord has given, the self pity and the envy of others just to name a few. Our hearts are a war torn region that has been devestated by the effect of sin within us. Yet, that is why we have a Savior! That is why Jesus came... to save sinners! He knew we were sick and He brings healing. He knew we were defiled and He brings righteousness. He knew our understandings were darkened, and He brings His Word to enlighten us. That is why we have a shepherd. Halelujah! What a Savior!
Today if you are tempted to play with sin, to try on a face that is of a stranger, I ask that you remember what your sin cost and turn from it. Let each of us not linger in the false ideas of being unseen, and realize that all is open before the God of all ,who sees all. Let us come to Him, our shepherd and lean upon Him. He is able!
"O thou who the shepherd of Israel art, give ear to our pray'r and thy favor impart.... No more shall we wander, delighting in shame, revive us O Lord, we will call on thy name. O Lord God of hosts, us restore to thy grace, and then we shall live in the light of thy face." ARP Psalter 80:1-3
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Home
What is about about traveling to a loved place? As I travel back to Mississippi, I always get nostalgic. Memories flood my mind as gentle waves rushing to the shore. The landscape is first to hold my thoughts as I consider how beautiful are the trees or the crops as they grow in the fields or the swampy, moss-covered sloughs. I love the features of God's creation and could spend hours contemplating how creation groans for His return and how it always praises the Creator sinlessly doing as He wills. The waves do not stop. One by one they roll into my thoughts. We ate there, the kids played there, a friend lives over "yonder" and on they cross the beaches of my mind. Sadness often threatens to enclose me within its arms as I go back. The embrace is not resented, only deeply painful.
But it is not only the places that draw me into a reverie. The many dear ones that I love rise up before me, the thoughts crest and then roll into memory. There are many dear friends that have been close to me over the years and many shared good times. so much laughter, a few tears, and much for which I am deeply thankful. The church and its extended family that I have witnessed the birth and baptism of children, taught these children, wept with the families at loss, and loved them as my own. People, that is what life is about right? Loving people, growing in grace together, and pleasing the Lord in our relationships?
Even yet, another set of waves is nearing the shore as I think about family. Some may know, others may not, that family is a very bittersweet thing for me. I have some family that has stood by me most unexpectedly...they know who they are and that I am ever so grateful for their rooting me in love. Then, I have family that has adopted me into their fold. What a great blessing of which I have written about before. This is the family that I visit in MS. My heart cannot stay melancholy for long when I think of going "home" to them. It is the house that has been a place of much comfort and blessing. It is the house that received me upon my return from Haiti... a broken widow with children. It is the house that has recorded the growth of my children for years. The home that still has furniture and stored belongings of mine. It is a place of much comfort, love, fellowship, and delicious food. I consider it "home".
I wish that I could say that as I travel the sojourn here on earth that my thoughts were as attentive to the greater reality that this "world is not my home" and that I am going "to a place prepared" for me. HOME is still far away and although familiar, it is yet strangely unfamiliar. What makes it precious is not the landscape, (which I am sure is breathtakingly beautiful), it is not the many memories, it is not the actual house (of which I am told is a mansion). No, none of these are what make my HOME desirable. It is because there dwells the lover of my soul, my beloved, my redeemer, the truest friend to ever have, the perfect King of all, the lamb of God, the altogether lovely One. I say with the psalmist that I want to be with Him, where He is, dwelling in His presence. Then I will be HOME.
Until then I will ramble through the barren wastelands, rocky crags, and valleys of shadow. I know that my Savior is faithful and He will bring it to pass. I will be with Jesus! Oh Lord, come quickly my heart cries. To look upon Him in all His splendor and to be able to sit at His feet, to see the one who lived and died for me, to be near my bridegroom. Yes, it is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than anywhere else because there we are near to Him.
Would you not think on Jesus these days before Sunday? Let the reality press down upon you that you are on a sojourn. Our path goes either one way or the other. There are only two options. We are daily striving toward heaven or proving ourselves to be in need of repentance. Little choices are not so little in light of eternity and little sins have an eternal price. Let us take heed to ourselves this day and as long as the Lord gives us breath. May we bring Him glory and honor!
But it is not only the places that draw me into a reverie. The many dear ones that I love rise up before me, the thoughts crest and then roll into memory. There are many dear friends that have been close to me over the years and many shared good times. so much laughter, a few tears, and much for which I am deeply thankful. The church and its extended family that I have witnessed the birth and baptism of children, taught these children, wept with the families at loss, and loved them as my own. People, that is what life is about right? Loving people, growing in grace together, and pleasing the Lord in our relationships?
Even yet, another set of waves is nearing the shore as I think about family. Some may know, others may not, that family is a very bittersweet thing for me. I have some family that has stood by me most unexpectedly...they know who they are and that I am ever so grateful for their rooting me in love. Then, I have family that has adopted me into their fold. What a great blessing of which I have written about before. This is the family that I visit in MS. My heart cannot stay melancholy for long when I think of going "home" to them. It is the house that has been a place of much comfort and blessing. It is the house that received me upon my return from Haiti... a broken widow with children. It is the house that has recorded the growth of my children for years. The home that still has furniture and stored belongings of mine. It is a place of much comfort, love, fellowship, and delicious food. I consider it "home".
I wish that I could say that as I travel the sojourn here on earth that my thoughts were as attentive to the greater reality that this "world is not my home" and that I am going "to a place prepared" for me. HOME is still far away and although familiar, it is yet strangely unfamiliar. What makes it precious is not the landscape, (which I am sure is breathtakingly beautiful), it is not the many memories, it is not the actual house (of which I am told is a mansion). No, none of these are what make my HOME desirable. It is because there dwells the lover of my soul, my beloved, my redeemer, the truest friend to ever have, the perfect King of all, the lamb of God, the altogether lovely One. I say with the psalmist that I want to be with Him, where He is, dwelling in His presence. Then I will be HOME.
Until then I will ramble through the barren wastelands, rocky crags, and valleys of shadow. I know that my Savior is faithful and He will bring it to pass. I will be with Jesus! Oh Lord, come quickly my heart cries. To look upon Him in all His splendor and to be able to sit at His feet, to see the one who lived and died for me, to be near my bridegroom. Yes, it is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than anywhere else because there we are near to Him.
Would you not think on Jesus these days before Sunday? Let the reality press down upon you that you are on a sojourn. Our path goes either one way or the other. There are only two options. We are daily striving toward heaven or proving ourselves to be in need of repentance. Little choices are not so little in light of eternity and little sins have an eternal price. Let us take heed to ourselves this day and as long as the Lord gives us breath. May we bring Him glory and honor!
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