As fall fast approaches we are reminded that, "for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Ingrained into our lives is the structure of minutes, days, seasons, years. All flow with a never ceasing current and always as the Lord has designed. There is no turning or changing by human means, no, it is only the Lord who sovereignly oversees all. There is a corset which underlies all the pomp of life and holds all to a certain mold. Of course this is the Lord's doing. Order is a reflection of Him. There is no order without Him. There is no structure without Him. There are no absolutes without Him. He holds all together and as a conductor directs all in perfect time to make the symphony of our lives turn from a cacophony of noise to a harmonizing masterpiece.

The order that God oversees and commands, is one that includes change. Change is a constant character in the course of daily living. It is a hurdle set before us, as we jump we know that there are more ahead. Look at the change of seasons. As the leaves turn, release their precarious grasp and fall to the ground, we see fall coming. Change. The long days of summer grow short and the heat relinquishes its hold. Change. We know as fall settles in that it is not here for long. It is a friend with visits that are far to short. (I personally am left always wanting more fall. )

I have always struggled with change in life. As I love the seasons and the variation they bring. I am not so easily wooed by change's upheaval in the day to day. I have been vividly reminded of this over the past several weeks as we have gutted our kitchen and then remodeled. While we unpacked the kitchen and moved all the furniture to other rooms, the whole house suffered a violent assault. There was kitchen stuff everywhere! It has taken some time, but I am finally getting things back in order.

Which brings me to my blog. As the house was taken over, so was my life. Chaos has reigned over the last few weeks. My routines have gone out the window, my life taken hostage to the demands of change. After all the many changes the Lord has brought me through over the years, one would think that I could manage it better. But, no, I still struggle to keep my head above water. Now, however, school is back in session, the kitchen is almost finished, and I am able to re-assemble my home. Things are returning to some semblance of order. I can drink my tea, sit at my computer, and write on my blog. I have missed writing, but have continued to mull things over in my head and to prepare posts that are wandering thoughts caught and captured.

It has all made me so thankful for my God, who changes not! He is ever the same. He is immutable! What comfort lies in this! He does not change His mind. He does not alter His opinion. Once, his love is set upon us, it is never removed. In fact, it has been set since before the foundations of the world were laid. He is not wishy-washy. His Word which has been spoken can be trusted. Praise be to Him. In a life, were change is constant, we can see the contrast of our marvelous God. Does it not make your heart leap within you? Do not you want to praise Him? As Sunday approaches, think on Him:Trust Him. Love Him. Worship Him!

Always Outdone

There are characters in the Bible that I would like to emulate. I love Enoch. He is scarcely mentioned in Holy Writ, but the description given him is as a man who "walked with God". I would love to be described that way, wouldn't you?

Yet, there is another man that I have always wanted to imitate. It is the man who was "after God's own heart". My heart envies the description. I want to be after God's heart! I want to be like David. I read about David and am struck by him and the fact that I am always outdone! When David praised God, he was able to put to music and arrange words which would become some of the most beautiful poems the world has ever seen, a shepherd boy composing Psalms that would last for centuries. I am woefully outdone. David was not afraid to bear almost all and dance before the Lord with great rejoicing. I find myself shy, embarrassed, and outdone again. When David fell, he was not content to remain in the state of being separated from fellowship with his God, and repented with great weeping, sorrow, and earnestness. I all too often, forget to repent after asking to be forgiven, once again outdone! (Lord, please forgive my cold heart, for my repentence needs to be repented of!)

David was far from a perfect man, but I cannot "cast the first stone" at him. He suffered at the hand of his earthly king, his children, and had many trials. Yet, he loved God with a whole heart. He was sent from his country and his home, he slept in caves running for his life. He endured the scoffing of those who should have bowed down to Him, and yet he trusted the Lord in all.

But even more, he was after all, just a shadow. He was a dim reflection of the One who would come after Him. David's greater son, the one who would reign with an eternal dominion. The one who with a perfect heart, perfect love, perfect obedience, and perfect submission would be for us the perfect sacrifice.

I want to be like David, but O, so much more like his greater Son! I know that I am always outdone, but I will continue to love my Sovereign. I pray that he would make me like David and more and more like Christ!

Jehovah Tsidkenu- Robert Murray McCheyne

This week I will post a poem by Robert Murray McCheyne that I came across in my private readings. I hope it is a blessing to all, as it has been for me.

Jehovah Tsidkenu- Jehovah our Righteousness

I once was a stranger to grace and to God,
I knew not my danger, and felt not my load,
Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothing to me.

I oft read with pleasure to soothe or engage,
Isaiah's wild measure and John's simple page;
Bet e'en when they pictured the blood-sprinkled tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu seemed nothing to me.

Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll,
I wept when the waters went over his soul,
Yet thought not that my sins had nailed to the tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu- t'was nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me by light from on high,
Then legal fear shook me; I trembled to die;
No refuge, no safety in self could I see,
Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be.

My terrors all vanished before the sweet name,
My guilty fear banished, with boldness I came
To drink at the Fountain, life-giving and free:
Jehovah Tsidkenu as all things to me.

Jehovah Tsidkenu! my treasure and boast;
Jehovah Tsidkenu! I ne'er can be lost!
In thee shall I conquer by flood and by field,
My cable, my anchor, my breastplate and shield.

Even treading the valley, the shadow of death!
This "watchword" shall rally my faltering breath;
For while from life's fever my God sets me free,
"Jehovah Tsidkenu!" my death-song shall be.

This Is the God who we come to worship! May we rest in Him and praise Him for His abundant grace!

What is your last resort?

When you have a headache, do you administer Tylenol before praying?

When your kids are hurt, are band aids applied before prayer?

When you are frustrated with the unfolding of unforeseen events in the day, do you vent to a friend before you come humbly to God?

I only ask, because I, once again, have found myself guilty! I am guilty of neglecting the great means of prayer. I use it as a last resort. I do not come to the Father, who gives us good gifts before all else. I am too quick to solve my own problems my way, instead of quieting my heart before the Sovereign GOD.

God places attaches such sweet promises to prayer. We know that by the effectual blood of Christ He hears our prayers. (Let that sink in... we have an ear in the throne room of heaven... an ear that can accomplish all He purposes to. Does not your heart leap within you with joy at the greatness of God to be our Father and to answer petitions placed before Him? It should!)
We are told that the "prayers of a righteous man accomplish much". We know that "all things are possible with God", and He promises in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." There are so many precious promises I do not have the time to elaborate on them all.

Let us not be backward, may we repent and pray! May we pray for God to be glorified, His name to be praised in us, in our families, in our nation, and in the world! May we pray for the brokenhearted and downcast. May we pray for the stranger to be brought home. May we pray for sanctification in our lives. May we pray for peace! May we pray for the wicked to be caught in their own snares. May we pray for our headaches to be removed, hurts to be healed, and may we pray for our children to love Christ above all. May we be creatures of prayer, not ones who neglect it and use it as a last resort!

This great privilege cost our God a great price. Let us treasure what Christ has purchased on our behalf. May we love our Saviour all the more! Let us come before Him to worship with thankfulness and love!

Have you thought about God today? I mean really thought about God? Not in any reference to what He has done for us, (there is so very much that He has done!) not in a prayer offered as a bullet toward heaven for help, not asking for our "list" of prayer needs, not even in our prayers for others, but have you thought about God? We need to completely remove the "I" from our thoughts and prayers and simply gaze heavenward to consider the Almighty! Let us consider Him apart from creation and salvation. Let us consider HIM!

Our God is! He is infinite, eternal, unchangeable. Have you thought about what that means?

Our God exists in One God but three persons equal in power and glory. He is a mystery to ponder!

Our God is good, true, holy, love, just, merciful, longsuffering, powerful, wise. There is much to consider.

Take some time today to think. Stop. Slow Down. Pull your apron over your head as Susannah Wesley would and contemplate our awesome God! (Eloihim, Adonai, Yahweh, Jehovah) In Christ, we are beckoned to worship Him tomorrow. Think on Him. Let our God be exalted in our minds, hearts and lives. May we be as mirrors of His glory and bring Him praise! Let us exalt the Lord! May we be prepared to come before Him tomorrow!

Psalm 98:4-8
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; and the worldand those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together..."

Living and Dying

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

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