The year is coming to a close and while at some points I didn't think it could end soon enough, others were very sweet memories. I don't think I have ever experienced a year with the collection of very steep and frequent ups and downs. Many of the ups were accentuated by the people who are in my life on a frequent basis, but some of the ups were from people I had just met and may never meet again.
I hope and pray that God would allow us to meet up with our son. This is something that has caused a great awakening in our family life- not necessarily on a purely spiritual plain, though that is certainly there, but on a social plain as well. He has changed the way we think about orphans and we haven't even met him yet. Actually, God is the One Who has done the changing, but He is using a 13 year old boy who barely speaks any English. God has a crazy way of working, doesn't He?
Teresa and I had the opportunity and privilege of meeting Doug Nichols and his wife Margaret this year. Doug is the founder of Action and at 71 is not slowing down any time soon. What an encouragement he has been to me this year, even though we only met 1 time for about 3 hours. God has given him a heart for street kids and he is not letting up.
Another "top of the roller coaster" time for us had to be meeting many new friends in Ethiopia. These may be kids and adults we never meet again here on earth but they captured our hearts while we were there for a week. I need to be reminded frequently of God's abundant blessing on me and those around me and this was a great reminder of His care for orphans and widows. Again, people impacting our lives who don't speak English and who have so little, yet they rejoice while saying "God is Good- All the Time". How true that is!!
And as we prepare for the celebration of the New Year I am always reminded of the people in our ministry who encourage me so much. I don't think many know the impact they have, but the times with our 128 staff is always a "top of the coaster" time. My best friends in the world are those who are in the spiritual trenches with us, being spent for His purposes. Though not perfect, and maybe that is much of the connection, they are trying to be used up for the Master.
I have much to be thankful for, including the low parts of the coaster; maybe even more since they bring about the most reliance on Him. I have learned to rest much more in His care this year, though I have a very long way to go in this area. Since I can't really control anything around me I have to just let go of much that is happening and give it over to Him and pray that I would be excited about what He is doing around me- again, I have a long way to go here.
What a year. Many victories, a little growth, some new friends, knitting together with some old fiends, some spiritual battle won and many still going, but in the end- God is in Control and I could not think of a better place to be than in the shadow of the Almighty. I need Him to keep me there. I need to have my affections tuned to Him purposes. He has to grow those affections or I will wander. May I be more single eyed in 2010 than I have ever been, but that is up to Him to give.
Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore;
mortals, give thanks and sing,
and triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice; rejoice;
again I say, rejoice.
Jesus the Savior reigns,
the God of truth and love;
when he had purged our stains,
he took his seat above.
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice; rejoice,
again I say, rejoice.
His kingdom cannot fail;
he rules o'er earth and heaven;
the keys of earth and hell
are to our Jesus given.
Lift up your heart,
lift up your voice; rejoice,
again I say, rejoice.
Rejoice in glorious hope!
Jesus the Judge shall come,
and take his servants up
to their eternal home.
We soon shall hear
th'archangel's voice; the trump of God
shall sound, rejoice.
Charles Wesley.
For some reason this song just came into my mind as I was finishing, so I stuck it here. I think it is a fitting way to end the year.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
A little Rambling
Yesterday I had some time to drive around to some client's and as I drive I like to spend at least some of that time in prayer. There is much to bring before the Throne of Grace and each day I feel less and less adequate to handle all that is in front of me. There are so many decisions, so many directions and choices to make and I am incapable of knowing exactly what I am to do in really any of those circumstances.
God gives wisdom to those who ask and I have asked more this year than in all the years before combined and I feel as if I am going backward instead of forward. I hope that is not the case and that maybe the testing is just more evident to me now than it has been in the past, but if an inadequate feeling is any indication of growing sanctification, then I believe God is making some progress in this hard heart of mine.
It also seems as if the things I currently have to make decisions on are larger in importance than they have been before. Adoption issues, ministry, so many crazy things happening at work and a wedding to ready ourselves for. So many places to give God glory and praise, so many opportunities to rest in His sovereign plan and at the same time so many places to let my flesh win and not look to Him in every detail of each decision.
So much of what needs addressing has no eternal significance and yet even in those there are so many different places to give Him glory. I truthfully can say that I am not interested in getting glory for myself in much of what goes on in our lives today, and God is my heart's witness to this, but He must give direction since He is the only One who knows everything about each situation I find myself in.
How do we know God's perfect choice of- for example- where to have a wedding? There is too much pressure to get this exactly right. I am not talking about if we can make the wedding the perfect event where everything is timed perfectly and there are no glitches- I could care less about that. I mean- there are so many implications of just the choice of location and in each one of those choices there is a multitude of repercussions that naturally follow. No one can point to a verse and say- this is where the Bible says you should have your wedding and so that makes it difficult to know what God would have us to do- so He can be honored most, even in a wedding location.
Speaking of weddings- I had the privilege and joy of going wedding dress shopping with my Kimmy this last weekend. My little girl is all grown up and picking out her wedding dress. What a beautiful woman God has given to T and I, and now Ian. I had a radio show in the morning and so she and a few friends, and moms, went to start looking before I arrived and she actually picked out the first one she tried on. I didn't see it the first time but she went through, maybe, 8 dresses and then went back to "the one" and I knew it was "it". We then went to another store and she tried on a few more and there were none, in my mind, that were in the running. What a fun and exciting day. Thanks Kimmy for including your daddy.
Anyway- it is so hard for me to discern God's will in things like wedding dresses, granite pricing, time spending and everything else I/we are have opportunities to show off God's greatness in doing. I want to be able to say "look what God did" in each and every situation that comes to a close- that requires careful attention in each situation to be able to see where God stepped in and took over. I have to be purposefully viewing my life and the circumstances that are going on to be able to see exactly where He has taken us.
I don't want to fight against God- that's not even close to a fair fight. I want to truthfully say, "Lord, it's all Yours and You can do what you want in each situation, You know all the comings and goings long before they take place and so if You just do what You want to do from the start it will be much easier on me", but I think He is always giving the opportunity to test my resolve to always give preference to Him and to then give Him the fullest of the glory that He deserves when He does all the work.
All that takes a truthful look at my own ability and clear sight of what He is capable of, and then pride must be fought off to actually say and believe when He has worked and I have watched. My flesh often wants to take at least a little credit for just a bit of what He has accomplished and this is nothing but sin poking its head out.
All I have, all I am, all I can ever hope to be and do, are all given by and sustained by Him. In me there is no good thing that dwells and I need to be quick to humbly ask for direction and guidance, be then quick to follow where He leads and then be quick and thorough in my praising of this amazing God who gives and upholds all the good things in my life. He alone is worthy of all of the praise. May that be my unending song.
God gives wisdom to those who ask and I have asked more this year than in all the years before combined and I feel as if I am going backward instead of forward. I hope that is not the case and that maybe the testing is just more evident to me now than it has been in the past, but if an inadequate feeling is any indication of growing sanctification, then I believe God is making some progress in this hard heart of mine.
It also seems as if the things I currently have to make decisions on are larger in importance than they have been before. Adoption issues, ministry, so many crazy things happening at work and a wedding to ready ourselves for. So many places to give God glory and praise, so many opportunities to rest in His sovereign plan and at the same time so many places to let my flesh win and not look to Him in every detail of each decision.
So much of what needs addressing has no eternal significance and yet even in those there are so many different places to give Him glory. I truthfully can say that I am not interested in getting glory for myself in much of what goes on in our lives today, and God is my heart's witness to this, but He must give direction since He is the only One who knows everything about each situation I find myself in.
How do we know God's perfect choice of- for example- where to have a wedding? There is too much pressure to get this exactly right. I am not talking about if we can make the wedding the perfect event where everything is timed perfectly and there are no glitches- I could care less about that. I mean- there are so many implications of just the choice of location and in each one of those choices there is a multitude of repercussions that naturally follow. No one can point to a verse and say- this is where the Bible says you should have your wedding and so that makes it difficult to know what God would have us to do- so He can be honored most, even in a wedding location.
Speaking of weddings- I had the privilege and joy of going wedding dress shopping with my Kimmy this last weekend. My little girl is all grown up and picking out her wedding dress. What a beautiful woman God has given to T and I, and now Ian. I had a radio show in the morning and so she and a few friends, and moms, went to start looking before I arrived and she actually picked out the first one she tried on. I didn't see it the first time but she went through, maybe, 8 dresses and then went back to "the one" and I knew it was "it". We then went to another store and she tried on a few more and there were none, in my mind, that were in the running. What a fun and exciting day. Thanks Kimmy for including your daddy.
Anyway- it is so hard for me to discern God's will in things like wedding dresses, granite pricing, time spending and everything else I/we are have opportunities to show off God's greatness in doing. I want to be able to say "look what God did" in each and every situation that comes to a close- that requires careful attention in each situation to be able to see where God stepped in and took over. I have to be purposefully viewing my life and the circumstances that are going on to be able to see exactly where He has taken us.
I don't want to fight against God- that's not even close to a fair fight. I want to truthfully say, "Lord, it's all Yours and You can do what you want in each situation, You know all the comings and goings long before they take place and so if You just do what You want to do from the start it will be much easier on me", but I think He is always giving the opportunity to test my resolve to always give preference to Him and to then give Him the fullest of the glory that He deserves when He does all the work.
All that takes a truthful look at my own ability and clear sight of what He is capable of, and then pride must be fought off to actually say and believe when He has worked and I have watched. My flesh often wants to take at least a little credit for just a bit of what He has accomplished and this is nothing but sin poking its head out.
All I have, all I am, all I can ever hope to be and do, are all given by and sustained by Him. In me there is no good thing that dwells and I need to be quick to humbly ask for direction and guidance, be then quick to follow where He leads and then be quick and thorough in my praising of this amazing God who gives and upholds all the good things in my life. He alone is worthy of all of the praise. May that be my unending song.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Recipient of Adoption
We are coming quickly to the close of our adoption- I say "the close" because it will either close resulting in the adoption of our new son or it will close without that happening; but one way or another it will close.
This process has been a grind in many ways. Unfamiliar paperwork, a home study- interviewing everyone who lives here and some who do not, more paperwork, dollars seeming going to everyone who just might have some connection to the adoption and still more paperwork. I am not complaining in the least- just trying to give a picture of what adoption looks likes.
In all our effort, we may end up unable to make this happen. Currently we are at the mercy of an agency on the east coast who has our paperwork and then it will go to another agency to be reviewed and sent to China where it will be in the hands of the Chinese government. This really is completely out of our hands and I am perfectly fine with that, because God can stop the process or keep it going.
Our inability is shown at almost every turn to make this happen and yet there is a part of the process that we are involved with- if we had not started to move forward, even in our weakness, this would not have taken place. We were the initiators.
While we are scrambling to do our part, however successful that may turn out to be, our new son still may not even know this is happening. This is so much how our conversion is, except God never fails at bringing sinners to Himself when He starts the process. As I sit here and read 2 Cor. 9:15 "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" I am amazed how similar this is to our adoption.
A gift need only be received by the recipient- there is no boasting by the recipient in the talent necessary to receive a gift. The gift and the giver are the only things to be glorified. Our new son will not be able to boast in being adopted because of some fantastic part he played in the process- he was alive and available to be adopted and the rest was completely out of his control.
When he arrives here the same will be true- there will be nothing to "keep him adopted" that is in his control- he is just the recipient. The same is true of our salvation- we are not able to boast in our conversion or in our sanctification. It is Christ and the Holy Spirit who are doing the work to keep us adopted and continually being sanctified, not us.
At the end of my life our new son will get whatever inheritance remains from our life under the sun and this too has nothing to do with him except that he would need to receive it in order that it might be his. There is no boasting in receiving an inheritance any more than the previous things- you receive an inheritance.
The inheritance left for our new son can look markedly different depending on what the economy does between now and when I put on my other tent, but God's inheritance to us is incorruptible, undefiled and does not fade away- even in a down economy- it is preserved in Heaven for us.
Perfect security from start to finish and for all of eternity- that is an gift worth talking about- even if there are no words to describe it. That is a gift and a Giver worth being excited about. Why worry about what happens in this life when God did not spare His own Son- how will He not also give us all things? the price He paid for our adoption is much higher than we are paying for our new son and yet He- for some reason- was willing and able to redeem us to Himself.
This process has been a grind in many ways. Unfamiliar paperwork, a home study- interviewing everyone who lives here and some who do not, more paperwork, dollars seeming going to everyone who just might have some connection to the adoption and still more paperwork. I am not complaining in the least- just trying to give a picture of what adoption looks likes.
In all our effort, we may end up unable to make this happen. Currently we are at the mercy of an agency on the east coast who has our paperwork and then it will go to another agency to be reviewed and sent to China where it will be in the hands of the Chinese government. This really is completely out of our hands and I am perfectly fine with that, because God can stop the process or keep it going.
Our inability is shown at almost every turn to make this happen and yet there is a part of the process that we are involved with- if we had not started to move forward, even in our weakness, this would not have taken place. We were the initiators.
While we are scrambling to do our part, however successful that may turn out to be, our new son still may not even know this is happening. This is so much how our conversion is, except God never fails at bringing sinners to Himself when He starts the process. As I sit here and read 2 Cor. 9:15 "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" I am amazed how similar this is to our adoption.
A gift need only be received by the recipient- there is no boasting by the recipient in the talent necessary to receive a gift. The gift and the giver are the only things to be glorified. Our new son will not be able to boast in being adopted because of some fantastic part he played in the process- he was alive and available to be adopted and the rest was completely out of his control.
When he arrives here the same will be true- there will be nothing to "keep him adopted" that is in his control- he is just the recipient. The same is true of our salvation- we are not able to boast in our conversion or in our sanctification. It is Christ and the Holy Spirit who are doing the work to keep us adopted and continually being sanctified, not us.
At the end of my life our new son will get whatever inheritance remains from our life under the sun and this too has nothing to do with him except that he would need to receive it in order that it might be his. There is no boasting in receiving an inheritance any more than the previous things- you receive an inheritance.
The inheritance left for our new son can look markedly different depending on what the economy does between now and when I put on my other tent, but God's inheritance to us is incorruptible, undefiled and does not fade away- even in a down economy- it is preserved in Heaven for us.
Perfect security from start to finish and for all of eternity- that is an gift worth talking about- even if there are no words to describe it. That is a gift and a Giver worth being excited about. Why worry about what happens in this life when God did not spare His own Son- how will He not also give us all things? the price He paid for our adoption is much higher than we are paying for our new son and yet He- for some reason- was willing and able to redeem us to Himself.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
He is Faithful
Faith seems hard to come by at times. I think about how difficult it is for me to trust and leave things up to God but when I read the stories in the Bible it looks unreasonable to not have faith.
The saints of old, their stories, unfold in the pages of Scripture telling of great faith resulting in amazing acts of faith, giving hope for future generations. But what made their faith so strong? How did they get such robust faith and without all the printed stories that we have to look back on. Imagine if our faith came only from the stories, verbally past on from the generations before us- what would our faith look like? What if the family we were raised in didn't have faith- then what would our own faith look like?
How did a guy like OT Joseph have such amazing faith- faith to rest in God's plan for him through all the adversity and trials he had to go through? Joseph was the favored son of a father who loved him so very much- he was a daddy's boy, born to Israel in his old age. Think about the pain that went through that family while all this was taking place. The guilt that must have been going through the older brothers' hearts as they told their father the lies to cover up their sin.
What was Joseph thinking as he was being put into the pit- what was he thinking as he was being brought back up? What must have been going through his mind as his own brothers were selling him to people he had never seen before and probably couldn't even understand what they were saying? How did he remain strong, trusting in God's plan, while all this was taking place? The stories he had heard the first 17 years of his life must have had a big impact on him. Did his father tell him all these stories and he just had no issues believing that this is how God works?
What will my kids' faith look like as they listen and watch me live a life of faith in front of them? They have the Bible now, but what if they didn't? The Holy Spirit works in our hearts to grow our faith after He implants it there in the first place, but the seeds of faith get planted along the way, in our own hearts and in the hearts of those around us, growing up to be big trees to continue the planting analogy, that we can look back and be reminded of what God did in our lives and in the lives of others.
I think that I can do a better job of proclaiming to the world what God is doing to build my faith. We can't keep hidden, or suppressed, the work He is doing to show His power in our lives and in the lives of those around us. It's not boasting to tell what God is doing in our lives because it is showing His greatness off in our weakness. "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
We need not try to cover up our weaknesses because in those weaknesses His power is shown. How strong does someone have to be to accomplish something amazing while carrying the weight of another who is not contributing? We can proclaim to the world, and our own hearts, God's faithfulness- we must. This just enhances the work the Holy Spirit is doing in our own hearts. We need to tell others and ourselves, "look how amazing our God is- He did..."
We need to hide His promises in our hearts, have the stories of saints gone home in our hearts, have biographies of faithful ones and our own past graces ready for when the trials and testing comes, so we can look back on all that our Great God has done and say to our own hearts, "Great is your faithfulness".
SCC has a new album out. He wrote this in connection with the lose of his adopted daughter. This happened the same day as Grant's event, but we were allowed, by God, to keep Grant. I can partially relate to SCC as I think about the lose and think about "You give and take away" and how we must often declare it to our hearts- we must remind ourselves that God is faithful. Life is hard but God IS faithful. Joseph was convinced, Job was convinced, David was convinced, Jesus was convinced, Paul was convinced and we must be convinced.
Faithful,
Steven Curtis Chapman
I am broken, I am bleeding
I'm scared and I'm confused
But You are faithful, yes, You are faithful
I am weary and believing
God please help my unbelief
Cause You are faithful, yes, You are faithful
I will proclaim it to the world
I will declare it to my heart
I will sing it when the sun is shining
I will scream it in the dark
You are faithful, You are faithful
When You give and when You take away
Even then still Your name is faithful
You are faithful
And with everything inside of me
I am choosing to believe
You are faithful
I am waiting for the rescue
That I know will surely come
Cause You are faithful, yes, You are faithful
And I've dropped anchor in Your promises and I am holding on
Cause You are faithful, God, You are faithful
I will proclaim it to the world
I will declare it to my heart
I'll sing it when the sun is shining
I will scream it in the dark
You are faithful, You are faithful
When You give and when You take away
Even then still Your name is faithful
You are faithful
And with everything inside of me
I am choosing to believe
You're faithful
So faithful
When I cannot have the answer
That I'm wanting to demand
I'll remember You are God
And everything is in Your hands
With Your hands You put the sun and moon and stars up in the sky
For the sake of love You hung Your own son on the cross to die
And You are faithful
Yes, You are faithful
When You give, when You take away even then
Great is Your faithfulness
Great is Your faithfulness
And with everything inside of me
I am choosing to believe
You're faithful
When You give, when You take away
Even then, still Your name is faithful
You are faithful
And with everything inside of me
I am choosing to believe
You are faithful
You are faithful
The saints of old, their stories, unfold in the pages of Scripture telling of great faith resulting in amazing acts of faith, giving hope for future generations. But what made their faith so strong? How did they get such robust faith and without all the printed stories that we have to look back on. Imagine if our faith came only from the stories, verbally past on from the generations before us- what would our faith look like? What if the family we were raised in didn't have faith- then what would our own faith look like?
How did a guy like OT Joseph have such amazing faith- faith to rest in God's plan for him through all the adversity and trials he had to go through? Joseph was the favored son of a father who loved him so very much- he was a daddy's boy, born to Israel in his old age. Think about the pain that went through that family while all this was taking place. The guilt that must have been going through the older brothers' hearts as they told their father the lies to cover up their sin.
What was Joseph thinking as he was being put into the pit- what was he thinking as he was being brought back up? What must have been going through his mind as his own brothers were selling him to people he had never seen before and probably couldn't even understand what they were saying? How did he remain strong, trusting in God's plan, while all this was taking place? The stories he had heard the first 17 years of his life must have had a big impact on him. Did his father tell him all these stories and he just had no issues believing that this is how God works?
What will my kids' faith look like as they listen and watch me live a life of faith in front of them? They have the Bible now, but what if they didn't? The Holy Spirit works in our hearts to grow our faith after He implants it there in the first place, but the seeds of faith get planted along the way, in our own hearts and in the hearts of those around us, growing up to be big trees to continue the planting analogy, that we can look back and be reminded of what God did in our lives and in the lives of others.
I think that I can do a better job of proclaiming to the world what God is doing to build my faith. We can't keep hidden, or suppressed, the work He is doing to show His power in our lives and in the lives of those around us. It's not boasting to tell what God is doing in our lives because it is showing His greatness off in our weakness. "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
We need not try to cover up our weaknesses because in those weaknesses His power is shown. How strong does someone have to be to accomplish something amazing while carrying the weight of another who is not contributing? We can proclaim to the world, and our own hearts, God's faithfulness- we must. This just enhances the work the Holy Spirit is doing in our own hearts. We need to tell others and ourselves, "look how amazing our God is- He did..."
We need to hide His promises in our hearts, have the stories of saints gone home in our hearts, have biographies of faithful ones and our own past graces ready for when the trials and testing comes, so we can look back on all that our Great God has done and say to our own hearts, "Great is your faithfulness".
SCC has a new album out. He wrote this in connection with the lose of his adopted daughter. This happened the same day as Grant's event, but we were allowed, by God, to keep Grant. I can partially relate to SCC as I think about the lose and think about "You give and take away" and how we must often declare it to our hearts- we must remind ourselves that God is faithful. Life is hard but God IS faithful. Joseph was convinced, Job was convinced, David was convinced, Jesus was convinced, Paul was convinced and we must be convinced.
Faithful,
Steven Curtis Chapman
I am broken, I am bleeding
I'm scared and I'm confused
But You are faithful, yes, You are faithful
I am weary and believing
God please help my unbelief
Cause You are faithful, yes, You are faithful
I will proclaim it to the world
I will declare it to my heart
I will sing it when the sun is shining
I will scream it in the dark
You are faithful, You are faithful
When You give and when You take away
Even then still Your name is faithful
You are faithful
And with everything inside of me
I am choosing to believe
You are faithful
I am waiting for the rescue
That I know will surely come
Cause You are faithful, yes, You are faithful
And I've dropped anchor in Your promises and I am holding on
Cause You are faithful, God, You are faithful
I will proclaim it to the world
I will declare it to my heart
I'll sing it when the sun is shining
I will scream it in the dark
You are faithful, You are faithful
When You give and when You take away
Even then still Your name is faithful
You are faithful
And with everything inside of me
I am choosing to believe
You're faithful
So faithful
When I cannot have the answer
That I'm wanting to demand
I'll remember You are God
And everything is in Your hands
With Your hands You put the sun and moon and stars up in the sky
For the sake of love You hung Your own son on the cross to die
And You are faithful
Yes, You are faithful
When You give, when You take away even then
Great is Your faithfulness
Great is Your faithfulness
And with everything inside of me
I am choosing to believe
You're faithful
When You give, when You take away
Even then, still Your name is faithful
You are faithful
And with everything inside of me
I am choosing to believe
You are faithful
You are faithful
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Past Grace Builds Tomorrow's Faith
Here are some thoughts connected to Piper's Future Grace series.
When I read stories in the Bible about people with large faith, or that were very effective for God, I often forget that they were relatively normal people. I have been thinking about Joseph and how God used him to change the lives of so many. How was Joseph different than you and I?
If you look at Joseph's life- from the early years- there were things that took place that could have been you and I. He had a dream- brothers bowing down before him. Now there was not too much discernment in telling your older brothers this story, was there? I don't have any brothers but I can see in almost every family this would get you in some serious trouble. Now granted, I don't think most brothers would have taken it to this level, but they would not have just let it slide.
Joseph's life had so many ups and downs. Favored above the brothers, sold into slavery, elevated among the slaves, thrown into prison, elevated among the prisoners, forgotten by the dreamer, elevated before the rulers and ends up the 2nd in command over the entire country. Up and down, up and down.
The Bible doesn't tell us about his attitude all the way through, but Joseph was not perfect and so he had good days and bad days in those up and down years, about 13-ish years worth. What kept him going? What kept him from getting cynical and angry at others mistreatment of him?
I think it was looking back on God's faithfulness and knowing that God had a plan and that there was just nothing for him to do but "Trust in the Lord" and wait for "Him to act". In each situation when he did what he knew to be right the outcome was up to God and all he could do was wait on the Lord.
A couple of years in prison here and there, slavery and evil women trying to seduce him and yet he did what he knew to be right and left it in God's hands. How hard would it have been to be sitting in prison knowing that you did exactly the right thing? Was there times he was despairing there in the prison? We are not told, but I think so. There were battles for his trust in God all the time and he just battled until God showed him where he would have him to be.
I have a hard time in the times of the unknown. I know I can't handle knowing, but it is so hard not knowing what will happen even in a month, let alone next year and beyond. Faith is produced when I look back on the past graces that God has given so many times. So many times He has carried me through and until He is finished with me here on earth He will have to keep carrying me through. I can't make it through anything w/o Him carrying me.
So then, as I look back on those past graces that build up the walls of my little "faith-house", the walls become stronger and stronger as each thing happens and each brick of past grace is laid on the wall. Pretty soon what would have really shaken my tiny little house doesn't even concern me. I can think back at the other "quakes" and remember, the last time we had a shake of this size it didn't do anything and there are more bricks now than then.
When I can look at those past events and know He is able to carry me through, then it gives me hope for the future because I know that He is building my faith all along and that faith, in what He has and will do, allows me to go through bigger trials than before, because my faith has been tested and is stronger. It is all His doing; His saving, His faith building, His allowing the testing at the perfect time, His graces, His carrying and His supplying the vision for me to be able to see the hope that is unseen- yet visible.
Joseph had to have great faith to wait on the Lord to renew his strength. He didn't have a bunch of verses memorized because there wasn't any written down yet. He had past grace, in his own life and in the stories he heard, to look to and that was it. Looking to God was all he had and that was what he did.
When I read stories in the Bible about people with large faith, or that were very effective for God, I often forget that they were relatively normal people. I have been thinking about Joseph and how God used him to change the lives of so many. How was Joseph different than you and I?
If you look at Joseph's life- from the early years- there were things that took place that could have been you and I. He had a dream- brothers bowing down before him. Now there was not too much discernment in telling your older brothers this story, was there? I don't have any brothers but I can see in almost every family this would get you in some serious trouble. Now granted, I don't think most brothers would have taken it to this level, but they would not have just let it slide.
Joseph's life had so many ups and downs. Favored above the brothers, sold into slavery, elevated among the slaves, thrown into prison, elevated among the prisoners, forgotten by the dreamer, elevated before the rulers and ends up the 2nd in command over the entire country. Up and down, up and down.
The Bible doesn't tell us about his attitude all the way through, but Joseph was not perfect and so he had good days and bad days in those up and down years, about 13-ish years worth. What kept him going? What kept him from getting cynical and angry at others mistreatment of him?
I think it was looking back on God's faithfulness and knowing that God had a plan and that there was just nothing for him to do but "Trust in the Lord" and wait for "Him to act". In each situation when he did what he knew to be right the outcome was up to God and all he could do was wait on the Lord.
A couple of years in prison here and there, slavery and evil women trying to seduce him and yet he did what he knew to be right and left it in God's hands. How hard would it have been to be sitting in prison knowing that you did exactly the right thing? Was there times he was despairing there in the prison? We are not told, but I think so. There were battles for his trust in God all the time and he just battled until God showed him where he would have him to be.
I have a hard time in the times of the unknown. I know I can't handle knowing, but it is so hard not knowing what will happen even in a month, let alone next year and beyond. Faith is produced when I look back on the past graces that God has given so many times. So many times He has carried me through and until He is finished with me here on earth He will have to keep carrying me through. I can't make it through anything w/o Him carrying me.
So then, as I look back on those past graces that build up the walls of my little "faith-house", the walls become stronger and stronger as each thing happens and each brick of past grace is laid on the wall. Pretty soon what would have really shaken my tiny little house doesn't even concern me. I can think back at the other "quakes" and remember, the last time we had a shake of this size it didn't do anything and there are more bricks now than then.
When I can look at those past events and know He is able to carry me through, then it gives me hope for the future because I know that He is building my faith all along and that faith, in what He has and will do, allows me to go through bigger trials than before, because my faith has been tested and is stronger. It is all His doing; His saving, His faith building, His allowing the testing at the perfect time, His graces, His carrying and His supplying the vision for me to be able to see the hope that is unseen- yet visible.
Joseph had to have great faith to wait on the Lord to renew his strength. He didn't have a bunch of verses memorized because there wasn't any written down yet. He had past grace, in his own life and in the stories he heard, to look to and that was it. Looking to God was all he had and that was what he did.
Friday, December 25, 2009
The Inn is full
I listened to the J Piper "The Innkeeper" again this am. I have heard the "Christmas story" so many times I can't begin to count, but I never really considered what it would have been like to be a "normal" person in that time.
No room in the inn would have been par for the course for almost everyone living at that time and I don't think it is too much different today.
The political leader was trying to make sure he wasn't "dethroned" by some little child that was foretold so long ago. Maybe he learned that from one of his predecessors- Pharaoh- maybe he just came about it naturally, being a greedy, power hungry monarch trying to make his name stick in the history books. Is it any different today? Who are those rulers who are standing up for Christ and making room in their "kingdoms" for Him?
What about the soldiers who were under Caesar's command? Could they have rebelled against their leader, did they actually want too? It certainly doesn't seem as if they were against any of this killing. Maybe this Jesus would get rid of them if He took control. Maybe He had a totally different way of running things and they would be turned into slaves? Could they take a chance on that, or should they stick to things the way they were- kill or be killed. Is that an different today? Is there room in the hearts of most of our military personnel for Christ? I served a few years and I didn't see that happening too much.
What about the religious leaders? They were worried about being on the wrong side of the new religious system. The current leaders were stating their case and making sure they pushed down whomever brought up something that made them look, in the least bit, bad. They had their way of doing things- we've always done it this way- and they were not going to hear of anything different. What about today? Where are those religious leaders who are willing to stand up against all the "new" religious ways- homosexual pastors, same sex marriage, evo-creation and the list goes on. Christmas is a nice story to most religious leaders today.
And what about the people who were just regular old people then? What is all the ruckus about? It's just another baby. Yeah right- the Messiah we have been hearing about is born in a stable to a couple of regular people. And what about all the scandal surrounding this Mary? Sure- she's a virgin. When was the last time you saw that? We'll wait to see what happens and when it turns out that this Jesus grows up like the rest of our boys then we'll know He wasn't anything special. He is nothing special to look at and He has no power, no royal blood and no fanfare that can be seen.
Is it different today? People, even church going people seem to think that Jesus is just an accessory to who they are- you can put Him on and off when it's convenient. Sunday morning is for church and the rest of the week is for doing what I want to do- right? I mean I can be a Christian and still do all the things I used to do- I have liberty. Look how many people I am helping. I'm not like those "other" people who don't have any room in their hearts for Him- He gets Sunday morning, as long as it's not Superbowl Sunday, or as long as I don't have a game to go to. He will understand that sports, vacations, family time, and whatever else I can cram in, are rally good things- right?
There was no room in the inn and it seems there is no room in most people's lives today. Too many distractions and not enough time for the true meaning of life and Christmas. We look back and say, "They totally missed it", but would we have missed it too? Would our lives have been to crowded to see that this is the One? Too busy getting ready for the weekend. Too busy getting ready to have company over, cooking and cleaning? Too busy thinking about slaughtering the lamb for dinner to see that The Lamb was born for sinners?
Oh, I think many today would have missed it. Our lives are much too crowded with stuff to have enough time to stop and realize that the King is here. What does He require? Sunday mornings? All day Sunday? He requires ALL our lives to be lived for Him- whatever that looks like. Each is in a different place and each has the opportunity to live for the Messiah or live for themselves. Which will it be? Is there room in your heart for this Jesus, or is it too full of good things to even add one more?
No room in the inn would have been par for the course for almost everyone living at that time and I don't think it is too much different today.
The political leader was trying to make sure he wasn't "dethroned" by some little child that was foretold so long ago. Maybe he learned that from one of his predecessors- Pharaoh- maybe he just came about it naturally, being a greedy, power hungry monarch trying to make his name stick in the history books. Is it any different today? Who are those rulers who are standing up for Christ and making room in their "kingdoms" for Him?
What about the soldiers who were under Caesar's command? Could they have rebelled against their leader, did they actually want too? It certainly doesn't seem as if they were against any of this killing. Maybe this Jesus would get rid of them if He took control. Maybe He had a totally different way of running things and they would be turned into slaves? Could they take a chance on that, or should they stick to things the way they were- kill or be killed. Is that an different today? Is there room in the hearts of most of our military personnel for Christ? I served a few years and I didn't see that happening too much.
What about the religious leaders? They were worried about being on the wrong side of the new religious system. The current leaders were stating their case and making sure they pushed down whomever brought up something that made them look, in the least bit, bad. They had their way of doing things- we've always done it this way- and they were not going to hear of anything different. What about today? Where are those religious leaders who are willing to stand up against all the "new" religious ways- homosexual pastors, same sex marriage, evo-creation and the list goes on. Christmas is a nice story to most religious leaders today.
And what about the people who were just regular old people then? What is all the ruckus about? It's just another baby. Yeah right- the Messiah we have been hearing about is born in a stable to a couple of regular people. And what about all the scandal surrounding this Mary? Sure- she's a virgin. When was the last time you saw that? We'll wait to see what happens and when it turns out that this Jesus grows up like the rest of our boys then we'll know He wasn't anything special. He is nothing special to look at and He has no power, no royal blood and no fanfare that can be seen.
Is it different today? People, even church going people seem to think that Jesus is just an accessory to who they are- you can put Him on and off when it's convenient. Sunday morning is for church and the rest of the week is for doing what I want to do- right? I mean I can be a Christian and still do all the things I used to do- I have liberty. Look how many people I am helping. I'm not like those "other" people who don't have any room in their hearts for Him- He gets Sunday morning, as long as it's not Superbowl Sunday, or as long as I don't have a game to go to. He will understand that sports, vacations, family time, and whatever else I can cram in, are rally good things- right?
There was no room in the inn and it seems there is no room in most people's lives today. Too many distractions and not enough time for the true meaning of life and Christmas. We look back and say, "They totally missed it", but would we have missed it too? Would our lives have been to crowded to see that this is the One? Too busy getting ready for the weekend. Too busy getting ready to have company over, cooking and cleaning? Too busy thinking about slaughtering the lamb for dinner to see that The Lamb was born for sinners?
Oh, I think many today would have missed it. Our lives are much too crowded with stuff to have enough time to stop and realize that the King is here. What does He require? Sunday mornings? All day Sunday? He requires ALL our lives to be lived for Him- whatever that looks like. Each is in a different place and each has the opportunity to live for the Messiah or live for themselves. Which will it be? Is there room in your heart for this Jesus, or is it too full of good things to even add one more?
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Special Gift
A friend of mine got me a cd of Andrea Bocelli and we were listening to it last night in the house. Teresa made the comment that his voice is so high and that he sings so effortlessly. What a gift God has given him to be able to sing. Not all people are given voices to sing beautifully and I think that in some cases that is because they would not be able to handle that praise that comes with such a gift- but it is a gift.
Not that there has not been an abundance of work that has gone into exercising the voice and practicing for countless hours, but it doesn't matter how many hours I practice my voice will never sound like that.
When T made that statement I immediately thought about how effortlessly we are able to do things when we are doing it in God's way. He provides the strength and ability and it fits perfectly into who He has made us to be as His child. He has planned all that we are to be in this life and when we follow His leading it should not be like pulling teeth to get up and do our work each day- we are where God wants us to be when we get up and "get to go to work" each day.
It will be interesting to see where God takes each one of us in this next year.
Not that there has not been an abundance of work that has gone into exercising the voice and practicing for countless hours, but it doesn't matter how many hours I practice my voice will never sound like that.
When T made that statement I immediately thought about how effortlessly we are able to do things when we are doing it in God's way. He provides the strength and ability and it fits perfectly into who He has made us to be as His child. He has planned all that we are to be in this life and when we follow His leading it should not be like pulling teeth to get up and do our work each day- we are where God wants us to be when we get up and "get to go to work" each day.
It will be interesting to see where God takes each one of us in this next year.
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