Shopping for Thought

Last week my husband kindly offered to allow me some time to clothes shop kid-free. Those of you with kids know that this truly was a blessing. Those of you without children should imagine yourselves trying on clothes with the use of only one arm.

While in one of the fitting rooms, I heard a man's voice asking one of the store associates for help.

"I don't know what size she is," he said.

"Hold your arms out like this," said the associate. After a pause, she repeated the measurements.

"Um, clearly this isn't really my cup of tea. Could you help me out a little bit? Where would I find that?" he said.

"Well, the sizes for younger girls are over there. She'll probably be able to find a style that she likes in that section."

I found it odd that a man would be shopping for clothing with a young girl without knowing what he was looking for, but I didn't think much more about it.

When I got into line, a few places in front of me was a man and a young girl with Down Syndrome. The girl was holding a couple of colorful training bras. It clicked--this was them. My heart flooded with sympathy.

As I thought about my experience over the next few days, a few things came to mind:

1. Did you know that the abortion rate upon prenatal discovery of possible Down Syndrome in the baby is around 90%?

I am completely staggered by that number. Our culture of convenience and ease has put forth the lie that it's okay to end a life because it might be difficult to care for. It displays a complete lack of trust in the sovereignty of God. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that it would be easy to have a child with Down Syndrome, or that it would be simple to swallow that pill by declaring God's sovereignty.

What I am saying is that it's sad.


2. As I thought of that father, he was clearly in an awkward situation: bra-shopping with his daughter. And yet, she needed it, and so there he was.

Obviously I don't know his heart, but I do know God's heart. If this fallen, earthly father was willing to extend such kindness and love to his helpless, needy child, in her moment of need, how much more is our perfect heavenly Father willing to extend his kindness to us, his needy and helpless children, all the time!

While we are welcome to come to him and say "Daddy, I need you," more often than not, he comes alongside us and provides for our needs even before we know of them. Sometimes it might be something "hard" for him, like leading us through pain, a loss, a trial, but he does it anyway because he knows it's for our good and his glory.

To Wear or Not to Wear...

All Christian women can sympathize with the struggle to be modest in 21st century America.

Try going to a clothing store for a shirt--you're probably going to be there for a while. It might even require going into three or four stores before finding something that meets all the criteria that modesty demands.

It's not easy and we have probably all compromised our modesty, at some point or other, simply because it's easier to buy what's popular or because we wanted to look fashionable.

I was much encouraged to receive the handout on modesty this past Sunday. It said several things to me:

1) Gayline (and the other pastor's wives) consider modesty an important enough issue to address and to provide help on how to attain a modest spirit (this help is VERY rarely given, even among churches)

2) It made me feel 'spiritually looked after'--modesty is a very difficult subject to approach and is often ignored because it can be awkward; the handout shows just another way in which sanctification is taken extremely seriously at TFC (we should be exhorting each other to grow in holiness!)

3) It was not a legalist list of 'don'ts' to make you 'look like a Christian,' but instead it dealt with the heart, reasoning with the reader to check her motivation in everything she does

4) Other 'modesty issues' were addressed--character traits; what is regularly written off to 'personality' or 'background' was shown for the sin that it is

Just a few of the many things to be thankful for that we are cared for in this way.

I really hope that we, TFC women, do a serious read-through of the handout and ask the Lord to reveal any 'immodesties of spirit' in us. I'm very thankful to be in a church where women pursue godliness. This makes correction graciously administered and humbly received.

BTW, one of the best messages on modesty I have ever heard (and one I find the need to periodically re-listen to when I need help in this area) is by C.J. Mahaney. Here's the link to the free download: The Soul of Modesty. Eye-opening and practical!

"Examine me, O Lord, and try me; test my mind and my heart." (Psalm 26:2)

a chance to die!

I like writing, and I inevitably find that the hardest part about writing is coming up with a suitable title for the piece. Similarly, I like reading, and when I find a book with a suitable title, it makes my bird sing (more on that phrase some other time).

I've got a prime specimen of a title on my desk: A Chance to Die. As you can imagine, this book is deeper than its cover page. This book is particularly exciting to me. First, it's about Amy Carmichael. I love Amy Carmichael. Second, it's written by Elisabeth Elliot. I really love Elisabeth Elliot.

Here's a little sip, a mere soupçon of what's in this wonderful biography. Tell me this isn't more compelling than whatever is on TV tonight!

Amy rang the bell one morning to gather the servants for prayers. The cook's small boy, pointing to the bell, said, "It's a god."

I looked at the thing, it had a scratched face on the handle, and the face, he declared, was Ram's. I think the young scamp meant nothing more serious than a bit of mischief, but I knocked the bell handle off and pushed it into a fire which was burning near. He could never say that again! They all looked on, servants and coolies, and nobody said a word. Would a god let me do that? I asked them, and walked off, carrying the battered bell.

A Chance to Die. Do we see life as a chance to die, or as an opportunity to enjoy a comfortable road on our way to Heaven? There is exciting, God-glorifying stuff in the lives of those who came before us. Let's not waste our lives watching the exploits of God-hating reality stars.

Becoming a 'Seeker'

If you stopped right now and examined your life, thoughts, dreams, goals, desires...what would come to mind as the driving force of why you 'do what you do' day in and day out?

A 350+ yr. old sermon on Matthew 6:33 by the Rev. Hugh Binning reeeeaaaallllyyy ministered to my soul...wish I could post the whole thing! Savor and enjoy:

Are ye then seekers of the kingdom? If ye did but examine one day how it is spent, ye might pass a judgment upon your whole life. Do ye seek that first which is fewest times in your thoughts, and least in your affections, and hath least of your time bestowed on it? Alas, do not flatter yourselves... If Christianity take not up a man, he hath not the thing, but the name.

This is that which I would have engraven on all our hearts, that there is a necessity of making Christianity our calling and trade, our business and employment, else we must renounce it. It will take our whole man, our whole time, not spare hours, and by thoughts... This imports that those who make not religion their great comprehensive study, do neither know eternity, nor see into it. Oh, how may this word strike into the hearts of many Christians, and pierce as a sword!

All ye toil about, what is it? Children's fancies. Such houses and kingdoms as they build in the sand. Why spend ye your time and labour upon earthly things that are at an end? Here is a kingdom worthy of all men's thoughts, and affections, and time. The diligent shall have it. Gird up the loins of your mind, and seek it as the one thing needful. Many of you desire this kingdom, but alas! these are sluggard's wishes, ye have fainting desires after it. Your desires consume and waste you. But ye put not forth your hand, and so ye have nothing.

Do ye see any growing Christian, but he that is much in the exercise of godliness, and very honest in it? See ye any fat souls, but diligent souls? Our barrenness and leanness hath negligence written upon it. Do ye not wonder that we are not fat and flourishing, as palms and cedars in the courts of our God?... Therefore Christians, let this be your name, Seekers, but seekers of what? Not of any new religion, but of the good old kingdom of God, proponed to us in the gospel. Your seeking will proclaim your estimation of what ye seek. (emphasis added) It will be written on it, what your desires are... Diligence speaks affection, and affection principles (excites--Ed.) diligence... When ye have found all, ye must seek. Ye do but find in part, because the kingdom of God is but coming in the glory and perfection of it. Nay, I believe the more ye find, the more ye will seek, because tasting what this kingdom is, can best engage the affection and resolution after it.

Christians, remember your name. When you have attained all, still seek more. For there is more to be found here than ye have yet found...Desires and diligence are the vital sap of a Christian. Enlarge once your desires as the grave, that never says I have enough. And ye have good warrant so to do, because that which ye are allowed to desire is without bounds and measure... Let your diligence come up to desires, and at length ye shall be what ye would be, ye shall find what ye sought (The works of the Rev. Hugh Binning, Volume 2, pp. 587-90, BiblioBazaar, 2008).

As the psalmist says, it is in God's presence that there is fullness of joy. Why then do we so often stray or lose our passion for God? The flesh is ever warring against our souls; let us be on the offensive as befitting a good soldier in wartime.

May the Lord be gracious to us and grant us a desire for Him that eclipses our taste for anything else.

an adoption story

A husband and wife in full-time Christian ministry. Southern transplants living in the northern midwest. Four sons, if not grown then quickly growing. Mom and Dad are in their fifties, not interested in easy retirement, but inevitably a little slower. Passions and hobbies include missions and evangelism, pro-life issues, racial restoration.

The goal: "taking risks and trusting God and doing unexpected and radical things."

What would your next step be? What would you do to take risks? When everyone around you is watching soaps and pining for grandchildren and lamenting over lost youth, what could you do that would be so unexpected and radical that everyone who heard would have to stop and glorify God?

For Noël, the answer was clear. For her husband John, it took a few more days to decide. This past week and a half or so on her blog, Noël Piper has been telling the story of how she and her husband adopted an African-American baby girl. It's delight, and the story isn't over yet. Read it!

And here's one girl who is inspired to follow the example of an older godly woman to also take risks and trust God and do unexpected and radical things both now and who knows, maybe thirty years from now!

Seeing God in...Risotto?

My musings on risotto and God's lovingkindness in suffering and hardship.

I made risotto for dinner tonight. 

I love making risotto--it is warm, creamy, and I find it very calming to make. It is not calming to the poor rice kernels however.

In it's transformation from plain old rice to creamy deliciousness, it must first be toasted, stirred, and beaten...quite the process, but a necessary one.

First, the rice, accompanied by an onion and a garlic clove, must be toasted in hot oil. This process 'plumps' the rice which results in the toothy texture of a proper risotto.

Secondly, hot stock is added to the toasted kernels. This step is key--the stock must be added one ladle at a time, and only once the previous ladle has been absorbed by the rice. This step requires patience and constant stirring and cannot be rushed!

Thirdly, once the rice is cooked (when you can drag a spoon through the middle of the pot and the rice does not run back), a pat of cold butter is beaten in. It is important that you beat vigorously--this creates the glossy sheen and velvety consistency of risotto. This step is also where you can add anything you want to (tonight I added snow peas and parmesan cheese).

Risotto takes a few steps to make and a lot of time and attention, but the results are stellar. Taking a humble grain of rice and transforming it into a beautiful, creamy risotto can only be accomplished by putting it through this strenuous, time-consuming process--there is no other way.

Oftentimes, I feel like a grain of rice being toasted, stirred up, or beaten down by sin, circumstances, or unrealized expectations.

God is in the risotto-making business. He takes humble little grains of rice and makes them into beautiful, God-glorifying, winsome, Christ-like 'risottos.'

Sin, death, pain, suffering, disappointments, abandonment, despair--my loving Father has used many difficult circumstances to transform me into the image of His Son. This process will not end while I am still 'in the pot' (on this earth).

Seeing God working all things in my life for my eternal joy is overwhelming. Who am I? I am just a grain of rice. God is the Master-Chef Who prepares, seasons, and finishes PERFECTLY every risotto He sets out to make.

softly and tenderly

A much-abused old hymn has been worming its way into my affections lately. It is almost a hundred and thirty years old, and it has almost become cliche as an invitation hymn. I know that I have sung it very mechanically in the past, due to a combination of laziness and overexposure. But lately I've been enjoying it set to a different tune, which has caused me to consider the words as they come. The lyrics in turn remind me of words I have heard or read recently.

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
John Piper: "God is speaking repentance every day, all day long, and it just gets louder at times and sweeter at times. Today He was sweet. His voice was tender today, very tender."

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.
Jim Elliot: "I know that my hopes and plans for myself could not be any better than He has arranged and fulfilled them. Thus may we all find it, and know the truth of the Word which says, 'He will be our Guide even until death.'"

Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
Mark Driscoll: "Through his sinless life, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection in victory over Satan, sin, death, wrath, and hell, Jesus has redeemed evil men like you and me from allegiance to darkness by paying our ransom to God. . . .This is all accomplished solely by grace, which is a kind gift that God gives undeserving people like us.

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Weary Warriors

Since Sunday's post I'm wondering how you are doing with "right thinking?" Have there been offenses committed against you which have made you feel like quitting? Have you been tempted towards bitterness, division, strife? Rather than advancing in Kingdom work are you spending your energy constructing walls of protection? When we do these things we are playing right into Satan's hands; for his strategy against Christians is to divide and conquer.

Jeremiah 12:5 "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?"

A heart unloving among kindred has no love towards God's saints and angels. If we have a cold heart towards a servant or a friend, why should we wonder if we have no fervour towards God? If we are cold in our private prayers, we should be earthly and dull in the most devout religious order, if we cannot bear the vexations of a companion, how should we bear the contradiction of sinners? If a little pain overcomes us, how could we endure a cross? If we have no tender, cheerful, affectionate love to those with whom our daily hours are spent, how should we feel the pulse and ardour of love to the unknown and the evil, the ungrateful and repulsive? (H.E. Manning)

You may be thinking, "That sounds good, but how do I get there? I've been offended, hurt, betrayed too many times."

Here is a word that has encouraged my heart and helped me to put offenses in the right perspective:

When my mind is fixed on the gospel, I have ample stimulation to show God's love to other people. For I am always willing to show love to others when I am freshly mindful of the love that God has shown me. Also, the gospel gives me the wherewithal to give forgiving grace to those who have wronged me, for it reminds me daily of the forgiving grace that God is showing me.

Doing good and showing love to those who have wronged me is always the opposite of what my sinful flesh wants me to do. Nonetheless, when I remind myself of my sins against God and of His forgiving and generous grace toward me, I give the gospel an opportunity to reshape my perspective and to put me in a frame of mind wherein I actually desire to give this same grace to those who have wronged me. (Milton Vincent)

I have learned that rather than let my thoughts run away with my emotions I must"renew my mind" (Romans 12:2), with biblical truth and lead my emotions rather than follow them. I often need to remind myself that my sins against God are far greater than any sin anyone has done or ever will do against me. Yet in spite of my GREAT sin God extends mercy to me through the atoning work of Christ. How can I not extend mercy to others?

Matthew 18:21-35

Let us think on these things.

Euodia and Syntyche

What was it that Euodia and Syntyche could not agree on? It's actually not too hard to imagine. What trips up woman to woman relationships in the year 2009? The beginning of what could possibly be a very long list might include:

approaches to parenting which could including the question of birth control, home births or hospital births, homeschooling or Christian schooling or public schooling,

working in the home, or out of the home

race

worship preferences

being overlooked for a ministry opportunity

not being remembered on a special occasion

comparing looks, gifts, personalities,

politics

Christian liberties

etc.

This morning we learned that unity comes when believers "knit their hearts together by thinking as one about all the things that matter most." And we learned "the greatest threat to peace is ME." (meaning each of us)

Is there a woman in your life with whom you have no peace? Is there someone you are avoiding? Is there someone with whom you need to be reconciled? Is it possible you don't even remember why you have an uneasy feeling when a certain someone walks in the room? What part of this kind of breakdown in relationships is a result of faulty thinking?

What does God's Word tell us we must do? We must "agree in the Lord." We can get beyond differences (which will inevitably come) by focusing on the things that "matter most." When we think about who we are in the Lord; when we think about Christ has done for us through His death on the cross; when we think that we've been adopted into the family of God, it will not matter so much that we've been offended, forgotten, overlooked, or sinfully judged.

Finally sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8

How strong is your commitment to right thinking for the purpose of pursuing this bond of peace with the women in your life?