think on these things

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, 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.

This verse is revolutionary. The day that I understood this verse was the day that I began in earnest to pursue a virtuous thought life.

The first thing to realize is that there is a command in this verse. It seems almost hidden, coming in at the end as it does, but the command is to "think on these things." This is a non-negotiable command. It's not a suggestion.

Think on what things? Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. What helps me here is seeing this list as a complete package. I'm not allowed to pick one criteria out of the list and forget the others. My thoughts have to meet each requirement. Each of the adjectives should describe the others. Something that is true is honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Something that is honorable is true, just, pure, lovely... and so on.

For example, it's not good enough to stop at "whatever is true." How many of us look in the mirror and aren't satisfied with what we see? I have a best friend who is often disappointed with her appearance, and she argues that it's not wrong for her to be consumed with these thoughts because they are, in fact, true. Well, there are a lot of "truths" floating around out there that are definitely not pure or praiseworthy, which means I do not need to be thinking and meditating on them. It's also not good enough to have lovely thoughts. I'll tell you, I have some grand dreams for the future. They're beautiful. But are they true? So I need to stop daydreaming and start meditating on truth.

So far in my life, I have only found one topic that meets all the requirements. Jesus is the Truth (Jn. 14:6). God is just (Rom. 3:26). The commandment of the Lord is pure (Ps. 19:8). The Lord's dwelling place is lovely (Ps. 84:1). God's works are commended by one generation to another (Ps. 145:4). God has called us to the knowledge of His own excellence (2 Pet. 1:3). God is worthy to be praised (Ps. 18:3). Only thoughts of God satisfy the command that Paul gave us.

This raises two dilemmas. First, I have to be able to meditate on God all the time, which means away from my Bible. Second, functioning in this earthly life requires me to also think about other things.

The first dilemma I have only been able to solve by memorizing Scripture. There is no way around it. Scripture is our weapon (Eph. 6:17), and we need to be using it. I can't carry around a Bible at work, so I need it in my mind. I need to have God on my mind so that I don't laugh when someone makes a "funny" joke that is not honorable. I need to be meditating on God so that I tremble at His purity when someone wants to gossip (even when what they're saying is, strictly speaking, true). A simple list of attributes, while helpful, doesn't occupy me for eight hours at a time. One passage of Scripture, however, can provide hours' and hours' worth of spiritual food. Ps. 1:1-2

The second dilemma will not be solved until I go home to meet my Savior. It is one of sin's curses that we are incapable of completely fixing our minds on God, and it will be Heaven's joy that our only topic of thought for all of eternity will be God. For now, in my very limited capacity, I need to be diligent in praying that God will keep my thoughts directed on Him, even when I in myself am incapable of doing so. Ps. 19:13-14

Sunday dinner

When I was growing up Sunday dinner was often the high point of the week.  I haven't kept up with that tradition in our home.  Sadly, in our home there are pretty "slim pickins" on Sundays.  But today I had a feast that satisfies better than any meal my mother could have ever prepared.

First we were given a refreshing drink through singing worship.  I think we all came to church thirsty for God after a week of severe trial.  Singing "My Savior My God"  reminded us that though we do not know the reasons for life's trials, we do know that there stands at God's right hand One who is our Savior; and the God who was, and the God who is, is the God who's always "gonna be."  The joyful praise of Psalm 150 and bowing down at His feet both prepared me for the rest of the banquet.   

Following the singing we were served several appetizers.  We were led to the cross through the Lord's Supper.  How sweet that was for me as once again I could remember my Savior who's broken body and poured out blood paid the penalty for my sin. Thank you, thank you Lord.

Then we had a bit of an Acts 12 experience.   We saw and heard a brother stand and give testimony of his "prison-like deliverance".  We all had been praying fervently for this brother, his wife and family all week, and much to our surprise he shows up at our door of worship.  He wanted to be where he knew his fellow believers were.  He wanted to testify of God's gracious and powerful activity in his life and in the lives of his family and friends.  WOW.

But that wasn't all.  Not even close!! The good food kept coming.  Next we had the privilege of praying for 19 of our people who leave for Mexico on a missions trip this week.  We heard testimony of how God provided a way for two more men to go on the trip at the last minute.  The sound of a dozen or more prayers being offered up at the same time sounded sweeter to me than a family's happy chatter at a holiday meal.

The next "course" was the welcoming of new members.   Adding new members to the body of Christ is like eating our vegetables.  Without them the church weakens, shrivels and dies.   Welcome Amy and Sue and Marjie (and you men).  We happily add a leaf to our family table for you. 

Then we were given the word of God.  I need more time to chew on the main course.   But one thing I know for sure:  by God's grace and with the help of the Holy Spirit I want my love to "abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment" and I want to bear fruits of righteousness brought about through the righteousness of Christ.  I brought a doggie bag home for continued feasting on that meat.  

After the message we had dessert.  I love dessert.  We witnessed four baptisms.  That is the icing and the cake for church life.  Does it get any better?

But for me  there was more.  The morning began and ended with a conversation that had the potential to be difficult and divisive.  Due to the kindness of  God poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit each one began and concluded with prayer and a warm embrace.   God poured out His blessing of love and truth, understanding,  and forgiveness.  Rather than spoil my appetite for worship, the first conversation just whetted my appetite.  And the conversation that I had after worship makes me look forward to the feast that will be waiting for me next week.  

God has fed me.  I pray that the strength I receive from such a feeding will be used to bring Him glory in my life, in my home, in my neighborhood, in my care group and in my relationship with you my sisters.  

This morning's experience makes me think of Colossians 3:12-17.

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Satan's Saturday night Sabotage

I'm wondering if there are others like me who find that the "enemy within" and the "enemy without" wage a full scale attack the night before worship and the morning of; preventing us from entering into worship with joy in our hearts?  As a woman are you often either distracted by the busyness of the morning, or a feeling condemnation (bad guilt) from an angry or impatient exchange with husband or children, or are you just plain tired from a sleepless night?

I cannot recount the times when on Saturday I have been eagerly anticipating the next day of  worship, when the enemy invasion begins.  Why is it that if one of my babies was going to have a sleepless night it had to be a Saturday night?  Why was it if a child would get sick it was most often on a Saturday night?  Why was it on a Sunday morning I couldn't find the all important hairbrush, pair of socks or someone's shoes?  Why would I wake up in a "mood" on a Sunday morning, when I had gone to bed joyful in the Lord and happy in life?  Why on a Sunday morning do I find myself frittering away precious time, and end up rushing out the door unprepared for worship?

Can you relate?  

One of the answers to these questions is simple:  "We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the cosmic powers over the present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). 

If Satan physically showed up at my door on a Saturday night or Sunday morning demanding entrance, I wouldn't let him in.  Yet, he is very present and actively engaging in combat for my soul in my home.  This is especially true when I "want to do right" (Romans 7:21).  The only answer is: "...I must take up the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:13).  I've been reading again the Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent.  In this he says, "As long as I am inside the gospel, I experience all the protection I need from the powers of evil that rage against me.  It is for this reason that the Bible tells me to 'take up' and 'put on' the whole armor of God; and the pieces of armor it tells me to put on are all merely synonyms for the gospel.  Translated literally from the Greek, they are: '...the salvation...the justification... the truth...the gospel of peace...the faith...[and the]...word of God.'  What are all these expressions but various ways of describing the gospel?  Therefore, if I wish to stand victorious in Jesus, I must do as the songwriter suggests and 'put on the gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer'" (from "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus," by George Duffield, Jr.).

We do not have control over viruses that become full blown illnesses on Saturday night but we can put on the armor of the Gospel to fight off Satan's attacks toward anger, self-pity, grumbling and complaining.  How do we do this at 2 a.m.?  By simply crying out to God, in the name of Jesus who intercedes for you and who sympathizes with your weakness (Hebrews 4:14-16).  He will draw near to you as you (even weakly and with great fatigue) draw near to Him (James 4:8).  

We may not be able to control viruses but we can control the use of our time on a Sunday morning. One thing Tim and I found helpful (though we were often inconsistent) when the kids were little was to have all clothes and Bibles ready to go the night before.  Saturday night was the time for looking for that stray shoe.  Not Sunday morning.

Sunday morning was not a sleep-in time for us.  Being the most important day of the week, we didn't want to miss any of it, or go into it feeling like we were "one step behind."  For those of you who have husbands that work the other 6 days, this may be his only time to sleep in.  If this is the case, maybe you could serve your husband by rising earlier than him and quietly getting things going before he awakens.

Keep it simple.  Ask yourself, ask your husband, what do we put into our Saturday evening and Sunday morning that may be adding to our stress?  Is it preparing for a big Sunday breakfast?  Or is it staying up late Saturday watching a movie?  Or could it be from scrambling to clean house before guests come for Sunday dinner?  Sometimes the answer is more obvious than we are willing to admit.  Sometimes the stress that occurs on a Sunday a.m. is the result of  poor prioritizing of the other six days of the week.  

I'd love to hear from you what you have learned over the years what works or doesn't work for you and your family.  Would you email them to me?  Perhaps we can post them for the benefit of all.

foot-tapping in worship?

You must understand that when I tap my foot in church, I usually feel like I'm living dangerously. I am really getting into the spirit of the thing. I'm celebrating. I went to a Christian college, where emotion during worship just was Not Done. One of my roommates got demerits once for singing too loudly and joyfully. We did not toe-tap, we did not clap, we did not sway, jump, dance, shout, or smile. So let me tell you, I feel a little liberal with my tapping.

School policy required that I wear a skirt. But do I wear one now? School policy required me to only go off campus in groups of three. School policy required me to be in bed by 11pm and out of bed by 7am. School policy required that I do/don't do legion of things. But I graduated. School policy means nothing to me any more.

School policy required me to be solemn and unemotional during worship, never ever forgetting that "you wouldn't behave that way in the White House, so you better not behave like that God's house!" And you know what, my flesh is perfectly happy with that. School policy sounds real good to the old flesh.

What I'm realizing is that this is a sin issue. The flesh does not want to make a fool of herself in front of others. I'll sing out loud and clap when I'm alone in my car, but as soon as there are people around, I just want to be rigid and unnoticed. I am so afraid of man that I would rather not worship my God as He demands and deserves. I wouldn't dance and shout in the White House, but the President is not my father, nor does he care for me. But you know what, I think that the President's daughters probably run through the halls of their home, laughing, singing, and shouting. If I am God's daughter--and I am--then how should I behave when coming before Him in adoration?

As Tim so clearly showed on Sunday, worship is a serious matter. I, for one, with all my "seriousness" about it, was not taking it seriously. God has commanded us to worship Him in specific ways. Standing coldly with my hands shoved in my pockets is not one of those ways. I was saying, "God, my pride is more important than Your commands. I'll worship You in my way. And aren't You proud of me for tapping my foot" How arrogant, how presumptuous! Thank God that He forgives those sins and is loving and kind enough to send His servants to rebuke us!

It's going to be hard. Mortification always is. But when God reveals His will, how can I but follow?

The Music Guy

Yesterday our church received wonderful teaching on worship.  I wasn't there to hear it live but I did just download and listen to it.  I was encouraged and I was convicted. Here's how I was convicted:

If you read Brooke's post last week about following,  you'll be able to track with me.  

Even though yesterday's speaker referred to himself as "the music guy", he is Trinity's worship leader, who has been called and gifted by God and recognized by our pastors as having Christian character and grace.  As such I am responsible to follow him.  Even though he was once my baby boy,  he is now my leader.  Even though I would never be caught dead wearing a tattoo (even with Christian symbols like he has - don't get me wrong I don't have anything against them - I just wouldn't want one), he is my leader.   And I need to ask myself, "how am I following my leader?"  I need to ask him, "how am I following?"

I plan to ask the music guy that question.  But I already know in my heart part of the answer.  I've known it for a while.  There have been times when the worship leader has encouraged a particular form of expression and I have not followed.  Bowing.  There have been times in worship when on my own I've been so overwhelmed by God's grace I've wanted to express my love to God in this way but for the fear of man I have not.   Why have I not responded physically to the impulse of my heart and mind?  Fear of man.  

I know in heaven there will be lots of joyous singing accompanied with loud instruments, dancing and clapping.  After all, we'll be singing the song of Moses to which Miriam danced with joy (Exodus 15:1-21; Revelation 15:3,4).  Our deliverance from the penalty of sin is greater than the deliverance Moses experienced at the Red Sea.  When I cross the river of death and enter the eternal promised land prepared for me through the death of Christ, I will be free from the enemy within my heart, and the great enemy Satan and his hosts.  And you can be sure of this:   I will be celebrating big time!!!!  

Part of that celebrating will be bowing down.  If I have a crown, I will cast it down before the Lamb.  I will not be like Isaiah who was undone because of his sinfulness in the presence of a Holy God.  I will be crying out with tears of thankfulness to the One who is Worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for He was slain, and by His blood I was ransomed from out of all the people in the world and He has made me to be a priest to my God and I will reign with Him on the earth (Revelation 5:9,10).

So, why do I not bow now?  I am left without excuse.  From now on, if I am tempted to wonder what other people will think, I want to pray to God and ask that if other people notice, they will be encouraged to worship God all the more.  After that, it'll only be about HIM.

So, why don't you ask yourself (and maybe even the music guy) "how am I following"?