(A few weeks ago Brooke asked Pat if she would fill in for me when I was preoccupied with many things. Here is her post. Thank you Pat!)
This past week our ladies' Bible study at Colette's finished for the summer months. We have completed the book of Acts. As I was preparing the final lesson having looked back at the obvious providential hand of God, I was reminded that none of the Apostles or Paul and his companions knew what the next 30 years would be like. We have the benefit of seeing the whole story but they didn't. We also live in a story that is part of a bigger story and we don't know what the next chapter will be.
As I prepared my study I became aware of a sense of being "downcast" in my soul. What was it that was tugging at me? I realized that I had over the last several days been allowing some anxieties to roll around in my head. Not over anything I was dealing with today but some things I might deal with... perhaps in the next 30 years. Am I confident in God's sovereignty? Absolutely! So what was happening?
The Spirit directed me to an essay by John Piper about future grace. That was where I was getting tripped up. Like the Israelites in the account of the Exodus, I was trying to gather tomorrow's manna today and it was becoming maggot infested. The lesson I still needed to be reminded of through the narrative of Acts is that living by faith means I believe the grace I need for tomorrow will be there. That is the hope that will sustain me all the remaining days of my life. When Paul was at some of his lowest times grace showed up in an angel or the Lord himself. The grace I need tomorrow may not come in such dramatic forms but it will come nonetheless.
"Why so downcast, O my soul? Put your trust in the Lord" (and in future grace).
by Pat Bowditch
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Contractions of the soul
Last week I wrote about keeping Christ as our focal point during trials, just as a woman in labor uses a focal point to keep her mind off the pain of her contractions. This week I want to write about those contractions and the good that those contractions produce.
Whether you're a mom or not; whether you've birthed your children or adopted them, who doesn't love the sight of a newborn baby? Who doesn't get emotional watching a movie with a birthing scene, especially the part when that baby is placed in the mother's arms? Apart from becoming born again is there any greater miracle?
We all know this miracle comes at great cost. It is literally through blood, sweat and tears that a baby is brought into the world.
I remember eight hours into the 16 hour laboring process wondering if I could go any longer. I remember feeling like I had to give up. There was just no way I could go on, I thought. But there was no going back. If I wanted this baby (and even if I didn't) there was no way I could change my mind. That baby had to come out, and I had to endure the contractions to get it out.
I also remember when I was expecting David, at age 38 (5 1/2 years after my previous pregnancy), wondering if I'd remember how to do labor and delivery. I remember waking up at night with the irrational fear that I wouldn't be able to do it again.
But all those fears had to be laid aside and I had to remember I had a job to do. I had been called to carry and birth this life. I had to remember if God had called me to this, He would provide me with all that I would need to fulfill this calling.
Spiritual contractions are the same way.
"Life is pain, your highness. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something." (the man in black)
We live in a fallen world. Until Christ returns or we go to heaven we will face "many dangers, toils and snares" that bring great pain. Sometimes we cry: "how long oh Lord?" sometimes we inaudibly groan: "I can't do it any longer." Sometimes we plead in prayer for the pain to stop. But the pain doesn't stop. It may subside for a while but when it returns we wonder if we can endure it again, or remember how to get through it.
But God gives us all that we need for our spiritual contractions. Here are the verses that I have had to remember during these painful times:
In these verses there is something we can hang on to. When the contractions of life that squeeze our hearts are over, when trials have completed God's intended purposes, there is an eternal glory, and a joy that awaits us in heaven. And even now there is good that is being accomplished through our trials. When the contractions are over, we will weep with joy for what God has done.
How have you found these promises (or others) to help you through your trials?
Whether you're a mom or not; whether you've birthed your children or adopted them, who doesn't love the sight of a newborn baby? Who doesn't get emotional watching a movie with a birthing scene, especially the part when that baby is placed in the mother's arms? Apart from becoming born again is there any greater miracle?
We all know this miracle comes at great cost. It is literally through blood, sweat and tears that a baby is brought into the world.
I remember eight hours into the 16 hour laboring process wondering if I could go any longer. I remember feeling like I had to give up. There was just no way I could go on, I thought. But there was no going back. If I wanted this baby (and even if I didn't) there was no way I could change my mind. That baby had to come out, and I had to endure the contractions to get it out.
I also remember when I was expecting David, at age 38 (5 1/2 years after my previous pregnancy), wondering if I'd remember how to do labor and delivery. I remember waking up at night with the irrational fear that I wouldn't be able to do it again.
But all those fears had to be laid aside and I had to remember I had a job to do. I had been called to carry and birth this life. I had to remember if God had called me to this, He would provide me with all that I would need to fulfill this calling.
Spiritual contractions are the same way.
"Life is pain, your highness. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something." (the man in black)
We live in a fallen world. Until Christ returns or we go to heaven we will face "many dangers, toils and snares" that bring great pain. Sometimes we cry: "how long oh Lord?" sometimes we inaudibly groan: "I can't do it any longer." Sometimes we plead in prayer for the pain to stop. But the pain doesn't stop. It may subside for a while but when it returns we wonder if we can endure it again, or remember how to get through it.
But God gives us all that we need for our spiritual contractions. Here are the verses that I have had to remember during these painful times:
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, so we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:17).
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." (Romans 8:27-30),
"Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." (Psalm 30:5).
In these verses there is something we can hang on to. When the contractions of life that squeeze our hearts are over, when trials have completed God's intended purposes, there is an eternal glory, and a joy that awaits us in heaven. And even now there is good that is being accomplished through our trials. When the contractions are over, we will weep with joy for what God has done.
How have you found these promises (or others) to help you through your trials?
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Thursday, May 27, 2010
When Momma Ain't Happy (Uprooting Anger 4)
Do you have a happy home? By this I mean do the members of your family generally interact with each other with love, and respectful communication? Do you realize what an important part you as the woman of the house have in this? I'm sure you've heard the phrase, "When Momma ain't happy ain't nobody happy." It's true.
How would your husband and children describe you? As an angry woman or a woman who communicates with truth and grace?
Do you build your house up with kind words or do you tear down your house with your temper?
How do you handle unmet expectations? Do you give it over to God and have all necessary conversations with the individuals involved or do you yell, rant and rave?
When you are disappointed by someone do you draw near to them with humility and grace or do you quietly stew and withdraw? Our family members feel very keenly our negative (sinful) emotions. I remember as a child feeling the distance from my mother when she was upset about something. I usually never knew what was bothering her but I always thought it was about me. Children don't like to feel emotionally separated from their mother. But if they feel it often enough, or long enough, children will eventually distance themselves from their mother. This is one of the sad consequences of sinful anger.
In his book, Uprooting Anger, Robert Jones gives us a lot of biblical help for addressing anger. Though most of the examples in the book are taken from the marriage relationship there is good news for us all. This is in no way a book on marriage. It is a book on anger - a temptation we all face. Robert D. Jones tells us there is a way to process the sins in our hearts, the sins committed against us by people and the trials that come our way that tempt us to be angry with God.
Because I am a woman and I know the temptation women (including myself) have towards anger I cannot say it strongly enough: women need to read this book!! This book is founded on biblical truth and not pop psychology. This book provides many practical helps (for example, after forty-five minutes of working on this post, I lost all my work. Having just been reminded by Mr. Jones about responding to unmet expectations in a godly way, I was helped to let it go and find comfort in God's sovereign rule over lost time.)
If you are not sure if you are an angry person, here's a challenging assignment (one which I did several years ago): Ask your husband, children, father, or roommate if they are ever afraid to tell you something for fear of your response. And if they are afraid, what are they afraid of? It could be revealing.
Whatever the answer I hope you keep reading Uprooting Anger. It may make all the difference between an angry momma and a happy momma, or a happy home and an angry home.
How would your husband and children describe you? As an angry woman or a woman who communicates with truth and grace?
Do you build your house up with kind words or do you tear down your house with your temper?
How do you handle unmet expectations? Do you give it over to God and have all necessary conversations with the individuals involved or do you yell, rant and rave?
When you are disappointed by someone do you draw near to them with humility and grace or do you quietly stew and withdraw? Our family members feel very keenly our negative (sinful) emotions. I remember as a child feeling the distance from my mother when she was upset about something. I usually never knew what was bothering her but I always thought it was about me. Children don't like to feel emotionally separated from their mother. But if they feel it often enough, or long enough, children will eventually distance themselves from their mother. This is one of the sad consequences of sinful anger.
In his book, Uprooting Anger, Robert Jones gives us a lot of biblical help for addressing anger. Though most of the examples in the book are taken from the marriage relationship there is good news for us all. This is in no way a book on marriage. It is a book on anger - a temptation we all face. Robert D. Jones tells us there is a way to process the sins in our hearts, the sins committed against us by people and the trials that come our way that tempt us to be angry with God.
Because I am a woman and I know the temptation women (including myself) have towards anger I cannot say it strongly enough: women need to read this book!! This book is founded on biblical truth and not pop psychology. This book provides many practical helps (for example, after forty-five minutes of working on this post, I lost all my work. Having just been reminded by Mr. Jones about responding to unmet expectations in a godly way, I was helped to let it go and find comfort in God's sovereign rule over lost time.)
If you are not sure if you are an angry person, here's a challenging assignment (one which I did several years ago): Ask your husband, children, father, or roommate if they are ever afraid to tell you something for fear of your response. And if they are afraid, what are they afraid of? It could be revealing.
Whatever the answer I hope you keep reading Uprooting Anger. It may make all the difference between an angry momma and a happy momma, or a happy home and an angry home.
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Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Know Your Enemy
Common war strategy says to know your enemy in order to be able to counter his attacks and gain victory--know his strategies, his strengths, his weaknesses. The Apostle Paul seems to assume that Christians become very familiar with their enemy--Satan (2 Corinthians 2:11)--and his methods.
We've been looking at our current RMMR verses--Ephesians 6:10-20--which give us our instructions for battle, so to speak.
There are countless ways in which Satan attacks the church, some of them are obvious, while others are more subtle. One of my college professors, Dr. Jerry Hullinger, has studied much on the topic of spiritual warfare and has listed five (of the many) ways in which Satan shoots 'fiery darts' in our direction. The following are notes taken from Dr. Hullinger's chapel message called "The Five Schemes of Satan."
Have you ever been taken as a 'prisoner of war' by any of these schemes??? (I have--all five!)
It has proven an immense help to study Satan's strategies. I am more consistently able to recognize them when confronted by them. Satan never tires of developing new strategies so we must persevere in our battle against the wiles of the devil. And we know, we do it through Christ.
"May God help us to be ever vigilant, walking in the victory that Christ has already provided for us!" --Dr. Hullinger
We've been looking at our current RMMR verses--Ephesians 6:10-20--which give us our instructions for battle, so to speak.
There are countless ways in which Satan attacks the church, some of them are obvious, while others are more subtle. One of my college professors, Dr. Jerry Hullinger, has studied much on the topic of spiritual warfare and has listed five (of the many) ways in which Satan shoots 'fiery darts' in our direction. The following are notes taken from Dr. Hullinger's chapel message called "The Five Schemes of Satan."
Scheme 1: the lie which distorts the nature of the Christian life--no more battles, struggles, storms; thinking it abnormal to struggle with sin, go through hardships
Scheme 2: the lie of sensationalism--looking for a 'quick-fix' instead of consistently applying the first principles of spiritual health; can't seem to 'defeat' sin
Scheme 3: a series of lies which will get us, as God's children, to belittle the cross; tries to persuade us that we have committed a sin that God won't forgive (willful sin, repeated sin...); think we have to do something to merit God's forgiveness
Scheme 4: the lie that tries to persuade us that we are being short-changed in the Christian life; the original lie; exchanging the glory of God for the 'broken cisterns' of this world (Jer. 3)
Scheme 5: the slow approach (multi-year plan); Satan is content to plant seeds all throughout our lives and wait for them to germinate and grow; 'one sin doesn't matter,' 'I'm strong enough to be exposed to certain things'; nibble around the edges, develop a taste for sin
Have you ever been taken as a 'prisoner of war' by any of these schemes??? (I have--all five!)
It has proven an immense help to study Satan's strategies. I am more consistently able to recognize them when confronted by them. Satan never tires of developing new strategies so we must persevere in our battle against the wiles of the devil. And we know, we do it through Christ.
"May God help us to be ever vigilant, walking in the victory that Christ has already provided for us!" --Dr. Hullinger
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No Reason to Shrink
Our RMMR memory verses for May: Ephesians 6:10-11
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
I love these verses, particularly verse 10. Finally, be strong... Before I even have time to protest that I can't or become frustrated because I can't, it says "in the Lord and in the strength of His might." This is such a benevolent command. Who but a loving Father would tell us to stand--and then knowing that we can't, gives us His own indefatigable, unassailable strength.
In the strength of the Lord's might, bedecked with the armor He has given us, we can stand firm. As John Calvin noted, "If the Lord aids us by his mighty power, we have no reason to shrink from the combat." (Commentary on Ephesians)
How has memorizing these verses blessed you this month?
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
I love these verses, particularly verse 10. Finally, be strong... Before I even have time to protest that I can't or become frustrated because I can't, it says "in the Lord and in the strength of His might." This is such a benevolent command. Who but a loving Father would tell us to stand--and then knowing that we can't, gives us His own indefatigable, unassailable strength.
In the strength of the Lord's might, bedecked with the armor He has given us, we can stand firm. As John Calvin noted, "If the Lord aids us by his mighty power, we have no reason to shrink from the combat." (Commentary on Ephesians)
How has memorizing these verses blessed you this month?
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