He SINGS over us (loudly)!

In commenting on Zephaniah 3:17 :

"It is not without reason that God labors so much to persuade us of His love, because we are not only prone by nature to unbelief, but exposed to the deceits of Satan, and are also inconstant and easily drawn away from His word." John Calvin

a seed which grows

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Jacob helped me to transplant 4 oak trees that were growing in my flower beds out to spots on my parents' property. (FYI - it always pays to have a friend with a degree in horticulture!)

I have always been intrigued by oak trees - their solidity and longevity. Three of them stood (still stand) in front of my boyhood home, and I was always amazed to think that they had been on the property even before my grandmother was alive on it. (We counted the rings on one that was logged in our woods this past fall, and it had been growing there even before Ohio was a state!) Those stately trees have survived wind storms, numerous lightning strikes, and cars missing the bend. They are full of scars and full of stories.

In the past, I have tried collecting acorns all over with the plans of starting young trees - trees that will far outlast me. Those attempts have been fairly unsuccessful. Yet without much effort from me, over the past several years, some have started to grow amidst my lilies. However, for long term flourishing, they could not stay there, hence, the transplanting.

Now I am at the "mulching and heavy watering stage," and the trees are adjusting to the transplant shock with varying degrees of visible reaction. (I am taking Jacob at his word that just because one of them has already shed its leaves that does not mean it is dead, and I continue to water it.) In spite of my best efforts, only God knows what the future holds for those trees.

The same day that we were doing the transplanting, I was providentially reading Isaiah 61 in my devotions. This is the passage of Scripture which Jesus reads in the synagogue in Nazareth in Luke 4:16-21 which He says points to His ministry! The verse which caught my eye as I read was Isaiah 61:3 "that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified" (which also happens to be the theme verse for the work at New City).

And so I see a picture of my life work. I long to plant and water and cultivate in the lives of young people with the Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. I long to see them with deep roots to withstand dry and difficult days. I want the fruit of my labor to last long beyond the mist of my life.

And yet the spring time (graduation season) is often difficult. This is one of those hard years like 2000 or 2002 or 2006 when a large group is moving beyond my season as a gardener. A group with whom I have been working since many of them were middle schoolers and some even since they were toddlers! (yeah, Matt, I remember my first year back from school as I began in the ministry - sitting and talking with your dad as you ran around the living room until you dropped dead asleep on the floor). This year also marks 18 years in full time ministry for me - a generation has grown up in that time. It can be tempting to start to think, "What are they going to do without me?"

It's times like now when I need to be continually reminded of 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 and to not forget that last phrase in Isaiah 61:3. I have a role to play, but the growth and the glory all go to God. It is His field, His building. Praise God - He is the one in control and I can trust Him in that.

Lord, may You take Your good seed and grow these lives for Your glory. May they be planted deeply in the multigenerational church which is a place far superior (and even far more biblical) than the temporary nursery plot of youth ministry. May they bear fruit yielding 30, 60, or 100 times what was sown. Father, may I continue to grow that You may be glorified. Forgive me for the times of sinful pride and idolatry when I try to grasp at control. Heal the scars caused by my sin, and may You please help me to continue to be faithful in the place where You have me for as long as You give me breath - fill me with Your Holy Spirit for the task which You have set before me!

getting to the root

It's dandelion digging time of year again... and the analogy always grabs me. Today, I read a great quote from Thabite Anyabwile in his chapter, "Cosmic Treason: Sin and the Holiness of God," in the book "Holy, Holy, Holy: Proclaiming the Perfections of God." It's a great dandelion digger!

"at the heart of all sin is a contemptuous attitude toward the person and the work of God, and toward His holiness and righteousness in particular.... It is not retaining the knowledge of God in our lives, in our hearts, and in our affections. It is the suppressing of the knowledge of God, as Paul describes it in Romans 1. We are to be consumed with love for God and the desire to worship Him, but because we're sinners and misshapen in our sin, our contempt for Him manifests itself at the most basic level of not thinking about Him, but delighting in sin. That is why sin is treasonous."

O God, root this treason out of my heart! It often springs up like so many weeds. Give me eyes to see You! Holy Spirit be my constant reminder. Thank You for Jesus who was crushed for MY iniquity. As I memorize Romans 1, may it be medicine for my soul. May I not become contemptuously callous!!!!!

a prayer worth noting, quoting and repeating

"We are not able in ourselves to win this battle.

We are not able to change hearts or minds.

We are not able to change worldviews and transform culture and save 1.6 million children.

We are not able to reform the judiciary or embolden the legislature or mobilize the slumbering population.

We are not able to heal the endless wounds of godless ideologies and their bloody deeds.

But, O God, You are able!

And we turn from reliance on ourselves to You. And we cry out to You and plead that for the sake of Your name, and for the sake of Your glory, and for the advancement of Your saving purpose in the world, and for the demonstration of Your wisdom and Your power and Your authority over all things, and for the sway of Your Truth and the relief of the poor and the helpless, act, O God. This much we hunger for the revelation of Your power. With all our thinking and all our writing and all our doing, we pray and we fast. Come. Manifest Your glory."

John Piper - quoted by Justin Taylor in his chapter, 'Abortion is about God,' in the compilation, "For the Fame of God's Name: Essays in Honor of John Piper." (a big book, but worth the time - some especially meaty chapters!)

making the best use of the time

Today, i read this in "The Reformed Pastor" by Richard Baxter, and it ties in nicely with having also read Colossians 4:5 :

"Alas! all our business in this world is to get well to heaven; and God hath appointed us to be guides to His people; to help them safe thither. If this be well done, all is done; and if this be not done, we are for ever undone. The Lord knows how short a time you and I may be together; and therefore it concerns us to do what we can for our own and your salvation before we leave you, or you leave the world. All other business in the world is but as toys and dreams in comparison of this."

smashing OR too often, i'm the silly girl

last week, i went to see our local high school's performance of "bye, bye birdie." there were some funny parts, but my overall impression was that i came away from it "unsettled." still, i think i totally missed the real point until a friend described her character to me: "I just think she's silly. Lots of people fixate on [someone] or something to fill voids in their lives. It just seems goofy because he's a rock star."

BOOM! she hit the nail on the head and kind of gave me a verbal gut-punch all at the same time. you would think that when i've been spending the last month or so noticing verses like 1 Corinthians 10:14 & 1 John 5:21, i would have gotten it. or God's mocking tone in Isaiah 44:9-20 (which i recently highlighted in a message i was preaching) which is so very similar to the point of the musical.

why was it unsettling? because of the rampant nature of idolatry in our culture? maybe to degree that was why. or was it a little closer to home? because i am so prone to idolatry myself? BINGO!!!and what is idolatry? when something or someone - even something good - becomes ultimate - ie. taking the place that ONLY God should occupy. oftentimes, my biggest idol is me - my will, my control, my intelligence, my righteousness, my sufficiency, my problem solving, my schedule, etc. etc. etc. - other times it's something that totally captures my focus - sporting events, information, friendships, ministry! when i find my value and my identity in these things rather than in Christ, this is idolatry. (and it's such an emotional roller coaster)

so what's the answer? sometimes i need to be reminded that i'm the silly girl. more than that, i need to constantly be reminded of the gospel - Christ, the true King who is seated on the real throne, died to pay for my idolatry AND to set me free from it's control. i need to heed the command of Hebrews 12:1-2 and fix my eyes on Him.

praise God for His good word. praise God for musicals. praise God for friends to set me straight when my thinking is skewed. praise God for His never failing forgiveness and grace. praise God for hearing a song by Bleach yesterday to help remind me of the truth. praise God for the words of J.D. Greear that i read on the plane today that really helped to wrap up the train of thought. and God help me, because i know that Your repeated warnings are for a trap that's so easy for me to step into.  

sufficient by bleach:

"And just to taste forgiveness to taste Your mercy on my lips. I long to know contentment burdens lifted You promised it. Let it reach my heart, please let it reach my heart... And just at the right time Your hand of mercy reaches down. Hallelujah, You are sufficient! Hallelujah, You are sufficient!

And I will sing at the top of my lungs... I will sing, and I hope it heals my heart. Yeah I hope it heals my heart. How did I get here? Save me from this. How did I get here? Won't You save me from this? Won't you save me? Won't you save me? Jesus, save me... It is well, it is well. It is well with my soul. Save me. Jesus, name above..."

"Repentance includes a plea for God to change your inconsistent, divided heart." J. D. Greear

Father, change my inconsistent, divided heart!

on being like the tree of life

Today is May 1, so i am at the point of beginning another read through of the book of Psalms, and you probably start to wonder, 'ok, you've done this for awhile now, haven't you pretty much already got it? especially the familiar ones???" Well, praise God, today i was once again rewarded with making a brand new connection - seeing something glorious and encouraging!

Let me first start by stating that i LOVE Psalm 1 - it's right there with 19, 119 & 130 as one of my favorites (followed closely by 2, 8, 24 & 107). i began my thinking today in some of the normal places - the contrast of where my input comes from (Psalm 1:1-2), the words "delight" and "meditate" (my heart and my head), but THEN I SAW IT: the connection between verses 2 & 3 and their tie in to Revelation 22:1-2:

The blessed man who delights in the law and meditates on it is like a tree... a tree by a stream, a tree bearing seasonal fruit, a tree with unwithering leaves!

Mark has been preaching from Revelation on Sunday evenings, and he was in chapter 21 and the beginning of 22 this past week, so chapter 22 is fresh in my head. How is the tree of life described? Planted by the river of the water of life, yielding fruit every month & with leaves for healing the nations!

So cool to think that that's what i can be like: the tree of life! God, may Your Word dwelling in me and working through me be a source of life, good fruit and healing! May I be blessed and a source of blessing!