Word

Plead with the Lord to grant you an overwhelming joy and delight for him and his Word. Let the Scriptures convict, shape, transform, encourage, lift up, strengthen, and grab the affections of your soul. Wrestle with the Bible like Jacob wrestling with the angel, and don't let it go until you are blessed by  it.

-Brian H Cosby in Giving Up Gimmicks, Reclaiming Youth Ministry from an Entertain Culture 

So good!

Mr. King meets the King

"Hi Howard!", is what I yelled as I raced by one of the sweetest elderly gentleman in our church on Sunday, August 4th.

He smiled.

That was it, the last thing I said to one of my favorites at church.

At the age of 81 Howard King had a heart attack Monday, August 5th. Things went up and down all week until he met the Lord that Friday.

Talking to many people that week and following, he was not just one of my favorites.  His gentle, kind hello was very well like and encouraged many other saints at my church. It was great to hear many stories of encouragement!

It was not lost on me that I heard about his heart attack (at church) on Monday morning and his physical decline on Friday afternoon, book-ending URC's VBS week. The theme of the week was The Race Is On. Our theme verse was:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Hebrews 12:1-3

Race well ran, Howard; race well ran.

This observation of a man who raced well till the end, gives me greater vision for the little ones. It is for them I have been praying that they run well all the days of their lives, like Howard, on top of praying that:

- They love a sweet spouse well, like Howard
- They work hard and respectably at their jobs, like Howard
- They are encouraging servants to their local churches, like Howard
- That at funerals their children sing hymns and read scripture, like Howard's
- And their adorable grandchildren sing the special grandparent bedtime song about turning from sin and doubt and looking to God on high, like Howard's (climb, climb up sunshine mountain)
- And praying that on that day when their strength is failing, their end draws near and their time has come, still their souls will sing God's praise unending, Ten thousands years and then forevermore, like Howard (10,000 reasons (Bless the Lord))

Amen

(So many other things I can write about Howard, like the lunch at the Kings, or how I took their directory photo, but the one that seems most noteworthy to me is in the winters Howard would have cross country skis in his car in case he felt like going. The first time it snows really good this winter, I'll miss asking him if his skis are in his car!)

Drafted

I was recently reminded while watching a video that there is a day coming when the Lord will be finished gathering all his people-every tongue, tribe and nation. What a great day it will be to join together to worship the Lord forever.

One of the exciting parts of that is all the Lord's people will tell their stories...What the Lord has done in there life, how they considered the cross of Christ better than the things in this world, what glorifying the Lord meant to them and so on...How worshipful will that be!



 Here is a link to the video where Chris Norman tells some of his story, it's well worth the time (and combines a couple of my favorite things!)

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose"  -Jim Elliot

5801 days of Blessing

5801 days.

That's a lot of days, almost 16 year...almost! It's 61% of my life! All my teen years and over half of my twenties!

That's how long my puppy lived and what a blessing she was to me!

She was what the Lord has greatly used to provide me physical comfort in life's ups and downs. I have distinct memories of being sad (who even knows why anymore) late at night and crawling up besides her on the cold tile floor just to cuddle with her, feel her heart beating and (usually) cry. There was always something soothing about crying into that fur.

 Yesterday as I cuddled up to her knowing it would be for the very last time I tried to take it all in...her furry body, her scent, her old heart beating, the way that her soft forehead fur felt on my face, the way that even if just for a moment anything was okay. She has never minded any of my tears and has soothe me to a depth that few words could reach, yesterday was no different.

I don't doubt that the Lord has other provisions in the works to provide me comfort, I am just happy that for these years it was Shadow. I am also happy that in some ways she was just a shadow of Christ, the Great Comforter. I rest on that tonight.

And resting on His goodness...

Today was one of those days.
Not bad, but not great,
One of those days when I cannot see much further than myself.
One of those days when driving in my car, I put that unmarked CD in.
Track 3 please.

One of those days when I need a reminder from a wise righteous man.
When I need his voice to remind me that Jesus is my portion.
One of those days when I thank the Lord for watching Sparrows and me.
It does not fix everything.
But the hundred year old words comfort me with truths.
They remind me to repent and push me towards trusting the Lord more.
They remind me to rest in the Lord's goodness,
This is a great blessing to my soul.

It's not the prettiest recording, but it's my favorite.
It's the one where Jack sings to me.
He tells my heart of the Savior's love.
He reminds me that the Lord has not forgotten me.
My grandfather leads me in the praise of my Lord.
Though separated by the grave, for now,
Praise to the Lord, unending, is ours.



"Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watched me.

"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

-Civilla Martin

 

Words

     During a book study (on the Bible) that  I was involved with this Fall, I was encouraged to think about Women in my life who show me how to follow the Lord; both through words and example. I have had (and still do!) many examples of faithful women in my life that the Lord indirectly and directly uses to show me how to be a woman after God's own heart. I thank and praise him for this!

      One of these women is a sweet older (than me) lady in my small group named Carolyn. She is one of those people who doesn't talk a lot during study, but when she does....man...the Lord uses her words greatly! It's funny, I recently talked to one of my good friends about this and she immediately agreed and said "When she talks you have to be quiet and listen, maybe get a pen and paper to write it down." So true!

      A couple months ago she talked a lot during study (almost like she wouldn't shut up...in the best of ways!). Then I realized it was not a normal small group, but a Prayer night. She didn't shut up because she wasn't talking to us, but to the Lord of the universe; her Lord and Father.

She, by her constant witness, teaches me to:

- Talk less.
- Say more.
- Be boisterous in prayer.

I am so thank the Lord for her faithfulness...and his through her!

Thought of the morning

People may write about the Gospel better than me, but no one, NOT ONE can write about a better Gospel. Praise the Lord for that! Amen.










Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on him and pardon me.

-C. Bancroft

Rainy Days

(Hey Dad, skip this post. Bottom line, I didn't take care of the windshield wipers as I should have!)

It happened last Tuesday on my way to work. I was driving and it started to lightly mist. I turned on my windshield wipers and (wouldn't you know) the black rubber part of one of them got caught in the windshield wiper and started to fly around! Needless to say, I found this a little embarrassing. So after work, I thought about driving to Meijer to get a new wiper. I figured that once I got home, I would promptly ask my husband to replace the old one with it. Let's face it, that's what husbands are for.

But did I actually buy it?

No. I didn't.

I thought to myself, I have a lot of things to do today. This is Michigan winter/spring gray week, so I probably should replace it. It probably will rain soon, but it'll be fine. And besides, its sunny right now! I thought the exact same thing on Wednesday and Thursday. Looking back, I could have made time for replacing my wipers, but fell back on  believing that I was busy (which I was)!

Then came Friday. I was on my way home from work and guess what happened? It rained. Heavier than a drizzle, but not a down pour. Thankfully my wipers worked great at eye level. I could see the road, but it sure was uncomfortable.

This got me thinking about things I skip, put off or shorten to fit my schedule (aka that I could have time for with a little planning). It is super easy for praying and reading the Bible to fit into this "it can be skipped, put off or shortened" category. For others, this could be church, spending time in small groups, sharing the gospel or a bunch of other things. Which makes me wonder:

When the storms of this life do come, will I see as clearly as I should by resting in the peace and words of Jesus? Will I steadfastly see him as Lord and Savior of my whole life, including my time management? Or will I only see dimly because I have not sought to set my eyes on him?

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
- James 1:12

It is Not Death to Die part 3

Here are two hymns (for sure worth the watching!) and a poem that have encouraged me in trusting the Lord in death and seeing the goodness of Christ in it! 

Hymn 1

My favorite line of the first hymn is

"It is not death to hear

The key unlock the door

That sets us free from mortal years

To praise you evermore."

Hymn 2

Great back ground story on the writer of It Is Well With My Soul.

Poem

The following poem is in the library of one of our dear friends Peeter. When asked about it Peeter told me that at his former church an elder, maybe 70 years old, was teaching Sunday school that day. The elder said "Let's pray" and had a massive heart attack and died before he hit the ground. A member of the congregational wrote this poem in memory of him:

On the Death of an Elder

"He bowed his head and heart to pray
and, lo, the shadows passed away.
He saw him whom he loved unseen,
the veil of flesh no more between.
Deaths' birth-pang passed so swiftly by
and endless glory met his eye."


"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints [his people]"
-Psalm 116:15

It is Not Death to Die part 2

On Valentine's Day, Brad and I went to a funeral for a lady we barely knew. She's the mother of one of our dear friends. She died suddenly and unexpectedly on February 10th at the age of 57.

I could not help thinking all of the things she is suppose to be doing right now. She's suppose to be with her husband of 32 years in Jamaica this week. In June she's suppose to look on with joy in her eyes as her youngest son marries his lovely bride. In August she's suppose to help her daughter welcome her first baby and enjoy being a grandma for the first time. In December she's supposed to celebrate Christmas with her family and watch them open their abundant gifts, she loved to buy.

She is suppose to finish a lot of plans and have a "full" life. But something unplanned happened:

-She went to bed to experience another glorious morning and rather found the fullness of the glory of God.
-She went to rest from the day and instead found a better rest then she could imagine.
-She went to bed here on fallen earth and woke up in the realm of the Divine.

The least favorite part of my day, believe it or not, is waking up. I'd have to imagine that waking up to God's glory in its full splendor (not confined as it is on earth) is a-maz-ing! It's something I can't even pretend to fathom.

From everything I've heard about this sweet sister, she used her time well. In her death, I am reminded that my days are in fact numbered and are fleeting. I join in with the Psalmist and say:

"Teach [me] to number [my] days that [I] may get a heart of wisdom."
- Psalm 90:12

This passage clearly communicates to me (and everyone!) to use today to serve the Lord, to love the people in my life and to spend my time wisely because tomorrow is by no means guaranteed.

It is Not Death to Die part1

      Some days ago I read a Facebook post by Pastor Okey (read my intro to Okey post here). He wrote about his dear friend and fellow brother in Christ, Terry, who has gone to see the Lord. Here's some of what he wrote:

"...Terry labored faithfully with me for over 20 years in church ministry. Before his health declined he regularly held weekly Bible studies in his home and prepared incredible Wed. evening meals for the entire church to facilitate the church families in being able to attend the midweek service...Terry's prayer of confession in the corporate worship service each Sunday was also so very special and moving...All said, Terry is one of the best friends, and most importantly, dearest brothers in Christ I have had or ever will have. I miss him already and I will continue to. There won't be any more phone conversations asking his opinion on some issue, no more card games (best hearts and spades card player I ever played), no more special meals, nor will his voice again be heard in prayer in the worship service..." 

This week I've thought a lot about Okey's words along side of reflecting on Terry's life. There are so many praiseworthy things to gleam from his death. If nothing else we see the plentiful fruit Terry's life yielded, as told by Okey. The Bible tells us that people will be recognized by their fruit (Matthew 7:16-20) and by love people will know a person belongs to Christ (John 13:35, Galatians 5:6). With the assurance of Terry confession, confirmed both by his words and life, I celebrate this dear brother's life and death. I am reminded that the fruit of my own life (i.e. the works of my hands) gives my confession of Christ a platform to stand on or a hill to fall down. Not to say I am not sinless (and if you read Okey's full post, he talked about the stubbornness of Terry's heart). This brings me to my next thought... 

I am not sure how or why, but Terry was the man Okey selected to pray the prayer of Confession every Sunday morning. I remember Terry's prayer of confession distinctly, spoken with his delightful southern accent. It went like this:

"Our God (pronounced "Goadd") and Father, 

Forgive us for our sins we have committed by doing what ought not to have been done and forgive us for the sins we have committed by not doing what ought have been done..." 

Was there anything super-special about those exact words of his prayer? Not really. So why do I love it and remember it so vividly 7 years later? It's due to the godly example of Terry's straightforward sincerity and faithful regularity every. single. week. Furthermore, I appreciate the  reminder that my sin is not just confined to doing the wrong things, but that to of not doing the right things.

To summarize my gleaming: A godly man's confession of Christ needs to be met with fruit from his life;  when it isn't, repentance is necessary.

But most importantly, Terry confesses his sins no more to the Lord, he confessed them for the very last time. Now his many PRAYERS have turned to unending PRAISE! He is free to marvel at his Savior's feet! Praise the Lord for his amazing grace!