Crowded Out

We have an antique chest that serves as a buffet not five steps from the front door. Contrary to my original plans, it unfortunately often becomes a dumping ground.

A few days ago I spied this scene on top of said buffet.

It reminded me of how much we crowd Jesus out of our lives. We become so very preoccupied with the trappings of this life. We fail to acknowledge or even remember the Babe, the Twelve-year-old, the Teacher, the Healer, the Worker of miracles, the Lamb that was sacrificed, the very Son of the one true God who was resurrected, and sits at the right hand of the Father.

"Infant Holy, Infant Lowly"

The grocery store has relegated their Christmas stuff to a corner at huge discounts. They don't care about the visual beauty of their displays. Ornaments are scattered hodge-podge, the boxes of Christmas lights are askew on the shelf, and the Christmas candy sits unceremoniously next to the Hannah Montana doll.

It doesn't bother me, for this is not what Christmas is anyway. Just as this hymn title is a study in contrasts, so is our Lord. It's about the Baby Who came to die. The Baby, wrapped in cloths, foreshadowing His inevitable purpose. The Son of God, placed in a feeding trough; He, Who is the bread of life.

The link below takes you to an accompaniment of this hymn, but unfortunately it doesn't accurately capture the correct harmony. As written, the soprano and alto parts "clash" at least once in every line of this hymn. It's that sound that makes you think, "Is that the right note?" But, when you look at the part, it is correct. The dissonance builds tension, and then is resolved to a chord that sounds right. Isn't this just what our Lord did? He built tension, He took everyone by surprise. Then, He resolved the ultimate tension between God and Satan. Between God and us. Between God and me.

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Infant holy, Infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

Lessons and Carols

We've been busy around here. Nutcracker. Church jobs. The usual Christmastime activities.

Just wanted you to know: KVOD (FM 88.1 Denver) is broadcasting Lessons and Carols, live from Kings College, at 8am (MST) on December 24.

Wherever you are, try to catch Lessons and Carols this Christmas Eve.

Second Sunday of Advent

Want to listen to some good Advent hymns?

Go to Sing for Joy and you won't be disappointed. (If you like the same kind of music I do, that is!)

No need to silence my blog music, by the way. It'll stop on its own when you go to the link above.

Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
verse 3

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
make the rougher places plain:
let your hearts be true and humble,
as befits his holy reign,
For the glory of the Lord
now o'er the earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token
that his word is never broken.

Have a blessed week.

Be Fruitful and Multiply

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
James 2:10

The kids and I reread the creation story from Genesis as our Jesse Tree reading for the day. Although I must have read those verses at least 20 times, something new jumped out at me this morning. (I love when that happens!)

As early as Genesis 1:11, God says, "Let the land produce vegetation..." (NIV). The King James translates it as, "Let the earth bring forth grass...". Verse 12 says that the land produced (brought forth) vegetation. When God creates sea creatures and birds, He blesses them and tells them, "Be fruitful and increase in number..." (NIV); "Be fruitful and multiply... (KJV). The land animals are to do the same. And finally, in Genesis 1:28, God tells Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and increase in number (multiply), fill (replenish) the earth, and subdue it. Rule (have dominion) over [every living creature]."

Having experienced infertility for many years, I always saw these passages as the command I could never fulfill. The big glaring spotlight trained right on me, reminding everyone I had failed. But with the scripture readings from just a few Sundays ago about the Parable of the Talents still fresh in my mind, I realized this morning that our being fruitful doesn't just have to mean giving birth to biological children. An economist recently said, "Our country is in financial trouble because instead of producing and saving, we are consuming and spending." I can produce and be fruitful in the smallest of ways. I can do it by cleaning the bathroom mirror without inwardly grumbling. I can do it in a life-changing permanent way. By teaching my children about God, His word, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Wow. Hopeful words. Humbling words. Hard words.

(I typed in the phrase "be fruitful and multiply" and searched images, only to find this photo above. Interesting, don't you think?)

"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The words to this advent hymn have been around since the 1100s. Imagine that! Although originally sung in Latin, this hymn has been heard in churches great and small for 900 years. Not only do churches all over the globe sing this hymn on this first Sunday of Advent, but we are joining our voices with generations of saints who came before us. That's a comforting thought.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O, Lord, we are captives on this earth. We mourn in lonely exile at times. Feeling so alone. So not-of-this-world. Thank you for your presence in our midst. In our hearts. In our hopes.

Giving Thanks

God's grace.

Last Saturday, we had driven out into the country to glean the fields at Miller Farms and pick some free food. Unfortunately, so had 40,000 other people. The generous Miller family certainly didn't have that much parking space. They didn't have that much food either. So they had to call in a sheriff to direct traffic and turn people away.

Two nights ago, a friend from church called. Another friend of hers had been one of the fortunate few to pick some food last Saturday, and she had more than she could use. My friend brought us some of the excess food. Thanks to the generosity of others, we ended up getting food from Miller Farms after all! He provides!

I put the traditional five kernels of corn on everyone's plate yesterday as I finished up the last of the table setting. Thirty minutes later, I sat there, eating my fill of food, gazing at those kernels. Thankful for the perseverance of the Pilgrims. Thankful that I've never, ever had only five kernels of corn to serve my children. And knowing full well that it's nothing I have done to deserve this bounty.

It's just God's grace.

God's Divine Design

We can all see God in exceptional things, but it requires the culture of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail. Never allow that the haphazard is anything less than God's appointed order, and be ready to discover the Divine designs anywhere.

Oswald Chambers - My Utmost For His Highest - November 14

Our son likes to take pictures of clouds and the sky, and every so often he'll send one to my phone from his. He took this one when he was in the mountains about two months ago. As one who appreciates the never-ending variety of skyscapes offered in Colorado, I am so pleased that he sees beauty in it, too.

He and I were in the car this afternoon, talking about the Stealth bomber, the cruising altitude of commercial jets, the elevation of Mt. McKinley vs. Mt. Elbert, and the unusual cloud shapes to the southwest, over the foothills. Typical 14-year-old boy talk, I suppose. But then, he said something that made me pause.

"I'd like to fly through a sunset."

It was something I'd never thought about. Imagine that. Flying through a sunset. It sounded so poetic. We wondered if the clouds were as colorful while you were in them, or if the colors were enhanced by gazing upon them from the ground.



This is a sunset photo he sent me last week. Not bad for something taken from a moving car! When he got home, he said,

"It looked better in real life."

Things often do look better in real life. And just as that sunset was God's Divine design, so is the fact that our son is our son, and so are his poetic statements about life. The sweet little details of life. Real life.

Shallow and Profound

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
1 Cor 10:31

Beware of allowing yourself to think that the shallow concerns of life are not ordained of God; they are as much of God as the profound. It is not your devotion to God that makes you refuse to be shallow, but your wish to impress other people with the fact that you are not shallow... Beware of posing as a profound person; God became a Baby.

To be shallow is not a sign of being wicked, nor is shallowness a sign that there are no deeps: the ocean has a shore. The shallow amenities of life, eating and drinking, walking and talking, are all ordained by God. These are the things in which Our Lord lived. He lived in them as the Son of God, and He said that "a student is not above his teacher."
Oswald Chambers - My Utmost For His Highest - November 22

Today, we took a little drive in the farmland north of us. We crossed the South Platte River at one point, and it looked pitifully puny. It's seldom roaring in our part of the state, but it was especially shallow today. Despite its looking seemingly insignificant; it joins up with the North Platte in Nebraska. Little streams continue feeding into it, and it widens and deepens until it feeds into the Missouri River just south of Omaha. It twists and turns through the state of Missouri, until it empties out into the mighty Mississippi in St. Louis; where, of course, the little trickle of water that started in the mountains of Colorado makes its way down to the Gulf of Mexico.

Just as God plans for little streams to feed into rivers and eventually empty into the oceans; we, too, spend our days with little pursuits, which accumulate into a full life. Without the shallow, we never get the profound. If we aim to seek God and please God in the shallow, we shall likewise seek and please Him in the profound.

Heroes

This morning, my husband sent me this picture from his phone to mine. Will Smith, the actor, visited the school where my husband teaches. Apparently, some of the students knew who he was and were pretty excited. The other teachers certainly did, and I guess some of the female teachers were all atwitter over having the celebrity at their school.

Now, I've never seen a Will Smith movie, so forgive my "Bah, humbug!" attitude. But, as the kids and I sat in our family room reading this morning, I couldn't help but be underwhelmed at the significance of the surprise visit to the public school. Now, granted, Smith, in town to promote a new movie, didn't have to visit the school. He didn't have to give them $2,000. But the fact that we, as a society, go so ga-ga over entertainers really bugs me.

I sat there, reading about ancient Greece, and thought about who I'd like our children to see. The veterans who were at the Veteran's Day program last week came to mind. How about someone who can build a house from the ground up? What about having a missionary stop by for a visit? A rancher. A farmer. A pastor. A fireman. An abortion clinic protester. A believer who worships clandestinely in a country where Christianity is forbidden. These are some of the heroes I want my children to learn from and look up to.

The Imitation of Christ - Part 7

The Imitation of Christ - Thomas a Kempis
Chapter 7
Of Fleeing From Vain Hope and Pride

"Trust not in thy learning, nor in the cleverness of any that lives, but rather trust in the favour of God, who resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble."

I love books. I love reading. I love learning. Yet, I am not to trust in my learning. Surely, God is pleased when I read my Bible. What does Kempis mean by this?

When I look more closely, I see two things. First, Kempis is telling us not to trust in our LEARNING. We are to trust in the Lord. We should be looking for His favor. We are not to make an idol of our learning.

Secondly, Kempis says not to trust in THY learning. We have to be careful not to trust only in what we glean. We could be wrong in our conclusions. We need to seek Godly counsel. Pray for discernment. Test everything against scripture.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 NKJV

('Solomon dictating wise sayings' from Bible Picture Gallery)

"Please tell the world what is happening here."

I've not been a huge Prince Charles fan, but I appreciate what he's doing to help these farmers in India. The quote in my title doesn't come from him, but from a farmer in India, where genetically modified seeds are being used.

Please take the time to read this article. It is well worth your time. Being the suburban gal that I am, I am not real knowledgeable about this topic, but I've been reading about it for quite some time, and am appalled at what is going on.

"Come, Ye Thankful People, Come"

The words to this Thanksgiving hymn were penned in 1844 by Henry Alford (1810-1871). The music was written in 1858 by George Job Elvey (1816-1893), who was the boys' choirmaster and organist at St. George’s Cha­pel in Wind­sor, Eng­land, for almost 50 years.




Come, Ye Thankful People Come
(click here for hymn melody - no need to silence the blog music)

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;
Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.

(watercolor of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle)

Labour at Prayer

The way fruit remains is by prayer, but remember it is prayer based on the agony of Redemption, not on your agony. Whichever way God engineers circumstances, the duty is to pray. You labour at prayer and results happen all the time from His standpoint.
Oswald Chambers

I took our son fishing late this afternoon. Nothing was biting. Too cold, he thought. It didn't matter really, it was so nice just to be outside where it was peaceful and quiet. I snapped this photo of him with my phone (I still marvel at that capability!), and thought about how big his is, and how nice he is. I remembered how long we waited for our first born, this boy, who will in a few short years be leaving home. I am not ready. I will never be.

So I pray to God that He will continue to guide us in raising our son into a godly young man. And I pray that He will fill in the numerous empty spaces left by our ineptitudes.

You labour at prayer and results happen all the time from His standpoint.

If You Remain Silent

When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther 4: 12-14

I love the story of Esther. Upon each rereading, I am struck by Mordecai's admonition, and I wonder what speaking up I should be doing in my own life.

Lord, help me to listen to You. I crowd you out with my other so-called important daily tasks. Show me where You want me to speak up. Show me those places for which You have raised ME up for such a time as this. Give me the strength and wisdom to turn my back on remaining silent.

(photo from internet site: mausoleum in Iran which may contain the tombs of Esther and Mordecai)

Veteran's Day 2008

Morning. Our town's USS Indianapolis survivor, sat on the stage, waiting to lead us in the pledge. I watched his shoulders shake and his face pucker during the National Anthem. What memories he must harbor, which flow unbidden on days such as these.

It was standing room only this year. The kids and I, among the standees. We could only catch a fraction of the stage from our vantage point in the balcony. But on a day when you remember the blood, sweat, and tears of soldiers; how can you complain about that?

I watched my snippet of the stage and thought of soldiers in fox holes. Doing their duty in one small part of a teaming battlefield. Not knowing what was happening elsewhere. Just doing their jobs. Following orders. Painfully aware of their little snippet of the world. Trying to stay warm. Stay alive.

Evening. I brought in James's flag. It was quiet. No cars going by. No dogs barking. No words uttered. Just fabric gently cracking in the breeze. I looked up at those Stars and Stripes bathed in moonlight and prayed for him. For his parents. They, passing another Veteran's Day in America's heartland. Wishing their son had been sitting on the stage in their auditorium. Leading his family and friends in the pledge. And crying when the National Anthem was sung. Thankful he was home.

Instead, a dream lost. Hopes shattered. On a dusty road in Afghanistan, four long years ago.

Thank you James for your sacrifice. Thank you, Jim and Theresa, for yours. May God bless and comfort you. May you feel His arms around you when it seems like a million years ago. When it seems like only yesterday.

(photo of James's flag, taken by me at noon, and cropped by my son)

Worth It

Doing some goofing around here at the blog this evening. It's fun. I added another blog to my blogroll on the right (last one on the bottom - nice photographs, cheery author, light reading for the most part). I got to thinking. I'm pretty sure that the authors of some would not enjoy reading some of the others. But, that's OK. I like my variety. They all inspire me for one reason or another.

So,... after dinner we all played Pictionary for a little while. Daughter and I (the winning team!) did great until I had to draw "whisper". Then, tucking her into bed and praying with her, she asked if she was worth it. Judging by the look on her face...I knew exactly what she was thinking.

You see, she watched Extreme Makeover on Sunday evening while I was at a Bible study. We've never seen it before, but this episode made quite an impression on her. One of the makeover recipients was a man with cerebral palsy who needed his coffee shop made wheelchair accessible. This same man had been thrown into a dumpster when he was a baby. His story made our daughter wonder in amazement, a) how his mom could throw him in there, b) how he survived, and c) how nice he is, with no trace of bitterness. "Mommy, if you had seen the show, you would have cried."

So, tonight, our daughter wondered if she was worth it. Worth saving. Worth keeping. Worth living.

I held her close, buried my face in her hair, and kissed the top of her head over and over. Then I told her those comforting words she needs to hear so often.

Yes, honey, you're worth it. We love you so much. God loves you so much. He planned it all before you were born. He brought you here. You are our precious daughter.

I love you.

You are worth it!

(photo of our Worth It Girl, doing some goofing around of her own, with lip gloss)

Cheer Up - Part 2

Here's a comment from another reader of Blog and Mablog, concerning the domino theory post.

We shouldn't wait until our families and churches are just where we need them before effecting local politics, though. Perfection is not achievable in an imperfect world. Family and Church should be a priority in the sense of attention, not in the sense of first this, then everything else.
David Henry - 11/10/2008

This is a good point. Just as in falling dominos, the second and third dominos begin falling before the first one has finished its "job". But, they won't fall unless the first one is on target, close enough, and strong enough to push them over.

As a home schooler, I have a tremendous responsibility, don't I? But, I like this analogy to help guide me.

Cheer Up!

I am still grieving the outcome of Tuesday's election. Not that I was wild about McCain. I wasn't. I just can't believe that so many people would think it's OK to vote for someone who promised to make it a priority to make it easier to kill unborn babies. Even the ones who lived through an abortion. That alone is chilling. And don't get me started on the myriad of other problems with Obama.

This comment from a reader at Blog and Mablog (see sidebar) really cheered me up.

May it do the same for you!

It has been pointed out several times on this blog (quite rightly) that the answer is in Christ, not in politics, and that the solution is to begin with right worship to the Living God. But at some point, the leaven permeates the actual government. At some point, the solution can be seen to have taken affect politically. So how does it get from point A to point B?

If right worship is the first domino, perhaps local politics (and I mean really local) is the third or forth domino. When the leaves wilt, you water the roots, not the leaves -- and then the leaves are rejuvinated.

So perhaps, as we begin to get our churches in order, and our houses in order, we should next seek to get our towns and cities in order, with a long view toward national politics. Any thoughts?

Charles Long - 11/9/2008 3:49:12 PM

I have plenty to do to "get my house in order." I'll focus on that tomorrow. And the next day. And the next. Thank you, Mr. Long.

What to Think...

We've had the flu floating around our house this week, so I've been a bit out of touch. While strolling around the blogs this afternoon, I ran across these posts that I found interesting. Although there are some disagreements among them, I find them all to be insightful.

I've never heard of this blog before, but it was linked at A Quiet Simple Life. The Thirsty Theologian blog writes Further Thoughts on the Election.

This post from Biblical Christianity blog, A Lament for America, was linked at the previous blog. I can't vouch for anything else at the site, but I found this article interesting.

Finally, this article, Conservatives Lost More Than an Election, is written by Chuck Baldwin and is linked at Tennessee Farmgirl.

It took all of my energy to make these links, so that's all for now.

Blue, This Time

I voted and all it got me was a free Chai at Starbucks.

I saw my formerly red state sitting there on the map. Blue, this time.

I saw the tears in Chicago. I can't seem to shed any of my own. And if I did, it'd be for a different reason anyway.

I strolled around my favorite blogs. It helped to commiserate that way. This post at Blog and Mablog is worth reading if you feel so inclined.

You know, I suppose I got more than a free Chai. I exercised my freedom to speak my mind. That's very important. I was an example for my children. That's very important, too. And tomorrow I'll tell them, quoting Doug Wilson, "God is still Father, Christ is still at His right hand, and the Holy Spirit is still abroad in the world, recreating that world according to the image of Christ. When the nations conspire against Him, He laughs at them." (Go to the link above to read more election day thoughts from Pastor Wilson.)

The Imitation of Christ - Part 6

The Imitation of Christ - Thomas a Kempis
Chapter 6
Of Inordinate Affections

"Whensoever a man desireth aught above measure, immediately he becometh restless. The proud and the avaricious man are never at rest; while the poor and lowly of heart abide in the multitude of peace."

I hate going to the mall. Yes, hate. I see things I want. I see things I never knew existed. I see pretty things. Useful things. Clothes I'd love to wear. Furniture I'd like to put in my home. Gifts I'd like to purchase for others.

But it's all stuff I don't need. It's stuff that makes me ungrateful. Discontent. Greedy. Resentful. Restless.

I come home and I know that I already have far more than I need. I have so many books, I'll never read them all. Most of them aren't "stylish" anymore, but I have more than enough clothes to keep me warm. My mom stopped by today to get two loads of clothes to wash for me, while our washing machine is broken. My children did their math totally on their own while I took a short nap, being a little under the weather today. I had time to read my Bible and ponder God's watchcare over Israel. Over me.

I want to abide in the multitude of peace. I want contentment and gratefulness to reign. So I'll count my blessings. And just continue staying away from the mall.

(Photo of St. Petrog's church in North Wales from this site.)

"For All the Saints"

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give me grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living...
The Divine Hours



I would have loved to sing this hymn today in a church with a pipe organ. Not any church building, but an old cathedral. The kind with marble and intricately carved oak. And not just any organ, but the kind that can make your insides rumble.

Go here to read all of the verses and hear the music.

Many people will be familiar with this first verse:

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!


Here is verse #7 (of 11!), which I thought appropriate for election week:

O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Ths photo is of a bell tower in England, near where Ralph Vaughn Williams (hymn's composer) lived.

Fear Ye Not

Last evening at dinner my husband said, "One week from now, we'll know who the next president will be." Kinda scary. And sobering.

I read these verses recently, and decided they could help me pray for our country and the election. I often feel like our country is a mere shadow of her former self, and I fear that it will only get worse. But I figure these verses apply to me, too, and that gives me hope.

I'm going to remind myself to be strong, to remember that God is with me, and not to fear.

3Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

4Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:

5According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
Haggai 2: 3-5 (KJV)

(The photo of the ruins are from this free website.)

What Jesus Has Done

I cannot save and sanctify myself; I cannot atone for sin; I cannot redeem the world; I cannot make right what is wrong, pure what is impure, holy what is unholy. This is all the sovereign work of God.

I am not saved by believing; I realize I am saved by believing. It is not repentance that saves me, repentance is the sign that I realize what God has done in Christ Jesus.

I stand justified, not because I am sorry for my sin, not because I have repented, but because of what Jesus has done.

My Utmost For His Highest - Oswald Chambers

Seriously

On the way home from ballet, our daughter and I have our usual, predictable conversations. She tells me about her class(es) and how her friends are. We discuss the merits of various songs on the radio, and we comment on the construction of the fast food places where there used to be an open field.

Last week she surprised me with, "When I grow up I want to marry a rich man so he can buy me those orange trash bags with pumpkins on them, and we can have lots of kids."

I wanted to chuckle, but I could tell she was serious.

I thought to myself, "We are really frugal if she equates purchasing pumpkin trash bags with being wealthy! Do I say 'no' (aka: we can't afford it) that often?" Then I thought how my heart is always happy when she mentions that she wants lots of children. I would love to have lots of grandchildren in due time. Next, I thought how her comment was so twelve-year-oldish. She's straddling two worlds, and will for some time. One foot in childhood, and one foot leading into adulthood. And finally, I was reminded how I pray often that she chooses a husband wisely; a loving, patient, godly, strong Christian, who will be able to provide for her and those "lots of children."

Maybe I'll splurge on those trash bags after all. Sometimes, when you're twelve, a few of your dreams need to come true.

And don't you chuckle now. I can be serious, too.

"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"

“I would allow no man to preach or teach God’s people without a proper knowledge of the use and power of sacred song.”
Martin Luther (1483-1546)


A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe-
His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not His equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right man on our side, The man of God's own choosing.
Doth ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He-
Lord Sabaoth His name, From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world with devils filled, Should threaten to unto us.
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him-
His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure:
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also-
They body they may kill; God's truth abideth still:
His kingdom is forever.

(photo of Wartburg Castle, where Luther was safely ensconced for a time)

He Who Knew No Sin

21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)






Sin is a fundamental relationship; it is not wrong doing, it is wrong
being, deliberate and emphatic independence of God. The Christian religion bases everything on the positive, radical nature of sin. Other religions deal with sins; the Bible alone deals with sin.

The revelation of the Bible is not that Jesus Christ took upon Himself our fleshly sins, but that He took upon Himself the heredity of sin which no man can touch.

A man cannot redeem himself; Redemption is God's "bit," it is absolutely finished and complete...

Excerpts from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
October 7 entry

(detail from Gutenberg Bible)

Happy Birthday!

There is a woman, near thirty now,
Halfway around the world.

Does she wonder how you are?
You, her babe, her girl.

I tuck you in, and soothe your tears
I pray for you each day.

And yet, another gave you life
Twelve years ago today.

There is a woman, near thirty now,
Halfway around the world.

May she know how loved you are,
You, her babe, her girl.



God bless our daughter's birth mother. May He comfort her in the knowledge that her little girl is loved beyond measure. And may He give me strength, wisdom, and patience to nurture our precious daughter in the love and admonition of the Lord.

(This is our daughter at our friends' ranch a few months ago.)

The Imitation of Christ - Part 5

Book 1
Chapter 5
Of the Reading of Holy Scriptures

Our house holds lots of books. We haven't been able to buy like what we used to when I was working full time, but nonetheless, we still have tons of books. In addition, I give my library card a work out, so we manage to have new titles rotating around here all the time.

I always think to myself, "If only I could actually READ all of these books." Or better yet, "If only I could REMEMBER what I have already read!" And then there's my ultimate goal, "If only I could SYNTHESIZE all that's held in these books."

Ponder what Kempis has to say about reading:

~ We ought to read books which are devotional and simple, as well as those which are deep and difficult.

~ ...let the love of the pure Truth draw thee to read.

~ Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.

~ If thou wouldst profit by thy reading, read humbly, simply, honestly, and not desiring to win a character for learning.

Another translation for this last sentence reads,

"...read with humility, simplicity, and faith..."

I like that.

My Redeemer Lives

Just when I feel myself slouching into pessimism, God makes sure I read this (spoken by Job):

For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
Job 19: 25, 27 NKJV

(stained glass window from St. Oswald's Church in England)

Valleys - Part 2

The height of the mountain top is measured by the drab drudgery of the valley; but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mount, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the sphere of humiliation that we find our true worth to God, that is where our faithfulness is revealed.

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
October 2 entry

This photo is of Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Now, I love Colorado, and I'm not too fond of excessive humidity (or the bugs that come with it). But there is something about this valley that feels like home to me. It doesn't have the closed in feeling of the hollows in West Virginia. The valley in Cades Cove is broad and boasts flat farm land, surrounded by tree-covered hills. In fact, being in Cades Cove almost makes me believe myself capable of homesteading there in the 1800s. Almost.

Sometimes the word "valley" has a negative connotation. We say we're going through a valley in our life, or we think of the valley of the shadow of death. We tend to forget that valleys can be fruitful places that offer stability and abundance. The valley is where we live and do our work.

Lord, help us to see that our time in the valley is not merely drab drudgery. Help us to be humble. Help us to live for the glory of God.

Valleys

We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that is where we have to prove our mettle. Spiritual selfishness always wants repeated moments on the mount.
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
October 1 entry

When our son climbed Mt. Elbert in August, he sent a picture of his looking down on the clouds. Coupled with this one from the summit, it almost seemed as if he took an airplane ride rather than a hike.

The quote from Chambers reminds me of this picture. The mountaintop is indeed spectacular, and getting there is quite an accomplishment. But, notice how the top is so barren and desolate. It's almost like being on the moon. It is actually in the valleys where vegetation flourishes.

Valleys may look pretty from afar, but being in them is usually not glamorous. It's where the work of life goes on. And the work of life is often messy and tiring. We make mistakes in the valleys. We don't see God's big picture. We look wistfully at the mountaintop and sigh. We want to think of life's valleys as temporary glitches in our mountaintop lives. Chambers reminds us it is the other way around.

Our son's mountaintop view was amazingly beautiful and awe inspiring. But just as he didn't stay long at the summit, we all must come back down to the valley. It is in the valley where our lives are lived.

Chocolate and Books

It just doesn't get much better than this!

This is our daughter, enjoying some hot chocolate at a coffee shop this evening. She and I were reading and chatting while we waited for her big brother at Scouts. She didn't know I took this picture and I love her look of concentration.

It was just a very nice and simple evening that I wanted to remember.

Sabbath Rest

On the Jewish calendar, this evening at sundown began the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. After a large meal before sundown, the next 25 hours are to be a day of fasting and a sabbath day of rest for the people of Israel.

Lately, I have been trying to grasp the concept of sabbath rest. Even though I feel like a little minnow heading up the churning river of our times, I feel a nudging in my soul. God is placing stepping stones before me and He expects me to follow His path. (I know, I know. I morphed from the minnow analogy to walking on land. This is not a subtle plug for evolution!)

Consider this scripture I "happened" to read this evening:

Do no work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God.
Leviticus 23:28 NIV

Yom Kippur was/is the only day all year that the high priest was/is allowed to enter the Most Holy Place. One reason God wants us to rest on the sabbath is to remind us that it is His work that gives us access to the Most Holy Place. We can labor until our fingers are raw. It is nothing we have done. Jesus, our high priest, is our scapegoat. He is our perfect sacrifice.

We rest in Him and get to be the unworthy, yet very grateful, partakers of His forgiveness.

Sign of the Times

Did this make you kind of sick?

I took our daughter to a ballet performance yesterday afternoon. She loves to dance and wants to be at the studio as much as possible. The next best thing to being able to dance herself, is watching others dance. We were in a good mood, and looking forward to the afternoon.

On the way to the theater, we passed a church that has one of those signs with letters you change to make new sayings every week. I couldn't believe what they put up. I think I gasped, I was so taken aback.

Now, incorrect usage of apostrophes and the letter s really bugs me. But that pales in comparison to the message. It's so flippant and denegrating. You read the sign and are more apt to think of a beer commercial rather than our Savior on the cross.

Judging by the attire we spotted, many people were traveling that road to go to the Denver Bronco football game, or to a bar or friend's house to watch the game. Maybe the church thought they'd catch the eye of that captive audience with their "clever" quip. Instead, I thought it cheapened the gospel. It made a mockery of our Lord's sacrifice.

It was another example of Christians copying the culture and not doing it very well.

(I don't know the name of the church we passed. I made this sign up at churchsigngenerator.com to closely approximate the type of sign I saw. Unfortunately, I copied the words exactly as they were on the real sign.)

"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
Paul, in his letter to the Philippians 3:7 (NIV)

"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" is based upon this verse from one of today's scripture readings on the liturgical calendar. Today's broadcast of Sing for Joy, has two versions of this hymn. First, is the traditional melody, which is followed by one written by John Rutter, and performed by King's College Choir. (King's College Chapel pictured above.) I love almost everything by Rutter and King's College Choir, and this hymn doesn't disappoint. The Rutter version is about 2/3 of the way across the listening band on the Sing for Joy website if you're so inclined.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

(words by Isaac Watts)

Mountaintops

We have all had times on the mount, when we have seen things from God's standpoint and have wanted to stay there; but God will never allow us to stay there.

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
(October 1 entry)


In August our son climbed to the top of Mt. Elbert (14,433 feet) with the die hard hikers in his Scout troop. From the highest point in Colorado, he sent me this photo of himself at the summit.

Amazing things happen atop mountains. The ark rests on the mountains of Ararat, Moses receives the Ten Commandments atop Mount Sinai, and Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John, on yet another mountain. Mountain tops are fun places to be. You have that exhilarating feeling of being on top of the world. You have a well deserved sense of accomplishment. And the sheer distance from civilization helps you put your life in perspective.

But God never tells us to stay on top of the mountain. Noah and his family were told to increase in number and fill the earth. Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the tablets, and the second time, the Lord told him to leave that place with the whole nation of Israel. After the transfiguration, not only do Jesus and the three others come down from the mountain, but Jesus instructs them not to tell anyone what they saw "until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."

My son didn't need any encouragement to return after the respite atop Mount Elbert. He didn't want to get caught by lightning in an afternoon thunderstorm. And I don't think his stomach would ever let him stay away from the campsite too awful long!

God will find a way to get us off the mountain and into the valley.

Our Call Has To Do...

"...with being made broken bread and poured-out wine.

If ever we are going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed; you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed."

My Utmost For His Highest
Oswald Chambers
September 30 entry


Every sentence in yesterday's reading was a gem. Chambers makes the potent analogy that we have to be crushed to be made into wine. That alone is powerful. But, he takes it one step further, and makes us wonder if we can stand to be crushed in a manner which we don't like.

"God can never make us wine if we object to the fingers He uses to crush us with. But when He uses someone whom we dislike, or some set of circumstances to which we said we would never submit, and makes those the crushers, we object."

Lord, give us strength to withstand life's crushing with grace.

(Photo: This is the closest thing to grapes which we have growing in our yard: hops. What would Laura Ingalls have thought? Here I am blogging and posting photos taken by my camera phone!)

The Imitation of Christ - Part 4

Book 1
Chapter 4
Of Prudence in Action

~Unhappily we are so weak that we find it easier to believe and speak evil of others, rather than good.

~Take counsel with a man who is wise and of a good conscience; and seek to be instructed by one better than thyself, rather than to folllow thine own inventions.

~The more humble a man is in himself, and the more obedient towards God, the wiser will he be in all things, and the more shall his soul be at peace.

That's Not Fair!

Children are quick to say, "That's not fair!" They will blurt this out to someone, anyone, in charge when they feel they've been wronged. We adults think it, but we're usually too proud to utter it verbally. Instead, we just stew about it and grumble. If we read this thoughtfully, we can't but admit that God IS fair and merciful.

The Fairness of God’s Judgment

12 “Therefore you, O son of man, say to the children of your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live because of his righteousness in the day that he sins.’ 13 When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die. 14 Again, when I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ if he turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right, 15 if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 16 None of his sins which he has committed shall be remembered against him; he has done what is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
17 “Yet the children of your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ But it is their way which is not fair! 18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. 19 But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it. 20 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways.”

Ezekiel 33:12-20 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

At the top is a Wordle of these Bible verses.

"O Ye Immortal Throng"

This hymn is listed in today's reading from Phyllis Tickle's The Divine Hours. Its author, Philip Doddridge (1702-1751), pictured here, lived in England, and was the youngest of 20 children. (Whew!) These words weren't paired with the current tune until more than one hundred years later. Charles H. Steggall (1826-1905), another Brit, wrote this melody in 1865.


O Ye Immortal Throng

O ye immortal throng of angels round the throne,
Join with our feeble song, to make the Savior known:
On earth ye knew His wondrous grace;
His glorious face in Heav’n ye view.

Ye saw the Heav’n-born Child in human flesh arrayed,
Benevolent and mild while in the manger laid:
And “Praise to God, and peace on earth,”
For such a birth, proclaimed aloud.

Around the bloody tree ye pressed with strong desire
That wondrous sight to see, the Lord of life expire:
And could your eyes have known a tear,
Had dropped it there in sad surprise.

Around His sacred tomb a willing watch ye keep
Till the blest moment come to rouse Him from His sleep:
Then rolled the stone, and all adored
Your rising Lord with joy unknown.

When, all arrayed in light, the shining Conqueror rode,
Ye hailed His rapturous flight up to the throne of God,
And waved around your golden wings,
And struck your strings of sweetest sound.

The warbling notes pursue, and louder anthems raise,
While mortals sing with you their own Redeemer’s praise:
And thou, my heart, with equal flame,
And joy the same, perform thy part.

A Process Steadily Maintained

"It is easy to imagine that we will get to a place where we are complete and ready, but preparation is not suddenly accomplished, it is a process steadily maintained. It is dangerous to get into a settled state of experience. It is preparation and preparation."

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
(Sept. 24 entry)

I seem to get my best blog ideas while reading during school. The kids each get one end of the couch and I get the rocking chair. Well, wouldn't you know...I'm finally able to sit down at the computer and now I forget what pearls of wisdom I had to say about this quote.

There have been times in my life when I've thought, "I'll really start enjoying life when...a boy asks me out on a date, I graduate from college and get a job, we buy a house, we get pregnant, we get out of debt, etc." I'm getting better at being content with where I am in life. I guess you could call it a "bloom where you are planted" philosophy. God has placed me here, at this time, with these limitations, these talents...and I think He expects me to use them for His glory.

So the next time I am tempted to sow seeds of discontent in my life, I should remember that my preparation is a process steadily maintained. This preparation can be for many things: school, meetings, maintaining our home, raising our children, studying God's Word, and even walking our dog.

The Imitation of Christ - Part 3

I love our public library. I go there often to get books for our home school, especially our history/English curriculum. The past few weeks, I've been using the free service of making five copies/day from the internet so I can build a copy of The Imitation of Christ from Project Gutenberg.

Book 1
Chapter 3
Of the Knowledge of Truth

The previous chapter about being humble dovetails nicely into this one. Again, Kempis cautions against striving after much knowledge.


~The more a man hath unity and simplicity in himself, the more things and the deeper things he understandeth; and that without labour, because he receiveth the light of understanding from above.

~A lowly knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than the deep searching of man's learning. Not that learning is to be blamed, nor the taking account of anything that is good; but a good conscience and a holy life is better than all.

~And he is the truly learned man, who doeth the will of God, and forsaketh his own will.

(Chester Cathedral in England)

"Thy Strong Word"

I know this melody as "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus," text by Samuel T. Francis, music by Thomas J. Williams (1869-1944). The melody pops up again in this hymn with words written by Martin H. Franzman (1907-1976).

Thy Strong Word

Thy strong word did cleave the darkness; at thy speaking it was done;
For created light we thank thee, while thine ordered seasons run.
Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end!

Lo, on those who dwelt in darkness, dark as night and deep as death,
Broke the light of thy salvation, breathed thine own lifegiving breath.
Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end!

Thy strong word bespeaks us righteous; bright with thine own holiness,
Glorious now, we press toward glory, and our lives our hopes confess.
Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end!

God the Father, Light Creator, to thee laud and honor be;
To thee, Light of Light begotten, praise be sung eternally.
Holy Spirit, Light Revealer, glory, glory be to thee;
Mortals, angels, now and ever praise the Holy Trinity.

The Imitation of Christ - Part 2

Book 1
Chapter 2
Of Thinking Humbly of Oneself

Yesterday I posted about a man who calls himself a futurist. This excerpt from Kempis's book is the perfect rebuttal to the so-called miracle of information accessibility 24/7.

Rest from inordinate desire of knowledge, for therein is found much distraction and deceit. Those who have knowledge, desire to appear learned and to be called wise. Many things there are to know which profiteth little or nothing to the soul.

Many words satisfy not the soul, but a good life refresheth the mind, and a pure conscience giveth great confidence towards God.

Thank you, God, for drawing me close to you on this day 24 years ago. The more I learn about You, the more amazing your mercy becomes to me.

The Futurist

Kind of sounds like the title of a movie. But it's the job title of a guest speaker at our Library Board meeting a few weeks ago. I heard the term "futurist" and I thought, "You can make money doing that??"

Our unabridged dictionary defines a futurist as someone who practices or advocates "a point of view that seeks life's meaning or fulfillment in the future rather than in the past or present: utopianism."

Trying to process the speaker's world view through the lenses of my world view was a bit of a struggle. He spent considerable time talking about the amount of information that is available to us 24/7, and the speed with which we can access that information. He seemed to marvel at the means and speed with which we will be able to access even more information in the future.

No talk of cultivating human relationships. Just acquisition of facts. No talk of how to separate the wheat from the chaff in the huge sea of information. Just more so-called knowledge. Faster.

Quite telling is this fact. On the same dictionary page as futurist, is the term future farmer (a member of Future Farmers of America). If I got to pick a lunch companion...I'd go with the future farmer. I know I'd learn more facts. Only, it'd be a lot more enjoyable!

Kind of like utopia! Right now!

"O God, Beyond All Praising"

Check out today's broadcast of Sing for Joy.
The first hymn, Praise to the Lord, is a very nice choral arrangement. The final hymn, "O God, Beyond All Praising", is a new one to me. It is set to the tune of a movement from Gustav Holst's The Planets, which nearly always brings me to the verge of tears. Go here to listen to the melody and sing along with the words.


"O God Beyond All Praising"

O God beyond all praising,
we worship you today
and sing the love amazing
that songs cannot repay.

Holst grew up in the church pictured above and sang in the choir. (All Saints, Cheltenham, England)

Greenest Convention Ever?

Before I forget...

A day before the Democratic Convention opened here in Colorado a few weeks ago, I heard Denver Mayor Hickenlooper say that the DNC was going to be the Greenest Convention In History.

We heard that the waste was going to be composted. Carbon credits were being sold. Bicycles were provided for convention goers. Etc., etc., etc.

Making a proclamation like this merely shows our ignorance of history. Our ignorance of the excesses of the times we live in. I'd be willing to bet our house that this year's Democratic National Convention used more energy than any other convention ever.

(Photo of American flags taken from the DNC stadium site, all bagged up in garbage bags and sitting by the trash.)

Farmers

I sit in the front yard, hand pulling little weeds. The yard looks nice from the street. You don't notice the weeds unless you're walking by. But here I am, pulling these little buggars before they go to seed. I look up the street, and across the way at the soccer field. Then it hit me. We're all farmers.

This doesn't make me happy. We raise a fairly useless "crop". Grass. Kentucky blue grass, to be specific. In arid Colorado. Doesn't make much sense, does it? We can't eat it. No livestock eats it. The wild bunnies do, but I'm not speaking to them. They ate too much of my garden this summer. Well, I take that back. I do speak to them. I tell them, "You can eat the grass. You can even eat the flowers. Just leave my vegetable garden alone! You see that fence? That means keep out!" That's what I tell them these days. I empathize with Mr. MacGregor. Ole Peter Rabbit doesn't get my sympathy anymore.

But back to the grass thing. I think of all the time and expense we suburbanites spend on keeping the yard looking good enough to keep the neighbors from talking and the city from giving us a citation. Sure, it's fun to walk out there barefoot. But I'd rather put on shoes and walk in a pasture. I'd rather be a useful farmer. A real farmer.

So what I do is plant seeds. Ideas, actually. In our children's heads. Thoughts of living away from the city. Living off your land. Living simply. And then I pray for those seedlings to take root.

Maybe I am a bit of a farmer after all.