My best friend got married on Saturday. It was like a real-life fairy tale because of the beautiful place the wedding was at... and because of the beautiful bride and her Cinderella dress! Congrats, Darcy!
"When we believe that God expects us to try hard to become who Jesus wants us to be, we will live in that blurry, frustrating land of Should Be rather than trust in The One Who Is. We will do whatever we believe it takes to please God rather than receive the acceptance that has already been given. We will perform to live up to what we believe his expectation is of us rather than expectantly wait on him. ... Jesus is calling us to a deeper, truer, freer identity. All he wants is simply you—minus your good works, minus your perfect attendance, minus your politeness. When you really believe that, you may discover that all you want is Jesus, simply Jesus. Not just to get to heaven or to help you be a good person or do the right thing, but to simply love and be loved by him."
Wow.
There's already been so much good that has come out of reading the first two chapters of this book. I'm really excited about reading the rest of it. Praying for lots of fruit as I read! This book is a sweet gift from my God.
I'm so glad Eric heard them talking about this book on Moody radio. I'm glad he decided to tell me about it. I'm glad God helped me to have the humility to take Eric's suggestion to check it out. I'm glad I put it on my registry. I'm glad my friend bought it for me as a wedding gift. God sure is in the details. He knows our needs.
Andrew Peterson's new album just came out. He sure has a knack for sending new music my way just when I need it… or God has a knack for that. Probably the latter.
His new single is called "Rest Easy," and I love it. I love it because its message is exactly what God is trying to tell us… and it's exactly what I find so hard to believe. The song goes like this:
You are not alone
I will always be with you
Even to the end
You don’t have to work so hard
You can rest easy
You don’t have to prove yourself
You’re already mine
You don’t have to hide your heart
I already love you
I hold it in mine
So you can rest easy
Do not be afraid
Nothing, nothing in the world
Can come between us now
You don’t have to work so hard
You can rest easy
You don’t have to prove yourself
You’re already mine
You don’t have to hide your heart
I already love you
I hold it in mine
So you can rest easy
You work so hard to wear yourself down
And you’re running like a rodeo clown
You’re smiling like you’re scared to death
You’re out of faith and all out of breath
You’re so afraid you’ve got nowhere left to go
Well, you are not alone
I will always be with you
You don’t have to work so hard
You can rest easy
You don’t have to prove yourself
You’re already mine
You don’t have to hide your heart
I already love you
I hold it in mine
You can rest easy
Wow. Really? I don't have to prove myself? I'm already Yours? I can rest easy? This makes no sense! This is a completely counter-cultural message. Everywhere we go, we hear other messages from the world:
You must perform to get ahead.
You must be striving, striving for more—more beauty, money, youthfulness, intelligence, fame, approval.
You must seek security in the things of this world—the things that don't ultimately satisfy—the things that moth and rust destroy.
You must be the best.
And make everyone happy.
You must.
You.
Must.
In the midst of all these forceful voices from the world, the voice of our God rings all the more sweetly: "You don't have to work so hard; you can rest easy. You don't have to prove yourself; you're already mine! You don't have to hide your heart; I already love you. I hold it in mine. So, you can rest easy."
The beauty of the Gospel.
Thank you, Lord, for making a way for us to rest easy. Help us to remember who we are in You. Remind us of the one true Message that really matters. Protect us from the lying voices. Help us to rest easy—for our good, and for Your glory.
And who wouldn't be? With so much unknown... so many what-ifs.
What if my wedding falls apart? What if we get to our honeymoon destination and there's a fiasco and we have nowhere to stay that night? What if David's Bridal doesn't have my dress ready in time? Will God provide for our finances? What if I lose my job? What if we get pregnant right away? What if we never can get pregnant? What if Eric dies and I'm left with little ones to care for?
Some of these things might happen. There's no way I can know. But what I do know... is the character of my God.
"Lord, I believe; only help my unbelief!"
So I think about His provision.
David was afraid. But he still faced the giant.
Mary and Joseph were scared. But they were obedient in the face of opposition.
Abraham was scared. But he took Sarah and journeyed to the unknown.
Esther could have been killed for approaching the king. But she took a step of faith.
Ruth was afraid to approach Boaz. But she was brave, did it anyway, and God provided.
Those Israelites were distrusting and whiny. But God still gave them the manna they needed.
I was wondering how God might provide. But I survived those 7 months of joblessness with a little extra money still in the bank.
I doubted that He'd ever bring me a husband. But He gave me Eric at just the right time to do His work in us.
And I have 7 months' worth of proof of provision recorded right here.
7 months of daily graces, recorded.
Silly me.
"When What Ifs come into our lives, we must ask ourselves if we're going to judge God by the circumstances we don't understand or judge the circumstances in light of the character of God."
-Linda Dillow, from her wonderful book Calm My Anxious Heart The character of God. The same God who said: "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" Matthew 6:26-27
"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all." Matthew 6:31-32
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Mark 6:50
"Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous" Joshua 10:25
A favorite song of mine is called The Lord Will Provide. Would that God grant us to really believe these words.
Though troubles assail and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The scripture assures us, the Lord will provide!
The birds without barn or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn to trust for our bread:
His saints, what is fitting, shall ne'er be denied,
So long as it's written, the Lord will provide!
We may, like the ships, by tempest be tossed
On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost.
Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide,
The promise engages, the Lord will provide!
His call we obey, like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way, but faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers, we have a good Guide,
And trust in all dangers, the Lord will provide!
When Satan appears to stop up our path,
And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart-cheering promise, the Lord will provide!
He tells us we're weak, our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek we ne'er shall obtain,
But when such suggestions our graces have plied,
This answers all questions, the Lord will provide!
No strength of our own, or goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known the Savior's great name;
In this our strong tower for safety we hide,
The Lord is our power, the Lord will provide!
When life sinks apace and death is in view,
This word of his grace shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting the Lord will provide!
And so it stands. Rest, anxious heart.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:3-4
As I celebrate tomorrow, I hope to remember that "This nation, indivisible will perish from the earth... And the band will end the anthem—to dust she will return. So the sun must set on all things, great and small. But the first star of the evening will outlive them all." (Ben Shive)
4TH OF JULY
Words and Music by Ben Shive
The first star of the evening
Was singing in the sky
High above our blanket in the park
And by the twilight’s gleaming
On the 4th day of July
The city band played on into the dark
And then a canon blast
A golden flame unfolding
Exploded in a momentary bloom
The petals fell and scattered
Like ashes on the ocean
As another volley burst into the blue
But the first star of the evening never moved
We stood in silence
The young ones and the old
As the bright procession passed us by
A generation dying
Another being born
A long crescendo played out in the sky
Yeah
This nation, indivisible
Will perish from the Earth
As surely as the leaves must change and fall
And the band will end the anthem
To dust she will return
So the sun must set on all things, great and small
Today I listened to a sermon by Josh Harris entitled "Holiness is a Harvest." Wow. What a good reminder it was! While we never want to believe that our salvation comes by any of our own works, we also must never forget the value of sowing seeds of holiness. Of choosing to be obedient even when we don't see immediate results. And, when we get weary, of remembering the promise that, if we sow seeds of righteousness, we will reap a harvest of holiness. I couldn't more highly recommend this sermon! Some of the highlights:
Galatians 6:7-10, ESV Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
"To ‘sow to the flesh’ is to pander to it, to cosset, cuddle and stroke it, instead of crucifying it … Every time we allow our mind to harbour a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fantasy, or wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh. Every time we linger in bad company whose insidious influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we read pornographic literature, every time we take a risk which strains our self-control, we are sowing, sowing, sowing to the flesh. Some Christians sow to the flesh every day and wonder why they do not reap holiness." -John Stott, quoted in the sermon.
What an important reminder! Even though the seeds we plant may seem small, they will grow!
This is a warning if the small seeds we plant are seeds of the flesh. One seed of a hurtful word spoken, or of entertaining one little thought that shouldn't be entertained, or of complaining or gossiping when in tempting company... they can all grow to reap a harvest of the flesh. Christian, be warned. Don't underestimate the growth these small seeds can have over time! And if are not a Christian, be equally warned: God will not take lightly a repeated rejection and ignoring of Him.
But the encouraging part is: This is a sweet promise if the small seeds we plant are seeds of holiness! "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Ever spend time in the Word and wonder if it accomplished anything in your heart? I have. Be comforted: it did accomplish something. Ever get discouraged that no one noticed that you chose obedience instead of sin when you were tempted? Ever feel like you're making no progress in a specific area of sin? Do not grow weary. There's a lot more happening than we can see. There are mountains on the ocean floor—we can't see them, but God is growing them.
Verse 8 of the passage above says: "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Key word: will. It will happen. Believer, whenever the Word says something will happen, it's a promise. So, claim this promise, seek holiness, and do not grow weary and give up! "Do not doubt the promise of the Word of God. You will reap a harvest. If you are faithful, there will be a harvest of righteousness. Do not grow weary! Do not give up!" - Josh Harris.
Let's trust Him, and be obedient in the next step. One step at a time.
Man, I'm posting like crazy lately! I guess God is just stirring things up a lot and teaching me things worth sharing!
This is a selection of excerpts from "Marriage Lived for the Glory of God," a short chapter by John Piper that I read for my premarital counseling homework. You can read the whole chapter here, if you're interested.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . All things were made through him” (John 1:1, 3, ESV). All things. All that is not God was made by God. So once there was only God. Therefore God is absolute Reality. We are not. The universe is not. Marriage is not. We are derivative. The universe is of secondary importance, not primary. The human race is not the ultimate reality, nor the ultimate value, nor the ultimate measuring rod of what is good or what is true or what is beautiful. God is. God is the one ultimate absolute in existence. Everything else is from Him and through Him and for Him.
Marriage will be preserved for the glory of God and shaped for the glory of God when the glory of God is more precious to us than marriage.
The glory of God:
the glory of His eternality that makes the mind want to explode with the infinite thought that God never had a beginning, but simply always was;
the glory of His knowledge that makes the Library of Congress look like a matchbox and quantum physics like a first grade reader;
the glory of His wisdom that has never been and can never be counseled by men;
the glory of His authority over heaven and earth and hell, with- out whose permission no man and no demon can move one inch;
the glory of His providence without which not one bird falls to the ground or a single hair turns gray;
the glory of His word that upholds the universe and keeps all the atoms and molecules together;
the glory of His power to walk on water, cleanse lepers, heal the lame, open the eyes of the blind, cause the deaf to hear, still storms with a word, and raise the dead;
the glory of His purity never to sin, or to have a two-second bad attitude or evil thought;
the glory of His trustworthiness never to break His word or let one promise fall to the ground;
the glory of His justice to render all moral accounts in the uni- verse settled either on the cross or in hell;
the glory of His patience to endure our dullness for decade after decade;
the glory of His sovereign, slave-like obedience to embrace the excruciating pain of the cross willingly;
the glory of His wrath that will one day cause people to call out for the rocks and the mountains to fall on them;
the glory of His grace that justifies the ungodly; and
the glory of His love that dies for us even while we were sinners.
