Sabbath Susurrus

I do love the New Year, bloggy friends. Actually, it's my favorite holiday of the year. I think it's because of the hope of a new beginning, of getting to start fresh again with all the things you want to do and and all the ways you want to be.

And - of course - I'm a die-hard list-maker, so I love, love, LOVE making New Year resolutions and goals. I don't care if I'm not successful, it's the process that matters to me... the recognition of things that need to be changed, of dreams to be realized, and plans to be formulated. I bet I have about a page and a half of goals for this year so far! I won't bore you (or bare my soul!) with all that I plan and hope to do for 2011, except for this one right now: I would love to read through the Bible in six months! I'm using this reading plan and this Bible to give it a good go.

Reading yesterday in Joshua about being "strong and courageous", I came across this entry from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity that I thought summed up how I feel about New Year goals:

"You must ask for God's help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us toward is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. ....this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God. We learn, on the one hand, that we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven. The only fatal thing is to sit down content with anything less than perfection."

So, be strong and courageous. Trust not in myself, but lean on God. That's what 2011 is about for me. That's what the goals are for - try, try again. My failures are forgiven.

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Sunday Susurrus - Blurriness

susurrus \su-SUHR-uhs\, noun: A whispering or rustling sound; a murmur; a place to reflect on the Sabbath day, the blessings I've been given, the praises I have to offer, and the rumblings rattling around in my mind.

I have a new friend and he's a photographer. A really good photographer. He has a day job and says photography is just a hobby. But man, is he good! He took these two photos of Matt and The Boy a couple of weeks ago while they were working on The Boy's house. (Yes, that's still going on!)

I watched him as he took these shots... I'm amazed at how easily he captured the personalities of both my men.

Last week while he and his wife were at our house for Life Group (NOT Small Group, mind you! The terminology has changed at our church.) he noticed my camera hanging on the arm of my chair and took a look at it.

"Nice camera," he said.

"Yeah. Well, it's broken, I think," I said.

"Why do you say that?"

"Takes crappy pictures. They're usually blurry and if they're not blurry, they're still not crisp."

Well, he offered to take it home and play around with it to see if he could figure out what the problem was. Turns out I had somehow messed up several pretty important settings on it. He tried to explain it to me... something about ISO and exposure settings. Anyway, he got it back straight, showed me how I probably accidentally changed the settings, and then pointed out a couple of features I didn't even know the camera had.

Just a few clicks and turns and my camera is as good as new.

I got to thinking about myself and how I get my spiritual settings messed up sometimes, too, and then life looks blurry and out of focus. When I realize that's happening, I try to look back and see how I got there... what wrong turn did I make? What button did I push that I had no business fooling with? Usually it's the result of not spending time with God, not praying, not reading His Word, not listening to what His voice is telling me... Basically, not being still and knowing that He is God. (Psalm 46:10) And as a result, I'm spending a lot more time worrying about the things of this world in which I'm only a sojourner than the with the things of my true home - Heaven. Things get blurry.

When I finally realize everything is out of whack, I frantically push buttons and turn knobs trying to get things back into focus, usually only making things worse. Instead, what I need to do, what we all need to do, is to turn our lives over (again!) to the Expert and let Him reset everything for us, get us back to the basic settings, get us back to the place we were meant to be - in relationship with Him, totally dependent on Him for every breath we take, every beat of our heart.

Praying that I (and you!) keep things in focus this week, bloggy friends. Blessings ~

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Sunday Susurrus

susurrus \su-SUHR-uhs\, noun: A whispering or rustling sound; a murmur; a place to reflect on the Sabbath day, the blessings I've been given, the praises I have to offer, and the rumblings rattling around in my mind.

Feeling: A little far from God these days. I've been a Christian long enough to know that He hasn't left me, that He is the God Who is There, that He is good, and that this is a season I'm walking through that has a purpose. I was so looking forward to being in worship and hearing our pastor preach today after being in Philadelphia last week. Just as worship finished and the sermon started, E leaned over to me with her hand over her mouth and said, "I think I'm going to throw up!" and dashed out of the sanctuary. I ended up following her to the bathroom and then taking her home. Sigh. But, I know my days are numbered for taking care of her while she's sick. She'll be too grown soon to need her mom when she's ill, so it was a blessing to spend an hour or so alone with her. I'll get the CD and listen to it this week on the drive to work.

Laughing: Over the time we had last night drinking wine and eating dessert with three other couples. It was a casual, easy place to be. Best line of the night: "You mean you buried your Grandfather naked?"

Grateful: For my health. A friend's mother passed away this week. Another friend is gravely ill. Another friend is struggling with various conditions that could add up to some pretty serious stuff. My mom is still recovering from heart surgery this past summer. My brother-in-law is suffering with kidney stones. With all that on my mind, I'm so very grateful for a body (though far from perfect!) that was capable of walking 13.1 miles last week. (It's VERY important not to forget about the 0.1 mile!)

Hearing: The Boy play the guitar and The Girl M sing with the praise team this morning. It was a surprise to see her up there and a delight to see them together leading worship. I'm still hearing them sing and play We Fall Down. Glad I made it through worship before having to leave!

Happy: We made it for the sign-up for the Half Marathon at Myrtle Beach in February. It was almost full...Yeah!

Blessed: By my husband and all the talents he has to help take care of me and the kids and our home. He's upstairs now with a circular saw cutting out our bathtub to prepare for installation of a new one. :-) Yesterday he took Mary on a long bike ride in full "biker" gear. A few nights ago he sat up with E just talking about life. And he has the wisdom to know how to be available but not intrusive to Sean as he's making decisions about his future.

Thinking: About something a husband of one of the couples we were with last night said as we were discussing wives (ahem) throwing things at husbands. He said, "I wish she would throw something at me. She's usually just mean. I can't dodge "mean"!" The whole conversation was in jest, and we were laughing, but there was a lot of truth in what he said. When we're just plain "mean" to each other with our actions, words, or attitudes, it's awfully hard to get out of the way. It's a lot easier to dodge a projectile plate than a harsh word. I've been thinking about that in reference not just to my relationship with Matt, but with my kids and friends, too.

Inspired: To draw! I'm on a drawing jag the last couple of days, it seems. (See my Sing Loud drawing I just finished above. Yes, grammarians, I'm sure I should have put Sing Loud-LY but I didn't like the way that looked! And, yes, that's a chicken. Matt says it's a duck-chicken, but I say it's a CHICKEN-chicken.)

Wanting: To follow the Advent Season closely this year. I love the idea of the lighting of the Advent candles, of anticipating through the gathering illumination of the coming of Christ. I read this devotion book during Advent last year and think I will do so again, along with following the Scripture readings in the Book of Common Prayer.

Blessings, bloggy friends. And Happy Advent Sunday!

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Sunday Susurrus

susurrus \su-SUHR-uhs\, noun: A whispering or rustling sound; a murmur.

It's been awhile since I've done a Sunday Susurrus post, but it felt like time to start them again. It's a place to reflect on the Sabbath day, the blessings I've been given, the praises I have to offer, and the rumblings rattling around in my mind.

Feeling: Really sore from walking 8 miles this morning before church. It was a beautiful morning for it. I got to watch the sun come up in a fiery blaze for just a few minutes before fading away to a fantastic shade of blue.

Laughing: That my freckled-faced 10-year-old is delighted with her purple Converse high-tops we ordered.

Grateful: That E made it home safely tonight from Charlotte after having a chance to visit with her best buddy Karen and being with her old Pastor (Ken) and teacher (Lynn).

Hearing: The Wonderful Cross playing in my head from church this morning.

Happy: To see 'The Boy' doing so well... staying on top of things with his classes... seeing a wonderful young lady... involved at church... getting to fly a little more.

Blessed: By my husband, who I don't deserve, but am glad he puts up with me.

Thinking: About the wonderful sermon today on "Radical Community." (Acts 4:32-37)

Inspired: By New Zealand artist Bernadette Sipkes. (Tropical Bird and Foliage II above)

Wanting: To buy this book.

About to: Snuggle up with Mary and read until I fall asleep. (Probably about 5 minutes!!)

Blessings, bloggy friends.

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Sunday Susurrus

After church today we all met at the new church property to write scripture on the beams and walls. It was the first time I had been there. It couldn't have been a more beautiful day. Here are some pictures of friends and family:

While the sun shone down upon us...

Mary writing on the wall in the nursery/toddler area.

What Mary wrote...showing off her classical education! :-)

The Furby kiddos being serious.

The Furby kiddos being silly!

Our friend Miss Cutie Pie

My art buddies...whoohoo!

Daddy and E

Sean being...well...Sean.

Five Furby's

My verse...I've always loved this passage. I wrote mine in the coffee bar area. :0)

Blessings on the Sabbath Day!

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Sunday Susurrus

susurrus \su-SUHR-uhs\, noun: A whispering or rustling sound; a murmur.

Lately, when friends ask me how I'm doing right now, I find myself usually saying, "Good. But I just feel really tired." I don't think it's so much a physical tiredness, but more of a soul-tiredness. This has been a long, hard year for many of us, fraught with change and pain. I, personally, am looking forward to ringing out 2008 and ringing in 2009!

Exhaustion: a marked diminution in capacities that are usually taken for granted

I like this definition of exhaustion...capacities usually taken for granted...like driving, cooking, talking, doing laundry, working. Ugh...my capacities are definitely diminished.

Yes, I am weary, BUT...

Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.
(Proverbs 25:25)

Praise God I keep hearing the Good News from a distant land...What would I (we) do without the Gospel? Without the promise of salvation from this body of sin? I thank God for cups of cold water He has sent for this weary soul.

May you, too, hear Good News from a distant land tonight, my bloggy friends.

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Sunday Susurrus: Whisper

The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (I Kings 19:11-13)

This is one of my most favorite passages in Scripture. Elijah has ran in great fear to the desert, prayed that he might die, been fed by an angel, and then supernaturally traveled 40 days and nights without food to Mt. Horeb.

God then shows himself to Elijah, not through ripping winds, crackling fires, or frightening earthquakes, but with a gentle whisper. Hmmm...I think God knew Elijah's nerves couldn't stand much more. He needed a gentle word.

And I love what God whispers to him... "What are you doing here?"

As if the God of the Universe didn't already know the circumstances of Elijah's presence in the cave. I imagine it is more of a rhetorical question....more like "Elijah, how have you doubted... what have you missed in My character...that has brought you to depression and suicidal thoughts? Do you not know that I love You? Do you not know that I carry you in My hand? Do you not know that what may seem hopeless to you is anything but? I have a plan. I have my people in place. Now go and do what I command."

Oh, that we might hear His whisper today.

And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?" (Job 26:14)

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Sunday Susurrus: Thankful

Today at church, Pastor Dean reminded us of the circumstances in our country when President Lincoln instituted the fourth Thursday of every month of November as a national day of Thanksgiving. The proclamation was dated October 3, 1963 and we were in the middle of the war that has claimed the most American lives ever - the Civil War. It was a time of tension, anger, and great sorrow. Yet, even so, President Lincoln decided to remind our country to be thankful for all that God had provided. It made me remember that even though there are things in my life that I wish were different right now, I still have so much for which to be thankful. Here's a copy of Lincoln's proclamation.

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

I pray that we all might be reminded of the many blessings and mercies our God has given to us.

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Sunday Susurrus

What God is teaching me:

- That the sinfulness of man touches every aspect of every life every where on this earth.

- That God is present in every little nook and cranny of my life, no matter where I go.

- That the road of sanctification is long and curvy and hilly...yet He is faithful.

- That I have nothing that belongs to me...it is all His.

- That I cannot walk this road alone.

- That there is always hope.

- That He loves me.

Happy Sabbath.

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Sunday Susurrus: What are you doing with it?

Today in The Truth Project at CCC, we watched a video on history. Part of the discussion was on the authenticity and reliability of the Bible. I've seen this before, but it's good to remind myself of it when the Bible is always under so much attack...and when it is the place that I find the Truth (with a capital T)!

If we test the Bible in the way all other historical documents are tested, the evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of the Bible being a genuine historically accurate document. There are four things to look at when testing historical literature: 1) when was the original manuscript written, 2) when was the earliest copy written, 3) what is the time span between the original and the copy, and 4) how many copies exist. Let's look at the Bible along with some other pieces of literature that are widely accepted as accurate:

• The writings of Caesar: written between 100 and 44 BC, the earliest copy is dated at 900 AD leaving a time span of 1000 years between the two, and we have ten copies.
• Plato's Tetralogies: written between 427 and 347 BC, the earliest copy is dated at 900 AB leaving a time span of 1200 years between the two, and we have 7 copies.
• Homer's Iliad: written in 900 BC, the earliest copy is dated at 400 BC leaving a time span of only 500 years between the two, and there are 643 copies in existence.
• New Testament: written between 40 and 100 AD, the earliest copy dates at 125 AD leaving a time span of 25 years, and there are 24,000 copies in existence.

Wow. But there's more...When looking at historical literature and it's dependability, one has to consider textual corruption. This requires looking at the copies of each document and finding differences. The less number of textual changes we find, the stronger proof we have for the documents reliability.

Out of 15,600 lines in Homer's Iliad, 764 lines have corruptions (5%). In the New Testament there are 20,000 lines of which there are 40 lines that contain corruptions (0.5%). (A simple spelling mistake is listed as a corruption.)

What are you doing with the Bible?

(Summarized from an article by Peter Pellicaan at Rangeville Community Church. There are plenty of other sources for this same information, though, the best to me being The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. I would also recommend going through The Truth Project with a Sunday School class or small group.)

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Sunday Susurrus: Shame

Shame: a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt

I've been considering something over the past couple of days...Someone told me that God is not a God of shame...That if we are hampered down by a feeling of shame, it is not of God. As I've pondered this, I think it is true. I think God uses guilt (and the resulting sense of shame) to bring us to confession and repentance, and therefore forgiveness, but the lingering shame we sometimes feel over our sin is a tool Satan uses to keep us in bondage without joy and peace. Yes, there should be shame in our sinfulness, but once God has forgiven us, there is no more condemnation.

John Piper has a great sermon on shame...well-placed and misplaced shame. If you get a chance, read it. Here's an excerpt:

"Misplaced shame...In the case of well-placed shame for sin the pain ought to be there but it ought not to stay there. If it does, it's owing to unbelief in the promises of God.

For example, a woman comes to Jesus in a Pharisee's house weeping and washing his feet. No doubt she felt shame as the eyes of Simon communicated to everyone present that this woman was a sinner and that Jesus had no business letting her touch him. Indeed she was a sinner. There was a place for true shame. But not for too long. Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven" (Luke 7:48). And when the guests murmured about this, he helped her faith again by saying, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace" (v. 50).

How did Jesus help her battle the crippling effects of shame? He gave her a promise: "Your sins are forgiven! Your faith has saved you. Your future will be one of peace." So the issue for her was belief. Would she believe the glowering condemnation of the guests? Or would she believe the reassuring words of Jesus that her shame was enough? She's forgiven. She's saved. She may go in peace.

And that is the way every one of us must battle the effects of a well-placed shame that threatens to linger too long and cripple us. We must battle unbelief by taking hold of promises..."

May you battle unbelief today by taking hold of His promises.
May you know your faith has saved you.
May you know you are forgiven.
May you go in peace.

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Sunday Susurrus

Today's sermon at CCC was the second in a two-part series titled Why Bad Things Happen to Good People. Dean used the traditional Biblical Worldview as the structure to his sermons: Creation, Fall, Redemption, & Restoration. Last week's sermon covered Creation & Fall. (I was out of town, but have ordered the CD.) Today was Redemption & Restoration. Apropos for me today. I needed a good, long glimpse of redemption and restoration.

Dean said three things about Redemption that I've been thinking on: 1) God restrains the full impact of evil and rebellion (Imagine how bad our world could be without God's common grace, His use of our evil for ultimate good, the good governments He has put in place, and the salting provided by His Church!), 2) God has dealt with the root cause of evil: our sinful hearts, and 3) suffering is redemptive.

The last point, suffering is redemptive, really spoke to me. Dean actually said you can't have redemption without suffering. Hmmm...I had to think on that a bit, but yes, I'd have to say, redemption in my life has always followed or been part of suffering. He also talked about the suffering that God has gone through since Adam and Eve made their fateful decision to rebel in the Garden. He brought up something I'd never thought about before: what must it have been like in Heaven when Christ hung on the cross? What suffering, what sadness, what silence there must have been.

Thank goodness for Restoration! We are promised that God will execute justice, that He will provide a new heaven and new earth, and that His ultimate goal for us is not comfort on earth, but citizenship in Heaven. I don't know about you, but I need to think on these things today. I need to turn my eyes heavenward and anticipate the day of restoration.

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Sunday Susurrus: Miracles

How many times have we prayed for God to intervene miraculously in a situation? I read this in Things in Heaven and Earth: Exploring the Supernatural edited by Harold Fickett and found it true, funny, and somewhat sad:

"Of all that modern religion finds difficult, miracles certainly must be the most trying. Miracles, after all, are embarrassing. They are disconcerting and frightening, even for the believer. People often cry out for concrete evidence of God's care, some assurance that our prayers do not stop at the roof; but how many of us would be profoundly disturbed upon receiving such answers? We might have to tell somebody, and then what?" - A.G. Harmon

Are you prepared for God to answer your prayers?

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Sunday Susurrus: Fruit

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. (John 15:16)

Today's sermon at CCC was on fruit...specifically on the fact that somewhere in our journey there should be real evidence of fruit in our lives. The passage was John 15:1-16.

What is meant by fruit, exactly? Well, here's something from John Piper I looked up that was helpful:

"First, what is fruit-bearing? What is the fruit you are called to bear—indeed must bear? I think fruit in this chapter (John 15) is a broad term and embraces two things: love for people and the conversion of sinners."

Part of Pastor Dean's sermon was about how we are to bear fruit: by ABIDING in CHRIST. And how are we best able to abide in Christ, to stay connected to Him?

• John 15:7 - by being in, studying, meditating, immersing ourselves in the mighty and powerful Word of God.
• John 15:7 - by being ever before the throne in prayer
• John 15:10 - by being obedient to what we have read in the Word and heard through our prayers
• John 15:12 - by loving one another
• Finally, we must be filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. These other things without the Holy Spirit become humanistic rituals. (Acts 2)

One last thing from Piper:

"Finally and briefly, the end for which you seek to bear fruit is not just your own joy (John 15:11) or the benefit of your people: it is that God the Father might be glorified. John 15:8: "In this is my Father glorified: that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." The chief end of man and the chief end of ministry is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. God is committed by the very nature of his divine righteousness to always act on behalf of his glory. He wills to display it and magnify it. And that brings us back to where we began. "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you." The honor of Christ is at stake in whether you, whom he chose, bear fruit. But not only that, his father is glorified when you bear much fruit. And therefore his glory is at stake in the fruitfulness of your ministry. Therefore.......every day of your life and throughout all your ministry you can pray with tremendous confidence: Have mercy upon us, O God, and help us, Lord Jesus, lest your name be dishonored and your glory diminished."

May we each bear much fruit for the glory of God and the honor of Christ! Happy Sabbath, all.

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Sunday Susurrus: More on the Posture of Prayer

I'm still musing over the 'posture of prayer.' I found a PCA church website whose pastor had preached a series on prayer in 1996 to 1997. One whole sermon was dedicated to the postures of prayer. There's lots of good stuff there that I want to follow up on. The whole site, as a matter of fact, looks like a great resource. Check it out here.

Part of the sermon was a long quoted passage from author Thomas Howard. Here's a few excerpts:

"The first thing that struck me about this church was that the people knelt. They knelt to pray when they first came into their pews, and they knelt for all of the prayers during the service.

I myself had always desperately wanted to kneel in church. Most American evangelicals did not do that, however; so I had attempted a compromise at one point in my life, striking a somewhat stiff semi-kneel by sitting forward in the pew with my forehead on my hand, grasping the back of the pew in front, my knees angled down toward the floor but not quite touching it.

It (our posture in prayer) is not quite a trivial matter of mere taste or whim. To treat it so is to fall into the error of supposing that physical attitudes do not matter. It is once again to locate faith and piety in a disembodied realm. We know that this is false. Our innermost attitudes cry out for a shape. They long to be clothed with flesh. We can see this wherever we turn: we are happy and our face muscles stretch into smiles; we are sad, and our tear ducts go to work; we are ashamed, and our neck muscles incline our heads forward; we are awed, and our mouths gape open; we are exasperated, and we throw up our hands; we were angry, and we clench our fists.

The question is not merely one of outward gestures and postures that express something interior. It works the other way around as well. The outward posture actually helps to create the inner attitude. We all know this from our Sunday school teachers who told us that if we could not quite feel love for somebody, at least we should act as though we love him. The external attempt would eventually have its effect on how we feel."

Hmmm...more food for thought....and prayer!

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker

Peace to you and yours!

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Sunday Susurrus

Happy Sabbath, all!

There's been something on my mind for awhile, so I thought I should explore it more deeply by beginning to write about it: the posture of prayer.

Some years ago I read Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. I loved it. Of course, I love all things 'Lewis-y', so that's no surprise. There's one passage that I think of often, and it's been coming up in my mind a lot lately. I've learned to pay attention when that happens. Here's the passage...this is Uncle Screwtape giving advice to his nephew Wormwood:

"The best thing, where it is possible, is to keep the patient from the serious intention of praying altogether. When the patient is an adult recently re-converted to the Enemy's party, like your man, this is best done by encouraging him to remember, or to think he remembers, the parrot-like nature of his prayers in childhood. In reaction against that, he may be persuaded to aim at something entirely spontaneous, inward, informal, and unregularised; and what this will actually mean to a beginner will be an effort to produce in himself a vaguely devotional mood in which real concentration of will and intelligence have no part. One of their poets, Coleridge, has recorded that he did not pray "with moving lips and bended knees" but merely "composed his spirit to love" and indulged "a sense of supplication". That is exactly the sort of prayer we want; and since it bears a superficial resemblance to the prayer of silence as practised by those who are very far advanced in the Enemy's service, clever and lazy patients can be taken in by it for quite a long time. At the very least, they can be persuaded that the bodily position makes no difference to their prayers; for they constantly forget, what you must always remember, that they are animals and that whatever their bodies do affects their souls. It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out."

How often do I pray with "a vaguely devotional mood in which real concentration of will and intelligence have no part"? Pretty often.

And how often do I fall on my knees before God to pray? The sad truth is not very often.

Is your prayer life "entirely spontaneous, inward, informal, and unregularised"?

Psalm 95:6-7a

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.

More thoughts on this to come...

Peace to you and yours today.

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Sunday Susurrus

Short but sweet sermon today at CCC. It has made me go back and look at the Scripture concerning Peter and his reaction to Christ. Today marked the beginning of a new sermon series by Pastor Dean on how Christ changes lives. Peter is such a great example. I'm married to a "Peter"...impetuous, passionate, hot-headed sometimes, but loves the Lord. How I have seen God change my Peter!

The first Scripture reference was the calling of Peter in Luke 5:1-11. There's so much in this passage that I never noticed before...that Jesus got in Simon's empty boat, sat down, and asked Peter (a stranger) to put out from the shore so He could teach the people. Brazen! ...That it was after His teaching that He told Peter to put down his net for a catch...not so they could make a catch, or to see if they could make a catch, but for a catch because He knew what was going to happen. There's other things, too, but the point of yesterday's sermon was Peter's reaction to Christ's miracle:

"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus's knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" (vs. 8)

Peter knew himself to be in the presence of God and was convicted of his sinful ways.

Contrast this to the story in John 21:1-13 when Jesus appeared to Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, and John who were out fishing. Again...so much in this passage. But look at Peter's response to the same miracle of Jesus, the miraculous catch of fish. What did he do this time after spending two years or so living with Jesus? He jumped in the water to get to Him as fast as he could. What a contrast. What a life-change. To go from being afraid of God to running to His safe and loving arms!

Peace to you on this Sabbath day. May Jesus change you and be forever changing you.

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Sunday Susurrus

Susurrus:

A whispering or rustling sound;

a murmur.

In today's sermon at church, 2 Timothy 1:7 was referred to....Many of us know it by heart:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

God's been bringing this verse to me over and over today. I looked it up in Strong's and thought I would share a little of my thinking with you. I know some of my bloggy friends are dealing with fear in a lot of different ways right now...

...has not given us a spirit of fear... The Greek word Paul uses here is deilia and it means timidity, fearfulness, and cowardice. Tracing it back to the root, deilia is connected to deos or 'dread.' God has not given us over to dread...or fearful expectation of the future...If that is how we are feeling tonight, we must know it is not from Him. It is from Satan, the father of lies.

Revelation 21:7 says that "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son." The next verse goes on to say "BUT, the cowardly (from the same Greek root as used in 2 Timothy 1:7) , unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Interesting that those who are cowardly, who have a spirit of fear, are lumped in with murderers, sorcerers, and liars. As His children, through His gift of faith, we are to overcome...we are not be fearful and cowardly, we are to believe in His goodness.

...but of power... Power here is the word dynamai meaning to be capable and strong. Through God we have the capability and the strength to overcome those things we fear, whether a person or a situation. He has given us power. Think of what that looks like in your life for a minute.

...and of love... Agape...Love..."affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love"...the opposite of what I so often experience when I am seized by a spirit of fear. I show anything but love to others. I am angry and full of self-preservation and self-pity.

...and of a sound mind... From the root sōphronizō which means restore one to his senses, to moderate, control, curb, disciple, and to hold one to his duty.

"To hold to one to his duty." That's the one that got me. So often, I think, when we are in the death-grip of fear, we want to run. We want to let go of those things God has given us to take care of in this world, whether it be family, friends, children, ministries, or jobs. We want to run to the desert like Elijah and lie under a broom tree until it's all over. But Paul says we have been given a spirit of a sound mind. We have been give the ability to hold on.

We have been given the power and the love we need to hold on to our duty even when Satan is tempting us with fear.

Hope this encourages you as it has me today. Happy Sabbath.

Lord, help us all to hold on to these words You have given to us that we might also hold on to the duties to which You have called us. Amen.

PS. I like this picture because the girl is kinda chubby! :->

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Sunday Susurrus (On Tuesday)

On Sunday in D.C. we packed in a lot, even after sleeping in until 11:00! Sondie and I went through the main exhibit at the National Holocaust Memorial Museum. It was....well...I was going to put 'incredible', but that's not the right word. Horrifying, shocking, eye-opening, moving, thought-provoking, sad, shameful, scary...all those words and many, many more would only be a start in describing this exhibit.

The "T" for the total depravity of man in the TULIP acronym is frighteningly shown in the history of the Holocaust. One man's evil ideas unleashed the evil in so many others to do the bidding of Satan and his minions against the chosen people of God. I can't even begin to imagine the heaviness and darkness that the German people must still be carrying with them. We Americans carry it, too, knowing we turned a blind eye on what was happening for so many years and refused to take in Jewish refugees - except what narrow interpretations of the immigration law allowed. (Private organizations lobbied to bring in intellectuals and artists...lives "worthy of merit" I think is the phrase I read on one exhibit. Sad, isn't it?)


The picture posted above shows a portion of a mural in the exhibit of "mug shots" of Auschwitz prisoners. I was awe-struck by the women...how they looked like me and my friends. How they were just regular people with regular lives that were suddenly dumped into an unbelievably horrifying hell on earth.

We visited the Hall of Remembrance designed to allow people to reflect and light memorial candles. In the granite walls there are two Old Testament scriptures engraved. One keeps coming to mind (Genesis 4:10):

The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground.

I hope if you're in D.C. you'll set aside some time to spend in the museum.

Peace to you and yours. May we remember (Deut. 4:9).

Only guard yourself and guard your soul carefully, lest you forget the things your eyes saw, and lest these things depart your heart all the days of your life, and you shall make them known to your children, and to your children's children.

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Sunday Susurrus

Today's sermon at CCC was on pride - specifically David's pride in his desire to know how many fighting men he had for no good reason other than he just wanted to know. You can read the story in 2 Samuel chapter 24. It was a great sermon.

There's one part of the story that has stayed on my mind today. Once David realized he was wrong, had sinned against God, he became guilt-stricken and confessed to the Lord. He asked God to take away his guilt - to forgive him. God sent a prophet, Gad, to give David three options from which to choose the consequence of his sin.

So Gad went to David and said to him, "Shall there come upon you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me." (2 Samuel 24:13)

David chose the plague and 70,000 people died. 70,000!

The story goes on to say that God stayed the hand of the afflicting angel when it came time to destroy Jerusalem because it grieved Him. When God, in His great mercy, stopped him, the angel was at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Pastor Dean pointed out that this was a place where God's justice and His mercy met....not unlike Calvary...on the cross where mercy and justice met in the sacrifice that was Jesus.

David went on to buy the threshing floor from Araunah and build an altar there. It also ended up being the site upon which the temple was later built. (See 1 Chronicles 22:1) Interesting, huh? Justice and mercy meeting. Hmm...

Even though God took David's guilt away, there was still consequences to be dealt with...just like when we sin, there are still results of that sin that come into our lives. The part that kept coming back to me was this: David got a choice in the consequences of his sin. How often do we get to choose the consequences?

I think maybe more than we realize. I think God sometimes leaves multiple doors open for us after we sin and allows us to decide which one to go through. (Yes, yes, God is sovereign...Of course I believe that, but I also know He has given me lots of areas of choice.) Do I humble myself before so-and-so and work to heal a relationship or do I let it go and know that I'm forgiven but this particular friendship, marriage, etc. is lost? Either way, there's consequences...the struggle of working through painful issues or the loss of a marriage or friendship. Do I make public my sin and hurt those who are innocent but relieve my conscience or do I keep my sin just before me and God and live with that particular burden? Again, there's consequences either way...seeing the hurt your sin has caused others or living with knowledge of your secret sins.

There's many other examples I could think of...options we have of dealing with our sins against our children (that so often can lead to generational consequences), against our extended families, against our church bodies, against our co-workers.

David, a leader of many people, chose an option that resulted in 70,000 deaths. It seems to me there was really no good choice...3 years of famine, 3 months of war, or 3 days of plague. I think David must have chosen the plague because it was over the shortest period of time and maybe he thought fewer people would be hurt by it. Maybe he was right, I don't know. This is a great example of how the sins of our leaders (both government and church) can hurt so very many people.

A timely reminder for us as we are asked to choose those who would lead us in both the church and secular arenas.

Happy Sabbath.

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