I have a little devotional book I love called “31 Days of Praise” by Ruth Myers. This book is simple and easy to use each day. It is also powerful in the truths it contains, and it invites the reader into personal fellowship with God and a delving deeper into who He is.
Today I read Day 17 and thought it worth sharing. These are truths for every day that can take our “just normal” lives and fill them with joy.
Thank You that You have me in the place You want me just now…that even if I got here through wrong choices or indifference or even rebellion, yet You knew my mistakes and sins before I ever existed, and You worked them into Your plan to draw me to Yourself, to mold and bless me, and to bless others through me. Thank You that, even if I’m here through the ill will or poor judgment of other people, all is well; for in Your sovereign wisdom You are at work to bring about good results from all those past decisions, those past events beyond my control- good results both for me and for others. Thank You again that You meant for good the terrible things that happened to Joseph, who was sold into slavery, exiled to a distant country, and later sent to prison on false accusations…and that through all this You had him in the right place at the right time, for highly important reasons. I’m glad, Lord, that You are the same today- well able to work things out for us, to turn evil into good. I stand amazed at the complexity and mystery of Your wisdom. How safe it is for me to trust Your reasons for acting (or not acting) and Your methods of working!
Thank You that I can safely commit my location and situation to You. I can “be willing for You to shift me anywhere on life’s checkerboard, or bury me anywhere in life’s garden, gladly yielding myself for You to please Yourself with, anywhere and anyway You choose.” Thank You that I can trust You with my future places- ready to go, ready to stay.
So I rest in the fact that You have me in this place for this day, and I praise You that You will faithfully guide me throughout life to just where You want me to be, as I seek to do Your will.
And most important of all is my place in You. How delighted I am to have You as my dwelling place where I can settle down, feel secure and be content anywhere on earth….You are my blessed home, “where I can enter and be at rest even when all around and above is a sea of trouble” (Andrew Murray). How my soul delights to hide in the secret of Your presence…to take refuge in the shadow of Your wings, to eat at Your table, to drink my fill of the river of Your delights. How blessed I am, my King and my God, for You have chosen me, and brought me near, to live in Your presence, to behold You delightfulness, to seek Your counsel….And to think that I will dwell in Your house forever!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Same Lake, Different Boat
Ah, summertime! Every summer, as I was growing up, my parents had my siblings and I set summer goals. There were several categories of goals, and one of them was reading. I now associate summer with reading projects, among other things. This summer my reading project is to get ahead for my fall classes by reading four books about suffering and disability. This fall, I will be taking a class called “A Biblical Theology of Suffering, Disability, and the Church.” I’ve been wanting to take this class for a couple semesters now, so I am excited both about taking it this fall and doing the reading this summer.
I just finished reading my second book for this class, titled Same Lake, Different Boat by Stephanie O. Hubach. The one-line description for the book is “coming alongside people touched by disability.” This was an excellent read. I personally found this book to be interesting because I face disability every day in nursing. Many of the patients I know suffer with disability. This book is very helpful in highlighting the needs, challenges, and value of those touched by disability. It was also greatly informative of how the church can develop a mindset that both includes people with disabilities in the body of Christ while ministering to their needs.
What I found most interesting and most personal in Same Lake, Different Boat were Hubach’s insights on grace, brokenness, suffering, and relationships. I was fascinated by her ability to take her experience with disability (her son Timmy has Down syndrome) and shed light on much of theology. She begins by reminding her readers that because of the fall we live in an abnormal world- not as God intended it to be. Because of that, brokenness is a normal part of life that we all experience. Disability is simply a more noticeable form of brokenness- a more obvious reminder of our desperate need for grace.
We are the ones with desperate needs, and God, who is rich in grace, has met us in our need. He alone is the one operating from a position of strength. He is the one who is active in our lives- preaching, proclaiming, recovering, and releasing. The beauty of the gospel, if we truly understand it, is that each of us faces a complete barrier to participation in the kingdom of God due to the profoundly disabled condition of our hearts. The good news is that Christ’s perfect sacrifice applied to us makes our full participation in the life of God a reality.
I found chapter 7, “On Negotiating a Path to Acceptance,” to be personally challenging and helpful. Hubach is speaking specifically about how to come to a place of acceptance when realizing that disability will be a permanent part of your life. I think these truths can easily be applied to anyone facing a difficulty in their life, whether it is a disability or not. In this sense, acceptance could be defined as developing peace about the presence of a difficulty in your life. Here is the process Hubach suggests for gaining peace: release expectations, redirect by building a new life that incorporates the difficulty, incorporate new responsibilities, relinquish control to God, and realize the benefits of the place where God has taken you.
There are many more jewels I could share, but maybe you would enjoy reading them for yourself!
I just finished reading my second book for this class, titled Same Lake, Different Boat by Stephanie O. Hubach. The one-line description for the book is “coming alongside people touched by disability.” This was an excellent read. I personally found this book to be interesting because I face disability every day in nursing. Many of the patients I know suffer with disability. This book is very helpful in highlighting the needs, challenges, and value of those touched by disability. It was also greatly informative of how the church can develop a mindset that both includes people with disabilities in the body of Christ while ministering to their needs.
What I found most interesting and most personal in Same Lake, Different Boat were Hubach’s insights on grace, brokenness, suffering, and relationships. I was fascinated by her ability to take her experience with disability (her son Timmy has Down syndrome) and shed light on much of theology. She begins by reminding her readers that because of the fall we live in an abnormal world- not as God intended it to be. Because of that, brokenness is a normal part of life that we all experience. Disability is simply a more noticeable form of brokenness- a more obvious reminder of our desperate need for grace.
We are the ones with desperate needs, and God, who is rich in grace, has met us in our need. He alone is the one operating from a position of strength. He is the one who is active in our lives- preaching, proclaiming, recovering, and releasing. The beauty of the gospel, if we truly understand it, is that each of us faces a complete barrier to participation in the kingdom of God due to the profoundly disabled condition of our hearts. The good news is that Christ’s perfect sacrifice applied to us makes our full participation in the life of God a reality.
I found chapter 7, “On Negotiating a Path to Acceptance,” to be personally challenging and helpful. Hubach is speaking specifically about how to come to a place of acceptance when realizing that disability will be a permanent part of your life. I think these truths can easily be applied to anyone facing a difficulty in their life, whether it is a disability or not. In this sense, acceptance could be defined as developing peace about the presence of a difficulty in your life. Here is the process Hubach suggests for gaining peace: release expectations, redirect by building a new life that incorporates the difficulty, incorporate new responsibilities, relinquish control to God, and realize the benefits of the place where God has taken you.
There are many more jewels I could share, but maybe you would enjoy reading them for yourself!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Mansfield Park
I just finished reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. The following is one of the interesting quotes I came across. The thoughts are of a father reflecting on how he brought up his daughters, who, although they received an excellent education, came to moral ruin.
"Here had been grievous mismanagement; but, bad as it was, he gradually grew to feel that it had not been the most direful mistake in his plan of education. Something must have been wanting within, or time would have worn away much of its ill effect. He feared that principle, active principle, had been wanting; that they had never been properly taught to govern their inclinations and tempers by that sense of duty which can alone suffice. They had been instructed theoretically in their religion, but never required to bring it into daily practice. To be distinguished for elegance and accomplishments- the authorised object of their youth- could have had no useful influence that way, no moral effect on the mind. He had meant them to be good, but his cares had been directed to the understanding and manner, not the disposition; and of the necessity of self-denial and humility he feared they had never heard from any lips that could profit them."
"Here had been grievous mismanagement; but, bad as it was, he gradually grew to feel that it had not been the most direful mistake in his plan of education. Something must have been wanting within, or time would have worn away much of its ill effect. He feared that principle, active principle, had been wanting; that they had never been properly taught to govern their inclinations and tempers by that sense of duty which can alone suffice. They had been instructed theoretically in their religion, but never required to bring it into daily practice. To be distinguished for elegance and accomplishments- the authorised object of their youth- could have had no useful influence that way, no moral effect on the mind. He had meant them to be good, but his cares had been directed to the understanding and manner, not the disposition; and of the necessity of self-denial and humility he feared they had never heard from any lips that could profit them."
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Romans 15:9-13
9.and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy ; as it is written, "THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME."
10.Again he says, "REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE."
11.And again, "PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM."
12.Again Isaiah says, "THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE."
13.Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, I praise You for your mercy in providing salvation for the Gentiles. Every time I read about the Gentiles in Scripture, I think, “I am one of them.” I am a Gentile. I am not of God’s chosen nation, Israel. I am not born of the line of Abraham. I am not one of the Jews who were the first to receive Jesus’ message of salvation. But God, by His great mercy and grace, has made His gift of salvation available also to the Gentiles. He sent Paul to preach to the Gentiles. Although we are not His chosen people like the nation of Israel, He has chosen us to glorify Him by receiving His salvation.
We can praise God because He has not passed us by. He has stopped, taken notice of us, and chosen us for salvation. We can sing to His name and rejoice with great joy because of the goodness of God. He was not obligated to take us under His wing, but by His grace He made Himself our king. He is our hope- we do not have to perish but we can be saved.
I love the three words describing the Christian life in verse 13: hope, joy, and peace. What a beautiful life God has designed for those who believe in Him! It comforts me to think that hope, joy, and peace are what God desires for me when I abide in Him. I want that for my life, and I believe it is the kind of life that will attract non-believers to You. God, may my life reflect the hope, joy, and peace that You designed. I praise You for Your lovingkindness to me.
10.Again he says, "REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE."
11.And again, "PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM."
12.Again Isaiah says, "THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE."
13.Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, I praise You for your mercy in providing salvation for the Gentiles. Every time I read about the Gentiles in Scripture, I think, “I am one of them.” I am a Gentile. I am not of God’s chosen nation, Israel. I am not born of the line of Abraham. I am not one of the Jews who were the first to receive Jesus’ message of salvation. But God, by His great mercy and grace, has made His gift of salvation available also to the Gentiles. He sent Paul to preach to the Gentiles. Although we are not His chosen people like the nation of Israel, He has chosen us to glorify Him by receiving His salvation.
We can praise God because He has not passed us by. He has stopped, taken notice of us, and chosen us for salvation. We can sing to His name and rejoice with great joy because of the goodness of God. He was not obligated to take us under His wing, but by His grace He made Himself our king. He is our hope- we do not have to perish but we can be saved.
I love the three words describing the Christian life in verse 13: hope, joy, and peace. What a beautiful life God has designed for those who believe in Him! It comforts me to think that hope, joy, and peace are what God desires for me when I abide in Him. I want that for my life, and I believe it is the kind of life that will attract non-believers to You. God, may my life reflect the hope, joy, and peace that You designed. I praise You for Your lovingkindness to me.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Romans 9:19-21
19.You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault ? For who resists His will ?"
20.On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God ? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it?
21.Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use ?
I feel I must be very careful with chapter 9 of Romans. There are some really difficult concepts about God in this passage. Does God really harden people’s hearts? Did He really hate Esau before he had even been born and had a chance to do anything? Does He create people for destruction? This chapter brings up a lot of questions for me. One of the questions that seems most pertinent to my life right now come from verses 19-21. When I read this and picture the potter and the clay, I have to wonder if Paul is being sarcastic. Of course a clay pot is not going to ask its molder why he made it like he did. But I would guess that just about every human being is going to ask God, “Why did You make me like this?” Why did You make me with this particular flaw? Why did you make me with this desire when it seems that You don’t want to fulfill it? Why didn’t You give me such-and-such quality? I certainly ask these questions. Would Paul be astonished at me?
I know that some of the source of these questions is the habit of comparison and the lack of contentment. I believe that part of the lesson Paul is teaching through this chapter is that we need to learn to trust God. His ways are not always my ways, and He may not always make sense to me. I may not always understand why He made me like He did. But God is always good, and His ways are always good. The way He made me is good. I need to learn to trust in Him. I am not a perfect vessel, but nevertheless, He knows best.
20.On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God ? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it?
21.Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use ?
I feel I must be very careful with chapter 9 of Romans. There are some really difficult concepts about God in this passage. Does God really harden people’s hearts? Did He really hate Esau before he had even been born and had a chance to do anything? Does He create people for destruction? This chapter brings up a lot of questions for me. One of the questions that seems most pertinent to my life right now come from verses 19-21. When I read this and picture the potter and the clay, I have to wonder if Paul is being sarcastic. Of course a clay pot is not going to ask its molder why he made it like he did. But I would guess that just about every human being is going to ask God, “Why did You make me like this?” Why did You make me with this particular flaw? Why did you make me with this desire when it seems that You don’t want to fulfill it? Why didn’t You give me such-and-such quality? I certainly ask these questions. Would Paul be astonished at me?
I know that some of the source of these questions is the habit of comparison and the lack of contentment. I believe that part of the lesson Paul is teaching through this chapter is that we need to learn to trust God. His ways are not always my ways, and He may not always make sense to me. I may not always understand why He made me like He did. But God is always good, and His ways are always good. The way He made me is good. I need to learn to trust in Him. I am not a perfect vessel, but nevertheless, He knows best.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Romans 5:8-11
8.But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9.Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
10.For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
11.And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
This passage amazes me. Romans 5:8 has got to be the most incredible statement I have ever read. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” While we were yet sinners- enemies of God, going our own disgusting way, with no thought of love for God. But while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We had not done anything minutely worthy of His compassion, but God loved us so much that God in Christ died for us. “God demonstrates” communicates such a depth of meaning to me. God did not just feel or say, He acted out His love in the most passionate manner possible. He died for us.
This passage builds on the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. By shedding His blood, He justified us. He took on our sin, and clothed us in His righteousness. Now then, because He justified us, we no longer have to fear the wrath of God. I think of an estranged father and child. The father has been angry with the child, but they become reconciled and their loving relationship is restored. Christ reconciled us to God. If God was passionate enough to reconcile us to Himself by His death while we were still sinners, we can have confidence that He will save us by His life. If God died for us while seeing our filthiness, we can be even more confident that He will save us now that He sees us as righteous!
And above all, now that we have been reconciled to God, we can have the joy of celebrating and adoring God through our Lord Jesus Christ because of this amazing work He has done for us.
9.Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
10.For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
11.And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
This passage amazes me. Romans 5:8 has got to be the most incredible statement I have ever read. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” While we were yet sinners- enemies of God, going our own disgusting way, with no thought of love for God. But while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We had not done anything minutely worthy of His compassion, but God loved us so much that God in Christ died for us. “God demonstrates” communicates such a depth of meaning to me. God did not just feel or say, He acted out His love in the most passionate manner possible. He died for us.
This passage builds on the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. By shedding His blood, He justified us. He took on our sin, and clothed us in His righteousness. Now then, because He justified us, we no longer have to fear the wrath of God. I think of an estranged father and child. The father has been angry with the child, but they become reconciled and their loving relationship is restored. Christ reconciled us to God. If God was passionate enough to reconcile us to Himself by His death while we were still sinners, we can have confidence that He will save us by His life. If God died for us while seeing our filthiness, we can be even more confident that He will save us now that He sees us as righteous!
And above all, now that we have been reconciled to God, we can have the joy of celebrating and adoring God through our Lord Jesus Christ because of this amazing work He has done for us.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Romans 4:16-21
16.For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
17.(as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
18.In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE."
19.Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb ;
20.yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
21.and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
I like it when I find phrases in the Bible that seems to refer to me specifically. I think the phrase in 4:16 that says “those who are of the faith of Abraham” refers to me. That is, me and all those like me who have received the grace of God to believe Him for salvation. This verse is saying that I am included in God’s plan of salvation. I am a spiritual child of Abraham! Although I am not of Israel, God’s special chosen nation, He has made me a descendant of Abraham. God gave Abraham the great promise of life in Him through faith, and by grace He gives life to those who believe Him like Abraham did. God “calls into being that which did not exist”- our faith, and thereby our relationship to Abraham and to God.
Abraham’s example of faith is amazing. I am not sure I could have believed like He did. With no prior knowledge of God (such as we have in the Scriptures and in our daily lives), Abraham believed God enough to leave everything he knew for an unknown land. He believed that God would give him a son and make him the father of many nations even though he was an old man. God did give Abraham a son, which is all to His glory since Abraham and Sarah were too old to bear children. God also made Abraham the father of many nations, both physical and spiritually descended.
As a spiritual descendant of Abraham, I hope that my faith will grow to be like his. I want to hope against hope even when circumstances seem impossible. I want to grow strong in faith and give glory to God because He does fulfill His promises.
17.(as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
18.In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE."
19.Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb ;
20.yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
21.and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
I like it when I find phrases in the Bible that seems to refer to me specifically. I think the phrase in 4:16 that says “those who are of the faith of Abraham” refers to me. That is, me and all those like me who have received the grace of God to believe Him for salvation. This verse is saying that I am included in God’s plan of salvation. I am a spiritual child of Abraham! Although I am not of Israel, God’s special chosen nation, He has made me a descendant of Abraham. God gave Abraham the great promise of life in Him through faith, and by grace He gives life to those who believe Him like Abraham did. God “calls into being that which did not exist”- our faith, and thereby our relationship to Abraham and to God.
Abraham’s example of faith is amazing. I am not sure I could have believed like He did. With no prior knowledge of God (such as we have in the Scriptures and in our daily lives), Abraham believed God enough to leave everything he knew for an unknown land. He believed that God would give him a son and make him the father of many nations even though he was an old man. God did give Abraham a son, which is all to His glory since Abraham and Sarah were too old to bear children. God also made Abraham the father of many nations, both physical and spiritually descended.
As a spiritual descendant of Abraham, I hope that my faith will grow to be like his. I want to hope against hope even when circumstances seem impossible. I want to grow strong in faith and give glory to God because He does fulfill His promises.
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