Waiting

Waiting

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried.
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I plead and I wept for a clue to my fate,
The Master gently said, “My child, you must wait!”

“Wait? You say wait!” my indignant reply.
“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By FAITH I have asked and am claiming your Word.

“My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to WAIT?
I’m needing a ‘yes,’ a go-ahead sign,
Or even a ‘no’ to which I can resign.

“And, Lord you promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I’ve been asking and this is my cry:
I’m weary of asking! I need a reply!”

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate.
Once again my Master replied, “You must wait.”
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, “So I’m waiting…for what?”

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,
And he tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

All you seek I could give, and pleased would you be.
You would have what you want – but you wouldn’t know ME.
“You’d not know the depth of my love for each saint;
You’d not know the power that I give to the faint;

You’d not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there;
You’d not know the joy of resting in me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.

“You’d never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of my Spirit descends like a dove;
You’d know that I give and I save…(for a start),
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of my heart.

“The glow of my comfort late into the night
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.

“You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.
’Yes, your dreams for your loved ones overnight would come true,
But, oh the loss! If I lost what I’m doing in you!

“So be silent, my child, and in time you will see
THAT THE GREATEST OF GIFTS IS TO GET TO KNOW ME.
And though oft may my answers seem terribly late,
my wisest of answers is still but to WAIT.”

Anonymous (this guy’s prolific!)

 

I was recently reminded of a difficult trial that really shook my foundation. What follows was written in the front of my Bible after a long conversation with a good friend way back in December of 1982. He helped me gain and maintain my perspective when I had been greatly misunderstood. Amazingly, just a couple years later, God restored the relationships that were broken, and let my true heart and motives be seen. In the hurt, I learned that I had to rest in Him, cling to Him, and WAIT for Him!

While enduring a trial, I must remain:

1. Simply Secure
    a. in my relationship to Christ
    b. in my relationship to others
    c. in my own self-assessment

KNOWING that my residence is not here but in Heaven,

APPLYING all I know about God to my life, to help me keep perspective in the situation I am in

AND

2. Supremely Satisfied in the mundane things of everyday life

KNOWING that every trivial moment of my day is a stepping stone to becoming like Christ,

APPLYING to my life the simple fact that I do not serve men, but the living Christ.

So that no matter what circumstances may cross my path, what stakes may be uprooted in my life, or even if I am someday totally alone and misunderstood, that I may maintain a stable, consistent Christian life until the appearing of Christ.

 

My love song

Mary Fuller

T

omorrow is a really special day for me. 23 years ago, I married the man who was my best friend and my sweetheart. On that special day, Lance and I sang a duet with each other, Household of Faith, by Steve Green. My sister thought it was cool because we were already in the process of building a physical house in which to live. I also sang and played an original composition for him.

There were some tense moments as I tried to shed my satin gloves to play the piano—I tried to get them off without pulling off the "glue on" nails I'd had expertly applied earlier that morning. My matron of honor looked on, waiting for the gloves to hold while I played. She finally encouraged me to just "rip them off" and she'd turn them outside right while I played. Well, below are the lyrics to this simple song, and the words are so much more true now than ever! I'm so glad we've stayed together all these years!!

Here I stand before you on this our wedding day;
The day when we will pledge our loyalty.
Yet I can't believe my eyes, you're more than I could hope for -
You are the Father's gift of love so great to me.

I could never dream of the man I've found in you.
You are the man God chose for me to love.
You are my best friend, you're every dream come true.
You are a gift from my Father above.

The Fingerprints of God

A

s we've homeschooled our children, we have tried to get them to evaluate everything through their biblical worldview. A couple of really neat things have happened in the last couple of days that tell me that it's hitting home. It's a bit of an encouragement from God, I think, to calm mama and daddy's hearts that as we send the girls out in the next few months to college or on their own, that we can trust God with their hearts. They still have choices to make on their own, but if the scriptures are in them and they are considering them regularly, they have a good compass to follow. One of the things we've done is incorporate a year of Theology (college level Theology I) in their junior year, and in this, their senior year, we are studying Apologetics. This year we are teaching them to evaluate other faiths as well as the objections others raise to Biblical Christianity, and help them solidify their own faith by doing so.

Brooke

First, Brooke is working at McDonald's and has had multiple opportunities to share her faith and explore the faiths of others. She has been especially curious about Mormonism, and so I gave her the Book of Mormon and let her start reading it. Don't gasp too loudly. This is part of Apologetics—examining the primary sources of other faiths and putting them up against the light of Scripture. She has been exploring questions about the book of Mormon with a couple of co-workers, and yesterday, we met with two Mormon missionaries, her co-worker, as well as the host mom of her co-worker (she is a Russian student on exchange). Brooke did a great job sticking to the gospel and sharing her faith while still being gentle and learning more from these missionaries about what they believe. I really believe this was an "exam" for her Apologetics class, and tried very hard to let her carry the conversation and just observe.  But even Sister Dodge, one of the missionaries said, "I'm glad you study your Bible the way you do. That is good," in response to Brooke's ability to just flip to a passage to answer their questions or to make a point, so I think I'd give her an "A" on the exam. There's more to the story, and I'd love to chat with anyone about it.

Lanelle

Lanelle is studying Psychology I this year, which is an AP course. The last two lessons have been on nature vs. nurture (or genetics vs. environment) as well as evolutionary psychology as it relates to personality development. Today, she had a writing assignment, and I decided to copy it here. She, too, is looking at the study of the psyche from a Biblical perspective, evaluating what she is learning through the lens of Scriptural truth, and I think this paper is a good example of that.

Consider the following question

What has been the most important influence in your life, and why?

Lanelle's response:

The biggest influence on my life behaviorally, would have to be the Bible. Before I started writing this paper, I jokingly put down "God," but to be completely honest, it's true. As I am reading the chapter on "evolutionary psychology" I can't help but agree on some level. Before one is saved, indeed, he is the product of his impulses, bound only to do what he was programmed to do—he inherits the sins of his father. Once he admits that cannot stop these impulses—no matter who "trains" him, or "influences" his thinking—then seeks help from God, God's word begins to literally change the way he thinks. That's a miracle. Only something greater than himself can change the way a human thinks.

The Bible has shaped the way I respond to others. I used to be very introverted, now I now it doesn't matter what people's opinion of me is, because my security is in Christ. I love speaking to and meeting new people. The change has been drastic. It's pretty cool.

DISCLAIMER: It must be said that all this isn't a result of great parenting or because we've chosen to homeschool our children. The reality is that God has been working in their hearts and that the Scriptures are affecting the way they think and act in their world. There's something to be said for us as grown-ups, here. We need to let God's Word have its way in our lives as well.

 

Growing Together

Lance snapped this photo a couple of weeks ago when we went to visit Linville Falls, NC. It matched a quote I found about a year ago, and so I thought I'd share the two together with our readers:

Entwined

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two." -Captain Corelli's Mandolin

I'd like to add this youtube video which I posted on my husband's Facebook wall today.

 

IN the storm

Our tendency is to run away from the storm. We instinctively flee the peril. We assume that safety is outside the danger that surrounds us, but that is not always true. Sometimes, the way to our comfort is through the storm, not around it:

Matthew 14:29-31

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

I have spent a good deal of my life trying to escape the harm I expect from the trials I face. In my escape, I often run away from God and to something that offers only temporary shelter and comfort. Sometimes God asks me to trust him, and asks me to walk through the storm, in faith, knowing that He has the power to protect me and refine me in my perilous journey.

It takes a good deal of faith and perseverance to point my earthly vessel into the storm and know that He is there, ready to catch me if I falter. I still don't trust Him enough after all these years of Him proving His faithfulness. I guess I have an inner sense of entitlement; that if God really loved me He would never let me suffer. But just the opposite is true—because God loves me, He lets me endure suffering.

David said in Psalm 119:71, "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." Sometimes the blast of the fiery furnace refines us by removing the impurities in our character. It may seem as if we've been abandoned to the troubles, but as Job declared:

Behold, I go forward but He is not there,
         And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him;
         He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.
But He knows the way I take;
         When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:8-10)

No, we haven't been abandoned. Here is what God told the children of Israel through the prophet Isaiah:

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
      O Israel, the one who formed you says,
   “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
      I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,
      I will be with you.
   When you go through rivers of difficulty,
      you will not drown.
   When you walk through the fire of oppression,
      you will not be burned up;
      the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
      the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
(Isaiah 43:1-3)

Here is a beautiful song by Scott Krippayne:

 

What’s Your Story?

Mary Fuller

It’s been a busy couple of months, and I’ve been away from the blog for just too long. God has been doing some really interesting things in my heart, and I wanted to share them with our readers.

Most of you have read enough about my younger years to know that it was pretty tough. I had a lot of heartache and trauma for a young girl. Yet God has used those experiences to teach me more about Him and to teach me about people. I’d like to make some general observations:

1. Everyone has a story. They may not even realize it themselves, but everyone has a story to tell. One very sad thing about our current culture is that we think that stories need to be crafted and told to us through media. We’ve lost the ability to imagine while hearing a good story, and we’ve especially lost the art of storytelling. Each of us needs to craft and hone our own story to tell to the generations that follow us.
2. Everything has a purpose. We have an incredible God who is not limited by the curse of sin. We feel that limitation every moment of our day. But we serve a sovereign God who created and rules the universe. Even the horribly awful stuff that happened to me as a child had a purpose. God allowed those things in my life to draw me to Him, to help me crave His fellowship, and to shape me into the image of His Son.
3. God’s story is bigger than us. We are very much like toddlers in our thinking a good deal of the time. We tend to think the universe revolves around us. We forget that we are not the only child God has, and we fail to realize that He is also working in the lives of others. Sometimes what happens in our life isn’t about us, it’s about what God is doing in the lives of the people around us, and we get the awesome privilege of being part of their story. Hopefully, through our obedience we will be part of the good story, not the trauma!
4. We need to rehearse our story. Rehearsing our story to ourselves reminds us that God is active in our lives and is at this moment writing another chapter in the book of our lives. Rehearsing our story to others encourages them to trust God and follow after Him in the difficult times. Rehearsing our story can also bring others to an understanding of God’s draw on their lives, and bring them to repentance and salvation. As we rehearse, we need to learn the art of storytelling—not embellishment, but instead, learning to tell our story in an interesting and captivating way that holds the attention of the listener.

This is exactly what God has been doing in my life lately. He has been giving me multiple opportunities to share my God story (the story of what God has done in my life to draw me to Him, to teach me more about Him). He has also given me multiple opportunities to listen carefully to the God stories of others. Recent experiences include a young mom whose testimony reminded me of how God lovingly draws His loved ones to Himself, how patient He is in allowing us to suffer without Him, just enough enough to make us crave Him. And yesterday, I had the honor of listening to the God story of a woman who is older than I. Such stories give me courage to trust when I cannot see, to cling to the faithfulness of an all-wise, all-powerful God. And smack dab in the middle is the joy I’ve had lately of watching God write His story on the lives of a handful of young people that He’s placed in my life.

Last Friday, we had a Fuller Fun Fest at our house. We started having these fun fests a couple of years ago, but it’s been over a year since the last one. Basically, the kids’ friends come over just to hang out, jam on their intstruments, and sometimes we play games like Mafia or, Name the Owner of this foot. But this time, 32 kids (if you don’t count me...), ages 12–21, mixed so well that I never had to play a game. Later in the evening, Lance built a fire. The older guys stoked it hot, and one of the college guys started leading us in worship songs. It was an incredible evening. I had planned to wind things down around 10:00, and not long after, most of the kids’ parents had taken them home. But the college guys hung out till nearly 1:00. We sat in our living room and told stories. We laughed, we contemplated, and finally shooed them out the door. But I went to bed totally in awe that God has given us an opportunity to be part of the lives of these incredible young people whose stories He is now writing.

I’d like to encourage you this holiday weekend to take some time to think about your God story. What is it that God has done in your life that shows His love and care for you? Find someone to tell your God story to—one of your kids, your best friend, even a stranger you meet sometime in the next week. Work at your story to make the telling of it interesting so someone cares to listen. And read Psalm 78 to impress on yourself the need to be telling your story all the time, to yourself and to others.

 

If Only I Had Enough Evidence, I'd Believe

O

n Good Friday, our choir and orchestra presented selections from The Messiah. Then on Palm Sunday, our pastor preached on the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus. On Easter Sunday, the following video was played at the beginning of the service. The original sermon was convicting enough, but melded with excerpts from Handel’s Messiah, it was bone chilling. I’d like to share this video with our readers.

 

Settling In

W

ell, we’ve emptied a lot of boxes, and we’re getting fairly comfy. There are still things we haven’t found, and the irony is that I specially packed those things so I could find them right away! But yes, the new house is incredible. Lance is such a talented artisan!

School is back in session. For the present, we have the kids’ school area in the dining room—visible as you walk in the front door. That’s a bit disheartening, as it’s such a pretty house. But I’ve lovingly dubbed the school area as “the call center”—three computers are lined up along one wall, and it’s utterly hilarious. Lance is going to put in countertop soon and dress that area up so it's not quite so dumpy looking.

I’m wonderfully thrilled with the music room, complete with doors. We have so many instruments and music. It’s great to have a place to keep them all. I gave my first lesson there Friday. I’m now adding students here at home, and that's very exciting.

I love the way the kitchen and family room are open to each other—it lends itself well to gatherings. I hope to finally have a teen gathering, which we have nicknamed Fuller Fun Fests, sometime this month. My kids have the greatest group of friends, and I love spending time with them.

 

Letter from the boss

Dear Employees:

As the CEO of this organization, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barrack Obama is our President and that our taxes and government fees will increase in a BIG way. To compensate for these increases, our prices would have to increase by about 10%. But since we cannot increase our prices right now due to the dismal state of the economy, we will have to lay off sixty of our employees instead. This has really been bothering me since I believe we are family here and I didn't know how to choose who would have to go.

So, this is what I did. I walked through our parking lots and found sixty 'Obama' bumper stickers on our employees' cars and have decided these folks will be the ones to let go. I can't think of a more fair way to approach this problem. They voted for change ... I gave it to them.

I will see the rest of you at the annual company picnic.

—THE BOSS

Help Wanted - Position Available

Position

Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

Job Description

Long term, team players needed, for challenging, permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

Responsibilities

The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

Possibility for Advancement & Promotion

None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

Previous Experience

None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

Wages & Compensation

Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

Benefits

While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

Footnote: There is no retirement ... ever!

Anyone can give without loving, but no one can love without giving...

 

The Bridegroom Cometh

M

ost of you know that my husband has been building a new house for us. Because I've been a contractor's wife for a couple of decades, I know there's no specific end date to a project. Weather, inspections, and the fact that things don't always go as planned all play into the project deadline. These are events that you can't control. So, I know better than to set a "finish" date. Still, I have to keep busy with the packing and cleaning. (We have renters moving in as soon as we vacate!!)

One of the unusual things that has happened with this house (yes, we've built several), is that Lance isn't letting me in to help or see it until moving date. Generally, I'm on the jobsite putting on coverplates and doorknobs, or cleaning. A few weeks ago, Lance quit letting me visit, and told me that I was like "the Jewish fiance" who's bridegroom goes off to prepare a place for her -- she doesn't know when he's coming back to get her, but she must prepare herself for the day. He's determined not to let me see the finished product until he's done. It's hard to wait!! I know each little step that's taking place, and I want to see it. I know what a talented builder he is, and I'm anxious to get in there and take a look at his magnificent work. Still, it's really romantic that he's doing this—I feel every bit as treasured as a real princess!

There's another place being prepared for me right now by another Bridegroom. He said that He was going to prepare a place, and He will come again to get us. He didn't tell us when He would be coming either, and it's been a really, really long time since He made that promise. But Jesus is a keeper of promises, and He will come back to get us. Meanwhile, we need to be prepared for when He returns to get us.

I specifically went to one of my favorite passages of scripture today, because the waiting to get into the new house is distracting. I can't seem to focus on anything else. My diligence in preparing for the move is starting to disappear as I grow weary in waiting with no specific end date! Colossians 3 is a great passage to remind me where my focus needs to be, and what I need to be busy doing. This should keep me pretty occupied while I wait...

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

No Condemnation

I

shared these thoughts with a young friend yesterday. I know a lot of us struggle with the same thing, so I thought I’d blog about it today. Romans 8:1 says, There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Later in that same chapter, Paul says, What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us.

Elsewhere in scripture, Satan is called, “the accuser of the brethren.” Most often, the fiery darts that the enemy sends are thoughts of condemnation. Don’t confuse condemnation, which comes from the enemy, with conviction, which comes from the Holy Spirit. Conviction points us to a specific sin, and forces us to deal with that sin according to biblical principles. Condemnation is that sense of being totally useless to our Lord, a “good for nothing loser.” The enemy uses this tool as a “demotivator,” crippling us in our fulfillment of the “good works He has foreordained for us to do” (Eph. 2:10).

Here are a couple of music videos that will remind you to listen to the voice of the Shepherd; that same voice that told Peter, the one who failed Him miserably, to “feed my sheep.” He tells us to forget what is behind and press on. May you be encouraged today to remember that the voice of condemnation is not the voice of the Shepherd speaking to you!

 

Is Michael Moore for Real?? You Decide

Michael Moore’s newest film Capitalism: A Love Story is under fire for hypocrisy. Here's a great article at Mackinac Center with the details.

 

Faith vs. Feelings

M

any years ago in college, I wrote a song that continues to bubble up when I'm feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances in my life. Sometimes it's hard to look past my feelings and perceptions and anchor my faith in the facts found in God's Word. This song is about that struggle.

Most of the thoughts in this song were inspired by the words of Job&#W0151;but the resolve portion of the song comes from the psalmist, David (Job 23 and Psalm 119 are two key passages from which I’ve pulled the concepts). The melody is haunting in a minor key, but the “resolve” is in a major, hopeful key. Someday I’ll get it recorded and share it again. Meanwhile, here are the lyrics.

Oh Lord, where are you hiding?
My eyes can’t see your face.
I know that you’re beside me,
Sustaining with your grace.

And I know that you are working
To soften my heart
My affliction shall teach me your word.

My soul, it feels so lonely;
My heart, about to break.
My eyes are tired of weeping.
Much more I cannot take.

But I know that you are working
To soften my heart
My affliction shall teach me your word.

(Resolve)

Oh soul, cease your weeping; put away your tears.
For who is a rock save the Lord?
His purpose is to try you, to purge you like gold,
To teach you the ways of his word.

Oh Lord, where are you hiding?
My eyes can’t see your face.
I know that you’re beside me,
Sustaining with your grace.

And I know that you are working
To soften my heart
My affliction shall teach me your word.

 

Merry Christmas from the Fullers

 

What is a Friend?

Earlier this year I posted a story about how God had restored a very special friendship to me. I received this poem in the mail from my dear friend. It seems that at Christmastime, I am most thankful for my friends, and I have been blessed with many!!  

What is a friend? I will tell you.
It is a person with whom you dare to be yourself.
Your soul can be naked with him.
He seems to ask of you to put on nothing,
Only to be what you are.

He does not want you to be better or worse.

When you are with him,
You feel as a prisoner feels
Who has been declared innocent.
You can say what you think,
So long as it is genuinely you.

He understands those contradictions in your nature
That lead others to misjudge you.

With him you breathe freely.
You can avow your little vanities,
And envies,
And hates,
And vicious sparks,
Your meanness
And absurdities
And, in opening them up to him,
They are lost, dissolved in the white ocean of his loyalty.

He understands.
You do not need to be careful.
You can abuse him,
Neglect him,
Tolerate him.

Best of all, you can keep still with him.
It makes no matter, he likes you.
He is like fire that purges to the bone.

He understands, he understands!

You can weep with him,
Sing with him,
Laugh with him,
Pray with him.

Through it all—and underneath
He sees, he knows, and he loves you.

A friend? What is a friend?

Just one, I repeat,
With whom you dare to be yourself.

 

Merry Christmas from the Silent Monks

Keep watching this video through the opening Gregorian chant portion. At about 1:49 into the video it goes into Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”. You’ll love it!

 

Why Does God Allow Evil, Part 2

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

 1 Truly God is good to Israel,
      to those whose hearts are pure.
 2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing.
      My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
 3 For I envied the proud
      when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
 4 They seem to live such painless lives;
      their bodies are so healthy and strong.
 5 They don’t have troubles like other people;
      they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
 6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace
      and clothe themselves with cruelty.
 7 These fat cats have everything
      their hearts could ever wish for!
 8 They scoff and speak only evil;
      in their pride they seek to crush others.
 9 They boast against the very heavens,
      and their words strut throughout the earth.
 10 And so the people are dismayed and confused,
      drinking in all their words.
 11 “What does God know?” they ask.
      “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
 12 Look at these wicked people—
      enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

 13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?
      Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
 14 I get nothing but trouble all day long;
      every morning brings me pain.

 15 If I had really spoken this way to others,
      I would have been a traitor to your people.
 16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.
      But what a difficult task it is!
 17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,
      and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
 18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path
      and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
 19 In an instant they are destroyed,
      completely swept away by terrors.
 20 When you arise, O Lord,
      you will laugh at their silly ideas
      as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

 21 Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
      and I was all torn up inside.
 22 I was so foolish and ignorant—
      I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
 23 Yet I still belong to you;
      you hold my right hand.
 24 You guide me with your counsel,
      leading me to a glorious destiny.
 25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
      I desire you more than anything on earth.
 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
      but God remains the strength of my heart;
      he is mine forever.

 27 Those who desert him will perish,
      for you destroy those who abandon you.
 28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
      I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
      and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

A Facebook post by a young friend made me turn to this passage again this morning. I believe it is my favorite Psalm. Rich posted something a short while ago, Why Does God Allow Evil in the World? I think this psalm answers that question—God is being merciful just now. He is storing up, saving His wrath for the day of destruction when the wicked will feel the full penalty of their disobedience. Meanwhile, He draws men to Him, and by saving the ungodly, God shows His incredible mercy toward sinful men.

Paul reminded Timothy of this truth when he wrote, “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16).

A better question would be this, What IF God did take care of evil in the world? Suppose today, this next moment, God decided enough was enough, and today He was going to make it right—no more evil would exist on this planet. What would this world look like? How many of us would remain standing in our own righteousness? Instead, Peter tells us, “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Yes, God is demonstrating His patience toward us by withholding His wrath for a time. The question is, will we respond to His mercy, His free gift of salvation, or will we stubbornly store up wrath for the day of destruction?

 

Holier than thou? I think not...

1 Corinthians 1:27-31

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

A

man lies on the ground, no pulse, no heartbeat. Medical personnel arrive, administer drugs, CPR, and a defibrilator. His heart rhythm starts once again. Was he dead? Did he choose to come back to life?

It’s the same with men, who are dead in sin. We need God to reach down to us, to “quicken” us, or give us life. Then when He offers us the free gift of salvation, who could ever reject it? But dead men make no choices.

God chose us, and gave us eternal life. “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus” He awakened us from the dead—freed us from the power that sin was exercising over us. Any righteousness we have has been credited to us. Why? So that not one of us will ever be able to say we earned or deserved the grace that He has bestowed on us. We are not able to keep ourselves from falling away, either, only He can do that—and he promised us that He would in John chapter 6. So when we’re tempted to think we’ve got a corner on righteousness, let’s take a look back at what we WERE and realize that what we ARE and what we WILL BE are a result of the work of God’s grace in and through us “so that no one may boast before Him.” Instead, let’s give credit where credit is due—put your boast IN THE LORD!