Thursday, April 28, 2011
For You and You alone
In our hearts, Lord, in this nation
Awakening
Holy Spirit, we desire
Awakening
For You and You alone
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing
For the world You love
Your will be done, let Your will be done in me
In Your presence, in Your power
Awakening
For this moment, for this hour
Awakening
I need this often. I wake up in the morning, I wash my face, I drink coffee. I go about my day, I pray, I read God's word, I listen to my praise music. I feel His presence all the time...I know He's always there. Yet I still need an awakening. My natural inclination is to sin, to not please God. I need an awakening sometimes, and I think we all do.
Like the rising sun that shines...
From the darkness comes a light...
I hear Your voice, and this is my
Awakening.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
John Piper on Worship
In my quiet time this morning (I'm doing Life as a Vapor), I read John Piper's letter to a man who was against worship because it made God seem 'arrogant', especially since we didn't 'ask' to be created.
Piper mentioned a few things that struck a chord with me.
He mentioned that, of course, God is more than worthy of our praise. He is greatly to be praised because He is great! "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised." (Psalm 96:4) Also, Piper says the Bible talks about praise as being pleasurable in Psalm 16:11. This is all undeniable.
But some of my favorite things Piper said was that God demands praise from us because He demands happiness from us. "Deep in our hearts we know that we were not made to be made much of. We were made to make much of something great. The best joys are when we forget ourselves, enthralled with greatness. The greatest greatness is God's." How beautiful is that? He couldn't have said it better - the most joyful moments lie in the moments when we aren't focused on ourselves. Standing before Niagara Falls. Canoeing through the shining lake in Canada. Standing in the Sears Centre with a thousand other people, singing God with Us by MercyMe...just like the picture above.
Another beautiful thing Piper talks about is that God gifts us with praise out of love. "The reason God seeks our praise is not because He won't be complete until He gets it. He is seeking our praise because we won't be complete until we give it. This is not arrogance. It is love." See, it all makes sense now. Of course God doesn't NEED our praise. He doesn't need anything! It's us that are in need. And so God gives. He gives us the gift of music so that we can feel His presence and revel in His beauty. For me at least, worshiping makes me despise sin. Because in those moments of praise it's so clear: God is so infinitely better than anything our sin promises. Worship is such a gift. An amazing, beautiful gift!
Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
The LORD has made known His salvation;
The LORD has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth;
Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
Sing to the LORD with the harp,
Sing to the LORD with the harp,
With the harp and the sound of a psalm,
With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King.
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness,
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands;
Let the rivers clap their hands;
Let the hills be joyful together
before the LORD,
before the LORD,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
With righteousness He shall judge the world,
And the peoples with equity.
-Psalm 98Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The Proverbs 31 Woman
"10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
What does it mean to be all of these things? Times have changed since this Proverb was written. Obviously, there's traits that stay the same throughout time...eagerness to work, sympathy for the poor, strength and dignity. These are important. But there's things that have changed in the modern world. If I don't sew clothes for my family, am I not a noble wife in the sight of God? I love sewing, but there's many women who don't. I don't feel as though that's sinful! If I don't make linen garments and sell them, if my 'trading' is not profitable...is that wrong?
I'm going to pick apart this passage and re-word it in more modern terms. I believe that there's more of an attitude that is being presented here. After all, to just do these actions without any feeling would be legalistic. So I wanted to give my opinion on what attitudes and good duties are stressed here.
10-Who can find a noble wife? She is rare. She is worth so much more than precious gems. 11-Her husband is fully confident that she is good, and his values are good. 12-As long as she lives, his wife helps him, and doesn't harm him. 13-She picks up useful things and eagerly works with them. 14-Like a merchant ship, she brings in food from all over the place. 15-She gets up very early to make sure there is food for her family. 16-With her money, she assesses the things she is thinking of buying and makes use of those things. 17-Her arms are strong as she vigorously works. 18-She makes sure she is spending money on useful things, and she doesn't just drop into bed as soon as it gets dark. 19-She works with useful things to provide for her family. 20-She cares about the poor and gives to those in need. 21-When the weather turns bad, she isn't worried because she has provided proper clothing for her family. 22-She takes care of her house and looks very presentable. 23-Her husband has a good job and is respected by all. 24-She does what she can to provide for her family. 25-She is strong and has dignity, and she isn't worried about the future. 26-She is wise and she faithfully instructs. 27-She takes care of her house and isn't lazy or negligent. 28-She children love and respect her, and so does her husband. 29-He tells her that he's glad that she is his wife. 30-Outward appearance is deceptive and it won't last. A woman who loves and fears the Lord is to be honored. 31-Let everyone honor all she has done.
So, I don't think I need to hold the distaff or sell linen at the city gates to be a God-honoring woman. I need to be strong and eager to do the work in my home. I need to provide food and clothing for my family so they won't be cold or hungry. I need to present myself respectably, but not be too absorbed in how I look because that's shallow. I need to lovingly correct my kids. I need to make sure I've married a good husband who loves the Lord and helps provide for his family. I need to use money wisely. I need to not be lazy, or worry about how I will provide for my family in the future.
And of course, above all, I need to do all these things in His name and glorify Him as long as I live!!
"She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
What does it mean to be all of these things? Times have changed since this Proverb was written. Obviously, there's traits that stay the same throughout time...eagerness to work, sympathy for the poor, strength and dignity. These are important. But there's things that have changed in the modern world. If I don't sew clothes for my family, am I not a noble wife in the sight of God? I love sewing, but there's many women who don't. I don't feel as though that's sinful! If I don't make linen garments and sell them, if my 'trading' is not profitable...is that wrong?
I'm going to pick apart this passage and re-word it in more modern terms. I believe that there's more of an attitude that is being presented here. After all, to just do these actions without any feeling would be legalistic. So I wanted to give my opinion on what attitudes and good duties are stressed here.
10-Who can find a noble wife? She is rare. She is worth so much more than precious gems. 11-Her husband is fully confident that she is good, and his values are good. 12-As long as she lives, his wife helps him, and doesn't harm him. 13-She picks up useful things and eagerly works with them. 14-Like a merchant ship, she brings in food from all over the place. 15-She gets up very early to make sure there is food for her family. 16-With her money, she assesses the things she is thinking of buying and makes use of those things. 17-Her arms are strong as she vigorously works. 18-She makes sure she is spending money on useful things, and she doesn't just drop into bed as soon as it gets dark. 19-She works with useful things to provide for her family. 20-She cares about the poor and gives to those in need. 21-When the weather turns bad, she isn't worried because she has provided proper clothing for her family. 22-She takes care of her house and looks very presentable. 23-Her husband has a good job and is respected by all. 24-She does what she can to provide for her family. 25-She is strong and has dignity, and she isn't worried about the future. 26-She is wise and she faithfully instructs. 27-She takes care of her house and isn't lazy or negligent. 28-She children love and respect her, and so does her husband. 29-He tells her that he's glad that she is his wife. 30-Outward appearance is deceptive and it won't last. A woman who loves and fears the Lord is to be honored. 31-Let everyone honor all she has done.
So, I don't think I need to hold the distaff or sell linen at the city gates to be a God-honoring woman. I need to be strong and eager to do the work in my home. I need to provide food and clothing for my family so they won't be cold or hungry. I need to present myself respectably, but not be too absorbed in how I look because that's shallow. I need to lovingly correct my kids. I need to make sure I've married a good husband who loves the Lord and helps provide for his family. I need to use money wisely. I need to not be lazy, or worry about how I will provide for my family in the future.
And of course, above all, I need to do all these things in His name and glorify Him as long as I live!!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Wisconsin Pictures
First thing's first... I wanted to get around to posting photos from my friend Alex's cabin up in Wisconsin, even though it's been nearly two months. Yikes! In any case, it was a great trip. I'm really blessed to have Alex as a friend, and we had some really great spiritual talks.
Just thought I'd share :)
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tree of Life
"Hope deferred...
...makes the heart sick...
...but a longing fulfilled...
...is a Tree of Life."
Proverbs 13:12
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Grateful for the Sorrow.
"God sometimes marvelously raiseth the souls of his saints with some close and near approaches unto them -- gives them a sense of His eternal love, a taste of the embraces of His Son and the inhabitation of the Spirit, without the least intervening disturbance; and then this is their assurance. But this life is not a season to be always taking wages in; our work is not yet done; we are not always to abide in this mount; we must down again into the battle -- fight again, cry again, complain again. Shall the soul be thought now to have lost its assurance? Not at all. It had before assurance with joy, triumph, and exultation; it hath it now, or may have, with wrestling, cries, tears, and supplications. And a man's assurance may be as good, as true, when he lies on the earth with a sense of sin, as when he is carried up to the third heaven with a sense of love and foretaste of glory." - John Owen
When I read this today, I was both encouraged and convicted. I've found that Owen's works manage to strike those two prominent feelings at the same time in my heart, and it creates the perfect chemistry. While realizing how hopeless I am, I realize how incredible God is.
Sometimes I think to myself, "When do I feel God most near?" Because when God is most near to me, I am most satisfied. When I ask that, I immediately think of worship. When I sing to God, whether it's sitting in my friend's family room with a lone guitar or literally shouting to the Lord surrounded by thousands of voices at the Sears Centre, I feel His presence so clearly. I think of the times when I get in the car with Laura and turn on praise music to the max. Singing is an enormous part of my emotions, and since I'm an extremely emotional person, an enormous part of my emotions is an enormous part of me, period. I know that God has put this passion into me because He knows it will take hold of me and make me so, so much more aware of His amazing beauty.
Anytime I'm truly upset, it's because I'm having an inner struggle that my sinful mind refuses to hand over to Him. Apathy is the biggest, I think. I won't dig too deep into that, (another post...) but I believe it's the worst thing you can go through. You feel absolutely nothing. No joy, no motivation, no emotion...just blank apathy. So it's definitely those times when I feel most distant from God.
That could confuse some people. Is apathy worse than emotional pain? To me, yes. And I'll tell you why. I've experienced pain. At one point in my childhood, I had the worst experience of my life, and the pain hasn't gone away and I don't think it ever will. It still haunts me and takes my breath away for all the sadness I feel. And guess what?
I'm grateful. I'm grateful for the sorrow.
Because in those moments of pain - not just pain inflicted by that particular event, but all emotional pain I've ever felt - God is nearer than when I worship and I'm joyful. When I curl up on my bed and cry like there's no tomorrow, I get the most acute sense that He's wrapping his arms around me and it gives me peace that is past understanding. This is something that came to me not too long ago. It hit me like a rock. Realizing it was astounding.
Because up until then, I had dealt with those moments of pain by telling myself that I deserved it. And of course, it's undeniably true. Like John Piper says in "Life is a Vapor", everything we receive here on earth is mercy. Compared to what we deserve, the worst experience on this earth is mercy. Pondering that humbles me. But there's even more.
God, in His amazing, amazing grace, is just in His actions. I deserve much more than that trauma, I deserve hell. But yet...YET...God has used the worst experience of my life for good. I'm serious when I say that the worst thing that happened to me is also the best thing that has happened to me. Of all the joyful things I've experienced in life, nothing has brought me closer to God. Because...nothing else has made me feel my need for Him more than my trials. And that has brought me the most everlasting and satisfying joy. God is just, and He brings trials, and we know we deserve it...and then He uses them to bring us joy. He piles mercy on top of mercy. It's mind-boggling.
And then I can truly say, I'm grateful for the sorrow.
When I read this today, I was both encouraged and convicted. I've found that Owen's works manage to strike those two prominent feelings at the same time in my heart, and it creates the perfect chemistry. While realizing how hopeless I am, I realize how incredible God is.
Sometimes I think to myself, "When do I feel God most near?" Because when God is most near to me, I am most satisfied. When I ask that, I immediately think of worship. When I sing to God, whether it's sitting in my friend's family room with a lone guitar or literally shouting to the Lord surrounded by thousands of voices at the Sears Centre, I feel His presence so clearly. I think of the times when I get in the car with Laura and turn on praise music to the max. Singing is an enormous part of my emotions, and since I'm an extremely emotional person, an enormous part of my emotions is an enormous part of me, period. I know that God has put this passion into me because He knows it will take hold of me and make me so, so much more aware of His amazing beauty.
Anytime I'm truly upset, it's because I'm having an inner struggle that my sinful mind refuses to hand over to Him. Apathy is the biggest, I think. I won't dig too deep into that, (another post...) but I believe it's the worst thing you can go through. You feel absolutely nothing. No joy, no motivation, no emotion...just blank apathy. So it's definitely those times when I feel most distant from God.
That could confuse some people. Is apathy worse than emotional pain? To me, yes. And I'll tell you why. I've experienced pain. At one point in my childhood, I had the worst experience of my life, and the pain hasn't gone away and I don't think it ever will. It still haunts me and takes my breath away for all the sadness I feel. And guess what?
I'm grateful. I'm grateful for the sorrow.
Because in those moments of pain - not just pain inflicted by that particular event, but all emotional pain I've ever felt - God is nearer than when I worship and I'm joyful. When I curl up on my bed and cry like there's no tomorrow, I get the most acute sense that He's wrapping his arms around me and it gives me peace that is past understanding. This is something that came to me not too long ago. It hit me like a rock. Realizing it was astounding.
Because up until then, I had dealt with those moments of pain by telling myself that I deserved it. And of course, it's undeniably true. Like John Piper says in "Life is a Vapor", everything we receive here on earth is mercy. Compared to what we deserve, the worst experience on this earth is mercy. Pondering that humbles me. But there's even more.
God, in His amazing, amazing grace, is just in His actions. I deserve much more than that trauma, I deserve hell. But yet...YET...God has used the worst experience of my life for good. I'm serious when I say that the worst thing that happened to me is also the best thing that has happened to me. Of all the joyful things I've experienced in life, nothing has brought me closer to God. Because...nothing else has made me feel my need for Him more than my trials. And that has brought me the most everlasting and satisfying joy. God is just, and He brings trials, and we know we deserve it...and then He uses them to bring us joy. He piles mercy on top of mercy. It's mind-boggling.
And then I can truly say, I'm grateful for the sorrow.
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