Ann Judson of Burma

I recently read this book and am encouraged and humbled by this woman. This isn't a page turner kind of book, it's not "exciting," however it gives an amazing picture of a couple, from the woman's perspective mostly, who truly gave all to go to an unknown country and take the gospel.
They were among a small group of missionaries who were the first to be sent out from America. They left knowing that they would most likely never return. Adoniram's letter to Ann's father, asking for her hand asked if he'd be willing to:

"...consent to part with his daughter... to see her no more in this world;whether you can consent to her departure for a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships of sufferings of a missionary life...the fatal influence of the southern climate of India, to every kind of want and distress, to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death..."

Most of these things came true in her life, however, she did see her homeland once in response to serious illness and the need of complete rest. Her love for God, her husband, and the people God had called them to serve is so evident that it can't help but humble us.

The book is Ann Judson of Burma by Sharon James.

God's Holy Zeal!

Tozer says of God, "He pursues His labors always in a fullness of holy zeal."

What a picture of God. As I thought on it I realized that I often picture God as I would picture myself when I am multitasking. I am busy trying to get everything done and usually a bit distracted, not zealous. I tend to get a bit stressed too. But God isn't like that. He is the ultimate "multitakser" and it doesn't faze Him. He knows what is going on everywhere and is working out His will in everything with a holy zeal. No distraction, stress, concern--just zeal.

I looked up zeal and it is: passionate devotion to or interest in a cause or subject.

How wonderful to picture God at work this way in our world and in our lives. How different it might make my life if I continualy live with this awareness of God.

With praise to our holy, loving and passionate Father. Amen.

Crazy Love

I'm reading a book by Francis Chen called Crazy Love. It is challenging, good, and convicting, and I am enjoying it.

In the second chapter he talks about stress and worry and says:

"Basically these two behaviors communicate that it's ok to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small, indeed.
Why are we so quick to forget God? Who do we think we are?"

A little later in the chapter he says, "Frankly, we need to get over ourselves."

I would encourage you to read this book and go to www.crazylovebook.com and look at the awe factor video.

We have an awesome God!!

Anticipation

I am going through a book by Tricia McCary Rhodes that is about meditating on the Names of Jesus. I just read about Jesus, our Bridegroom, and was struck by how little I anticipate the wedding feast spoken of in the NT.

Wedding's in the NT times weren't the big ordeals they are now, they didn't have the stress or activity that we see now. During the betrothal period the groom prepared the home for he and his bride and when all was ready he came for the wedding. The bride spent the time preparing and making things ready for for when he came for her. It was a time of great anticipation and joy. Something we can't really relate to today. She didn't always know when he would come, so she had to be ready at all times.

I realize that I don't live with that joyful anticipation of His return for me. I know He's coming, but I am so distracted with the "daily's" of life that I don't anticipate His return. I would like to start living with a joyful anticipation of this. I'm sure it will effect how I live daily and how I deal with the reality of living in this broken world.

Even so come Lord Jesus, my Bridegroom!

We Are Sisters

I just finished a book called “Daughters of Hope,” by Kay Marshall Strom and Michele Rickett. It was written by two women who traveled around the world to talk to women who have suffered for their faith. The stories are amazing and in their concluding section they shared an interaction that they had with some women in India who was asking about America.

Their questions were:
Do you ever go to bed hungry because you’re a Christian?
Did you ever have your house taken away?
Did you ever lose a job because you were a Christian?
Do people throw rocks at you?
Has anyone ever thrown you in the fire?

Her answer was always no and then she explained that those things don’t happen in America because it’s against the law.

“The women stared uncomprehendingly. Then one said, ‘but if it doesn’t cost you anything, how do you in America know what it means to be a Christian.’ As I was thinking about the answer, the first woman asked, ‘If you in America did have to suffer, would you still be Christians.’”

They mentioned to them that many would not, and those who do love the Lord pray for the faith to stand faithful to Him in all things. And the women then solemnly promised to pray for us in America.

How wonderful and amazing that they are praying for us.

I'd encourage you to get this book and check out the website SistersInService.org

The Shack

I read it recently and didn't expect to enjoy it. I'd read several reviews of the false doctrine in it and was ready to condemn it. I will say that he does have some unique and I believe un-Biblical teaching and if you are going to get your doctrine from a novel don't read this book.

However, he does a good job of dealing with some of the misconceptions people have about God and the Trinity.
He makes it clear that the Trinity is complete and joyful within itself and does not need us.

He brings out:
- man's obvious and sometimes subtle idea of earning relationship with God, and makes it clear that that just doesn't work
- man's arrogance, and foolishness, in thinking he understands and can judge God
- that God, the Father, is love, not just Jesus

A few quotes that I particularly liked:

Mack -"I sort of feel obliged to go in and talk to Him..."
Jesus - "...don't go because you feel obligated. ...Go because it's what you want to do."

Sophia (Wisdom) - ...He chose the way of the cross where mercy triumphs over justice because of love. Would you instead prefer He'd chosen justice for everyone? Do you want justice 'Dear Judge'?"

One of my favorites, which I can't find to quote, is when Mack said that he just didn't see how anything could justify the evil done to his child and "Papa" responded that we aren't about justifying what happens, but about being redemptive.

and the final quote that I will share is:

" Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means that I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors."

So get your doctrine and theology from the Bible, and if you want a book that does a pretty good job of depicting a God we can relate to, and be challenged by. Read this book. I will add that I would skip the chapter "Festival of Friends." I'm not sure what that was all about.

Jesus in Beijing

I found this book at one of my favorite places, Half Price Books. It's the third book I've read in the last few years on the Church in China and I am exciting about what God is doing. the Heavenly Man has become a popular book but "Back To Jerusalem" is one I would recommend also.
China seemed so lost to me as I was growing in the faith. No outside contact, no missionaries, so Communist. But now we are learning about the Church in China and it is a great testimony of the grace of our wonderful God. We in the West should be humbled by the faith, endurance, and boldness of this Church.
It's so easy to become focused on ourselves and what our world looks like. I am so thankful to be able to hear about the wonders of what God is doing throughout our world.
Praise to our God, the Alpha and Omega!

Therefore...

John Piper, in a sermon on June 6, 2004,talks about our needing to live a "therefore" life. We need to live according to the truths of who we are in Christ. Instead of asking "What's wrong?" about something we should be asking how does that fit with who I am in Christ. What a great perspective.

"When Paul says, 'I appeal to you therefore, brothers . . .' he is saying: The life I am calling you to live (in Romans 12-16) is built on something. It doesn’t come out of nowhere. It has roots. It has a foundation. Christian living has roots. It has foundation. It has causes and grounds and reasons. And that is no small thing!
For the next five chapters Paul will call us to live a certain way as Christians. And with this word 'therefore' he is saying: The foundation we build our lives on is the foundation laid in Romans 1-11. Paul is turning now from doctrine to practice. He is turning from theology to ethics. From what is true about God and Christ and salvation to what we should do—what we therefore should do because of Romans 1-11. Because of all the truth about God and sin and Christ and the cross and the Spirit and faith and justification—because of all that we have seen in Romans 1-11, therefore we are to build our practical lives on this. Paul moves from foundation to application with the word “therefore.” Christian acting and feeling and speaking are not rootless. They have foundation. They are built on something. Paul spent 11 chapters, and we spent six years, laying the foundation for the building of Romans 12-16. If we miss this connection, we miss everything."

Foolishness and Wisdom

Today as I read in Numbers, Proverbs, and Matthew, they interestingly played off each other. In Numbers I read that the "rabble" were complaining about the good things they had to eat in Egypt. They were tired of manna.

In Matthew, the Pharisees were trying, again, to trick Jesus into saying something they could arrest him for, but of course He didn't. He was much to wise for them. And they, as usual, were more interested in protecting their position and image than paying attention to who this was.

In Proverbs 19:8 it says that "he who gets wisdom loves his own soul."

I find it interesting that I had examples in both testaments of men who were to foolish to love their own souls. Instead they chose to seek outward comfort.

How often do I do that? I am too often content with comfort instead of loving my soul enough to feed it with the wisdom that will truly satisfy it. It reminds me of C.S. Lewis' quote about making mud pies in the slum instead of enjoying a vacation on the seashore. We are too easily amused.

Oh, how I pray that God will not allow me to settle for comfort instead of nourishing my soul.

Our Journey

I'm listening to John Piper's sermons on Romans as I work on the study of Romans that I am writing, and came across this encouragement from a sermon preached on 4/21/02:

Picture this life as a journey on your way to receive a spectacular inheritance. It will protect you from idolatry and make all your burdens lighter, and quiet all your murmurings.

Here's the way John Newton put it:
Suppose a man was going to New York to take possession of a large estate, and his carriage should break down a mile before he got to the city, which obliged him to walk the rest of the way; what a fool we should think him, if we saw him ringing his hands, and blubbering out all the remaining mile, "My carriage is broken! My carriage is broken!" (Richard Cecil, Memoirs of the Rev. John Newton, in The Works of the Rev. John Newton, Vol. 1 (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1985), p. 108.)

No condemnation in Christ!!

Rom. 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

This is an important verse to have “hidden in your hearts.” We are so good at listening to the voice of condemnation. There is even a rumor going around that somehow living in condemnation and wallowing in shame is somehow pleasing to God, or that a constant, low-grade guilt will somehow promote holiness and spiritual maturity. Guess who started these!

What do you hear?
“Do you really think God will forgive you…again?”
“God must be unhappy with me.”
“How can you forgive yourself?”

These are not messages from the Spirit!

C.J. Mahaney, in Living the Cross Centered Life, said:
“Our sin is reality, but the death and resurrection of Jesus for our sin is a greater reality.”

So which reality am I going to live by?

He, Mahaney, has a great way to beat condemnation:

“Confess and believe in Christ’s atonement.”

It’s pretty simple and a great way to get us get past our guilt and shame. There is nothing that we have, or could, do that will undo His atonement for us.

He talks about “talking truth” to ourselves instead of “listening” to the lies. His example was very practical. Late one Saturday night as he was putting the finishing touches on a sermon for the next day, he spilled coffee on his keyboard. He lost the computer, and of course all of his notes. He got angry at God, for letting it happen, and at himself for his clumsiness and through a little fit. He chose, instead of continuing in the anger and getting mad about the anger, to talk truth to himself. He said “Your sin of anger has been atoned for by Another. Jesus died for that sin. Jesus, the One who passed every test, who was tempted in every way but never sinned. He stood in your place and He was punished in your place. God has forgiven you and He’s going to help you prepare and preach that sermon—not because you’re sinless, but because He is merciful.”

I frequently share Piper’s quote, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” We can’t be satisfied in Him when we are nursing guilt, shame, or condemnation. We must, as Mahaney points out, believe in His atonement and our righteousness before Him, because of it.

So I encourage you to enjoy His gift of atonement and spend time praising Him for the freedom it gives us. We don’t deserve it, but His love provided it.

New Faith

Heaven Without Her by Kitty Foth-Regner is a book I found recently at our local library. It's a memoir of "a desperate daughter's search for the heart of her mother's faith. I wasn't sure what to expect but thoroughly enjoyed it.

Kitty was 47 when her mother died and the story starts on the day of her mother's death. Kitty grew up in a wonderful loving home and felt valued and cherished, but she rejected her families faith. Her final rejection was when her father died while she was in college. She wanted nothing to do with a God that would allow such hurt.

Kitty became a feminist and atheist and very successful in her career. She was happy with her life until her mother's death loomed. She loved her mother and didn't want to face that she would never see her again. All of a sudden it became very important to her to find out if the faith of her family was true.

This story is her journey to truth. It is exciting to see her perseverance in the search and commitment to truth, not just what would make her feel better. She found the faith of her mother and loved the new life it provided.

A couple of examples of the change in her new life are:

"... a dramatic reduction in that fundamental fear situations which once sent me into a panic barely ruffle me know. It's almost like He's turned me into an entirely new creature."

In speaking of the absence of the anger that had been such a reality in her life, she said:

"Later I would read in Phil. 4 about 'the peace of God, that passes all understanding.' It was like that: peace that I hadn't felt since I was a little kid, before I knew the heartbreaks and fears and humiliations that can happen in this world. The sort of peace that you feel when you know someone much bigger than you is in total control, loves you to pieces, and will take care of you always."

I finished this book feeling thankful for my God who is in control and, amazingly, love me to pieces, and will take care of me.

Thank you Kitty for your new faith and it's encouragement to me.

Ponderings from Os

I recently read Long Journey Home by Os Guinness. It was very good and gave me lots to think about. It is written to the seeking "thinker," who is looking for truth. A few quotes that I have enjoyed pondering are:

"Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams." This is a line from the Brothers Karamazov.

The God whom Jesus shows on the cross in one who defeats evil by letting it do its very worst to Him and then overcoming it.

By all means love, by all means desire, but consider carefully what you love and what you desire. We're incomplete in ourselves so we desire whatever we think is beckoning to complete us.

Speaking of our "quest" for God, "The secret of the quest lies not in our brilliance but in His grace."

Redeemed!!!

I've been teaching Galatians on Sunday mornings and in studying this week in chapter 3 I was reminded of the following songs which I haven't thought of our heard in awhile. It has been good to be reminded of them and to find myself singing them throughout the day. What a wonderful blessing and joy our redemption is, and how easily we get caught up in "life" and forget this truth.

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Redeemed by His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.

Redeemed! Redeemed!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Redeemed! Redeemed!
His child and forever I am.



I will sing of my Redeemer
and His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered
from the curse to set me free.

It's been awhile

We just got back from Florida for a week and a Caribbean cruise for a week. It was just right for me, mostly in the 8o's and not too humid. I enjoyed it very much. We swam in the wonderful Caribbean sea and I loved it.
I had to laugh though as they were vary concerned about a coming cold front, it was going to be in the 70's :)
We came home to cold and even some snow! Is this really spring? I think the season is a bit confused.

I got to do lots of reading while we were away and I read some great books. Outrageous Mercy by William Farley is definitely one of my new favorites. It focuses on the centrality of the Cross to our lives and what the Cross reveals about God. It was very timely to be reading it now since I am writing a Bible study on Romans.

An Artists' Wisdom

A gentleman left his sketchbook at church last week. I had to look through it to get an idea of who it belonged to. He is an incredible artist and I enjoyed his work, he also has a good sense of humor and some wisdom too. I found this and had to write it down. Unfortunately I don't remember his name so I can't give him credit for it.

Know what you do well.
Listen to criticism, whether it's chiseled, rasped, or gently buffed.
Rough edges aren't bad, but most people don't enjoy touching them.

Good words to think on.

It's All About Him

First God. God is the subject of life. God is foundational for living. If we don’t have a sense of the primacy of God, we will never get it right, get life right, get our lives right. Not God at the margins; not God as an option; not God on the weekends. God at center and circumference; God first and last; God, God, God.

This is from the intro to Genesis in the Message. I think it says it all.

A Bold Faith

We were in Psalm 18 this week in our study and I love the picture of our powerful God in it. His passion for His people is evident.

Catherine Martin said, "Make good use of your God. Gain full advantage by pleading with Him. Tell Him your troubles. Search His promises, and then petition Him with holy boldness, for this is the surest and the fastest way to find relief."

This is a picture of a bold faith and I am encouraged by it.

Don't Fear What God is Doing

Nancy Guthrie wrote "Holding on to Hope". It's the story of Their hope in God during the short life of their daughter, Hope. She was born with Zellwager Syndrome and not given more than six months to live. Nancy used Job as her reference for their journey.

It's a good book to remind us of the hope we have in God, in any circumstance, to walk with us through it. To be reminded that He understands our pain, grief, and struggles with belief.

They chose not to ask for miraculous healing, but instead with boldness and passion and persistence to pray:

"God, would you please accomplish your will? Would you give me a willing heart to embrace your plan and your purpose? Would you mold me into a vessel that you can use to accomplish what you have in mind?" and then, perhaps, we could add a tiny P.S. that says, "If that includes healing, we will be grateful."

What a difference from how believers usually pray. What a difference it would make in our lives if we approched God with this request instead of "Lord, make me better",
"let the test be benign," etc. I type up prayer requests at church and these are more of what I see than "Lord, work out your will." We, myself included, are so focused on feeling better that we forget that God often chooses to use our weakness to show His strength and for Him to be glorified.


The Guthries took steps to have no other children, this syndrome is genetic and after one child with it there is more chance of another one, however, God had other plans. Their son, Gabriel, survived just six months. They knew he would be born with the syndrome and knew this was God's gift to them. They named him Gabriel because they believed that he "like the angel, Gabriel, is sent from God, and protected by God. We will not be surpirsed if he has heavenly messages for us to hear, if we will listen. And significantly, whenever Gabriel, appeared in the Bible, he reassured his stunned audience: 'Don't be afraid!' "

What a message for us.

I am His Beloved! Amazing!

Why is it so hard for some of us to trust in God's love. Didn't the cross show us the extent of His love?
I have been encouraged by Brennan Manning this week on His love.

He quotes Marjory Kemp, who lived 400 years ago:
"More pleasing to me than all your prayers, sacrifices, and good words is that you would believe that I love you."

Towards the end of the book, The Signature of Jesus, he says:
"I know all your thoughts. I hear all your words. I see all of your actions. And I love you. Do not judge yourself. Do not condemn yourself. Do not reject yourself. Let my love touch the most hidden corners of your heart and reveal to you your beauty, a beauty that you have lost sight of."

I've been reading in Ps. 139 this week and the above quote reinforces what I have been seeing in that Psalm. It is amazing to know that He loves me. It's easy to focus on my weakness and failure and beat myself up about it. But that's me focusing on me, not on God. One more quote speaks to this,

"...my attention must be on Jesus, not on myself. To adore is to be drawn away from my own preoccupations into the presence of Jesus. It means letting go of what I want, desire, or have planned, and fully trusting Jesus and His love." Henry Nouwen

We are told to die to ourselves and if we truly understand and trust in God's love for us this would be a natural thing to do. Oh, Lord, teach me to trust your love and let that me enough for me.