Contemplating the Good Friday story today. So many of the players depict me in part: Like Peter, I deny Christ in my words and deeds out of fear of what others will think. Like the Pharisees, I think I can be good enough to deserve God's love. But I realized today that the person in the story that most completely portrays me is Barabbas. Guilty, deserving death, but gets off Scott-free because Jesus took my place. I am Barabbas. He went free because sinful people fear grace much more than we fear sin. We think we are good enough to atone for our sin and make ourselves righteous. Grace tells us that we are beyond the hope of ever being good enough. Looking at grace forces us to see our total depravity. The Pharisees were trusting in their excellent work of law-keeping, which would require God to call them righteous. But righteousness comes to those who are unable to merit it, through the grace of God in Jesus Christ.In Christ, I am forgiven much. May my love for others show how much I love Christ.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Friday, October 5, 2012
More things to think about
I started this blog two years ago, when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. My sister thought it would be cathartic for me to express my thoughts as I walked through that period of my life. It certainly was fun, and a helpful outlet.
It seems that God has given me some new things to walk through with Him, and to think about how He is still in control no matter what comes into my life. I'm writing this from my hospital bed, where I have been for five days. After almost two months of dealing with uncontrollable asthma, my doctor admitted me on high dose steroids. The steroids caused my blood sugar to go into a tailspin, oftentimes not registering on the meter because of how high it was! I have not ever had blood sugar issues personally. My mom was diabetic, and I've been considered to probably have Metabolic Syndrome, which has included endometriosis and poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, as well as my thyroid issues. The doctor thinks that this current incident with the steroids has probably just pushed me over the line into diabetes. I will go home on insulin and oral medication, with the goals of weaning off all the meds as quickly as possible. My goal is to be a diet-controlled diabetic.
This goal makes me start thinking about God's sovereignty and my accountability. I'm not disciplined in my eating or exercise habits - never have been. I was a stick as a kid and ate whatever, whenever. But over the course of my life thus far, the different aspects of Metabolic syndrome, as well as my lack of discipline, have all caused me to be overweight, which is probably another factor in my current situation. So now I sit here playing "What If" with myself. what if I had been more disciplined and kept better care of myself? Would I be in this situation right now? If this was God's plan for my life at this point, would my good efforts have been able to thwart His plan? I hang onto Jeremiah 29:11 at this point, and hope that is where the answers to my what if's are found: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." God is not planning my life as it unfolds. He already has all the plans for my life, from beginning to end, and every moment in between.
It's so easy to see the good things as His plan - a wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter, wonderful friends, a home, a good job, etc. Those are all things that we desire. The "bad" things - cancer, diabetes, loss of loved ones, financial difficulties - those are the things we as believers pray against. But looking back, it has always been these "bad things" that drive me to the throne of grace much more often than the good things. And when I get to that throne, I find the only thing I need - God.
The book of Hebrews chapter 12 talks about how God disciplines His children. We think of discipline as punishment, and that is an incorrect understanding. Jesus lived with his disciples for three years. During that time, He was discipling them - disciplining them, teaching them to be like Him. Discipline is not something that can be done from a distance. It's an up close and personal thing. So in order for God to discipline His children, He brings them close. In a way, it's like he's holding my face tenderly in His hands saying, "Here is a trial. My plan is that through it, you will become more like Jesus. Stay close, come to my throne and sit at my feet so I can give you all the grace and mercy that you will need to patiently endure, and eventually be more than just a conqueror. Don't fixate on the circumstances - they will only cause discouragement, fear, doubt and pain. Fix your eyes on me instead, see Jesus in my face and become a mirror of His image. Let my joy be in you so that your joy is complete. I will give you all you need for godliness and perseverance. When this is through, you will look a little bit more like Christ, the author and perfecter of your faith. And don't forget my promise: I will never leave you or forsake you!"
Keep me at the foot of your throne, my Abba. I want to be like Jesus! After all, that is your ultimate plan for my life.
It seems that God has given me some new things to walk through with Him, and to think about how He is still in control no matter what comes into my life. I'm writing this from my hospital bed, where I have been for five days. After almost two months of dealing with uncontrollable asthma, my doctor admitted me on high dose steroids. The steroids caused my blood sugar to go into a tailspin, oftentimes not registering on the meter because of how high it was! I have not ever had blood sugar issues personally. My mom was diabetic, and I've been considered to probably have Metabolic Syndrome, which has included endometriosis and poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, as well as my thyroid issues. The doctor thinks that this current incident with the steroids has probably just pushed me over the line into diabetes. I will go home on insulin and oral medication, with the goals of weaning off all the meds as quickly as possible. My goal is to be a diet-controlled diabetic.
This goal makes me start thinking about God's sovereignty and my accountability. I'm not disciplined in my eating or exercise habits - never have been. I was a stick as a kid and ate whatever, whenever. But over the course of my life thus far, the different aspects of Metabolic syndrome, as well as my lack of discipline, have all caused me to be overweight, which is probably another factor in my current situation. So now I sit here playing "What If" with myself. what if I had been more disciplined and kept better care of myself? Would I be in this situation right now? If this was God's plan for my life at this point, would my good efforts have been able to thwart His plan? I hang onto Jeremiah 29:11 at this point, and hope that is where the answers to my what if's are found: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." God is not planning my life as it unfolds. He already has all the plans for my life, from beginning to end, and every moment in between.
It's so easy to see the good things as His plan - a wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter, wonderful friends, a home, a good job, etc. Those are all things that we desire. The "bad" things - cancer, diabetes, loss of loved ones, financial difficulties - those are the things we as believers pray against. But looking back, it has always been these "bad things" that drive me to the throne of grace much more often than the good things. And when I get to that throne, I find the only thing I need - God.
The book of Hebrews chapter 12 talks about how God disciplines His children. We think of discipline as punishment, and that is an incorrect understanding. Jesus lived with his disciples for three years. During that time, He was discipling them - disciplining them, teaching them to be like Him. Discipline is not something that can be done from a distance. It's an up close and personal thing. So in order for God to discipline His children, He brings them close. In a way, it's like he's holding my face tenderly in His hands saying, "Here is a trial. My plan is that through it, you will become more like Jesus. Stay close, come to my throne and sit at my feet so I can give you all the grace and mercy that you will need to patiently endure, and eventually be more than just a conqueror. Don't fixate on the circumstances - they will only cause discouragement, fear, doubt and pain. Fix your eyes on me instead, see Jesus in my face and become a mirror of His image. Let my joy be in you so that your joy is complete. I will give you all you need for godliness and perseverance. When this is through, you will look a little bit more like Christ, the author and perfecter of your faith. And don't forget my promise: I will never leave you or forsake you!"
Keep me at the foot of your throne, my Abba. I want to be like Jesus! After all, that is your ultimate plan for my life.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Miracle of Manna
Centuries ago, God’s people the Israelites, spent over 400 years in Egypt. Joseph, an Israelite, had been sold into slavery by his brothers, landing him in Egypt. This was God’s provision, because through this event, He brought about relief from a seven year famine and not only stored up food sufficient for those in Egypt, but also for the surrounding nations. Egypt became quite wealthy by selling food from their storehouses. Joseph remained in Egypt, and many of the sons of Israel remained there with him. They prospered and became a large and strong group of people in Egypt.
After several generations, the new Pharaoh became nervous because of the strength of the Israelites. He had not known Joseph and was not aware of how his nation prospered under Joseph’s care. He decided to enslave the Israelites, so that they would not overtake the Egyptians. The Israelites remained slaves in Egypt for many generations.
Finally God raised up a deliverer to lead His people out of Egypt. He sent Moses to Pharaoh multiple times with plagues and miraculous signs. When God caused the death of Pharaoh’s son, he finally relented and set the Israelites free. So the nation of Israel, en masse, left Egypt. They had witnessed miraculous plagues and signs from God; they saw God part the Red Sea so that they could escape Pharaoh’s army; they saw God lead them as a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. They had seen so many amazing things that their God did on their behalf. Yet soon after their release from slavery, they found themselves in the desert: the hot, dry, desolate wilderness. They were hungry. They longed for the food of Egypt. To them, it would have been better to die as slaves with full bellies than follow God hungry, to an unknown place.
I know that feeling. I think the old adage, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” describes it quite well. Sometimes we think that we’re better off sticking with what we know, even though it might come with bitter circumstances, than to follow God on an unknown path, into an uncertain future. We forget the things we’ve seen God do for us in the past. We lack the trust in His character that it takes to leave everything and follow wherever He leads.
Back to our wandering Israelites – God hears their grumblings for food, and He provides for their need. Every morning, He provided them with bread from Heaven. It just showed up all over the ground once the dew cleared. When the Israelites saw it, they asked each other, “What is it?” That’s where the name ‘manna’ came from – it means ‘what is it?’. God provided something supernatural, food that was other-worldly, something they had never seen before. When I consider the unfettered power and ability of God, I wonder why He didn’t just cause vegetables to cover the ground every morning, or types of other familiar vegetation. Surely in a desert wasteland this would have been equally miraculous! What was His purpose in providing food that begged the question, “What is this?”
I think about biting into a tomato – there are a hundred tiny little seeds inside. The same is true with a cucumber, peppers, green beans, squash, etc. Those seeds can be planted and can reproduce more vegetables. Maybe God wanted to be sure that the food He provided was food that could not be reproduced, except by Him. There’s no way to know for sure that this was God’s rationale. As I write, I can think of a few other possibilities for His purpose. But what I do see is the picture of grace we see in the manna:
Manna came completely from God. I don’t imagine it was hard work for the Creator of the Universe to send manna. He may have just simply said, “Let there be manna!” He was the sole source of manna – no one could study its properties and recreate it in a petri dish. There were no roadside manna stands along the way from Egypt to the Promised Land. It showed up daily, without fail. No one had to remind God to send it to them.
Manna was completely satisfying. The Israelites could gather up only what they needed for each day. They were instructed to gather two quarts of manna per person every morning, and that was sufficient for all their needs. (Which begs the image to consider – the nation of Israel was quite large! That’s a lot of manna!) If someone got greedy and gathered up more than they’d need for the day, by morning they found rotten, worm-infested manna in their Tupperware. But miraculously, the day before each Sabbath they could gather enough manna for two days, and there would be no spoiling. So every day, the necessary amount was readily available for all the needs of every person. No one went to bed hungry.
Manna was sweet. It made cakes that tasted like wafers and honey. It wasn’t salty or spicy. If it had been, the people would have thirsted for water, which wasn’t easy to come by in the desert wasteland.
The Scriptures are full of pictures. Manna is a clear picture of God’s grace. He sent manna to His people while they were complaining about the situation that He led them into, not while they were praising His goodness. While we were sinners, He lavished His grace upon His chosen people. Manna was the sustaining food that the Israelites could not provide for themselves, nor could they live without. Grace is the provision that saves us and then sustains us, conforming us to the image and likeness of His Son, Jesus. Without grace, we are hopeless sinners facing God’s eternal wrath. Manna was a sufficient meal that left every partaker fully satisfied. Grace is sufficient for every need we have: salvation first, and then like the waves of the sea, God bestows “grace upon grace” on us, enabling us to face every circumstance that comes into our lives. Manna was sweet and fragrant. By grace, Christ gave Himself up as a fragrant offering (Eph 5:2), and His Words are like honey to the lips of those who love it (Ps 119:103).
The God who led His people out of Egypt and fed them with manna from His hand is the same God who lavishes grace upon His chosen people today. “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!”
After several generations, the new Pharaoh became nervous because of the strength of the Israelites. He had not known Joseph and was not aware of how his nation prospered under Joseph’s care. He decided to enslave the Israelites, so that they would not overtake the Egyptians. The Israelites remained slaves in Egypt for many generations.
Finally God raised up a deliverer to lead His people out of Egypt. He sent Moses to Pharaoh multiple times with plagues and miraculous signs. When God caused the death of Pharaoh’s son, he finally relented and set the Israelites free. So the nation of Israel, en masse, left Egypt. They had witnessed miraculous plagues and signs from God; they saw God part the Red Sea so that they could escape Pharaoh’s army; they saw God lead them as a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. They had seen so many amazing things that their God did on their behalf. Yet soon after their release from slavery, they found themselves in the desert: the hot, dry, desolate wilderness. They were hungry. They longed for the food of Egypt. To them, it would have been better to die as slaves with full bellies than follow God hungry, to an unknown place.
I know that feeling. I think the old adage, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” describes it quite well. Sometimes we think that we’re better off sticking with what we know, even though it might come with bitter circumstances, than to follow God on an unknown path, into an uncertain future. We forget the things we’ve seen God do for us in the past. We lack the trust in His character that it takes to leave everything and follow wherever He leads.
Back to our wandering Israelites – God hears their grumblings for food, and He provides for their need. Every morning, He provided them with bread from Heaven. It just showed up all over the ground once the dew cleared. When the Israelites saw it, they asked each other, “What is it?” That’s where the name ‘manna’ came from – it means ‘what is it?’. God provided something supernatural, food that was other-worldly, something they had never seen before. When I consider the unfettered power and ability of God, I wonder why He didn’t just cause vegetables to cover the ground every morning, or types of other familiar vegetation. Surely in a desert wasteland this would have been equally miraculous! What was His purpose in providing food that begged the question, “What is this?”
I think about biting into a tomato – there are a hundred tiny little seeds inside. The same is true with a cucumber, peppers, green beans, squash, etc. Those seeds can be planted and can reproduce more vegetables. Maybe God wanted to be sure that the food He provided was food that could not be reproduced, except by Him. There’s no way to know for sure that this was God’s rationale. As I write, I can think of a few other possibilities for His purpose. But what I do see is the picture of grace we see in the manna:
Manna came completely from God. I don’t imagine it was hard work for the Creator of the Universe to send manna. He may have just simply said, “Let there be manna!” He was the sole source of manna – no one could study its properties and recreate it in a petri dish. There were no roadside manna stands along the way from Egypt to the Promised Land. It showed up daily, without fail. No one had to remind God to send it to them.
Manna was completely satisfying. The Israelites could gather up only what they needed for each day. They were instructed to gather two quarts of manna per person every morning, and that was sufficient for all their needs. (Which begs the image to consider – the nation of Israel was quite large! That’s a lot of manna!) If someone got greedy and gathered up more than they’d need for the day, by morning they found rotten, worm-infested manna in their Tupperware. But miraculously, the day before each Sabbath they could gather enough manna for two days, and there would be no spoiling. So every day, the necessary amount was readily available for all the needs of every person. No one went to bed hungry.
Manna was sweet. It made cakes that tasted like wafers and honey. It wasn’t salty or spicy. If it had been, the people would have thirsted for water, which wasn’t easy to come by in the desert wasteland.
The Scriptures are full of pictures. Manna is a clear picture of God’s grace. He sent manna to His people while they were complaining about the situation that He led them into, not while they were praising His goodness. While we were sinners, He lavished His grace upon His chosen people. Manna was the sustaining food that the Israelites could not provide for themselves, nor could they live without. Grace is the provision that saves us and then sustains us, conforming us to the image and likeness of His Son, Jesus. Without grace, we are hopeless sinners facing God’s eternal wrath. Manna was a sufficient meal that left every partaker fully satisfied. Grace is sufficient for every need we have: salvation first, and then like the waves of the sea, God bestows “grace upon grace” on us, enabling us to face every circumstance that comes into our lives. Manna was sweet and fragrant. By grace, Christ gave Himself up as a fragrant offering (Eph 5:2), and His Words are like honey to the lips of those who love it (Ps 119:103).
The God who led His people out of Egypt and fed them with manna from His hand is the same God who lavishes grace upon His chosen people today. “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!”
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Adoption...had I but known...
I wrote this in response to a blogger who asked the following:
I need your help. If you’re a parent by birth or by adoption or both, I need your help based on your experience. If you know someone who’s a parent by birth or adoption, I need your help based on your observations.
What do you wish you’d known as you launched into parenting, whether by adoption or by birth?
What have you learned or are you experiencing that’s very different than what you’d expected, whether happy or hard?
What were you totally ignorant about at the beginning that you’re learning by experience?
What unexpected things have blessed you?
What unexpected things have blindsided you?
This is my answer:
I am married almost 27 yrs, and my husband and I have an adopted daughter who is almost 14. Something that completely blindsided me was when my daughter asked me why her birth mom kept her first daughter, but didn’t keep her. The question came out of the blue to me (maybe I was just naive or clueless!) one day a few years ago. Lizzie’s birth mom sent us a photo of herself posing with her firstborn daughter. It had been tucked away for a while, and Lizzie came across it one day when she and I were searching for some lost thing. She looked at it for a few minutes, so I asked her if she’d like to frame it and keep it in her room. That’s when the question came.
I always purposed that whenever Lizzie asked about her birth mom I would be sure not to take it personally, not to feel insecure, etc. I was blindsided by the ache in my heart that I felt for this child that I’ve loved since she was one day old. Mentally I understood that adopted children suffer the loss of identity, connection, etc. But until I heard her sweet voice ask that question, I didn’t realize the emotions that would overwhelm me. I thought that I might feel replaced if she wanted to keep a framed photo of her first mom in her room. How shallow!! I never expected the feelings of grief and sadness that I would feel when this child of my heart expressed her grief and loss.
I breathed a quick prayer for guidance and compassion. “She didn’t choose to give you up because of anything about you. She chose to sacrifice the joy and privilege of knowing you before she ever saw you, because she thought that would be what was best for you. She was young and single and overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising two beautiful girls on her own. We are so very grateful that she gave us such a treasure.” I showed her the pictures that were taken when we met Rose, her birth mom. That was also the day that she put Lizzie in our arms forever, just 24 hours after her birth. The pictures clearly showed our joy and her tears. Her sacrifice cost her dearly. She knew that she wasn’t choosing an easy path for herself, but a better life for her daughter.
I’m sure that didn’t fix her grief. I pray that God’s grace will fill in the gaps that my insufficiency leaves. I pray she will find her self worth in Christ, and never doubt it because of being “given away”.
Adoption is beautiful, but not without great cost. Look at what our adoption cost God.
Ann
Sorry, but I had to add one more thing:
My husband and I are both Caucasian, and Lizzie is African American and Mexican. Obviously, we don’t look alike! I didn’t realize what a wonderful blessing that would be. I have an easy way to make God look great! He did for me what He did for the barren woman in Psalm 113:9 “He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!”
When someone asks me about our family, I say that even though my husband and I were physically unable to have children, we are parents! God did what was impossible for us to do for ourselves! That can lead into so many other discussions of His greatness!
I need your help. If you’re a parent by birth or by adoption or both, I need your help based on your experience. If you know someone who’s a parent by birth or adoption, I need your help based on your observations.
What do you wish you’d known as you launched into parenting, whether by adoption or by birth?
What have you learned or are you experiencing that’s very different than what you’d expected, whether happy or hard?
What were you totally ignorant about at the beginning that you’re learning by experience?
What unexpected things have blessed you?
What unexpected things have blindsided you?
This is my answer:
I am married almost 27 yrs, and my husband and I have an adopted daughter who is almost 14. Something that completely blindsided me was when my daughter asked me why her birth mom kept her first daughter, but didn’t keep her. The question came out of the blue to me (maybe I was just naive or clueless!) one day a few years ago. Lizzie’s birth mom sent us a photo of herself posing with her firstborn daughter. It had been tucked away for a while, and Lizzie came across it one day when she and I were searching for some lost thing. She looked at it for a few minutes, so I asked her if she’d like to frame it and keep it in her room. That’s when the question came.
I always purposed that whenever Lizzie asked about her birth mom I would be sure not to take it personally, not to feel insecure, etc. I was blindsided by the ache in my heart that I felt for this child that I’ve loved since she was one day old. Mentally I understood that adopted children suffer the loss of identity, connection, etc. But until I heard her sweet voice ask that question, I didn’t realize the emotions that would overwhelm me. I thought that I might feel replaced if she wanted to keep a framed photo of her first mom in her room. How shallow!! I never expected the feelings of grief and sadness that I would feel when this child of my heart expressed her grief and loss.
I breathed a quick prayer for guidance and compassion. “She didn’t choose to give you up because of anything about you. She chose to sacrifice the joy and privilege of knowing you before she ever saw you, because she thought that would be what was best for you. She was young and single and overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising two beautiful girls on her own. We are so very grateful that she gave us such a treasure.” I showed her the pictures that were taken when we met Rose, her birth mom. That was also the day that she put Lizzie in our arms forever, just 24 hours after her birth. The pictures clearly showed our joy and her tears. Her sacrifice cost her dearly. She knew that she wasn’t choosing an easy path for herself, but a better life for her daughter.
I’m sure that didn’t fix her grief. I pray that God’s grace will fill in the gaps that my insufficiency leaves. I pray she will find her self worth in Christ, and never doubt it because of being “given away”.
Adoption is beautiful, but not without great cost. Look at what our adoption cost God.
Ann
Sorry, but I had to add one more thing:
My husband and I are both Caucasian, and Lizzie is African American and Mexican. Obviously, we don’t look alike! I didn’t realize what a wonderful blessing that would be. I have an easy way to make God look great! He did for me what He did for the barren woman in Psalm 113:9 “He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!”
When someone asks me about our family, I say that even though my husband and I were physically unable to have children, we are parents! God did what was impossible for us to do for ourselves! That can lead into so many other discussions of His greatness!
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Glory
Glory
Ann Dunlap, Aug 3, 2012
The One in whom all glory dwelt, full of truth and grace;
Enthroned on high was worshipped, as each seraph hid his face.
‘Holy! Holy! Holy!’ was the song the angels sang;
Echoed in creation, His eternal praises rang.
But man remained opposed to His Lordship from on high.
And so to make His name renown, He left His homey sky.
Incarnate Lord in human flesh, His glory thickly veiled;
Emmanuel on mortal soil, yet still in Heaven hailed.
We beheld His holiness, full of truth divine;
And still we did not know Him as branches know the vine.
His healing hands reached out in love to give sight to the blind,
To raise the dead, unstop the ear, the lame legs to unbind.
Only man, asleep in pride’s firm grip, rejected Glory’s reach,
While sin demanded payment of law’s disregarded breach.
Again, Love’s healing hands reached out, this time so brutally nailed;
Glory’s blood completely spilled, man’s pridefulness prevailed.
Not thwarted though, the light of Hope, undimmed, shone brighter still;
For sin was not victorious against His perfect will!
In this act of Providence, the veil which hid His face,
Was by Him torn asunder, revealing Love’s great grace.
The Spirit poured out on elected Man to know His Lord,
Bought pardon, sonship, holiness, only God could e’re afford.
Now stand we righteous children, gathered ‘round His heavenly throne,
Where all eternal glory is ascribed to Him alone.
Ann Dunlap, Aug 3, 2012
The One in whom all glory dwelt, full of truth and grace;
Enthroned on high was worshipped, as each seraph hid his face.
‘Holy! Holy! Holy!’ was the song the angels sang;
Echoed in creation, His eternal praises rang.
But man remained opposed to His Lordship from on high.
And so to make His name renown, He left His homey sky.
Incarnate Lord in human flesh, His glory thickly veiled;
Emmanuel on mortal soil, yet still in Heaven hailed.
We beheld His holiness, full of truth divine;
And still we did not know Him as branches know the vine.
His healing hands reached out in love to give sight to the blind,
To raise the dead, unstop the ear, the lame legs to unbind.
Only man, asleep in pride’s firm grip, rejected Glory’s reach,
While sin demanded payment of law’s disregarded breach.
Again, Love’s healing hands reached out, this time so brutally nailed;
Glory’s blood completely spilled, man’s pridefulness prevailed.
Not thwarted though, the light of Hope, undimmed, shone brighter still;
For sin was not victorious against His perfect will!
In this act of Providence, the veil which hid His face,
Was by Him torn asunder, revealing Love’s great grace.
The Spirit poured out on elected Man to know His Lord,
Bought pardon, sonship, holiness, only God could e’re afford.
Now stand we righteous children, gathered ‘round His heavenly throne,
Where all eternal glory is ascribed to Him alone.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Seek Him
This is a poem that I wrote based on the Scripture:
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13
Seek Him
To seek You in the morning,
When the world is bathed in light;
To seek You in the evening,
In the shadows of the night;
To seek You in the stillness,
In the quiet and the calm;
To seek You in the trial,
And find in You a balm.
I seek You, for You sought me first,
And lavished me with grace;
And by Your grace I’ll seek You
Till I behold Your face.
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13
Seek Him
To seek You in the morning,
When the world is bathed in light;
To seek You in the evening,
In the shadows of the night;
To seek You in the stillness,
In the quiet and the calm;
To seek You in the trial,
And find in You a balm.
I seek You, for You sought me first,
And lavished me with grace;
And by Your grace I’ll seek You
Till I behold Your face.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Book Review: From the Library of C.S. Lewis
I love words, and using them to express the characteristics of God by using words to paint pictures. I enjoy the writings of C.S. Lewis, because he was a master word painter. Although I don't agree with all his theology, I have been deeply affected by some of his rich expressions of the attributes of God. I wanted to see what was behind a man who said things like, "A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him, than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell (*The Problem of Pain*);" and “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” (*The Weight of Glory*).
C.S. Lewis was a great writer because he was a great reader. Books in his library were authored by people like Augustine, William Wordsworth, John Donne, Martin Luther, Tolkien, Brother Lawrence, and John Calvin, to name a few. "*Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners*", Luther's "*Table Talk*", and the Confessions of Augustine gave Lewis a rich and deep knowledge of God's glory and grace. He read poetry, science fiction, and deep theological writings from the early church fathers and the Puritans. He was a very diverse and yet particular bibliophile.
When I received the book "*From the Library of C.S. Lewis*, I dove right in. Page after page full of excerpts from one profound thinker after another. It was overwhelming! So I have decided to use this tome as more of a devotional type book. The book is divided into eighteen sections, including "Follow After Agape", "Constant Dying", "The Eyes of Your Heart", and "Borne on the Gusts of Genius". Each section has a number of different selections from various authors, most one or two pages in length. I find these perfect for reading in the morning or at lunch, to give my mind something to chew on throughout each day.
Here are a few "choice morsels" I have feasted on recently:
"For He alone, the Lord of Hosts, does wonders; He preserves His sheep in the midst of wolves, and Himself so afflicts them, that we plainly see our faith consists not in the power of human wisdom, but in the power of God, for although Christ permit one of His sheep to be devoured, yet he sends ten or more others in his place." p. 32
"...even the enlightened person remains what he is, and is never more than his own limited ego before the One who dwells in him, whose form has no knowable boundaries, who encompasses him on all sides, fathomless as the abysms of the earth and as vast as the sky." p. 123
These are most excellent word pictures of God! We in this age of shallow thought and base pleasures would do well to come often to this book, to ponder the God we find there, and make Him the supreme treasure of our hearts. I appreciate James Stuart Bell's effort in bringing us the food of Lewis' thought life. It is most tasty and fulfilling.
I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for the purpose of this review. I was not required to give a favorable review.
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