Sin: As Bad As All That

"What makes sin sin is not first that it hurts people, but that it blasphemes God. This is the ultimate evil and the ultimate outrage in the universe."

"The glory of God is not honored.

The holiness of God is not reverenced.

The greatness of God is not admired.

The power of God is not praised.

The truth of God is not sought.

The wisdom of God is not esteemed.

The beauty of God is not treasured.

The goodness of God is not savored.

The faithfulness of God is not trusted.

The promises of God are not relied upon.

The commandments of God are not obeyed.

The justice of God is not respected.

The wrath of God is not reared.

The grace of God is not cherished.

The presence of God is not prized.

The person of God is not loved."

John Piper, Overview of Romans 1-7, 09/02/2001

I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day

We are joyously singing Christmas carols again this year. My ipod is chocked full of music and I keep it playing all day long. It has occured to me this year that God has protected the theology throughout the generations in these most beloved hymns. Delight your heart for a moment on some of these you're sure to recognize.

"Joy to the world, the Lord is come!"

"Yea Lord, we greet Thee. Born this happy morning!"

"O Come to us, Abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel."

"Thou didst leave Thy throne, and Thy kingly crown, when Thou camest to earth for me."

"Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing."

"Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see."

"Pleased as man, with men to dwell. Jesus, our Emmanuel!"

My favorite carol is "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day". It was originally a poem with 7 stanzas bemoaning his sadness at the state of the world. America was in the midst of Civil War. Longfellow's wife Fanny had tragically died in a fire, and he felt no peace at Christmas. Of course, the best is usually the last. Don't miss the significant last stanza which places all hope in God's Sovereign control. Hallellujah!

"Christmas Bells"

(The original poem, complete with all seven stanzas)

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime

A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

"There is no peace on earth," I said;

"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

In Memory

Mandy the Beloved Alaskan Husky

2008-2011

We just lost a little bit of our hearts with the loss of Joseph's dog Mandy May.

Mandy's Motto for Life: Play Hard, Eat Hardy, Love Everyone, When No One Is Looking Chew It Up, Go After All Animals...Especially Skunks, Run Like The Wind...

God in a Manger

As the season progresses, may we consider the life changing truth of God coming down to earth to be born, live, die, and resurrect. Oh that my heart would be joyful as I contemplate his birth. The birth of Jesus...had to happen because of an ugly thing. Sin.

“In other words, He has blessed the world...the world of sinful men with His kindness and His favor. It is God who has provided all the food the sinner eats. Every delicacy, every taste you enjoy, every beautiful scene you've ever seen, every good feeling you've ever felt God gave you that. It is God who has granted every beauty, it is God who has given wisdom to our minds, coordination to our bodies, to allow us to think and to feel and to work and to play and to rest that life might be full and useful. It is God who made love. It is God who made laughter. It is God, of course, who gives us joys in life, little children, friends. It is God who gives each man the special skill, each woman the special ability that makes him and her who they are and no one else. And by which they excel in some very special way and thus no self-respect and self-worth. It is God who made man to have a basic care for himself and each other so that life is filled with those kinds of good things that we all enjoy. It is God who preserves us from getting every disease and dying every death. God literally surrounds the ungrateful sinner with His providential care and when we continue in sin, we defy that goodness and we express ingratitude for that kindness.” John MacArthur 1984

Thanksgiving

A New Old Song For Nate

Micah 6:8

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what the Lord requires of you, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Thy God."

Recently, Nate discovered this verse in the melody we used to sing it to. He was enthralled with it. Quickly, he ran and found his Bible, turned to the verse, and wanted the "girls" to echo him. We did our best. My heart was thrilled!

Justice....Mercy....Humility....

Lovely Autumn

I love fall. In Minnesota, fall meant trees painted in lovely reds, oranges, and yellows...simply breathtaking. In Iowa, fall meant nippy mornings and searching for mittens in the bottom of drawers. In Montana, fall meant brown, dry wheat fields and dropping temperatures. In Arizona, fall meant...hmmm....not much. In Wisconsin, fall meant simply delightful times picking apples in Bayfield and watching the parade march down main street with Lake Superior glittering in the frosty air as a backdrop. Somewhere in my memory, I see Mary Beth marching with her little bitty violin and Kip following along as chaperon. In northern Texas, fall meant days at the park with 4 little ones and a much desired change in weather. In Montana again, fall meant beautifully decorated lawns and fall dances. In Alaska, fall meant the short summer was gone and winter would be here tomorrow. The fireweed was gone, and the mountains were white. It meant get prepared ASAP! Now in southern Texas, fall means joy, beauty, a second chance to grow something in my garden, dogs running around in ecstasy and growling their happiness to me every time I walk outside. It means I reminisce the past and honestly I do miss the beauty of the north. Thank-you Lord for this exquisite and delicious day.

At Home With My Own Heart

"Methinks it is a token of healthy and gentle characteristics, when women of high thoughts and accomplishments love to sew; especially as they are never more at home with their own hearts than while so occupied." Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Marble Faun, 1859

The Selfishness of Unforgiveness

Another distinct characterization of unforgiveness that I have had to deal with in my own life is to open my eyes to the realization that unforgiveness is just down right selfish. I can just hear the little Vege Tales character saying, "You are sooooooooo selfish!" Yep, that's me. Selfish!

My natural sinful state makes me prone to prideful self arrogance that is easily angered and certainly does not want to forgive. "How could anyone offend such a great person such as I?" But, that isn't where we as Believers in Jesus have to live is it?

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:30-32

Oh for the faith and courage to live in this world taking on a spirit of humility and self sacrifice. Then, when the offenses come, they go in one ear and out the other...hardly significant enough to think about.

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” - Theodore Roosevelt

Quote Plate

A Scarecrow For Betty

September in the Hill Country has been beautiful. Along with cooler temps, some rain, soccer, changing leaves, and the exotic aroma of pumpkin bars wafting through the house it is also my mother in laws birthday. Every year I work hard to find her something that will truly surprise her. This year it is a scarecrow. She lives in Minnesota where the air is crisp and delicious in September. Hopefully, "Scarecrow Joe" will find a happy place to sit out the autumn at her house. Happy Birthday Betty!

Choosing to Forgive

A biblical doctrine of forgiveness begins with the commandment "Thou Shalt Not Kill" Exodus 20:13. Sounds harsh doesn't it? Embracing solid doctrine can be harsh. It often separates me from the world. Sometimes it separates me from my peers or family. Even more important though, it changes my life, and it brings me closer to the One who loves me beyond my wildest imagination.

"Thou shalt not kill" means of course we are not to murder. We are also not to entertain any of the thoughts that partner up with murderous thoughts. Things such as: "She makes me so angry!" "I was happy until she showed up!" "I hate her!" etc. Though we might say something like that, most of us would never think they were murderous thoughts would we? They are. Given enough time and sin these thoughts would brew into a poisonous concoction of hate, evil, and murder.

The good news is that we don't have to give in! Thank-you Lord for your Holy Spirit who tells me how to think about others who've wronged me or even wronged my loved ones. Jesus told us to love our neighbor as ourself. So, what does that look like?

I think one particularly helpful thing for me to focus on is to see the offender as made in the image of God. I can love her/him for the precious creation they are. Obviously, a believer bears the holiness of God imparted to them at salvation. But, even the unbeliever bears something of the image of God. The God of all creation designed her, created her, and has a purpose for her life. I can respect that in the offender and love her.

Lastly, I have a hard time believing someone else couldn't forgive me don't I? I mean I respect myself, don't harbor grudges against myself, love myself, and desire God's best for myself. I seek to see the image of God in myself. Therefore, I can do the same for others. I choose to respect them, not harbor grudges, love them, and desire God's best for them.

What freedom! Thank-you Lord!

My Country House

"Every man, though he were born

In the very belfry of Bow

And spent his infancy climbing among the chimneys,

He has waiting for him somewhere a country house

Which he has never seen,

But which was built for him

In the shape of his soul.

It stands patiently waiting to be found;

And when the man sees it he remembers it,

Though he has never seen it before.

"The Surrender of a Cockney" an essay by G.K. Chesterton (1974-1936)

Thank-you Lord for bringing me to the house in the shape of my soul.

Am I a Pistol Packin' Mama?

A few years ago, I took a concealed weapons class with my husband. We had fun taking the class together. The first day was all lecture and the second day was at a shooting range. I wasn't comfortable with the shooting range. I had to wield the pistol for about 6 hours and follow every command I was given.

I passed the course and received my permit. But in the days ahead, I realized something important. In order to be proficient with that pistol, I needed to practice. Daily practice handling a handgun was just not on my list of "to-doe's". I soon came to the realization that I was more of a menace to myself and everyone else than I was helpful. It isn't a good feeling knowing how to use that pistol, but not really being very good at it.

It's kind of like dealing with others when they have wronged me. Taking it upon myself to bring "justice" when I have decided injustice has reigned. There is a better way.

Paul tells us in Romans 12:14, 19 to "Bless those who persecute you, bless and curse not. Never take revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written, vengeance is mine. I will repay says the Lord."

When I don't forgive, when I harbor anger, hostility and bitterness, I am presuming to take the Lord's sword of divine judgement into my feeble hands. On second thought, I don't want that sword.

He isn't indifferent or slow to act. He has a plan to work all things out for my good (Romans 8:28-29). Isn't it a true fact that God is far better able to deal with the offender than I am? He is far better able to deal with consequences to sin than I am. After all, he sees the bigger picture...I am limited. He is the highest authority...I have no authority. He is impartial and just...I am partially selfish. He is eternal...I am focused on today.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, it is my responsibility to choose forgiveness when another has offended me. I can leave vengeance in the hands of Lord.