Trust

God has been teaching me to trust lately, and I love it. It's amazing, the feeling of security and peace that floods over you when you place everything in His hands. Past failures, present preoccupations, future pursuits. Like the waves gently tossing a ship into the right direction, our Lord is ever steering the helm of our life. I know that He will see us through to the other side.

Our God is in the mighty wind, the rolling waves, the howling tempest, and the calm ripples. I stand amazed at His power and sovereignty. Let's trust Him today, knowing that He is far greater than all our worries and cares!

Encouraging words

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. -Plato

          We all get caught up in the grind of daily life; schedules, work, to-do lists. We all have these things, of course-- otherwise we would not be living at all. But I have noticed that it is far too easy to overlook the needs of others in moments of particular busyness. Consider this: every person you come across today is need of encouraging word; a gentle reminder that you're praying for them, you care for them, you wish the best for them. It only takes a minute. And how God could use that single minute in the life of one who is struggling!


Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. -Eph. 4:29

Words are powerful. We cannot underestimate the power our words will have upon the hearers. Whether we choose to edify, cut down, or say nothing particularly fruitful at all-- our words are leaving an impact behind in the lives of those around us. That is why Jesus Christ urges us not to speak idle words (Matthew 12:36).

Here is a challenge: let's say at least one encouraging word to someone today. Whether it be a simple, "I hope you're doing well", or "I'll pray for you" (granted you will), or "Keep pressing on." We may never see the impression these simple words leave behind, but they will... and so will God.

Trusting God

I found a quote by R.C. Sproul today. He said, "It is one thing to believe in God; it is quite another to believe God." I couldn't agree more. As a free thinking people, we always risk the temptation of trying to control our own lives, reasoning out our circumstances, then coming up with clever solutions--- often with only a secondary thought of consulting the Lord for guidance. 

   Lately I've had to take a step back to look at my life from a third-person point of view. In doing so I have come to discover a regrettable level of self-drivenness and self-loathing that's a little too domineering and dismissive of God's providence. The thoughts I refer to are ones such as these:

  "My life could be so much more successful if I would only___"
  "I'm ruining my future by____"
  "If I could only get the hang of____"

This general train of thought ("If only I") presents the problem of elevating myself to the position of a "make or break" solution for success, when in reality only God is able to assume that position. He has predestined me to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29), and nothing I do or don't do will destroy that blessed promise. That is a comforting thought!

   "The heart of man devises his way, but the LORD directs his steps." Prov. 16:9
                                 

As a child of God, I have learned that I must have faith that all circumstances are working together for the good of our Heavenly Father's ultimate plan. This goes for all of us who are His children. Though I am a strong believer in being vigilant (1 Pet. 5:8), steadfast (1 Cor. 5:58), and circumspect (Eph. 5:15), there are many situations that are simply out of our control and must be given over to prayer and trust.

For example, some time ago I was deeply burdened over the loss of a few of my piano students. I didn't understand why it seemed, over the course of a couple weeks, I was losing the opportunity to teach children I'd spent years instructing (I now suspect leaving my old Church was most likely behind this). I mulled over this problem, assuming my lack of ability and competence was behind the whole ordeal. After wasting much time in anxiety I finally committed it to prayer, and I felt the simple instructions in my heart, "Do your best with what I have given you now. Trust me with the rest."

And so I did. Over the next month I received a few phonecalls and emails expressing interest in my teaching. I was able to take on five more students. I understood then, ashamed and rejoicing, that God had the situation under control the entire time.

My prayer right now is that God would grant me the faith to trust Him, even when there is no clear direction or solution in sight. As Nahum 1:7 says, "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him."

                            

Jeremiah 17:7,  "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him."

If our God has the ability to create the world in 6 days, shine new life in the heart of a dead man, and part the Red Sea for the entire nation of Israel, we can believe that He can be trusted with the smallest and largest affairs of our lives.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Lately I've been struggling a lot with weakness. With doubt and uncertainty. I need Christ's power more than ever to overcome these fears. That's really all I have to say today. It is a constant struggle to let go of my inhibitions and find full rest in his providence, and right now I feel like I'm sinking.

Log 2: Meditations on Psalm 42

As a deer pants for flowing streams, 

so pants my soul for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God,

for the living God.

I came across this verse in Psalm 42 tonight, and it really struck a chord with me. The passion from David's pen is remarkable! Water is a necessity of life; anyone who has ever experienced the anguish of prolonged thirst knows how much they desire it in that moment. The Psalmist compares the need for one of life's most base elements to his desire for God. To me, this beautifully illustrates how passionate his heart was for the Lord. How many of us can say we need God as much as we need water? Do we ever go a day without it? I know, for myself, there have been many days that I have neglected God's word, as well as prayer time with Him. Not proud of it! And yet, on those very same days, I never neglected to fill myself a glass of water.

Jesus Christ said, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4)

My meditation tonight is that nothing in life should bring me the satisfaction and fulfillment that Christ gives. Not work, hobbies, family, friends, entertainment, money, books, music, or any other thing. I have found myself often craving for these things more than I should; dedicating hours to friends or entertainment to the neglect of God and His word. It's truly a commitment and a continued growing process. As the Spirit moves in our lives, while we surrender our hearts to Him, He will slowly, miraculously, wondrously mold and shape all of our cravings. So that, we can boldly say with King David that God's word is our "meditation all the day." (Ps. 119:97)

It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.

Not going to lie here-- I'm a Lord of the Rings nerd. This had to come out at some point in the blog. A few groans are heard around the family (along with fewer murmurs of agreement) when I insist on hanging the map of Númenor above my desk, or when I add another volume of the Histories of Middle earth to my bookshelf. Tolkien's world fascinates me with its broad, sweeping history, races, lands, languages, and stories. The vastness is almost never-ending.
Zoom into this world with a microscope and you'll land on the Shire, a small region in the North-western corner of Middle earth. It is a quaint green country with close resemblance to rural Ireland, England, or New Zealand. The little people who live there are called Hobbits. I'll spare you a lecture. In a word, they are a unique race because they have no kingdoms; no Kings, Queens, Knights, or lords and ladies. They govern themselves, living peaceably in small homes burrowed in the ground and cultivating the bounty of the land.
J.R.R. Tolkien had a particular fondness for Hobbits, and it seems I do too. This may be an attraction to the concept more than anything else. There is something so pure about a life where community is close, family is closer, and the small beauties of the world enjoyed and celebrated in innocence and fervor.

This reminds me of my latest study in Church history-  the Puritans. The Puritans are in no way related to Hobbits, I'll assure you (insert laugh track) but my considerations on the simple life reminded me not only of them, but of something important I read lately:

I Thess. 4:10-11 But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

This verse isn't urging us to keep to ourselves to the neglect of helping and blessing others. That assumption would be entirely contrary to the spirit of Christianity. Rather, it is instructing us to live a peaceable life, not relying on others for our welfare (no pun intended), but rather working with our hands and relying on the Father for the meeting of our daily needs.

I find the Puritans so inspiring for many reasons. I'm reading a book called A Quest for Godliness by J.I. Packer. It is fascinating. Even though I haven't yet managed to get too far in the pages, already I'm pulled in with no chance of return. In this important study Packer points out several reasons why the world of Christendom would benefit from looking back at the Puritans for inspiration, renewal, and revival. Some of these reasons are outlined as follows:
1. The integration of their daily lives.
The Puritans did not create a disjunction between the sacred and secular. Every activity was integrated for the single purpose of honouring God. 

2. The quality of their spiritual experience.
The Puritans understood that people are creatures of the thought, affection, and will. They took deliberate steps in keeping these three components under the control of the Spirit. They practiced discursive and systematic meditation, always keeping the word of God close to their hearts through reading and memorizing. 
3. Their passion for effective action. 
The Puritans had no time for the idleness of the passive, apathetic, idle person who leaves it to others to change the world. They longed to be effective change agents for God. Cromwell and his army made toilsome prayers before each battle, and preachers prayed long and hard in the pulpits. They asked God to enable them to use their powers, not for their own glory, but for the furthering of His Kingdom.
4. Their program for family stability. 
"The Puritan ethic of home life was based on maintaining order, courtesy, and family worship. Goodwill, patience, consistency, and an encouraging attitude were seen as the essential domestic virtues."

The Puritans were aware of the impact their family would have on the succeeding generations, and that drove them to paying diligent heed to raising up godly men and women of valor. Parenting was viewed as a mission- not the burdensome, tedious task the Western world sees it as today. 

5. Their sense of human worth
"The Puritans' appreciation of man's dignity as the creature made to be God's friend was strong, and so in particular was their sense of the beauty and nobility of human holiness."They also maintained a balanced idea of our fallen nature's depravity and unholiness, and thus knew that our ability to please God through any earthly merit is entirely impossible.

As I endeavor to more fully study the Puritan vision of the Christian life, I do warn myself against falling into hero worship. It is all too easy to do. The Puritans had a fallen nature too, and The Bible is all-sufficient for our daily lives. We need not emulate the Puritans jot for jot, but there is a wealth of rich truth to be gleaned from them. I am inspired by men like Thomas Goodwin, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, and John Knox-- who had huge hearts on fire for God.
Though many of these men and women lived their lives in simplicity and quiet devotion, but there is no end to the influence they had over the Church. 

Log #1: scheduling

Lately I've been trying to get into a schedule. 
That's right. A schedule. Routine. One of those things where you wake up in the morning and say to yourself, "Okay, I have to do at last a dozen things in a particular order today. Read the Bible. Pray. Breakfast. Coffee. Study. Coffee. Teach lessons. Walk three miles. Coffee. Help mom with dinner. Coffee. Sweep the music room and organize 100 loose sheets of music. Coffee."
This is just a rough outline of what a normal day in my life looks like, give or take one or two details (like breakfast and sweeping). But in all seriousness, I've been benefited greatly from this practice. Even though I'm a spontaneous person by nature and loathe being tied down to tight schedules (not that this is tight), it has given me incentive and motivation to ACTUALLY finish every task I intend to do. Often my intentions are merely nice ideas. "I need to organize my sheet music" will run through my mind at least as many times as there are loose sheets, unless I decide with great intentionally and emphasis that I will get to this, and soon. So anyway, I trust this resolve to scheduling will last longer than the others, because I've committed it to a lot of prayer and Spirit guidance. And so far I start each morning with this awesome fresh perspective and incentive to get everything done. It's been amazing, in a word. More details on my success (or lack thereof) later.