Thoughts

Written a couple weeks ago...

I sit here on my bed this morning—propped up by pillows, drinking coffee, eating a bagel and some fruit which I only had to go as far as my refrigerator for. I have adjusted the temperature to be just how I want it; my phone is by my side; my slippers are on the floor; my computer in my lap as I work on some homework; I have more clothes if I need them; I have food in my cupboards to last for weeks. Life is, in reality, so easy.

I think, on the other had, of poor tribal people all over the world, of people at poverty level in third-world countries, of the homeless, the abused, the abandoned, the starving, the sick. Their lives are not as easy as mine is this morning. Some of them don’t have food in a refrigerator, much less food in the house. Some are suffering from extreme temperatures and are struggling to overcome the elements. Some don’t know a reason to live; some face persecution at the hands of enemies; some are sick with no chance for medical treatment; many live with no hope.

I know that no matter what lot in life we have, there is never a reason to complain. But for those of us who live so well in life, it seems ludicrous that we still whine about things that don’t please us. And for those of us who both live well materially and live with Christ as our hope … it is stunning that words of complaint still fly from our lips on a regular basis.

I don’t know that life will always be this comfortable and easy for me. I suspect it will not be. I think in some strange measure that I hope it will not be. But whether in times of plenty or in times of need, for those who live and die claiming Christ as their eternal hope, there is little to complain about.

Pume Perspective

This is how one of the pastors of the Pume tribe in Venezuela explains the work of Christ for him:

"It is like Satan had us all locked up in his pen, in his corral. There we were living in a bad way, living under his rule, living totally blocked in, with no means of escape. But what did Jesus do? Well, he paid with His blood and death without leaving any little bit of debt staying behind. He paid to the One who was demanding blood and death. Yes, the payment was sufficient. That is why the true Father said, "Okay, its all right now" when he received the payment. So okay, what did Jesus do then? Well it is like he came and unlocked the pen, letting us all out to live differently, to live as untied and set-free ones, to live as marked ones for Jesus, to live as hope-having ones on the road to Heaven."

Natural Curiosity

It is funny because I was once asked in an interview what kind of soapboxes I have and I couldn’t think of any but now I see that I frequently talk about the same subjects and see the same themes in my life. You must be thinking isn’t she ever going to learn this simple concept, retain it, and stop talking about it? No probably not. It seems I am constantly learning the same lessons and adding a little bit to them and every time they seem earth-shaking to me.
I’ve been thinking about questions again recently and their importance. I recently was going through some old emails and stumbled across an email containing some excellent advice. It recommended asking ‘What makes you tick?’ type questions. She told me that “questioning others doesn’t have to be complicated or lofty but just anything
that helps you get the context of the person”. I almost want to copy my friends whole email because it is so good. She wrote, “There are a million questions to ask people but I think the right ones are the ones that are born out of a natural curiosity to know this person that the LORD created.” Natural curiosity is the key. I don’t seem to ask enough questions about anything. I love to learn but I don’t think I would ever describe myself as curious. If something doesn’t work or I see something new I don’t try to understand how it works. I just accept it as it is. A natural curiosity would also help me with studying my Bible. I don’t ask enough questions or pay enough attention to the details. Things just don’t bother me and therefore I am not curious.
I really do want to have this natural curiosity for others. I think it is so key to loving others and for moving into their lives. I’ve experienced this love shown towards me lately. My grandpa died yesterday. I knew it was coming, I actually prayed that God would take him because it was so hard for him in the end, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I’m far away and won’t be going to the funeral. I have experienced such love and concern by the body of believers around me. I have felt so loved in conversations where they asked about my grandma, or how close my family was to their area, or when was the funeral would take place or even when did you hear about it? Why would they care? They care because I care and they love me. My Heavenly Father cares about such things and they are His children. They have asked how I am doing or if I wish I was there. Those are great questions and a little deeper into my thinking and heart but the other questions got the same results: I felt loved and they got an earful of talk about my grandpa and about my feelings. I felt loved because they cared to listen and understand. I saw a genuine concern in them and a desire for them to get to know me and understand where I was at. As my friend in the same email wrote, “I think most people want to be known and heard and understood.” I had just read that old email again and after hearing of my grandpa’s death the Lord gave me a unique opportunity to see what she meant in action.
As my friend in the email, which I keep quoting, put it, “I guess my main thing is to not over calculate and manipulate question asking/caring, but rather to have a sincere and genuine curiosity about the person sitting across the table from you… you never know where it will lead.”
My friend described this natural curiosity as, “the greatest tool to have and refine.” She stated the purpose of refining this tool as, “… Growing in a sensitivity to seek to know others and what they are all about in order to know how to serve them better.” I want that. As I was thinking right before I heard the news that my Grandpa died of cancer and now as I consider that my life is a vapor, I want to run hard for the rest of my life in pursuit of God and of people. I want to love them more. I pray that God would develop this tool in me, that he would give me a natural curiosity out of a loving heart that has been changed by good news and wants to love others because of it. I pray that I would talk less and listen more. I pray that I would think of more questions and ask them.
Thanks to my friend who wrote me that great email.

Soul Tasties

John Piper is always putting out great books and resources. I recently discovered a book full of little nuggets of truth and reminders about the greatness of God. It's called "Taste and See: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life". It's great to read when you get up or when you go to bed... or anytime really. Each of the 140 meditational chapters are just 2-3 pages long that inspire awe and praise to our Savior and Creator. So... get it... it's cheap, easy reading, and it will be tasty for your soul.

The Heart

The hypocrite's only care is to keep his outward life
from defilement. But the sincere Christian's care is mainly
to keep his heart from defilement; for he very well knows,
that if he can but keep his heart clean--he shall with more
ease keep his life clean. If the fountain is kept pure--the
streams will run pure. The heart is the spring of all actions,
and therefore every action is as the spring is, from whence
it flows; if the spring is good--the action is good which flows
from it; if the spring is evil, the action is evil which flows
from it.

From Grace Gems
(Thomas Brooks, "A Cabinet of Choice Jewels" 1669)

What's that White Stuff?

It's not every day that you see something that resembles snow in Southern California. The day after I arrived back from the warm tropics of South America, I was greeted by this in my yard. It was slightly hailish, but sure was white. Maybe it was "snail". This is doing its best to chase even the extreme Californians out of their flip-flops. And rumor has it that we've been advised to put chains on our tires should we get a mighty snowfall of an entire two inches. (Don't scoff, all you mid-westerners.)

Can You Hear Me Now?

The Pume are a group of semi-nomadic tribal people who live in the savannas of Venezuela. My parents have worked among them for 30 years doing tribal church planting and Bible translation. These are people who still live in palm huts and hunt with bows and arrows. Every day they wake up and must obtain their food for the day. Their overall object in life is survival. Recently though, one of the Pume men got enough money to purchase a cell phone with pre-paid minutes. It works great.. the only catch is this: He has to hike 50 kilometers out in order to get any reception. And that's walking--not driving. But he's willing to do this to get in touch with missionaries who have now had to leave this tribal area. And you thought your reception was bad.

Happy New Year!

Two Thousand and Seven sounds like a great year to blog in. More to come from the remotest corners of the earth. =) Happy New Year to all.

Apologies...

I'm sorry that I have taken an unexcused absence from blogging. Not that I expect that many people read this blog, but for those who do read it, and particularly the other one of you that writes on here, I apologize. This blog has been of great encouragement to me in the months since we started it because it is a means to cheer one another on in the faith, to share what we're learning and excited about, and to identify with each other's struggles. So, I just want to say that I will do the best possible job to pick back up in the blog-realm. I'm looking forward to some chances over the holidays to reverse the hiatus. So... hold me to it. =)

Another Problem with Fear of Man

I was thinking this morning that one thing that I forego by being afraid of man is good counsel and profitable correction. I am around very wise people and I desire their correction so that I might grow. I think many times they are hesitant to correct me, however, because they know it will crush me and they are sympathetic and gentle. I value their praise and desire their admiration and because of that I'm struck deeply by their correction even though I know that I have areas to improve and want their input. No one wants to devastate someone by correcting them. One who desires correction needs to be humble, teachable, and fear the Lord and not man.

Homework

We had ladies Bible study today. The promise we studied today was God's provision. We talked about how he cares for the sparrows and clothes the lillies. Steph then talked about how our response to that provision is to be thankful. She spoke about how sometimes it is a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Sometimes we don't like what God has provided but we are told to give thanks for everything. God sometimes provides in creative and painful ways. Pain is often the loving provision of God which results in spiritual growth.

Steph's homework for us, which I am now passing on to you, was to think of something that we are not too thankful for now and on Thanksgiving thank God for it. In everything give thanks means even for the half-cooked chicken I will eat for dinner this evening. It also includes being thankful even for the fact that dinner is an hour and a half late. It means being thankful for our singleness, or lack there of, awkwardness, weaknesses and also for that person that really irritates you.

God using faithfulness.

Two weeks ago we had a Ladies Bible study on God's promises to those who persevere. It was a great pep talk especially to those of us who are weary at this point of the semester. In that talk, Becky, who grew up on the farm and still spends breaks there, talked about planting and then waiting to see the result. It takes time and God sends the increase. She also pointed out that when you plant a crop sometimes it doesn't produce and it is ruined. If you don't plant at all, however, there is no chance of reaping. She encouraged us to take every opportunity to do good especially to those in the household of faith. She reminded us not to cease doing good because we don't know how God might use it. She exhorted us to not delay in sending that card we have been thinking of sending because we don't know if it will reach that person at just the right time. Be faithful and leave the rest to God.
I have been thinking about this a lot recently because 1.) I have grown weary at times in the last few weeks and I need to remember God's promises and 2.) because I have received a great deal of timely encouragement. Two student life staff members at TMC sent me mail which arrived on the one day my eyes were consistently filled with tears. One of the cards said "laugh" on the front. The sender had no idea what an encouragement that would be to me or that it would arrive on said day but God did and the irony of it did make me laugh. The other one sent me a number of verses related to ministry and encouragement along with some supplies to use to minister to others. It spoke to exactly what I was ready to give up on and it encouraged me to know that others out there were striving for the same things.
I also recieved two books in the mail recently. I was excited to find them on my desk when I returned from Egypt. They are from Donna Morley whose husband is a professor at TMC. She doesn't know me but she visited here last semester and thought that sending her books to the ladies on staff here would be an encouragement to them. She followed through with her idea and we were greatly blessed by it. Right now I am reading one of the books called "A Woman of Significance." I highly recommend it. So far it has spoken a great deal on viewing ourselves rightly and in not seeking to perform for others but to be a humble servant. This came at just the right time as seen in my previous post. She had no idea how timely her kindness would be but God did.

Galatians 6:9 Do not grow weary of well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we may walk in them.

Luke 17:10 So you also when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, "We are unworthy servants, we have only done our duty."

Success in Man's Eyes or Faithfulness in God's

Last night the students and staff I work with had an appreciation party for me. I was completely clueless which made it all the more fun. I was very honored and encouraged by their sweet thoughtfulness and I greatly enjoyed taking home all their notes and reading them. It was encouraging to learn from the notes what God is doing in lives even when I am unaware. As I read the notes a thought came to mind. I thought about how I could read those notes, listen to comments, and be encouraged that I was living faithfully or doing a good job and still be a failure. All the praise could just be affirmation that I am doing a good job of acting the part and of striving to make myself look good. It is so easy to live for praise and to have my thoughts consumed with how to impress others. I think God is at work in this program changing lives and I strive to be faithful with my time and opportunities but last night was a good reminder to me of what true success is, faithfulness before God and not admiration of men. Success is measured in man's eyes and faithfulness in the Lord's. I liked the following quote I heard recently:

"God does not say at the end of a believer's life, 'Well done successful servant.' He says, 'Well done good and faithful servant.' We are called to be faithful."

Unreached People Groups

I found a great new site--thanks to John Piper--called the Joshua Project (www.joshuaproject.net). Take a look at it... it will probably overwhelm you. It is filled with astounding statistics on all of the people groups in the world who still have not heard the gospel or who still do not have the Bible in their language. I scrolled through thousands of people groups from hundreds of countries across the world and it makes you wonder, "How do you choose ONE group of people to give your life to and to bring the gospel to?" It makes you wish that you had 9 lives or perhaps 900 lives, but that is why there is the beautiful Body of Christ. We can't (and shouldn't) do it alone. This is a task for the whole Body to be involved in. May many laborers be raised up to GO and to preach Christ where He has never before been named. May those who have NEVER before uttered the name of Jesus do so because we lived faithful lives for the cause of Christ.

Seeing Yourself in a Mirror

I had a weekly prayer time with a friend from Switzerland last night. We always have a great time together encouraging and sharing with one another. One of the things I have mentioned before that I like about meeting with her is the way she phrases ideas in English. It makes you think about them because their not cliche things. Last night I was talking to her about how frustrated I was that I wanted to love the people in my group and yet my speech and actions towards them were so impatient. I also mentioned how thankful I was that one of the students had asked me if I was grumpy that morning because it made me stop and reflect on my heart. In the midst of our discussion she mentioned to me that sleepiness acts like a mirror. She said that when we are rested we might be able to control what comes out of our mouth or how others percieve us even if our hearts are wrong. "However," she pointed out, "When we are tired we more easily say what we feel and truly think. We have not changed. That sinful attitude was already there but our sleepiness acts as a mirror to see our sinful hearts as they really are." I had been thinking about this with both sleep and food. When I lack either I am very grumpy. Today I also listened to a chapel sermon by Dr. Baker which had an applicable quote. He asked, "What do you get when you squeeze a ketchup bottle?" The answer of course is ketchup. Then he asked, "What do you get when you squeeze a sinner?" The answer of course is sin. My circumstances aren't the problem my sinfulness is.

Here's a question or two for you.

I'm curious to hear what you all have to say on these two matters. It is something that I and a number of other girls have been thinking through recently.

1.) What do you do when someone confronts you on an issue and you don't respect them at all?We all agreed that you evaluate what they have said and that you examine your heart but do you also evaluate who it is coming from? Do you change your actions because they see it as a problem?

2.) Can guys and girls be friends? Is one bound to get too attatched? What kind of a friendship can you have with the opposite sex? How close is too close?

Just things we are thinking about way over here.

Speech Saturated with the Word of God

Psalm 37:30-31 The mouh of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The Law of God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

I've been thinking on how I want more Scripture to flow out of my mouth. I see this in one of the ladies I work with. She is righteous and she knows the Word of God and when she speaks she utters wisdom and gives hope. I also see that God has done this in her life through her discipline in study and memorization and her love for Him. Every year before the new year she sits down and thinks on what she wants to study or learn that year. She then formulates a reading plan for the year according to that and she sticks to it. She also memorizes Scripture every day as she walks.
I've also been thinking about this as students have come to me for counsel. I think I should listen and then wait and get back to them because what they need is God's counsel and wisdom not mine and then I speak anyway because I desire to please them and have them leave my presence feeling good. What are my words though? Is that what they need? No. I hope though to get to the point where I know the Word of God better so that I can speak to them in that instance with wisdom because the law of God is on my heart.

Psalm 37

I got on the bus about a week ago and exclaimed to a friend I don't know what to do with my lif. She told me she had read Psalm 37 that morning, that it was really good and applicable to my anxiety and asked me to read it to her because she couldn't read it on the bus without getting car sick. It was so good and encouraging. I have come back to it a number of times this last week. I think all of us, and the few people who glance at this blog every once in a while, are at a point in our lives where we are unsure of where the next few years will take us. We may even be unsure of where the next few months will take us so I thought I would post the Psalm here. Be encouraged. There is so much I can say but I think it speaks so much better than I can. Trust, wait patiently, do good, be faithful and He will act.

Psalm 37
He Will Not Forsake His SaintsOf David.

1Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!

2For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

3Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

4Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

6He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

8Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

9For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

10In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.

11But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

12The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,

13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.

14The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;

15their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.

17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;

19they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.

20But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish--like smoke they vanish away.

21The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;

22for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

23The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;

24though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.

25I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

26He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.

27Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.

28For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints.They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

29The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.

30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

31The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

32The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.

33The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

34Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.

36But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.

37Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

38But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

A New Favorite Verse

So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.

Luke 17:10

This verse has stuck out to me lately probably mostly because of the normalcy of it. We are just to live well, doing our duty for the Lord, by His grace impacting those around us—our generation and perhaps even beyond our generation. We are to live faithfully. If you go back and read some of the verses before this passage, you’ll see that the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith. After talking about faith even as small as a mustard seed, he pointed them to service and the fact that they are to be servants faithfully doing what the Master has commanded of them.

We are servants. We are not volunteers. We are not philanthropists. We are unprofitable servants. Dr. MacArthur points out in his study notes that the term “unprofitable servant” comes with the understanding that we are not worthy of any special honor. As servants, we have been asked to do something and we should do it. Nothing is expected of volunteers or philanthropists, and therefore, they are praised when they contribute to the world. Something is expected of servants. Servants have been given a duty to perform—tasks to finish. When the tasks are finished, nothing need be said. We need not expect Jesus to fall over with appreciation for us. We don’t have to wait for a pat on the back from God. The Holy Spirit doesn’t owe us any warm fuzzies.

You and I are unprofitable servants. Even the Calvins, the Luthers, the Pipers, the MacArthurs, the Spurgeons of this world are simply unprofitable servants. They have only done their duty. Isn’t that interesting? Sometimes we think that there are some giants of the faith that have gone above and beyond what was ever expected. In our minds, we convert them from servants to spiritual philanthropists because of their immense contributions. Don’t get me wrong… I’m not saying that we shouldn’t be appreciative of all that God has allowed them to do. We should be incredibly grateful for the far-reaching ministries that they have had by God’s grace. But we also must keep in mind, that no matter how far the Lord takes us in this life, no matter how big our ministry is, how many churches are planted, how many souls are saved, who we minister too, how many mission fields we traverse, how many books we write, or how many people we counsel, we remain unprofitable servants who have only done our duty.

In light of our great Master, the immense grace of the Cross, and the unthinkable love and forgiveness granted us, it is a blessing to even be granted the opportunity to do our duty as unprofitable servants.

God as my teacher

Recognizing God as a perfect teacher seems to be a theme in my life. I think this comes from being a part of a family full of teachers. Also, as a person who wants to be a teacher I look for teaching methods and practices in my teachers. I am constantly reminded, as God orchestrates things around me to discipline and teach me, that he is the only teacher with the perfect timing, illustrations, and lessons. He is the only teacher that can bring together every area of your life to get your attention and teach you what He wants.
I recognized this last semester as I examined why I don't read Scripture as often as I should. I found that in my heart I actually thought I wouldn't learn anything by reading it on my own. I relied so much on others to teach me from God's Word instead of relying on God and His Word. When I realized that and started reading more faithfully I saw God orchestrate things so that my planned reading coincided with conversations, problems, and life. I also found that I learned a lot.
I was just reminded of all this as I read I John and I thought I would share a verse here.

I John 2:26-27 "These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and it is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him."