Blessing of Beauty

Some days I take a detoured walk back from getting the mail at work. Today was one of them, in between thunderstorms. 

Isn't fall weather gorgeous?

It's quite cozy that I get to work in a farm house. :)

"I think you're stupid" - "Fulfill your ministry"

This is great. :) (RSS users may need to go to my blog to view the video)
And it's a good point - to fulfill your ministry.

My ministry may change from season to season. I've been having more and more joy in doing just whatever God has called me to in the moment. God uniquely positions and gifts his people. I can be content in my calling, with the ministry he has me in, because I'm secure in my identity with Christ. My roles, "ministries," and "callings" can change - I don't find my ultimate identity in them. But while I'm in them, I want to dive into the opportunities they provide and be delighted by the goodness and kindness God shows me in the particulars. Enjoy those good gifts from God - He's your Father and likes to see you accept them and be happy with them for what they are, expressions of his goodness.
So, in my work: whether I interact with our CPAs over our financial review or spontaneously make peanut butter popcorn and coffee for the pastors during an all day budget meeting, I can have great joy in doing all through the grace and strength God provides to me in my particular circumstances, responsibilities, and callings.

prayer and love

C.H. Spurgeon from Morning and Evening for today:

Beautiful in God's sight is tearful, agonizing, unconquerable importunity. It means praying humbly, for the Holy Spirit never puffs us up with pride. It is his office to convince of sin, and so to bow us down in contrition and brokenness of spirit. We shall never sing Gloria in excelsis except we pray to God De profundis: out of the depths must we cry, or we shall never behold glory in the highest. It is loving prayer. Prayer should be perfumed with love, saturated with love - love to our fellow saints, and love to Christ.

Elizabeth P. Prentiss, 1818-1878:

More love to thee, O Christ, more love to thee!

Hear thou the prayer I make on bended knee.

This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to thee;

more love to thee, more love to thee!

Dear Father, as fears and all flavors of anxieties arise, as you bring persons to mind, as I consider past, present, and future, may my heart and thoughts turn quickly to praying in love and for love. More love to thee, oh precious Lord!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:4-7

photo: April 23, 2011 - tree on hill at church farm 

(now gone, as the building is going up!)

A way to find thankfulness

I wrote most of this back on September 26th, but didn't quite finish. I updated it and am posting it now.

There is so much I have to be thankful for. And by God's kind grace, my heart has been giving thankfulness some exercise - it needs to be whipped into shape! One particular practice that has given fuel to thanks is prayer: praying not just for myself but for specific things for other people. Carolyn McCulley encouraged in a blog post to pray not just for yourself but for others, and "then open your eyes to the many, many prayers He is answering." When you pray for others, you can "typically find it very easy to 'rejoice with those who rejoice.'"

I have found this to be true. It has helped me have more of a thankful and joyful heart as I see God doing good and exciting things in people's lives. For instance, I was delighted to find my heart took much easier than anticipated to joy during my cousin Jeannette's wedding a few weekends ago, remembering how we had prayed for her future husband together as young teenage girls. And it has been easier to rejoice with my good friend Angela getting an internship with Sovereign Grace Ministries because I joined in praying for her during the interview process. Even though I will feel a huge loss when she leaves our office (gah, I know it will really hit me!), I'm thankful God has allowed me to join in her excitement. Plus, I can look forward to one or more visits down to Gaithersburg to visit her. :)

I've found a wonderful sort of progression happens: from prayer, to thankfulness, to happiness and joy. And my heart is hungry for love - to know the love of God and to pour it out to others.

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger

Your name is great, and Your heart is kind

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

(c) Matt Redman

photo: August 13, 2011 sisters at hunting cabin