Vision for Plodding

Someone asked me today if there is anything new or exciting going on in my life recently. Hmmm, not really. I'm just plodding along indefinitely.
Well, what is exciting to me? What am I looking forward to? Paradoxical and practical as it may be, I look forward to more of the same old same old...but to being renewed in my joy and zeal for the things God has called me to in my days. I want to not just be a plodder, even a faithful one. No, I want to be a plodding visionary. Another way to say it is that I don't just want to obey God, but I want to enjoy and desire more of Him in the moments of my days.
The vision is what fuels the plodding. Which word sounds more exciting, "plodding" or "visionary?" I suggest the latter, but they come as a package. Do I find myself to be simply a plodder without a vision? How do I know when that is the case? It's probably when I check my pulse and find discontentment, weariness, selfishness, boredom, complaining, etc.
So, how do I become envisioned? I can be spurred on in my plodding by many different visions, but there is just one vision that I want to catch and keep. It is the vision of Christ. Christ as my goal for eternity and Christ as my joy in this moment.
I want to make God my study and delight, and in so doing all the other little (or big) things will fall into place and serve to glorify God and deepen my enjoyment of him. Then guess what? Without thinking about it, look at that, life is fresh and exciting!

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

High King of heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

And how blessed am I that I get to (and indeed need to) live out a vision for Christ as part of his church. Check out Kevin DeYoung's message from Next 2010 on the church, and be refreshed in your role as a plodding visionary.

photo: part of the Italian Alps, 2007

I'm With Him

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, 

which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, 

so the LORD surrounds his people, 

from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 125:1-2

If we're not constantly asking God to fill us with his Spirit, then we're going into a war zone with no gun and no protection. - Matt

The greatest blessing God gives is His presence. . . . When God is with us, there is no difference between Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace and a comfortable bed. It does not matter! We will be happy in either. If God is with us, if His divine love surrounds us, then we carry our own atmosphere and residence wherever we travel. - C.H. Spurgeon

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:20

photo: Bolzano, Italy 2007

Thankful In Suffering

Even as Thanksgiving approaches, today my heart was heavy with the suffering of others. The Lord gently reminded me and firmly grounded me through these words of A.W. Tozer (pg. 61-62):

But there is hope in all our tears. When the hour of Christ's triumph arrives, the suffering world will be brought out into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. . . . In the meantime we rest our hope in the only wise God, our Saviour, and wait with patience the slow development of His benign purposes. In spite of tears and pain and death we believe that the God who made us all is infinitely wise and good. . . . We rest in what God is. 

Come seizures, cancer, or old age, nothing can take away our sure hope in Christ. Even if our worse fear is realized, we can be thankful to the God who is infinitely wise and good in his dealings with us.

photo: Crossway Church property, November 7, 2010

He Knows All

From Tozer's chapter on "The Divine Omniscience", pg 57:

And to us who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope that is set before us in the gospel, how unutterably sweet is the knowledge that our Heavenly Father knows us completely. No talebearer can inform on us, no enemy can make an accusation stick; no forgotten skeleton can come tumbling out of some hidden closet to abash us and expose our past; no unsuspected weakness in our characters can come to light to turn God away from us, since He knew us utterly before we knew Him and called us to Himself in the full knowledge of everything that was against us. "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."

Our Father in heaven knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. He knew our inborn treachery, and for His own sake engaged to save us (Isa. 48:8-11). His only begotten Son, when He walked among us, felt our pains in their naked intensity of anguish. His knowledge of our afflictions and adversities is more than theoretic; it is personal, warm, and compassionate. Whatever may befall us, God knows and cares as no one else can.

Oh how wonderful! God knows the depths of my sin even more than I might ever know, and he still chose to love me. Knowing God more makes the gospel more and more precious and strengthens my faith for life.
I really appreciate that about reading this little book of Tozer's. He leads you in studying God and then often uncovers such rich gospel connections.

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? - Romans 8:33-35

photo: Sensenig Grandparents home, Thanksgiving 2007

Little Women

I picked up Little Women and started reading it these past few days. It's so delightful! And I want to use words like "delightful," "handkerchief," "dear," and so on because of it. I think there is something to be said for rubbing shoulders with people who help you enjoy and be thankful for the little things in life and throughout the day. That is the effect this book has for me so far. Alcott portrays the daily joys and sorrows of her characters with genuineness and care. It has been a very long time since I've read a novel, but that's mostly because I haven't seen a use for doing so. I look forward to walking through a bit of life with Little Women and letting them teach me to embrace and cultivate a thankful, contented, and joyful spirit in the moments of my days.
A plus is the fact that the copy I have is worn and aged, which adds a lovely quaintness to the reading experience. My grandma's name, Rhoda, is written in cursive with a pencil on the title page.

photo: Jared & Rebekah's wedding, January 2010

He Never Changes

A.W. Tozer on the Immutability of God, (pages 53-54 of The Knowledge of the Holy):

What peace it brings to the Christian's heart to realize that our Heavenly Father never differs from Himself. In coming to Him at any time we need not wonder whether we shall find Him in a receptive mood. He is always receptive to misery and need, as well as to love and faith. He does not keep office hours nor set aside periods when He will see no one. Neither does He change His mind about anything. Today, this moment, He feels toward His creatures, toward babies, toward the sick. the fallen, the sinful, exactly as He did when He sent His only-begotten Son into the world to die for mankind. 

God never changes moods or cools off in His affections or loses enthusiasm. His attitude toward sin is now the same as it was when He drove out the sinful man from the eastward garden, and His attitude toward the sinner the same as when He stretched forth His hands and cried, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."   

Fountain of being! Source of Good!

Immutable Thou dost remain!

Nor can the shadow of a change

Obscure the glories of Thy reign.

Earth may with all her powers dissolve,

If such the great Creator will;

But Thou for ever art the same,

I AM is Thy memorial still.

From Walker's Collection

photo: the sky right after I got home from work today - 

these fall colors are amazing, but they elude the camera

Come Awake!

I heard this song today, and it reminded me of Igniter Media's video below. It stirs me in my love for the gospel, both in my own life and in my desire for it in other's lives.

How wonderful to witness the baptism of four individuals last evening as well. Here are some photos my dad took.

God's Infinitude

Last night I read the following in a chapter called "God's Infinitude" in A.W. Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy.

Because God's nature is infinite, everything that flows out of it is infinite also. We poor human creatures are constantly being frustrated by limitations imposed upon us from without and within. The days of the years of our lives are few, and swifter than a weaver's shuttle. Life is a short and fevered rehearsal for a concert we cannot stay to give. Just when we appear to have attained some proficiency we are forced to lay our instruments down. There is simply not time enough to think, to become, to perform what the constitution of our nature indicates we are capable of.
How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none.
. . .His love is measureless. It is more; it is boundless. It has no bounds because it is not a thing but a facet of the essential nature of God. His love is something he is, and because He is infinite that love can enfold the whole created world in itself and have room for ten thousand times ten thousand worlds beside.

This, this is the God we adore,

Our faithful, unchangeable Friend,

Whose love is as great as His power,

And neither knows measure nor end.

'Tis Jesus, the first and the last,

Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;

We'll praise Him for all that is past,

And trust Him for all that's to come.

-Joseph Hart

Then this morning, I read the following in Philippians 4:5-7:

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 your minds in Christ Jesus.

These are familiar verses, but the first five words really jumped out at me. They make all the difference! "The Lord is at hand!" The infinite God, who is beyond comprehension or measurement and has infinite love for me as well, he is at hand. He is the answer to the question, "why not be anxious?" The following sentences about not being anxious, praying, thanksgiving, peace beyond understanding, a heart and mind guarded in Christ, these are all the more powerful and encouraging precisely because "the Lord is at hand." What wonderful truth to be grounded in at the beginning of the day. Thank you, Father.

photo: Baltic Sea near Hamburg, Germany 2007

Come Lord Jesus, Come!

This song was on my heart and lips this morning. It is my prayer now, and oh Lord would that it always might be!

Our Savior pierced on the cross, all for mercy to us

Broke the power of sin and rose again

Now He sits enthroned, His coming hour unknown

And we long to see Jesus come to His own

And with full hearts, we cry:

Come Lord Jesus, come!

Split the heavens with Your glory

Come Lord Jesus, come!

Fill our eyes with Your majesty

Then we'll bow down and then we'll confess

That You are Lord, Jesus come!

We await Your return, You promise in Your Word

That at trumpet's sound You will come down

Our King upon a cloud, every knew will bow

And we'll worship then as we worship now

And with full hearts, we cry:

You can read about how my pastor, Doug Plank, wrote this song and listen to a demo here.

photo: between Seattle and George, Washington 2007

patience, meekness, unity

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. . . . Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians: 4:1-3, 15-16)

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17)

God's Word is not like any other written word. God's words are life!

photo: Elya on Crossway Church farm, 11/7/10

Inexpressible Hope and Joy

John Piper, in When I Don't Desire God (pages 60-61):

The reason we hope for the revelation of God's glory is because we have indeed seen so much of it in Christ and in nature that our hearts are captured by it forever. The apostle Peter admits that in one sense we do not now see Christ. But listen to how he says it: "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory" (1 Pet. 1:8). We may groan at times because our seeing is so incomplete (Rom. 8:23). But for Peter the joy of what we have seen and the hope of what we will see are inexpressible and full of glory.

photo: Crossway Church Farm, 11/7/2010

Providential Care

So sweet. God's providential care is so sweet. How mysteriously and paradoxically wonderful is his work of sanctification, that he chooses to grow us through experiences and circumstances that deepen and ground us in more depth to the truths we may already know in our minds, but of which we have not yet even scuffed the surface.

I think it worthwhile to recount some of God's providential care in this week.
During the Sovereign Grace pastors conference, Tuesday through today, I have been babysitting the Heitland children. For two evenings, nights, and mornings I "played house" with four precious young souls. In God's gracious way, he highlighted his kind providential care.
He providentially ordained that I would run late with the kids on Tuesday night, fighting for ten minutes to subdue a car seat. He knew that two year old Greta would not stay in Alpha kids childcare but cling to and demand my attention the whole evening. He also ordained that she would nonetheless sit patiently and quietly on my lap, so I could be in just enough of the Theos Vital Life class to be reminded of God's specific involvement in every detail. Listening to Ray speak about God's providence was very applicable and calming as I was dealing with her, feeling haphazard and out of place that evening.
He foreknew that Claudia would be awoken twice that night by a fever and that my overall sleeping hours would be few. He involved himself in the details of healing her body through the night and bringing her new mercies in a healthy body the following morning.
Our Father predestined that yesterday the two eldest would collide on a trampoline, causing Claudia's teeth to cut into Morgan's head and require medical attention in the form of staples. He also provided for this to occur at the home of a nurse and mother who skillfully knew how to proceed, as well as ordained that the timing would be such that I would be finished at work in time to pick up the other three. Even the detail of being stalled at work by shattering a glass in the kitchen was not out of his foresight and care, and neither were the incorrect google map directions.
Our God knew that Morgan would come back to a house with a young and insufficient caretaker, who lacked the expertise to adequately care for her emotional and physical needs as well as tend to the bedtime of two highly distractible younger siblings, one of whom delighted herself by running around butt naked and the other who clung to his indecisive yet strong opinions on his preferred jammie attire for the night. And the same Father had planned from before time that he himself would be her primary caretaker and dramatically turn her heart to his peace and joy. God's kind providence ordained that the last hour of a tumultuous day would be filled with laughter, fellowship, and enjoyment for two big little girls whom he holds dearly in his hand. And in his sweetness, he granted a restful night to the Heitland home.

Our Father knows how to care for his own.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

Psalm 139:16-18

I'll leave you with a funny. On the way "home" from Vital Life in my noisy car, one sentence stood out from the rest.

Aaron asked Claudia, "If you kill a bear, is it dead?"

photo: Venice, Italy 2007