The Focus of Faith

And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears

And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears

Get over your hill and see what you find there,

With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair

c. Mumford and Sons

Dave Harvey, in Rescuing Ambition:

As we cooperate with God's work, what delights us is no longer indulged ambition, or even ambitions for God, but God himself (p. 79).

What's the focus of faith? (p.83) . . . Faith starts with God and fixes on God. . . . The focus of true faith is not hills to be taken, battles to be won, or trials to be endured. The focus of true faith is God - and not just God in the abstract, theological sense. It's the God who's made known in the person of Jesus Christ. (p. 85) . . . Drawing near to God is a life of intimate fellowship with a Person, a life of overwhelming wonder that puts everything else into perspective. . . .

Paradoxically, when faith focuses on its main objective - drawing near to God - we don't become religiously obsessed or "too heavenly minded to be any earthly good." We actually get perspective, and we can deal with the complexities and curveballs of life in a balanced way. . . . 'With God's help, I realized that the only thing I could count on was God himself.' (p. 86-87)

How precious to know, and find continually to be true, that the only thing or person I can count on is God himself. And how steadying to know that whatever comes to pass, God is my rock, my foundation, my anchor, my all in all. Men and rulers will fail, even "good" Christian ones; I will never find one who does not. But my Lord abides forever, steadfast and true. There is no one higher than he. There is therefore nothing more worthy of my focus, joy, and pursuit than he. All else falls into place beneath him, and the joy of knowing God is the source of my joy in every lesser thing. Knowing God grants perspective on, and indeed is the fulfillment of, every ambition or desire.

Knowing You

All I once held dear, built my life upon

All this world reveres, and wars to own

All I once thought gain, I have counted loss

Spent and worthless now, compared to this

Knowing you, Jesus, knowing you

There is no greater thing

You're my all, you're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love you, Lord

Now my heart's desire is to know you more

To be found in you, and known as yours

To possess by faith what I could not earn

All surpassing gift of righteousness

Oh to know the power of your risen life

And to know you in your suffering

To become like you in your death my Lord

So with You to live, and never die

Knowing you, Jesus, knowing you

There is no greater thing

You're my all, you're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love you, Lord

by Graham Kendrick

c. 1993 Make Way Music

photo: St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany 2007

The Word Became Flesh

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.... And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

- John 1:14-17

From A.W. Tozer's chapter on "The Love of God" in The Knowledge of the Holy:

God is love and God is sovereign. His love disposes Him to desire our everlasting welfare and His sovereignty enables Him to secure it.

The Humility of Christ

Why lies He in such mean estate,

Where ox and lambs are feeding?

Good Christians, fear, for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,

The cross be borne for me, for you.

Hail, hail, the Word made flesh,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. - Philippians 2:4-8

Does my heart melt when I think of Christ coming to earth as a man? Am I floored by the humility displayed? Do I take heart when called to give of myself for others, because of the empowering example and salvation of my Lord? Am I reduced to tears when considering my sin and how far he stooped to save me?

Come, Lord Jesus, come!

photo: 2/4/2009

The Goodness of God

The Knowledge of the Holy, pages 83-84:

The whole outlook of mankind might be changed if we could all believe that we dwell under a friendly sky and that the God of heaven, though exalted in power and majesty, is eager to be friends with us. 

But sin has made us timid and self-conscious, as well it might. Years of rebellion against God have bred in us a fear that cannot be overcome in a day. The captured rebel does not enter willingly the presence of the king he has so long fought unsuccessfully to overthrow. But if he is truly penitent he may come, trusting only in the loving-kindness of his Lord, and the past will not be held against him. . . .

From [Jesus] we learn how God acts toward people. The hypocritical, the basically insincere, will find Him cold and aloof, as they once found Jesus; but the penitent will find Him merciful; the self-condemned will find Him generous and kind. To the frightened He is friendly, to the poor in spirit He is forgiving, to the ignorant, considerate; to the weak, gentle; to the stranger, hospitable. . . .

The greatness of God rouses fear within us, but His goodness encourages us not to be afraid of Him. To fear and not be afraid - that is the paradox of faith. 

photo: Adam & Linda's wedding 5/17/09 

(sorry - small file)

The Passion of the Holy Spirit

John Piper in Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, edited by Nancy Guthrie (p. 34):

Mary responds by saying, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" (v. 38). Can you say: "Let the Holy Spirit do with me as he pleases"? Do you trust the Spirit enough to say: "I am your slave; take me; use your omnipotent power to put me where you want me, when you want me there, doing what you want me to do"? Do you know why we can entrust ourselves to the Holy Spirit? Because he exists to exalt the glory of Jesus Christ. Therefore, if the heartbeat of your life is the glory of Jesus Christ, the Spirit will empower and help you with all of his might.

Let's live and speak so that men and women might know that Jesus Christ is a great Savior, the Son of the Most High, and the never-ending King of kings. That's the passion of the Holy Spirit. To be full of that is to be full of him.

photo: Bavaria, Germany 2007

(looks much like Lancaster County, PA!)

Praise the Lord, for He is Good!

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples!

Sing to him; sing praises to him;

tell of all his wondrous works!

Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

Seek the LORD and his strength;

seek his presence continually!

Remember the wondrous works that he has done,

his miracles and the judgments he uttered,

O offspring of Israel his servant,

sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!

. . .

Sing to the LORD, all the earth!

Tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples!

For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,

and he is to be held in awe above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

but the LORD made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and joy are in his place.

Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

bring an offering and come before him!

Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;

tremble before him, all the earth;

yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,

and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy

before the LORD for he comes to judge the earth.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!

- 1 Chronicles 16:8-34

Why do we praise the Lord? Because of who he is and what he has done. Not because of how I feel or what my current circumstances look like. When I apply my mind to know, remember, and learn more of my God, then feelings most likely follow. And emotion that springs from truth, the truth of who God is and how he relates to me because of his Son, well that is the very best kind. :) I pray that I grow in recounting God's goodness in his character, in my life, in the lives of others, and that we may ever increasingly point out evidences of his graces to each other. For oh so quick we are to forget.

Our God is good! Let us rejoice.

photo: New Attitude 2008

Wait, and Know Me

Wait
c. 1980 Russell Kelfer
HT: Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;

Quietly, patiently, lovinging, God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...

And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? You say wait?" my indignant reply.

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!

Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?

By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

"My future and all to which I relate

hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?"
I'm needing a 'yes,' a go-ahead sign,

or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,

we need but to ask, and we shall receive.

And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:

I'm wearly of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,

as my Master replied again, "Wait."

So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,

and grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine...

and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.

You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.

You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;

You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me

when darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love

when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.

You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,

but you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,

the faith that I give when you walk without sight.

The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask

from an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,

what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.

Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,

but, oh the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silient, my child, and in time you will see

that the greatest of gifts is to truly know Me.

And though oft My answers seem terribly late,

my most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

photo: Conestoga House and Gardens, 2010

Thankful in the Little Things

Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is around the corner. If the Thanksgiving holiday were a person, I think I might feel sorry for him. He is quickly forgotten in the shadow of Christmas, sometimes even before his big day and most definitely as soon as Thursday is gone and the clock strikes midnight to usher in Friday with all it's shopping glory. Thanksgiving has become more of a reminder or notification that Christmas is almost here. But in reality, what a great honor Thanksgiving has in preparing our hearts for Christmas. It's only right that he would be overshadowed by the day we remember that Christ was born. Why not let Thanksgiving herald in the Christmas season and heed his proclamation to be intentional in cultivating a thankful heart? Afterall, the only way I can be thankful is because God sent his Son into the world to be my Savior.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil - this is God's gift to man. - Ecclesiastes 3:11-13

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels

Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into springs

These are a few of my favorite things

So, in seeking to learn from the Sound of Music, Thanksgiving and not to mention God's Word, I want to make a practice of recounting God's blessings on my days, especially in the little things.

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 3:17

photo: December 5, 2009 (Exactly one year ago! Little detail that I delight in :) )

Do You Trust Me, My Child?

In his book Heaven, Randy Alcorn addresses the question, "Will we be reunited with infants who have died?" He thinks most likely the answer is yes, and on page 356 he says (emphases added):

Perhaps in Heaven many people will meet their children who were aborted or their children who died in miscarriages (even some miscarriages their mothers weren't aware of). Many parents will be reunited with children who died at an early age. Perhaps these children will grab our hands and show us around the present Heaven. Then one day, after the final resurrection, we'll enjoy each other's company on the New Earth - and experience its wonders together.

If children do go to Heaven when they die, why doesn't God tell us that directly? It may be that he anticipates the twisted logic and rationalization it might foster in us. It might take from us the sense of urgency to see our children come to faith in Christ. It might cause us to be less concerned about the sacred God-given task of extending physical and financial help to the underprivileged and getting the gospel to children around the world. We must do what God has called us to do, which includes protecting, rescuing, feeding, evangelizing, and discipling children.

Whatever God's reasons may be, I have struggled with not knowing the answer to this question beyond a shadow of a doubt. I have not forgotten about the brother or sister I never had the chance to meet, often remembering in tears and sometimes wondering what our family would be like had he lived.
Why is this something that God would leave as a mystery to us? Why would he not lay it out plain and simple, so that we might be confidently comforted or at least know the difficult truth? I don't know. I do know he is good, and his holiness and glory matter most. He will use whatever he wills to strengthen my faith in him, even if it hurts. He would that I love him even if I am stripped of all others and every good thing. When questions are unanswered, doubts remain, or fears for the future threaten to crowd in my heart, I hear my Savior say, "Do you trust me? I love you dear child. Trust me. I am enough for you." And I find that he is more than enough.

O God of love, I come to you again

Knowing I'll find mercy

I can't explain all the things I see

But I'll trust in you

In every moment you are there

Watching over, you hear my prayer

You go before me

You're behind me

Nothing's hidden from you

O God of strength, your hand is on my life

Bringing peace to me

You know my frame, you know how I am made

You planned all my days

Hand of mercy, hand of love

Giving power to overcome

If all beneath me falls away

I know that you are God

How good it is to be loved by you

How good it is

How good it is to be loved by you

How good it is

c. 2000 Kingsway's Thankyou Music

photo: May 27, 2010

Behold Christ

Warren Boettcher spoke at our church this past Sunday. I listened to his sermon (The Fruit of Justification) again this week and quote him below. I'm so glad God keeps reminding me of this in fresh ways, and I know he will be faithful to continue to strengthen my faith by drawing my gaze up to him.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18

How do we grow now?...We talk about mortification of sin: there are things we need to die to, that need to be put to death, absolutely. And then there are things we need to put on, right. We put off things of the flesh; we put on things of the Spirit. So there are these "put offs" and "put ons" that we do.

Here's a key way that you grow beyond the "put ons" and "put offs:" look at Him! Behold his glory! Be enamored by him. Don't be so down in the trenches of "I've got to stop sinning here. How do I kill this sin in my life? Oh, and I've got to be good over here. How do I put these things in my life, and if I can only kill this and put on this I'd be good." And meanwhile, I'm just looking down here. Look up! Look up! You want to grow in sanctification? Study Christ! Look at his face. When we behold him, we're going to change from one degree of glory to another.

Where do you go when you sin? And when you seek to change? Do you go to the throne of grace? Is that your comfort and your confidence? Or do you look to self-atonement and self-improvement? "If I can just pay a little bit for my sin, it'll get a little bit better." Self-atonement = if I feel bad. Self-improvement = if I do good. Or do I go to the throne of grace? Where am I going when I want to grow and change? Who am I looking at? Myself? Or am I beholding Him?

All the labors of my hands

Could not meet Thy law's demands

Could my zeal no respite know

Could my tears forever flow

All for sin could not atone

Thou must save, and Thou alone

-Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

photo: Lübeck, Germany 2007