Nothing Is Too Hard

'Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.'
- Jeremiah 32:17

photo: June 29, 2011 - Mt. Union, PA

Isaiah 40:28:31

Lecrae gave a great gospel message to a packed out fringe stage crowd this afternoon. 

This shot is about half way back in the crowd.

Looking unto Jesus

Charles Spurgeon Morning and Evening, June 28:

Morning:
"Looking unto Jesus." - Hebrews 12:2

It is ever the Holy Spirit's work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan's work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. . . . and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that "Christ is all in all." Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee - it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee - it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument - it is Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by "looking unto Jesus." Keep thine eye simply on him; let his death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to him; when thou liest down at night look to him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee.

"My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness:
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name."

Evening:
...With an enthusiastic love for Jesus difficulties are surmounted, sacrifices become pleasures, sufferings are honours. But if religion is thus a consuming passion in the heart, then it follows that there are many persons who profess religion but have it not; for what they have will not bear this test. Examine yourself, my reader, on this point. Aaron's rod proved its heaven-given power. Is your religion doing so? If Christ be anything he must be everything. O rest not till love and faith in Jesus be the master passions of your soul!

Creation Festival and Change

I am out at the Creation Festival with my whole family this week - came out after work on Monday. I'm thankful for a week vacation like this right now.
It's been four years since I've been at Creation for the whole week, and a long time since I've been here not working the festival. But I still have been here every year. Including West, I think I've now been to 26 Creation Festivals (one year was cancelled and we didn't come - others were cancelled but we were here setting up).
We will be uploading photos on our family blog and I also will be adding my own to my facebook album here.

This is a difficult time for me, as Matt and I broke up last week. Different waves of emotion continue to crash upon me, but I am thankful for the unchanging Rock that I have in Christ. I very much appreciate your continued prayers. Thanks for your care.

photo: view from the Lookout yesterday morning

Thou Our Guide

I had some open time this evening and picked up my copy of Knowing God, which I have still yet to finish. My marker, where I last left off, was in the chapter called "Thou Our Guide." Pages 239-240 contain the following:

No Simple Answers

But it does not follow that right guidance will be vindicated as such by a trouble-free course thereafter. Here is another cause of deep perplexity for Christian people. They have sought guidance and believe it has been given. They have set off along the road which God seemed to indicate. And now, as a direct result, they have run into a crop of new problems which otherwise would not have arisen - isolation, criticism, abandonment by friends, practical frustrations of all sorts. At once they grow anxious. They recall the prophet Jonah who, when told to go east and preach at Ninevah, took a ship going north to Tarshish instead, "away from the Lord" (Jon 1:3), and was caught in a storm, humiliated before unbelievers, thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish - in order to bring Jonah to his senses. Is their own present experience of the rough side of life (they ask themselves) a sign from God that they are themselves like Jonah, off track, following a path of self-will rather than the way of God?

It may be so, and the wise person will take occasion from his new troubles to check his original guidance very carefully. Trouble should always be treated as a call to consider one's ways. But trouble is not necessarily a sign of being off track at all; for as the Bible declares in general that "many are the afflictions of the righteous" (Ps 34:19 KJV), so it teaches in particular that following God's guidance regularly leads to upsets and distresses which one would otherwise have escaped. Examples abound. God guided Israel by means of a fiery and cloudy pillar that went before them (Ex. 13:21-22); yet the way by which he led them involved the nerve-shredding cliffhanger of the Red Sea crossing, long days without water and meat in "that vast and dreadful desert" (Deut 1:19), and bloody battles with Amalek, Sihon and Og (Ex 17:8; Num 21:21-23) - and we can understand, if not excuse, Israel's constant grumbling (see Ex 14:10-12, 16:3, Num 11:4-6, 14:2-3, 20:2-5, 21:4-5).

Again, Jesus' disciples were twice caught by night in bad weather on the Sea of Galilee (Mk 4:37; 6:48), and both times the reason why they were there was the command of Jesus himself (see Mk 4:35; 6:45).

Again, the apostle Paul crossed to Greece "concluding" from his dream of the man of Macedonia "that God had called us to preach the gospel to them" (Acts 16:10), and before long he was in jail at Philippi. Later he "resolved in the Spirit to . . . go to Jerusalem" (19:21 RSV), and told the Ephesian elders whom he met on his way, "I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me" (20:22-23 RSV). So it proved to be: Paul found trouble on the grand scale through following divine guidance.

Nor is this all. For a final example and proof of the truth that following God's guidance brings trouble, look at the life of the Lord Jesus himself. No human life has ever been so completely guided by God, and no human being has ever qualified so comprehensively for the description "a man of sorrows." Divine guidance set Jesus at a distance from his family and fellow townsmen, brought him into conflict with all the nation's leaders, religious and civil, and led finally to betrayal, arrest and the cross. What more can Christians expect, while they abide in the will of God? "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master . . . If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!" (Mt 10:24-25).

By every human standard of reckoning, the cross was a waste - the waste of a young life, a prophet's influence, a leader's potential. We know the secret of its meaning and achievement only from God's own statements. Similarly, the Christian's guided life may appear as a waste - as with Paul, spending years in prison because he followed God's guidance to Jerusalem, when he might otherwise have been evangelizing Europe the whole time. Nor does God always tell us the why and wherefore of the frustrations and losses which are part and parcel of the guided life.

But I am glad for what he does tell us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is working all things for our good. He only gives good gifts to his children. If he is for us, who can be against us? In him is perfect peace, and at his right hand are pleasures forevermore. We can hope in him and rejoice! Strength rises for those who wait on the Lord.

I praise and marvel at a God of grace and peace who extends the same to his children.

photo: Chicago; 6/11/11 

Strength for the Weary

I could not go this life without God's word and without his church. My Father has given these to me, and sent his Spirit to be my comforter and strength. I cannot face one moment on my own, but God does not require that I do that.

This morning I read Psalm 77.

I said, "Let me remember my song in the night;

let me meditate in my heart."

Then my spirit made a diligent search:

"Will the Lord spurn forever,

and never again be favorable?
Has his steadfast love forever ceased?

Are his promises at an end for all time?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?"

Then I said, "I will appeal to this,

to the years of the right hand of the Most High."

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;

yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

I will ponder all your work,

and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy.

What god is great like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;

you have made known your might among the peoples.

You with your arm redeemed your people,

the children of Jacob and Joseph.

Psalm 77:6-15

I need to join the Psalmist in speaking truth to my heart, and pray I will not be lead by emotion but that emotion would follow behind the truth of God's word. "On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."

Sunday Pete spoke on Ruth 4:1-8 (here). I have a determined and sacrificial Redeemer.
And I have a loving daddy, who held my hand and wrapped his arm around me for the entirety of the sermon on Father's day.

And what was the first song we sang during worship yesterday?

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord

We will wait upon the Lord

We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever

Our Hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God

The everlasting God

You do not faint You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak

You comfort those in need

You lift us up on wings like eagles

(c) Chris Tomlin

God's providential kindness and specific care sustain me. In weakness and sadness, how I need to cling to his promises: moment by moment. His mercy is new every morning. Great is his faithfulness. He will never leave me nor forsake me. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

He chose me. I can know that he loves and wants me, because he chose me, dying to get me and keep me forever.

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. - Psalm 42:11

It Is Well With My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul

It is well, it is well, with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul

Horatio G. Spafford

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,

Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen how thy desires have been

Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;

Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,

If with His love He befriend thee

Trust in the LORD

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

- Proverbs 3:5

These verses, which my mom had us kids memorize as little children, come to me when I most need them and bring sobbing tears as they push past the muck to dive into the core of my heart. Where would I be without the word of God hidden in my heart? I shudder to think.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

Pain. Why is trusting the Lord hard and painful? Trust must not be settling for a half hearted leaning on the Lord but lodging itself deeper into my heart, and in fact guarding against the alternative of real destructive, long lasting pain that comes from going my own way and leaning on my own understanding. Growing pains exist - they hurt. But without them, we would not grow. As a pre-teen, I do not understand or see any purpose or end of those stretching pains, but they do not last forever and I reap the results as just a few years go by and I become a woman instead of a little girl.

The Gardener prunes. The fire refines. And my Father gives good gifts to his children, never bad ones. And even in the midst of a prune, in the heat of the fire, I can know that the grace of God is enough. He is more than enough for me, and all joy and peace is made available to me, purchased by the blood of Christ, for each and every moment. Not only at the end of the race, but also in the midst of exhausting effort of the run. Not only when the gold is refined, but even as dross is burning off. Why? Because the end has already been sealed. I have already been bought and the victory has been won. I know which team I am on, and his team has already won. So I can run with joy, even through the fog. When I can't see a step ahead on the path, I will trust the one who does and who promises to lead me to the end - to the greatest victory celebration ever to be had. We cannot even conceive.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. - 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand

When you don't see his plan

When you can't trace his hand

Trust his heart

-Babbie Mason

My friend Sara

Sara Rankin has some great quotes up on her blog. They are so good. I wish I could repost them all here, but instead I'll let you just head over to her page.
I'm thankful for this single lady. I'm so glad she has become an extended part of our family. I can remember picnics at the Boronow's old house back when she was a college student at Millersville University and first coming to our church. Our family and our church is so much richer because of the blessing of Sara God has put in our lives. Love you girl!

Delightful Details

Thursday May 26th I ran some errands at the end of my work day and just soaked in my drive time, enjoying the scenic travel. Sometimes I like to pretend I'm a tourist and drink in my surroundings. This time I pulled out my camera and took some video from the car window of everything from downtown Lancaster to the farmland of Lancaster county. I'm not putting all of those up. But when I got home, I also took the below silent video.

So often when I come home at the end of a day I walk from my car to the door with blinded eyes and a full mind. I would say, however, that almost always there is a sense of welcome, refuge, and pleasant relief at finally arriving home at the end of a day. But how many times I miss soaking in the beauty of the details God intricately holds together in this small sample size of his much larger creation. Although it is the same path, the same home, each day - each day the surroundings are actually unique and wonderfully made by God in how they are affected by various variables like time, weather, people, and animals.

I often think the same when I arrive to work at the church farm property in the mornings. There may be a haze over the hill, or the sun may be shining quite brightly and warm even in the early morning. Snow may cape the roof of the barn, or spring flowers may be swaying in a summer-like breeze. Birds could be chirping, or obnoxious turkey vultures may line the peak of the barn with their wings spanned out to dry. Grass may cover the hill where our building will one day be, 3 feet long and rippling in the wind like waves on the sea - or the farmer may be mowing down grass for hay, mimicking the effects of a barber's razor.

When I stop, even for just one full minute, to observe and enjoy these details I get to experience delight in God's creation. His creation reflects himself, and can deliver a contented joy to my soul.

Below is that clip from the other Thursday. I love our home and the life and care that is cultivated here. I like how this moves from the detail of our front door to the driveway out to the road. Maybe I'm too sentimental, sappy, or cheesy, but it reminds me of the beauty of receiving nourishment from such a home and then taking it out on the road to wherever and whoever God may direct you to that day.

Matthew 6:25-33
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more cloth you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

photo: Crossway farm property

taken on Matt's phone Easter weekend

In My Heart

In my heart there is a stirring

One that did not start with me

A love to worship my Creator

To show His love for all to see

I will worship

I will honor

I will exalt the Lord above

All my days

I'll sing the praises

Of His great redeeming love

In my heart there is a treason

One that poisons all my love

Take my heart and consecrate it

Wash it in Your cleansing blood

Tie me to the Rock unchanging

Tie me to His wondrous Cross

I'll fix my eyes upon the Savior

All other things I count as loss

Tie me to the Rock unchanging

And his great redeeming love

(c) Sovereign Grace Worship

In My Heart on King Of Grace CD

I have a Great Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. - Psalm 32:1-4

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. - Psalm 145:3-6

How awesome it is that I have a God of unsearchable greatness who also condescends to be my shepherd? I want to spend my days seeking to continually discover more of the unending, unsearchable, and unchanging greatness of my God - resulting in much praise to him for who he is and how he relates with his children.

NEXT 2011

So, NEXT 2011 was this past weekend. I may try to go through some notes and put them up here, or I may not. But for now, here is one.

R.C. Sproul:

When we have the Truth on our side, we have reason on our side, and we ought to be proclaiming it with all our lives.

Sproul also spoke for the first time ever without a tie, in honor of CJ. How accommodating.
But seriously, Josh Harris was right when he said one day you will tell your grandchildren that you heard Sproul speak live. His message was excellent, and you can find all the conference main session messages here.

And if you're interested, you can check out a few quicky-like snap shot photos of our time here.

Below is a silent video of the session opening for Next.