How Sweet To Wait Upon The Lord

This song has truly been of great comfort to me, lately.  I hope it builds you up in the faith, too.

Performed by Red Mountain Music

How Sweet To Wait
(Joseph Swain 1761-1796)

How sweet to wait upon the Lord,
While he fulfils his gracious word;
To seek his face, and not in vain,
To be beloved, and love again!

Amen! our hearts with rapture cry,
May we with reverence look so high;
Ascended Savior, fix our eyes,
By faith upon this glorious prize!

With this delightful prospect fired,
We’ll run, nor in thy ways be tired;
And all the trials here we see,
Will make us long to reign with thee.

Good Friday–Consider the Highest Ranked Person to Ever Live

Consider this man; consider the way His flesh was torn. Consider His wounds; consider His crown of thorns. He knew no sin, no deceit was found in Him. Sin He became; purchasing men for God. Consider this man, consider the stripes upon His back; consider His scars; consider the nailed-pierced His hands.

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Behold The Lamb of God who takes the way the sins of the world. How we love Jesus Christ and Him crucified, Oh The Lamb!

John 1:29-30, The next day [John the Baptist] *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’

John Piper: Preacher… Author… Waiter?

If you’re the type of internet stroller I am, then you might be interested to hear that John Piper is planning on stepping down in the next few years, and his potential successor has already been nominated: Jason Meyer.  You can find more articles about Piper’s decision and the turnover process for Bethlehem Baptist at the Desiring God blog.

Throughout the beginning of this process, Piper has been walking his congregants through some parts of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth.  And is there a better way to understand the local church than these two letters?

I’ve been thinking a lot about Piper.  Piper was very influential in my understanding of the lordship of Jesus Christ through his book, What Jesus Demands from the World, a really quick reading dunk into the deep end of the truth pool.  Piper, in recent years, has also taken a ton of flack (deserved or otherwise) from questionable (at best?) decisions regarding associations.  Some of them have saddened me greatly.  But Piper doesn’t know me from an ant on a hill and so I am confident (and quite thankful!) that he doesn’t really care about my opinion, nor should he, which brings me to the main point of this post.

The main point is that as I’ve grown in Christ, by God’s grace, I’ve been growing in discernment, through the lens of Scripture, regarding the preached message and the man-of-God messenger.  The bible calls them servants.  Piper calls them table-waiters.  As my heart continues to be purged from my own idols and the self-righteousness built in my own mini-(and not-so-mini-, at times) pride factory, and replaced with His image and likeness, I continue to grow in understanding and discernment.  Particularly regarding which waiters from whom to take my spiritual food and drink, and which servers to avoid.

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian Church, he lays out very clearly the “do’s” and “don’ts” of the kind of food we need to eat, and the type of service we need to expect from our gospel-serving restaurant.  Here are some applicant qualifications and menu items that will hopefully help you in discerning what is red meat and what is junk food; and if the vendor is organic or just a huckster.  Bon Appetit!

*Do not take spiritual food from a waiter who voids the message of the cross through clever speech.

*Do eat the spiritual food served to you from a waiter who trusts in the wisdom of God.

*Do not trust in a waiter who serves you the wisdom of the world.

*Do not trust wait staff who serve you signs as a message to believe.

*Do eat heartily of ample Jesus Christ and Him crucified portions.

*Do believe a waiter who serves large quantities of: God’s foolishness is wiser than men’s collective wisdom; and God’s weakness is stronger than men’s collective strength.

*Do eat heartily from someone who continually challenges you to consider your elected calling.

*Do not spiritually eat of fleshly wisdom; fleshly strength; fleshly rank. [Gross!]

*Do associate and befriend any waiters and diners who are described by Paul as cross-focused “fools”; cross-focused weaklings; cross-focused societal dregs; and the cross-focused hated; so the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified becomes the focus.

*Never eat from anyone’s scraps of boasting in self.

*Do keeping coming back for multiple portions of boasting in the Lord.

Boys To Men–Happy Birthday J.D.

Today, our son turns 12.  He’s hardly a man, but not quite a boy anymore.  Some people call this the “tween” years, or “pre-teen” years.  When thinking of it in biblical terms, there really isn’t such a category.  The bible does not classify groups of people in that way.  When looking at the commands to children or young adults, the closest division that is made for young people is the descriptive, “younger.”  The “teen” years is the world’s way of describing physical growth during the middle years of youth-hood.  And usually coupled with all sorts of derogatory remarks.

Although boys growing into men happens on a daily basis, multiple times worldwide, it seems like when it’s happening to you, it’s incredibly unique with a flavor and color all of its own.  It’s like pregnancy.  It has and continues to happen hundreds of thousands of times each year, yet when your own body is going through all of the many changes:  the household is a buzz, and plans are getting turned upside down–it’s all very particular.  (As an aside, I remember calling my O.B. when the little strip on the home test read, “plus” while carrying J.D., expecting some sort of fanfare, whistles blowing, and streamers flying through the air.  All I received was a rather bored receptionist, smacking on gum and flatly reiterating my scheduled appointment.  It then struck me… I guess I’m not the only who’s called about ‘the great find’ this week.  Apparently, they’d be out of business if this were the case. )

Getting back to J.D.  J.D., our firstborn, is in many ways your stereotypical oldest child:  responsible, organized, and follows the rules.  Depending on how much stock you put into birth order (it’s still pretty controversial and those raising children who don’t follow the normal patterns shout a hearty, “Amen!”), J.D. tends to pass all of the standardized marks for oldest child.

There is much truth shared when people tell you it must be hard to see this all happening because I live with him on a daily basis.  And homeschooling keeps us in the same vicinity for the better part of the day, week, month, and year.  Multiply that by 12 years and you’ve got constant companionship which, at times, can definitely have a blurry, can’t-see-the-tree-in-the-forest mentality.

But if a parent is called to teach their children “day and night” based from passages in Scripture like Deuteronomy 6 and 11, then the foggy haze which could hide my growing oak must be dissipated with sharp focus and steadfast resolve to never let opportunities to share and hone in on the gospel escape.  As much as I sentimentally reminisce about Legos morphing into military armor, and shapes and colors memory games transforming into Phase 10 card games, the eternal good must be less about external growth and more about fruit displayed in his conversation and actions around the house.  I keep reminding myself that if the beginning of wisdom and knowledge is fear of God and fools despise instruction, based from Proverbs 1:7, then all of my sentimentality does him no good if I only think of him physically growing.  Every ounce must continually be in prayerful consideration of these questions and these questions alone: Does he exhibit a fear of God and is he teachable?  God help both us!  I believe only time will tell, but he is at that stage where I can no longer rely on the cuteness of recited Sunday School verses (and it is so stinkin’ cute) and I must lift my eyes from the haze and fog of “little boy” and realize God is growing him into a young man.

A sweet reminder of J.D.’s little boyhood years is his younger brother who is four.  It is absolutely wonderful to see the many differences in each of their seasons of life and experience the stark contrasts, yet hold onto some of that nostalgic affection.  I am very thankful to God that He has allowed me such an immense privilege and grace to see my own personal case study right before my eyes–the grace of raising children years apart in age.

Nevertheless, our season of parenting is changing with this new track.  God has allowed J.D. twelve full and rich living years here on earth which also means God has allowed us to grow in understanding our incredible and endless need for the gospel, as parents.  As much as we are called to teach J.D., “day and night,” living with a young-boy-to-man is providing ample opportunity for God to teach us, day and night, about our own growth as believers… growing from youth to adulthood, sprig to oak tree (Psalm 1:1-3).

The fact is, my oldest sprig is becoming an oak tree.  My boy, by God’s grace, will become a man.  But more than this regular occurrence sending me deeper into the forest, may the light through the trees–the true, biblical gospel of Jesus Christ being Lord in every area–guide me.  May I abide in the root and vine of my Savior, Who is hopefully nurturing and developing my boy to become a truly saved brother-in-Christ.  May I never be so fog-ridden as to presume on God’s kindness at such a privilege and may I never see external growth as the final marker of him becoming a man!

Happy Birthday, J.D.  Dad and Mom are grateful to God for you!  For He gifted to us a well-fitted son to teach our family what a perfect Gift-Giver He truly is.

Seasonal Changes, A Birthday Party, and Making the Most of It

Ephesians 5:15-16, Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

We celebrated our dear pastor’s wife’s birthday last month.  I’ve been thinking about her, the party we held for her, and the life with which she has been blessed.  One of her closest friends threw a delightful and sweets-filled party, honoring the sentiments most of us feel for this precious sister-in-Christ.  In the world’s eyes, it would be considered a ‘mile marker’ birthday.  Something to be put in the pages of history; marked on a posterity calendar; engraved for the markers of times-passed.

I’ve been meditating on this season she’s currently living.  Half of her children into adulthood and the other half hitting middle to late teenage years.  With many doctrinally sound Christian years under her belt: faithfully pursuing a one-man-woman relationship with her husband; raising children; tending to a home; and loving the life God has given to her, she is quiet, steady, and a resourceful wealth of knowledge and wisdom based from Proverbs 9:10.  Her gifts and talents are well beyond her years and her knowledge and wisdom is plenteous because it grows out of a great fear, trembling, and reverence for a holy God.  And He says in Proverbs and other places this is the truest and most genuine gauge of an intelligent person.

I’ve come to appreciate and learn she doesn’t hold a firm grasp on numbers in terms of mere years on this planet earth.  She doesn’t buy into the passing joke of “over the hill” comments and black decorations which signifies the way most people celebrate another life of maturity.  She counts her ‘mile markers’ in terms of seasonal opportunities, both short and long term.

Long-term seasons: new life in Christ; getting married; having children; homeschooling; keeping house; going to church; loving the church, and so on.  Short-term seasons: a summer bible study; planning treasure hunts for a birthday party; rearranging her house for a ladies seminar; filling out applications for school; running in town races; praying for, and with, a hurting friend; preparing for a daughter to leave for college; preparing for a daughter’s homecoming–and a son’s homecoming… and a husband’s homecoming; being grateful in seasons of plenty and scarcity; playing Florence Nightingale; and on and on and on.  This dear sister does not count age in temporary years so much as she is grateful for seasons in light of eternity.

Isn’t that what the Apostle Paul commands us to do in the above verse from Ephesians, “making the most of your time?”  The phrase is made up of two Greek words commanding us to “redeem (the same word used for Christ’s redemption of His children)” or “purchase/buy back” our “measurement” or “due allotment.”  It has less to do with hours and minutes on a clock.  Like logging or ‘clocking in’ as you would if you were an hourly employee somewhere.  It has everything to do with your allotted portion of time in any given season.  If you notice, both the Proverbs 31 woman and the Titus 2 woman are exemplary in their living exposition of a God-fearing woman.  Neither King Lemeul (Proverbs) nor Paul (Titus) fastidiously count out their respective woman’s timeline so much as recount her seasons of opportunities.  Age isn’t given because the knowledge and wisdom result in a great fear of the Lord hasn’t as much to do with age as it has to do with steadily and faithfully enduring through seasonal changes and opportunities.

How well does she faithfully serve her family?  What kind of heart does she have when planning for dinners?  When is she content though outside opportunities tempt her away from the home?

Our pastor’s wife has lived on this earth long enough to show her deep and persevering character is still counted joyfully, but not according to the world’s standards: selfish ambition, stretch marks, and fading eyesight.  But by God’s grace, her years on this earth are recorded in wisely walking and carefully redeeming her time in whatever seasonal changes the Lord leads her through.

May the Lord bless every godly woman with the same intelligent view of birthday celebrations and ‘mile marking’ events.

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Today, We Celebrate….

Today, we celebrate my little girl’s 7th birthday. I’m reposting this poem I wrote for her, last year. Most if still rings true except for the age reference. ~ Happy Birthday Ellie! Dad and Mom feel no greater privilege than the gift of stewardship that parenting brings to us, by God’s grace, each and every day.

My little girl is growing fast,

I wonder who she’ll be,

She’s quite unique and very strong,

Remarkably smarter than me.

I truly ache, sometimes, I do,

The wounds that time inflicts,

And turns its laughing hourglass,

Its sifting sand so quick.

Remembering in years gone by,

How frail–she’d have to cling,

And now she’s only nearing six,

Already off and running…

Away from me and on her own,

She loves to be with friends.

Her choicest play and time away,

With others she’d rather spend.

It only serves to jog my mind

I like to hit recall,

And think of nightly, quiet times

Just she and I, were all.

So late at night or early morn’,

So quiet, peaceful, still,

Gently resting, snug and tight

Or testing lungs with shrill.

Still, does not matter to my heart,

My memory fades and clears,

And only holds reflections of,

The sweetest times so dear.

My little girl is growing up,

And now she’s strong in tongue.

She’ll weave a whopper story, tall,

And sing with might and lung.

She loves to read and write and teach,

Her wit meets every turn.

Each morning, she enjoys her school,

Her passion is to learn.

If I could teach her more than school,

Ignore the subjects taught,

Please listen closely, dear daughter,

Please listen to this thought:

“Little girl, my dear sweet child,

If just one chance impressed,

Please take these gifts and even now,

With righteousness, please dress.

If it were left to me, somehow,

A prideful, sinful thought,

I’d dress you with my parenting,

My heart, such sin, does wrought.

But not with impotence and source,

Will dress you with such grace,

Only by His pre-formed love,

Will you ever see His face.

So dear sweet girl, my only one,

Please, never in your life,

Look for any other grace –

Than grace from Jesus Christ.”

I know for years, I’ll often ask

Wondering who she’ll be alike,

My surpassing desire is she becomes,

A beloved Sister-in-Christ.

~Kim Noble

Dedicated to my daughter, August, 2010.