Another End to Another Chapter

My computer is propped in my lap on our Celebrate the Season pillow that I will soon pack away with the rest of our Christmas decor.  That's on dock for tomorrow, as are many other things on my lengthy "To Do" list.  This morning, David, the kids, and I headed out early to run errands.  After those were taken care of, we took time to enjoy a meal in a restaurant - which is a treat, and always interesting with two small children - and we are looking forward to spending some friends this evening.  I am sitting here to take a breath . . . not knowing where to begin with posting photos from the past month, amazed that another year has come and gone, and thinking through all of the change that is about to take place for our family.  


We are moving to North Carolina on Thursday.  Yes, we did just buy a house about 6 months ago, but the Lord providentially worked it our for David's brother and family - who are moving back to town - to begin renting it from us once we move.  The Lord has also provided a home for us to rent in our new little town.  The home is being built and is not quite finished, yet - thankfully - the Lord also provided a most desirable place to stay until it is complete.  (We will be house sitting for a family until they return, which is projected to be the exact "move in day" for our house.)  I am so grateful for how the Lord works out details.         


David began his job as senior pastor at Lake Gaston Baptist Church the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  He set out on his lengthy voyage to North Carolina in the wee hours of "Black Friday" morn (it did seem to bring me comfort knowing that there were lots of other individuals awake at that time:), and he did not return home to us until the 20th of this month.    So we were husband/daddy-less for 25 days!  (A record that I never hope to beat - nor even come CLOSE to beating - ever again!!)  By God's grace, the kids and I survived.  Because it was Christmas, there were lots of things going on to keep us busy; but on the other hand, it was Christmas . . . a sad time to be separated in my book.  It was so reassuring though to know that David was being WELL taken care of by our new church family (he had dinner in a different family's home EVERY evening!); he was having quality time with these dear folks and getting to know names and faces and life stories, etc.; he was visiting schools and meeting professionals regarding services for John David; he was finding us a place to live.  All of these things were important - to say the least - and knowing David was taking care of these important things brought great purpose to our extended time of separation.  We did have lots of great time with family and friends, however, as we were trying to make the most of these last days with all of them.  There were still many people that we did not get to see, but that is where I bellow a hearty "Praise the Lord!" for technology.  I am thankful for this means of keeping in touch and remaining a part of the lives of loved ones.


I was specifically grateful for technology (Skype, cell phones, text messages) while David was away.  A kind member of our church took these pictures (here a just a few) for me during David's first days at Lake Gaston.  Thank you, sweet Mary Frances.  I was SO appreciative!

David's first "official" Sunday as pastor

(This was after the evening service.  He did wear a tie that morning ;)  

Christmas Sunday at LGBC

He was the narrator in their cantata that morning and evening.

So as I sit here on the couch - the last Monday in our Alabama home, the last Monday of 2010, for that matter - so many emotions fill my heart; but so much comfort accompanies each emotion.  As children of God, we can experience TRUE comfort because of the promises of God; and we can indeed be comforted by His promises because of His unwavering character.  We know that He IS Faithfulness; He IS Love; He IS Hope and Joy and Peace.  He IS, and completely embodies, ALL that our hearts desire.  He does NOT change and remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.  His Word IS Truth, and we can count on every letter of it.  


Therefore, as we embark on a huge change in the life of our family, we can know that Sovereign God - who has ordained every detail of our lives before the foundations of the world - will, indeed, go with us.    


David pointed me to Psalm 139, and encouraged me to meditate on the whole chapter as we prepare for our transition.  I, too, will encourage you to do the same, as we all - no matter what you are facing individually - prepare to face a new year.      


Specifically, David told me how the author was marveling at the character of God - His Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Omniscience, and namely, the fact that He is intimately present in each aspect of our lives.  He said, "It's as if the psalmist was saying,
'You - this great God - still want to be with sinful me.'"  It is overwhelming . . . and oh-so-comforting!  

"I awake, and I am still with You."

Psalm 139:18b  

Since this is the last Monday of the year, I've decided that it will also be the last Scripture Memory Monday that I will post for a while.  Though I desire that hiding God's Word in my heart be a keen discipline in my life (and posting each week has served as a form of accountability), I do not think it's realistic to continue as we make our move.  I'm not sure when we will feel "settled" in our new residence, and I'm not sure how much I will be able to sit down at a computer at first.  


I do hope to post some pictures soon of the past month and finish documenting our Christmas festivities and celebrations, as well as some of the activities that the kids and I did while David was away.


Until then, if you are reading this now (and I'd be surprised if you've made it to the end of this lengthy post), I do ask that you pray for our family.  We need your prayers so desperately, and we would appreciate them more than you know.  I will try to post updates as I am able, so that you may know how to specifically intercede for each of us.  Also, if you are reading this, thank you for wanting to take a "glimpse" into the life of our family.  We do pray - with all of our hearts - that we will not waste this "vapor" that the Lord has granted us.  Oh, for grace to be faithful to Him in every area of our lives, in this new year, and until He returns!!  To God be the glory!! 


   

Scripture Memory Monday

I can only imagine the wonder of this amazing announcement;

and I love that God chose the lowly, humble shepherds 

to be the ones to witness this unprecedented proclamation.  

Years of waiting were finally over, silence from heaven had been broken -

the Promised One had come!

[13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, [14]“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  

[15] When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 

“Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 

Luke 2:13-15 (ESV)

Scripture Memory Monday

I pray that I will never yawn in the face of grace.

And as we ponder the most unfathomable gift of grace this Christmas season,

may our celebration be focused on the miracle of Emmanuel - "GOD WITH US!"

[6] who, though he [Christ Jesus]was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6-11 (ESV)

For some practical suggestions on how to keep Christ at the center of your family's celebration, see my cousin's blog HERE.

Scripture Memory Monday

I am very thankful that we are getting to worship with my family these last few weeks before we move.  It's really been a blessing.  Last Monday, I shared about how I had been challenged and convicted by my Dad's sermon that previous Sunday (which I have not been able to find online yet.  I hope to share a link to it here soon.)  Well, this Sunday was no different. 

It's late now, and there's so much that I would like to say about it.  I think I'll just share bullet points of application from his message for now.

• How is my walk with the Lord?  Can I truly say to others, as Paul did: "Follow me as I follow Christ?" 
• How is my witness?  Paul said he was "all things to all people, that by all means [he] might save some."  Am I willing to reach out of my comfort zone, to make sacrifices [even extreme ones], in order to make a difference in the lives of others for the glory of God?  Do I labor over the lost (through earnest prayer and faithful action) as I should? 
• Is my "religion" just a means of enjoying my pride in a morally acceptable way?  Paul's goal was not to draw a crowd or to draw people to himself.  He wanted to love others by pointing them to Christ.  Is this my aim?
• Do I do what I do for the glory of God or for the praise of men?  

I thought these were all great questions to chew on.  Thanks, Dad.  And, again, each one was very, very convicting.     

I thought that I would try to meditate on Paul's ministry philosophy this week.

Oh, that my life would be spent radically loving God and others.  Period.  

 I pray for grace to be willing to do whatever that takes.

"[22] To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. [23] I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings." 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (ESV)

Scripture Memory Monday

I was so challenged and encouraged by my Dad's sermon Sunday morning.

He was preaching from Galatians chapter 4.  (Maybe I can share a link to it once it's posted online.)  Without rehashing the sermon - I do hope that you can hear it for yourself - I wanted to make note of one point that pressed upon my heart most heavily.

We often speak of bondage to sin;

and each of us are keenly aware of our personal struggles with it.

But do we give enough thought to the possibility of being in 

bondage to self-righteousness?

You know, 

• checking off the list of "DO"s and "DON'T"s 
• comparing to see how we measure up to someone else 
• always hoping to be a bit ahead of the next person in the "righteous" department
• attempting to "score points with God" by doing this and not doing that 
• by giving here, attending there, always serving, and not missing a day . . . 

All of these are good and well, but we must truly understand that we are saved by

Christ ALONE, 

NOT 

Christ and . . . 

Do we understand this?

"Well, of course," you say.  And I'd say the same thing.

But are you and I really living out what we believe?

Do the motives and attitudes of our hearts match what we are saying here?

Dad stressed the importance of understanding GRACE.  He articulated a portion of his personal testimony; always having been a "good boy," yet always feeling the need to "rededicate his life" at every revival service or "alter call."  It wasn't until his freshman year of college that he truly understood God's grace, his wretchedness, Christ's righteousness, and the beauty of "If any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION" (2 Corinthians 5:17).  A new creation, not just a "good boy."

And Dad reiterated the fact that we can add NOTHING to Christ's righteousness.  We can take nothing away from it.  When Christ proclaimed from the cross, "It is finished!" He meant what He said.  His mission was accomplished.  The work had been done.  DONE!

Thank you, Dad, for sharing this powerful, timely message.

As you've been preaching through Galatians, 

the Lord knew that I needed to be there for chapter 4!

  So this leads me to share the verse that was actually today's VERSE OF THE DAY. 

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy."

Titus 3:4-5 (ESV)

In thinking of my meager, pointless attempts to add to the perfect work Christ did on my behalf, I envision His robe of righteousness wrapped around me.  I envision myself standing there before God, and then squatting down a bit - hoping that no one is watching . . . or maybe I do want others to see . . . as I try to sneak a stitch of embellishment on the robe.  I think to myself, "If I could just add one more glistening rhine stone here or a sparkly sequin there, this robe would be even more lovely and God would be even more pleased with me,"  I proceed to prick my finger in the stitching process, bleeding and feeling defeated.  My attempts were in vain.  There is NOTHING I could do to make Christ's robe of righteousness that He's so graciously enveloped me with more perfect, more beautiful, more accepting in the sight of God the Father.  Absolutely nothing.  

In closing, I wanted to touch on the topic of bondage to sin. 

Of course, this hits home with all of us. 

While my Dad was out of the country on a mission trip last week, my older brother preached in his place during the morning worship service.  (My husband preached in the evening.  I rehashed a bit of his sermon last Monday.)  He also said something that greatly resinated with my heart and convicted me deeply.  In the words of my brother, 

"You won't put an end to your desire for money 

[or whatever your temptation] 

by wishing it away.

You must replace it.

You must replace that desire with a superior one."

Amen, brother!

Thank you for sharing this truth with us  

and for prompting us to pray for 

an overmastering desire for Christ.

Holy and Triune God, 

please plant in our hearts an overmastering desire for YOU.

May YOU be the sole recipient of our dearest and deepest affections. 

YOU alone are the ONLY ONE who can satisfy, 

and it's in YOUR righteousness ALONE that we stand complete.

Scripture Memory Monday

As we were tucking John David into bed tonight, David prayed over him:

"Lord, help us not be like the nine lepers who did not return [Luke 17]

but like the one who fell down on his face at Jesus' feet, giving Him thanks."

(And this is a direct quote; I just asked him to restate his prayer for me. :)  

David was given the opportunity to preach last night at the church where my Dad is the pastor. (Dad has been serving the Lord in Uganda this past week, and he arrived safely home this evening.  We can't wait to visit with him tomorrow, to see pictures and hear stories of all that the Lord accomplished for His glory!)  Well, Psalm 103 was David's text. He challenged us to examine our souls to see if we were praising God aright.  Are we are indeed giving the Lord the glory and thanks and praise for which He is inexhaustibly worthy?  As he led us through each verse, he encouraged us to imitate the psalmist here.  He challenged us to prod our own souls to praise by pondering the provisions, the providence, and the Person of God.  (I didn't have to ask him just now to restate his sermon points.  I tried to listen well . . . and all those "p" words helped in the remembering. :)  When we do this type of pondering, we cannot help but to "bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!" (Psalm 103:1).

This is what I want to meditate on as we celebrate Thanksgiving this week.

May we not be found guilty, like the other nine lepers, of being ungrateful

(and too often forgetful!)  

regarding ALL the Lord's benefits to us.  

[2] "Bless the LORD, O my soul, 

and forget not all His benefits, 

[3] who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

[4] who redeems your life from the pit, 

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 

[5] who satisfies you with good 

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Psalm 103: 2-5 (ESV)

Scripture Memory Monday

The Lord used chapter 10 of Hebrews to greatly encourage, challenge, and convict my heart this morning.  Though I wanted to choose a passage of Scripture that I felt was attainable to memorize this week, it was hard to not post the entire chapter.  I encourage you to read it when you have a few minutes.  Until then, here are the last 3 verses.  I felt it interesting (purely providential, no doubt) that I read this chapter this morning; for there were several times this weekend that the Lord impressed upon my heart the reality of the brevity of life on earth.  He pressed further, and I became a bit introspective, praying that I'm not wasting time with things that don't matter.  

Oh, Lord, that we - as your children - would endure and not shrink back; 

that we would love and serve and give all that we have until You return.  

Please help us not to waste our lives on empty things that 

do nothing to extol Your name or impact eternity. 

May You be glorified in our efforts 

- efforts that are empty outside of You -

to invest in those things that do indeed last forever, 

namely the Word of God and the souls of men.  

Come, Lord Jesus!  

Please grant us grace to redeem the time and be faithful to the end.        

[36] "For you have need of endurance, 

so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 

[37] For, 'Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; [38] but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.' [39] But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, 

but of those who have faith and preserve their souls." (Hebrews 10:36-39 ESV)

Scripture Memory Monday

I was reading my sister-in-law's blog, as I often do, and I was greatly encouraged by the verses of Scripture that she recently posted here.  I wanted to share those with you and to continue meditating on this Truth.  Thank you, Lynn, for sharing this passage with us; thank You, Christ Jesus, that this is reality!! 

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive...Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven."

1 Corinthians 15:22, 49

Scripture Memory Monday

"But be doers of the word, 

and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
James 1:22 (ESV)

Not much else needs to be said about this familiar verse.

But that's often the problem:

the "basics" of Christianity have become so familiar to us that we many times forsake them.

We may get caught up in some of the "nonessentials" of our faith, 

all the while neglecting the most important of essentials.

May we not be deceived, only hearing the word (which often is very familiar to our ears) 

but not letting it permeate every facet of our lives.

May we heed God's commands, 

living them out through faith in the work and righteousness of Christ.  

In closing, I wanted to honor my parents, who are indeed authentic "doers of the Word." 

 Yesterday, we were excited to be able to join the congregation at the church where my father pastors for their "5th Sunday luncheon." This Sunday was special though, as the church was honoring my mom and dad - to their surprise - for their faithful service to the Lord as they pour out their lives in shepherding this body of believers.

I am so thankful for the ministry of my parents.

Not only have they eternally impacted their children (and our spouses and children),

but they continue to impact lives for the glory of God every day.

Thank you, Mom and Dad,

for being living testimonies of what it looks like to truly 

"be doers of the word,

and not hearers only."

Yes, to GOD be all the glory!   

Our family after the luncheon

(minus my younger brother and his bride, whom we terribly miss!)

I "borrowed" this from my sister-in-law's blog.

Thanks, Lynn! 

And here are just a few more pictures from the weekend.

picture by Grant Premo.

Please check how his sweet (and talented) wife's incredibly fun blog here!

picture by Andrea Hamner (aka Little Red Riding Hood :) 

A little preview of more to come

(hopefully soon - it takes me so long to post pictures sometimes!)

Scripture Memory Monday

I mentioned briefly about the Out of the Boat Bible study that I was able attend last week.  Tollie Meggs, the founder of this ministry and leader behind these monthly studies, 

shared a story that left quite an impression on me.  

She mentioned about her recent mission trip overseas,

specifically regarding the reaction of those in a remote village 

who were hearing the name of Jesus for the first time.

She mentioned how she and her team strung up a sheet between two trees,

cranked up a generator and began showing the Jesus Film via movie projector.

(And God had graciously turned the rain off for the first time that week 

so that this event could take place.)

She said that as she was seeing the footage of this film for about the 100th time, 

the life of our perfect Savior depicted on screen was anything but familiar to these nationals.

First of all, seeing Jesus multiply the few fishes and loaves of bread

to feed the five thousand was overwhelming to them. 

They couldn't fathom seeing food like this and in such abundance!

But she said watching these people ingest a portrayal of 

the perfect Son of God being sacrificed for the sins of a world that hated him

was unforgettable.

In horror and disbelief, 

so many of them lay prostrate, pulling their hair and screaming over and over, 

"Not the good man!"

They could not believe what they were seeing.

A perfect, sinless man

dying on behalf of the sins of the world . . . 

UNFATHOMABLE!!

Tollie Meggs said she was convicted of how familiar this reality had become to her.

I was convicted as well.

The fact that the perfect Son of God 

has draped His righteousness over my life,

granting me salvation and justification (just as if I'd never even sinned!!) . . .   

This is truly the biggest, most shocking thing that's ever happened in history!

And the response of those villagers 

is EXACTLY what my response should be on a daily basis. 

Furthermore, 

what less than my ALL would be good enough to say 

"THANK YOU!"

for what Christ has done for me.

If I have truly encountered Christ, 

having my sins forgiven and His robe of righteousness wrapped around my wretchedness, 

such a reality will affect every part of my life - 

will it not?

If I have been overwhelmed by the reality of Christ's sacrifice on my behalf, 

He should be nothing less than my greatest Treasure in this life.

And if He's my greatest Treasure, 

my children (and all those around me) 

WILL see and hear and know 

- because of the way I live my life day in and day out -

 that nothing else in this life can satisfy the longings of our souls!

Oh, for grace to live this way.

So my prayer today

is that I will never get over what Christ has done on my behalf;

that I will never again be passive regarding His sacrifice for me, 

taking the debt that I owed but could have never paid; 

that I would never think lightly of the fact that 

"For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

(2 Corinthians 5:21);

that I would tell of His glory to my children

and live a life before them and others that

is permeated with a passion for my Savior!

Well, all of this leads me to the passage that the Lord led me to this morning 

that I wish to ponder this week . . . and for the rest of my life!

[1] I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. [2] Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. [3] Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. [4] One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. [5] On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. [6] They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. [7] They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. [8] The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. [9] The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. [10] All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! [11] They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, [12] to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. [13] Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

PSALM 145:1-13 (ESV)

Now as far as memorizing . . .

I'd love to memorize it all!

Yet realistically speaking, I know I won't be able to get that all down this week.

So I decided to focus on verses 4 and 5,

hence the green highlight.

Yet the passage was to good to gut,

and I hope that you are as blessed by this Truth as I was this morning.

May we indeed together

extol our God and King

and bless His name forever and ever (v.1)

for the grace and mercy He has extended to us through the sacrifice of His Son,

Jesus Christ.