Sunday, August 23, 2009

My heart is breaking for you

Gather Round, Ye Children Come Listen to the Old, Old Story.........

God made man in His image.  Adam and Eve lived with God in perfect unity.  They ate freely from the tree of Life.  Adam and Eve walked with God.  The reality of God was before their faces.  Adam and Eve rebelled against their Creator and the lover of their souls.  Adam and Eve  were cast out of the garden.  They could no longer eat from the tree of Life.  Death, terror, murder, anxiety, rape, hunger entered the world.  The horror Adam and Eve must have felt can not be thought of.  They remembered what they had left and they knew they must raise their children in this fallen world.  We are the sons of Adam and Eve.  Far removed from the garden.  We still live in a fallen world.  We read the stories of the priests offering sacrifices for the sins of the people.  We see the picture from early on in Genesis that blood must be paid for sins.  Sin must be punished.  God in His great mercy sent His Son to redeem His children back to Himself.  His Son came, lived a perfect life,  took on the sins of all those who would believe, He died, but on the third day, HE ROSE.  He rose victorious over sin.  God's children can now return to Him.  No more would the blood of animals be needed.  The blood of Christ paid the penalty in full.  For everyone who would repent and believe new life is offered.  The children of God now have full access to the true of life once more through the blood of Christ.  How good is this story, how true is this story.  I forget this story.  I take this story for granted.  I forget it when I go to sleep at night.  Won't you remind me in the morning.  Won't you remind me of reality?  The reality that Christ is truly Risen and seated at the Right hand of God the Father.  That we serving a living Christ, a loving Christ.  

We must get back to the basics.  Scripture is true.  The story that God has penned really does penetrate hearts and transform sinners.  I need no other knowledge outside of the saving knowledge of God's word.  Is the story making a difference in your life?  Is it making a difference in my life?  Do I daily remember the story?  It tells me all I need to know:  where I came from, where I am now, and where I am headed.  

We get into trouble when we leave the story.  When we venture beyond the Word.  Philosophy will not save the soul.  The gospel that I make up or even the one I believe won't save the soul.  The gospel of Jesus Christ, found in the inspired Word of God will save the soul.  

Don't forsake the Word of God.  Don't venture beyond it's pages.  To the seminarian who spends all day huddled over a book, who can recite the 5 points of Calvinism but can't remember the last time he/she shared the gospel....return to the pages of Scripture.  We are called to action.  To the postmodern believer...STOP, return to the literal, inspired Word of God.  Don't forsake truth.  Don't by into Satan's lies that all roads lead to the same place or the notion that God will let everyone in.  Read the pages of Scripture.  Cling to the story, forsake lies, be moved to action.  Scream at the top of your lungs like the prophet Ezekiel..."Why would you die O man, why would you die."

I have often found that people tend to cling to one verse of Scripture.  I do believe this is beneficial.  But how much more beneficial to cling to the story as a whole.  We need the whole story.  Example:  If you go on visit someone in the hospital.  Don't run in with Romans 8:28...they are living this verse...in fact there hearts probably ring truer with the truth of this verse than yours.  Take the story.  The reason why sickness feels so wrong is because we were made for eternity.  We weren't meant for sickness.  Sickness is a result of the fall.  But God has redeemed and has a purpose even in sickness.  Our bodies will be raised one day.  Our souls have been remade.  Now we cry, death where is your sting.  Because we are headed back to Eden.  This is reality....Christ is victorious even over sickness.

I love the song below:  Remember it's true.  Live life in the reality of Jesus Christ...in the story He has written.  Tell yourself it's true..

In your heart you hope it's true
Though you hold no expectation
In the deepest part of you
there's an open hesitation

But it's true
Kingdoms and crowns
The God who came down
To find you




Sunday, August 9, 2009

"This is my season."


A mentor of mine told me while I was pregnant "Enjoy your season.  It's short and enjoy it."  What she was meaning of course is that this little boy I was about ready to give birth to would grow quickly.  And that I had a window or season for me to be the most central person in his life.  I remember these words daily.  It's why I decided to not go back to work even though money would be tight.  This is my season.  It will be for some time.  But I am aware that the day will come when I will release the arrow that I sweated over into the world.  I pray for the woman he will marry daily.  His life is before my eyes.  I pray for a balance of mothering that will allow me to love him deeply but give him up joyfully.  I look into these big blue eyes and see such a future.  A future of standing behind him rooting him on.  Of loving my son unconditionally.  Of picking him up when he falls.  Of guiding his life.  By grace pointing him to the cross.  Of one day by grace seeing him bow His knee to King Jesus.  
I can see it in mothers eyes when I walk past.  Eyes of remembering when they held their children as infants.  Longing eyes that want to remember what it was like to be a new mom.   Eyes that have proudly watch their children age.  I see through their eyes to hearts that have stored up precious memories of their children.  I think it's why all mothers love to hold newborn babies.  
I pray for no regrets here.  I pray to savor every second.  To cherish every moment.  To never wish him to be older or to be at the next stage of parenting.  "This is my season."  I refuse to let it pass by without notice.  I will store up my memories and understand the treasures they are.  I will pray him through every step of his life God-willing.  And one day by grace I will be ready to let him go with no regrets.  The "this is my season" advice is one of the best pieces of advice I have received.  I'm actively storing away memories of him.  The way he smiles first thing in the morning.  The way he lovingly looks at Drew and I.  The precious face he makes when Drew showers him.  The way he kicks his legs when he gets excited.  Memories of him nursing.  The first time he rolled over, the first time him laughed, etc. 
We took Cal swimming yesterday.  It was SO much fun.  He loved it!  Didn't cry at all.  I even put him almost all the way under.  He looked at me like "I trust you Mom."  I personally believe we have the most adorable baby in the world:)  Have I said yet that I absolutely LOVE staying home.  Best job I have ever had!  I'm so thankful that I'm able to stay home this year.