In Praise of God

I love this time of year. The weather is warming up, the grass is getting green and it is March Madness time!

I enjoy college basketball, especially because it is something I watch with my teenage son.

My son and I follow the Arizona Wildcats, because I am from Tucson. Each year when the season begins, he gets on the internet and looks up the schedule and we see which games are Nationally televised. When we can, we watch them together. When the tournament rolls around I ask him to print me a bracket (he fills his out on the net now!) and I fill in mine, with my limited knowledge of the teams. We enjoy talking about how we’re doing on our picks. He usually does better!

You see, I purpose to be involved in something that he enjoys. Oh, I like watching the games, but that’s not why I do it. I take an interest in something he enjoys, so that I can spend time with him, engage him in conversation, hear what he has to say. Just hanging out with a teenager over a basketball game is a great way to find out what’s going on in their lives. Spending time with him lays a foundation for a relationship.

You cannot disciple the next generation if you don’t spend time with them.

Go Cats!

For those of us who have grown up in strong Christian homes, or who have been believers for many years, the greatness, majesty and unsearchableness of God can come to be almost as commonplace as chocolate chip cookies and a hug from mom. We serve a great God. We know it. We tell others.

However, just as easily as we can tell of His greatness, we can cease to wonder at it. We take for granted the power God displays in creation. We tell the stories of the battle of Jericho or the raising of Lazarus but too easily tell them with the same admiration we might display for a beautiful new building. It’s not that we aren’t impressed by God, it’s just that we have allowed His greatness to become common place.

One of my sister, Connie’s, photos (taken at dawn from the top of a mountain) reminds me how easily we can cease to wonder at things that are “wonder” full: things like the sun and clouds…and the God who made them.

“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,

That an abundance of water may cover you?. . .

Who can number the clouds by wisdom?. . .

Does the hawk fly by your wisdom,

And spread its wings toward the south?

Does the eagle mount up at your command,

And make its nest on high? . . .

Have you an arm like God?

Or can you thunder with a voice like His?

Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,

And array yourself with glory and beauty.

Selected verses from Job 38-40

May we never cease to wonder at the greatness of our God!

When facing very difficult trials, it can be hard even to know what to do next. As one of my friends goes through a hard time, I have been considering how to encourage and exhort her. One way, I believe, is to help her come up with specific, biblically-based “action points” (if you will).

Here are a few I’ve thought of so far. Feel free to add more in the comments!

• Fix your eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross in our place and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. (Heb. 12:2)

• Tell Bible stories to yourself and others that demonstrate God’s great faithfulness to His people. (Ps. 119:90; Ps. 145:4-12)
  • Daniel living among godless people and surviving the den of lions (Daniel 1-6)
  • The children of Israel having food and clothing throughout 40 years in the wilderness (Deut. 8:1-4)
  • Mary gaining blessing as she joyfully submitted to God’s will even though it meant personal hardship and loss of reputation (Luke 1)
  • Elisha receiving a double portion of Elijah’s spirit as he was about to begin ministry alone (2 Kings 2)
  • Esther being granted favor with authorities to help her people overcome a deadly enemy (Esther)
  • David, who was commended as a man after God’s own heart, still gaining forgiveness for sins again and again (1 Sam. 13:14; Psalm 32, etc.)
  • Job never being out of the sight or control of God even through prolonged suffering–and gaining an ultimate reward (Job)
• Serve others in practical ways - even small ways. (Matt. 20)
• Guard against a root of bitterness taking hold within your heart. (Heb. 12:15)
• Sing. (Ps. 30:4-5)
  
• Get wise counsel. (Prov. 19:20)
• Know that this will not last. (1 Peter 1:6)
• Encourage and exhort one another; stir up one another to love and good deeds as the Day approaches. (Heb. 10:24-25)
• Go about the daily business of life. (Make the bed. Write the report. Change the diaper. Cook the dinner. Discipline the children.) (Gal. 6:9)
• Sleep enough. (As my dad always says, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”) (Ecc. 5:12)
• Honor God by how you take care of your body: Eat enough, and eat healthily. Exercise. (1 Cor. 6:19)
• Fast and pray. (And no, fasting is not in opposition to the previous direction!) (Matt. 6:5-18; 1 Thess. 5:17)
• Give soft answers (Prov. 15:1)
• Listen and think before you make judgments and before you speak. (Prov. 18:2, 13, 15)
• Listen to sermons. (Rom. 10:18; 2 Tim. 4:1-2)
• Read the Word, as well as Christian books. (For a book suggestion, perhaps start with C.J. Mahaney’s book Humility: True Greatness. Chapter 11 is “Responding Humbly to Trials”). (Jos. 1:8; Neh. 8:8; Ps. 119:92-94)
• Meditate on the things of God long enough that, over time, your “head knowledge” begins to affect your feelings, thoughts and actions. (Jos. 1:8; Ps. 1:1-3)
• Thank God for the trial, knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance - character - hope. (Romans 5:3-5; 1 Thess. 5:18)

Those who know me best know that I love books.  At any given time I will be in the midst of reading three, four, even five books with several waiting in the wings (or more correctly, waiting in the bookshelves).  One of the “in the wings” books has recently been advanced to reading status, and a sentence in it has caused me to pause and spend time in praise of God.

The book is The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment by Tim Challies.  The quote is at the bottom of page 39.

“Were it not for  God’s grace, none of us would make any progress in this Christian life.”

Not a new thought, but one which bears faithful remembering.  It is only by the grace of God that anything good comes from my life or efforts.  And so it should be.

“Get wisdom!  Get understanding! . . .

Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;

Love her, and she will keep you.”

Proverbs 4:5-6

I have often cried out to God, telling Him of my need for wisdom and asking Him to give it.  However, until recently, I had primarily thought of wisdom as something to “get” [which it is! (Proverbs 4:5-7)]; but I had not consciously thought of it as something to “love.”

It makes a difference.  It takes wisdom out of merely an “acquisition,” “need,” or “help, I’m lacking this” category and elevates it to “treasure” or “beloved” status (which, of course, is what it truly is).

 “For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,

And her gain than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies,

And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.”

Proverbs 3:14-15

And when we remember that all the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hid in our Savior Jesus Christ, that elevates it still further  to “relationship” status  because the treasured wisdom we need is hid in the Savior we love.

 But what difference has this new “love” made in my every day life?  So far, I see two main differences.

1.  It has caused me to ask myself what I love more than I love wisdom.  Are there things of lesser value that I love and pursue more than wisdom?

2.  It has made me slow down a bit, as I am more aware of my need, not only to diligently study the Word (treasure is seldom found on the surface!), and teach it, but to take time to embrace (hold, clasp, enfold) the wisdom found within its pages.

“Wisdom is the principal thing; 

Therefore get wisdom.

And in all your getting, get understanding.

Exalt her, and she will promote you;

She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.

She will place on you head an ornament of grace;

A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”

Proverbs 4:7-9

I am of the generation who grew up without cell phones, computers or internet. If it were not for my daughter and a few forward-looking friends (and the necessities of this ministry), I would still be living “in the dark ages” without much inclination toward technological advances. Although I have written eight Bible studies, I do not consider myself a writer, but more of an instruction-giver (”Look up this verse,” “Make this list,” and so forth!) who fervently desires to apply God’s Word to every area of daily life and help others do the same.

And so, it is with a bit of trepidation that I enter the world of blogging; however, mixed with that is also a sense of anticipation. What will God see fit to do through this forum and ministry? Only time will tell, but my prayer is that He will use it to exalt Himself, encourage and sanctify His people, and further equip us to disciple the next generation.

One of my most treasured books is The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions. In it, there is a prayer that is fitting for the beginning of any new journey or the continuation of those ongoing. As you read the following excerpt, may your heart, as mine, be drawn to worship and prayer!

JOURNEYING ON

. . . My hands hold a pilgrim’s staff,

My march is Zionward,

My eyes are toward the coming of the Lord,

My heart is in thy hands without reserve.

Thou has created it,

renewed it,

captured it,

conquered it . . .

I love thee with soul, mind, body, strength,

might, spirit, affection, will,

desire, intellect, understanding . . .

Thou art worthy of an adoration greater than my dull heart can yield;

Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily to thee,

tightly entwine itself round thee,

be allured by thee.

Then shall my walk be endless praise.