Category: Thinking Things Through
January 18th, 2010
Reading
Posted by Tricia at 3:07 am
A couple of posts back, I mentioned a resolution of sorts I am hoping to fulfill in 2010: Reading Through my 90 Day Bible…but not necessarily in 90 days! As I expected, I am not tracking well with the “read 12 pages a day” plan so far, but I have been happy with my progress, and am steadily working my way through. I’ve enjoyed the large print a ton, and love the themes I see recurring. Taking up the 90 Day Bible has been enlightening in many ways; one thing I’ve learned for sure is that on most days, I truly do not have a full hour’s segment in my day to set aside for reading (meaning all reading outside of school work with the children). Reading those 12 pages takes about an hour if I am truly paying attention and following what is going on.
Just to make the progress in my 90 Day Bible even easier, I have picked up an additional four, yes four books this month, all of which I am having trouble tearing myself away from. Here are my current reads, in no particular order, along with a brief plot summary/explanation – all of which I have stolen from reviewers who write more concisely, and, let’s face it, with much more skill than I!
The Woman In White:
is an epistolary novel written by Wilkie Collins in 1859, serialized in 1859–1860, and first published in book form in 1860. It is considered to be among the first mystery novels and is widely regarded as one of the first (and finest) in the genre of “sensation novels”. (Thank you, Wikipedia!). My mother and SIL read this selection for a book club, and highly recommended it to me. I am enjoying the story immensely, and let’s just say it is a bit more of a scintillating read than the much more vapid four book series of novels I recently finished. I think we all know which books I refer to.
Death By Suburb
is our church home group’s current book; we just began reading and discussing this together, and I am thrilled with it thus far. Here is what a review had to say: Suburban life, if pursued unheedingly, “obscures the real Jesus,” writes Goetz in Death by Suburb. “Too much of the good life ends up being toxic, deforming us spiritually.” But if obscured, Jesus is there somewhere, and Goetz’s book aims to help suburbanites find him in the ocean of lattÉs, in the aisles of Pottery Barn, and in the bleachers at the soccer field: “You don’t have to hole up in a monastery to experience the fullness of God. Your cul-de-sac and subdivision are as good a place as any.”
Goetz identifies eight “environmental toxins” that plague suburbia and offers a spiritual practice to purge each toxin from your system and help you realize that “even in suburbia all moments are infused with the Sacred.” By packaging his insights in this self-helpy formula—7 habits, 8 practices, 40 days to a more authentic Christian life—Goetz obviously opens himself up to criticism: this blueprint recapitulates some of the very problems of the suburban mindset that he is trying to offset. But I suspect he knew what he was doing, and chose the idiom to convey a subversive message to his target audience.
A Quest for More:
is the book we are working through on Wednesday nights at church. I believe the content here will dovetail nicely with the meat of Death By Suburb, the overall effect being one that assures me that I, on my own, putting forth my very best spiritual efforts are worth only so much scum — let’s just say that after a week reading both of them, I am fairly unimpressed with the shallow nature of my own little kingdom. Thankfully, Jesus uses the weak!
Here’s what a reviewer had to say about A Quest for More: Paul David Tripp expertly traverses the deepest recesses of the human heart and compassionately invites fellow Christian travelers to journey with him into God s bigger kingdom. The author promises readers that they will be encouraged, excited, and motivated by hope as they learn how to set aside their little kingdom attachments which can expertly masquerade within the church as Christian activism, legalism, emotionalism, formalism, creedalism, and externalism; in favor of God s expansive and soul-freeing eternal quest. Tripp demonstrates though sound biblical principles how humanity is made by God to transcend far beyond the mere physical realm and is likewise created to be glory junkies; those whose visionary lives are governed by God s grand purposes rather than existing only within their narrow self-interested confines. Writes the author, It is a fundamental denial of your humanity to narrow the size of your life to the size of your own existence, because you were created to be an above and more being. You were made to be transcendent. Tripp then shows Christians how to transcend through daily, moment-by-moment, practical methodology that transforms individuals into the image of Christ. It is within this purpose-driven framework, this Quest for More, that Paul Tripp compels believers to see beyond the worldly deception of personal achievement, success, materialism, in order to break free from this ungodly fulfillment that is too easily satisfied with a mediocre walk with Christ. Instead the author invites committed sojourners to a life characterized by an unyielding passion that pursues God simply for the pleasure of His glorious company and in the process, affect eternal change in a hurting, hopeless world.
Lastly, There Is No Me Without You.
I have seen this book recommended here, there, and everywhere. All the heart-breaking news coming out of Haiti this week made me yearn to learn a bit more about some of the real suffering that goes on in our modern-day world. This book isn’t about something that happened in long-ago history; it chronicles the tragedy that so many people, and especially orphans, face each and every day in a far-away land called Africa.
The horrific numbers behind the AIDS pandemic in Africa, “the most terrible epidemic in human history,” have little resonance for most people in the West: “the ridiculous numbers wash over most of us.” But this searing account humanizes the statistics through heartbreaking, intimate stories of what it is like for young orphans left alone in Ethiopia. Greene’s story focuses on one rescuer, Haregewoin Teferra, who has opened her home and compound in a rickety hillside neighborhood of Addis Ababa and taken in hundreds of the untouchables thrown in the streets and left at her door. She cannot turn them away. Yes, the comparisons with Mother Teresa are there, but this is no hagiography; the middle-aged Teferra is “just an average person with a little more heart.” Greene tells the stories in unforgettable vignettes of loss, secrecy, panic, stigma, and, sometimes, hope, even as she documents the big picture of “the human landslide,” the history and science of epidemiology and transmission, and expresses her fury at the “crimes against humanity” of the multinational drug companies whose expensive patents have denied millions access to the life-saving medicines. Just as moving are the personal stories of international adoptions in the U. S., including two Ethiopian children taken into Greene’s own Atlanta family. The detail of one lost child at a time, who finds love, laughter, comfort, and connection, opens up the universal meaning of family.
In the past I had hopes of setting up a “Currently Reading” tab on the right side of our bloggy page. If I can twist the arm of my techie-guy, this might happen. But for now, if you’ll excuse me: I really have no business spending any more time blogging…my books are all a-calling!
Posted by Tricia at 10:00 pm
I am a procrastinator, pure and simple. Why do today what I can put off till tomorrow?? Sad, but true. Not always, but in many aspects of my life I struggle with procrastination. Or as I prefer to think of it, “Having a lot of amazing ideas of what clever things I will do next time I have nothing else looming to do”. Hah!
So if you should ever happen to visit my humble casa, one item you will often see on my counters are a group of dark colored (some would call them “rotting”) bananas. Because well, once they get past the point of being edible with breakfast, no one wants to eat them. I of course always have great plans to turn them into banana bread or banana muffins or (our favorite) banana chocolate chip pancakes….tomorrow. And then, the next day. And so on….
Failing to actually set aside time in my day to make the dreamed-of banana bread, I finally toss the now-black bananas into the freezer. Which truly can work – they will last now until I am ready to use them in a recipe! But they always seem to be precariously stored while still in “bunch” form. And inevitably one of these bunches of frozen black bananas will fly off the door shelf when my husband is rummaging in the freezer for something, and hit him in the head, or cause some other equally annoying and painful injury.
Well, as usual, I have had a nice group of blackening bananas adorning my counter for the greater part of a week now. Until tonight when I had a super-fantastic idea:
I peeled the bananas, popped their insides into plastic ziplok baggies, and stuck them all into the freezer. Just like that. Where they will wait until I am ready to cook them into some delicious bakedy-goodness of some variety.
No longer will I have ugly black bananas on the counter. No more frightening freezer fruit projectiles to injure my sweet husband when he forages for ice cream. I think I have hit on something fabulous, and because I like all of you so much, Dear Readers, I had to share this revelation with you.
So, how long do you suppose it will take me in the future to start procrastinating about actually peeling and freezing the overripe bananas that grace my kitchen counters? Hmmmmm…..let’s just not go there tonight!
Posted by Tricia at 8:58 pm
Tonight I did something in the kitchen that I haven’t done in a very long, long time. In fact I cannot even remember the last time…
All by myself, after supper, while the kids were taking baths/showers, I emptied the dishwasher!
Why don’t I ever empty the dishwasher anymore?? Because these days I have a host of little people around the house who are absolutely capable of accomplishing this task, and each day they take care of it for me, the sweet things. Only the 10 and 8 year old deal in breakables; the 7 year old empties “non-breakables” and the 4 year old helps at random, very enthusiastically, but definitely still learning. He started trying to help with the dishwasher because he watched his big siblings work at it, and wanted to help too.
Earlier this week, the 4 year old began making his bed all by himself, and not because I taught him. He has watched his big brothers, whom he shares a room with, and he hears me each day praise their efforts. Monday morning he proudly called me to his room where he pointed triumphantly to a very well made-up bed, especially for a 4 year old’s first effort. And I was delighted!! To think: after all these years of teaching the older ones how to do chores, they now not only complete their own work, they are training the baby of the family too…what a deal!
Of course there are days when chores are not done cheerfully, and Mommy must urge and nudge and yes, even perhaps threaten…but on the whole I am blessed with sweet help from my children.
So, all this talk of dishes and bed-making prompts me to ask you, Dear Reader: what do you do around your house about Kids’n'Chores?? Do your kids do any? Do they do none? Do they do it all while you lounge on the couch and pop Godiva chocolates into your mouth one by one??
If your children help around the house, how do you organize chores for each one, and if they attend traditional school (as opposed to home-schooling), when do they usually accomplish their chores?? Do you pay allowances for helping, or not?? How do you deal with bad attitudes toward helping around the house?
Please do chime in with your two cents on this topic; it is always great to hear ideas from other parents! I have heard many a parent groan that it is just easier to do the housework themselves rather than go through the agony of trying to teach their children to take responsibility and ownership of chores, but I think I am finding out that once the kids learn, the entire family reaps the benefit of everyone pitching in to help as they are able.
So, pull up your favorite comfy chair, enjoy a warm cup of coffee (I will bring the Godiva chocolates!) and let’s chat chores!
Posted by Tricia at 9:09 pm
This year we are learning Ancient History from Story of the World
with a supplemental text for Abigail to study in addition,
plus a good variety of library reads and historical literature thrown in.
Unfortunately our six weeks of sickness have slowed our progress in this subject considerably. Though we are way past early man and well into Ancient Egypt, I have put off most of our hands-on projects this past month, and we are only now getting around to enjoying some of these fun activities.
Yesterday afternoon to the children’s delight, I promised them that we would create “cave paintings” ! We spent some time looking at several examples of actual paintings that have been discovered in well-preserved form:
This one is from a place in France called Lascaux:
and one from Altamira, Spain:
and another from Ancient France:
and finally another from Spain:
We did our best to note special characteristics of this early art form. Then we spent about an hour making some paintings of our own…and each child put their own special touches on their masterpieces.
Here they are, hard at work:
I bet if you look at the pictures below you can figure out which painting is the one our girlie drew, and which ones the boys drew. When Abigail thinks of the Ancients, she envisions happy, peaceful animals in a calm, pastoral setting. The boys are clearly more interested in warfare and hunts. Even the 4 year old insists that there is a dead guy, arrows, and several hideous beasts depicted in his masterpiece.
Abigail drew some serene-looking horses: in the middle is the mother horse, there are cliffs either side; there is a cloud in the sky, and the mother’s colt runs below.
Jonathan’s painting depicts a bull, a stag, and a boar being hunted by5 cavemen. Two of the three animals are already dripping with blood…their deaths are imminent.
Nicolas’ drawing shows a buck being shot with arrows (notice the gory blood spurting from its neck), by a hunting party, and one poor soul who was done in by the buck before the animal was hit. He’s the dude on the ground with x’s for eyes, in case you couldn’t tell.
Here is Josiah’s word-for-word description of his “cave painting”
“There is a dead person and it’s Indiana Jones’ dad, and then Indy went into the big deadly cave and only he survived it. And fire burned all the persons that were not brave and they got dead, and only Indiana Jones survived the cave. And the dead person was alive again, and Indiana Jones went back home by “hisself”. Also his dad was going hunting. But then his dad was too tired, and so Indy was making some soup for his dad. Then Indiana Jones’ dad quickly went back home, and he had some of the soup.”
Once again we smile at the innate differences God created in men and women and how they show up so clearly at such a young age!
Posted by Tricia at 12:15 pm
then take my advice and just SKIP this bloggy entry, m’kay friends?
You’d think on the Sabbath I’d have something uplifting and spiritually encouraging to share with you. Not today, readers, so sorry!
This morning I stayed home from church with a little boy whose tummy hurt him. After spending some time with him, I turned my attentions to tidying up a bit. That’s when I remembered those pillar candles and the hurricanes which still needed to be cleaned out.
The other day when I tossed the “grubby” acorns (into a sealed bag for my FIL who may just find a use for the disgusting little creatures), I left the candles and hurricanes as they were. This morning I figured I’d wash them out. When I went back to look at them, I was surprised at how much loose powdery wax was at the bottom of the hurricanes. I had assumed maybe all the acorns in the container had somehow loosened little bits of wax from the outsides of the candles. I was wrong.
Picking up a pillar candle and examining it, I was horrified to see little holes all around the base, and a tiny creature inhabiting each hole. Evidently our acorn grubs liked the idea of setting up house inside the vanilla scented candles, for they had created a small apartment complex for them to nest in. Housekeeping was already set up and they were in the process of decorating for the holidays.
I spent almost an hour extracting these disgusting little things from each candle base, all the while telling myself not to puke over the ickiness of it all. And then after all that work, I asked myself the obvious question: why in the world I had bothered? Did I really want to put these particular pillar candles back on my dining room table?? Hmmm??
Once again I find myself thinking it would have been wise to have just bought those Pottery Barn acorns in the first place. Because tomorrow I will spend yet more $$ as I venture back to Hobby Lobby for some grub-free candles.
Posted by Jay at 1:15 pm
I was listening to Leviticus on the drive into work today, and made a connection of sorts. In Leviticus 11 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Leviticus 11 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F03011001-03011047" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F03011001-03011047" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p03011001.01-1">Clean and Unclean Animals</h3>
<p id="p03011001.05-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v03011001-1">11:1 </span>And the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011002-1">2 </span>“Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011003-1">3 </span>Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011004-1">4 </span>Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011005-1">5 </span>And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011006-1">6 </span>And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011007-1">7 </span>And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011008-1">8 </span>You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.</p>
<p id="p03011009.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v03011009-1">9 </span>“These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011010-1">10 </span>But anything in the seas or the rivers that has not fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011011-1">11 </span>You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011012-1">12 </span>Everything in the waters that has not fins and scales is detestable to you.</p>
<p id="p03011013.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v03011013-1">13 </span>“And these you shall detest among the birds;<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Or 'things that fly'; compare Genesis 1:20">[1]</a></span> they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f2" id="b2" title="The identity of many of these birds is uncertain">[2]</a></span> the bearded vulture, the black vulture, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011014-1">14 </span>the kite, the falcon of any kind, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011015-1">15 </span>every raven of any kind, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011016-1">16 </span>the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011017-1">17 </span>the little owl, the cormorant, the short-eared owl, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011018-1">18 </span>the barn owl, the tawny owl, the carrion vulture, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011019-1">19 </span>the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.</p>
<p id="p03011020.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v03011020-1">20 </span>“All winged insects that go on all fours are detestable to you. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011021-1">21 </span>Yet among the winged insects that go on all fours you may eat those that have jointed legs above their feet, with which to hop on the ground. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011022-1">22 </span>Of them you may eat: the locust of any kind, the bald locust of any kind, the cricket of any kind, and the grasshopper of any kind. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011023-1">23 </span>But all other winged insects that have four feet are detestable to you.</p>
<p id="p03011024.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v03011024-1">24 </span>“And by these you shall become unclean. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011025-1">25 </span>and whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011026-1">26 </span>Every animal that parts the hoof but is not cloven-footed or does not chew the cud is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them shall be unclean. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011027-1">27 </span>And all that walk on their paws, among the animals that go on all fours, are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011028-1">28 </span>and he who carries their carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening; they are unclean to you.</p>
<p id="p03011029.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v03011029-1">29 </span>“And these are unclean to you among the swarming things that swarm on the ground: the mole rat, the mouse, the great lizard of any kind, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011030-1">30 </span>the gecko, the monitor lizard, the lizard, the sand lizard, and the chameleon. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011031-1">31 </span>These are unclean to you among all that swarm. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011032-1">32 </span>And anything on which any of them falls when they are dead shall be unclean, whether it is an article of wood or a garment or a skin or a sack, any article that is used for any purpose. It must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the evening; then it shall be clean. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011033-1">33 </span>And if any of them falls into any earthenware vessel, all that is in it shall be unclean, and you shall break it. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011034-1">34 </span>Any food in it that could be eaten, on which water comes, shall be unclean. And all drink that could be drunk from every such vessel shall be unclean. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011035-1">35 </span>And everything on which any part of their carcass falls shall be unclean. Whether oven or stove, it shall be broken in pieces. They are unclean and shall remain unclean for you. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011036-1">36 </span>Nevertheless, a spring or a cistern holding water shall be clean, but whoever touches a carcass in them shall be unclean. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011037-1">37 </span>And if any part of their carcass falls upon any seed grain that is to be sown, it is clean, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011038-1">38 </span>but if water is put on the seed and any part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.</p>
<p id="p03011039.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v03011039-1">39 </span>“And if any animal which you may eat dies, whoever touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011040-1">40 </span>and whoever eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. And whoever carries the carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.</p>
<p id="p03011041.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v03011041-1">41 </span>“Every swarming thing that swarms on the ground is detestable; it shall not be eaten. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011042-1">42 </span>Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, any swarming thing that swarms on the ground, you shall not eat, for they are detestable. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011043-1">43 </span>You shall not make yourselves detestable with any swarming thing that swarms, and you shall not defile yourselves with them, and become unclean through them. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011044-1">44 </span>For I am the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. <span class="verse-num" id="v03011045-1">45 </span>For I am the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”</p>
<p id="p03011046.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v03011046-1">46 </span>This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, <span class="verse-num" id="v03011047-1">47 </span>to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
<div class="footnotes">
<h3>Footnotes</h3>
<p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">11:13</span> Or <em>things that fly</em>; compare Genesis 1:20
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b2" id="f2">[2]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">11:13</span> The identity of many of these birds is uncertain
</p>
</div>
</div>
, we learn that when something unclean falls into a container, everything in the container is made unclean. Leviticus 11:36 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Leviticus 11:36 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F03011036" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F03011036" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p03011036.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v03011036-1">36 </span>Nevertheless, a spring or a cistern holding water shall be clean, but whoever touches a carcass in them shall be unclean. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
, however, makes an exception for springs and cisterns, which remain clean in spite of contact with uncleanliness.
This reminded me of John 7:38 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>John 7:38 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F43007038" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F43007038" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p43007038.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v43007038-1">38 </span><span class="woc">Whoever believes in me, as<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Or 'let him come to me, and let him who believes in me drink. As'">[1]</a></span> the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”</span> (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
<div class="footnotes">
<h3>Footnotes</h3>
<p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">7:38</span> Or <em>let him come to me, and let him who believes in me drink. As</em>
</p>
</div>
</div>
, where Jesus says, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” We often summarize the New Testament as setting aside the ceremonial aspects of the law, including the Levitical clean/unclean laws. Interestingly, it seems that very law provides the mechanism for its obsolescence. If we are springs of living water, abounding with life, death cannot stick to us. We cannot be made unclean by something unclean contacting us.
Posted by Jay at 5:16 pm
How many times have I read Philippians 4:6-7 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Philippians 4:6-7 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F50004006-50004007" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F50004006-50004007" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p50004006.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v50004006-1">6 </span>do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. <span class="verse-num" id="v50004007-1">7 </span>And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
? Hundreds? Certainly. Thousands? Maybe. Yet a few weeks ago in our Sunday liturgy, we said those verses as a congregation, and I heard something entirely new.
Wind back to November of last year. It had been a terrific few months at Viewzi. However, we hit the wall on our fundraising with the downturn in October, and by November payroll was, well, not. We all kept working at it, and the company has continued to have some success by shifting focus to more immediate, revenue-driving projects. However, the new approach really wasn’t a fit for my contribution. I’ve continued to office with the guys and collaborate on some opportunities, but by the time I heard the Philippians passage that Sunday in late March, I had been over 4 months without a paycheck.
February was the low point for me. Interestingly, our church’s service also played a key role then as well. We sang that wonderful rendition of Psalm 130 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Psalm 130 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19130001-19130008" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F19130001-19130008" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p19130001.01-1">My Soul Waits for the Lord</h3>
<h4 class="psalm-title" id="p19130001.07-1">A Song of Ascents.</h4>
<div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p19130001.11-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v19130001-1">130:1 </span>Out of the depths I cry to you, O <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>!<br />
<span class="indent"></span><span class="verse-num" id="v19130002-1">2 </span>O Lord, hear my voice!<br />
Let your ears be attentive<br />
<span class="indent"></span>to the voice of my pleas for mercy!</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19130003.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19130003-1">3 </span>If you, O <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, should mark iniquities,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>O Lord, who could stand?<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19130004-1">4 </span>But with you there is forgiveness,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>that you may be feared.</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19130005.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19130005-1">5 </span>I wait for the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, my soul waits,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and in his word I hope;<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19130006-1">6 </span>my soul waits for the Lord<br />
<span class="indent"></span>more than watchmen for the morning,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>more than watchmen for the morning.</p>
<p class="line-group" id="p19130007.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v19130007-1">7 </span>O Israel, hope in the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>!<br />
<span class="indent"></span>For with the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> there is steadfast love,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>and with him is plentiful redemption.<br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v19130008-1">8 </span>And he will redeem Israel<br />
<span class="indent"></span>from all his iniquities. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
, and I sang it quietly to myself each day for weeks as I learned to patiently wait on the Lord. Now in March I was doing pretty well in terms of my outlook. I’d even started a couple ventures that were starting to generate revenue. And we said Philippians 4:6-7 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Philippians 4:6-7 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F50004006-50004007" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F50004006-50004007" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p50004006.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v50004006-1">6 </span>do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. <span class="verse-num" id="v50004007-1">7 </span>And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
in the liturgy, and it was like I heard it for the first time.
What had I always heard before? That God’s peace goes beyond anything we can make sense of. We experience his peace in circumstances that should not lead to peace. And I think this is exactly what the verses state, yet I’m now convinced there is even more.
What causes worry? When do we wallow in worry instead of experiencing peace? I’d suggest the Bible’s admonitions exactly match our experience. In Matthew 6 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Matthew 6 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F40006001-40006034" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F40006001-40006034" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p40006001.01-1">Giving to the Needy</h3>
<p id="p40006001.05-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v40006001-1">6:1 </span><span class="woc">“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.</span></p>
<p class="chapter-first" id="p40006002.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006002-1">2 </span><span class="woc">“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006003-1">3 </span><span class="woc">But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006004-1">4 </span><span class="woc">so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.</span></p>
<h3 id="p40006005.01-1">The Lord's Prayer</h3>
<p id="p40006005.04-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006005-1">5 </span><span class="woc">“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006006-1">6 </span><span class="woc">But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.</span></p>
<p id="p40006007.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006007-1">7 </span><span class="woc">“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006008-1">8 </span><span class="woc">Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006009-1">9 </span><span class="woc">Pray then like this:</span></p>
<div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p40006009.05-1"><span class="woc">“Our Father in heaven,<br />
hallowed be your name.<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Or 'Let your name be kept holy', or 'Let your name be treated with reverence'">[1]</a></span></span><br />
<span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006010-1">10 </span><span class="woc">Your kingdom come,<br />
your will be done,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f2" id="b2" title="Or 'Let your kingdom come, let your will be done'">[2]</a></span><br />
<span class="indent"></span>on earth as it is in heaven.</span><br />
<span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006011-1">11 </span><span class="woc">Give us this day our daily bread,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f3" id="b3" title="Or 'our bread for tomorrow'">[3]</a></span></span><br />
<span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006012-1">12 </span><span class="woc">and forgive us our debts,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>as we also have forgiven our debtors.</span><br />
<span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006013-1">13 </span><span class="woc">And lead us not into temptation,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>but deliver us from evil.<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f4" id="b4" title="Or 'the evil one'; some manuscripts add 'For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen'">[4]</a></span></span></p>
</div>
<p class="same-paragraph" id="p40006014.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006014-1">14 </span><span class="woc">For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006015-1">15 </span><span class="woc">but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.</span></p>
<h3 id="p40006016.01-1">Fasting</h3>
<p id="p40006016.02-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006016-1">16 </span><span class="woc">“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006017-1">17 </span><span class="woc">But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006018-1">18 </span><span class="woc">that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.</span></p>
<h3 id="p40006019.01-1">Lay Up Treasures in Heaven</h3>
<p id="p40006019.06-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006019-1">19 </span><span class="woc">“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f5" id="b5" title="Or 'worm'; also verse 20">[5]</a></span> destroy and where thieves break in and steal,</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006020-1">20 </span><span class="woc">but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006021-1">21 </span><span class="woc">For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.</span></p>
<p id="p40006022.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006022-1">22 </span><span class="woc">“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006023-1">23 </span><span class="woc">but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!</span></p>
<p id="p40006024.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006024-1">24 </span><span class="woc">“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f6" id="b6" title="Greek 'mammon', a Semitic word for money or possessions">[6]</a></span></span></p>
<h3 id="p40006025.01-1">Do Not Be Anxious</h3>
<p id="p40006025.05-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006025-1">25 </span><span class="woc">“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?</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006026-1">26 </span><span class="woc">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?</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006027-1">27 </span><span class="woc">And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f7" id="b7" title="Or 'a single cubit to his stature'; a 'cubit' was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters">[7]</a></span></span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006028-1">28 </span><span class="woc">And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006029-1">29 </span><span class="woc">yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006030-1">30 </span><span class="woc">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 clothe you, O you of little faith?</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006031-1">31 </span><span class="woc">Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006032-1">32 </span><span class="woc">For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006033-1">33 </span><span class="woc">But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.</span></p>
<p id="p40006034.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006034-1">34 </span><span class="woc">“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.</span> (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
<div class="footnotes">
<h3>Footnotes</h3>
<p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:9</span> Or <em>Let your name be kept holy</em>, or <em>Let your name be treated with reverence</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b2" id="f2">[2]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:10</span> Or <em>Let your kingdom come, let your will be done</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b3" id="f3">[3]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:11</span> Or <em>our bread for tomorrow</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b4" id="f4">[4]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:13</span> Or <em>the evil one</em>; some manuscripts add <em>For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b5" id="f5">[5]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:19</span> Or <em>worm</em>; also verse 20
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b6" id="f6">[6]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:24</span> Greek <em>mammon</em>, a Semitic word for money or possessions
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b7" id="f7">[7]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:27</span> Or <em>a single cubit to his stature</em>; a <em>cubit</em> was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
</p>
</div>
</div>
, Jesus asks us if we can add one moment to our life by worrying. We are told not to worry for food, clothing, or shelter, that God knows our needs. That we should think about today, and not fret about tomorrow.
There it is. We worry about the future. And Tricia and I, as we went months without income, worried. Tricia summed it up so well one evening when she told me, “If you told me we’d be in this situation for another 6 months, and then it would end, I’d be okay.” The situation wasn’t the only stress, it was our fears for the unknown future that were killing us. Not knowing was at the heart of the worry.
We worry because we do not know the future. We may mourn for what we do know or experience, we may experience real hardship, but we worry because of what we do not know. As we read Philippians 4:6-7 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Philippians 4:6-7 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F50004006-50004007" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F50004006-50004007" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p50004006.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v50004006-1">6 </span>do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. <span class="verse-num" id="v50004007-1">7 </span>And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
in church, I suddenly heard it this way, “and the peace of God, which is of more value than knowing”. We don’t know the future. But God does. And his peace, which he brings us, is of far more value than us knowing, even knowing the future.
What is the antidote to our worries? From this point of view, Philippians 4:6-7 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Philippians 4:6-7 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F50004006-50004007" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F50004006-50004007" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p50004006.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v50004006-1">6 </span>do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. <span class="verse-num" id="v50004007-1">7 </span>And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
</div>
</div>
and Matthew 6 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Matthew 6 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F40006001-40006034" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F40006001-40006034" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p40006001.01-1">Giving to the Needy</h3>
<p id="p40006001.05-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v40006001-1">6:1 </span><span class="woc">“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.</span></p>
<p class="chapter-first" id="p40006002.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006002-1">2 </span><span class="woc">“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006003-1">3 </span><span class="woc">But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006004-1">4 </span><span class="woc">so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.</span></p>
<h3 id="p40006005.01-1">The Lord's Prayer</h3>
<p id="p40006005.04-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006005-1">5 </span><span class="woc">“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006006-1">6 </span><span class="woc">But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.</span></p>
<p id="p40006007.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006007-1">7 </span><span class="woc">“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006008-1">8 </span><span class="woc">Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006009-1">9 </span><span class="woc">Pray then like this:</span></p>
<div class="block-indent">
<p class="line-group" id="p40006009.05-1"><span class="woc">“Our Father in heaven,<br />
hallowed be your name.<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Or 'Let your name be kept holy', or 'Let your name be treated with reverence'">[1]</a></span></span><br />
<span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006010-1">10 </span><span class="woc">Your kingdom come,<br />
your will be done,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f2" id="b2" title="Or 'Let your kingdom come, let your will be done'">[2]</a></span><br />
<span class="indent"></span>on earth as it is in heaven.</span><br />
<span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006011-1">11 </span><span class="woc">Give us this day our daily bread,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f3" id="b3" title="Or 'our bread for tomorrow'">[3]</a></span></span><br />
<span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006012-1">12 </span><span class="woc">and forgive us our debts,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>as we also have forgiven our debtors.</span><br />
<span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006013-1">13 </span><span class="woc">And lead us not into temptation,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>but deliver us from evil.<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f4" id="b4" title="Or 'the evil one'; some manuscripts add 'For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen'">[4]</a></span></span></p>
</div>
<p class="same-paragraph" id="p40006014.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006014-1">14 </span><span class="woc">For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006015-1">15 </span><span class="woc">but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.</span></p>
<h3 id="p40006016.01-1">Fasting</h3>
<p id="p40006016.02-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006016-1">16 </span><span class="woc">“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006017-1">17 </span><span class="woc">But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006018-1">18 </span><span class="woc">that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.</span></p>
<h3 id="p40006019.01-1">Lay Up Treasures in Heaven</h3>
<p id="p40006019.06-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006019-1">19 </span><span class="woc">“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f5" id="b5" title="Or 'worm'; also verse 20">[5]</a></span> destroy and where thieves break in and steal,</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006020-1">20 </span><span class="woc">but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006021-1">21 </span><span class="woc">For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.</span></p>
<p id="p40006022.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006022-1">22 </span><span class="woc">“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006023-1">23 </span><span class="woc">but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!</span></p>
<p id="p40006024.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006024-1">24 </span><span class="woc">“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f6" id="b6" title="Greek 'mammon', a Semitic word for money or possessions">[6]</a></span></span></p>
<h3 id="p40006025.01-1">Do Not Be Anxious</h3>
<p id="p40006025.05-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006025-1">25 </span><span class="woc">“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?</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006026-1">26 </span><span class="woc">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?</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006027-1">27 </span><span class="woc">And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f7" id="b7" title="Or 'a single cubit to his stature'; a 'cubit' was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters">[7]</a></span></span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006028-1">28 </span><span class="woc">And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006029-1">29 </span><span class="woc">yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006030-1">30 </span><span class="woc">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 clothe you, O you of little faith?</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006031-1">31 </span><span class="woc">Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006032-1">32 </span><span class="woc">For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.</span> <span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006033-1">33 </span><span class="woc">But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.</span></p>
<p id="p40006034.01-1"><span class="verse-num woc" id="v40006034-1">34 </span><span class="woc">“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.</span> (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
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<div class="footnotes">
<h3>Footnotes</h3>
<p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:9</span> Or <em>Let your name be kept holy</em>, or <em>Let your name be treated with reverence</em>
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<span class="footnote"><a href="#b2" id="f2">[2]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:10</span> Or <em>Let your kingdom come, let your will be done</em>
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<span class="footnote"><a href="#b3" id="f3">[3]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:11</span> Or <em>our bread for tomorrow</em>
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<span class="footnote"><a href="#b4" id="f4">[4]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:13</span> Or <em>the evil one</em>; some manuscripts add <em>For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen</em>
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<span class="footnote"><a href="#b5" id="f5">[5]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:19</span> Or <em>worm</em>; also verse 20
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<span class="footnote"><a href="#b6" id="f6">[6]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:24</span> Greek <em>mammon</em>, a Semitic word for money or possessions
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<span class="footnote"><a href="#b7" id="f7">[7]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">6:27</span> Or <em>a single cubit to his stature</em>; a <em>cubit</em> was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
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offer similar answers. We need to know that God knows our needs, and then we need to seek first his kingdom. And we need to believe that God’s care, God’s knowing, is far better than our knowing.
Posted by Tricia at 9:06 am
14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
–Hebrews 4:14-16 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Hebrews 4:14-16 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F58004014-58004016" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F58004014-58004016" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p58004014.01-1">Jesus the Great High Priest</h3>
<p id="p58004014.06-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v58004014-1">14 </span>Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. <span class="verse-num" id="v58004015-1">15 </span>For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. <span class="verse-num" id="v58004016-1">16 </span>Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
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Posted by Tricia at 4:48 pm
As a child growing up in the Baptist, E.V. Free and Presbyterian traditions, I do not recall our family ever observing Lent. When Jay and I married and joined a Presbyterian church body, Lent continued to go fairly unnoticed until a couple of weeks before Easter when we certainly were inclined to meditate on the events leading up to Passover, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and finally Resurrection Sunday.
For the past couple of years we have attended a wonderful and truly refreshing PCA church here in Dallas. I could go on and on about the ways our family has been blessed by being a part of this body, but that is a post for another time. While this particular congregation does not collectively observe Lent, a number of our dear friends within the church do, and over these last two years I have watched them as they choose to give up a particular indulgence during the forty days leading up to Easter as a way to focus more on Christ, his sufferings, and ultimately their faith in and walk with him. Until this year though, I have never felt compelled to join the ranks of those “giving up something” for the season of Lent.
But the fact is, that for a host of reasons, I have felt more keenly aware of my own sins and shortcomings in recent months. This is not to say that I have become more sinful than before; perhaps I have, but that is not my point. I have truly felt more of a struggle with my sin, and a sense of frustration as I battle against it than I have felt in a long time. Mostly, I accept this as a positive thing, for if we are not finding ourselves battling sin then perhaps we are either ignoring it, or becoming complacent or even hardened to it. Yet the outworking of struggling against our sin can be exhausting!
Our family is experiencing a set of somewhat challenging circumstances on several fronts. Though I might choose to end these trials in favor of an easier time, these challenges are certainly pushing and prodding us to learn and grow in new ways, and to become more sanctified than we might otherwise. So I am ultimately thankful for the opportunity to know more of Christ and what it means to serve Him, whatever my circumstances in this life. We are learning firsthand that no growth occurs without a good deal of hardship and some pain along the way.
Which brings me to Lent. In the midst of this hardship, I would like another reminder to continue to cling to Christ: to trust his kindness, his love for me, and his promise to help me travel through whatever paths he has planned for my good and his glory. Toward this end, I would like to turn away from an area in my own life which has plagued me since I was a young child, more and less depending on my circumstances. And so…I am going to try to give up biting my nails for Lent.
It might sound silly; most people I know give up chocolate or alcohol, or even Facebook (!) in an attempt to indulge less in the pleasures of this world, and focus more on Christ. But there is no glaring area of my life where I habitually ignore Christ’s call to trust him more than in the pathetic and ugly act of continually biting my nails. It is for me a sinful reaction to the stresses and pressure of life, and an area which, due to more stresses than I can remember in a long time, I have absolutely just given up trying to tame in any way recently.
Some people when they are stressed, go eat a bag of chips or a carton of ice cream, others turn to their god of alcohol to numb the pain of life, still others spend money they do not have in an effort to escape from the cares of their present situation. When things get tough for me, I choose to destroy my poor little fingers!! And while it doesn’t make me fat, or create heart or liver disease, or financial debt I cannot repay, I can safely state that it is a poor stewarding of the body of I’ve been given, and therefore not in keeping with behavior fitting one who calls themselves a Christian. Additionally, it is an outward manifestation of a refusal to give certain hardships and stresses over to Christ who has promised to help me carry whatever burdens I encounter in this life.
So…for the next forty days I am making a commitment to try my very best, with an abundance of help and grace from God above, to turn away from my nasty habit, and turn instead toward Christ. If, in every instance where I went to nibble on a nail, I instead stopped, took a moment to pray and meditate on the things of Christ, and fixed my eyes upon him instead of my worries, how could it not help me to love him more, and worry less about my circumstances? My prayer is that he might use this simple act of faith from a struggling sinner to strengthen my frailty and glorify himself more in me.
If anyone else is choosing to observe Lent this year, I’d love to hear about why you are doing it, and what you are choosing to abstain from or give up. Maybe we can be of help and encouragement to each other these next forty days. And regardless of your personal position or beliefs about Lent, “May we all continue to fix our eyes on Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross…..so that you will not grow weary and lose heart”.
Posted by Tricia at 5:26 pm
As of today we’re halfway through our Cleanup Challenge, so I wanted to take a little break from the messy house pictures and share some more solid food for thought with you instead.
I was reading my friend Kristi’s blog awhile back and was quite struck by a post she wrote on Expectations. I loved what she had to say, and I think her words will likely ring home with more people than just me. Kristi has graciously agreed to my posting her thoughts here, but when you have a chance I highly recommend a stop over at Gently Led to enjoy some of her other musings.
A confession: when people don’t meet my expectations, I tend to blame them, not my own expectations. I think they could do better than this, if only they tried harder, or if they were more spiritual. (Condemning, aren’t I?) Not that I explicitly think this, but it seems to be my underlying belief. Why else would I be frustrated at them for not doing or being what I want them to do or be?
Probably the only person I don’t usually have unreasonable — i.e. often unmet — expectations of is my son. He is 22 months old. I expect a toddler to sometimes cry, have a low level of frustration tolerance, and to demand a lot of attention. And most of the time, he is lots of fun. Why, I wonder, is it so easy for me to love him and not condemn him, and so hard with other people?
Jesus’ response to the poor widow giving money at the temple offering box shows me the problem with my expectations. After “many rich people put in large sums,” the widow gave “two small copper coins, which make a penny” (Mark 12:41, 42 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Mark 12:41 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F41012041" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F41012041" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p41012041.01-1">The Widow's Offering</h3>
<p id="p41012041.04-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v41012041-1">41 </span>And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.</p>
</div><h2>Mark 12:42 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F41012042" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F41012042" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p41012042.01-2"><span class="verse-num" id="v41012042-2">42 </span>And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Greek 'two lepta', which make a 'kodrantes'; a 'kodrantes' (Latin 'quadrans') was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/64 of a 'denarius' (which was a day's wage for a laborer)">[1]</a></span> (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
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<div class="footnotes">
<h3>Footnotes</h3>
<p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">12:42</span> Greek <em>two lepta</em>, which make a <em>kodrantes</em>; a <em>kodrantes</em> (Latin <em>quadrans</em>) was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/64 of a <em>denarius</em> (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
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). Jesus said to his disciples, “this woman has put in more than all these who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on” (v. 43, 44).
How convicting. Jesus knows what spiritual and emotional riches other people have; I don’t. Where I see — and privately condemn — someone’s meager contribution, Jesus sees a heartfelt self-sacrifice.
I’ve always thought it sounded trite and unsatisfying when someone says about people who let them down, “Well, they did the best they could.” Perhaps this is just another way of saying that — but lately I’ve found it helpful, when I’m disappointed with someone’s behavior, to think, “Maybe this is their two cents.”
~Kristi, of Gently Led, September, 2008
As we are in the midst of the holidays, when we all likely be getting together with family and friends to celebrate in one form or another, our expectations of those we love can come to the forefront of interactions. Sometimes these expectations can be good and right, but oftentimes I think we are the most critical of those who are closest to us, and hold expectations of them that are neither charitable nor healthy. I have seen firsthand the damage and hurt caused by unfair expectations. Not surprisingly, I have been the one harboring the unfair expectations more often than I’d like to admit.
I appreciate Kristi’s reminder to me and all of us about viewing others through Christ’s eyes. If we were to keep this at the forefront of our interactions with family and friends this holiday, how much more grace-filled our Christmas would be! Thanks Kristi, for sharing your two cents.
September 8th, 2008
On Beauty
Posted by Tricia at 7:24 pm
My sister’s wedding is in three weeks, and I am honored to be her Matron of Honor. As such, I get to wear a very beautiful dress. This here dress:
And yes, dear readers, since you asked, that is me in the picture. On top of home schooling three kids and chasing after a fourth, I do a little dress modeling on the side. Just for fun.
But, since I am about six inches shorter than the average bridesmaid, there is much fabric to hack off and hem, etc etc. So this afternoon, I went to see a seamstress about some alterations. And when I put on the dress, I was mortified to see that my middle section is rather bloated and puffy from a surgical procedure I had just three days ago. Such that I no longer look quite as good as I do in the above photo. Ahem.
In fact, I look about two months pregnant, and I’m not exaggerating. Which would be fine, except that I’m not two months, or any months pregnant. Ugh. The seamstress was very nice about my round tummy, and tried to console me by saying things should resolve nicely in time for the wedding, and in the meantime, it wasn’t going to complicate her sewing or skew the fixes she needs to make. Well, that is good at least.
When Jay got home tonight I related my sad story, finishing with “And Honey, I truly look like I either have a serious beer belly, or am quite obviously pregnant. The dress looks terrible!” To which my daughter, listening nearby quickly responded “Oh not at all, Mom!!” with a sweet, sweet smile, clearly wanting to cheer me up, “It’s not bad like you think it isl! Sometimes you can be plump AND pretty!! And look, you have rosy cheeks too!”
Now of course this was not exactly the comfort I wanted, but I appreciate Abigail’s desire to comfort her mother, and her innocent and cheerful words gave me pause, in spite of my disgust over the size of my middle. It hit me that nothing in her language smacked of twentieth century terminology, and so I asked her where she’d heard that sort of wording. In a book, of course, and an old book at that. A Little Princess is where she’d read conversation about a group of ladies who were plump, pretty, with rosy cheeks to boot.
And despite racking my feeble brain, I cannot think of a modern piece of literature that highlights anyone being pretty who is also described as “plump”. Which reminded me that beauty does come in all different sizes. Not that our culture recognizes all forms of beauty; it doesn’t. But when I hear my daughter’s viewpoint, that pretty does not necessarily mean skinny, it strikes me that she has a fairly healthy and balanced view of what is beautiful at her ripe old age of nine. And I hope that as she grows and matures, and sees more and more of what our culture interprets as beauty, she will continue to see and recognize beauty for what it truly is, in its many different sizes and shapes.
In today’s society of model-thin, almost anorexic-like ideals of beauty that our young girls are bombarded with, it is helpful…NO, make that needful for us parents to convey and live out this truth to our daughters (and our sons, for that matter, as our young men are perhaps even more inundated with unrealistic and unhealthy images of what ideal female beauty is). But maybe we ourselves need to be reminded of it before we try to help our children learn it is so. And hey readers….let’s not forget about those rosy cheeks either!
Posted by Tricia at 10:37 pm
See these four cute, angelic-faced creatures? Aren’t they sweet all snuggled together and ready for bed in their various nighttime attires?
Who would believe, looking at these four cherubic little faces, that these dear children are the cause of night after sleepless night for their poor dear parents? Parents, who despite their youthful good looks, cannot deny the fact that they are continually aging, and feeling the need for more rest for their weary bodies. The dark blotches underneath our eyes are a testimony to the nighttime antics around House of Horne, and except for one blissful night of uninterrupted sleep that happened a few days ago, we parents cannot recall another night in the past many, many weeks around here that we were not wakened by at least one incident in the wee hours of the night. So we are feeling sleep-deprived, despite the fact that we are more than two and half years out from having a newborn in the house. And this at a time which is, perhaps even more so than usual, pretty busy around here.
Popular themes in nighttime wakings include (but are by no means limited to) bad dreams, bed-wetting (through your diaper if you are the two year old and through your Spiderman boxer briefs if you are five – even though you haven’t wet your bed in literally almost a year’s time), coughing spells, stomach aches, night terrors (this is really actually quite sad despite my attempt at humor — Nicolas has suffered continually since January with ongoing, very awful night terrors), and various requests from the two-year-old to “sleep in your bed with you” just because “I want to” at 3am. Ugh. Continuous wakings throughout the night do nothing to improve my looks or my countenance, and it has been more of a struggle of late to hold my frustrations and tendency toward impatience in check.
So…why do I take the time to emote (albeit mildly) about this on our usually rant-free site here at House of Horne? I don’t know…running out of interesting fodder? Not really. But, I told Jay the other day that I really do love this stage of life with relatively young children. Mind you, I think I made this statement after that one night where we were not woken up by children, but even so. I love our life, sleep-deprivation and all, and would not exchange it if you gave me the option.
Despite the physical exhaustion that is often a part of parenting young ones, it is a precious time, and one I do not want to miss, no matter how tired I am. I feel as though we are given a gift in watching these little people grow and mature, and in having a huge part in shaping whom they become. Being their parents is hard, hard work, but is it also wonderful fun, and heaps blessing after blessing upon our lives. I pray, despite sleep deprivation which will most likely continue, that we will parent these children well. That God blesses our efforts, feeble and stupid though they sometimes are. And yes — since you asked —yes, after everything else, I do pray for sweet sleep as well…maybe someday.
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