Ten Books that have had a Lasting Impact on my Life

These books, four fiction and six non-fiction have made me who I am.

1.       The Bible—it changed my life by leading me to my Saviour.

2.       Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard—as a young, fearful teen, the character of Much-Afraid on her journey with the Shepherd resonated with me.

3.       Mountains of Spices by Hannah Hurnard—her continuing journey taught me much about the Christian walk and the love of the Shepherd.

4.       The Murder of Jesus by John F. MacArthur Jr.—takes the four gospel accounts of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus and weaves them together with new insights into the old, old story.

5.       A Tale of Two Sons by John F. MacArthur Jr.—retelling of the story of the Prodigal son in such a powerful way, showing that Jesus ended it where He did, with the invitation to the elder son to come and rejoice, to give the Pharisees an option to what they were planning to do.

6.       On the Triangle Run by James B. Lamb—the first book about naval battles in WWII in the Atlantic, which sparked my desire to read more, and then led to submarine technothrillers.

7.       The Reformers and Their Stepchildren by James Verduin—a great mix of biography, theology and history to show how we got to where we are.

8.       Mission Possible by Marilyn Laszlo and Luci Tumas—a missionary story of a single woman in Papua New Guinea with Wycliffe Bible Translators. This began my love affair with PNG.

9.       Luther, By Those who Knew Him by Elizabeth Rundle Charles—a fictionalized account of the life of Martin Luther, told from several viewpoints. It’s so exciting as you see history unfolding and people coming out of darkness into light.

10.   The Divine Romance by Gene Edwards—an allegory about God and His love for His bride. I am that girl!

Word of the Year

Many people choose a word of the year, and a verse of the year. In 2013 I chose the verse, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30  ESV As noble as it sounds, my first clue should have been that it was spoken by John the Baptist, who lost his life by beheading.

I soon learned it was the beginning of my health woes. Within two weeks, God tested the sincerity of my words. I developed trigeminal neuralgia, missed seven months of work that year, and learned what it was like to be set aside. Yet in that same year, He gave me strength to speak at two Women’s retreats and several ladies’ meetings. He increased while I decreased.

I don’t think I chose one last year. Maybe I was scared off.  J  I also was still dealing with many health issues, like the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and the emotional fallout of leaving my church after thirty years. I was still decreasing.

This year, I thought I’d choose a word for the year. It’s usually a word to set the tone for the New Year, like Trust or Adventure or Faith. At first I was going to choose Coping, as I would need to learn more about my illness and how to cope with a new normal.

But it seemed kind of negative and discouraging, as if I would trudge through the year, moving from one crisis to the next. But how does a Christian cope with adversity in life compared with those who are not Christians? Is it not hope? Paul says we do not sorrow as those who have no hope.

The book of Psalms is encouraging to the sufferer. Even if David begins with crying out to God in frustration or fear or anxiety, he usually ends the Psalm with hopefulness and praise to God. He tells himself, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Psalm 42:11 ESV

So I changed my word from COPING, to a motto, of COPE WITH HOPE.

The only thing that helps me to deal with the prospect of living the rest of my life with a chronic illness that affects all systems in my body and all aspects of my life in one way or another 24 hours a day, is to look forward to the day when my suffering will be over. There is no Fibromyalgia, or grief or suffering or pain in heaven.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 ESV

So although I can’t promise I will not complain, (to God, if not to the world through social media), I do promise to stop and remind myself that this is not the end of the story. God will be glorified even through my suffering.

So in addition to my motto of the year, I am choosing a verse to remind myself of this truth.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 ESV

How about you? Do you have a word or verse for the upcoming year?

 

Why Do Christians Love the Cross?

As Christians, we love the Cross. To us, it is a symbol of our redemption. For it was on a cross that Jesus died for our sins. He purchased us. He paid the price we owed. He absorbed the wrath of God in His own person. If not for the work of Christ on the cross, we would have no hope of Heaven. That’s why we sing about the wonder of the cross.

 

Over the centuries, the offence of the cross has diminished. People see it as jewellery, no more significant than a star or a peace sign. But what if we wore a hangman's noose on a chain around our necks? Or an electric chair? What if we sang songs about the wonder of those things? “Oh, the wonder of the noose!” See how absurd and wrong it seems to say that!

Then we see how offensive the cross was to the people of the first century. It was an instrument of torture and execution, a place reserved for the worst criminals. It was, to modern sensibilities, cruel and unusual punishment. It was not the quick death of a lethal injection, a guillotine or even a firing squad.

Why do Christians love to talk about the death of this One? In the hymn, O Sacred Head, it says, "Yet though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine."  

We see it through eyes of faith. If Christ had not suffered there, the Just for the unjust, we would have to pay for our own sins. It is, in one symbol, or one word, an image of what Christ accomplished for us. His victory is our victory. That's why we glory in the Cross!

Funeral Plans

Sounds morbid, I know. But hey, I’m an oncology nurse. That makes me a realist. I know people die every day, and that I will also one day, die. Also, the fact that I am currently home from work suffering from a bad cold, makes me think about it. No, I don’t feel sick enough to die, but I might as well plan for it while there are no strong feelings attached to the idea of planning my funeral.

I’ve mentioned this to my family before, but I suppose it’s best to write these things down, so that my wishes are there for them and they don’t have to wonder what to do.

That being introduced, I would like three hymns sung at my funeral. I will include them in their entirety, because I don’t want particular verses left out inadvertently, and I also would like them sung to a particular tune.

The first is my favourite hymn, And Can it Be? By Charles Wesley
It’s my favourite because I am still amazed that God would take me, an arrogant and ignorant person, and make me interested in His great work on the cross.


And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain-
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

He left His Father's throne above
So free, so infinite His grace-
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race:
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray-
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.


No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.


The next is O for a thousand Tongues to Sing by Charles Wesley, 1739
I would like it sung to the tune that we sing at the Carey conference, with men and women each singing their parts, and sing it loudly and heartily, because I’ll be listening from the rafters.

O for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my god and King, The triumphs of his grace.

My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad, the honors of they Name.

Jesus, the Name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease;
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ‘Tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of reigning sin, He sets the pris’ner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me.

He speaks and, list’ning to his voice, New life the dead receive;
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice; The humble poor believe.


The other is Be Still my Soul, by Katharina von Schlegel, 1697
Number 579 in the Trinity Hymnal, sung to the tune of Finlandia, of course.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on they side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy god to order and provide;
In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know his love, his heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: they Jesus can repay
From his own fullness, all he takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.


If there is time, I also like Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness, by Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, 1739 Number 439 in the Trinity Hymnal, because of the words.

Jesus, thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
‘Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head.

Bold shall I stand in thy great day;
For who aught to my charge shall lay?
Fully absolved through these I am
From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.

When from the dust of death I rise
To claim my mansion in the skies;
Ev’n then this shall be all my plea,
Jesus hath lived, hath died, for me.

Jesus, be endless praise to thee,
Whose boundless mercy hath for me—
For me a full atonement made,
An everlasting ransom paid.

O let the dead now hear thy voice;
Now bid thy banished ones rejoice;
Their beauty this, their glorious dress,
Jesus, thy blood and righteousness.


If possible, I would like our friend John Himanen, to sing his song, I Know You Well. If that is not possible, I would like it played as the casket is taken from the church.

The day will come when all our work here on earth is done
And we'll leave this troubled world behind
It may be soon for I know Jesus waits for me
And He yearns to place His hand in mine
Well the future is not mine to see but here today
I give Him all my life to hear Him say

I know you well, you ran the race
You made your home inside My grace
I know you well, you fought the fight
You did not waver when I called you to stand for what's right
I know you well.

I do not look for man's applause in choosing how I live
I have no need of worldly fame
Above all else I pray each moment of my life
Would glorify His holy name
And of all the things that ever will be said of me
Lord, I long to hear that You've been pleased.

I know you well, you ran the race
You made your home inside My grace
I know you well, you fought the fight
You did not waver when I called you to stand for what's right
I know you well, I know you well, My child.
I know you well.

If I had the gift to speak in tongues of men and angels
And if I had the faith so mountains I could move
What wouuld I gain if love was lost in reaching greatness
If you could not say to me

I know you well, you ran the race
You made your home inside My grace
I know you well, you fought the fight
You did not waver when I called you to stand for what's right
I know you well, I know you well, My child.
I know you well.

I asked my husband once about writing a verse from a hymn on my tombstone. He said, ‘no way, you have to pay by the letter’. Oh, well, so he’s not always sentimental. So I said, ‘okay, at least write that verse on my funeral program.’
Perhaps a bible verse on my tombstone. Something short, like “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” Or even just, “saved by grace”.

The verse is from the hymn, The Sands of Time are Sinking, by Anne R. cousin, 1857
Trinity hymnal, 599 the last verse.

“The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory,
But on my King of grace;
Not at the crown he gifteth,
But on his pierced hand:
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Emmanuel’s land.”


I would also like someone to read the following quotation from Richard Baxter’s book, The Saint’s Everlasting Rest. Following was a review I wrote of his book, Aim High.


Richard Baxter was a Puritan Pastor in England from 1615-1691. He wrote many books, which were, essentially, a collection of his sermons. This quote is from his book, The Saints' Everlasting Rest. It gives you perspective about the brevity of this life in the light of eternity. No one could doubt the pastoral heart of Baxter, or his own love for the Saviour. An eleven year old boy who was dying, asked to have some of Mr. Baxter's book, so that he could "read a little more of eternity before I go to it."
It is written from the perspective of a soul newly arrived in glory and reflecting on the journey and the destination he/she almost missed out on. I can't read it without crying.

"From heaven's height the soul surveys the Promised Land. Looking back on earth, the soul views the dreary wilderness through which it passed. To stand on Mount Memory, comparing heaven with earth, fills the soul with unimaginable gratitude, and makes it exclaim:
'Is this the inheritance that cost so much as the blood of Christ? No wonder! O blessed price! Is this the result of believing? Have the gales of grace blown me into such a harbor? Is this where Christ was so eager to bring me? O praise the Lord! Is this the glory of which the Scriptures spoke, and of which ministers preached so much? I see the Gospel is indeed good news!
Are all my troubles, Satan's temptations, the world's scorns and jeers, come to this? O vile, nature, that resisted so much, and so long, such a blessing! Unworthy soul, is this the place you came to so unwillingly? Was duty tiresome? Was the world too good to lose? Could you not leave all, deny all, and suffer anything for THIS? Were you loathe to die to come to this? O false heart, you had almost betrayed me to eternal flames and lost me this glory! Are you not ashamed now, my soul, that you ever questioned that Love which brought you here? Are you not sorry that you ever quenched His Spirit's prompting or misinterpreted His providence, or complained about the narrow road that brought you to such a destination?
Now you are sufficiently convinced that your blessed Redeemer was saving you, as well when he crossed your desires, as when he granted them; when he broke your heart, as when he bound it up. No thanks to you, unworthy self, for this crown; but to God be the glory for ever!'"


But above all, at my funeral, preach the gospel. Remind everyone there, that life is brief at best and they will soon stand before the God of all the earth. He will either be their Saviour or their Judge.

Theology: The Study of God

Read Psalm 19 and Romans 1:18-32

Theology has been called the queen of sciences because there is no greater topic to study than God Himself. But unlike other sciences, in theology, we sit under our Subject, waiting to learn what He will reveal about Himself; for it is by revelation that we know anything at all about God. We can’t put Him under a microscope; such a God wouldn’t be worthy of worship.
How do we know anything at all about God? First, He has revealed Himself in creation. We see that in Psalm 19. We see His power and goodness, His design and providence. Throughout the world, no matter the language, the book of creation shouts that God exists, but men willingly suppress this knowledge.
Knowing that God is Creator leaves us without excuse that He exists, but it doesn’t tell us how to get right with this God. For that we need another book; the Bible; the written Word of God. It’s here that we hear the bad news that man sinned, and we hear from story after story the tragic effects of that fall. We also see God’s mercy, forgiveness and love demonstrated throughout history again and again.
We see the arrival of the Person of the Son of God, the promised Deliverer. This is the good news. Gospel means ‘good news’. We read about His perfect life and the defeat of sin on the cross of Calvary.
In the letters, or epistles, we learn the implications of the life of Christ on the life of the believer. Finally, we get a glimpse of things to come, when we are finally free from sin forever. Christ came to deliver us from the penalty of sin, the Holy Spirit was sent to save us from the power of sin, and when we get to Heaven, we’ll be free from the presence of sin. Done, done and done!
That’s why it’s worthwhile to study theology. In studying our great Subject, we learn to know Him personally, as He reveals more and more of Himself. He is a truly inexhaustible subject, and we’ll be forever learning new things about Him throughout eternity. It’s like the gospel is a multi-faceted diamond. Every way you look at it, you see something you haven’t seen before, and it is amazing!
If I were a castaway on a deserted island and could have only one book, I would choose the Bible. If you take any other book, it’s always the same; but the Bible is alive. It keeps revealing more new things about God every time we read it.
Life is short, and even if we were to study God’s Word our whole life, we could only conclude that there is still so much to know that we don’t even know how much we don’t know.
“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25

Death Bed Conversions

I've been thinking about death bed conversions, lately...probably because that's what I would love to see for my sister's fiance who has terminal brain cancer.

I've personally heard of two cases of death bed conversions. While that's not many, if it's your relative, that's the one that matters.

The only instance of a death bed conversion in Scripture is the thief on the cross. While not literally on a bed, it was still done a few hours before his death and with a knowledge that he'd soon be facing the Judge of the earth in his guilty state.

"One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, 'Are you not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!'
But the other answered, and rebuking him said, 'Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.'
And he was saying, 'Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!'
And He said to him, 'Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.'"
Luke 23:39-43

What does this teach us?
One: No one is beyond hope. Even a condemned criminal with no redeeming qualities inherits eternal life simply by believing in Christ.
Two: We are not saved by baptism or works. They follow salvation, but do not merit it. This man had no opportunity to get down from his cross and do good works or be baptized. Again, he was saved by faith in Christ.
Three: There is no such place as purgatory. If anyone would have needed to go there, it would have been he. Jesus didn't say, "After you've suffered and paid for your sins a while, you can join me in Heaven." He said, "Today, you'll be with me in Paradise." An immediate reward for his faith.
Four: There is no soul sleep until the resurrection, but we are "absent from the body, present with the Lord." It happens 'today', when we die.
Five: Heaven means to be in the presence of God. He would be with Jesus.

The overall lesson from this is that faith alone in Christ alone is the only means of securing a place in Heaven, safe with Jesus and protected from the wrath of God.

Why is there only one example of a death bed conversion in Scripture?
There is only one, so we do not presume to have time, and yet there is one, so that we do not despair.
While there is life, there is hope.
Oh Lord, do it again!

Forbidden Fruit

Read Genesis 1:9,16,17 and 3:6,22-24 and Rev. 22:2,14.

The forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden, spoken of in the Scriptures, was not an apple. Sorry to burst your bubble. You may have seen artist's pictures of red fruit, learned about Adam's apple, (supposedly stuck in every man's throat) and heard lyrics like, "Eve tempted Adam with an apple", and may even have heard it from Sunday school teachers, but it's not true. How do we know? Go to the Scriptures.

First of all, Adam and Eve could eat of every tree in the Garden, except one. It wasn't the apple tree. It was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It was one of two unique trees in the Garden of Eden, and it was the only one of its kind, and located only in Eden, which is now hidden from us.

Further, once they ate of it, were judged by God and banished from Eden forever, its fruit was never eaten again, unlike the apple tree.

Also, the fruit is not decribed for us, except to say that it was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise.

Notice that the Tree of Life, also another unique tree in the midst of the garden, was not forbidden to Adam and Eve. Ever wonder why they didn't eat from that one, instead? We'll never know.

But at least we know that in the New Jerusalem we will have access to the Tree of Life, forbidden to our first parents because of their disobedience.

The Questions of God

I've long been intrigued by the idea of God asking a question.

When we ask a question, it's often to get information. What's the temperature today? What time will you be home? Who's going with you? Where do you think you're going, dressed like that? Okay, that last one was more of a statement, but you get the idea.

But when God asks a question, it's never to get information. The reason is obvious: He knows all things.
So why does He ask anything?

Let's take a look at the questions of God in the first few chapters of Genesis.

"Then the LORD God called to the man and said to him, 'Where are you?'" Genesis 3:9
"And He said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" Genesis 3:11
"Then the LORD God said to the woman,'What is this you have done?'" Genesis 3:13a

Why did He ask this? Didn't He know where Adam was hiding, and why? Of course. He asks to see if Adam will admit his wrongdoing, much as a parent does when they catch their child doing something wrong. We see what they've done, i.e. broken a vase or hurt their sibling, and yet we ask, "What have you done?"

That's the idea behind His questions. They are all asked to see if Adam and Eve will confess. I also think there's some sadness and disappointment behind the question, like when you see your child do something they shouldn't have done, especially after you've told them of the consequences if they did it. "Didn't I tell you not to bounce on the bed or you'd hurt yourself?"

A similar idea is found in Genesis chapter four, when God confronts Cain. He gives him a chance to make things right. He has not yet killed his brother. God asks him why he's sad and angry. He can still do the right thing and come to God with a pleasing sacrifice in the way God prescribed, instead of trying to come with his own best efforts. He gives Cain both a second chance and a warning, as parents often do.

"Then the LORD said to Cain,'Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?" If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.'" Genesis 4:6,7

God tells him sin wants to control him, but he must control it. The same word is used when God curses Eve. He says "Yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." Genesis 4:16b It's not talking about sexual desire, because that isn't a curse, but a blessing. It's talking about her desire to control in the marriage relationship, as she just did by making the decision to take the fruit without consulting her husband. Now he will rule over her, and the battle of the sexes, which began in the garden, has been in effect in every relationship since, with power struggles within marriage. But I digress.

The next time God talks to Abel, he has already killed his brother. God comes to him and asks a question He already knows the answer to,

"Where is Abel your brother?" Genesis 4:9
"He said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground." Genesis 4:10

So from even these few examples, we see that God is asking questions, not to obtain information from us, His creatures, but to interact with us, to fix our relationship with Him, or to judge us and remind us that we are indeed the creature and He the Creator.

Random Acts of Kindness

This was the message I delivered at the Ladies' Meeting at Faith Baptist Church.

Last time, we learned that hospitality was different from entertaining. With entertaining of family and friends, there’s a possibility of a return invitation. With hospitality, you invite people for a meal or do something to make them feel welcome at church, with no expectation of reciprocity.

This time, I want to talk about Kindness. Kindness may be related to hospitality, but not necessarily. Kindness isn’t so much a gift of the Spirit, as it is a fruit of the Spirit. It should be present to some degree in every believer.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Gal.5:22

What is kindness?
“A kind deed.” (favor)
“The quality or state of being kind.” (affection)

Those are from the Merriam-Webster dictionary. I don’t really like it when they use a word to describe a word, but you get the idea that you are doing a kindness for someone when you do something good for them; with a feeling of affection towards them, and you want them to feel loved by that action.

Not to insult your intelligence, (as if you didn’t understand the concept of kindness), or your maturity as believers, (as if you didn’t already know that we should be kind to one another), but we can never be too kind. It’s a characteristic of true love (1 Cor. 13 “Love is…kind”). We can always improve; always strive to be more aware of those around us.

A quote from the book, Random Acts of Kindness by the Editors of Conari Press:

“Random acts of kindness. It has such a beautiful ring to it. A part of the beauty is undoubtedly the turnaround from that ugliest and most frightening of all phrases: random acts of violence. We all know of, or at least we know the deep personal fear of, random acts of violence. Haven’t we all considered at some point that anytime, from anywhere, it could come, and for no apparent reason we—or someone we love—could be struck down? It’s so easy to fear. It’s so easy to create an almost palpable reality out of our imagined terror. Random acts of kindness ring pure and true as an antidote to that fear, as life-affirming revolutionary acts.”


Kindesses I’ve Experienced:
-someone giving up their seat on the bus when I was pregnant (unfortunately, usually these were women. The men would hide behind their newspapers pretending they didn’t see me).
-a ride from the bus-stop on a rainy morning (Mom).
-laundry, cooking, child care help (Mom).
-my husband turning on the coffee pot so I can sleep a few extra minutes until it’s ready.
-flowers, massages (from my husband). Are these romance because he’s my husband or are they kindnesses? Probably more romance, since I’m the only one who would receive them, but still they are kind, because it shows he knows what makes me happy. It also shows I’m a bit of a princess.
-compliments and encouragement.
-thank you cards and encouraging e-mails.
-gifts that show that the person knows what I like, instead of getting me something they’d like.



Bible Verses re: our topic:

“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Phil. 1:27

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Phil. 2:2, 3
-Be aware of others and their needs.

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27
-That’s it?
-It’s the little things that matter to God.

“If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to him, ‘Depart in peace. Be warmed and filled;’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” James 2:15, 16
-God hates lip service.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ.”
Col. 3:23, 24
-Ultimately, everything we do is for Christ.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph. 2:10

“…not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:5
-Doing good deeds does not give us merit before God. We are saved by grace. We don’t do good works to be saved, but because we are saved.

In almost the next breath, Paul says,
“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” Titus 3:8
-Good works are the evidence of our salvation.

“And let our people learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” Titus 3:14
-God expects to see fruit of salvation in our lives.
-We need to respond to things as they come up.

“And let us consider one another to stir up love, and good works.” Heb. 10:24
-Be provocative, in a good way.

“Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Heb. 3:16
-These things are sacrifices at times.

“Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another.” Rom. 12:10

“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5:9, 10
-Christians stand before Christ, for various degrees of reward.

If you have means:
“Let them do good, that they may be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share.” 1 Tim. 6: 8

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self control, to self control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 2 Pet. 1:5
-It takes some effort (diligence) on our part.
-We should have fruitful growth in our faith.
-Every Christian virtue begins with faith and ends in love.

“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18
-Not just talk, but action.
-Evidence of our faith in and love for God.

“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” 1 John 3:17
-Practice, not just theory.

Why is this even a topic for a Ladies’ Meeting?

I recently read a book by Sharon Hinck, called Stepping Into Sunlight. It has an interesting concept. To help her recover from a violent event that resulted in panic attacks, depression and agoraphobia, the character of the book, Penny, decided to try to get her focus off herself and onto others, by searching out ways to show kindness to at least one person each day. She wasn’t doing it for merit, but to break free of being self-absorbed. She would record it in a journal and she slowly saw progress. I don’t suffer from those symptoms, but I do know I can be self-centred. This book led to the development of the blog pennysproject.blogspot.com which has ideas of kind things to do for people. It included a challenge to try to be kind to at least one person per day, for a month, on purpose. The reason for the journal is just to keep focused. For those of you who don’t know, a blog is basically a personal webpage in which you can write. I have one. It’s piafinn.blogspot.com (That’s just a commercial). ;-)
This book challenged me to try to think of new ways to be kind to those around me. I bought a notebook and began to record a date, a recipient and a deed, daily. Some of these were small things, that I would have done anyway, but I recorded them to be more aware of others and to keep me on track. Examples were visits to hospital, sending a letter to a soldier in Iraq (which was cool, because I heard he received it and it made his day), baking for someone, bringing food to a food bank, buying a gift for a new baby, or sending an encouraging note.
Some were things that took effort because they weren’t things I normally did, but I knew would mean a lot to the people for whom I did them. Examples were mending for Gary and packing a lunch for Leah. They were shocked! You're probably shocked, too. What mother doesn't pack a lunch for her child? Me.
Others were hidden things, like cleaning a closet or filling the tank with gas, or getting the car washed, or buying them a treat, or a phone card or bus pass.
Some were things I never would have thought of, but were kindnesses hidden in mischief. What does that mean? Going through a Drive-thru and when you pay, asking how much the car behind you owes, and then paying it and driving off. Positively sneaky!
Occasionally, we would plan to do something that would cost us something. Sometimes sacrificial giving is the most meaningful for both the giver and receiver. If you have the means, larger gifts like covering someone’s tuition costs or purchasing a needed item, or buying a gift card for food is a great way of being the answer to someone’s prayer.
Others were not costly in monetary terms, but only in time. Things like visits or phone calls.
Others cost nothing at all, like a smile, or a compliment, or a courtesy like holding a door open. Would I record a smile as a good deed? Not likely, but once you start challenging yourself to be less self-centred and more other-centred, even those little things come more naturally.
Guess what else? It feels good. It makes you happy. (Self-centred people are the most miserable people). It makes you more thankful for the blessings God has given. It makes you realize you are a steward of what God has blessed you with and you’ll be accountable for what you did with it. It makes you want to do more. It makes you give glory to God. It makes you ask Him for more opportunities to show kindess.
We should try to out-do each other in kindness. Not a bad competition, is it? Not done to puff ourselves up, but to build each other up. It reminds me of those two gophers on Looney Tunes, who would hold open a door, and say, “After you.” “No, I insist, after you.”


There are several resources to help:

One is the blog I mentioned: pennysproject.blogspot.com
Three books I found helpful: Stepping Into Sunlight by Sharon Hinck
Random Acts of Kindness by Editors of Conari Press
Christian Random Acts of Kindness by The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

So take the challenge. I dare you. If you don’t, know one will know. But if you do…

Refreshments.

Brainstorming Session

Give Notebooks and pens to everyone, along with a copy of the Brainstorming Ideas. Let the group add their ideas to the lists.
These notebooks are a good size for a month long challenge, if you choose to do it. If not, fear not, they won’t be collected. You can use it for notes or grocery lists if you want. Or you can record date, recipient and deed for one month. Try it, I dare you.


Gifts for friends, new moms, students, Pastor
Prepare meal for someone who has had surgery or a new baby
Donate used clothing, books or household items
Donate old cell phones or ink cartridges
Give to a charity that is close to your heart
Offer hospitality to someone even when it’s not convenient to do so
Fill tank with gas
Take car thru car wash
Pack lunches
Mending
Take a friend out to lunch
Clean out fridge/shed, or some other disagreeable task
Pay for the person behind you in line at a drive thru
Bus or train passes
Tim Horton’s gift cards
Gift cards for grocery stores
Gift baskets for shut ins
Yard work for elderly
Hospital visit
Flowers
Card to encourage or thank someone
Encouraging letter or e-mail
Care package to student or soldier
Pay for someone’s camp/retreat/course fees
Help a friend move
Hugs, smiles
Bake for firehall
Food to foodbank
Massage

Niece's Baptism

This morning we went to Trinity Baptist Church to attend my niece's baptism. She is 18 years old. Her testimony was very encouraging. Her parents are unsaved and so her only exposure to the gospel was the times we took her to church or the Carey Conference with us. It was nice to hear all the different things that led to her conversion. There were also four other young adults who were baptised as well.

Attitudes Toward Service

On our way back from the Carey conference, I told my husband about a potential area of service in our church that's been on my mind for awhile. Over the past few years, I've been dropping ministries. I stopped teaching Sunday school after 24 years. I dropped the Treasurer position after five years. We're dropping the Youth group after 25 years (we've been leading Youth since we were dating). And now we're dropping the Carey Conference finance and admin. after 5 years. I've been thinking that our church had a group that has been missed; the College and Career age group. I also knew that I wouldn't be able to do it myself, as teaching of adults is involved. When I brought it up, my husband agreed right away, which confirmed it for me.
Most of the C&C age people are professed believers so the focus can be both on ministering to them, and mentoring them to find ways to minister.
I know that when it comes to service, sometimes it's not about what you feel like doing, but rather what needs to be done. "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might." That was the case with my teaching Sunday School. I never felt called to teach, but they needed a teacher, so I did it for 24 years. Yet I still felt like a quitter when I stepped down.
The same thing happened when they needed a Treasurer at church. I protested vehemently that I was the wrong person for the job. When we were first married, I didn't even know how to balance a chequebook. I hated filling out government forms, etc. But my husband believed I could do it, no one else volunteered, and so I did it, reluctantly. While I'll never admit to loving it, I did learn a lot, and I think I'm enough of a details person to handle it. My husband referred to me as a bean counter. When a banker became a member, I handed the job off to him.
For the Carey Conference ministry, I admit I went into it kicking and screaming, and I didn't have a great attitude for much of the time (something I wasn't pleased to find out about myself), and yet it was a good learning and growing experience as well.
I say all this to say that the idea of leading the C&C group with my husband feels like something that I don't feel forced into. It's a burden and concern on my heart that I feel God has placed there, and because of that in itself, I feel excited about it in a way that I haven't felt about any other ministry. The others always felt like my husband's ministries that I tagged along with by virtue of being hitched to his wagon. I like that distinction this time. I feel energized by it and can't wait to see if the leadership at church agrees.

Missions Trip to Scotland

This letter is a report by my daughter about the Missions Trip she took in February with Campus for Christ.


I’m sending you this letter to thank you once again for your prayers and support regarding my missions trip to Scotland. I travelled to Edinburgh over my reading week – we left on the 13th and arrived back in Canada on the 21st of February – and I was truly blessed by the trip. I immediately fell in love with the city, history and culture.
As I mentioned before, we were working on different University campuses, doing spiritual interest questionnaires, evangelism and promoting events with the chapter of Campus for Christ in Edinburgh. Our teams were able to have many spiritual conversations with students there as well as present the gospel to quite a few students at the University of Edinburgh and Napier University.
One of the highlights of my trip was when the Canadian team would meet outside a church called St. Giles and worship on the steps of the church in the heart of Edinburgh. Through this ministry we had the privilege of meeting and encouraging several other believers, presenting the gospel to residents of the city and even had the privilege of leading two girls to Christ! It was such a blessing.
The trip definitely had challenging moments, and we ran into quite a few people who were hostile to the gospel and bitter towards Christianity, but my trip to Edinburgh really opened my eyes to the need that there is for missionaries in the U.K. and Western Europe. I’m adjusting to life (and the cold) in Canada once again and return with a thankfulness to God for the opportunity to serve in Scotland, and also bring with me an understanding of the need that there is for Christians who are willing to share the gospel with others.
Thank you once again for your support, and I pray that you would keep the nation of Scotland in your prayers – pray that our God would be the God of that city!

Dreams Come True

March 1, 2009

Outside my window...a cold, windy day, but no snow.
I am thinking...that I love it when things go smoothly. Our daughter's baptism was today. The dinner party for thirty people, afterwards, went perfectly. Enough food, good company, and a great reason to celebrate.
I am thankful...to have seen both our daughters saved and baptized. (Cross that off the bucket list). It is a blessing greater than anything in my life apart from my own salvation. My husband was baptized in our church as a teen, I was baptized there when I was twenty, and now both our daughters, too.
From the kitchen...veggie platters, crab dip and crackers, veggie spring rolls, roast chicken, stuffing, ham on the bone, honey-garlic meatballs, potato salad, Caesar salad, rolls, rice and beans, ice cream cake. We'll be eating leftovers for a while. (Not a bad thing).
I am wearing...a black leather skirt, a black top with a white camisole.
I am reading...Homicide at Blue Heron Lake, by Susan Page Davis. It's a good mystery with enough suspects so it's not too easy to guess at.
I am hoping...to deal with some issues at my Doctor's appointment tomorrow. I'm suspicious that my calcium is too low and I may have a thyroid problem. We'll see what's up.
I am hearing...a soccer game, of course.
Around the house...my daughter is safely back from Scotland. She had a wonderful experience and got a real taste for missions work. That makes me happy. I would love to see our daughters serving the Lord in whatever way He leads them. Our youngest daughter gave her testimony before her baptism, because of all her unsaved friends and relatives who were there. I'm proud of her. I know she was nervous, but she did a great job. Here is her testimony:
I was raised in a Christian home, so I had been exposed to the gospel from a very young age. My parents took me to church every week, and I went to a Christian school, so I was no stranger to the gospel. I knew I was a sinner, and that my parents’ faith couldn’t save me, and that I needed to get right with God, so when I was six, praying with my father, I asked Jesus into my heart. It may have not been a “dramatic” or “unique” conversion, but it was significant in my life, and it was significant in God’s eyes.
Going to a Christian school sometimes makes it easy to coast and not really step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself spiritually. I developed a very “ho, hum, I’m a Christian” mindset. Then, during Spiritual Emphasis Week at my school last year, I realized how far I had drifted from the Lord and that if I was going to call myself a Christian, I needed to act like one. Also, when the pastor began preaching about baptism on Sunday mornings and we began discussing the topic of obeying God at youth group, I realized that baptism is a command and that if I wanted to obey Christ I needed to be baptised.
I know baptism is the first step in my spiritual life, and I look forward to living a life for God and looking to Him as I make big decisions about my future. I look forward to finding ways to serve here at Faith, as well as out in the world for the glory of God.
One of my favourite things...seeing friends from out of town. Christians "weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice". Today, we were rejoicing.
A few plans for the week...Doctor's appointment, work my last shift before I'm off for FIFTEEN days, pack for our trip, and leave early Thursday morning for 10 days to the Mayan Riviera! I am SO excited! When we were first married, I would see Club Med commercials and wonder if there would ever come a day when we could go to such a place. This is a dream come true, and I am so thankful for it.
Here is a picture I am sharing with you...our youngest daughter (16) giving her testimony right before her baptism.

Christian Charities I Highly Recommend

1.Your own local church, of course. Give regularly, give generously. Ten percent is a good place to start. Remember, it’s not your money, anyway. Be involved in the work, the plans and the future of your church. Make it your own. Teach, clean, paint, serve, entertain, open your home, visit shut-ins. Find a ministry that fits the gifts you’ve been given.
2.Christian education, if it’s within your means to do so. I know, not everyone who wants to, can send their children to a Christian school. There were a few years when our kids went to the local public school as well. But overall, our daughters have been blessed by it. I don’t expect the school to do my job as a parent. And I don’t like Christian schools where they feed a kid’s delusion that because they are being raised in a Christian home, they are automatically headed for heaven. I like that my kids hear the gospel everyday, with the underlying message that they need to make it their own faith, and I like that the teachers are Christians and see their job as a calling, and that the curriculum is God-centred and doesn’t contradict what we teach them at home and church, but rather, reinforces it.
3.Wycliffe Bible Translators. If the Bible can be translated into a previously unwritten language, it preserves the language, speaks to that people group in their “heart language”, and continues to impact and teach that group long after that missionary is gone. Supporting individual missionaries in an organization like this makes it personal.
4.The Bible League. They provide Bibles, rather inexpensively, to people in countries where the Bible is inaccessible or outlawed, like China. The Word of God is not bound.
5.Answers in Genesis. This organization is involved primarily in teaching about origins, but flowing from a proper understanding of the book of Genesis, is a correct view of marriage, the sanctity of life, the fall, and our need of a Redeemer.
6.New Missions. They operate in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This is primarily a child sponsorship program. There are others out there, like World Vision, Christian Children’s Fund, Compassion Canada, or Foster Parents’ Plan. But as far as I know, those others do not offer a Christian education to the child, whereas this one does. We support a girl in Haiti, who is close in age to our daughters. This is one of those things we planned to do for many years before we actually did it. She receives a good Christian education, a healthy meal each day, and free health care. What good is it to take care of the body only, and neglect the soul?
7.Conferences and retreats that teach and encourage your faith. There are many organizations that offer them. It gives you a chance to recharge your spiritual batteries, have Christian fellowship and buy books. We find the Canadian Carey Family Conference to be a foretaste of glory.
8.Missions organizations or other para-church ministries that are close to your heart. One stroll through the main room at Missionfest gives you an idea of the scope of the opportunities to assist in the worldwide mandate of the church. Choose one that has a role in building up or equipping the church, i.e. Toronto Baptist Seminary, Carey Outreach Ministries, the Sovereign Grace Fellowship of Canada, The Christian Blind Mission, or a local Crisis Pregnancy Centre.
9.International Aid, either regularly or at times of crisis. Some examples are the Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, S.I.M., Emmanuel International, or Mercy Ships, which goes to foreign ports around the world, offering free medical, dental or surgical care to those without access.
10.Local Christian camps or programs within your church. Our kids have benefitted from the experience of Christian camps and have also volunteered or worked at them. The Scott Mission Camp is a good example. The Scott Mission, itself, in downtown Toronto is also a good place to help out in the kitchen or the food bank. Our church has an outreach called Time Out for Young Moms, which addresses the reality of the neighbourhood in which we serve.

There’s no shortage of places to use your time and money. They say you can tell a lot about someone if you look at their chequebook and datebook. If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

My Jonah Moment

"Do you want to make God laugh? Tell Him you have plans." Anonymous

The Old Testament Prophet, Jonah was told by God to go to Nineveh to preach. He refused and fled by ship to Tarshish. You know the rest of the story. A storm came up, they discovered it was because of him, he was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish for three days. After he was expelled, he went where he was supposed to go.
Seventeen years ago, we were looking to buy a house. There were some things I wanted in a house, but one thing I didn't want was to live near our church, because the area is a little rough. I said, "I WILL NOT live near that mall or have my kids go to that school."
Never say never. I think God said, "Oh, really?"
Guess where we ended up finding a home? Guess which mall I shop at and which school our children attended for a few years? Yep, on a quiet street right near our church, where I said I'd never live. We've been here since. Is this my dream house? No, but it is our home. I'm content with my life, and happy to be living near the church where we serve.
I haven't always been content. I think I went through my mid-life crisis early, at age 30, but I've since settled into the place I'm called to be.
God didn't put me where I wanted to be, only where I needed to be.

Oldest Daughter's Baptism

This past Spring, our 17 year old daughter was baptized. It happened to be 23 years to the day when I was baptized in the same church. We were very happy. This is what every Christian parent prays for: the day when all you've taught them, is not just their parents' faith, but their own.
Our daughter made a profession of faith when she was young. She was attending a Christian school where they heard the gospel every day. One of the teachers (Miss T.J.) was giving her testimony. She said she always went everywhere with her parents, but realized that she wouldn't automatically go with them to heaven.
I knew nothing about what was said in school or the impact it had on her, until late that night, after she'd been in bed for a while. She came out and told me what her teacher said, and with tears in her eyes, said, "I want to serve God my whole life."
With children, you need to be careful about 'decisioning' them, because they naturally want to please. The fact that God worked in her heart and then she told me, showed the genuineness of her conversion. Some years later she struggled with the assurance of salvation and I told her it's like a child crossing a busy street with their parent. The parent doesn't count on the child's hold of him for security, but the parent's hold of the child. It's not how much we love God that matters, but how much he loves us, and that is the most secure place to be.
The evidence of a changed life followed: she had a concern for the lost, a desire to do what God wanted with her life, and a sweet disposition (except for the usual hormonal fluctuations as a teen, and a stubborn streak she inherited from me).
The day she was baptized, many of her friends, and ours, came from out of town and from sister churches. She had a few rows of pews filled to see her get immersed. She is now working as a counsellor at a Christian summer camp for inner city kids, and loves it. She's going into Social Services in the fall.
After the baptism, we had thrity people over for dinner. The weather forecast was bleak, but we prayed about it, because our house is too small to host such a gathering indoors. We got a beautiful day and ate out on the deck and in the backyard.
Because it was early spring, the yard wasn't at its' best and our deck hadn't been refinished. The old me would have freaked out about it, not to mention feeding thirty people, but I just reminded myself that no one really cared about those things, and that they were here to celebrate this happy event with us, and that life was made up of moments like these. (I am getting mellower with age).