TSMSS - Praise the Lord

The original songbook was the Psalms. One particular psalm, Psalm 100, urges that praise be made to God by all lands. Over four hundred years ago, it was written into a hymn that is still sung today.

PSALM 100
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

This is often called "The Old Hundredth" because it is based on Psalm 100. It is probably the oldest hymn of praise in the English language. William Kethe, a Scotsman, was a minister of the Church of England. But during the reign of Queen Mary, which was a reign of terror for many English Protestants, Kethe fled to German and then to Geneva, Switzerland. In Geneva he was influencd by John Calvin. There he assisted in the translation of the Geneva Bible and helped to produce a complete English version of the metrical psalms. From this Psalter, now more than four hundred years old, "The Old Hundredth" is taken. THe hymn was first published in London in 1561, shortly after Queen Elizabeth came to the throne.

The music was written by John Calvin's choir director, and the hymn has never been set to any other but the original tune.

Source: The Complete Book of Hymns: Inspiring Stories about 600 Hymns and Praise Songs, William J. Petersen & Ardythe Petersen, Tyndale, 2006.

This acapella rendition by the Martins absolutely gives me chills. The words have been updated just a bit, and then they segue right into the Doxology. Let everyhing that has breath praise the LORD! (Psalm 150:6)

ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL
All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice:
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell,
Come ye before Him and rejoice.

The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make:
We are his folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.

O enter then His gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless his Name always,
For it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good,
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God whom heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.

WORDS: William Kethe, 1561
MUSIC: Old 100th (Louis Bourgeois, 1551)

Be sure to go by Amy's blog for more songs to bless your weekend!

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Dear Tired Mom of Preschoolers,

Missy asked some of us old fogies who have survived and lived to tell about the early years of parenting to share the wealth of knowledge we have accumulated over lo, these many years. Ahem. I don't know about any wealth of knowledge, except to say you do the best you can with the information you have at the time and leave the results to God! But here are my thoughts, and I think this probably qualifies as a record post for taking me the longest to write. Which just goes to show that 1) I'm really not that wise, and/or 2) I've simply transitioned from being a Tired Mom of Preschoolers to a Tired Mom of Teenagers!

Dear Linda,

You may not believe this, but I'm you. And you're me. Or you will be in about a decade or so. See, right now you have 2 little ones and your days are filled with naps and juice and diapers and all other things toddler and preschool-related. But as hard as it is to believe, before you can blink twice, that little boy will be filling out his schedule for his junior year of high school, and that little girl will be eagerly getting ready to head over to the high school as well.

I don't know if I'm all that much wiser than you, but I have been around the block a few times and I've learned a few things, both from your/my mistakes and triumphs (it's easy to focus on our failures, but you're doing lots of things right!!) as well as from hanging around some friends. So here are a few things I think it would be good for you to know.

• You don't have to be perfect. While it's important to do the very best you can, you are going to make mistakes as a mom. Accept it, seek forgiveness from God when it happens, and move on. Your kids won't remember most of the things you agonize over, and in a few years neither will you! That also means give them jobs to do even if they don't do it as well as you would. Or as neatly. It's more important that they load the dishwasher when they get big than that it is loaded a certain way. There's a very fine line between structure/efficiency and obsession.
  
  
• YOU are the mom. Not the people at the grocery store, the church, the school. Not your own parents. Don't worry so much about what other people think, either of your parenting or of your kids' behavior. You & your man are accountable to God. No one else knows the exact circumstances, personalities, or situations that impact your decisions. Do not let anyone usurp that authority. Those cute shirts that say "When mom says no, ask Grandma"? They can be innocent fun when it involves cookies, but Grandma and your child both need to know that you and Dad have the last word. As you remember from your growing-up years, some issues matter more (and have greater ramifications) than another cookie.
  
  
• You ARE the mom. It is very important that you realize this and that you teach your children this. If you do this when they are small, it will prevent many issues later. I have seen too many parents give in to their little ones because it was easier and more pleasant, only to see the result as those children grew that there was no respect for parental (or any) authority. I know it's hard to make the tough calls and let your child cry if they don't get their way, but they will be much more secure in the long run. It's okay - and important - to say NO.
  
  
• You are THE mom. The one God chose for these children long before He knit them together in your womb. Treasure this time. It will fly by in a blink. Stop wishing even these tough days away. When they are teenagers it will be hard to even remember the days of tousled hair & snuggles after naps or tears & tantrums (yours and theirs!). You'll have plenty of time to yourself later.
  
  
• You are the MOM. You are not the child. You are not the friend. Enjoy your children, but don't try to be their best buddies. Play with them some, but don't be their constant playmate. Do not let them think the world revolves around them. Do not be at their beck and call. Do not videotape, photograph, or talk about their every move. Do not shield them from the consequences of their decisions. Teach them to care about others. Let them be bored occasionally. Turn off the TV, the computer, and let them entertain themselves. Take them places where they need to learn to act appropriately and where it's not all about them. Establish a bedtime for your kids and stick to it. And while I know you see bedtime as "the end" and you're ready to make it quick, cherish the time of pillow talks. When they are teenagers you will reap the benefits.
  
  
• Laugh with your kids. Make home a happy place.
  
  
• Prioritize two relationships above them. One with God. And one with your man. You will be a better mom. And they will be healthier, happier children.
  
  
• Teach them that life isn't fair. Let them lose sometimes. Don't try to always keep everything perfectly equal. Let them do without. It's okay if "everyone else does/has it" and they don't. Don't shower them with toys or the latest gadgets. Teach them delayed gratification and work ethics.
  
  
• Praise them appropriately but not excessively. Let them know that while you and God love them unconditionally, you both love them too much to let them stay the way they are. (Read this for more clarification.)
  
  
• Be heart-oriented, not behavior/task-oriented. This is one of the hardest things, because it's so much easier to focus on what they do. Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart. Don't get so focused on behavior that you forget about the heart motivation. Instead of always saying "Don't hit", teach "Be kind." Instead of "Go to church and read your Bible", focus on "Love God." Otherwise you end up raising legalistic well-behaved kids who perform like robots without genuine feeling.
  
  
• Pray for them. And with them.
  
  
• Keep reading to them! That is one of the sweetest memories you are making, and you are growing two bookworms.

Above all, LOVE THEM. That's all any child really needs. Or wants. Or remembers. And love covers over a multitude of sins.

See you in a very few years,

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Winners & Worth

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
4 13
Timestamp: 2009-02-04 18:46:28 UTC

Congrats to Sara and taterbug, winners of the Lynn Eib book When God & Grief Meet! Email me your addresses ladies and I'll send the book your way!

* * * * *
I've been pondering much these past few days, andI've been having a hard time finding time to get it organized and written down. My sister flew in from South America late Monday night for her 4-month furlough stateside assignment, and there's much to do to get her situated and settled. And of course we had to play a game of Scrabble yesterday! (I won!)

The delicate balance between self-esteem and self-loathing has been on my mind. As I ponder further, it occurs to me the common thread in both of those terms is SELF. Focus on me, me, me.

Interesting how you find much about humility in the Bible but nothing about self-esteem!

I googled "self-esteem" and got over 22 million results. "Humility" only brought up 13 million.

And then I read this yesterday at Lisa Writes:

Pondering...brokenness as I prepare for Bible study tomorrow. Thinking specifically of James 4:8-10 and agreeing with Nancy Leigh Demoss in her assertion that this is a message we are not eager to hear. As she states, "most of us don't walk into a Christian bookstore and say, 'Can you help me find a book on how to mourn and weep?' We want to know how to be happy and whole, how to improve our self esteem, how to feel better about ourselves." But God's Word is clear that we must humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift us up. The hard part of humility is that it is often humiliating. But in humility we discover the greater portion of His presence and His power. It's not fun, but it's worth it...

But what really has had my mind whirling is how we raise our kids. I had a talk with a friend the other day who leads a weekly youth group. In a discussion with her group, all of whom are well-taught, grew-up-in-the-church, believing & baptized teens, the topic turned toward "good people" and "bad people." As she reminded them that none of us are "good" without Christ, they were horrified. The tendency toward believing "people are inherently good" and "I'm okay, you're okay" and "build your child's self-esteem" has resulted in even (especially?) those raised in the church thinking they are fine and dandy. One teen said "you're not making me feel very good." (Please understand that this woman is a godly and kind woman who was teaching them, not ripping them to shreds!) "So why do we need Jesus if we're so good?" she asked.

It's great to love our kids. And tell them they're special. And nothing makes me feel more special than knowing "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." But somehow, kids today -- who have their every move photographed and videotaped from the time they take their first breath and who are praised for every single thing they do whether it is praise-worthy or not -- are getting a distorted humanistic and worldly picture of themselves. In our efforts to pull the pendulum back from the "sinners in the hands of an angry God" and "hellfire and brimstone" teaching and to avoid "scaring kids into heaven", we have swung too far the other way and somehow taught them that they are so wonderfully perfect just like they are that they see heaven as just another elite acquisition and pie-in-the-sky for those who have their act together.

I read a quote recently by Dietrich Bonhoffer that said "Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance." That struck a chord with me, and I'm thinking we need to evaluate what we're teaching if our kids don't think their lives are such that repentance might be required.

I'm not suggesting we castigate our kids and tell them how horrid they are. The Bible does urge us to encourage one another and build each other up. We just need to do that without ignoring the basic truth that "there is no one righteous, not even one."

Help me out here - are any of you experiencing this same tension? How do you find the balance? Have a "good or bad" conversation with your teen and see what they think!

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Review - The Desires of Her Heart

REMINDER: Leave a comment here by Wednesday at noon CST for a chance to win a copy of Lynn Eib's great book When God & Grief Meet!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Desires Of Her Heart
Avon Inspire (February 10, 2009)
by
Lyn Cote


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lyn Cote married her real-life hero and was blessed with a son and daughter. She loves game shows, knitting, cooking, and eating! She and her husband live on a beautiful lake in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Now that the children have moved out, she indulges three cats: V-8 (for the engine, not the juice), Sadie, and Tricksey. In the summer, she writes using her laptop on her porch overlooking the lake. And in the winter, she sits by the fireplace her husband installed with the help of a good neighbor during their first winter at the lake.

Lyn's inspirational novels feature American women who step up to the challenges of their times and succeed in remaining true to the values of liberty and justice for all. The story of America is one of many nationalities and races coming together to forge our one nation under God, and Lyn's novels reflect this with accurate historical detail, always providing the ring of authenticity. Strong Women, Brave Stories.


ABOUT THE BOOK
A New Orleans lady and a half-breed frontiersman become unlikely allies as they travel the wilds of texas.

In 1821, when circumstances make it impossible for her to remain in New Orleans, Dorritt and her family head west to join Stephen Austin's settlement and recoup their fortune in Texas.

Quinn is a man of the frontier who has made a name for himself as a peerless scout. But as he and Dorritt's party begin a grueling trek across untamed Texas, the success of their journey is in grave doubt. Mexico has broken with the Spanish Crown, and armies from both countries—plus marauding Comanches—roam the pine forests and prairies. And one of the party is plotting destruction.

Now, with their lives joined in a virgin land fraught with peril, can Dorritt and Quinn put all their trust in God and receive the desires of their hearts?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Desires Of Her Heart, go HERE


MY THOUGHTS:
Historical fiction and a setting in Texas: I was intrigued by this from the get-go! As Texas is in its frontier days and "collecting" its six flags, folks such as Dorritt and her family forge their way west to start over. Trouble is, the laws of the young USA behind them across the river don't apply here in the land of vaqueros and missions and Comanches. And unfortunately, Dorritt's thick-headed stepfather thinks he is a law unto himself. This was a wonderful tale that illustrated the courage women such as Dorritt needed to have in these harsh times when women were not viewed much more highly than slaves. As survival becomes a priority, high society's mores and prejudicial biases must be scrutinized and compared to such qualities as faithfulness, honesty, sincerity and trust. This story reminded me that things are not so different today as people often put emphasis on the shallow exterior trappings that belie the true inner character of an individual.

Happy Reading!

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An Incredible Book and Giveaway

Grief.

It's safe to say that we've all experienced this to some degree in our lives. And it's virtually guaranteed that it will arrive on our doorsteps at some point again in the future. And while the manner may differ in which grief presents itself to each of us -- expected or sudden, through illness or tragedy, young or old -- one common thread is generally true: life takes a sudden turn and we are forever changed.

What do we do when faced with this life-altering event? How do we respond? What enables us to keep breathing and putting one foot in front of the other when we want to pull the covers over our heads and say "Stop the world! I want to get off"? What do we do when the very foundations of our faith are shaken and it seems our prayers disappear unanswered or even unheard into the vastness of space?

I was recently introduced to a wonderful book by Lynn Eib titled When God & Grief Meet: True Stories of Comfort & Courage and am so excited to be a part of the blog tour introducing it. This book is full of hope and encouragement for anyone walking the dark road of sorrow. As comforting as a hug from a friend, this book is not one full of theological gobbledy-gook or cliches but instead offers many warm words of encouragement and comfort. Reminding the reader that "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed" (Psalm 34:18), this book is filled with the stories of real-life people like you and me who have experienced the depths of grief. . . .and who have discovered God's strength and hope in the midst of their pain.

I love what the author says about why she (reluctantly!) wrote this book:

". . .as I share with you God's words to the brokenhearted, I believe you will see that when God & grief meet, His power, peace and presence are bigger and more real than our uncertainties, sorrow, and loneliness." (p. 10)

In chapters with titles such as Feeling Your World Fall Apart, Throwing Rocks at God's Windows, Preserving a Memory No One Can Steal, Hoping for Heaven, and Continuing On When It Doesn't Seem Possible, Lynn Eib and the stories she shares cut straight to the raw emotions of grief. Whether you cry every time you look at applesauce or you aren't sure of your loved one's eternal destination, this book will let you know that 1) you are not the only one experienceing this and 2) God's word is full of tender comfort to lean on.

I was so touched by this book that I ordered a previous book of hers, When God & Cancer Meet, which she wrote as a result of being diagnosed with advanced colon cancer at the age of 36. It is tremendous as well.

If you are struggling with grief, if you know someone who is in this difficult season, or if your spiritual gift is caring and ministering to those who are hurting, I highly recommend this book.

Here is the first chapter of When God & Grief meet.

Chapter 1: TRUSTING THE MAGNETIC POLES OF THE EARTH

Let’s be honest: I never wanted to write a grief book and you never wanted to need one.

Frankly, I like movies with happy endings, fairy tales where everyone lives happily ever after, and answered prayers for miracle healings. But right now you and I are past all those hopes and dreams. Instead we are faced with harsh reality.

I don’t know your exact circumstances. Perhaps this enemy called Death snuck up and unexpectedly stole away your loved one. Or perhaps you had been expecting its arrival for some time. Either way it was an unwelcome intruder which brought the ending you never wanted to see.

So I do understand that you’d rather not be in the position to need this book. But if you picked it up for yourself, I’m honored you have chosen to take my words along with you on your grief journey. If someone gave you this book, I’m praying you’ll be just curious enough about what will happen when God meets your grief that you’ll keep reading. And if you’re not quite ready to read yet, that’s okay with me. Just put the book aside (hopefully on the top of your pile!). I believe that sometime in the coming weeks you’ll know you’re ready. I’ll still be here for you then.


It might seem strange for me to say I didn’t want to write this book. After all, I am a journalist, and writing normally gives me great joy. I write and speak mostly on the topic of faith and medicine, drawing on my years of experience as a patient advocate offering emotional and spiritual support to cancer patients and their caregivers. As a longtime cancer survivor myself—I was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer at the age of thirty-six in 1990—I love working in my oncologist’s office encouraging those facing this dreaded disease. It can be a very sad job because more than half our patients die from their cancer. But at least some become survivors, and there’s always a glimmer of hope that even those with dire prognoses might defy the odds.

With grief, there’s no such glimmer. Nothing I write will change the reality of the loss you are mourning—which is why I was reluctant to write this book. But while my words can’t change your past, I believe these true stories from others’ grief-storms will give you comfort in your present and courage for your future.

These stories come from people of all walks of life who have experienced many kinds of difficult losses. Some have lost loved ones to cancer and heart attacks; others have had their worlds ripped apart by a car accident, a plane crash, a suicide, and even a murder. I have no doubt you’ll find at least one person facing a grief storm who has feelings very similar to yours.

The focus of the stories is not on how the loved ones died but on how those left behind are finding the strength to continue living without them. My hope is that these stories will help heal your heartache as much as they have mine.

I started feeling especially helpless dealing with grief a few years ago as I watched a march of mourning people come to my office searching for answers, direction, and peace after their loved ones passed away. Many had attended my Cancer Prayer Support Groups with their loved ones and really missed the encouragement those groups offered them. I kept sensing God asking me to start a similar group for grievers, but if you’ve read my other books, you know I’m not always eager to say yes to the hard things God calls me to do. (If you haven’t read my books, let’s just say I tend to think I have things all figured out and can convince the Almighty my way is right!)

Starting a grief group sounded really depressing to me. Granted, starting a cancer support group sounded really depressing to me back in 1991, and it turned out to be an incredible joy, but I was certain this time that a grief group definitely would be depressing.

Yet the march of mourners continued to come through my office door, and I found myself spending more and more time each day offering comfort and consolation. I also was having a harder time dealing with my own grief as the deaths of my patient-friends began to add up. Every week another one would die; sometimes a couple of friends would pass in the same day.

God kept tugging on my heart, and I finally asked my boss, Dr. Marc Hirsh, if it would be okay for me to start a grief group at the office. I could tell he really didn’t see the necessity of such a gathering, but if I wanted to do it, he wouldn’t say no.

So I sent out notes to my grieving friends, inviting them to come to a group meeting at our office. Bringing a bunch of sorrowful souls together in the same room still seemed like a depressing plan—especially because I was powerless to change their painful reality.

But I almost had forgotten that Someone else was going to show up. From the very first grief group, it was obvious to me that God was going to do something special in our midst. Sure, there were plenty of tissues and tear-filled memories, but there also were laughs and comfort-filled words. Instead of being depressed by hearing each other’s stories, we all felt just a little better as we realized we weren’t quite so alone. Instead of drowning in our own self-pity, grievers reached out, as if we were throwing life preservers to one another. And instead of feeling far from God, we began to sense His love was very near.

Now, more than five years after that first meeting, the grief group members enjoy each other so much that we also meet monthly for breakfast and dinner and have gotten together for picnics, shows, and concerts. An evening group has been added for those who can’t come during the day. And my boss thinks facilitating our ministry to grievers is one of the more important things I do in the office and one of the best ways our patients’ families can continue to see God meet their greatest needs.

So my prayer for you as you read these pages is that you’ll feel as if you’ve been to some really good support group meetings. You’ll have to add great snacks and jokes if you want them to be more like our group. (Yes, I said jokes. I start every meeting with them because I have found that grievers usually haven’t had much to smile about and need a safe place to learn to laugh again.)

You can “go” to a support group meeting once a day, once a week, or once a month depending on how quickly you read this book. You’ll know what the right pace is for you. (And if you just can’t put the book down, go ahead and have a marathon meeting—but after you finish you’ll probably want to come back now and then to give the words a chance to really soak in.)

As we walk this grief journey together, I think you’ll discover that many others share your deep feelings. And while I can appreciate the popular psychology that feelings are “neither right nor wrong,” I also know that feelings do not necessarily mirror God’s undeniable truth. I witnessed this dilemma of strong feelings at odds with facts a few years ago when my husband and I were out on a boat with my boss, Marc, and his wife, Elizabeth.

The four of us had set out for our annual Labor Day weekend cruise on their thirty-two-foot Bayliner, despite rather foul-looking weather. We were headed up the Chesapeake Bay to a scenic, lively marina called Skipjack Cove on the Sassafras River of Maryland’s eastern shore. Elizabeth had checked with her brother who lives right on the Gunpowder River leading into the Chesapeake, and he had assured us the weather reports didn’t look that bad, despite a hurricane that was heading northward up the coast. (We later learned he had accidentally listened to the wrong forecast.)

So we took off, knowing that Marc and Elizabeth were seasoned boaters—although the whitecaps on the usually calm river should have been our first clue it wasn’t a good idea.

We had a short two-hour cruise ahead of us, but it wasn’t long before the whitecaps turned into three-foot waves. The wind whipped up, and then the thunder, lightning, and rain came. At first we all laughed and enjoyed the warm rain soaking us as the boat pounded through the waves. But then I stopped laughing, and my stomach started rebelling. Elizabeth handed me a supply of Ziploc bags, which I started filling. The waves were now five feet high and crashing clear over the top of the boat’s windshield, drenching us. It was nearly impossible for Marc to see out of the rain-splattered windshield, and my husband and Elizabeth were trying to read the navigational charts and look for the numbered buoys, which would keep us in the correct channel away from large shipping vessels, shallow water, and crab pots. We were too far out to turn back toward home, yet not sure we could make it to our planned destination.

And then it got really bad. Marc announced that according to the boat’s compass we were headed in exactly the wrong direction: south when we should have been heading north.

The rest of us were sure we hadn’t turned around—Elizabeth was especially positive we were still pointing in the right direction. She was convinced she would have noticed if the boat had made an about-face. From past experience, I knew she usually was right whenever the two of them had a disagreement about boating.

The three of us looked at Marc, waiting to see what he would do. (Well, I didn’t look long because I was busy praying there were enough Ziploc bags.)

After a long pause, Marc posed his now-famous question: “Should I trust my wife . . . or the magnetic poles of the earth?”

It wouldn’t have surprised me if he’d gone with Elizabeth’s feelings because she was so adamant about them, but his scientific brain won out and Marc made a 180-degree turn with the boat.

Within a few moments, we sighted buoys, confirming that we, indeed, had been going in the wrong direction despite all of us “feeling” otherwise.

The storm raging around us had distorted reality, and our feelings had fallen fickle.


The same thing can happen in the storms of grief. We can feel as if we are completely alone or without purpose or unable to cope. These are the times we need a compass—something that always will steer us in the right direction. Don’t worry; I’m not suggesting that I’ll be your compass. After half a century of living, I continue to be directionally challenged. (My husband still cringes when he recalls that I once described Spain as being to “the left” of Germany!) Besides, you probably don’t need one more helpful person in your life telling you what you should (or shouldn’t) be doing.

What I am suggesting is that the God of the universe has a special affinity for brokenhearted people, and His words are the perfect compass for grievers. A magnetic compass always will point you to the North Pole, and God’s Word always will point you to His unchanging truths and promises.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those
whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18
He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
Psalm 147:3

As our “group” facilitator, it’s not going to be my job to try and solve your problems. I can’t change the reality of your loved one’s death—no one can. But I hope to show or perhaps remind you that a deeper spiritual reality transcends our earthly reality. I’ll do it by pointing to God’s Word as your compass of undeniable truth. If you already think of the Bible as your guide to life, I know you’ll appreciate these tender reminders. But if you’ve not seriously given God’s Word central importance in your life, I hope you’ll give it a try now. You really have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.
Psalm 119:28
When doubts fi lled my mind, your comfort gave me
renewed hope and cheer. Psalm 94:19

And the truth of that second verse is the reason I decided I would write this book I never wanted to write—because God can supernaturally comfort and bring renewed hope and even cheer to those whose minds are filled with doubts and whose hearts are filled with grief.

If you want a book by a psychological expert, you’ll have to find an author with a lot more initials after his or her name than I have. If you want in-depth theological answers to the questions of suffering and dying, you’ll need to locate some of the resources I’ve listed in the back of this book. But if you want someone to ride with you in your grief-storm and read the compass, then I’m your person. For some reason that only God knows, I believe He has entrusted me with a message for mourners. And as I share with you God’s words to the brokenhearted, I believe you will see that when God and grief meet, His power, peace, and presence are bigger and more real than our uncertainties, sorrow, and loneliness. He is able to be our guiding compass.

The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water
when you are dry and restoring your strength.
Isaiah 58:11
The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway
for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
Psalm 32:8
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path. . . .
I have suffered much, O LORD;
restore my life again as you promised.
Psalm 119:105, 107

Like Marc as he captained our boat during that stormy trip, it’s your choice whether or not to trust the magnetic poles of the earth.

TAKE COMFORT: Grief may distort reality, but there is a deeper spiritual reality that always can be trusted.

Book Synopsis:
From the author of When God & Cancer Meet comes this powerful message for mourners. Each chapter contains inspiring real-life stories of grievers from all walks of life who have faced difficult losses. The focus of the stories is not the circumstances of how the loved ones died, but how those left behind are finding the strength to continue living without them.

Written in the heartfelt, hopeful style for which Lynn Eib has become known, this book contains warm insights and true stories illustrating that God is close to the brokenhearted and can comfort and encourage those whose minds are filled with doubts and whose hearts are filled with grief.

Lynn Eib is a long-time cancer survivor, journalist, and patient advocate who has provided emotional and spiritual support to thousands of cancer survivors and their caregivers. She also facilitates spiritually-based grief and cancer support groups. She is the author of When God & Cancer Meet and Finding the Light in Cancer’s Shadow and is the special-features author for the He Cares New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs. Lynn lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and has three grown daughters. Visit Lynn Eib’s website at http://www.cancerpatientadvocate.com/.



The publisher has generously provided 2 copies of When God & Grief Meet: True Stories of Comfort & Courage for me to give away here! So leave a comment on this post by Wednesday (2/4/09) at 12:00 noon CST and I'll draw 2 winners that afternoon (continental US residents only, please).

The book may also be purchased here.

Happy Healing Reading!

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Spectacular Sins - Chapter 2

Today is Chapter 2 of the Spectacular Sins Book Club. Head over to The Preacher's Wife to read this week's discussion of this book. Be prepared to stretch your brain cells!

Here are this week's questions and my answers:

1. I loved your quotes so much from the first session I'm going to ask you to share your favorite from this chapter!

p. 37 "Paul wants to make crystal-clear that when Christians, who feel small and vulnerable, hear about hostile 'thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities,' they know beyond any doubt that Jesus has all authority over them. He means to give us courage that these hostile powers canot do anything apart from God's sovereign permission."

2. Re-read Colossians 1:15-16. Piper makes special mention that of all the things Paul could list that were made by, through, and for Christ, that he specifically mentions evil powers. In answering why Paul did this, Piper explains how he used weighty doctrine to address Timothy's practical issues of anxiety and fear that threatened the effect of his ministry. Considering Paul thought the 'heavy' things of God would help Timothy deal with everyday matters, how does knowing God created beings that He knew would turn from good to evil translate to your everyday life? (Use paragraphs 2 and 3 of page 36 to help form your thoughts.)

As it says toward the end of the 3rd paragraph, "the aim is love and justice and purity and compassion and courage. All to the end that Christ might be known and treasured as infinitely beautiful and immeasurably valuable. Great biblical truths are fuel in the fire of the God-centered soul."

In other words, why should we feel intimidated by these evil powers? It's obvious that God has complete control over them - He didn't create them and then get caught by surprise by their evil and not know what to do. Nor did He foreknow their evil before creation and throw His hands up and say "better not create that - I won't be able to deal with it." So nothing that happens in my life (or anyone's) is a surprise to God. He has already overcome them. So that indeed gives fuel to the soul's fire and courage for what I'm facing. As 1 John 4:4 says, You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One Who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. So why should I worry or fret or quake at the knees?! Just like when I was a little girl and was scared unless my daddy was right there with me. I knew nothing would happen to me because he was stronger than what I was afraid of.

3. Five summary statements are given on p. 37 as to why God wants us to know the truth of Christ's sovereignty over 'rulers and authorities' and the way they are involved in the most spectacular sins of the universe. Which one is most meaningful to you? Does it comfort you? Give you courage against the evil that we know has been disarmed by Christ?

Oh my, this was so good. It was a close vote between #3 & #4, but I have to go with #4. Being assured of God's sovereignty over evil is such a comfort. As Piper said (and this was my favorite quote but it's worth reading again!), "Paul wants to make crystal-clear that when Christans, who feel small and vulnerable, hear about hostile 'thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities,' they know beyond any doubt that Jesus Christ has all authority over them. He means to give us courage that these hostile powers cannot do anything apart from God's sovereign permission." As a young girl and into my twenties, I was petrified when I heard of evil world leaders and events. I kinda thought that God, in His permissive will, had sort of given up control of certain things for a season. Then I did some Bible studies of Daniel, Isaiah, etc. and became fully persuaded that He has every.single.leader and event completely under His control. What a blessed relief! Even though I would highly prefer not to experience the evil doled out by such authorities, I know that Christ has conquered them and they don't do one thing outside of His knowledge and permission.

4. Okay, this question is more of an assignment. Look at the previous commenter's answers and respond to one of her(his?) insights. If you are the first commenter, you can refer to this original post. Let's get some discussion going! :)

I appear to be the first commenter, so I'm going to piggyback on Lisa's thoughts on Kelly's comment from last week about it being "easier to magnify God in the big trials of life" than in the daily grind "when it's tempting to slide into mediocrity, one inch at a time."

This really resonated with me too. I actually had a similar discussion with a friend near the end of last year. She had a catastrophic tragedy in her family 2 years ago, and has been an incredible picture of God's grace and perseverance in the midst of unimaginable grief. I had been going through a season of one trial and frustration after another, some of which were not even that big of a deal but it was the cumulative effect that was completely exhausting. I commented to her that my little things were about to pull me under some days, and I didn't see how she had survived her tragedy. Her response was that with a big thing you become absorbed with it and deal with it and, as Kelly put it "magnify God or die." But the little things are like water dripping on a rock that can just wear you down and zap your strength. Fortunately, God is just as sovereign over the exhausting "little things" as He is over the huge hurdles!


Whew! Lots to chew on this week! Grab a book and join the discussion!

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Send My Chick-fil-A Cow Home

Dear Chick-fil-A,

Although the sun was shining brightly at 4:00 p.m. yesterday, I felt a cloud descend over our little corner of the city when "my" Chick-fil-A closed for a remodel.

You know, I'm thinking you really should have provided a 12-step support group during this transition. With snacks, of course! Those cinnamon clusters would be just the thing.

Please understand: I am thrilled about the renovation. Mr. & Mrs. Operator are wonderful folks, and I know they desperately need the increased kitchen space. The updating of the restaurant area and the increased seating will be wonderful and welcome on a busy lunch hour. And although I am long past the days of toddlers and playscapes, I look forward to seeing what is new at that end of the building.

But.

A whole month? Without your wonderful sweet tea? I am a Southern gal, you know! Sweet tea is the nectar of. . .well, it's just downright delicious! And those wonderful yeasty breakfast Chick-n-Minis? Not to mention the sandwiches, fruit, best waffle fries on the planet, and ice dream cones! And if the groundhog sees his shadow tomorrow and we actually have some wintry days still to endure here in Texas where the temperature dips down into the 40's or (gasp!) even lower, how will I endure it without your chicken noodle soup?

Since my girl was sick and home from school on Friday, I ran and got her favorite for lunch: a #5 8-pack nuggets with fruit and lemonade. But alas, she bemoaned that her sinus issues rendered her taste buds such that she couldn't even enjoy that final meal.

Please hurry. . .February may have the least number of days, but it will be a loooong month until the cows come home!

Sincerely,
A Chick-fil-A Addict Aficionado

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Mmm! Musical Mom Meme

I've seen several people post the mp3 meme with the song titles from their shuffled playlist inserted as the answers to the various questions. Usually several of song answers are quite apropos, some in an ironic sense and some spot-on.

Because I mostly use my iPod as a relaxation tool when I can't sleep or don't feel well, not to mention my love for hymns, I was a little hesitant to try this, thinking it would surely be a dud. But when Julie tagged me for the mom version of this game, I decided to give it a try. True to form, several answers made me smile!

1. HOW DID YOU BECOME A MOM?
Amazing Grace

2. WHAT DID YOU THINK THE FIRST TIME YOU SAW YOUR BABY?
O Perfect Love

3. WHAT DID YOU DO THE FIRST MORNING AFTER A SLEEPLESS NIGHT?
Home will Find You (Sandi Patty duet with John Elefante)

4. WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN SOMEONE COLORS ON THE WALL?
Phantom of the Opera Medley

5. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH A TODDLER’S BODILY FLUID ISSUES?
Come Thou Almighty King/Immortal Invisible/How Great Thou Art (Medley)

6. IF SOMEONE SAYS “Can I have a snack?” YOU SAY?
Great is Thy Faithfulness

7. IF SOMEONE LEAVES THEIR STUFF ON THE FLOOR, YOU SAY?
He Hideth My Soul

8. IF SOMEONE ISN’T SICK TODAY, YOU SAY?
Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee

9. HOW DO YOUR KIDS ENJOY YOUR COOKING?
People Need the Lord

10. HOW DID YOUR KIDS DO IN SCHOOL TODAY?
How to Say Goodbye (Michael W. Smith)

11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHILE SITTING IN CARPOOL LINE?
God Bless America

12. HOMESCHOOLERS, WHAT IS THE FIRST SUBJECT TAUGHT OF THE DAY?
“I Want to Know What Love Is” (David Phelps)

13. WHAT DO YOUR KIDS WANT TO BE WHEN THEY GROW UP?
There is a Fountain

14. WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR KIDS TO BE WHEN THEY GROW UP?
For Good (From Wicked)

15. WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY AS A MOM?
Another Time, Another Place (Sandi Patty & Wayne Watson)

16. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE AS A MOM?
Find Your Wings (Mark Harris)

17. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO AS A MOM?
Room at the Cross/Draw Me Nearer/I Need Thee Every Hour

18. HOW DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE REALLY A MOM?
Bring Back the Springtime (George Beverly Shea)

19. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MOST OFTEN AS A MOM?
What A Day That Will Be (Bart Millard)

20. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY AS A MOM?
Grace Tells Another Story

21. WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET AS A MOM?
All the Way My Savior Leads Me

22. WHAT IS THE BEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE AS A MOM?
Let It Snow

23. WHAT DO YOUR KIDS DO THAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
My Jesus I Love Thee

24. WHAT DO YOUR KIDS DO THAT MAKES YOU CRY?
All of Me (Selah)

25. WHAT DO YOUR KIDS DO THAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
“Hold On” (Selah)

26. HOW DO YOUR KIDS DESCRIBE YOU AS THEIR MOM?
What Child is This?

27. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
My Faith Looks Up to Thee

28. WHAT WILL YOUR MOM OF THE YEAR CERTIFICATE SAY?
Count Your Blessings

Of course, #1, 2, & 28 couldn't have been more perfect! Some of the songs within the medleys (like #5 & 17) absolutely cracked me up. And some looked like there was a whole 'nother story that wasn't being shared! (#17, 24, 26)

If you haven't done this, give it a try! Here are the instructions:
1. Put your iPod (or MP3 player) on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag some Moms you admire who could use a laugh and a song.

And let me know so I can come peek at the way your music writes your story as a mom!

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TSMSS - A Classic Song and a Wonderful Promise!

I think I say this about almost every song I post: This is one of my favorites!

But every time I hear (and watch!) Sandi Patty sing this song, it absolutely gives me chills. In 1983 (I know, some of you were in elementary or middle school or - gasp! - just being born!!) I had just graduated from college, and a wonderful, revolutionary new invention called a VCR had just come out. Sandi Patti, as she was known in those days due to a typo on her first album that "stuck", put out a video and I used to watch this song over and over trying to learn the sign language, which adds so much expression and meaning to this incredible song.

Here is a version of Sandi singing it a few years ago. For those of you who are not familiar with gospel music hisotry, the woman with the gigantinormous earrings who they keep showing is Dottie Rambo; she wrote the song and is now beholding Him, face to face in all of His glory!



There are more songs waiting to bless you over at Amy's blog! Better yet, why don't you join in the fun and worship and share one of your favorites as well?

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It Was A Hard Day's Nightline

The things our moms do to us.

If you went to get a 2nd Cup of Coffee this morning, you read that she has continued to enjoy "paroxysms of laughter" from reading a comment months ago from a reader who was told in her 20's by her mom that she looked like Ted Koppel.

C'est moi. Yep. And I N.E.V.E.R. let my mom forget it.

Of course she tried to backpedal and say she didn't exactly mean it and give me some nonsense about high cheekbones, like that was supposed to make me feel better. I mean, what young gal wants to be told that any aspect of her reminds her mother, the woman who birthed her and (supposedly) loves her more than anyone else on earth does, of an aging man who gets almost as much attention for his hair as his news stories?

Gee, wonder why I've struggled with self-image problems for so many years?!

As I look across the room at my sweet girl who is home from school today with the respiratory crud, fever, and probable ear infections, I cringe as I wonder what she'll write on her blog one day about something horrendous I say to her?!

Lid, I'll be sure to send her your way so you'll have some entertainment in the nursing home!

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A Glaring Omission

A relationship I have held dear is teetering on the brink due to questionable judgment by the other party.

While in a certain coffee shop tonight for my weekly hour of reading and sipping while my kids were at youth group, I picked up (as in looked at, not bought) the mug showing the skyline of the city.


In case you can't read what it says at the very bottom, it says "Capital of the Lone Star State."

Um, notice anything missing?

This view hides one of the oldest, most beloved, and most definitive landmarks in the downtown sector. The capitol building itself.


For years the capitol was the tallest building downtown. As the city grew and the downtown area literally began growing up(ward), much debate ensued over the capitol. As a result, there are protected view corridors where the view of the capitol may not be blocked. Apparently, those responsible for the image on the mug didn't deem it important enough to incorporate one of those views.




What a shame they didn't involve someone with an appreciation for history and some Texas pride when developing the mug.

In the words of the old salsa commercial, "Get a rope!"

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A Great Resource for Writers

I know that many of you are are actively pursuing the goal of writing beyond your blog, with the desire and aim to be published. A resource recently appeared in my inbox that will be invaluable to you in your quest.


Billed as "The Essential Reference Tool for the Christian Writer", the Christian Writers' Market Guide 2009 is chock-full of information on a plethora of resources - Book Publishers, Periodicals, E-zines, Contests, Specialty Markets, Area Writers' Clubs, Writers' Helps, and more. A CD-ROM provides additional information and references, including Freelancing, Promotion, Web Page Development, and Tax Help, as well as a code to obtain updated information throughout the year from the author's website. It is truly mind-boggling the amount of information that is packed into this 500-page book.

Here's the info from the back of the book:

For 24 years running, the Christian Writers’ Market Guide has remained the most comprehensive, complete, essential, and highly-recommended resource for beginning and veteran Christian writers, agents, editors, publishers, publicists, and those teaching writing classes.

This year’s Guide is even handier with a CD-Rom included that features the full text of the book for easy searches of topics, publishers, and markets, as well as 100 pages of exclusive content including indexes and writing resource listings.

This is the resource you need to get noticed—and published.

Completely updated and revised to feature the latest on. . .

• more than 1,200 markets for the written word
  
• 416 book publishers (32 new)
  
• 654 periodicals (52 new)
  
• 96 literary agents
  
• 100 new listings in Resources for Writers
  
• 226 poetry markets
  
• 316 photography markets
  
• 25 African-American markets
  
• 166 contests (29 new)

Author Bio:
Sally E. Stuart is the author of thirty-six books and has sold more than one thousand articles and columns. Her long-term involvement with the Christian Writers’ Market Guide as well as her marketing columns for the Christian Communicator, Oregon Christian Writers, and The Advanced Christian Writer, make her a sought-after speaker and a leading authority on Christian markets and the business of writing. Stuart is the mother of three and grandmother of eight and lives near Portland, Oregon.


This fantastic resource can be purchased at Amazon or ChristianBook.com.

Whether you are an experienced writer, a new or fledgling writer, or one for whom writing is still a dream or goal that seems out of reach, this book is a must!

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Book Review - The Red Siren

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Red Siren
Barbour Publishing, Inc (January 2009)
by
M.L. Tyndall


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M. L. (MARYLU) TYNDALL grew up on the beaches of South Florida loving the sea and the warm tropics. But despite the beauty around her, she always felt an ache in her soul--a longing for something more.

After college, she married and moved to California where she had two children and settled into a job at a local computer company. Although she had done everything the world expected, she was still miserable. She hated her job and her marriage was falling apart.

Still searching for purpose, adventure and true love, she spent her late twenties and early thirties doing all the things the world told her would make her happy, and after years, her children suffered, her second marriage suffered, and she was still miserable.

One day, she picked up her old Bible, dusted it off, and began to read. Somewhere in the middle, God opened her hardened heart to see that He was real, that He still loved her, and that He had a purpose for her life, if she'd only give her heart to Him completely.

Her current releases in the Legacy of The Kings Pirates series include:The Restitution, The Reliance, and The Redemption and The Falcon And The Sparrow

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lady Faith Westcott has turned her back on God and on man. Having witnessed the hypocrisy in the Church of England, her older sister's abuse at the hand of her husband, and her own mother's untimely death in childbirth, Faith has determined never to marry and to gain enough wealth so she and her two sisters will never have to depend on man or God again.

To that end, though a lady by day, she becomes a pirate by night and begins her sordid career off Portsmouth when she attacks and plunders a merchant ship commanded by the young Dajon Waite. Humiliated at being defeated by a pirate and a woman no less, Dajon returns home without cargo and ship, and his father expels him from the family merchant business.

After a brief sojourn into debased society, Dajon rejoins the Royal Navy, where he finds comfort in the strict rules and redemption through his service to others. Three years later, he is sent to the frontier outpost of Charles Town, South Carolina to deal with the pirate problem. There, he connects with his mentor and old friend, Admiral Westcott, who has just arrived with his three daughters.

Much to Dajon's utter dismay, Admiral Westcott, who is being called away to Spain, asks Dajon to be temporary guardian of his three lovely daughters. One of the ladies seems familiar to him, a striking redhead who immediately sends his heart thumping.

Faith recognizes Captain Waite as the buffoon whose ship she plundered off Portsmouth. Yet, he appears no longer the fool, but instead a tall, handsome and commanding naval officer. Despite her immediate attraction to him, she labels him the enemy, but sparks are guaranteed to fly during the next few months when independent, headstrong and rebellious Faith falls in love with God-fearing honorable, rule-following Dajon-especially when Faith continues her pirating off the Carolina coast while her father is away.

Will Dajon catch her? And what will this man of honor and duty do when he does?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Red Siren, go HERE

MY THOUGHTS:
I discovered M.L. Tyndall last year and have really enjoyed her books. Some I've had the opportunity to review, and some I've picked up on my own and read as a result of the other ones. This one did not disappoint. It's a clever novel of adventure as Faith lives the genteel Southern lady by day. . . .but becomes a pirate at night in a desperate effort to rescue herself and her sisters from being essentially sold by their father into arranged marriages. The plot thickens, so to speak, when she has to not only dodge Dajon's careful supervision but his growing suspicions about her clandestine activities. Yet observing Dajon's steadfast faith, when she considers what life will be like in the distasteful marriage to the wicked man to which she is unwillingly betrothed, she must decide whether life or death holds more fear. I highly recommend this book. And as much as I enjoy reading historical fiction, I am grateful that I no longer live in a society where women's lives are bartered to the highest or most devious bidder!

Happy Reading!

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Spectacular Sins - Chapter 1

If it's Monday, then it's time to join Lisa & Missy over at The Preacher's Wife to discuss John Piper's spectacular book Spectacular Sins. This week we're on Chapter 1. Good stuff in ths book - encouraging, mind-stretching, and thought-provoking. Missy leads this week. As I did last week, I list the questions followed by my answers.

1. We'll start with an easy one. What are the four reasons that John Piper gives for writing the book? Which do you look most forward to hearing Piper answer?

1. Why does God want us to know His Sovereignty over sin?
   
2. Why does God not restrain sin more often?
   
3. How can we have faith and joy during the severity of the Last Days?
   
4. How is Christ glorified in a world of sin?

I think I'd have to say the 3rd one grabs me the most. I think this is crucial for believers today. It very much concerns me the distress that believers express over current world and political events and the sense that "we" have to make things better. While it is certainly important to take action in whatever direction God is leading us, it is clearly spelled out in Scripture that things are just going to deterorate more and more as time gets closer to the end. The early church also lived in a time of persecution, corrupt government, and slavery. Nowhere in the New Testament have I read a charge to change the world system. Rather, as Peter says after he describes events leading up to Christ's return and the destruction of the earth:

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. . . II Peter 3:11-12

Repeatedly, both Paul & Peter tell slaves, wives, and citizens to be submissive to the unbelieving masters, husbands, and government officials as an example and as a witness which is much more likely to win them over than words of condemnation. Much, much easier said than done, but something I think we as believers need to consider in these turbulent times.

Here comes the hard part. I hope you read the footnote on page 24. If you are like me, you read it several times, then out loud, then needed to discuss it with someone. We're loving the Lord with all our minds! Answer these as best you can (it's okay if you are fuzzy - we're only in chapter one):

2. What is God's role in sin:
a. Does he allow you to sin? Yes. He has given me free will.
b. Does he cause you to sin? No. I can certainly manage to do that on my own!
c. Does he allow temptation to come before you? Yes, in the general sense. The potential for sin is all around us. However, in a specific area that we struggle with, God does not lure us and dangle it in front of us or taunt us with it to see if we will resist. Satan is the one who does that.
d. What resources does he give you to resist it? (quote scripture if possible.)
Prayer. Support of friends. And most importantly, Scripture, which is both offensive and defensive:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. I Corinthians 10:13

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:10-18

3. Are God's purposes sometimes accomplished through the sinful actions of man? Aside from the Crucifixion, can you think of another biblical example?

If it were required that man's actions be sinless in order for God's purposes to be accomplished, we would be in a sorry state indeed. Many times in the Bible folks either "ran ahead" of God in their attempt to grasp what He had promised them or they just "messed up" and in His grace and mercy He forgave them and used them in spite of. . .and even because of. . .their sins. I think of Jacob cheating Esau out of his birthright, even though it was intended for him. Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery. David, whose sin with Bathsheba cost his first son's life - yet Solomon is listed in the lineage of Jesus. The exile of the Jews to Babylon - to the world it looked as if they had been overtaken by an evil ruler, but this was part of God's plan and purpose. Even in the New Testament, evil such as the persecution of the early Christians and even the disagreement between Paul & Barnabas resulted in the spread of Christianity throughout the world.

4. Piper states that his primary goal is to magnify Christ. What are some ways that a Christian might do that, even under intense suffering? What are some ways that we might do that, during our day-to-day frustrations and disappointments? Have you personally witnessed any examples of either?

First of all, just by acknowledging that this world is not the end game and that God has a greater purpose. Praise Him in the storm. Having an eternal perspective and praying that God will use each situation to glorify Himself rather than just being concerned with our short-term comfort. Remembering past times when the way was dark and He brought us through - and worked things out beyond our comprehension. And yes, I have seen several friends living through unimaginable heartache who brought glory and honor to God even as their hearts were shattered.

5. On page 29 he writes, "We are pushing our way through a blood-spattered life that makes us feel connected to the world yet disconnected at the same time. We are here but not here. Love binds us to the tragic earth, and love binds us to the treasure in heaven." What thoughts does this provoke in you?

God is Love and spreads His love in our hearts to enable to love others, minister to others, and live life abundantly. And yet there is so much more.

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. I Corinthians 15:19

These are all just my thoughts, beliefs, and opinions on what I have read and studied. I urge you to delve into the book and, most importantly, the Bible, and glean the promises of God for yourself. And head over to the Book Club to see what others have to say!

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It's A Muggy Day

Power Blogger (n.) 1. a blogger who has scads of people visit them daily to see what wit or wisdom they will dispense. 2. one who has the unmitigated gall ability to force convince people to do what they would never consider doing otherwise.
Synonym: 2nd Cup of Coffee

Sigh. The things she gets me to do.

I like my mugs. They are cute mugs. Collected from various trips and picked out specifically to remember that event. Such as my mug from the original Starbucks in Seattle. And others, given as gifts that show personality, many of which are a tribute to chocolate in some form.

But are any of those good enough my fellow Lid? Noooooo.

She deems that I need to find an ugly mug for her contest. Hideous. One that would taint the pleasure of my morning mocha as I sip and work my way through blogdom.

So I did the only thing that could be done.

Went to my man's backpack of Scouting paraphenalia.

Because, in spite of the plethora of "cute" camping gear at various stores aimed for those who think it adventurous to go for days without showers and sleep in the wilds of nature, he and the other men in the troop chose mugs made of some kind of seemingly petrified styrofoam. And then they oh-so-carefully decorated and engraved monogrammed labeled them with their group's moniker. With a Sharpie. And some beads.





Lest you are unable to read what it says and grasp the full essence of it's mug-ness, in spite of pictures from two different angles, the mug (and group) is titled:

RAMBO'S BEADHEADS

PLEASE! Vote for me so I can escape to Starbucks and my cute mugs once again!!

UPDATE: BTW, just so you know, this mug is dishwasher safe. Guess that's the (questionable) advantage of the "petrified" part!

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Too Bad Mocha Doesn't Start with N!

Sara had a fun meme on her blog. If you participate, the one whose blog you comment on assigns you a letter and you list your 10 favorite things that begin with that letter.

I'm such a word geek that I thought it would be really easy. I was smugly thinking of things I would come up with even if she gave me the "dreaded" Q or some other obtuse letter.

That noise you just heard? That would be my pride shattering on the floor.



Who knew this would be such a hard letter? But it's a letter that is more comfortable hidden inside a word than out in front.

Aside from the tiny little detail that they are not among my favorites, I decided it was better not to list Narcotics. Or Nudity. Or Narcissism. And even though my background is Nursing and I gave great shots, Needles didn't seem a real clever thing to list either.

But I was able to find some favorites that start with this Nettlesome letter:

1. Naps. Especially on Sunday afternoons.
2. Novels. I'm sure this comes as a huge surprise! But I do indeed like to curl up with a good one. I like many types, but one of my favorite genres is. . .
3. Nineteenth-century fiction. Maybe it's a holdover from my childhood when I fell in love with the Little House series, but anything set in the 1800's absolutely intrigues me.
4. No-iron clothes. 'Nuff said..
   
5. Nabisco. As in Oreos. Also Nilla Wafers, Graham Crackers, Nutter Butter, Ritz. . . .
6. Notecards. Love finding cute ones. I like sending them. And as much as I like email, there's nothing like getting a note in the mail from a friend!
   
7. Nativities. I especially love wooden ones. I have one made of wood from Bethlehem that I love.
8. Nuts. As in food, not people! Especially pecans - raw, baked, you name it. Cashews and mixed nuts are good too.
9. Newsboys, Nicol Sponberg, & Nichole Nordeman. These gifted musicians have some great songs.
10. Nestle Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. Straight out of the bag, in cookies, melted with fruit, or as an IV drip - I'm not picky.

Now. I know None of you are Nitwits or Nincompoops or Numbskulls. N-deed, you're just Naturally N-telligent and Nimble-minded. So if you wanna play along, let me know in the comments and I'll randomly pick a letter and send it to you!

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