The Calendar

“Oh Marilla, looking forward to things is half the fun of them! You mayn’t get the things themselves, but nothing can prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them.” (Anne of Green Gables)

Am I strange if I say that I like looking at my calendar? Bryan used to think it odd that I would sometimes spend a good amount of my spare time engaged in this activity. I really enjoy sitting down on a rainy Autumn day like today–perhaps with some nice quiet background music–pulling some covers over me, and opening up my calendar. It’s almost as enjoyable as reading a good book. I preminisce about upcoming events, and reminisce about past ones. To me, opening up my calendar is something like heating up water for a cup of memories and imagination.

Here are a few upcoming events on my calendar:

My Dad arrives home from India tomorrow evening. I’m expecting lots of stories and pictures. Did I ever mention that my dad is the most godly, loving, funny, enjoyable, spiritually edifying and encouraging friend and dad I could wish for? Why is it that God gave me such a great dad? Many people have angry, abusive dads, and many have none at all. I have not only a believing dad, but one that seems to really know how to be a “dad” in every aspect of the word. That’s a lot more than most people can say.

October 31 is the fall party at the Olson’s. I’m so excited! 

On November 7th I take the SAT. Yay! (“seriously?”) Well, not that I get to take it, but that it will be over with. I have to keep a positive outlook, right?

November 15th is the Heatland meeting. Need I say more?

November 21st is exciting for two reasons. One: Bryan get’s home! Two: I have a violin recital. Actually, I can’t decide whether or not to be excited about the violin recital. It really depends on how I feel about my piece a week or so out. I don’t feel that great about it right now, which is a bad sign. But if I totally persecute the piece, the world doesn’t end. Bryan will arrive home later that day to sweep my troubles away. And if I’m surprised with an outcome quite the opposite, he’ll be there to rejoice with me.

And November 23 marks the arrival of Benjamin. I like Benjamin. Around Benjamin one is bound to have nothing other than an educational-good time. There are almost no exceptions to this rule. Benjamin also has a classic type of refined humor that’s refreshing. It can’t be described. You just have to know him.

So those are the highlights of this month and next. It’s probably more interesting to me than it is to you, but I wanted to write about it anyway. So if you read it, you’re my true friend. If you didn’t, well, you won’t be reading this so never mind.

Do I use too many parenthetical statements?

Answer me honestly. Do you think it will improve my writing if back off a little in the use of parenthesis? Do I use them too much? Is it noticeable, distracting, or downright funny how often I use them?

Thanks

Thoughts on Christian Love

This post is an attempt organize all of my recent thoughts on love by rambling on paper (a method that usually works well for me). So I write my thoughts for all to see with the hope that, at the same time, my rambling will ”stir you up to love and good deeds.” Warning: I have a tendency to ramble at length (in writing, not typically in speaking).

I starting thinking a lot about love after listening to a part of a Paul Washer message.  (Couldn’t you have guessed?) Most of the message wasn’t about love, but he did mentioned a passage from Mathew 25 which got me thinking:  

Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me. [ . . . ] Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me. (Mat 25: 34-36, 40)

He made the point that this passage is not talking about feeding and clothing the random person on the side of the street (so to speak), but rather specifically our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The question forefront in my mind then was “How would this kind of love look in my life?” In America we don’t often see believers naked, or starving, or in prison for their faith.  So how does this kind of love show itself here, in our world of affluence and tolerance?

Over the course of a few days, as I asked God to show me how to be more Christ-like in my love, several practical ideas came to mind (and even one very specific one, which I won’t mention here). First of all, even though I don’t see believers around me starving, I do see many needs. Next time you’re with the body of believers, listen carefully to the needs expressed. Many of them are not financial, which is how I have typically defined “needs.” Listen for all kinds. These needs are not just their needs, they’re yours as well. Be intentional about meeting them. If you’re incapable of helping, pray.

Secondly, there are many missionaries that live on support from their brothers and sisters in Christ. God will provide for his children, but he uses means. He gives us the opportunity to love with what he’s given us.

Also, though believers aren’t starving and unclothed here, they are in many parts of the world. There are ways to provide for their needs.  

 Another set of verses to which I’ve given a considerable amount of thought lately is 1 Cor. 4-7:

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

It seems to me that these verses imply that love is a “you’re more important, better, or more gifted than me, and I rejoice in that” mindset. A few verse earlier (1 Cor 12:26) Paul says “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” I think this captures well the meaning of love among believers. We want the best for our fellow believer. We are not jealous when they get something we don’t, but rather rejoice that they have it. We want them to have it. We would gladly give it.

A few weeks ago, I felt like I wasn’t finding anything in scripture to do. I just wanted a command to obey, and for some reason I was having considerable trouble finding it. Crazy, I know! I suppose the problem was that I was looking for some sort of new command I had never really thought about before. Now God has reminded me that I haven’t yet mastered the main one: love.

Love is huge. That’s why the two greatest commandments are about love. Hypothetically if you loved perfectly, then you wouldn’t sin. Am I right about that? Think about it. Every other command in Scripture would be fulfilled in love. 

This is also why Paul reminds us in first Corinthians 13, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”  

So if love is giving the best to promote the well-being and happiness of your brother or sister, and rejoicing to do so, what are a few practical ways to do this? John Piper has written an excellent chapter in What Jesus Demands from the World about the verse “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Here’s one thing he said that stood out to me.

 When Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” the word “as” is very radical: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s a big word: “as!” It means: If you are energetic in pursuing your own happiness, be energetic in pursuing the happiness of your neighbor. If you are creative in pursuing your own happiness, be creative in pursuing the happiness of your neighbor.  If you are persevering in pursuing your own happiness, then persevere in pursuing the happiness of your neighbor.

In other words, Jesus is not just saying, seek for your neighbor the same things you seek for yourself, but also seek them in the same way–with the same zeal and energy and creativity and perseverance. And with the same life and death commitment when you are in danger. Make your own self-seeking the measure of your self-giving.

 How do you seek your own happiness? I would hope that you find the most happiness in enjoying the fellowship of God. If this is so, than seeking delight in God is the greatest way you love yourself. And if this is so, the greatest way to love others is to seek that their joy in God be made greater.

I probably should stop here. Thanks for reading (or at least skimming)!

Christian Love

Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me. [ . . . ] Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.” (Mat 25: 34-36, 40)

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (I Cor 13:4-7)

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil 2:3-4)

“Let love be without hypocrisy.” 
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”  
“contributing to the needs of the saints”
“Rejoice with those whe rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.” (Rom 12 exerpts)

“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.” (1 John 3: 18-20)

Charles Dickens:

as a writer, both good and old. Just started reading Dombey and Son. It’s the first fiction I’ve read since March or April. I’d almost forgotten that I like fiction.

A Sad Night

Last night was a very sad desert night.

We didn’t have any ice-cream. Nor did we have the makings for a good bowl of cereal. Nor did we have any leftover pizza (which has made an excelent desert in the past). So I was forced to settle with a few peanut butter crackers (No, not even peanut butter and jelly crackers. Just plain old peanut butter crackers) and a couple of pieces of candy that have been rejected (left in the cabinet) for some time.

I really wanted ice cream. I had been looking forward to ice cream. And it turns out that I waited all week for this! Oh, what a dreadful night!

 . . . Actually though, I did have some hot chocolate that was pretty good. That helped. But I still really wanted ice cream.

Autoblography: prayer

Sorry we missed last week.  We ran out of time before writing anything.  For this week, here is an article by Paul Washer that was helpful to us as we discussed and sought to be diligent in prayer.

Pray

I divide my praying into two separate categories: Praying in my walking shoes, and praying in my work boots.  The first category refers to communion, adoration, and thanksgiving.  It is walking with God as an ever-present companion, enjoying His fellowship, and seeking greater and great manifestation of His presence.  This type of praying has one purpose – to know Him and simply “be” with Him. A part from this type of praying, all the knowledge in your head will never be anything more than second hand theological jargon.  You will spend your entire life speaking correctly about someone you do not even know and about things that have never become realities in your life. 

I have heard people say that they do not have a specific time of seeking God in this way, but they commune with God throughout the day as they go through their daily activities.  It has been my experience that the ability to “practice the presence of God” throughout the day and in the midst of my activities is only made possible because I have separated myself from my daily activities and sought God in specific times of prayer.  This seems to have been the practice of our Lord Jesus Christ during His incarnation:

‘In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there’ (Mark 1:35) 

The second category of praying – praying in my work boots – refers to intercessory prayer.  Let no one mislead you, this type of praying is hard work!  It is not a small thing for a mortal man to wrestle with God (Genesis 32:24-32) and against the devil (Ephesians 6:12).  The stakes are high and everything is won or lost on this battle field.  We labor in prayer for the Glory of God, the Great Commission, and the advancement of the Church; we labor in prayer for every need and the fulfillment of every promise that God has given.  This may be well be the most holy talk given to me!

I will leave the subject of prayer  behind with a bit of advice that has been very helpful to me.  It was given to me by an older preacher, who received it from an even older preacher.  It goes something like this:

‘Pray until you can pray, and then pray until you have prayed.’

 Often when we bow our knees in prayer we do not sense the liberty of power to pray.  It seem s as though there is a sky of brass above us.  This should not be a cause of discouragement, but it should lead us to wrestle in prayer until we have “broken through” to God.  It is then that we should set ourselves to praying until our burdens have lifted and we know that we have prayed.

Just thinking . . .

I‘ve got a kindly old codger for a Papa, a couple of fine, young scholars for brothers (or maybe more correctly: a couple of rough, young vagabonds?), and an exceptionally intelligent and handsome mother. Not bad.

   

Poem

Here’s a poem that I recently wrote that expresses some things I’ve been thinking about lately. It was written to be a song, so it has a chorus.

In your right hand there are pleasures forever
Lord, in your presence is fullest delight
Grant to me more of Your presence to treasure
Set me ablaze with the joy you ignite.

Teach me to know you more
So I’ll enjoy you more
than anything in this world
Increase my joy in you
Through everything I do.
Take glory for yourself, Lord

Nothing that’s temporal brings full satisfaction
Just that which offers more joy in Your name
I may endeavor to bring myself glory
But, Lord, my glory is ash in Your fame

Why would I even desire my own glory?
Seeking Your glory brings joy that endures
Work out each talent to bring satisfaction
Not in my glory, but only in Yours

Finally, My Language Decision! (last night’s brain wave)

I’m really excited about what I’ve decided to do! Those of you who know me have probably noticed that I start rubbing my hands together when I get really excited about something. A little odd, I know. I don’t where I picked up the habit, but I’m becoming quite known for it. Anyway, I’ve been doing that a lot lately about this decision.

So I’ve decided . . . to do it all. Here’s what I mean:

I was thinking about how I’m not really able to accomplish enough in any language, in the time that I have, to really be able to use it–unless it prepares me for learning Greek or Hebrew, or I were to build on it in the future. So last night (it’s usually at night that these brain waves happen) a brilliant thought occurred to me that really makes a lot of sense.  I can just learn the basics of a bunch of languages (the alphabet, a few words and phrases, and a little study on the culture where that language is spoken). I’ll just call the course something like “Language and culture studies.” Here are some ways this can help me to serve God:

1. This is a great way to excercise my mind. A well exercised mind is one that is more ready to be used by the Lord.

2. Some of us girls have been reading through Piper’s Let the Nations Be Glad together. I’m seeing that I really need to be more of a partner in the gospel than I am. I need to be a real prayer warrior for the salvation of the nations. I need to pray for those on the front lines of this war. I want God to get glory by the worship of the nations. By studying languages and cultures I hope to cultivate more of an ethnic mindset, and a greater love for the nations, so that I will know better how to pray.

3. I’ll have a better feel for languages, that could be useful in the future. Bryan says that this is really good. He says that his high school language dabbling is helping him with Greek. Just having sort of a feel for how they work is useful. And who knows, I may do mission work in the future, and this would be really good to have.

4. Being able to pull out a phrases or two in several languages may serve as a good ice breaker to be able to share the gospel with people in America who speak those languages.

Now that I’ve decided on this, I’m so glad I didn’t just make a hasty “eenie-meenie-myni-mo” decision at the beginning. This is so much better then that would have been. I can really see how this can help me.