Thou hast taught me that faith is nothing else than receiving thy kindness;
that it is an adherence to Christ, a resting on him,
love clinging to him as a branch to the tree…

~Valley of Vision

In the chill of winter, Friends, praying these words and this song might hush your heart
and remind you to rest on Jesus…

When Amidst The Storm I’m Shaken

And for the asking, the song is by a dear childhood friend, Allie Lapointe.
You’ll find more of her melodies here and here and here.

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On this crisp fall afternoon
I thought I’d pass along something I’ve been mulling over.
Perhaps it might speak to you too?

Edie over at LifeInGrace recently penned this honest post.
It has messed with me.  At least I pray that it has.
And while Edie’s words are written within the context of God’s calling on her life to home educate her children,
there are parts of this post that apply to any of us who are in positions of influence.
And if we believe the gospel to be true, then aren’t we all in positions of influence?

So, even if you are not a homeschooler; even if you are not a parent;
might you slowly savor the following words?

We must come to the table hungry.
And our children learn by our example.
They know when we’re trying to force feed them from food we don’t eat ourselves.   ~Edie Wadsworth

I recently listened to a sermon on Matthew 23.
In this text, Jesus is addressing the crowds and his disciples.
Prior to offering the following warning, He silences the Pharisees
who have been trying again and again to snare Him in a game of words.
When the Pharisees do not dare ask Jesus anymore questions, He then turns to the crowds and says:

The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,
so practice and observe what they tell you–but not what they do.
For they preach, but do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.        ~Matthew 23

Now, I know that God speaks to us through His people and through His Word.
And so, in light of Edie’s thoughts and Jesus’ caution to the crowd both blindsiding me this week, I begin to wonder…
How often am I placing burdens upon my children that I am not willing to carry?
How often do I expect them to feast upon food–whether in discipline or education–
that I am not willing to palate myself?

If I want my children to follow Jesus, then I must passionately draw near to him every day; every moment.
If I want my children to love learning, then I must roll up my sleeves and dig in right along with them.
If I want my children to be diligent, joyful, obedient, grateful…
then I must live out those things.
Children can spot a phony.  So can lost people.

This arduous road of becoming who we ought to be has taught us
that life is beautiful and life-giving and full of wonder—but it is not easy
and it was never meant to be.             ~Edie Wadsworth

More than anything, I must choose to live the gospel:
in my parenting, in my marriage, in my teaching, in my working and my playing,
in my going out and in my mealtimes, and, yes, even in my resting.
I must live authentically, practicing what I preach,
swallowing hard the sustenance of repentance and allowing it to bring restoration.

This is how I will win my children’s hearts,
And the hearts of a broken world.

(Note:  If you are a homeschooler, may I quietly urge you to read Edie’s post in it’s entirety?  You may find it here.)

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Not long ago we  lingered there for four glorious days, soaking up sun and sand.
Our children had never before laid eyes on the ocean.
It was pure joy to watch them wonder in amazement at its rushing and roaring.
Nothing could stop them from drinking it in;
tackling waves and basking in its magnitude.

Little ones were content to be near the water for hours, building castles and soaking toes.

I, too, was enchanted by the water in ways I could not explain-
waking early each morn to gaze; listen.

What is it about the ocean?  Why the allure?
I am captivated.

And then this week, I lay eyes on these words…

And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east.
And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters,
and the earth shone with his glory.               ~Ezekiel 43:2

Could it be that we are drawn to the sea
because it reminds us we were made for something more?
We long for the coming of the Lord.
Somewhere in our innermost being our spirits thirst to drink deeply.

…whoever drinks of the water that I give him will never be thirsty again.

~the words of Jesus in John 4:7-15

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Scrawling out a few quiet glimpses of grace today…

2236.  bee bundled in yellow fur coat soaking up summer’s sweetness
2237.  lingering long over wildflowers in ditches
2238.  strolling along our gravel road
2239.  waking up once again to grace all around
2240.  beat-up farmhouse mailbox
2241.  rocking her to sleep
2242.  plans all coming together
2243.  laughing with my sister
2244.  doctors who care
2245.  friends who give and love extravagantly
2246.  prayers from people I don’t even know
2247.  three-year old fascinated for hours with a paper hole punch
2248.  needle & thread
2249.  how her button nose wrinkles when she smiles
2250.  and the lisp at the end of her “yes”
2251.  the way he gets so lost in a book that he forgets what he’s doing
2252.  her mowing the lawn and loving it
2253.  summer dressed in all her loveliness

Reminding myself again and again of the many ways He loves.
Praying you’re seeing it too.

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But when you give to the needy,
do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
so that your giving may be in secret.

~Jesus in Matthew 6

Scribbling out words in this place is a way that I try my hand at being an artist.
Playing, arranging, sculpting, searching.
Here lies my canvas.
And also my kiln; a refining fire.

Sometimes, in the artistic process, a line is crossed.
Yesterday I stepped over it.

It began quite innocently.
I gladdened at the opportunity to shout the news of Compassion’s Tanzania trip.
At some point, though, I tested my toe over the line of integrity.

After hesitantly tapping publish, I wrestled in my spirit.
Deep down, I knew.
I tweaked.  I  trimmed.  I tried to transform it.
But somehow it still felt wrong.
It was wrong.

The difficult thing about this medium is that once it’s out there, you can’t take it back.
The tongue spewing fire, even through these keys.
And so I must welcome the refining of me.

Under covers in the wee hours, my husband and I, we talked of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6.
Of giving in secret.
Of the temptation to make much of ourselves.

One allure of social media is that it makes boasting appear beautiful.

That is dangerous.

I am sorry, Friends.
Somewhere in my writing yesterday, I’m afraid I tried to impress you.
Please forgive me.

I am humbled.  Very humbled.
And thankful for grace.

But he said to me

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,

so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

 

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