The Moat of His Protection

God is our Refuge, our Strength, our Mighty Fortress. Nothing will get by the moat of his protection without his permission. To be afraid of what happens today or what may happen tomorrow is not only an awful waste of energy, it is not only useless, it is disobedient. We are forbidden to fear anything but the Lord Himself...Will power, of course, will not always overcome human emotions. But willed obedience to the One who is in charge, coupled with prayer for his help in vanquishing our natural fears, is something else.

~ Elisabeth Elliot

Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

~ Philippians 4:6-7 (CEV)

More Wisdom from a Humanist

More words from Ken Ham in The New Answers Book 1...

Huxley made the point that if we are to believe the New Testament doctrines, we must believe the historical account of Genesis as historical truth. Huxley was definitely out to destroy the truth of the biblical record. When people rejected the Bible, he was happy. But when they tried to harmonize evolutionary ideas with the Bible and reinterpret it, he vigorously attacked this position.

More words from Thomas Huxley...

I confess I soon lose my way when I try to follow those who walk delicately among "types" and allegories. A certain passion for clearness forces me to ask, bluntly, whether the writer means to say that Jesus did not believe the stories in question or that he did? When Jesus spoke, as a matter of fact, that "the Flood came and destroyed them all," did he believe that the Deluge really took place, or not? It seems to me that, as the narrative mentions Noah's wife, and his sons' wives, there is good scriptural warranty for the statement that the antediluvians married and were given in marriage: and I should have thought that their eating and drinking might be assumed by the firmest believer in the literal truth of the story. Moreover, I venture to ask what sort of value, as an illustration of God's methods of dealing with sin, has an account of an event that never happened? If no Flood swept the careless people away, how is the warning of more worth than the cry of 'Wolf' when there is no wolf?

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

~ Matthew 24:36-39

Even a Humanist Sees It Clearly

First, a little history lesson.

Thomas Huxley was a humanist who lived during the time of Darwin and, in fact, became known as "Darwin's bulldog" because he did more to popularize Darwin's ideas than Darwin himself. He wanted to tear down Christianity at every turn; and as theologians of his day compromised the authority of Scripture by adding a belief in millions of years and evolution to the Bible, Huxley used that compromise against them.

In Ken Ham's words...

"What was Huxley's point? He insisted that the theologians had to accept evolution and millions of years, but he pointed out that, to be consistent, they had to give up the Bible totally. Compromise is impossible."

~ Ken Ham,

in The New Answers Book 1

Here is a quote from Huxley himself, written about 113 years ago; and hopefully that background info will help it make more sense...

I am fairly at a loss to comprehend how anyone, for a moment, can doubt that Christian theology must stand or fall with the historical trustworthiness of the Jewish Scriptures. The very conception of the Messiah, or Christ, is inextricably interwoven with Jewish history; the identification of Jesus of Nazareth with that Messiah rests upon the interpretation of the passages of the Hebrew Scriptures which have no evidential value unless they possess the historical character assigned to them. If the covenant with Abraham was not made; if circumcision and sacrifices were not ordained by Jahveh; if the 'ten words' were not written by God's hand on the stone tables; if Abraham is more or less a mythical hero, such as Theseus; the Story of the Deluge a fiction; that of the Fall a legend; and that of the Creation the dream of a seer; if all these definite and detailed narratives of apparently real events have no more value as history than have the stories of the regal period of Rome--what is to be said about the Messianic doctrine, which is so much less clearly enunciated: And what about the authority of the writers of the books of the New Testament, who, on this theory, have not merely accepted flimsy fictions for solid truths, but have built the very foundations of Christian dogma upon legendary quicksands?

~ Thomas Huxley,

in his essay "Lights of the Church and Science"

Your word is truth.

~ John 17:17

The Purpose of Marriage

I never know where I'm going to find a bite of spiritual food. This evening, for example, I was reading the newspaper (something I do only when my mother cuts out articles and gives them to me) and discovered this gem.

The goal of our life should not be to find joy in marriage, but to bring more love and truth into the world. We marry to assist each other in this task. The highest calling is that of the man who has dedicated his life to serving God and doing good, and who unites with a woman in order to further that purpose.

~ Leo Tolstoy,

in a letter he wrote

This reminds me of another quote I appreciate:

A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.

~ Maya Angelou

The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

~ Genesis 2:18

Marriage can be wonderful--truly a precious part of life. But if the reason for marrying is selfish, just so I will be taken care of and have my needs met, disappointment will inevitably come. How much better to work together with my spouse to bring glory to God and accomplish His purposes on earth!

All I Want

I've loved this song since the first time I heard it. What a beautiful way to express my heart's cry.

Earth has nothing I desire besides you.

~ Psalm 73:25

But Joshua...

One of my favorite verses, not only because of the inspiration I get from the intimate connection between God and Moses, but also because of the tremendous example Joshua sets through his devotion to being in the presence of the Lord...

The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

~ Exodus 33:11

For the Glory of God

Living for the glory of God is living to enhance God's reputation on the earth.

~ Jay Adams

from Back to the Blackboard

quoted in Home Educating Family magazine,

2010 Issue 1

Not to us, O Lord, not to us

but to your name be the glory,

because of your love and faithfulness.

~ Psalm 115:1

Put On the Right Clothes

Nuggets of truth and inspiration continue to pop up from Colossians. Here's another one...

Only certain costumes suit Christians. To be otherwise dressed is inappropriate.

Put on the garments that suit God's chosen people, his own, his beloved: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience (Col. 3:12 NEB).

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 13:14 RSV).

You have all put on Christ as a garment (Gal. 3:27 NEB).

You must put on the new nature of God's creating (Eph. 4:24 NEB).

You have discarded the old nature with its deeds and have put on the new nature (Col. 3:10 NEB).

Put on love (Col. 3:14 RSV).

The clothes we wear are what people see. Only God can look on the heart. The outward signs are important. They reveal something of what is inside. If charity is there, it will become visible outwardly, but if you have no charitable feelings, you can still obey the command. Put it on as simply and consciously as you put on a coat. You choose it; you pick it up; you put it on. This is what you want to wear.

Do you want to dress like a Christian? Put on Christ. The act of honest obedience--the fruit of love for Christ--is your part. Making you Christlike through and through is his part.

~ Elisabeth Elliot

from A Lamp for My Feet

Be Ye Separate

At the homeschool convention we recently attended, we were handed literature by a number of organizations as we wandered through the exhibit hall; and at the time, I didn't even glance at some of what we were given. Yesterday, however, I was sorting through a tote bag full of papers and so forth and discovered a small publication called Reaching Out, apparently published by the Pilgrim Mennonite Conference (about whom I know nothing, but am guessing it to be a fairly conservative group). One of the articles was written by a Lester Troyer and is entitled "The Case for Separation." It begins...

Biblical separation is possibly the most neglected teaching in Christianity today, especially in the West. Through sheer neglect (or unbelief), the life of the Christian is reinvented as being a mere statement of belief apart from any change of life, or relationship to a world of ungodliness. The Gospel is reduced to this: "One accepts Jesus into his heart. God forgives. Heaven is sure. That's it." But nothing has changed. The new Christianity does not usher in the divine grace of transformation that breaks the old sin patterns and brings forth a life ordered by God. Instead, it has invented a divine blindfold, where God no longer sees the sin of the Christian.

But God is not mocked. Heaven is reserved not for those who merely profess Jesus as Lord, but for those who do the will of the Father in Heaven. Salvation results in single-minded devotion to God, producing a separation from the world and the powers of darkness. Separation is the principle whereby Christians live "in the world without being of the world."

Later in the article, he quotes from a message Billy Graham preached in 1987 at a missions conference in Urbana, Illinois. Graham said:

We have moved in with the world and allowed the world to penetrate the way we live. So things we used to call sin are no longer sin. Things that we would have abhorred a few years ago, we accept as matter of fact today, not realizing that they offend a holy God....We act as if it doesn't really matter how we live or what we think or say because God will forgive us anyway.

He concludes with these verses:

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

~ 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

This article hit home because of the ache in my heart for holiness. Where is the individual, where is the congregation, that realizes without a doubt that it is only through God's grace that we are being saved, but that also desires and practices holiness in response to God's great love and mercy? Where is the shepherd who is willing and bold enough to call his flock to repentance without instituting legalistic rules that supposedly safeguard the sheep but in reality lead to bondage? Practically, how can I come out from among the world and be separate, while still making an impact on those who so desperately need to see a flesh-and-blood "little Christ"?

Whatever You Do, Don't Turn Your Back

As I look back over the giants of faith, all had one thing in common: neither victory nor success, but passion...God's favorites responded with passion in kind. Moses argued with God so fervently that several times he persuaded God to change plans. Jacob wrestled all night and used trickery to grab hold of God's blessing. Job lashed out in rage against God. David broke at least half the Ten Commandments. Yet never did they wholly give up on God, and never did God give up on them. God can handle anger, blame, and even willful disobedience. One thing, however, blocks relationship: indifference. "They turned their backs to me and not their faces," God told Jeremiah, in a damning indictment of Israel.

From the spiritual giants of the Bible, I learn this crucial lesson about relating to an invisible God: Whatever you do, don't ignore God. Invite God into every aspect of life.

For some Christians, the times of Job-like crisis will represent the greatest danger. How can they cling to faith in a God who appears unconcerned and even hostile? Others, and I count myself among them, face a more subtle danger. An accumulation of distractions--a malfunctioning computer, bills to pay, an upcoming trip, a friend's wedding, the general busyness of life--gradually edges God away from the center of my life. Some days I meet people, eat, work, make decisions, all without giving God a single thought. And that void is far more serious than what Job experienced, for not once did Job stop thinking about God.

~ Philip Yancey,

May 29 in Grace Notes

They say to wood, "You are my father,"

and to stone, "You gave me birth."

They have turned their backs to me

and not their faces;

yet when they are in trouble, they say,

"Come and save us!"

~ Jeremiah 2:27

They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline.

~ Jeremiah 32:33

The Fear of the Lord

Yesterday at a ladies' brunch at church, the speaker, Sylvia, spoke on fear; and during part of her talk, she contrasted a healthy fear of the Lord with unhealthy fear of other things. She read these verses:

He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress,

and for his children it will be a refuge.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,

turning a man from the snares of death.

~ Proverbs 14:26-27 (NIV)

These verses came back to my mind last evening as we dealt with a snake on our property; and in the midst of my own fear, I saw terror in Josiah, David, and Tobin. I saw clearly the challenge to, even in the midst of such a frightful situation, point them to God, help them to fear (respect) Him, and find their security in His character. I need to learn to do this more and more, too; and I pray that as I grow in this, my sons will as well. My fear of the Lord can be a refuge for my children!

But I have a choice. Who will I fear? Either I fear the Lord, or I fear everything else.

In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence.

~ Proverbs 14:26a (KJV)

Kicking Against the Pricks

At our potluck last evening, Jeff discussed Acts 9--the first part of it, anyway. This verse stood out to me:

It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

~ Acts 9:5 (KJV)

It is hard for you to kick against the goads.

~ Acts 9:5 (NKJV)

It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad [to offer vain and perilous resistance].

~ Acts 9:5 (Amplified Bible)

I think the reason it hit my heart is because I've found it difficult recently to feel confident that I'm hearing God's voice clearly, particularly when it comes to which congregation we should become a part of. I don't want to kick against the pricks (it makes me wince just to think of literally kicking against a prick!), but it's a challenge sometimes to know in what direction the pricks are prodding me. If I knew for sure which direction we are supposed to be going, I'd be glad to speed up and not have to get pricked! But which direction is the right one?

Am I Willing to Do Whatever It Takes to Know God?

At the homeschool conference we recently attended, we were given a copy of the magazine Home Educating Family; and in it, there was an article by Stuart McAllister; and in it, there was this quote:

I'm afraid that in our day, we often live with a glaring contradiction. We want to know God. We want God to be real and we want life to have deep meaning. And yet we want all this without any serious cost or effort.

~ Stuart McAllister

Tonight at our fellowship potluck, we will sing "In the Secret" per Josiah's request, since he is the birthday boy and got to choose all the songs. I love that song and haven't gotten tired of it; but I've come to realize that it's a lot easier to sing, "I want to know you, I want to hear your voice, I want to touch you, I want to see your face," than it is to actually know, hear, touch, and see God.

Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). That is no easy call. So why do I keep trying to make my life easy?

I wrestle with this even in relation to my daily times with God and specifically this manna blog. Most of the time, I prepare these posts the night before and then auto-post them at 7:00 AM the next morning. The reason is simple: by nature, I am decidedly a night person. The house is quiet at night after the boys are in bed, I can think, I can take my time reading and writing and meditating, I don't have the deadlines that come in the morning ("four boys will be rolling out of bed in 15 minutes, and I need to grab some spiritual food before then! come on, manna!!"). It very naturally falls into my daily schedule and my body rhythms to spend this time at night with God, and then, during the day, to reflect on what I've written or what I'm planning to write. But it's easy (relatively). It is SO MUCH harder for me to force myself to go to bed early and to wake up early, and I'm left wondering: is that what I need to do? Or is this habit of daily time with God at night just as beneficial?

Before we resume our normal homeschooling schedule this fall, I do want to train myself to have an earlier-to-bed, earlier-to-rise schedule so that I can have at least a little time to myself in the morning before the boys get up. I don't want my baby's cries to be my alarm clock; I'd rather be up and dressed and past the first stage of morning grogginess before I need to attend to my boys. But should I realistically aim for 6:45, or for 6:00? Is 6:45 sacrificial enough? Does the cross I need to carry daily look like an alarm clock set for 6:00--with no snooze button to offer reprieve? :)

I don't know the answers yet; but I do know that I don't want to fall into that "glaring contradiction" that Stuart McAllister pointed out. When I say I want to know God, I want to be willing to go to any lengths to develop that intimacy, even if it demands "serious cost or effort."

Back to the Beginning

You know how it is when you buy a car? Suddenly you start noticing all the other cars that look exactly like yours as you drive around. Who knew there were so many dark green Mazda minivans in the world?! :)

That's what's been happening with me and Colossians. Now that I'm putting extra emphasis on it because of a sermon series I've been hearing, I find verses from Colossians popping up all around, at various times, from different sources. I'm loving the book of Colossians even more than I used to!

Here are the latest verses to jump out at me:

For by him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

~ Colossians 1:16-17

I suppose the reason these verses stood out to me is because lately, I feel like I've been re-examining EVERYTHING. All my beliefs have come under scrutiny again, as I (along with Jeff, of course) try to figure out what direction we are being called to go by God. We are standing at a crossroads, having left one church at the end of this past year and not having completely settled into a new one yet. So I question and ponder and study...

What do I really believe about the roles of men and women, particularly in the church?

What do I really believe about the way the Holy Spirit works in this day and age?

What do I really believe are the absolute essentials that must be found in a church, the things on which I will not compromise?

What do I really believe about the way the printed words of the Bible intersect with culture?

And on and on...

Well, as Julie Andrews sings in The Sound of Music, "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start..." (I can hear her voice in my head as I type.) Back to Genesis, I go.

I just started reading The New Answers Book 1, edited by Ken Ham; and in the first chapter, I had to smile a little when I read this in the section on "How Do We Recognize the Evidence of Intelligence?":

Why do scientists become so excited when they discover stone tools together with bones in a cave? The stone tools show signs of intelligence. The scientists recognize that these tools could not have designed themselves but that they are a product of intelligent input. Thus, the researchers rightly conclude that an intelligent creature was responsible for making these tools.

In a similar way, one would never look at the Great Wall of China, the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., or the Sydney Opera House in Australia and conclude that such structures were formed after explosions in a brick factory.

Neither would anyone believe that the presidents' heads on Mt. Rushmore were the products of millions of years of erosion. We can recognize design, the evidence of the outworkings of intelligence. We see man-made objects all around us--cars, airplanes, computers, stereos, houses, appliances, and so on. And yet, at no time would anyone ever suggest that such objects were just the products of time and chance. Design is everywhere. It would never enter our minds that metal, left to itself, would eventually form into engines, transmissions, wheels, and all the other intricate parts needed to produce an automobile.

Clearly, there IS evidence of design. There IS evidence of a creator.

For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

~ Romans 1:20

Content

A wise man will desire no more than what he may get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Christians can be and ought to be content with the simple necessities of life...First, when you have God near you and for you, you don't need extra money or extra things to give you peace and security...God is always better than gold...Second, we can be content with the simplicity because the deepest, most satisfying delights God gives us through creation are free gifts from nature and from loving relationships with people. After your basic needs are met, accumulated money begins to diminish your capacity for these pleasures rather than increase them. Buying things contributes absolutely nothing to the heart's capacity for joy...Third, we should be content with the simple necessities of life because we could invest the extra we make for what really counts (God's kingdom).

~ John Piper (emphasis mine)

Both of the above quotes come from The Well-Planned Day, a new planner Jeff got for me at the homeschool convention we just attended. Scattered throughout it are thought-provoking quotes and scripture verses--just one of the many things I like about it! :)

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

~ Hebrews 13:5

Words for the Sick and Weary

The church we've been attending has started a sermon series on Colossians, which is a good thing because, as I've dealt with feeling under the weather the past few days, I've needed these words:

...being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience...

~ Colossians 1:11

The Ramban's Letter, Part Five

Today, finally, is the last segment I want to post from this ancient Jewish document.

Today, finally, we see the distinction between Jewish thought and Christian. We've come to a fork in the road; and depending on where you land on this issue, you end up in two very different schools of thought.

The Jewish perspective:

Read this letter at least once a week and neglect none of it. Fulfill it, and in so doing, walk with it forever in the ways of Hashem, may he be blessed, so that you will succeed in all your ways. Thus you will succeed and merit the World to Come which lies hidden away for the righteous.

~ from The Ramban's Letter to His Son

Did you catch it? Do you see how different this thinking is than Christian beliefs?

The Christian perspective:

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved...[a few verses later, Paul writes it again]...For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.

~ Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.

~ 2 Timothy 1:8-9

Which would you rather have:

"...neglect none of it...then you will succeed and merit the World to Come..."

OR

"...not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace"?

I know myself. I know my weaknesses. I know my tendency to "neglect" what I know to be right. I know my inability to "merit" salvation. Because of that, I gratefully accept the second choice. I cast myself on the mercy of God and say, "Thank You forever for your purpose and grace!"

The Ramban's Letter, Part Four

In all your actions, words, and thoughts, always regard yourself as standing before Hashem, with His Shechinah above you, for His glory fills the whole world. Speak with fear and awe, as a slave standing before his master. Act with restraint in front of everyone. When someone calls you, don't answer loudly, but gently and softly, as one who stands before his master.

~ from The Ramban's Letter to His Son

Do not be quick with your mouth,

do not be hasty in your heart

to utter anything before God.

God is in heaven

and you are on earth,

so let your words be few.

~ Ecclesiastes 5:2

The Ramban's Letter, Part Three

Consider everyone as greater than yourself. If he is wise or rich, you should give him respect. If he is poor and you are richer--or wiser--than he, consider yourself to be more guilty than he, and that he is more worthy than you, since when he sins it is through error, while yours is deliberate and you should know better!

~ from The Ramban's Letter to His Son (written by Iggeret HaRamban to his elder son, Nachman, with the instruction to read it weekly)

Honor one another above yourselves.

~ Romans 12:10

The Ramban's Letter, Part Two

When you think about all these things, you will come to fear Hashem* who created you, and you will protect yourself from sinning and therefore be happy with whatever happens to you. Also, when you act humbly and modestly before everyone, and are afraid of Hashem and of sin, the radiance of His glory and the spirit of the Shechina will rest upon you, and you will live the life of the World-to-Come!

~ from The Ramban's Letter to His Son

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

~ 2 Corinthians 3:18

* Hashem - literally means "the name" and is used for God (whose name is too holy to utter)

The Ramban's Letter, Part One

We are preparing to leave for a homeschool convention this weekend, an event I've been looking forward to for a very long time. My anticipation is running high! :) Even though I won't be at a computer every day, I do have daily posts lined up, thanks to Blogger's lovely auto-post feature. The next few days will be a series of quotes from a letter a Jewish rabbi wrote to his son approximately 800 years ago.

Ancient words.

Timeless wisdom.

Biblical truth.

Get into the habit of always speaking calmly to everyone. This will prevent you from anger, a serious character flaw which causes people to sin...Once you have distanced yourself from anger, the quality of humility will enter your heart. This radiant quality is the finest of all admirable traits.

~ from The Ramban's Letter to His Son, written by Iggeret HaRamban to his elder son, Nachman, with the instruction to read it weekly

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

~ James 1:19-20

Too Much to Deny, Too Little to Be Sure

Over time, I have grown more comfortable with mystery rather than certainty. God does not twist arms and never forces us into a corner with faith as the only exit. We will always, with Pascal, see "too much to deny and too little to be sure."

~ Philip Yancey

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

~ Hebrews 11:1

Obedience Is Not Contingent

One of the places where I find manna is a daily email devotional from Elisabeth Elliot, sent out by Back to the Bible. I appreciate the fact that every morning, as I sleepily nurse Shav, a piece of manna is waiting for me in my email inbox; and I can turn on my laptop and gather it as easy as anything.

I really liked the one for today. (I feel that way almost every day!) Elisabeth writes:

Obedience Is Not Contingent

The making of comparisons is a dangerous business for a Christian. Each of us must give account, not of his neighbor, but of himself to God. To the workers who, under the guise of a concern for fairness, objected to an equal wage being paid to those who began the job at different hours of the day, the owner said, "Why be jealous because I am kind?" (Mt. 20:15 NEB).

To the brother of the prodigal son, put out because this wastrel was being wined and dined, the father said, "My boy, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. How could we help celebrating this happy day?" (Lk. 15:31,32 NEB).

To Peter, hesitant to follow the Lord until he found out what was going to be required of the other disciple, Jesus said, "If it should be my will that he wait until I come, what is it to you? Follow me" (Jn. 21:22 NEB).

The spirit of godly obedience is not in us; our wills have not been unconditionally turned over to the Master, as long as we determine our own action by what others do. To husbands God says (unconditionally), "Love your wives." To wives he says (unconditionally), "Submit to your husbands."* If each lets his obedience be contingent upon the other's, there is a standoff. The command to husbands is the business of husbands. The command to wives is the business of wives. Let each "mind his own"--direct his attention to the thing required of him--and harmony will be the result.

"There must be no limit to your goodness, as your heavenly Father's goodness knows no bounds" (Mt. 5:48 NEB).

* Many wives consider their own cases exceptional. Since no exceptions are mentioned in this passage, I conclude that a wife must be very sure she has a scriptural warrant before disobeying, e.g., if her husband desires her to act in a way clearly forbidden by scripture.

I'm quite familiar with all of the verses Elisabeth uses, but I've never grouped them together in such a way as to see their common theme. It reminds me, however, of how Jeff and I talk when we're counseling couples about the way in which some people think a relationship should be 50/50. "I'll meet you halfway, and then we'll have peace." But what happens when one spouse only gives 45 percent? And who in the world is the judge to say when I've reached 50 percent anyway?

A much more effective--not to mention, Biblical--way to approach relationships is 100/100. "I'll give you 100 percent. I'll be willing to do anything. I'll pour out my all so that, wherever you are, we'll meet in the middle. If you're at 30 percent, I'll give 70. If you're at 2 percent, I'll give 98. Maybe next week, I'll be struggling along at 19 percent, and you can give 81."

May I be willing to give 100 percent. May I not wait until someone else obeys before I follow suit. May there be no limit to my goodness.

I'm Against Sin

I'm against sin. I'll kick it as long as I've got a foot, and I'll fight it as long as I've got a fist. I'll butt it as long as I've got a head. I'll bite it as long as I've got a tooth. And when I'm old and fistless and footless and toothless, I'll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition!

~ Billy Sunday,

quoted by Bekah who got it from Tim Challies

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

~ Colossians 3:5-10

There is so much that I would like to write about this; so many thoughts are swirling through my head. But it's late, and I need some sleep so that tomorrow I can more effectively put to death what belongs to my earthly nature, as I strive to care for my boys without giving in to impatience and frustration and anger! Maybe I'll write more about this some other day.

Wings of a Dove

Today's manna is here. And now, I'm going to have the wings of a dove and fly away from the computer!

The Empty Tomb

The idea that the women could not find Jesus' body because they went to the wrong tomb was popularized by Kirsopp Lake in 1907. While Lake's proposition was creative, the explanation didn't generate any following because the Jewish authorities knew the site of Jesus' tomb (see Matthew 27:62-66; 28:11-15). Even if Jesus' followers had made this mistake, the authorities would have been very happy to point out the tomb and correct the disciples' error when they began to proclaim that Jesus had risen from the dead.

This and other theories by skeptics of the empty tomb are far too improbable. Obviously, the disciples had no motive to steal the body and then die for a lie, and certainly the Jewish authorities wouldn't have removed the body. Could the empty tomb merely be a legend that developed so long after the death of Jesus that the location of the tomb had been forgotten? This is equally unlikely because we have an extremely early account of the resurrection (see 1 Corinthians 15:3-8) that clearly implies an empty tomb and which goes back to within a few years of the event itself, rendering the legend theory worthless. Even if there were some differences in the secondary details of the story, the historical core of the empty tomb remains securely established.

Upon analysis, the option supported best by the evidence is that the crucified Jesus returned to life--a conclusion some people find simply too extraordinary to swallow and thus rule out because of their philosophical presuppositions.

~ From The Case for Christ Study Bible

adapted from an interview with Dr. William Lane Craig

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

~ I Corinthians 15:3-4

Night Wakings and Dying to Self

I've been a little--no, truth be told, more than a little--discouraged recently about Shav's continued night wakings; but these words spoke to my heart and helped me to embrace the self-sacrifice required to care for him when he awakes:

An older missionary said something to Amy Carmichael when she was a young missionary that stayed with her for life. She had spoken of something which was not to her liking. His reply was, "See in it a chance to die."

~ Elisabeth Elliot

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

~ Matthew 16:24-25

There Is Manna in Narnia

In The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis, the lovable, simple but profound Cabby says some wise things. Like when Aslan is creating Narnia (but they don't yet understand anything about Aslan or Narnia), Uncle Andrew is ranting and raving about the perceived injustices that Jadis has done to him; but Digory, Polly, and the Cabby are awestruck by the majesty of what is happening all around them.

"Oh stow it, Guv'nor, do stow it," said the Cabby. "Watchin' and listenin's the thing at present; not talking."

It made me think of these verses:

Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

~ Zechariah 2:13

But I have stilled and quieted my soul;

like a weaned child with its mother,

like a weaned child is my soul within me.

~ Psalm 131:2

And another quote from the Cabby that made me smile:

"Glory be!" said the Cabby. "I'd ha' been a better man all my life if I'd known there were things like this."

However, as it is written:

"No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived

what God has prepared for those who love him."

~ 1 Corinthians 2:9

You Need to Persevere

The Teacher's Dream

by W. H. Venable

from Poetic Pearls, 1887

quoted in Easy Homeschooling Companion

by Lorraine Curry

The weary teacher sat alone

While twilight gathered on;

And not a sound was heard around,

The boys and girls were gone.

The weary teacher sat alone

Unnerved and pale was he;

Bowed 'neath a load of care, he spoke

In sad soliloquy.

"Another round, another round

Of labor thrown away--

Another chain of toil and pain,

Dragged through a tedious day.

Of no avail is constant zeal,

Love's sacrifice is loss,

The hopes of morn, so golden, turn,

Each evening, into dross.

I squander on a barren field

My strength, my life, my all;

The seed I sow will never grow,

They perish where they fall."

He sighed, and low upon his hands,

His aching brow he prest:

And o'er his frame, ere long there came

A soothing sense of rest.

And then he lifted up his face,

And started back aghast--

The room by strange and sudden change

Assumed proportions vast.

It seemed a Senate-hall, and one

Addressed a listening throng;

Each burning word all bosoms stirred,

Applause rose loud and long.

The 'wildered teacher thought he knew

The speaker's voice and look,

"And for his name," said he, "the same

Is in my record book."

The stately Senate-hall dissolved--

A church rose in its place,

Wherein there stood a man of God,

Dispensing words of grace.

And though he spoke in solemn tone,

And though his hair was gray,

The teacher's thought was strangely wrought--

"I whipped that boy to-day."

The church, a phantasm, vanished soon--

What saw the teacher then?

In classic gloom of alcoved room

An author plied his pen.

"My idlest lad!" the teacher said,

Filled with a new surprise--

"Shall I behold his name enrolled

Among the great and wise?"

The vision of a cottage home,

The teacher now descried;

A mother's face illumed the place

Her influence sanctified.

"A miracle! A miracle!

This matron well I know,

Was but a wild and careless child,

Not half an hour ago.

And when she to her children speaks

Of duty's golden rule,

Her lips repeat, in accents sweet,

My words to her at school."

The scene was changed again, and lo,

The school-house rude and old,

Upon the wall did darkness fall,

The evening air was cold.

"A dream!" the sleeper, waking, said,

Then paced along the floor,

And whistling slow and soft and low,

He locked the school-house door.

And, walking home, his heart was full

Of peace and trust and love and praise;

And singing slow and soft and low,

He murmured, "After many days."

Even though this poem was written 123 years ago and shows evidence of its age in lines such as "I whipped that boy to-day," I still appreciate the reminder of how important it is--whether the task be mothering, educating my children, growing in my walk with God, or whatever--to keep a long-term perspective. Day-to-day duties can feel like drudgery; but in hindsight, something beautiful is being built. I want eyes to see that...but even more, the conviction to persevere, even when I don't see the end result.

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.

~ 2 Chronicles 15:7

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

~ Hebrews 10:35-36

Oswald Chambers and Bold Conversions

In The One Year Christian History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten, there is a wonderful devotional about Oswald Chambers. It says in part:

As a teenager he accompanied his father to hear the famous Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon. Afterward, young Oswald told his father that if there had been an opportunity at the service, he would have given himself to the Lord. His father quickly answered, "You can do it now, my boy." And there on a London street with his father, Oswald Chambers quietly surrendered his life to Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord...

[World War I broke out, and so...] Chambers then joined the staff of the YMCA and with his wife, Gertrude, known to all as Biddy, was sent to Egypt to minister to the English and Australian troops stationed in Zeitoun and Ismailia...

In 1916 the YMCA planned evangelistic crusades throughout all the Egyptian military camps with Chambers as the evangelist. Chambers wrote in his diary of the meeting at the Ismailia camp: "We had some magnificent decisions, and I would not allow any singing or even bowing of heads but just told them to come out before all their comrades if they meant business, and out they came."

Just another reason to admire this mighty man of God. Thank you, Oswald, for your example of not using emotionalism or manipulation to drive people to convert, and for helping them make a firm, bold commitment. If people can't even stand up and acknowledge their love for God at the moment they're making the decision to allow Him to be Lord of their life, how in the world are they ever going to be courageous about it later?

I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.

~ Luke 12:8-9