Because God Sees

I read about a group of women who were having dinner together shortly after one of them returned from Europe. One of the women, a stay-at-home mom, was particulary low in spirit that day. She hadn’t been to Europe or anywhere else exciting. Her life felt so drab she felt like she was invisible. She was surprised when her returning friend presented her with a gift. It was a book about the great cathedrals of Europe. Inside the cover, her friend had inscribed, “With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when only God sees.”

Inside the book she read the account of how one of the cathedrals was built. A visitor saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He watched the craftsman’s concentrated movements for a few minutes then looked up at the entire massive edifice under constant construction for a century. He asked the carver, “Why are you spending so mich time chiseling a tiny bird into a beam that will be covered by the stone roof: It will be hidden from everyone’s view.

Without looking away from his work, the craftsman replied, “Because God sees.”

As the woman read this story, she thought of the things in her life that were hidden from view: baking for church receptions, sewing patches on children’s jeans, bandaging scrapes, cleaning the house, then cleaning it again when it was left messy—she remembered now that God saw, and she felt better. Most of all, she realized that her friend had done a little carving on the weary beams of her soul. It was uplifting, edifying encouragement from a friend just at the right time—which is the way God uses us within the body, even when we don’t realize it.

David Jeremiah in Living with Confidence in Chaotic Times

Mom's death

My mom had alzheimer's. As far I can tell she had a stroke, then a aneurism, and then she died a few days later. My mom was in much pain for a few days. My dad was magnificent. He was with her as much as possible. He rubbed noses with her. He kissed her. He sweet talked her. He truly loved her. He told her they had a good life. He told her to think of all the trips they travelled together. My parents travelled to all the fifty states except Vermont. They travelled all over Western Europe. My dad even met some cousins in Norway. They had grand experiences together.

Maybe just because I'm her son I have a different perspective. Maybe, because I'm a Christian, I have a different perspective. My mom survived cancer and several other ailments to take care of and reared two boys and two girls. Three of the four children, earned Master Degrees. She volunteered as a den leader for Cub Scouts. She encouraged me to get my MBA. My mother lived a good life and she should have no regrets. I want to travel, but when someone comforts me when I lay dying, I want to be reminded of the people I encouraged and helped. How I was good husband and a good father. How much God loves me and how much it seems I loved God.

Mom, you were a great mother and I miss you deeply.

Mom

My mother was just sent to a hospice. For the lack of a better spot, here are some fond memories.

1. Mom was always there for us. She volunteered as a den leader for Cub Scouts. She always attended all the band events and Scouting events.
2. Mom loved garage sales. She always noticed a garage sale sign when she was driving or riding in a car. Early in my marriage, my wife and I were visiting my parents. She had cataracts at that time so she couldn't see very well. We were on I-29 headed into Council Bluffs. We had to be going at least 55 mph. Mom suddenly said, "Ooh! there is a garage sale!" She may not have been able to identify me from 20 feet a way, but a garage sale she could spot from miles away.
3. Mom was proper in front of the children. She never swore and was embarassed when other people used crude language. My brother and I were about 10 years-old I think. We were asking the visiting farm expert, grandma, what the things were that hung down from the utter. My grandma said 'Teats,' which in southwestern Iowan sounded like 'Tits.' Mom said, "oh mom!" We started laughing. Grandma, "Now, Janet what else do you call them?" Mom was a little discouraged.
4. One of mom's favorite stories was how she would sometimes ride a horse to school. I always thought that was cool.
5. Mom was always a fan of basketball. She played 6-player basketball when she was in high school. I think she said she was a good passer and shot the long shot. One of my mom's biggest disappoints is that none of her children were in organized sports like basketball.
6. Mom and dad danced together, they played cards together. They got along incredibly well. Their favorite song to dance to was "Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown." by Jim Croce.
7. Mom had an incredible social intelligence before her alzheimers. Grandma and she would talk about who was related to who. Dad and mom used to talk about her relations too. I carpooled with a guy, Ron Goshorn from Shelby. Over the years we talked. Since Underwood is close to Shelby, we found out that Ron's dad and uncle worked for my grandma. Later on, I found Ron was related to Jack Hester. My mom said, "oh yes." She then identified how Ron and I were related to each other. Something like second cousins through a marriage.

Owen on Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

(Zephaniah 3:17 KJV).

God joys over us. According to Owen, the word means an outward expression of joy such as leaping. God is so happy that he is singing over us.

Here is the quote from Chapter 3 in Communion of God by John Owen.

(1st.) The love of God is so. Zeph. 3: 17, "The LORD thy
God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will
rejoice over thee with joy, he will rest in his love; he will
joy over thee with singing." Both these things are here
assigned unto God in his love, - REST and DELIGHT. The words
are, "yacharish be'ahavato" - "He shall be silent because of
his love." To rest with contentment is expressed by being
silent; that is, without repining, without complaint. This God
does upon the account of his own love, so full, so every way
complete and absolute, that it will not allow him to complain
of any thing in them whom he loves, but he is silent on the
account thereof Or, "Rest in his love;" that is, he will not
remove it, - he will not seek farther for another object. It
shall make its abode upon the soul where it is once fixed, for
ever. And COMPLACENCY or DELIGHT: "He rejoiceth with singing;"
as one that is fully satisfied in that object he has fixed his
love on. Here are two words used to express the delight and
joy that God has in his love, - "yasis" and "yagil". The first
denotes the inward affection of the mind, joy of heart; and to
set out the intenseness hereof, it is said he shall do it
"besimchah", - in gladness, or with joy. To have joy of heart
in gladness, is the highest expression of delight in love. The
latter word denotes not the inward affection, but the outwards
demonstration of it: "agalliain" seems to be formed of it. It
is to exult in outward demonstration of internal delight and
joy; - " Tripudiare," to leap, as men overcome with some
joyful surprisal. And therefore God is said to do this
"berinnah" - with a joyful sound, or singing. To rejoice with
gladness of heart, to exult with singing and praise, argues
the greatest delight and complacency.

Rejoicing in the Lord

"And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all that you undertake." Deut. 12:18c.

"Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things" (Deut. 28:47)

How can this be? How can God command our emotions? How can God command us to have gladness of heart? Maybe, God is commanding the way things ought to be and not commanding if we can do the commands with an unregenerated heart.

Struggling in Prayer

Colossians 4:12

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Romans 15:30

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,

These passages have convicted me. When is the last time I struggled or wrestled in prayer for the maturity of the members in my local Church?

AIG and God

AIG has just given bonuses to their financial division that specializes in derivative investing. Obama and congress are in an uproar because they gave AIG over 100 billion dollars to bail them out. Here's what one Psalmist has to say about it:

PSALM 49

5(G) Why should I fear in(H) times of trouble,
when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
6those who(I) trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7Truly no man(J) can ransom another,
or(K) give to God(L) the price of his life,
8for(M) the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
9that he should live on forever
and(N) never see the pit.

10For he sees(O) that even the wise die;
(P) the fool and the stupid alike must perish
and(Q) leave their wealth to others.
11Their(R) graves are their homes forever,[a]
their dwelling places(S) to all generations,
though they(T) called lands by their own names.
12Man in his pomp(U) will not remain;
(V) he is like the beasts that perish.

Apollo 15

The following is a possible introduction to a possible doctrine class that I may or may not be teaching.

In From Earth to the Moon in the chapter on Apollo 15, NASA mission leaders were meeting to discuss the landing site for Apollo 15. Two sides were deadlocked. The space engineers wanted the Marias Hills and the geologists wanted Hadley Rill in the Apennine mountains. This had been a debate for months. The Marias hills landing site was safe. The Appennine Mountains location was a more dangerous, but geologically significant. This meeting lasted for hours, but at last, exasperated, they asked David Scott, the commander of Apollo 15, where he would desire to land. He had remained silent for much of the debate so he hesitated before he spoke. He gave some geological reasons and addressed the safety issues; however, at the end he said:

The Appennine Mountains has something else. They have grandeur. I think there is something to be said for exploring beautiful places. It is good for the spirit.

This speech convinced NASA to land at Hadley Ridge. I agree beautiful places should be explored; however, I think there is something to be said for exploring the most beautiful person. Pursue with reckless abandon the topic that has more grandeur than all created things: God Himself. Shall we not explore Him? Shall we not know Him better? The way is dangerous and difficult. We have pathfinders who blazed the trail before us, but we must be careful to not fall into pitfalls that caused the most incautious to fall. This class will not even make it to the foothills, but shall attempt to identify the larger peaks.

Thessalonians and Work

I Thessalonians 4:10-12
Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.(NIV)

The Sinful Woman and Work

Here is an observation on Luke 7:36-50. Notice that the sinful woman broke open an alabaster flask of ointment. According to Brooks who may have gotten it from Tim Keller(?), this flask was worn around her neck and was a tool of her trade (prostitution). She gave up her sinful life work in one beautiful act of repentance.

Acts and the building of the Church (Hall of Tyrannus)

I've been reading through Acts and thinking about Church growth. Here are some key passages. Notice the amount of time Paul spends training people. Notice how he changes tactics.

and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.(Acts 5:40-42 (ESV))

"You know that I [Paul] have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house." (Acts 20:20)

But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.(Acts 19:9-10)

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. (Acts 18:9-11) (ESV))

Holiness and accomplishments -- Clarkson on John Owen

Select Works By David Clarkson, B. H. Cooper, J. Blackburn, Wycliffe Society, Wycliffe society:

"A great light is fallen; one of eminency for holiness, learning, parts, and abilities; a pastor, a scholar, a divine of the first magnitude; holiness gave a Divine lustre to his other accomplishments, it shined in his whole course, and was diffused through his whole conversation. I need not tell you of this that knew him, and observed that it was his great design to promote holiness in the power, life, and exercise of it among you. It was his great complaint that the power of it declined among professors. It was his care and endeavour to prevent or cure spiritual decays in his own flock."

This is from a funeral sermon by David Clarkson in memorium for John Owen.

Piper on Freedom of the Will

Most of these posts deal with work. What I have in mind here in quoting Piper commenting on Augustinian thought is that our enjoyment of work not only comes from God, but our enjoyment of work may depend on how our work brings us closer to God. In either case, we enjoy work because God gives us the ability to enjoy work and because we enjoy the utimate giver of our work, God. We need to enjoy work because God has given us work to enjoy because doing our work well glorifies God.

Piper quotes Augustine twice:

Who has it in his power to have such a motive present to his mind that his will shall be influenced to believe? Who can welcome in his mind something which does not give him delight? But who has it in his power to ensure that something that will delight him will turn up. Or that he will take delight in what turns up? If those things delight us which serve our advancement towards God, that is due not to our own whim or industry or meritorious works, but to the inspiration of God and to the grace which he bestows

He defines it clearly in On Christian Doctrine (III, x, 16). "I call 'charity' [i.e., love for God] the motion of the soul toward the enjoyment of God for His own sake, and the enjoyment of one's self and of one's neighbor for the sake of God." Loving God is always conceived of essentially as delighting in God and in anything else for his sake.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1474_The_Swan_is_Not_Silent/

Psalm 111:2,3,4

Great are the works of the Lord; studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered,
the Lord is gracious and merciful. (ESV)

Work here refers the redemptive deeds of the Lord as in the Exodus. God's work and not just his attributes need to be praised. The current worship songs are great on repeating phrases on vague attributes, but many of these songs make scant reference to the redemptive acts God has performed for us. These redemptive acts, these works need to be studied, praised, and meditated upon.

see cross reference: 119:27

In His Name.

Baseball Terms

Can of Corn -- Easy fly for the outfielder to catch.
Duck snort -- A weak single that falls between the infielders and outfielders.
Dead Pull Hitter -- hits to the same side of the field as he hits. LHB hits to the left field most of the time.
Double-Play Ball - a ball that is hit in the infield that is "tailored made" for an easy double-play.
Dying Quail -- A ball that falls unexpectedly in front of the outfielder for a hit.
zeroes - a perfect game (0-0-0)

Those who delight to fear His name

Nehemiah 1:11

Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.

ESV

Isaiah 11:1-3

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

ESV

These verses are a good proof text of Christian Hedonism.

Jonathan and the Lord's Work

I need to study the phrase "Perhaps the Lord will work for us." It is not a whim of fancy, this is a step of faith and of the Holy Spirit's prompting. Also the armor bearer's response is really good.

Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few." And his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul."

Oration, meditatio, tentatio

Luther asserted there were three practices necessary to become a biblical theologian:
Oration (prayer), meditatio (meditation), and tentatio (trials).

The passage that best demonstrates this in scripture in Psalm 119:

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.
71It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces

Edwards on business II

Edwards writes about Christian service, which I translate as good works:

In order to men's being true Christians, it is necessary that they prosecute the business of religion and the service of God with great earnestness and diligence, as the work which they devote themselves to, and make the main business of their lives.

p. 310

Religious Affections

by Jonathan Edwards.

Note: this is both good works and pursuing holiness.

Edwards on business

The principle Edwards is writing about is "Gracious and holy affections have their exercise and fruit in Christian practice."

The second and third implications are

That he(the Christian man) makes a business of such a holy practice above all things; that it be a business which he is chiefly engaged in, and devoted to, and pursues with highest earnestness and diligence; so that he may be said to make this practice of religion (Christianity) religion eminently his work and business. And, 3. That he persists in it to the end of life; so that it may be said, not only to be his business at certain seasons, the business of Sabbath days, or certain extraordinary times, or the business of a month, or a year, or of seven years, or his business under certain circumstances; but the business of his life; it being that business which he perseveres in through all changes, and under all trials as long as he lives.

pp. 308-309. Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards.

Note: Edwards further explains that Christian practice is obedience to the Word of God and holiness.