overcoming evil with good

i read the article
on fear.
la de da.

and then a phrase reaches out
and hits me
between
the eyes.

“It’s really your ugly pride that makes you afraid. “Just bow in humility to rise up in courage.”


our place of winning
the war
against the darkness within,
always
a place of humility.

not groveling,
but a simple acknowledgement:
He is the potter,
i am the clay.

He is my power,
my strength,
my stability.

i can do
what He
has called me to.

learning and discerning

Pastor Don had spoken a week ago from Hebrews about being diligent to enter God's rest, and reminded us again of the importance of that. I really needed the encouragement.

Worship leader Ben Power reminded us that God is everything that we need and that we are dearly loved by him.

Peter Eldredge spoke about the conversion of Paul, and emphasized that all our ambition and personal power gets us nowhere in true holiness: Jesus is all we need.

Without coordinating the messages, the worship team had prepared to lead us in closing with "Above All".

During time with friends afterward, we (mostly I) received great encouragement to trust God to take care of people who are dear to us who are going through hard times.

I am deeply grateful for the Christian brothers and sisters God has placed in our lives through the years, and how they help us where we are here and now.

cold

"because iniquity shall abound,"
Jesus explained,
"the love of many will grow cold."

the statement repeats itself in my thoughts,
circling around
again and again
until i pay attention
and ponder it.

because iniquity abounds,
the love of many grows cold.

and within my soul an alarm goes off--
a flashing red light in the darkness,
an air-raid siren increasing the urgency.

i am warned.
the natural tendency of the many,
probably of all,
is to grow cold and loveless
as waves of betrayal and violence wash over us.

and i see,
first dimly,
then more and more clearly,
how the wrongs
against me,
against those i love,
against my acquaintances,
against people i only hear about through the news media--
oh, all of these betrayals and violations,
abrasive
and numbing
and callousing,
fill my soul until
i just
don't
really
care.

"oh, God, have mercy!
ignite my love to white hot fervor!
give me tenderness of heart,
a passion for mercy and justice.
give me stability of heart
to embrace the pain
of loving
even when iniquity abounds."

and the loveflame
on the smoldering wick flickers,
bursts into light,
and shines.

learning and discerning

this is the practical response to my post about preparing my heart to be a humble learner. the past three weeks, i have been trying to take something from each church service and sermon to reflect on throughout the week. i feel richer for the treasures i have been given.

three weeks ago, pastor don julian spoke from hebrews 2. some of his observations:

There is no way back, but only forward, in following Christ.

Jesus was crowned--not for lording it over us--but for suffering for us. (v. 9)

Jesus loves ans serves us, not just asking us to love and serve him--he is our inspiration.

two weeks ago, i attended the helena alliance church with my friend pam. her pastor, jim stumbo, spoke about pentecost. i'd never been in a church that celebrated pentecost and the coming of the holy spirit before. in speaking from acts 1:4-8, the pastor taught that:

Power is not in itself the entity that we seek. We seek God for himself, not some gift or something He does--and the Spirit himself is the power of God.

he also emphasized that the greatest power that we need is to overcome the darkness, the sin, within our own hearts.

i almost laughed when, after he had made a good point he said, "i don't really understand what i just said, but it's right there," and then pointed at the verse in his Bible.

how much of the truth that we affirm do any of us really understand? we see through the glass dimly, but one day we will see clearly.

the same day, i was able to listen to pastor don's sermon on hebrews 3 online after it was posted. it's a blessing, if someone has the time to listen to it.

and last week, when i was able to be home, mark preached the father's day sermon. of course, i always love his preaching. his emphasis on how God is a father--our example of the perfect father-- took us through the gospel of john. the passages he chose focused on jesus' life on earth, and those times when he and his father interacted.

i'm thankful for the opportunity to learn.

thankful

this was our father's day. . .

from mark's perspective

the gift of encouragement

Ever since I first discovered Dayspring, I have loved the way they communicate what is close to my heart. I carefully browse through the written message, mull over the included verse, and then check out the artwork to see if it seems to suit the person for whom the card is intended.

Even more dear to my heart are the many Dayspring cards that I have received from friends over the years, treasuring my friends' love and encouragement.

You can imagine my delight when I found that Dayspring would send me a free package of card if i would review them on my blog in conjunction with their June emphasis on encouragement! I chose a package of Bright Blessings cards. In the package is an assortment of greetings, including birthday, encouragement and comfort, and gratitude. The bright photography and graphics are a treat in themselves, but the spiritual emphasis, turning the focus to the Lord, is what really touches my heart.

relocated

for one month, i'm in helena, montana teaching cooking/adaptive cooking skills to adults who have lost or are losing their vision. my chief qualification is that i am legally blind. the next one is that i cook.

tomorrow afternoon the students will begin arriving on the campus that the montana association of the blind rents for this one month orientation program.

i want my light to shine before men, that they may see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven.

i would appreciate your prayers as being away from my husband, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, friends, and my own familiar surroundings is difficult.

thankfully, the Lord is always near.