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.

it's friday

but sunday's coming. . .

i want to be ready.

i don't want to be a picky eater
when i sit down at a banquet of truth,
even though i may,
like the bereans,
check the scriptures to make sure
that i'm really taking in truth.

i don't want to be grading
the performance of the preacher,
as if he were my student
in a public speaking class.
i want to be a hearer of the word
and a doer of the same,
receiving with meekness
the engrafted word.

i want to learn,
asking questions
to the appropriate person
in the appropriate time and place--
not challenging the authority
or veracity
of the God-ordained leader,
not dragging out a personal issue
for public discussion,
but in humility
increasing understanding.

i want to begin
with a heart prepared to obey,
to live at unity God's people,
a desire to encourage others
to love and good works.

Father, please fill my heart
with a song of joy,
with generosity,
with reverence,
with humility.

Lord, have mercy on me.

life quest

when i was young and contemplated having a life verse, i couldn't really settle on one. but then my youth pastor spoke to us about the value of seeking wisdom as if we were searching for gold. he was animated about it's importance, citing a number of exhortations from solomon's writings in the book of proverbs. i was captivated by the passage:

[my father] taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” --Proverbs 4:4-9

as my life seemed extremely difficult, i felt inadequate to do any good in my situation. How i yearned to know how God would want me to think and act! consequently, james 1:5 became precious to me: "if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." many times i have called out to God to grant me wisdom, and he has never failed to grant my request.

in that special passage that encourages women to excellence, one virtue that is extolled is wisdom. "she opens her mouth with wisdom" we are told in proverbs 31:26. i want that too.

and moses, in the one psalm authored by him, wrote, "so teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (psalm 90:12). let it be so, dear Lord.

God's Goodness in Suffering

This message by Mark Talbot, All the Good that Is Ours in Christ: Seeing God's Gracious Hand in the Hurts Others Do to Us, was recently posted on John Knight's blog, The Works of God. I always find John's articles helpful, and was especially encouraged by this message by Mark Talbot this morning.