The goodness of light

A few stolen moments while waiting for today's guests I pick up and read Daily Light for May 25 and the colors of God's goodness sing as vibrantly as the colors in our sanctuary today:

How great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You. Psalm 31:19

Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him. Isaiah 64:4

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. Psalm 36:7-9

Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 1 Timothy 4:8

I wish you could see the red-tipped yellow-orange roses that Cal bought for me to arrange with red-tipped lemon yellow carnations and saffron colored alstromeria. The matching cobalt blues of the flower vase and the trinity symbol in the new sanctuary painting standing out among the bright yelllows, reds, greens of the sanctuary. Our green hymnals and green velvet offering bags more intense than the celery colored mats of the pictures. Even Becky's coral skirt reflected the tangerines and reds and golds of the painting over our book table. How I praise God for the warm and rich beauty around us. Even the seemingly insignificant temporal aesthetic pleasures. They are important. He teaches us through many means to be content without them, but then He lavishes them on us abundantly. One of the quirky things about my artistic mind is that I have often associated particular colors with particular spiritual things. And this day of gladness is bursting with goodness, allegorized by the riot of harmonious color in our Holiday Inn Express meeting room today. Pictures of the truths of God's infinite grace that shown through the sermon today, even Dr. Reymond's pictures for us of heaven to come. (Take a listen once Becky posts the May 25th sermon.)

Evening worship, Cal teaching out of Acts

Testimony of God's provision

This is an excerpt from a letter Cal wrote. He agreed to let me lift this paragraph to share with you here. Praise God with us for His loving care.

God has been mightily, wonderfully generous to my family in providing since my salary and benefits were cut off from Knox in mid-January, and in opening lots of doors for my service. Starting February 1 I was hired as half-time ministerial assistant at Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church, which I helped plant a year ago. (The other half-time position we gave to Dr. Reymond, who of course was available since he'd resigned from Knox. What a tremendous blessing to this very young, small church, to have such a giant preaching and
teaching for us! And what a blessing to me that he's mentoring me toward licensure and ordination, even [miracle of miracles!] teaching me Hebrew!) My work with the Cornwall Alliance has mushroomed, and the Alliance has turned the corner from a loose-knit, informal network of like-minded people who occasionally volunteer some time and has now incorporated a 501(c)3, the James Partnership, so we can do some serious fund raising to support expanded service--for which there is great demand. Four weeks ago I spent lots of time meeting with three different members of Congress and a bunch of Congressional staff members explaining Biblical creation stewardship and introducing the Cornwall Stewardship Agenda--they were all very grateful and said they would find it very helpful in crafting legislation. Last week we, with five partner organizations, launched the "We Get It!" campaign, aiming for a million signatures against global warming alarmism and the kinds of policies based on it that would hurt the world's poor. H--F-- just contacted me about the possibility of my doing some writing and speaking for it--possibly becoming a H-- Fellow. (I'd sure appreciate prayers about that. It would be a great opportunity.) And I've done a bunch of speaking engagements in addition to the one for CWIPPThink, where we talked. In short, work for the church and for Cornwall together have more than made up the time I used to teach for Knox (even on overload). And here's the stunning kicker: Despite loss of the salary that made up about two-thirds of my income last year, our bank balance has been higher at the end of each month this year than at the same time the year before! I can identify the origin of every deposit, so I'm claiming nothing spooky here, but the timing of God's bringing all these different things to bear has been absolutely wonderful! What my attorney, Shelby Sharpe, told me when I first contacted him December 7 and told him what was happening has proven true. He said he believed the Lord would reward me and protect me from financial harm because of the courageous stand I was taking for truth in the face of corrupt power. God is sovereign, and He might at any time take away what He has given--the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, and blessed be the name of the Lord. But these five months have been a wonderful testimony to me of His gracious provision for us. We have also, as a family, grown closer to each other and to the Lord through all of this. I can without reservation say that I never enjoyed God more than in December, January, February, and March--the four months under the greatest attack.

Supernatural

I wanted to tell this unusually diligent child that I couldn't take anymore would she please quit practicing that tedious music that nearly put her to sleep! What I did tell her was "That's good practicing, Grace".

Disasters

Debby... tell me again would you what we talked about the other day....
your insight into how God is using catastrophe to show us ....... ?
I want to remember exactly how you put it.

We learn from scripture that all that God does is good and that all that happens is His decree; we also learn from scripture that He pours out His judgments on the earth. Read Luke 13:1-5. Jesus did not tell those who asked Him about the suffering caused by the tower of Siloam what they wanted to know, but warned that if they did not repent, they would suffer likewise. Hebrews 9:27 tells us that it is appointed to everyone to die, and then the judgment. Acts 17:26 teaches us that our appointment with death has been determined already in God's decrees. So the lesson we learn from the disasters on the earth is that for those who suffered death, it was their time to meet the Judge, whether in Christ or not; but for the rest of us, it is a merciful warning to repent. This is why we should rejoice at the news of such disasters, because we know that they are new opportunities for the gospel to be spread, not to mention the occasion by which God's elect were brought into His presence by their deaths.

I think if more people understood this, it would replace much hand-wringing sentimentality with prayer and serious evangelism. May it be so.

A wonderful story

This letter came today from a friend from our Chattanooga days. I remember holding Elsa's newborn Carissa and beaming over God's goodness to them eighteen years ago. What a blessing is this story:

Dear Ones,

We have such happy, wonderful news. A few weeks ago we got a call from our Adoption Agency, Bethany Christian Services. They asked if we were planning to attend their annual fund raising banquet. We said, "Probably not." They told us they were planning to ask our daughter, Carissa's, birthmother, Tonya, to share her story at the banquet this year and wondered if we'd like to come! We said we'd love to be there but only if Tonya knew who we were and that we were there. (We didn't want her to feel like we had spied on her.) They went on to explain that Tonya is a vibrant Christian now, as is her husband, and that she'd recently spoken to a birthmothers' support group and mentioned she hoped to see Carissa again someday. We asked if it would be possible for them to meet each other and for our whole family to attend the banquet...

The Lord's timing is amazingly perfect. Leland and I met Tonya on May 5th. We fell in love with her right away. She is an absolute sweetheart. I handed her Carissa's Senior photo and she laughed and cried for 2 or 3 minutes straight exclaiming over and over, "She's so beautiful, she's so beautiful"..and then we cracked up when she said, "She gets that from me!" True! I'd made Tonya a scrapbook with Carissa's prom pictures, family photos, photos of our doggies, a list of Carissa's favorites, etc. We visited for 3 hours. Afterwards Leland told me it was the happiest day of his life. Carissa met Tonya on May 9th, the day before her 18th birthday! She cried big, wet tears of joy, healing tears. She and Tonya are so much alike and clicked just like we knew they would. Tonya had made Carissa a scrapbook, (The same scrapbook I'd actually put in my cart to buy for Carissa but then put back when I found too many other treasures for her birthday!) Tonya included photos of Carissa's birthfather, Patrick (so of course now I'm kidding Carissa about being Irish) and her three sons. (Carissa's father also has 2 sons, so Carissa has 5 half-brothers and she's the only girl.) She also wrote a lovely letter which she read aloud to Carissa and us, telling of her adoption plan and her love for Carissa. The day after Carissa's birthday was Sunday, May 11th, Tonya and her husband and her mother (Carissa's grandmother) all came to our church for Mother's Day! How wonderful it was to have Carissa sit between her two mothers! Tonya held her hand during the service and I kept praising God for how He is making us whole. Carissa is a different person. She is so happy and has been more affectionate to us than ever before. I'm sure this has given her some missing pieces and helped her find peace. Tonight, May 16th, is the banquet. Tomorrow Carissa graduates from high school. Tonya and her husband and her mother (Carissa's grandmother) will all come to the graduation, too!!! Three weeks ago we didn't know God had any of this in store for us. It's a comfort and joy to know He has things "up His sleeve" that we never imagine.

Much love,
Elsa

Seed pod ripening

Driving home from the airport early this morning I left the radio off and prayed. (Long, long ago I had that as more of a habit, but I don't do it often anymore.) In praying for my children, I asked that God would give each of them the particular experiences that they will need to be equipped to serve Him well. They may not realize it, that I sometimes remember that they will not always be in this training center. And I know from experience that their paths will lead out from here in many different directions. I know that this is as alike as they will ever be (I'm not saying as close, for in the Lord we shall all grow closer toward eternity). And for here and for now I am supposed to be in control of them and their activities, bringing them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Since Miss Beth arrived on our scene to teach David many things we never could have, would have, I have seen how God provides what He will. Miss Beth and Samuel Metzger and Shannon Baugh and Jay Fontanini to name a few early helpers. Sometimes where and how the kids go gets a little scary to this responsible mom, but I do believe that God has made them for His own glory, and I pray that He will be glorified as they humble themselves under His provident and wise hand. Even while they are still nest-bound. And I thank God for these reminders of how well He has provided.

Taking it easy

It's almost noon and I'm just about to leave for errands to the bank, jeweler (fixed my old watch), grocery. I have been up nearly five hours. And accounting/desk work was the first thing I did. Only now am I finished enough (well, I still need to look through BJ's coupons) to do the shopping. Class begins at three. When shall I paint today? Shall I paint today?

I spent so much emotional energy yesterday on guilt for not painting but procrastinating. Today I realize how much I miss out on enjoying life by carrying such a burden. If I paint, I paint. God grant me a sweet and cheerful spirit as I enjoy all the other tasks I have. Do I believe in He is wise in all of His decrees? May He give me wisdom in my own. May I do due diligence, and may I have wisdom to prioritize, but may I also take as much time with each task that I do it well. Such economies with which we have to work!

And may it please the Lord to send us rain for the grass.

on "cleaning House"

He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me,
You have delivered me from the violent man.

Therefore I will give thanks to You.
O LORD, among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.

Psalm 18:48, 49

Days off and broken dishwashers

Today is a vacation days of sorts. We leave in several hours to meet our friends at the beach. THEY are having a REAL vacation of being away from the house, reading, hanging out at B&N, playing on the beach, sleeping, resting from work, and spending more than seven days at it. My own vacation day of a sort consists in just doing what I want, though what I want is to do something of order. So I am sitting at the computer, blinds drawn against the bright sun, gorgeous white orchid Cal gave me two-and-a-half months ago smiling its maturing white faces down at me, desk scattered with receipts and notes and books and stuff, all of which I hope to organize before making a leftovers lunch for the family of last night's delicious taco chicken and toasted rice. At least I slept in until 8:18 today. But I won't worry about the dishes not getting done, the painting still hidden between the library stacks, and all the other things I can't mention because I'm doing such a good job at relaxing I can't remember any of them.

Just updated the prayer list for our weekly prayer meeting. I mention it to rejoice in seeing what God is doing in our own small circles and to realize that He, in His infinity, is doing good in every circle of the universe. And we can't even know a fraction of all the good He is doing in just our tiny circle... Praise His Name.

I did call the dishwasher repair folks. (We are in our fourth week of not having a dishwasher. And we aren't doing so well at remembering to use paper cups. I just saw eight glasses/cups in the girls' bathroom. And Kilby and Becky are out of town!) This is about the sixth call I've made to them. They don't call back. I learned last Thursday when I finally got Lowe's extended warranty folks involved, that the repair company hadn't even ordered the part yet. I was promised to get a call as soon as it came in and they hoped it would be Monday at the latest.

I started out my call saying it would be my last call to them. Next I would call Lowe's. The lady was apologetic, but told me the same thing she'd told me so many times before: She would have Bruce call me back. I told her he never called me back. She told me she only worked there and that she gives him the messages as soon as he comes in. After a little more complaining I hung up to fix my breakfast. Having spent some time already this morning pondering forgiveness, I was convicted afresh of my unforgiving spirit. I thought to call her back and apologize, but reasoned with myself about not wanting to pin a Christian profession to being snotty. And then God gave me grace to go ahead--I knew it would be right. I called back and told Mary that I was sorry for giving her day such an unpleasant start; that I was a Christian and had been forgiven much and I had no right not to forgive another. She was very kind in sympathizing with my predicament and said that she herself goes to church and understands. She is currently without dryer repair and her grown son has returned and is trashing the house each day and she comes home from work tired and still has to clean house and it is harder than when her kids were little. I thought that while we were conversing it would be good to do life's two most important questions, but I knew I didn't know the scripture to back them up by reference. Not a good excuse. I did reiterate at the close of our conversation my confession of sin and praised Jesus who had borne it all and said that I could never stand before God's holy justice without what Jesus had done in paying for my sin at the cross. And all I can do now is pray that if Mary doesn't understand the true gospel in all her church-going, that some of those words would help.

May I come to see more and more "divine appointments" as my friend Betty calls them.

Karen

I currently have four Karens in my life. This post is for one of them.

Did I ever tell you that my first real bosom-buddy was a Karen? She and I became fast friends in highschool through the church we both attended. Her dad was our choir director and has recently offered my Susan his entire printed repertoire if we can only get to Indiana to fetch it. Karen died while I was in college. It was my awakening to the holy sovereignty of God. She had married Bob from Canada whom she had met in Bible college. They hoped to be missionaries to the Indians of Alberta (?). They had done a lot of driving in their old car across mountainous terrain and at some point, unbeknownst to them, the exhaust pipe had gotten pointed into the trunk of the car. Karen, with child, had laid her head in Bob's lap as he drove. After he began feeling ill, he found he couldn't wake her and stopped at a clinic where they discovered she had died of monoxide poisoning.

The day I learned of it was a delicious summer Lord's Day. We had gotten home from church and there was company downstairs. I received a call from another girl from church who thought I would want to know. I flung myself across my mother's bed and cried. Maybe I ran into our long, sunny backyard, or maybe I just sat on Mom's bed and looked out the window at it, but it figures into my memory of recognizing that this was no freak accident; that it was too tragic to have been just an accident; that God Himself must have wanted the thing to happen. And right then He gave me grace to submit to His perfect will.

I painted her portrait the next year at school. It was my first oil portrait. It was the work that taught me that I had a special gift for the face of man, imago Dei. I gave it to her parents. Bob married her cousin and they went on to serve the Canadian Indians and have children.

Making breakfast a few minutes ago and trying to think out the day, I thought of Karen's comment yesterday that I'm not posting often. That line of thinking made me realize how many Karens I know right now. I was doing my "triage" at the kitchen sink, washing up (my dishwasher has been unrepaired for three weeks now): devotions, painting (I really want to lay in the frame of the painting before anything else this morning, while the light is good and the kids are off practicing tennis), accounting, errands, getting the house ready for Bible study tonight. (And where will I put the wet painting?!) Each of those things seems too large to do right now, which is why I need to go have devotions. But this is the reason I don't write so often. I think of lots of stuff I might write about, but there is always something else that needs doing. And long ago I realized that what things I want to write about are not necessarily more important than all the daily demands. And sometimes some of the daily demands are not necessarily more important than writing. So here I am, and here I go.

Have a good day.