The Gift of Magnifying Glasses & God's Kindness

I was given a good gift this morning:  I had just enough alertness, just enough desire to ask God to help me see something from his Word. I have been lacking faith and giving in to fear. In fact, this seems to be a theme in my family - work fears, school fears, friend fears, future fears. We're dealing with some stuff!  So, the Captain Obvious in me sensed it was time to be open to the Lord.  A stellar cup of coffee (with real cream!), my Bible, journal, favorite pen,  mediocre pencil, and I was ready.

I pushed Advent devotionals aside and opened the Bible to Luke 1.  If you are curious about what happens when the Godhead, angelic and human beings converge, look no further than Luke 1.  If you, too, are struggling with fears, you will find encouragement here.  Instruction for next steps is here, too.  Two angelic visitations are must-reads this season:  Gabriel appears to Zechariah to prophesy the birth of John the Baptist, and then to Mary the birth of Jesus.  It's what the angel says and how the people respond (and why) that gives me pause.

First:  "Do not be afraid,"  Gabriel tells Zechariah and Mary (ESV).  As he gives them a command, he also calls them by name. This must have brought comfort- the God who sent him knows their name.  Further, as Gabriel commands them not to fear (when fear is the very natural human response), it is like he is pointing out a fork in the road and the choice inherent. Stay in fear and disbelief, or move on in faith which leads to transformation.  One road is less traveled by.  Often, when I am stuck in  fear-mode, I am unaware of it.  Angelic encounters are not my norm, so my Wonderful Counselor, the Holy Spirit, must point it out. This is one of his functions for believers: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth," (John 16:13). This is the tone it seems Gabriel uses for Zechariah and Mary.  They are frightened and need to be reassured of truth:  God knows them; they do not have to know fear. 

Second, these visited people do not merely listen to Gabriel; they ask questions!  God communicates with his people, and these encounters in Scripture are one way we see the relational nature of God.  Zechariah and Mary both have questions, and Gabriel answers.  Zechariah seems to push back in his questioning.  (I like Gabriel's over-riding response to this priest:  "I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you...!" Luke 1:19.)  Mary's question seems to be a request for details: "How can this be...?"  Zechariah is silenced.  Mary is given opportunity to respond in faith!

These holy encounters bring encouragement to me and they also give next steps!  Mary's faith has surpassed her fear.  How? She states what is true - "I am the Lord's servant."  She submits herself to God's will - "Let it be to me according to your word," (Luke 1:38). Then she takes it one crucial step further.

Mary hurries off to visit Elizabeth- her cousin and Zechariah's wife. The Holy Spirit has come upon them both, and they burst into praise of the Most High.  Mary's song is staggering.  She begins, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."  Consider that first phrase.  We exist to magnify or make much of something or someone.  Furthermore, what we make much of looms larger in our minds; our minds are key to our transformation ("Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind," Romans 12:2).  Profoundly, Mary declares that her soul makes much of God!  She is living with a magnifying glass over God's goodness.  Truth transforms our minds; praise has shaped Mary's soul! 

Zechariah turns to praise, with time.  Outward praise was not possible for him as a first faith-response, though, as the angel silenced him for unbelief.  A few verses prior, we are told that Zechariah and Elizabeth "were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord" (v. 6).  This is not an ungodly man, but rather a God-fearing man who had forgotten to look to truth and perhaps looked to human reasoning.  And so he waits nine months in silence.  When the silence is lifted, much like Mary and Elizabeth, he was filled with the Holy Spirit  and "he spoke, blessing God" and he prophesied powerfully.

I am more like Zechariah than Mary.  I can quickly turn to magnifying human reason; I can push back with demands in questioning God's plan.  I can experience the consequences, too, because these actions equate to a prideful heart, not a humble one. 

Oh, to be like Mary - that our souls magnify the Lord! Resting in the knowledge that God knows us and goes before us with his good purposes.  Renewing our minds with truth and so be transformed.  Like Mary - whose magnifying glass on God's goodness resulted in a megaphone of praise.  

The good gift I received today?  The kindness of God leading me to repentance, which resulted in my heart praising Him (Romans 2:4).  He was so kind to answer my prayer to meet me.  He uncovered my fear, so that I could confess it.  God met me in my fear to move me to faith.  Finding my voice in Mary's: "My soul magnifies the Lord.  My spirit rejoices in God my Savior."

Christmas Prep :: "C'mon In!"

Into our hearts and homes,

Come Lord Jesus

“C’mon in!”  I love those friendly, beckoning words.  I had the sweetness of growing up just blocks from my maternal grandparents, and an open invitation to come.  I loved going to Papa’s and Grandma’s house!  When I would call ahead, they would be waiting at the door with warm hugs and smiles.  “C’mon in!  Are you hungry or thirsty?  Do you want some pop?  There’s candy in the dish!”  My grandparents were always ready and eager to welcome me (and my brother, cousins, and even friends).  They were always stocked up on that which drew us the most:  sweet treats, time, and attention.  In a word, it was love beckoning us to come.

We are in the season of Advent.  Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter.  One aspect I love about this season is that it is a set period of time with clearly defined borders!  There is an intensity to the Christmas season that could not be sustained year-round.  And so it presents a distinct opportunity for the believer or seeker.  For 25 or so days, we get to re-order our calendars, our homes, our hearts as we prepare for  Christmas.  Observing Advent with is an intentional way that we remind ourselves for what - or for whom - we prepare.

This Advent, I want to welcome Jesus into my days in the way that my grandparents welcomed me.  Is my heart eager?  Have I made room?   I am not Super-Christian; I need practical helps and resources.  Our favorite is the Advent wreath that makes the centerpiece of our kitchen table.  When our children were little, we lit the candles each night, dimmed the lights and enjoyed the elegant feel!  (Yes, even with toddlers!)  Then, we sang a Christmas carol to end our meal.  At some point, pre-teens deemed the singing awkward.  In came a family Advent devotional that we read during dinner.  (http://theccckids.blogspot.com/2015/12/advent-devotional-ideas-for-individuals.html has Advent devotional book ideas.)  The visual of the candles, the focus on Christ in the reading or singing - wow!  Powerful and effective heart recalibration all throughout December.  

God came near in the person of Christ.  Let it be said that we are people with ears to hear God beckoning us, “Come!”   

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart….”  (Hebrews 10:22)

Advent Devotional Ideas for Individuals and Families

                           

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Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room 

What I like about this book targeted to families:                     

1)  It's comprehensive - providing a reading scripture, 

discussion starter-questions and then 

follow-up scripture verses for taking it deeper. 

2)  The daily readings seems applicable and accessible.  

This hits the sweet spot for a family like ours with

elementary, middle and high school kids. 

3) It's affordable.  $1.99 on a Kindle right now.  I went old-school and bought it hard-back for $9.99.

Good News of Great Joy 

What I like about this book targeted for adults

1)  It's John Piper.  It will not be Christmas Cotton Candy.                               

2)  Refer to number one.  Just kidding. It is

written at a level teens and tweens can grab hold of,

if they have the desire.  Some words will need adult

explanation or a handy dictionary.

3)  It's brief and yet very thought- provoking.

"Christmas is an indictment before it becomes a delight.  

It will not have its intended effect until we feel desperately the need for a Savior."

Prepare Him Room

What I like about this book targeted for young families:
with busy families in mind, and therefore contains three
devotional readings per week.  No falling behind or
reason to stress during the weeks with concerts and parties
that exceed bedtime or don't find us home for the dinner hour.
That's money well spent!

1)  The intentionality of the structure. See quote below.

2)  There is a beautifully, scored, powerfully written CD that
can be purchased in tandem.  I highly recommend it.  If the
book is geared towards children, then the CD is geared toward
adults = win, win.

3)  Comprehensively written by a man who has ministered to 
children and families in the church for decades and gets it.

"Prepare Him Room is divided into 4 sections each with 3 parts. 
Each section covers a week, offering 3 devotions per week. 
The layout for each week covers three main topics: 
1) God's Promise, 2) The Angel's Announcement, and 
3) The Fulfillment of God's Plan."

Drawback:  This is brand-new from a small publisher and will be at a higher price point.
Still, combined with the CD, I think it is money well spent.

December Scripture Writing Plan
 Here is what this blog-author has to say:

 "Writing scripture down each day is such a great way to really focus on God's word!
During this super crazy hectic time of year- this is one way to spend a few minutes each day focusing on what is truly important!"       

I can attest that one key way I hide God's word in my heart is by writing it out in my journal.  Reading is great, but writing forces me to slow down, copying it precisely. Read and re-read, meditate on it (which is basically just thinking intentionally and prayerfully) and then I pray about it.
                                                                                                          

Dads - Lead the way! A letter from your Pastor

Dads, 

Again this Thanksgiving, my family will base our expressions of thankfulness to the Lord on the five "L's" of our family motto: Love, Lord, Learn, Laugh and Leave.  I recommend this very practical way you can facilitate sharing and prayer around your table this year.  You can tailor this to the ages and stages of your family members.

Where to start?  I introduce our time by providing a card with the five L's written on it. Prompt with a question related to each word, and then give a few minutes to allow family members to jot their thoughts down. (Young children may enjoy drawing pictures instead.)  As people share aloud, I record their thoughts and emailed them to turn these thoughts into prayers for the coming year.

Laugh. Begin with lightheartedness:  "What made you laugh this past year?" (An embarrassing moment, a favorite TV show, a favorite sport's event.)

Love.  "What do you love more at the end of this year than you did at the beginning?" (Sleeping in, school, daily personal worship, unhurried family time). 

Learn.  "What life-lesson did God teach you this year? (Maybe a lesson related to one of the Fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.)

Leave.  "What did you leave behind this year? (Middle school, a sport or hobby you used to live for but now have outgrown, a friend who was not such a 'good' friend, etc.). 

 

Lord.  Taking it deeper:  "How have you grown in your love of Jesus this year?"  Or, "What did you leave behind in order to follow harder after Jesus this year?"

Men, this may seem risky!  You may need to lead in an area that does not come naturally for you. Listen, it will be worth it. Inevitably, the five L's not only promote personal sharing about the past year- they help give direction to our discussions and prayer for the coming year.  Regardless of a family's season of life, much of our human experiences relate to Love, Lord, Learn, Laugh and Leave.  Keeping notes over the coming years will provide a book of remembrance to God's faithfulness in each others lives as we prepare our children to "leave" our homes and establish new families where Christ is central.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Pastor Tim Kirk

PS - Ask family members to TURN OFF all electronic devices during sharing and prayer time!

 

Thanking God with Empty Pockets

Thanksgiving. 

The purpose is in its proper name, but it's a day that can go against the grain of our nature.  

Thanksgiving is a spiritual discipline in that it trains or teaches us.  The Bible commands us repeatedly to "give thanks."  But what about when a thankful heart is not naturally emerging?  What do we do with those pockets in our hearts that hold fear, bitterness, shame?  During a time of thanksgiving, we don't dare bring that out because there is no gratitude to be found hiding there.  I battle the pockets.  Especially one that formed a few years ago.  

Thanksgiving of 2011 commenced with some anxiety:  A specialist was predicting that I had thyroid cancer and treated my neck like a pin cushion for a biopsy, the results of which were due the week after Thanksgiving.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 is a doozy of a Scripture:  "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit."  Well, with some tears, my family, particularly my dad, welled up with thanksgiving for my life!  (Aw shucks!)

While my results were negative, anxiety heightened:  My symptoms were eerily similar to some my dad had been experiencing. Dad got biopsied; the second week of December, learned that it was cancer.  Then, it was terminal cancer.  On January 10, 2012, my dad died.  My heart was like cargo pants- pockets were many and deep.

Approaching Thanksgiving 2012 was a bit terrifying at worst and dreaded at best.  How do you honor God in giving thanks when you are not thankful?  Hurt, fearful, angry- yes, but not thankful.  Enter spiritual disciplines.  When you have trained your heart to God's commands - especially in easier seasons with lighter burdens - then the discipline is in place in your life when the season is hard and the burden is heavy.  So that holiday, a trepidacious, now smaller family gathered for Thanksgiving. The unspoken was that we would "give thanks."  (I had 36 years of training on this one.)  With fear and a measure of faith, we shared around the table our thankfulness. Tears were flowing, but so was grace. Not every deep pocket was emptied, but it was a start. The spiritual discipline that honors God blesses us.  Our hearts need to give thanks. 

The lighter side to our Thanksgiving that year (because this post needs some levity):  A decision made that evening as a family (my widowed mom included).  Dad was fun!  We needed fun, as in, "God bring back some fun or we die of sadness."  And so the idea came that we should buy a ping pong table.  Black Friday, my mom bought one (who knew she was so good!?).  We played, and played, in laughter and smiles and spirits refreshed.  Even Great-Grandpa played (not too shabby!). 

Obedient hearts and ping pong were grace that God gave on that day, but the ongoing provision is the beckoning to empty my pockets. You and I were never created to live with hearts full of hurt.  The year my dad died, the tears I cried were fierce and many.  I saw pockets shoved full and then (sometimes) emptied before the Lord day after day.  But this spiritual discipline of coming before Him gave my heart and mind necessary training.  A  sensitivity emerged to the weight of heart-pockets harboring hurt, anger, fear. I saw how trustworthy Jesus is with vulnerability.  I felt how free I was to question and doubt and not be condemned by my God.

What does this have to do with Thanksgiving and our everyday lives?  The command to "give thanks" is a beckoning by a gentle Savior, not a drill sergeant.  We don't give thanks with tight fists and clenched jaws to a demanding master.  We come to Jesus, emptying our pockets, to bring the hard and hidden things into His light. To lay bare that which we would rather hide. Because He cares and is safe. When we trust Jesus enough to bare our souls and empty our pockets, there is grace.  Because to empty ourselves in the presence of Christ means to receive his fullness.   

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after the other. 
John 1:16

Grace and peace to you this Thanksgiving.

Feed My Lambs (not "Baaaaa humbug!")

How serving others nourishes you, too

I like to think and can be guilty of over-thinking.  Awhile back, I was not thinking about feeding lambs, but the Holy Spirit led me to someone who had:  Charles Spurgeon.  Think with me!

To give some context, pretend being a beachcomber (humor me!):  Peter and Co. had just finished night-fishing with fishermen’s worst fear - empty nets.  But the Resurrected Jesus is on the shore and directs the men to the other side of the boat, and alas the nets were drug in bursting with the catch of the day!  “‘Come and have breakfast!’  ...Jesus...took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish” (John 21:13).  (Reminds you of another meal they had recently partaken of together, yes?)  Following this soul-satisfying fish-fry, Jesus has poignant words with Peter, the recent three-time deny-er.

“Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15, ESV).

You know this account!  The Lord probes three times.  What I did not know is scholars’ teach that the first command to “feed my lambs” refers to teaching those young in the faith, both children and “baby” Christians.  Spurgeon emphasizes the teaching of children in the church.  

Do you know what catches my attention and fills my net?  Spurgeon maintains that [teaching and training children is a] most beneficial work to ourselves.  It exercises our humility and helps to keep us lowly and meek.  It also trains our patience; let those who doubt this try it.  Let me name some who experience this:  Mike and Doris Alderink in Preschool Community; Nene Akinbola and Randa Nader in Children’s Worship; Patti Fraley in Kids’ Community.  If you want big-souled, large-hearted men or women, look for them among those who are much engaged among the young, bearing with their follies, and sympathising with their weaknesses for Jesus' sake.

Be encouraged!  Jesus’ encounter with and command to Peter is for us all:  The fisher of men comes to find us; he beckons us to come to Him.  He himself nourishes us for the purpose of nourishing others!  What a Good Shepherd!

Listening for his voice together,

Sara Nist

All words in italics are direct quotes from Spurgeon, Come Ye Children.

To read the chapter, Feed My Lambs, copy and paste this link:  www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

Assume The Ready Position!

"Feet spread shoulder-width apart, firmly planted.  
Knees slightly bent.  
Both hands on the racket, held out at the waist. 
Eyes focused ahead.  
Assume the ready position!"  

This summer, my sweet ten year old wanted to get in on the family action of tennis matches, so I sought to teach her the basics.  The Ready Position is fundamental to tennis - it all starts here!   In this stance, you are balanced, alert, and ready to receive what is coming.  Since this is not ultimately a blog about tennis, I feel an analogy coming, too.  Are you, er, ready?  

This fall, I signed up for a women's Bible study at church.  This was not a terribly difficult decision:  I had the time, I like spending time with women, and I believe the Bible to be good for me.  In the spirit of full disclosure, I should add that I was not especially enthusiastic about this particular study:  "The Promised One:  Seeing Jesus in Genesis."  Oh....Genesis.  Where it all starts.  Yes, I am familiar with Genesis.  You, too?  Gardens with forbidden fruit.  Animals marching two by two.  Sigh.  Enthusiasm waned a wee bit, but I plunged into the study nonetheless.  I completed weekly lessons; I participated in weekly gatherings.  In short, I assumed the "Ready Position!"

Now seven weeks into this study, I stand corrected.  This study has been anything but been there-done that.  "Seeing Jesus in Genesis" has required being firmly planted in the Bible for long periods of study time.  Both hands have been on the Bible as I flip from Genesis to Revelation and everywhere in between.  Re-reading Scripture like hidden treasure.  Seeing Christ with fresh and focused eyes.  Knees bending under the weight of who this great God is. Ultimately, taking the ready position of worship.

In tennis, you show up to play.  You are not in control of what is coming your way, but there is a stance you take to be ready.  This is analogous to the Christian life:  We have shown up to play - we have accepted the invitation to come.  God is in control and yet he has given us clear instruction on how we assume the ready position to receive.  It has to do with His Word; being in community with other believers in Christ; focusing on the person of Jesus and expecting Him to show up (asking Him to show up!).  We bow our knee in worship of the One who is and who was and who is to come.  

Game on.