Abundantly blessed

"Thou that has given so much to me,

Give one thing more–a grateful heart;

Not thankful when it pleaseth me,

As if thy blessings had spare days;

But such a heart, whose pulse may be

Thy praise.”

– George Herbert

92.  Five years of marriage, the ups and the downs, a life joined as one from two sinners resting in the grace of God. The covenant that starts in God who holds all things together and always keeps His covenant with us.  Marriage as a reflection of that covenant, the mystery of that union, the growth in amazing grace towards one another.

93.  The ability to celebrate five years of marriage in the place that we met, New Orleans.  We were able to revisit many places that we frequented while we dated and in our first year of marriage.

94.  Our annual tradition of a nice Bed & Breakfast on our anniversary night.  We stayed at Ashtons and think it may have been the best one yet.  Nice location and house and room, friendly service, and amazing breakfast.

95.  Visiting with close friends while in New Orleans.  There's not much like being with friends who know each other so well and love each other so deeply.

96.  Evidence of God's redemptive work in New Orleans.  God is doing much work through St Roch Community Church, Desire Street Fellowship church plant, and Redeemer Church .  I'm so grateful to know people involved in these ministries and to get a glimpse of God's work through them.

97.  A community that I love and look forward to going home to in Florida (of all places).  Guess God loves palm trees as well as oak trees.

98.  Food.  Really good New Orleans food.  A friend of mine jokes that he thinks heaven might be catered out of New Orleans.  I think he may be right.  I do feel closer to heaven when I taste such goodness!

99.  A mom who is a great Nana and kept my son so that my husband and I could enjoy New Orleans and visit friends as a couple.

100.  Hugs and kisses from my son upon our return after a weekend away.  There's not much better than that!

101.  My husband and his love and thoughtfulness.

The Effects of Sin

I have recently begun a study on the book of Isaiah with some friends at church.  We post about the things we read and learn here:  Dog-eared Mommies . I wanted to share my post with you:

My heart races as I think about the implications of sin that I've just read about in Isaiah.  One question from our study says:

"Sin has its effects: with what picture does Isaiah describe these effects on the people of Israel in 1:5-6?" 

"5 Why will you still be struck down?

Why will you continue to rebel?

The whole head is sick,

and the whole heart faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even to the head,

there is no soundness in it,

but bruises and sores

and raw wounds;

they are not pressed out or bound up

or softened with oil."

Isaiah describes to us a body that cannot be beaten anymore, one that lies tattered from the sole of the foot to the top of the head.  One whose vital organs of the brain and the heart are failing.  I read it as he if he is saying, one more hit and you will be completely dead.

I imagine this as an invalid on life support.  The doctor has just come in and told the family there really is no more that he can do.  The heart is failing, the brain is failing, the whole body has lost function.  This body needs a miracle to survive.  The family grieves and prays and hopes, but prepares for the worst.

Sin has all but killed the people of Israel.  A miracle is needed for the life of God's people.

How powerful and depressing is this picture in showing the effects of sin against God!  I praise God that a Miracle does come and am thankful to know the rest of the story.

 "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered. 

  Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long. 

  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

 I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

 Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him. 

  You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah"

Psalm 32: 1-11 

 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5: 17-21

Suggested Resources:

  

Conditioned or Created?

Lately I have found myself being tempted to draw inward.  With so much stress all around me, my first reaction is usually to retreat.  It's quite strange though, because even though everything in me wants to go into hiding, I am compelled into action.  

I have been able to cling to a few verses to push me forward in this battle rather than retreat:

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you  free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." Romans 8: 1,2

^"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7


As thoughts and feelings pop into my head, I ask myself, "Is this how I was created to be, or how I have been conditioned to be?"

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2: 15-17

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3: 1-3

I really think that so often the easiest thing to do is the one that I've always done.  However, I wonder if that is the best thing.  Am I following the way that the world has taught me to live or the way that God has set before me?  It's almost impossible to walk in faith when we have learned to figure out and plan every step of our life.  For me, control has become an automatic reflex.

Occasionally, seasons come where God clouds all illusions of control and puts faith to the test.  With my faith shaken up, I have become an emotional roller coaster.  This challenges me to not rely on my emotions, but on the Word of God.  It forces me to build trust in His plan rather than to fall into my usual pit of self pity.  I want to be available to be used by God and I know that if I get lost in myself, I won't see the opportunities He brings my way.

In the parable of the rich young ruler, I see not only someone that loved his possessions, but a man who had become accustomed to the way things always were for him.  He loved what he knew so much that he turned His back and walked away from Jesus.

"And a ruler asked him, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'  And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.  You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother." And he said, 'All these I have kept from my youth.'  When Jesus heard this, he said to him, 'One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.'  But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich."  Luke 18:18-23

While I might not have much problem giving away my possessions, I think that Christ would ask me to let go of something much more dear to my heart, something less tangible, but just as influential as the money that bound the young ruler to the world. "Lisa, one thing you still lack (though there is much more than one), tear down that inner fortress you like to hide in and all the fears, insecurities, hopelessness that it holds. Your home is in heaven, come, follow me. I am your security and your hope."

It's time to let go of the world as we have always known it and trust Christ with everything in us. His plan is far better and His ways are far higher than ours.

"Thus says the Lord,
who makes a way in the sea,
a path in the mighty waters,
who brings forth chariot and horse,
army and warrior;
they lie down, they cannot rise,
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
'Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.'"  Isaiah 43: 16-19

An easy day for thanks

85.  Great friends who pass down great toys for my boys.

86.  My son's joy as he peddles his tricycle for the first time and shouts, "I DID IT, MOMMY!"

87.  A kids water can that cost barely a quarter and the joy of my son as he helps water the flowers.

88.  The beginning of a new Bible study with friends.

89.  The anticipation of our upcoming anniversary trip to New Orleans.

90.   Movie night.

91.  That God works His will and occasionally I can see a glimpse of the great things He is doing.

More Thanks

81.  The stability offered in our unchanging God.
82. That we are "receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken" Hebrews 12: 28
83.  All of my son's buddies that he can play with often.
84.  Playdates at the local library.
85.  That my house will be filled with the excitement of raising boys.