This won't be long.
The regular accompanist for Cantabile (a community choir in town) felt sick tonight and was unable to attend. The conductor came in and announced that he had no conductor, so he would have to try and play. Once his coat was off and he stood in front of the choir, I asked, "Do you want someone to play?" Much to my great surprise and delight, he said, "Yes."
I can only thank the Lord for such a great opportunity. His mercies are so precious and unique that He even allows me to enjoy opportunities like this. It was probably one chance, but I'm thankful many times over!
26 February 2007
22 February 2007
Faith.
I'm delighted to tell all of you that Lynn and I have a new car and a new home!
Okay... We don't actually have them yet...
Today I have renewed faith in the God who owns a thousand cattle on a thousand hills. Who is our God anyway? Did I forget that He's the God who doesn't just love me, but SO loves me!? that He doesn't do just abundantly more, but exceedingly abundantly more than I could ever think or imagine!? He doesn't even reprimand me for making foolish decisions with our money. But as he did with the prodigal, He places a ring on my finger and a robe around me, and throws an expensive party on my behalf - because He loves me! What Father doesn't delight in giving good gifts to His children?
As I was sharing and praying with a dear friend who is like a spiritual mother to me, I was reminded of my little faith and how that grieves our Father's heart. We talked about how we often assume God's heart is broken over our sin and weaknesses; when in reality, He has always known about those things. Don't you think sometimes He thinks, "But I already knew about that. It's okay!"
I think what really breaks the Father's heart is when we don't believe in Him. When we get stuck focusing on those sins or weaknesses and forget that we are more than conquerers in Christ Jesus our Lord! His desire for us to be holy goes so much further than our sins and weaknesses... In Isaiah 43, He says, "I have chosen you that you might know me and believe me and understand that I am He." In that chapter, God is speaking to th Israelites while they are in sin and He's saying, "Stop focusing on the past and pondering the things you've done wrong! Put Me into remembrance and realize that I am your Creator and I have redeemed you!!!" (Natasha's paraphrase, with some exact wording).
I am so guilty of sometimes forgetting just who it is exactly that I am serving. God's heart is for me to know Him and believe Him and understand just how big and full of love He really is! That truth really has nothing to do with a car or a house; but I do have renewed faith in the Lord's provision. He is a good God of abundant blessings and I intend to hold Him to it!
Okay... We don't actually have them yet...
Today I have renewed faith in the God who owns a thousand cattle on a thousand hills. Who is our God anyway? Did I forget that He's the God who doesn't just love me, but SO loves me!? that He doesn't do just abundantly more, but exceedingly abundantly more than I could ever think or imagine!? He doesn't even reprimand me for making foolish decisions with our money. But as he did with the prodigal, He places a ring on my finger and a robe around me, and throws an expensive party on my behalf - because He loves me! What Father doesn't delight in giving good gifts to His children?
As I was sharing and praying with a dear friend who is like a spiritual mother to me, I was reminded of my little faith and how that grieves our Father's heart. We talked about how we often assume God's heart is broken over our sin and weaknesses; when in reality, He has always known about those things. Don't you think sometimes He thinks, "But I already knew about that. It's okay!"
I think what really breaks the Father's heart is when we don't believe in Him. When we get stuck focusing on those sins or weaknesses and forget that we are more than conquerers in Christ Jesus our Lord! His desire for us to be holy goes so much further than our sins and weaknesses... In Isaiah 43, He says, "I have chosen you that you might know me and believe me and understand that I am He." In that chapter, God is speaking to th Israelites while they are in sin and He's saying, "Stop focusing on the past and pondering the things you've done wrong! Put Me into remembrance and realize that I am your Creator and I have redeemed you!!!" (Natasha's paraphrase, with some exact wording).
I am so guilty of sometimes forgetting just who it is exactly that I am serving. God's heart is for me to know Him and believe Him and understand just how big and full of love He really is! That truth really has nothing to do with a car or a house; but I do have renewed faith in the Lord's provision. He is a good God of abundant blessings and I intend to hold Him to it!
21 February 2007
Second Post of the Day
You can read the other post below, but I need to follow through with my intent to fill you in on Isaiah. Basically, the passage hit me like a bolt out of the blue last week. I was meditating on Scripture, hoping to find the right one to communicate God's heart to the church. Isaiah 54:11-55:5 wouldn't be found on its own in many scholarly works, but it is a passage that discusses God's endowment. We in North America are generally interested in endowments or anything that sounds like a promise for our good. Often, our interests are shallow; we tend to think God's endowment rests in money, health, prosperity, and the like.
To read the passage, one might think that we had it right all along. After all, God promises to rebuild His people's lives with many precious stones (54:11-12) and to endow them with splendor (55:5). He promises children with connections to God and wisdom (54:13). There are also connections to nations, a new generation that the people do not yet know (55:3-4). There's even the promise that God's people will no longer have to fear the people around them (54:14-17) and the reminder that spending one's labor on foreign connections and delicacies (as Judah was doing at the time of the prophecy) is futile. It sounds like prosperity, success, money, and future to me.
Or does it? What about the people to whom it was originally written? What about how the prophet addresses the people in 54:11? They are afflicted, wracked by storms, disconsolate. They were homeless, city-less, protection-less, military-less, family-less, and status-less. They were slaves. They were mocked, beaten, tortured, threatened, raped, and pillaged. For a good idea about the emotions of the people in Babylon, read Psalm 137. People with that outlook on life don't care about prosperity, success, money, and future. If they had money, their captors would spend it. If they had health, they would only endure torture longer. As for prosperity, the Hebrew ideal was that of shalom, a deep sense of inner well-being and infiltrating peace. (That's a whole other post or blog or something.)
God's promise in the original passage was that of security. The promise of rebuilding with precious stones was one to make the people feel secure that they would be rebuilt; they would again have a place of their own. The home would be strong (note use of words like "walls," "stones," "pinnacles" or "battlements," and "foundation") and beautiful (hence, the precious stones). They would also receive the security of a future. Not the kind of future provided by money or health, but the kind of future provided by children (the rebirth of a nation) who would know the Lord (unlike their ancestors whose inattention to God put them in exile) and a shalom peace. Finally, God would give them the security of stability. They would no longer fear any attacker. To prove it, God reminded them that He created the attackers, implying that He could take care of them. Even, "No weapon forged to be used against you will succeed."
We might think that's the point, but did you notice the build there? The security promises are all well and good, but why the build? Why the promises? Why the security? Look at 55:1-2, the climax. "Come." Yes, that's it. That's the point. "Come." God will rebuild the city, give them a future, and even fight for them just so that they could come. It didn't matter if someone was in Forbes magazine or if they were penniless; God's invitation echoes through the corridors of time. "Come." Spending money and labor on things that don't satisfy (for Judah it was treaties, foreign friends, foreign gods, etc.; for us, you name it - nothing satisfies but Jesus) is ridiculous. Come to the Lord, who requires absolutely no money. After all, He made provision for the cost to be paid. How much truer is that for us in the Last Days (New Testament era) who don't have to have that provision made annually in Jerusalem? God took care of that in Jesus and now invites us to come. He says something interesting in 55:2 "Pay attention to me. Listen to me so you can live" (or something like that). Come to Jesus and live. Think Chris Rice's "Untitled Hymn." Everything we receive is intended to inspire us to come to Jesus, to free us up to come to Jesus, to empower us to come to Jesus.
This is the message of Isaiah 54:11-55:5: Come to Jesus and live life to the full.
To read the passage, one might think that we had it right all along. After all, God promises to rebuild His people's lives with many precious stones (54:11-12) and to endow them with splendor (55:5). He promises children with connections to God and wisdom (54:13). There are also connections to nations, a new generation that the people do not yet know (55:3-4). There's even the promise that God's people will no longer have to fear the people around them (54:14-17) and the reminder that spending one's labor on foreign connections and delicacies (as Judah was doing at the time of the prophecy) is futile. It sounds like prosperity, success, money, and future to me.
Or does it? What about the people to whom it was originally written? What about how the prophet addresses the people in 54:11? They are afflicted, wracked by storms, disconsolate. They were homeless, city-less, protection-less, military-less, family-less, and status-less. They were slaves. They were mocked, beaten, tortured, threatened, raped, and pillaged. For a good idea about the emotions of the people in Babylon, read Psalm 137. People with that outlook on life don't care about prosperity, success, money, and future. If they had money, their captors would spend it. If they had health, they would only endure torture longer. As for prosperity, the Hebrew ideal was that of shalom, a deep sense of inner well-being and infiltrating peace. (That's a whole other post or blog or something.)
God's promise in the original passage was that of security. The promise of rebuilding with precious stones was one to make the people feel secure that they would be rebuilt; they would again have a place of their own. The home would be strong (note use of words like "walls," "stones," "pinnacles" or "battlements," and "foundation") and beautiful (hence, the precious stones). They would also receive the security of a future. Not the kind of future provided by money or health, but the kind of future provided by children (the rebirth of a nation) who would know the Lord (unlike their ancestors whose inattention to God put them in exile) and a shalom peace. Finally, God would give them the security of stability. They would no longer fear any attacker. To prove it, God reminded them that He created the attackers, implying that He could take care of them. Even, "No weapon forged to be used against you will succeed."
We might think that's the point, but did you notice the build there? The security promises are all well and good, but why the build? Why the promises? Why the security? Look at 55:1-2, the climax. "Come." Yes, that's it. That's the point. "Come." God will rebuild the city, give them a future, and even fight for them just so that they could come. It didn't matter if someone was in Forbes magazine or if they were penniless; God's invitation echoes through the corridors of time. "Come." Spending money and labor on things that don't satisfy (for Judah it was treaties, foreign friends, foreign gods, etc.; for us, you name it - nothing satisfies but Jesus) is ridiculous. Come to the Lord, who requires absolutely no money. After all, He made provision for the cost to be paid. How much truer is that for us in the Last Days (New Testament era) who don't have to have that provision made annually in Jerusalem? God took care of that in Jesus and now invites us to come. He says something interesting in 55:2 "Pay attention to me. Listen to me so you can live" (or something like that). Come to Jesus and live. Think Chris Rice's "Untitled Hymn." Everything we receive is intended to inspire us to come to Jesus, to free us up to come to Jesus, to empower us to come to Jesus.
This is the message of Isaiah 54:11-55:5: Come to Jesus and live life to the full.
Ever changing...
I (Natasha) have have been meaning to post this for a while...
Lynn preached this past Sunday for the first time at IBC (Immanuel Baptist Church). It was incredible. It was another one of those experiences when I sit back in awe of the man I fall asleep beside every night.
Lynn is constantly growing and changing. But sometimes, I miss the change taking place. It's subtle and deep within him - not easily noticed on the outside. Suddenly, he'll say or do something that is totally different from something he would have said or done before! He thinks, "What? I've always been that way!" But I know the truth. The truth is that Lynn has mastered something that few people can claim. He keeps looking at Jesus; as he looks, he's slowly but surely being changed into His likeness.
Being the "godly" woman that I am (sarcasm noted), I sometimes wish Lynn would spend more time looking at himself :) - you know, when I want him to change something on demand :). My pushiness often encourages his stubbornness, and for a time he might refuse.
But in all his stubbornness, he keeps looking at Jesus. So before we both know it, it happened anyway!!! Isn't that amazing?
I've observed that usually the things I want Lynn to change about himself are areas that need to be strengthened in my own life. For example, I am much too often focused on the areas in myself that need to be changed rather than accepting them as part of my journey and just looking at Jesus. When we trust Him with our salvation (from justification to glorification), the changes will always occur. And instead of being done out of a fear of not being good enough or something like that, the changes will take place out of love and gratitude in response to His love and salvation.
I guess we are ever changing.
Lynn preached this past Sunday for the first time at IBC (Immanuel Baptist Church). It was incredible. It was another one of those experiences when I sit back in awe of the man I fall asleep beside every night.
Lynn is constantly growing and changing. But sometimes, I miss the change taking place. It's subtle and deep within him - not easily noticed on the outside. Suddenly, he'll say or do something that is totally different from something he would have said or done before! He thinks, "What? I've always been that way!" But I know the truth. The truth is that Lynn has mastered something that few people can claim. He keeps looking at Jesus; as he looks, he's slowly but surely being changed into His likeness.
Being the "godly" woman that I am (sarcasm noted), I sometimes wish Lynn would spend more time looking at himself :) - you know, when I want him to change something on demand :). My pushiness often encourages his stubbornness, and for a time he might refuse.
But in all his stubbornness, he keeps looking at Jesus. So before we both know it, it happened anyway!!! Isn't that amazing?
I've observed that usually the things I want Lynn to change about himself are areas that need to be strengthened in my own life. For example, I am much too often focused on the areas in myself that need to be changed rather than accepting them as part of my journey and just looking at Jesus. When we trust Him with our salvation (from justification to glorification), the changes will always occur. And instead of being done out of a fear of not being good enough or something like that, the changes will take place out of love and gratitude in response to His love and salvation.
I guess we are ever changing.
15 February 2007
Try It
It is much too late to be awake, let alone online. Nevertheless, you need to try something.
Open your Bible and read it without considering chapter and verse divisions. You'll find several sections of Scripture that make more sense when taken holistically. For example, I've been studying Isaiah 54:11-55:5 for a sermon on Sunday. I never would have selected that passage for a graded assignment or personal study. I just read the passage as part of a larger reading when I was hit with the impact of the prophecy. Since I know a few people from the church spy on me here occasionally, I won't steal the Lord's thunder. See you there!
(If you're not nearby, don't despair. I may blog about this next week. It's incredibly powerful!)
Open your Bible and read it without considering chapter and verse divisions. You'll find several sections of Scripture that make more sense when taken holistically. For example, I've been studying Isaiah 54:11-55:5 for a sermon on Sunday. I never would have selected that passage for a graded assignment or personal study. I just read the passage as part of a larger reading when I was hit with the impact of the prophecy. Since I know a few people from the church spy on me here occasionally, I won't steal the Lord's thunder. See you there!
(If you're not nearby, don't despair. I may blog about this next week. It's incredibly powerful!)
13 February 2007
Availability
Natasha has gone again. It's for a very good reason, and I'm extremely proud of her. She is in a position right now to be available for many good things the Lord may bring across her path. She's able to help a good friend in a time of serious need right now. She's mentioned different opportunities for involvement in the church and community when she returns. She sits at home so often, but when I come home she often has stories about calls with people or Bible study time. There's something to be said for availability. She's quickly becoming one of the busiest people I know, but she's available for the Lord. She says, "No," appropriately, but she's available.
Why all this wife-praise? It's not fundamentally about Natasha, is it? It's a question that burns in our hearts at times: Why am I not more available for the little things the Lord prompts me to do? I suggest that we allow our circumstances to dictate our priorities, regardless of how we verbally list our priorities. To few of us (meaning me) place ourselves before the Lord with open availability for His service. We think of that needy person down the street who could use groceries. Then we justify our inactivity by listing our bills. We think of the widow at church who just wants to tell someone her story. Then we remember our own story and say, "Some day." We feel that little prompting somewhere in the middle of our torso that tells us there's more, but we sit back and take another Tums. Our jobs won't allow us to leave in the middle of the day to minister to someone. Our schedules won't allow us to take a few minutes and build community. Too few people have reached out to us, so it's better just to go home and think about the community we wish we had. We list our actions, call ourselves available, then go to bed at night feeling okay. While Natasha is human and doesn't do everything right, I'm challenged by her availability. She made herself available, and everything she's doing within a nine day span fell into place. She'll be here this weekend, having accomplished more eternally than many of us do in a month. Again, this isn't about her; it's about our availability to God. It's like Scott always says, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).
Why all this wife-praise? It's not fundamentally about Natasha, is it? It's a question that burns in our hearts at times: Why am I not more available for the little things the Lord prompts me to do? I suggest that we allow our circumstances to dictate our priorities, regardless of how we verbally list our priorities. To few of us (meaning me) place ourselves before the Lord with open availability for His service. We think of that needy person down the street who could use groceries. Then we justify our inactivity by listing our bills. We think of the widow at church who just wants to tell someone her story. Then we remember our own story and say, "Some day." We feel that little prompting somewhere in the middle of our torso that tells us there's more, but we sit back and take another Tums. Our jobs won't allow us to leave in the middle of the day to minister to someone. Our schedules won't allow us to take a few minutes and build community. Too few people have reached out to us, so it's better just to go home and think about the community we wish we had. We list our actions, call ourselves available, then go to bed at night feeling okay. While Natasha is human and doesn't do everything right, I'm challenged by her availability. She made herself available, and everything she's doing within a nine day span fell into place. She'll be here this weekend, having accomplished more eternally than many of us do in a month. Again, this isn't about her; it's about our availability to God. It's like Scott always says, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).
Early Retirement
(Natasha writing...)
Well, who'd have thought I'd be retired at age 23!? Okay, so I'm not really retired. I'm just not working or going to school or doing anything involving any idea of a career!
The point of saying that, though, is to say that I have been so blessed to have opportunities like the one I am currently experiencing because of this season I am in (that much resembles eary retirement!). Lynn calls me a "free agent of the Lord". I am able to just walk with Him every day, not knowing what we're going to encounter together. This week I am in Fredericton with our dear friends, the Brewers. I am supposedly here to be helpful, but we all know I am being doubly blessed by these nigh angelic beings...
Anyway, last week I was in Wolfville, NS at Acadia University visiting my cousin Rebecca. This week, I am in Fredericton experiencing the bliss of my early retirement...
What a blessed life! ...and what a gracious Husband!
Well, who'd have thought I'd be retired at age 23!? Okay, so I'm not really retired. I'm just not working or going to school or doing anything involving any idea of a career!
The point of saying that, though, is to say that I have been so blessed to have opportunities like the one I am currently experiencing because of this season I am in (that much resembles eary retirement!). Lynn calls me a "free agent of the Lord". I am able to just walk with Him every day, not knowing what we're going to encounter together. This week I am in Fredericton with our dear friends, the Brewers. I am supposedly here to be helpful, but we all know I am being doubly blessed by these nigh angelic beings...
Anyway, last week I was in Wolfville, NS at Acadia University visiting my cousin Rebecca. This week, I am in Fredericton experiencing the bliss of my early retirement...
What a blessed life! ...and what a gracious Husband!
09 February 2007
08 February 2007
Enmeshed
So, Natasha is away. It's just been since this morning, and she'll come back tomorrow evening. This sucks. While I'm glad for her, my selfish side is thinking, "You are way too enmeshed for this."
05 February 2007
Two Parts
This post has two sections. I thought about doing two posts, but we can all handle a long one, right?
1) Where did we ever get the idea that any one experience typifies "true" faith? Why is it that some people look for a certain prayer, others look for a particular crisis, and still others look for provable actions? I admit that it's difficult to deny someone's faith after a dramatic crisis conversion. Yet Jesus Himself indicated that those whose faith is in Him would be those who would join Him in glory. I think of the thief on the cross next to Jesus's cross who acknowledged Jesus's lordship without the breakdown of "saved, healed, delivered." I also think of Matthew, who followed the Lord simply because he trusted Him when He said, "Follow me." Our theologies and doctrines are important, but when did they give us the right to judge a person's eternal soul? Any authority we have was given to us only by God and does not give us the right to shun and shame people.
2) One of the first things that made me stop and look at Natasha differently is her love. I've never seen anyone who really loves people like she does. Of course, we've learned a lot about love since we've been married, and particularly in the last year. We've seen a lot of what love is and even more of what love is not. There are many people whom we love around the world (mostly North America), many of whom exemplify love for us. The Scriptures say that love bears all things. That love never fails. That love covers a multitude of sins. What a joy it is when we see people who love freely with God's love in a way that bears with us, that does not fail, that keeps no record of wrongs, that is patient, that is kind, that covers a multitude of sins! At the same time, how hurtful it has been when we have faced people who did not bear with us, who keep a record of our wrongs, who are impatient, who focus on sin rather than the soul, who are unkind, and who seemingly failed us! (We've been dealing with a lot of that and have sought healing in our new surroundings.) In a time when I have been tempted many times to speak out boldly against those who do not love, the Lord has reminded me, "But for the grace of God, there go I." I am tempted to find fault among friends who aren't true, to be impatient with loved ones who are hurtful, to be unkind to those who seemingly don't care, to choose to stop bearing with people, and even to shift my circle of friends. I assume that the Lord's revelation precludes His warning not to be a hypocrite, reacting out of hurt and confusion for Natasha and me. Instead, I choose to love, to be real, to embrace the goodness and peace of the Lord, and to dive in headfirst to the imperfect, often frustrating congregation of the Church. After all, if we look through the screen of human imperfections, we begin to see that 1 Corinthians 12 is real when it says we are all the body of Christ. Why would I want to hurt the body of Christ? If I'm the foot, why would I want to kick my own shin? Why do so many members of the body do it?
1) Where did we ever get the idea that any one experience typifies "true" faith? Why is it that some people look for a certain prayer, others look for a particular crisis, and still others look for provable actions? I admit that it's difficult to deny someone's faith after a dramatic crisis conversion. Yet Jesus Himself indicated that those whose faith is in Him would be those who would join Him in glory. I think of the thief on the cross next to Jesus's cross who acknowledged Jesus's lordship without the breakdown of "saved, healed, delivered." I also think of Matthew, who followed the Lord simply because he trusted Him when He said, "Follow me." Our theologies and doctrines are important, but when did they give us the right to judge a person's eternal soul? Any authority we have was given to us only by God and does not give us the right to shun and shame people.
2) One of the first things that made me stop and look at Natasha differently is her love. I've never seen anyone who really loves people like she does. Of course, we've learned a lot about love since we've been married, and particularly in the last year. We've seen a lot of what love is and even more of what love is not. There are many people whom we love around the world (mostly North America), many of whom exemplify love for us. The Scriptures say that love bears all things. That love never fails. That love covers a multitude of sins. What a joy it is when we see people who love freely with God's love in a way that bears with us, that does not fail, that keeps no record of wrongs, that is patient, that is kind, that covers a multitude of sins! At the same time, how hurtful it has been when we have faced people who did not bear with us, who keep a record of our wrongs, who are impatient, who focus on sin rather than the soul, who are unkind, and who seemingly failed us! (We've been dealing with a lot of that and have sought healing in our new surroundings.) In a time when I have been tempted many times to speak out boldly against those who do not love, the Lord has reminded me, "But for the grace of God, there go I." I am tempted to find fault among friends who aren't true, to be impatient with loved ones who are hurtful, to be unkind to those who seemingly don't care, to choose to stop bearing with people, and even to shift my circle of friends. I assume that the Lord's revelation precludes His warning not to be a hypocrite, reacting out of hurt and confusion for Natasha and me. Instead, I choose to love, to be real, to embrace the goodness and peace of the Lord, and to dive in headfirst to the imperfect, often frustrating congregation of the Church. After all, if we look through the screen of human imperfections, we begin to see that 1 Corinthians 12 is real when it says we are all the body of Christ. Why would I want to hurt the body of Christ? If I'm the foot, why would I want to kick my own shin? Why do so many members of the body do it?
25 January 2007
Readership
I'm (Lynn) sitting in a practice with Worship Team B right now. They're doing a nice job practicing, but two great things just happened.
1) We stopped and prayed for our sister who needed to sit back on the Lord for a moment. For that sister I have the following lyrics from a praise song written by someone at Christ for the Nations. (The speaker is a worshiper, speaking to Jesus.)
The more I seek You, the more I find You. The more I find You, the more I love You, Jesus. I want to sit at Your feet, drink from the cup in Your hand, lean back against You, and breathe, and feel Your heartbeat. This love is so deep; it's more than I can bear. I melt in Your peace; it's overwhelming.
2) We just had a conversation in which I found out that a few of the worship team members read this blog. Not the worship blog I set up for the church - this one. I love that! :)
1) We stopped and prayed for our sister who needed to sit back on the Lord for a moment. For that sister I have the following lyrics from a praise song written by someone at Christ for the Nations. (The speaker is a worshiper, speaking to Jesus.)
The more I seek You, the more I find You. The more I find You, the more I love You, Jesus. I want to sit at Your feet, drink from the cup in Your hand, lean back against You, and breathe, and feel Your heartbeat. This love is so deep; it's more than I can bear. I melt in Your peace; it's overwhelming.
2) We just had a conversation in which I found out that a few of the worship team members read this blog. Not the worship blog I set up for the church - this one. I love that! :)
22 January 2007
Mac
I want everyone to know that I am typing on a Mac. I was afraid to post until the Mac actually came, but the new MacBook is the tool the Lord provided me to do my work through the church. Yes, a Mac. I'm sure I'll get the usual comments from Windows lovers and people who resist change. I'll choose not to defend this transition I've been dying to make for a long time. If you want responses to compatability myths, etc., please visit apple.com. (I still love you all.)
15 January 2007
Once Upon a Snowy Afternoon
It's Lynn writing this time. It's a snowy afternoon, and I'm sitting in the home office the Lord provided for us. None of that matters to most anyone reading this, particularly since we've gone on about that a lot. Still, it feels good finally to be here. Natasha rightly observed that it's been almost a month since we last had a place to let our collective hair down. We sat and watched "Two Weeks Notice" last night, after which I fell asleep in record time. That's how I do it. Sleep. Natasha and I had that conversation yesterday. She remarked how she tends to get worked up and feels as though she doesn't handle change very well. She thinks I handle it very well. The only reason she thinks that is because I'm social. It doesn't really matter whether we're in change; I just like to be around people. I get tired, though. She didn't sleep many nights last week prior to settling; I sleep more every night that goes by. I slept in past 10:00 a.m. twice in the past week! (Half the day was gone!!) We have been invited out so many times, but we're often with strong personalities - a good thing, since I tend to get with people and sink into a tired speechlessness. You know, the kind of peaceful speechlessness that feels best with a warm cup of Stash wild blackcurrant tea in my hands with the sounds of my wife's voice in my ears, gratitude to Jesus in my heart, and the jazzy music of someone like Bing in my head - all on a snowy afternoon.
10 January 2007
A word from Francis.
The God Whose Name Is Jealous
…True salvation is a betrothal….
…Whatever challenges Jesus' right to our hearts becomes His enemy, which He will confront. Because of His jealousy toward us as His bride, in regard to these false gods, the Lord demands we destroy these idols ourselves.
…The spirit of antichrist [that spirit which exalts self as deity] is resident in much of the church today, opposing the move of God, displaying itself as being God.
…Is there something in your soul which opposes and exalts itself above God, taking its seat in the human temple of God , displaying itself as being God? The resistance in you against God is an idol. It is the most powerful idol in the human heart.
…What mankind has done is move the pagan temples from the high places of the countryside to the hidden places of the human heart.
Every time we inwardly submit to the strongholds of fear, bitterness, and pride, we are bowing to the rulers of darkness.
Would you be holy? Then remove the idols of self and sin from within you. For holiness exists in a soul purified by love; it exudes like incense from a heart without idols.
Francis Frangapane
09 January 2007
Random thoughts from the sick wife :)
Yes, I am very unfortunately sick and using this post of random thoughts as a distraction from my misery.
Isn't it interesting that I decided to stop blogging and then asked Lynn if I could post sometimes on his blog, which he then re-designed for us to share, and suddenly he's disappeared and only I remain?
Just to inform anyone who might be wondering, I have not besieged my husband's blog. It's just that for right now, I'm awaiting our final move into our more permanent home, while being miserably sick and lazying around our hosts home; meanwhile Lynn is hard at work at the church, but without a computer as of yet! So I have all the time in the world to sit at the computer and blog, while Lynn is still in the process of ordering his new laptop for the church.
I promise you, he will return!
I would also like to comment about the picture Lynn chose for the new design. A dear feind had innocently commented that it seems "erotic" :). I apologize if we've made anyone uncomfortable for it is not meant to be an "erotic" picture, but rather a soft, gentle, romantic kiss - perfectly appropriate for blogdom :).
This picture was actually taken by Ryan Wiedmaier in downtown St. John. It was a scheme against me for a surprise Lynn was conjuring up.
We do seem to be outward with our affection, more than some... or maybe most. When we first started dating I was terribly shy! I tried to keep Lynn from making his random outbursts across the cafeteria or from the car window as he passed me going down the hill (at BBC)... but my efforts to control his random outbursts were completely fruitless. So I eventually learned to work with it :)
More seriously, though, when Lynn and I were falling in love, both sets of parents were experiencing extreme marriage difficulties. Two completely different situations that also had completely different outcomes led us to question love and its ability to last a lifetime. The outcome of these difficulties as they've shaped our relationship (along with the combination of our ridiculous personalities) led us to operate in our marriage out of a certain "philosphy". As Christians living in a world depraved of love, why not shout out from the rooftops that the enemy has been defeated and the love of Christ reigns in our marriage forever!? Why not reflect the love of Christ through our love for one another to people who have long since stopped believing that they could ever know a love that never fails...
This "philosphy" (for lack of a better word, and as tribute to Rev. Starks) is most certainly influenced by the innocent and unashamed love that exherts from my husband's pure heart. He is so precious and we couldn't be different even if we tried because he cannot contain his joy and love for the Lord which overflows onto his abundantly blessed wife.
So without shame, we will keep our "erotic" picture on our blog, proclaiming to all the world that love prevails!
How's that for a dramatic ending? :)
Isn't it interesting that I decided to stop blogging and then asked Lynn if I could post sometimes on his blog, which he then re-designed for us to share, and suddenly he's disappeared and only I remain?
Just to inform anyone who might be wondering, I have not besieged my husband's blog. It's just that for right now, I'm awaiting our final move into our more permanent home, while being miserably sick and lazying around our hosts home; meanwhile Lynn is hard at work at the church, but without a computer as of yet! So I have all the time in the world to sit at the computer and blog, while Lynn is still in the process of ordering his new laptop for the church.
I promise you, he will return!
I would also like to comment about the picture Lynn chose for the new design. A dear feind had innocently commented that it seems "erotic" :). I apologize if we've made anyone uncomfortable for it is not meant to be an "erotic" picture, but rather a soft, gentle, romantic kiss - perfectly appropriate for blogdom :).
This picture was actually taken by Ryan Wiedmaier in downtown St. John. It was a scheme against me for a surprise Lynn was conjuring up.
We do seem to be outward with our affection, more than some... or maybe most. When we first started dating I was terribly shy! I tried to keep Lynn from making his random outbursts across the cafeteria or from the car window as he passed me going down the hill (at BBC)... but my efforts to control his random outbursts were completely fruitless. So I eventually learned to work with it :)
More seriously, though, when Lynn and I were falling in love, both sets of parents were experiencing extreme marriage difficulties. Two completely different situations that also had completely different outcomes led us to question love and its ability to last a lifetime. The outcome of these difficulties as they've shaped our relationship (along with the combination of our ridiculous personalities) led us to operate in our marriage out of a certain "philosphy". As Christians living in a world depraved of love, why not shout out from the rooftops that the enemy has been defeated and the love of Christ reigns in our marriage forever!? Why not reflect the love of Christ through our love for one another to people who have long since stopped believing that they could ever know a love that never fails...
This "philosphy" (for lack of a better word, and as tribute to Rev. Starks) is most certainly influenced by the innocent and unashamed love that exherts from my husband's pure heart. He is so precious and we couldn't be different even if we tried because he cannot contain his joy and love for the Lord which overflows onto his abundantly blessed wife.
So without shame, we will keep our "erotic" picture on our blog, proclaiming to all the world that love prevails!
How's that for a dramatic ending? :)
08 January 2007
One "first" down.
I just have to say, though none of us are surprised, that my husband is the best worship pastor ever!
We had our first Sunday yesterday and Lynn did an exceptional job. He is obviously very capable musicaly, but also walks with the anointing and favor of a son - a son who knows His Father, is like His Father in image and character, and trusts in His Father's faithfulness.
I am so proud of you, Husband :).
(From Natasha)
We had our first Sunday yesterday and Lynn did an exceptional job. He is obviously very capable musicaly, but also walks with the anointing and favor of a son - a son who knows His Father, is like His Father in image and character, and trusts in His Father's faithfulness.
I am so proud of you, Husband :).
(From Natasha)
05 January 2007
A Blessed Life.
I (Natasha) am taking this opportunity to post about our current situation. Some of it will likely be redundant; but hopefully it will make more sense all compliled into one neat summary :).
Okay, here's the gist. We (meaning Lynn) accepted the position of pastor of worship arts and small groups at Immanuel Baptist Church in Truro, NS, Canada. We finished up my internship in Presque Isle, ME, moved our stuff into a very kind man's basement, celebrated our anniversary, then left for the holidays. We had a wonderful time with Lynn's family in DE over Christmas and mine over New Years. We arrived back in Truro just in time for Lynn's first day on January 2nd. Needless to say it has been a busy few weeks!
We had announced earlier that we were going to buy a house in Truro. We loved the house for a starter home and were in the middle of drawing up a formal offer with our lawyer when we felt a very strong need to pull back. We stalled for a little bit, but ultimately had to face the fact that we did not have peace about buying this house. Lynn had to make the difficult phone calls, informing those involved that we were pulling out. We found oursleves homeless once again.
Just around that time, however, we received an e-mail from the senior pastor of our new church, mentioning a possible house sitting option. Both of us immediately felt peace and a release of tension at this suggestion! Since then it has been blessing after blessing! The Lord has provided a more than perfect solution to an impossble situation (without getting into the details...) and has also used us to be that very same thing for another member of the body of Christ! Somehow, He took two impossible situations and molded them together creating an abundance of blessing, warmth, and peace.
Lynn and I will be house sitting through the spring and possibly until August. A bigger, better home awaits us on the other end :).
It is surely a blessed life to be in the hands of a loving father who promises to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever think or imagine!
Okay, here's the gist. We (meaning Lynn) accepted the position of pastor of worship arts and small groups at Immanuel Baptist Church in Truro, NS, Canada. We finished up my internship in Presque Isle, ME, moved our stuff into a very kind man's basement, celebrated our anniversary, then left for the holidays. We had a wonderful time with Lynn's family in DE over Christmas and mine over New Years. We arrived back in Truro just in time for Lynn's first day on January 2nd. Needless to say it has been a busy few weeks!
We had announced earlier that we were going to buy a house in Truro. We loved the house for a starter home and were in the middle of drawing up a formal offer with our lawyer when we felt a very strong need to pull back. We stalled for a little bit, but ultimately had to face the fact that we did not have peace about buying this house. Lynn had to make the difficult phone calls, informing those involved that we were pulling out. We found oursleves homeless once again.
Just around that time, however, we received an e-mail from the senior pastor of our new church, mentioning a possible house sitting option. Both of us immediately felt peace and a release of tension at this suggestion! Since then it has been blessing after blessing! The Lord has provided a more than perfect solution to an impossble situation (without getting into the details...) and has also used us to be that very same thing for another member of the body of Christ! Somehow, He took two impossible situations and molded them together creating an abundance of blessing, warmth, and peace.
Lynn and I will be house sitting through the spring and possibly until August. A bigger, better home awaits us on the other end :).
It is surely a blessed life to be in the hands of a loving father who promises to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever think or imagine!
01 January 2007
Drake
Happy New Year! Baby Emmerson now has a name: Drake John Emmerson. He is my favorite nephew, mostly because he's beautiful. Is this superficial? Absolutely, but I haven't held him, talked to him on the phone, or taken him to a basketball game yet, so we don't really have much history. Drake and I only go back about a week, to be honest. It looks like we have a lot of ground to cover. In the meantime, I'm going to live vicariously through my in-laws, who have wonderful children worth a lot of love!
In other news, Natasha says "Hi!" and "Happy New Year!" We're going to be lazy and watch a movie before the big "Christmas" dinner this afternoon (with my in-laws, who weren't with us at Christmas) and the trip home. We hope 2007 is a big one for all of you. The Lord is literally standing in front of us, waiting for us to run after Him. He has a new world to unfold, should we actually challenge Him to prove it.
29 December 2006
One More Thing
Natasha may or may not be joining me on this blog. We're a good united team, so if you see her around here anytime soon, don't be surprised. Also, don't be surprised if the property value of this blog jumps by at least 1,000%!
A Home
We have a home. At least till August anyway. We met with the Jaspersons, hoping all the way that they were the answer to our prayers. As usual, it turns out that none of this was about us. We showed up at their home, only to discover that we were the answer to their prayers. She had been praying for months, believing that the Lord would somehow work out a way for her to spend the next year with her husband out west. Their house hadn't sold, they took it off the market, and they assumed that they would have to spend a second year apart. Until us. We thought we had found some generous people who were the answer to our housing need. They certainly were that. However, after the visit and a brief Holy Ghost party, we realized that God told us not to buy a house right now because He was working in a marriage. Two people who love each other and love Christ really needed to be together in the next year for the sake of their marriage and God's Kingdom. We were just the right sort of people to come in until August, after which their daughter will take over the house. They needed transient people who had nowhere to go but who would have nowhere they needed to be for almost a year. Here we are!
Lord, thank you for being so much bigger than us! Thanks for loving, caring, and blessing Your children, even though none of us merits it. We are weak people caught up in our own concerns, struggling between Your control and ours. Nevertheless, You have moved mightily! You powerfully brought the Jaspersons together, caused them to anoint their house for ministry, and granted them the patience and faith to believe that You really would bring their desires to pass. You graciously prevented us from taking steps too soon, not for us, but for our brother and sister. Ultimately, it's not even about them. We look to You for this miracle to continue. We celebrate You, whose love is so masterfully full that these details aren't even worth figuring out. You're a blessing, and we honor Your name forever! May You continue to mark out the path for the Jaspersons and for us as we all seek to know You more.
Lord, thank you for being so much bigger than us! Thanks for loving, caring, and blessing Your children, even though none of us merits it. We are weak people caught up in our own concerns, struggling between Your control and ours. Nevertheless, You have moved mightily! You powerfully brought the Jaspersons together, caused them to anoint their house for ministry, and granted them the patience and faith to believe that You really would bring their desires to pass. You graciously prevented us from taking steps too soon, not for us, but for our brother and sister. Ultimately, it's not even about them. We look to You for this miracle to continue. We celebrate You, whose love is so masterfully full that these details aren't even worth figuring out. You're a blessing, and we honor Your name forever! May You continue to mark out the path for the Jaspersons and for us as we all seek to know You more.
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