Faith – Page 6 – The Welcome Home

Being conformed…

teacuppamela

Earlier today I was reflecting on some of the unlikely ways God conforms us to the image of His dear Son — and some of the unlikely tools He chooses to use to work that conformation in us (and maybe even through us from time to time). I asked my dear mother in law if she’d send me the quotes she was sharing with me as we talked about God’s work in our lives — I’ll share them with you when she sends them.

I’ve been sincerely amazed at the ways God works His will and His purposes in my life / in our lives. It seems the most impossible, difficult and maybe even painful situations are the ones that bring the richest, choicest fruit in our lives. But they are, indeed, the situations or incidents we’d most likely attempt to avoid (or choose differently) or reject. But God doesn’t choose differently, when He works a work or plans to work a work, He has very precise purposes for the things He allows to happen in our lives — even, and not surprisingly, our most foolish or careless decisions can be used to bear rich fruit for our good and His glory.

It’s a good thing we don’t choose the tools of our training or the methods of our sanctification — well, I’m thinking if we did/could/do attempt to choose them, our attempts would/do fail to accomplish His purposes. First, we’d reject the tools and then we’d reject the method — thinking and reasoning that our method and our tools would be ~~easier better~~ wiser. Our ways always seem at the time: mo bettah. A fool is wise in his own eyes…

Today I was thinking of the ways the Lord has taught me to love my children in the way He loves them. For it was easy to love them in the way I could love them. But along the way, He’s allowed situations to occur to teach me to love them in His way. He’s allowed situations to occur or come to pass that would mold me or are molding me into the woman He’s created me to be. The Lord has sought to use tools I wouldn’t have chosen — actually can’t choose to use. And yet, in His mercy and in His kindness He is working that I might be conformed to His image. He’s also lavished grace on me (and them!) that I continually can be used in their lives, that I can continually grow and adapt as the mother they need me to be — doing what HE would have rather than what I might choose or neglect to choose to do. And by His grace, He enables me to press on in faith that He who has begun a good work in me will complete it…

He seeks to conform us to love, to be forbearing, to be kind, to be patient, to be peaceful/peaceable, to be gentle, to be temperate and so on. All of these qualities are the fruit of the Spirit – and we all desire to have these characterize our lives -but they’re not the fruit of self, they’re the fruit of the Spirit and they’re not planted, cultivated or increased by the flesh — again, they’re of and by the Spirit of God.

So as I was seeking answers/fruit in some different areas, it seemed to hit me today like a ton of bricks… the answers I’m seeking — the fruit I’m desiring — is not [going to be] my doing! It’s God’s doing! It’s God’s work: in His timing, by His will in His way. And so as I was seeing the dawning of His work in some specific areas, I began to see this truth: God chooses the fruit and He chooses the tools He uses to bring it about. I want to be so yielded to Him that I will not resist the methods of His choosing and the tools He uses as He works His marvelous will in my life.

2013… Endeavors

teacuppamela

It’s a new year, a clean, fresh start… be done with lesser things, be a woman who seeks joy, peace and love — start today doing foundational things… and what are these, where can they be found, Who is the Source? The source is Jesus… Faith in the Living Lord Jesus and being found in Him… daily looking to Him; daily abiding in Him; daily watching at His gates and following in His Steps. All of these “Endeavor-To-Be’s” are nothing if not founded upon the Faith of Jesus and His Life in and through us — know this “in my head” and I seek to know it — truly know it practically: in my heart.

I pray as you read this that you’ll join me in this endeavor… that you’ll join me in seeking to press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ. We read this in Philippians 3.14 And for this calling, I seek to have my heart fixed: endeavoring to be, and do, these things in a renewed desire to be a living testimony of the Mercy and Grace of God… for He alone is Worthy. In the end, I know I want my life to be a living sacrifice. This has come to mind in recalling different women in my life whose lives were truly a living sacrifice of praise and because they were faithful women it was always evident that their lives were worthy of emulation. And so, when I think of these women — along with women whose life stories I’ve read — it’s as though God gave me living pictures to bring to remembrance.

And so, today as I was mentally gathering the different virtues that characterized them — I realized there are so many qualities I have long desired to see bear fruit in my life and in order for that to happen, it occurred to me that I must prayerfully set my life on the altar that I might die to self, die to past failures and regrets, unmet expectations, disappointments, bitterness, shame, envy — all of these things, for they stand in the way of the fruit of the Spirit. When I allow any of these things ‘place’ in my life, it’s as though I invite the devil in for tea… to do and say, act and control anything he wants… it’s as if I let him set up housekeeping in my life — and I know that I know that I know I don’t want this to be the case. And so, God being my strength and my guide, my help and my source… I lay my life down at His feet that He might raise me up to be a vessel He uses, a vessel that gives Him glory and honour. Thus, my resolve is to have a life well lived and fully yielded to Him…

I Endeavor to…

Be in the Word daily.
Be in prayer daily.
Be thankful for each day and for whatever each day brings.

I Endeavor to…

Be a woman of the Word.
Be a woman of Prayer.
Be a woman who Seeks the Lord.
Be a woman who Listens for His Voice.
Be a woman who Obeys His commands.
Be a woman who is Faithful.
Be a woman who Believes.
Be a woman who Trusts and is Trustworthy.
Be a woman who Loves her Husband.
Be a woman who Loves her Children.
Be a woman who is Wise.
Be a woman who is Discreet.
Be a woman who is Respectful and Respectable.
Be a woman who is Thankful.
Be a woman who is Godly.
Be a woman who is Content.
Be a woman who is Chaste.
Be a woman who is Discerning.
Be a woman who is Kind.
Be a woman who is Honest.
Be a woman who is Gentle.
Be a woman who is Charitable.
Be a woman who is Modest.
Be a woman who is Grateful.
Be a woman who is Hospitable.
Be a woman who is Generous.
Be a woman who is Prudent.
Be a woman who is Merciful.
Be a woman who is Industrious.
Be a woman who is Courteous.
Be a woman who is Careful.
Be a woman who is Thorough.
Be a woman who is Honourable.
Be a woman who is Just.
Be a woman who is Good.
Be a woman who is Considerate.
Be a woman who is Forbearing.
Be a woman who is Honest.
Be a woman who is Resourceful.
Be a woman who is Meek.
Be a woman who Waits.
Be a woman who Listens.
Be a woman who is Gracious.
Be a woman who is Healthful.
Be a woman who is Diligent.
Be a woman who has a Tender Heart.
Be a woman who is a Living Legacy.

I Endeavor to…

Be a woman of Hope.
Be a woman of Joy.
Be a woman of Peace.
Be a woman of Patience.
Be a woman of Kindness.
Be a woman of Gentleness.
Be a woman of Temperance.
Be a woman of Inner Beauty.
Be a woman of Purity.
Be a woman of Grace.

I Endeavor to…

Be a sweet woman… a woman who seeks to be a sweet, fragrant offering… a memory maker… a sweet, sweet, memory maker. I want to gracefully move through the seasons of my life… fully in season… fully engaged… everywhere I am, I want to BE there…all there.

Seize Opportunities

Seize the moment to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord. Our nation may have gone over the moral cliff and it seems that doors of opportunity to spread the gospel have been closed. Large numbers of individuals may have rejected God’s moral law, they may, in fact, reject you and the message of the gospel — but the doors are not closed. The darker the night, the brighter the light of one candle. Will you seize the moment and share the Light of the gospel to a dark and sin laden world? You have the life God has given you… how will you use your life today?
Only One Life
CT Studd

Two little lines I heard one day,Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Consider the opportunities you might have this Christmas season…

Live a Great Love Story

I hope you’ll take time to listen to the following video clips — a three part series, foundational to both marriage and Christianity… about a God who is passionate and full of life. And the Bible: the greatest love story ever written… God created marriage and He is passionate… Unless we have this life and this passion, we’re not an accurate reflection of our God who created these emotions and marriage and romance and love.

Sometimes we see Jesus as a great Saviour, but do we see Him as a great role model? Regarding your marriage… Francis Chan says, “…It’s not, ‘Are you happy?’ ” “When people watch you interact with your spouse, do they see Jesus Christ in you?”

Whoever claims to life in Him, must walk and live as Jesus did. Do we follow in His steps?

Watch Francis Chan and his wife, Lisa, as they minister in this three part series: Christ Centered Relationships

Things aren’t as ___ .

Hey… how’s your day going? Anybody ask you that yet today? What’s going on in the theater of your mind today? I hope you’ll be encouraged on many levels today.

I can’t pinpoint the thing that drew me to remembering this today — to humming this song (The “Sunscreen” song… a piece attributed to Baz Luhrman that he used by permission, originally written by Mary Schmich). If it’s too loud, turn down your speakers… the intent here is not to blare some rappy tune but I hope a few of these life-experience tidbits of advice might be of some encouragement to you. The thought that things aren’t always as they seem keeps running through my mind today.

Truly, the longer I live, the more I see blatantly, that things aren’t always as _____ as they seem. You know, the bleak, sad, hard, difficult, long, terrible, fat, earth-shattering… whatever things. It’s hard to remember this sometimes, though, isn’t it?!? It’s not until we look at the big picture or the bigger picture that we gain a bit of perspective. And, ultimately, it’s not until we look at God’s picture — His design — His character — His purposes — His promises — that we gain proper perspective. Regardless our circumstances. It only takes a moment of looking back, looking around or looking in the Word to see that our thoughts or perspectives or circumstances are not the only thing going on, not the worst thing happening — or, not the most important thing occurring. Everybody’s got stuff going on — everyone’s facing challenges or a lot of whatever. Everyone’s got questions, a bombardment of opinions, decisions, thoughts. Everyone’s dealing with something. And, to be sure, it’s not in a song, a philosophy, a regimen or in whatever or wherever else we might try to find peace and truth. It really is in the Person of Jesus Christ and in His life and the marvelous Truth of His Word we find all we need for life. But, in life, when we most need to seek answers, when we most need help we often least ask for, see or accept it.

It is always there…

2Timothy 3.16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:.
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Lies Women Believe

I’ve been working through a workbook to a book I read a number of years ago — Nancy Leigh DeMoss’s Lies Women Believe and now, the corresponding workbook. I’ll be writing more on this. So, I’ve been rereading some things I read years ago and marveled that I’m still dealing with several of the same struggles. Interestingly, it’s part of what’s gotten me to work on habits, thought patterns and more. I’d been wanting to work through/eliminate the struggles, but it’s always too daunting to revisit painful areas of life or, realizing how little progress I’ve made and the why’s behind the what’s happening now in some of my thoughts and reactions to things makes resolutions difficult. But one thing I’m continually reminded of is the great fact that when things aren’t going right or my thoughts and reactions aren’t right, they can usually be traced back to a lie I’ve believed or something I’ve not recognized as a lie — but a lie nonetheless: something contrary to what God says. Thus, when struggles come, there’s a decision that must be made at that juncture: Am I going to fall into the lie? Am I going to entertain the lie (about myself or about my situation or about someone else)? Or, am I going to ask: What does God say about this — what has God done about this — What is true here? Again, troubles and temptations we face can usually be traced back to a lie we’ve believed. And our next actions need to be based on Truth — or we’ll repeat the same sin spiral.

I viewed some of Nancy’s clips and then came across this one with Jennifer Rothschild and thought it might be helpful to someone today — now, some of this breaks down and there could be some argument as to some aspects of the points, so I encourage grace here so that the Truths can be understood and some freedom realized. I took notes and posted them below the clip for you:

Here’s a mini recap:
Lie #1: Who I am and what I struggle with is the same thing.
I am my weakness. My struggle identifies me – my weakness defines me. Your struggle is not what defines you, it’s what God can use to refine you. We are not the culmination of what we’ve failed at… who we are is a reflection of God’s strength in our weakness. Who you are is not what you struggle with. Who you are is who God says you are.

Lie #2: Who I am and What I do is the same thing.
You are not a human doing – you are a human being. Our identity is not what we do, it’s who He says we are. It’s a lie to base our identity upon what we do — we must base our identity on what God says; His Word never changes.

Lie #3: Who I am is not good enough.
When we live with a Performance driven mentality, rather than a Provision driven mentality, we’ll inevitably feel like what we do is not good enough, because we don’t always perform perfectly and we make the mistake of associating our performance with what makes us acceptable. And that’s not true. But when we live with a Provision driven mentality, we recognize that what God has performed on our behalf or what He’s provided is always acceptable.

So, here’s Jennifer’s advice, are you believing lies? check out your behaviour…. it reveals what you believe. Look in the New Testament — seek all the I AM statements about Jesus. See who He is. Make the connection: How does His life, His identity impact your life, impact your identity and how does that impact your belief system and therefore, your behaviour.

a gardener’s journal

May I suggest….

A gardener’s journal… or a summer log… a season’s log…

I’m making one of these so that I can keep a running log of what’s going on in the garden — and what’s *supposed* to be going on ~wink~ in the garden.

As an example… my entries are including what’s being picked now, what I need to do as far as clean-up, storage, etc., etc. I’m dividing a simple notebook into sections — a section for an overview of our yard/garden (what’s planted where) and a basic timeline for maintenance. In this way, I can see when something was planted, if it’s in an optimal place, when it was fertilized and when it will need to be done again.

It also alerts me to what needs to be pruned this autumn and what can wait for springtime — I think I’ll make a note of the results of prior year’s pruning — especially if we made significant changes or did more drastic cutting.

As I make a note of vine fruits or tree fruits and their initial ripening date or length of harvest, I can better plan for food preservation — as an example, I can note when we first pick the strawberries or raspberries, when the black berries were ready and when the Italian prunes will be ready. As I see the squirrels gathering and running off with the hazelnuts, I’ve made a note of the date and in this way, I can better plan for getting the buckets ready and the nuts picked up. Since this is not a new activity to me and I’ve never really taken the harvest all that seriously, I’ve always just watched for the squirrels — but now I’m thinking it’d be wise to be a better steward of these trees and so, having the log will help me to keep better track of harvest dates. Who knows? I just might start keeping track of just how many buckets of walnuts and hazelnuts we actually gather. Until now, the amount has been generally quantified: a bunch or a whole bunch. We’ve tended to figure them in terms of prior years — more than last year or not as many as last year. While that seems to have been sufficient, I’d still like to have a better idea so that I can measure how well the different pruning styles have affected or will affect the next season’s yield.

I think that one of the most important reasons I want to maintain this gardener’s journal is so that I will be more accountable or more responsible with the bounty I’ve been given. I read something some time ago… a mother talking with her daughter describing someone’s character and it went something like this: ” they’re the kind of people who let blackberries die on the vine.” Now that may not seem like all that big a deal — perhaps unimportant, really, but I read that with some measure of conviction bcz I’ve allowed blackberries and many, many other things to just die on the vine. I don’t want to be the kind of woman who lets fruit die on the vine. I don’t want to waste opportunities or waste what I’ve been given. Wasted seasons… the fruit of a season dying on the vine. God gave me a great blessing as I let that mother’s comment sink down in my ears… to my shame, I remember many seasons where fruit was left on the vine to fall to the ground. And, so… in light of this, in light of God’s great love, grace, mercy and kindness, I endeavour to, from this day, so far as it depends on me, to be careful with what He’s given me to tend.

Has God given me fruit, a harvest, a bounty… that I’ve let die on the vine? What can I learn and change? Have I been careful with what He’s allowed me to grow? Have I cultivated, pruned, watered, weeded and tended well to the garden the Lord has given me? What can I do today? How can I best plan for and invest in this and the coming season? I repent, I rejoice, I seek and find my answers in the Master Gardener’s Journal and I take another step today…

Be ♥ Ready

I’ve entitled today’s post: Be ♥ Ready because I think we often forget that that’s a calling we have — as believers, as mothers, as family to: be ready! The Lord has given us different mandates to be ready… to make ourselves ready.

Readiness will bring gladness and rejoicing! “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” –Revelation 19.7
And though, we may not know when that day will come, we do know that it will come. We are commanded: “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” –Luke 12.40

We have opportunity, while it is called today, to seek the Lord, to know Him and make Him known. We have opportunity to study, to learn, to yield, to obey, to repent and do what He’s designed and called us to do. And as we “work out our salvation” we will be growing in grace from glory to glory.

Do you have hope? Do you have joy? Do you have a ready answer?

Maybe you’ve thought long about this and do have hope and joy and a ready answer — praise the Lord if you do. But maybe you’re not sure of the hope in you… maybe you’ve not entertained this question literally or in your mind. Today would be a good day to sit down and write out the hope that’s in you. Maybe your walk with the Lord is young… maybe you’ve not experienced questions of others or haven’t ever articulated your faith. I’d say it’s very important to collect your thoughts, to write out your testimony, to make sure your faith, as it were.

In 1Peter 3.15 we read: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

Many think it’s hard to witness or articulate to others who Jesus is or what Jesus has done… but it’s really very simple… it’s as simple as giving an account of where you were and where you are today and where you’ll spend eternity. If we run out of things to share, the simplest thing to remember is to tell about Jesus. Learn to love to tell the story of what Jesus has done for you, His love and His atoning sacrifice. Some accounts are as simple as: whereas I was born blind, now I see.

A plane had engine trouble and crashed near our home over the weekend and while the pilot did sustain some injuries, they did not prevent him from communicating as he was being pulled from the wreckage.

He was so lucky, many were saying as they surveyed the damage. Many asked if we feared having our home in such a location and on and on the questions and statements flowed. At the time, and surely at the end of the day, all I could continually consider was the matter of being ready… ready to do whatever the Lord calls us to do and ready to meet Him face to Face. Surely, early that morning, that pilot did not think: Hmmm, today I’m going to have a brush with death. And we certainly didn’t think, Hmmmm, this morning, we’re going to watch a plane go down.

But every day, things come up, things happen that should be reminders to us to be ready… to be ready to enter our eternal home, be ready to serve another, be ready to give a witness of what the Lord has done for us. For even a portion of what the Lord has done for us could not be told.

Hebrews 9.27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

Be ready… be ready to run, be ready to answer, be ready to give, be ready to serve… be ready to proclaim. You never know what a day may bring… and were you to know that today would be your last, would you be ready to meet the Lord?

Savouring the Moments

The symphony of birds, buds and blossoms along with the soft greens seem to sing, Springtime’s here; another season’s underway! With the passing of time, the Lord is teaching me to savour the moments, to watch for the signs of the seasons. I can’t really recall if , or what, I’ve written much about the passage of a season that taught me this, but it was the slow dawning of the reality that the childbearing season was slipping away that first began to teach me to savour the moments.

I think I’ve told you how (early on) women–mothers–would tell me, “…it goes so fast: before you know it, they’ll be all grown up…” and to those comments I would nod in agreement… as if I understood. And, I suppose, to a small degree, I did. Actually, truth be told, I didn’t. Not really. And, further, I recognize that I still don’t really know the whole of it. But what I am realizing this: time really does seem to pass exponentially faster with each passing year.

On Saturday morning I received a text message on my cellphone. Three simple words. Tears filled my eyes as I read and reread those three little words. Those three little words were packed with such hope and elated joy. I pictured the smiling face of the one who sent me the text. I pictured the thrill that must’ve gone into the typing of the three little words. I closed my phone — savouring the moment and what the three little words would become. The text read: She said yes.

Several of us received the same text. We knew this by the flood of texts that followed. It’s just what happens in a big family, I guess.

As I savoured the moment, I was grinning with tear-filled eyes. Standing there, looking out the window above the kitchen sink, I was thinking about that son’s little boy self and how he ran and played out in the yard, roller skated down the lane, did ‘canon-balls’ in the pool, shot things with his airsoft gun and found things to light on fire in the back yard. As I lingered, I thought of the several years he’s loved this girl… I thought of the many times she’s stood right in the same place, washing dishes or having a cup of coffee or tea in the kitchen. I thought of her little girl self… her adorable little girl self. And then, her parents came to mind and suddenly it wasn’t just our boy and bright hopes for tomorrow — it was their daughter and all the memories of her little girl self and times gone by in her life and theirs… many savoured moments, I’m very sure.

Later, walking around our yard and then standing under the lacy green leaves hanging from the giant weeping willow tree, I looked up to see where the branch had broken off — the branch that had, until just recently, held the old tire-swing. I knew one day that that branch would break and the tire-swing would inevitably have to be put away or maybe even possibly would be hung on from different branch… I just never thought it would be this soon. I looked at the branch on the ground and the place where the rope had been nearly completely encircled by the bark of the branch where it had hung for so many decades — the process unnoticed, but further embedded with each passing season. In the theater of my mind, I saw some of the childhood faces of the many, many seasons of the tire swinging from that tree. Savoured moments. More so, now.

The interesting thing about savoured moments is that at the time the moments don’t seem all the glorious. I sometimes think that savoured moments become so — not because of their impact or influence at the time, but later. Silly things, embarrassing things, surprising things, simple things, everyday things. Later on… down the road a bit… that’s when moments become meaningful and it’s those meaningful moments we savour. Those simple, everyday, unremarkable (at the time) moments that somehow capture our hearts and become the stuff memories are made of — the moments we treasure — the moments we savour.

In the last couple of days I’ve had more time to reflect on those three little words… I’ve thought of the inevitable hardships, trials, heartaches ans sorrows they’ll necessarily face. I’ve thought of the memories they’ll make, the home they’ll make together — the joys and laughter they’ll experience and the hopes and dreams they’ll share; and I marveled at the thought of the surprising ways of God they’ll surely encounter as He writes their story. And so for all these things, I can only say, Praise the LORD and pray they’ll savour the moments that come with the passing seasons along the way.

It’s easy to forget some things.

It’s easy to forget some things — many things — really.

It’s especially easy to forget things in a moment of panic, in the tyranny of the urgent or after a long span of time. Or, in an obituary. Or at a memorial service.

I’m thinking you know what I mean. Attending numerous funerals and memorial services through the years has kept this thought pretty fresh in my mind. Time has a way of softening rough edges in some relationships — sharpening them in others — and has a way of distorting things when the accumulation of days, experiences and memories ceases.

It’s sometimes necessary to overlook things at that point. You find yourself reasoning in your head: Look, the guy’s dead — let it go already. Or, Okay, so he was a creep — he’s dead, pay your respects and move on.

You may find yourself glancing around the room of family and friends gathered to remember, gathered to grieve, gathered to console, gathered to laugh at the wonderful times, gathered to show support, gratitude or devotion. Whatever the case, it’s interesting: all that goes on at such a time as a memorial service — or in the writing/reading of an obituary. So much could be/must be/needs to be said. And, usually, so much is ~~forgotten~~ overlooked when recounting the story of a life. And, I suppose, in a sense, that’s how it should be — if tact or the preservation of personal dignity are the criteria for why what’s shared is (or isn’t) shared in the memorial and/or obituary.

Every now and then, however, the rest of the story is told. You’ve probably experienced this from time to time — when someone dies and there’s a painful side to the relationships the person was involved in — or other self inflicted woes and regrets. So, in those times, the honest and open, yet tactful, acknowledgement of basic realities brings healing to the ones closest to that individual. Sometimes, the brief recounting of some of the struggles helps those who are grieving to make some sense of the tragedies or helps to bring closure to disappointments or whatever. Somehow, being able to say: here’s how it went, here’s how it felt and now we go on, brings the beginning of healing — a turning point, perhaps, so that what was can be acknowledged and what can be can begin.

Interestingly, this past springtime has brought many deaths — many opportunities to reflect on lives and the accomplishments, beliefs, decisions, etc., etc., of each of those individuals. The words preached, the sprinkling of laughter and tears, the memories shared at the different memorial services still play back in the theater of my thoughts — it seems almost daily, the poignant memories, testimonies, etc., continue in the forefront of my mind. I think that must be why the Scriptures tell us that is it is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of mirth or feasting — for it seems to me that much instruction is found in the house of mourning.

Over the last couple of days you’ve no doubt been hearing, as I have, the many different accounts and tributes to the life of Chuck Colson, I read a very thoughtful and insightful article by Tim Challies. Brave one, he. I’m linking to it — bcz he’s succinctly detailed some errors while remaining respectful. O, sisters, there’s much we must learn — and, in this case, much we must discern from a life of significant influence, but also, a life that added a dimension of conflict and compromise regarding Biblical truths and, what I call, pragmatic faith: Faith that goes along to get along… and, yes, you guessed it: that’s not really true faith at all. We’re seeing it (probably experiencing it) all over! We don’t want to offend our neighbours, our family and friends. We don’t want to come across as holier than Thou, we don’t want to be embarrassed or cause trouble. But! O, sisters, we must realize that hell is filled with un-offended neighbours, family and friends. May we have courage to speak the Truth. In love. With tact.

More than ever, we must be circumspect regarding what’s being taught as Truth and may the Lord help us be witnesses of His Truth.

Edit:
I know I took a real risk sharing as I did and commenting as I did regarding a couple of the errors in a life so influential and powerful. I want to reiterate something that I think might’ve been lost and that is that he did do marvelous things and his contribution is significant and I don’t doubt his sincerity/faith/salvation/etc., etc. for one moment. I only want to emphasize the tremendous impact of a life and how imperative it is to NOT compromise or live pragmatically/compromising regarding Biblical Truths. When “religious” beliefs are in conflict with the Bible, we mustn’t err on the side of compromise, we must adhere to the Truths of the Word — and this will often NOT be popular and others will be offended.