Another one of those basic things about the Christian life is how to put things right. If we do not know how to seek forgiveness from one another, we can get ourselves into unnecessary tangles. And the devil loves to fish in troubled water, so if you are not putting things right regularly with one another, more troubles are guaranteed to come.
When my husband and I were first married, we were surprised to find out that we occasionally bumped into one another. We called them bumps, but you may call them offenses or collisions, or whatever. No matter what you call them, they create a break in the fellowship. We had not had a single bump during our engagement, so it was a new experience. We learned that it was essential that we get back into fellowship as soon as possible, so we established a few household rules for ourselves. After applying these rules diligently, we found that eventually they came to be second-nature for us. Here they are.
First we agreed that if we had a bump, we would put it right as soon as possible. For example, if we had collided over the checkbook, we agreed that we could get back into Continue reading ‘Pick it Up’
Some of our troubles as women come when we are blind-sided by the unexpected, particularly when we have a very clear set of expectations in our heads.
For example, let’s say Mom has gone off for the day, and before leaving she gave everyone very clear instructions about what was supposed to happen while she was out. When she is on her way home, she is envisoning that all has been done according to her specifications (the table set and the crockpot ready with dinner). But, let’s just imagine that there has been a ball drop. Instead of walking through the door into her dream world, she is greeted with a disaster: the house is bombed, the kids didn’t get their chores done, the crockpot was accidentally unplugged, and the dog got in the house with muddy paws. To put it mildly, it is not Mom’s shining moment. If she is not careful, she will react before she has even heard the kids’ side of the story.
Now, what if on the way home she had been praying preventively, something like this: Lord, whatever shape I find things in, let me be gracious and act wisely. Prepare my heart. Let me handle whatever I find like a Christian woman. Praying this way helps her Continue reading ‘Preventive Prayer’
So I don’t know about you, but I have quite a bit of mop-up to do after our Easter celebrations yesterday. We had such a great time! We ended up with twenty children and sixteen adults, so we spread out in the family room at several tables rather than at one big one. Everyone brought parts of the meal, so of course there was way too much food (which I think is the whole idea anyway). The wind-up toy race was a good way to finish the festivities, and I don’t think I want to see another jelly bean for at least a week.
But two things struck me about it. One is a verse my husband pointed out at the end of 1 Corinthians 15 (the great resurrection chapter): Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. He pointed out that cleaning up stacks of dishes is one of those abounding works, one of those labors that is not in vain. And I’m grateful I have a kitchen abounding with good work for me to do!
But secondly, when the disciples heard and really believed that Christ was risen, the celebration didn’t end the next morning. We live in the light of the risen Christ. The good news continues to be good news from one morning to the next. So, even though I’m mopping up from the feasting, the rejoicing extends from one Sunday to the next, all year long.
So many blessings on you all as you abound in the good work of mopping up.
He is risen indeed! A very blessed Easter feast to you all!
We had a joint Good Friday service tonight with Trinity Reformed Church, and my husband preached a very good word which you can read here if you missed it.
Have you ever wondered why Good Friday is called good since it commemorates the day that unspeakable wickedness was done? But it is also the day of the greatest act of love. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Why is Good Friday good? Because God show-cased before the eyes of the whole world and for all time His great love for us. For whom? For us, His own people. Christ did not die hoping to save us. No, He secured the salvation of His people finally, conclusively, forever.
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Cor. 2:7-8)
The bad guys did not know that Christ’s crucifixion was their last breath. What they did for their own evil ends, God overruled for His own glory and our good.
Good Friday is good indeed.
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him. (1 Cor. 2:9)
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