The Sorrow and Joy of the Seasoned Soul
Posted: 25 Mar 2009 03:09 AM PDT
(Author: John Piper)
It is not a sign of a seasoned Christian soul that steady joy is untinged with steady sorrow.
Or to put it positively, the seasoned soul in Christ has a steady joy and a steady sorrow.
They protect each other. Joy is protected from being flippant by steady sorrow. Sorrow is protected from being fatal by steady joy.
And they intensify each other. Joy is made deeper by steady sorrow. Sorrow is made sweeter by steady joy.
For the seasoned Christian soul, I do not see how it can be otherwise while people are perishing and we are saved. I do not see how it can be otherwise while these two passages are written by the same inspired man:
I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. (Romans 9:2-3)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Davester...
This is the Davester. He is fun, energetic, a fighter, a singer, and a great communicator. This is his story of his experience at church today. It went down something like this:
"So, David, how was church for you today?"
"I had the worst Sunday School experience today of my life!"
"Really? What happened?"
"Well, it all started when they lined us up and had us number off and then put us all at tables according to our numbers. I had to sit at a table with all girls! All my friends got to sit together. It got worse when they told us to come up with a name for our table. The teacher called on a girl sitting by me and she named our team the "Kitty Cats"! My friends? They named their team the "Packers!". I was laughing and kind of sad all at the same time and my eyes welled up with tears! Every time our team got a point I'd say....yessss..the Kitty Cats are fighting back!"
"Then..Mom...you're not going to believe what happens next. We always write down prayer requests on a piece of paper and at the end of class, the teacher hands one to everyone. We're supposed to pray for one another. Guess which one I got! The girl who named our team! Here's what it says:
Please pray for my cat she is getting old. She is 81. Her name is Jenny but I call her Kitty. I love her alot!!! And..that's not all. there's a picture of a cat on top of the page. Now I know why she named our team that!"
"So David...what do you think God is trying to teach you in all of this?"
Fourteen year old brother pipes up, "Be patient with women."
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Helpful...
In light of Caleb S.'s homegoing and this week marking the year anniversary of my dad's..this blog entry by Piper brought me hope today to my tired, sad heart.
2 Stages of God’s Care for Us: Fettered and Freed
March 11, 2009 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary
In this age, God rescues his people from some harm. Not all harm. That’s comforting to know, because otherwise we might conclude from our harm that he has forgotten us or rejected us.
So be encouraged by the simple reminder that in Acts 16:19-24 Paul and Silas were not delivered, but in verses 25-26 they were.
First, no deliverance:
“They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace.” (v. 19)
“The magistrates tore the garments off them.” (v. 22)
They “inflicted many blows upon them.” (v. 23)
The jailer “fastened their feet in the stocks.” (v. 24)
But then deliverance:
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God...and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. (v. 25-26)
God could have stepped in sooner. He didn’t. He has his reasons. He loves Paul and Silas.
Question for you: If you plot your life along this continuum, where are you? Are you in the stripped and beaten stage, or the unshackled, door-flung-open stage?
Both are God’s stages of care for you.
If you are in the fettered stage, don’t despair. Sing. Freedom is on the way. It is only a matter of time. Even if it comes through death.
2 Stages of God’s Care for Us: Fettered and Freed
March 11, 2009 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary
In this age, God rescues his people from some harm. Not all harm. That’s comforting to know, because otherwise we might conclude from our harm that he has forgotten us or rejected us.
So be encouraged by the simple reminder that in Acts 16:19-24 Paul and Silas were not delivered, but in verses 25-26 they were.
First, no deliverance:
“They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace.” (v. 19)
“The magistrates tore the garments off them.” (v. 22)
They “inflicted many blows upon them.” (v. 23)
The jailer “fastened their feet in the stocks.” (v. 24)
But then deliverance:
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God...and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. (v. 25-26)
God could have stepped in sooner. He didn’t. He has his reasons. He loves Paul and Silas.
Question for you: If you plot your life along this continuum, where are you? Are you in the stripped and beaten stage, or the unshackled, door-flung-open stage?
Both are God’s stages of care for you.
If you are in the fettered stage, don’t despair. Sing. Freedom is on the way. It is only a matter of time. Even if it comes through death.
Monday, March 9, 2009
March 9th
This day marks the birth of our daughter. Five years ago, a mother gave us the ultimate sacrifice and gave us her baby girl to raise and to love as our own. Five years ago, God wove this precious baby, into our hearts and lives.
Two years ago today, it was then that our baby girl covered her ears and screamed as we sang, "Happy Birthday" to her. Deep inside my mommy heart, I knew something was desperately wrong. This begun another journey into autism.
Last year, on this date, my dad wore an oxygen mask because he had influenza and could not get enough air. It was this day that marked the beginning of the most difficult week in my entire life as Dad continued to decline, was put on a respirator and we made that terrible decision that it was "time" to take him off. I don't wish this on anyone.
And yet..somewhere there is a family of a boy named, "Caleb" who are faced with this terrible decision as their son had an accident snowboarding. I cannot imagine having to face this with your own child. This day marks a huge moment in their lives as well.
So..it is this that brings me hope today. The whole chapter of Psalms 103. But this verse specifically....
"as a Father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it and it is gone, and its place knows it no more....But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children."
Two years ago today, it was then that our baby girl covered her ears and screamed as we sang, "Happy Birthday" to her. Deep inside my mommy heart, I knew something was desperately wrong. This begun another journey into autism.
Last year, on this date, my dad wore an oxygen mask because he had influenza and could not get enough air. It was this day that marked the beginning of the most difficult week in my entire life as Dad continued to decline, was put on a respirator and we made that terrible decision that it was "time" to take him off. I don't wish this on anyone.
And yet..somewhere there is a family of a boy named, "Caleb" who are faced with this terrible decision as their son had an accident snowboarding. I cannot imagine having to face this with your own child. This day marks a huge moment in their lives as well.
So..it is this that brings me hope today. The whole chapter of Psalms 103. But this verse specifically....
"as a Father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it and it is gone, and its place knows it no more....But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children."
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
How to change the world....
Caleb is home sick. We just finished watching the inspirational movie, "Rudy". When it was over, we were talking about what we were going to do to change the world. The conversation went something like this:
"So Mom, what are you going to do to change the world?"
"I'm going just focus on my little corner of the world because that's all I've got. I'm going to keep working with those little girls that are so much work. It's the hand I was dealt and I'm not going to give up. Even if I feel like I was dealt too many cards."
Caleb's quick response.....
"Better use two hands."
"So Mom, what are you going to do to change the world?"
"I'm going just focus on my little corner of the world because that's all I've got. I'm going to keep working with those little girls that are so much work. It's the hand I was dealt and I'm not going to give up. Even if I feel like I was dealt too many cards."
Caleb's quick response.....
"Better use two hands."
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