This from Mike Sr.:
Everytime I read from the pages of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography I am overtaken by a certain sense of sadness. Perhaps I have fallen under the spell of that great man's well crafted image as a man of kindly reason and general good will. He was, after all, the consummate self-made man. Perhaps the chief product of such labors was this rustic reasonable public persona that quietly smiles upon us from the historic portraits now hung in our nation's hallowed halls. I wouldn't be the first to so succomb to this affable image of bonhomme. Norman Cousins, one of America's greatest men of letters, described Franklin thus: He was rounded in interests without being polished; aristocratic in intellect without being undemocratic in thought; daring in ideas without being impractical in their execution; perennially youthful in outlook but consistently mature in approach. The Republic of Reason , New York: Harper & Row, 1958, p. 16
Why such sadness then? Primarily it is because the great man came so close to the gospel. At least so he would have us believe. Yet he remained to his dying day uncommitted to its message. A few weeks before his death at 84 in 1790, Franklin replied to a letter addressed to him by the President of Yale University, Ezra Stiles. Evidently Stiles had inquired as to Franklin's faith. Franklin wrote: "As to Jesus of Nazareth I have... some doubts as to his divinity though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble."
This is heartbreaking. The Christian knows too well the trouble that awaits an indifferent soul in eternity. Another sad note in Franklin's account of his life was sounded in the familiar comments on his friendship with the great evangelist, George Whitefield. They were good friends. Franklin said that he did not doubt Whitefield, who died 20 years before Franklin, prayed for his soul every day of his life. "But," Franklin observed, "to no avail." Perhaps the saddest aspect of Benjamin Franklin's failure to believe lies in these many connections with evangelical Christians. Charles Hodge, the noted Princeton theologian, married Franklin's great-great granddaughter and the features of Franklin can be seen almost eerily in the photos of their son, Archibald. The American poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, only a generation removed from Franklin, wrote: "for all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: it might have been." I suppose this sums up my melancholy over Benjamin Franklin. What might have been? Franklin's strongest ties to Christianity lay in his family's heritage of faith. From the pages of his autobiography we read: "This obscure family of ours was early in the Reformation, and continued Protestants through the reign of Mary, when they were sometimes in danger of trouble on account of their zeal against popery. They had got an English Bible, and to conceal and secure it, it was fastened upon with tapes under and within the cover of a joint-stool. When my great-great grandfather read it to his family, he turned up the joint-stool upon his knees, turning over the leaves then under the tapes. One of the children stood at the door to give notice if he saw the apparitor who was an officer of the spiritual court. In that cast the stool was turned down again upon its feet, when the Bible remained concealed under it as before."
What happened to Franklin's faith? I can only hazard a guess that comes from the counsel of God's Word. "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing the Word of Christ." (Romans 10:17) Somewhere along the roadside of his long and illustrious life the Evil One snatched away the Word of God from the mind of Benjamin Franklin. Once taken it could not be restored. And as great a mind as Franklin's remained unrepentant and unbelieving to the very end. How sad! How frightening! No wonder we are commanded over and over again to guard, protect, and regularly attend to the Word of God. To cite an old proverb that I found written on the fly leaf of my first Bible: "This book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book." A final footnote. Perhaps my maudlin sentiment is overly indulgent and too romantic. My sadness over Franklin's admissions is greater than any he ever expressed. After all, I can no more know the heart of Benjamin Franklin than I could any man's heart other than my own. I must ask myself, then, what is the reason for my remorse? Perhaps the truth is found in the words of Gerard Manly Hopkins. Hopkins wrote of seeing a young girl weep over the falling leaves of autumn. He asked "Margaret why are you weeping?" and concluded the young girls tears were common to us all. "It was," he said, "the blight man was born for. It is Margaret that you mourn for." My sorrow, I suppose, is less for Benjamin Franklin's loss of faith and more for the threat to myself and all my loved ones, if we do not attend daily to the hearing of the Word of God. It is as though God were saying "if this can happen to the greatest of men, what chance have you apart from my grace?" May God, the only sovereign creator and sustainer of life, keep me and my beloved ones ever and always in that place where he can bless us. May he keep us in his word.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Women Learning Together
We have been blessed in the Wise Woman study this summer to have a number of young, unmarried women with us. One of them said: "I wasn't sure this was the study for me - what does this teaching on women building their homes have to do with a grad student (college student, single working woman) living in an apartment by herself or with a room-mate?
The reality is that all of us in the body of Christ are in the business of building God's household: the kingdom of God is among us, God's kingly rule presides over the household of the universal church, all believers of all times; the household of the local church, in our case Four Oaks; the household of the family unit; and the household of the individual believer. We have responsibilities within each of these spheres as we order our lives under our King. The apostle Paul's letter to Pastor Titus teaches us about this order and the particular order the women bring as pillars, strong beautiful pillars supporting and building the household.
We're learning the importance of the woman as priest within this household. The elder women have the responsibility for teaching and training the younger women to think and behave wisely based on the good things of God. The younger women have the responsibility for being willing to learn from women they know well with all their flaws and shortcomings - but who are desiring to obey this command from the Father of every household on earth and in heaven.
We've learned that we are in school together whatever our situation in life. We are encouraged to know the "grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live sober, upright and godly lives in this world awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds."
One of our single women with no children yet of her own, Lauren Curtis, shared the following:
Last week, one of my kids, we'll call her Kate for the sake of HIPPA laws, revealed to me a very tangible perspective on our need for Christ and the beauty of the Gospel. Kate is 3 years old and suffers from various health issues; she is legally blind as well as unable to walk or crawl, barely able to sit up on her own. One aftenoon last week, Kate was laying belly down, playing on the rug, completely content playing with some toys. A few minutes later, we turned around to see that Kate had had what we call a "blow out" and was completely covered in poop. Not only was she covered in her own poop, but she was playing in it face first. It was everywhere....and it was disgusting. I left the room disgusted at the thought, but later was very much blessed by this experience. This is a child that I pray for the Lord to help me love, she is very difficult in more ways than one. As I was praying about her the next morning, the Lord reminded me of Dueteronomy 32:10 which says "He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye." As I read this, I was first so convicted that I have not loved this little girl with the love that has been shown to me. Honestly, I looked at her in her poop and was just frustrated and comletely grossed out. Then I was so amazed at the truth that I, just like her, once played in poop, enjoying it for the satisfaction that I thought it would bring. I played in my own mess, completely blinded to the fact that it was poop and nothing about it was good. And in that mess, completely covered, head to toe, my Father found me, encircled me, cared for me and has kept me as the apple of his eye. He has loved me from before day one. Day in and day out, I am among the children of the world who are deemed unlovely and unworthy. Like Christ, people look at them and do not see beauty that makes them desirable. They have been rejected by men and are acquainted with daily sorrow and grief. But day in and day out, I see Christ in them. I look at them and am reminded that I am just like them. Though I see, though I walk, though I am not as smelly or dirty, I am no different. I need Christ just as much as they do. Isaiah 53:6 says "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Abba Father, please give us eyes to see the beauty, love, and grace of the Gospel in the most mundane and routine moments of our day; changing diapers, feeding families, taking out the trash, putting children to sleep. Please help us to take time to sit with You, speak with You and enjoy You. Jesus, thank you for seeing us for who we are, the muck and all, and loving us in that - teach and help us love others with that same love. Thank you for the ways in which You teach us of Yourself - help us not be so busy that we miss it. Still our crazy minds and hearts, Lord. Give us hearts that desire You first and foremost. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days (Psalm 90:14).
The reality is that all of us in the body of Christ are in the business of building God's household: the kingdom of God is among us, God's kingly rule presides over the household of the universal church, all believers of all times; the household of the local church, in our case Four Oaks; the household of the family unit; and the household of the individual believer. We have responsibilities within each of these spheres as we order our lives under our King. The apostle Paul's letter to Pastor Titus teaches us about this order and the particular order the women bring as pillars, strong beautiful pillars supporting and building the household.
We're learning the importance of the woman as priest within this household. The elder women have the responsibility for teaching and training the younger women to think and behave wisely based on the good things of God. The younger women have the responsibility for being willing to learn from women they know well with all their flaws and shortcomings - but who are desiring to obey this command from the Father of every household on earth and in heaven.
We've learned that we are in school together whatever our situation in life. We are encouraged to know the "grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live sober, upright and godly lives in this world awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds."
One of our single women with no children yet of her own, Lauren Curtis, shared the following:
Last week, one of my kids, we'll call her Kate for the sake of HIPPA laws, revealed to me a very tangible perspective on our need for Christ and the beauty of the Gospel. Kate is 3 years old and suffers from various health issues; she is legally blind as well as unable to walk or crawl, barely able to sit up on her own. One aftenoon last week, Kate was laying belly down, playing on the rug, completely content playing with some toys. A few minutes later, we turned around to see that Kate had had what we call a "blow out" and was completely covered in poop. Not only was she covered in her own poop, but she was playing in it face first. It was everywhere....and it was disgusting. I left the room disgusted at the thought, but later was very much blessed by this experience. This is a child that I pray for the Lord to help me love, she is very difficult in more ways than one. As I was praying about her the next morning, the Lord reminded me of Dueteronomy 32:10 which says "He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye." As I read this, I was first so convicted that I have not loved this little girl with the love that has been shown to me. Honestly, I looked at her in her poop and was just frustrated and comletely grossed out. Then I was so amazed at the truth that I, just like her, once played in poop, enjoying it for the satisfaction that I thought it would bring. I played in my own mess, completely blinded to the fact that it was poop and nothing about it was good. And in that mess, completely covered, head to toe, my Father found me, encircled me, cared for me and has kept me as the apple of his eye. He has loved me from before day one. Day in and day out, I am among the children of the world who are deemed unlovely and unworthy. Like Christ, people look at them and do not see beauty that makes them desirable. They have been rejected by men and are acquainted with daily sorrow and grief. But day in and day out, I see Christ in them. I look at them and am reminded that I am just like them. Though I see, though I walk, though I am not as smelly or dirty, I am no different. I need Christ just as much as they do. Isaiah 53:6 says "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Abba Father, please give us eyes to see the beauty, love, and grace of the Gospel in the most mundane and routine moments of our day; changing diapers, feeding families, taking out the trash, putting children to sleep. Please help us to take time to sit with You, speak with You and enjoy You. Jesus, thank you for seeing us for who we are, the muck and all, and loving us in that - teach and help us love others with that same love. Thank you for the ways in which You teach us of Yourself - help us not be so busy that we miss it. Still our crazy minds and hearts, Lord. Give us hearts that desire You first and foremost. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days (Psalm 90:14).
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Workers of the Home
This is from Ashley Baker's study:
The priestess guards her household through fear of the Lord and fruit of her hands. She tends hard to the things she has been given by the good works of her hands. She loves her husband and children, so that she may be praised and blessed. She teaches and encourages young women to do the same. She is focused on the coming age and not enslaved to the ways of this world. She is a keeper and protector of her household. Kindness is on her lips and wisdom in her good teachings. She represents strength and submission, sensibility and provision, and purity in words and action. Not entrenched in the malicious gossip of others. Her heart is fixed on her household so that the Kingdom of God may be furthered and those around her may be blessed by the fruit of her good works. She represents who we are to be, made perfectly in the image of God, glorifying him in every way. She shows others who she is in the eye of her Lord and Savior, far more precious than jewels.
The priestess guards her household through fear of the Lord and fruit of her hands. She tends hard to the things she has been given by the good works of her hands. She loves her husband and children, so that she may be praised and blessed. She teaches and encourages young women to do the same. She is focused on the coming age and not enslaved to the ways of this world. She is a keeper and protector of her household. Kindness is on her lips and wisdom in her good teachings. She represents strength and submission, sensibility and provision, and purity in words and action. Not entrenched in the malicious gossip of others. Her heart is fixed on her household so that the Kingdom of God may be furthered and those around her may be blessed by the fruit of her good works. She represents who we are to be, made perfectly in the image of God, glorifying him in every way. She shows others who she is in the eye of her Lord and Savior, far more precious than jewels.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Workers of the Home
We're working through "The Wise Woman Builds Her House" again this summer. What a joy to study with these women of Four Oaks. As we study Paul's very deliberate commands to the women in the local church in Titus 2:3-5, we've zeroed in on the call for the older women (whose behavior is that of a priest in the home) to train the women in good sound doctrine and sound biblical thinking. The women are to be "workers of the home". The women were asked to carefully compare Proverbs 31 with Titus 2:3-5 and write a paragraph or two describing this "priestess in God's house", using both passages (Proverbs and Titus), as well as the things learned during the study that have shaped our thinking about our calling to the home.
As usual, the responses were terrific. I asked the women to email their paragraphs to me so I could post them here.
Tamzen Baker sent the first offering:
"The “worker” is deliberate, purposeful and mindful in her undertaking. She does not simply make sure things get done, family is fed, children are to bed. She is gracious in the way she acts, kindness and grace flow from her. She is thoughtful in her actions. She does well in the deeds, but is not too concerned with the outcome to not consider and serve the greater things (like Martha and Mary.) She does not trivialize her work, her family, her standing. It is her faithful action with an air of grace and dignity that forms her character and her reputation. These things reflect on her husband who is honored because of her, and they bless her household, causing her children to rise up and bless her. She is not a woman of extremes or run by fears, she guards, she protects, she is steady, she is sensible. She honors the word of God in her moral deeds as well as her diligent deeds. I don’t believe the woman of God, the worker at home, the proverbs 31 woman is a perfectionist causing stress and strife over things not done as well as the next magazine mom, but she does well to the ways of her household, she makes things special, she cares for the bodies and souls of those who are entrusted to her and trusts the One who has given her part in that stewardship."
I'll post more as I receive them!
As usual, the responses were terrific. I asked the women to email their paragraphs to me so I could post them here.
Tamzen Baker sent the first offering:
"The “worker” is deliberate, purposeful and mindful in her undertaking. She does not simply make sure things get done, family is fed, children are to bed. She is gracious in the way she acts, kindness and grace flow from her. She is thoughtful in her actions. She does well in the deeds, but is not too concerned with the outcome to not consider and serve the greater things (like Martha and Mary.) She does not trivialize her work, her family, her standing. It is her faithful action with an air of grace and dignity that forms her character and her reputation. These things reflect on her husband who is honored because of her, and they bless her household, causing her children to rise up and bless her. She is not a woman of extremes or run by fears, she guards, she protects, she is steady, she is sensible. She honors the word of God in her moral deeds as well as her diligent deeds. I don’t believe the woman of God, the worker at home, the proverbs 31 woman is a perfectionist causing stress and strife over things not done as well as the next magazine mom, but she does well to the ways of her household, she makes things special, she cares for the bodies and souls of those who are entrusted to her and trusts the One who has given her part in that stewardship."
I'll post more as I receive them!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Songs from Study of Mary's Song
Here are some songs of praise from women studying Luke 1 this fall:
From Ashley Baker:
My heart believes in your true word
My Savior, My best friend
Thank you Father for salvation,
For my soul would be lost
Your grace has poured into my life
Like a stream of refreshing water on my face
Your love seeps into my veins,
Overpowering me with your faithfulness
The promises of life I wait for patiently and confidently
As the true word of your gospel spills off my lips
May your light of salvation shine into the hearts of the lost
And your promises be fufilled
As I place my hope in you alone.
from Kim Hughes:
My soul has declared in the past, and will keep on declaring, that the You are great, Lord.
My spirit has rejoiced in times past, and will keep on choosing to rejoice in You, Jesus, my Savior and God.
Please grace me to do so, I pray.
I am Your bondslave. You can do what You so choose with me for Your purposes. Somehow You have chosen to look at me and care for me and my life. I am blessed and my children are blessed too. Salvation had been granted our household and I pray that one day Reagan will walk in the blessing of salvation herself and her children’s children will also reverence You.
Many are the awesome things You have done for me. You are stronger than sin, and You have conquered death. Though life is a daily struggle and pain wants to win over my disposition and view, thus far You have brought me.
May mine be a heart that is humble in its thoughts, what a battle that is, Lord. Please help me.
It is You that has provided all that I have ever had, all I need now, and all that I will ever need. Especially in the circumstances in which I find myself now, You will provide. You are my Source.
Father, You told Eve in the garden that the Savior would come. You told Abraham the same, and now, daily, You are reminding me, that Jesus has come - and I am Yours and You are mine.
Thank You for the times I have stood before the 130 children You bring to me each day to sow the seeds of salvation, and allowed me to see the generations that will stand and bless Your name that will come one day from them. Holy is Your name.
from Noelani Ferguson:
My heart is glad with my Lord and Savior.
He has rescued my soul from the depths of murky sin and restored it with his grace.
Oh Heavenly Father, I bless your name, the name above all names.
You have never left your people, you are steadfast and faithful.
Great is the God of Israel who was and is and is to come, who knows all and sees all.
In His greatness he still gives us comfort in our doubt and weakness.
Merciful God, may I know you more and more to bless you everyday of the life you have given me.
From Ashley Baker:
My heart believes in your true word
My Savior, My best friend
Thank you Father for salvation,
For my soul would be lost
Your grace has poured into my life
Like a stream of refreshing water on my face
Your love seeps into my veins,
Overpowering me with your faithfulness
The promises of life I wait for patiently and confidently
As the true word of your gospel spills off my lips
May your light of salvation shine into the hearts of the lost
And your promises be fufilled
As I place my hope in you alone.
from Kim Hughes:
My soul has declared in the past, and will keep on declaring, that the You are great, Lord.
My spirit has rejoiced in times past, and will keep on choosing to rejoice in You, Jesus, my Savior and God.
Please grace me to do so, I pray.
I am Your bondslave. You can do what You so choose with me for Your purposes. Somehow You have chosen to look at me and care for me and my life. I am blessed and my children are blessed too. Salvation had been granted our household and I pray that one day Reagan will walk in the blessing of salvation herself and her children’s children will also reverence You.
Many are the awesome things You have done for me. You are stronger than sin, and You have conquered death. Though life is a daily struggle and pain wants to win over my disposition and view, thus far You have brought me.
May mine be a heart that is humble in its thoughts, what a battle that is, Lord. Please help me.
It is You that has provided all that I have ever had, all I need now, and all that I will ever need. Especially in the circumstances in which I find myself now, You will provide. You are my Source.
Father, You told Eve in the garden that the Savior would come. You told Abraham the same, and now, daily, You are reminding me, that Jesus has come - and I am Yours and You are mine.
Thank You for the times I have stood before the 130 children You bring to me each day to sow the seeds of salvation, and allowed me to see the generations that will stand and bless Your name that will come one day from them. Holy is Your name.
from Noelani Ferguson:
My heart is glad with my Lord and Savior.
He has rescued my soul from the depths of murky sin and restored it with his grace.
Oh Heavenly Father, I bless your name, the name above all names.
You have never left your people, you are steadfast and faithful.
Great is the God of Israel who was and is and is to come, who knows all and sees all.
In His greatness he still gives us comfort in our doubt and weakness.
Merciful God, may I know you more and more to bless you everyday of the life you have given me.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
A Quiet Time
When I was a new believer 44 years ago those who discipled me in the Lord Jesus urged me to have what they called a "quiet time" with the Lord every day. I will always be grateful to these wonderful saints many of whom were in their eighties then and still vigorous in their love for the Lord. I'm so thankful for those who insisted that time by myself with the Lord every day should be a priority in my new life in the Lord. I remember reading a little pamphlet which listed all of the places in the Bible encouraging this for the morning and since I am a morning person, I began to get up early to spend time with the Lord. Since I had no idea how this sort of thing should go, it was helpful to see how other Christians ordered their time with the Lord. So – I will tell you what I have tried to do over the years in the hope that it will be helpful to you.
1. Read the Word. It was suggested to me that if I read 4 chapters a day I would read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice in a year so I began to do this and have continued it all these years. At first I simply read 4 chapters in a row – starting with Genesis 1-4 - a good place to begin. I began to keep a notebook handy to jot down something from each chapter as read. No long drawn out notes, just something that stood out. This keeps your mind from drifting off into neverland while you're reading Leviticus and the way to take care of a running sore. The second read through or so, I decided to read chapters from different sections of the Bible. For example, on January 1st (assuming I had kept to the schedule the previous year and read Revelation 22 on December 31st which I don't think has ever happened), I would read one chapter from the books of Moses, starting with Genesis 1, with intention to continue through the history of Israel ending with Nehemiah. I would then read one chapter from the poetic books starting with Job 1 and continuing through Song of Solomon. Next would be a chapter from the prophets starting with Isaiah 1 and reading through to Malachi. I would then read a chapter from the New Testament starting with Matthew 1. If I have time I add a 5th chapter and divide the New Testament reading the gospels and Acts and then a chapter from the letters. The wonderful payback of this is that I began to see themes through these disparate chapters as I read and jotted down a quick note from each. Several years ago someone put out a chronological bible and reading now and then has been helpful in seeing the sweep of God's plan in history. I still have trouble remembering which prophet went with which king but I'm working on it. Use a bible which doesn't leave out portions of Scripture because it may be repeated in another place – you don't want to rely on that sort of editing. Christy Neal is reading NIV's The One Year Chronological Bible and says it is laid out across the page in a way she finds easy to read. Gretchen Fleming has been an encouragement to all of us to read chronologically together and Jo An Smidley organizes a time to discuss together so watch the bulletin for this.
I don't like notes and commentary in my bible – it distracts me from the word. Remember if there is commentary you have to make sure it is accurate and not distortion of the word. This can be difficult if you are new to the word as well as distracting and time consuming. Make sure you are reading an actual translation of the Bible not a paraphrase.
Don't check your brain at the door when you read. The word will become its own commentary as you read. Don't forget that as you read you have the Holy Spirit looking over your shoulder (or are you looking over His?) He will guide you into all truth. Spurgeon writes, "The mind wearies of one thing and we have therefore studied variety…" This year we are reading through the King James again and the beauty of the language ministers to me so much.
2. Pray the Word. As I read the word, I find my spirit wanting to pray according to the word. I've found it helpful to write these prayer notes in the margin of my notebook and then take the time to pray through them for my family and for the needs of the day after the bible reading.
3. Memorize the Word. Pick a verse, a paragraph, a chapter and start learning it by heart. Remember John 14:20 "He that has my Word and keeps it, this is the one who loves me…" Jesus is telling us to hide God's word in our hearts.
4. Meditate on the Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the Word – to remind you of it all day long. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." Psalm 1:1-3 (RSV)
Jill Mattox told us she likes to have a devotional commentary to read with her thru the Bible time– she mentioned Streams in the Desert. Kay Arthur's little book on the names of God is good as well. One year I read Matthew Henry's commentary on each chapter which was too much for the devotional time. I try to keep the extra reading simple – it starts to crowd out the word but it can be helpful in jump-starting your soul devotionally.
Charles H. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening is wonderful and never fails to spark my flagging spirit. Let me end this with his comment on morning devotions:
"Morning exercises have ever been dear to enlightened, heaven loving souls, and it has been their rule never to see the face of man till they have first seen the face of God … The first hour of every morning should be dedicated to the Lord, whose mercy gladdens it with golden light. The eye of day openeth its lids, and in so doing opens the eyes of hosts of heaven-protected slumberers: it is fitting that those eyes should first look up to the great Father of Lights, the fount and source of all the good upon which the sunlight gleams…
Morning devotion anchors the soul so that it will not very readily drift far away from God during the day: the morning is the gate of the day, and should be well guarded with prayer. It is one end of the thread on which the day's actions are strung, and should be well knotted with devotion. If we felt more the majesty of life, we should be more careful of its mornings. He who rushes from his bed to his business and waits not to worship is as foolish as though he had not put on his clothes, or cleansed his face, and as unwise as though he dashed into battle without arms or armor."
1. Read the Word. It was suggested to me that if I read 4 chapters a day I would read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice in a year so I began to do this and have continued it all these years. At first I simply read 4 chapters in a row – starting with Genesis 1-4 - a good place to begin. I began to keep a notebook handy to jot down something from each chapter as read. No long drawn out notes, just something that stood out. This keeps your mind from drifting off into neverland while you're reading Leviticus and the way to take care of a running sore. The second read through or so, I decided to read chapters from different sections of the Bible. For example, on January 1st (assuming I had kept to the schedule the previous year and read Revelation 22 on December 31st which I don't think has ever happened), I would read one chapter from the books of Moses, starting with Genesis 1, with intention to continue through the history of Israel ending with Nehemiah. I would then read one chapter from the poetic books starting with Job 1 and continuing through Song of Solomon. Next would be a chapter from the prophets starting with Isaiah 1 and reading through to Malachi. I would then read a chapter from the New Testament starting with Matthew 1. If I have time I add a 5th chapter and divide the New Testament reading the gospels and Acts and then a chapter from the letters. The wonderful payback of this is that I began to see themes through these disparate chapters as I read and jotted down a quick note from each. Several years ago someone put out a chronological bible and reading now and then has been helpful in seeing the sweep of God's plan in history. I still have trouble remembering which prophet went with which king but I'm working on it. Use a bible which doesn't leave out portions of Scripture because it may be repeated in another place – you don't want to rely on that sort of editing. Christy Neal is reading NIV's The One Year Chronological Bible and says it is laid out across the page in a way she finds easy to read. Gretchen Fleming has been an encouragement to all of us to read chronologically together and Jo An Smidley organizes a time to discuss together so watch the bulletin for this.
I don't like notes and commentary in my bible – it distracts me from the word. Remember if there is commentary you have to make sure it is accurate and not distortion of the word. This can be difficult if you are new to the word as well as distracting and time consuming. Make sure you are reading an actual translation of the Bible not a paraphrase.
Don't check your brain at the door when you read. The word will become its own commentary as you read. Don't forget that as you read you have the Holy Spirit looking over your shoulder (or are you looking over His?) He will guide you into all truth. Spurgeon writes, "The mind wearies of one thing and we have therefore studied variety…" This year we are reading through the King James again and the beauty of the language ministers to me so much.
2. Pray the Word. As I read the word, I find my spirit wanting to pray according to the word. I've found it helpful to write these prayer notes in the margin of my notebook and then take the time to pray through them for my family and for the needs of the day after the bible reading.
3. Memorize the Word. Pick a verse, a paragraph, a chapter and start learning it by heart. Remember John 14:20 "He that has my Word and keeps it, this is the one who loves me…" Jesus is telling us to hide God's word in our hearts.
4. Meditate on the Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the Word – to remind you of it all day long. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." Psalm 1:1-3 (RSV)
Jill Mattox told us she likes to have a devotional commentary to read with her thru the Bible time– she mentioned Streams in the Desert. Kay Arthur's little book on the names of God is good as well. One year I read Matthew Henry's commentary on each chapter which was too much for the devotional time. I try to keep the extra reading simple – it starts to crowd out the word but it can be helpful in jump-starting your soul devotionally.
Charles H. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening is wonderful and never fails to spark my flagging spirit. Let me end this with his comment on morning devotions:
"Morning exercises have ever been dear to enlightened, heaven loving souls, and it has been their rule never to see the face of man till they have first seen the face of God … The first hour of every morning should be dedicated to the Lord, whose mercy gladdens it with golden light. The eye of day openeth its lids, and in so doing opens the eyes of hosts of heaven-protected slumberers: it is fitting that those eyes should first look up to the great Father of Lights, the fount and source of all the good upon which the sunlight gleams…
Morning devotion anchors the soul so that it will not very readily drift far away from God during the day: the morning is the gate of the day, and should be well guarded with prayer. It is one end of the thread on which the day's actions are strung, and should be well knotted with devotion. If we felt more the majesty of life, we should be more careful of its mornings. He who rushes from his bed to his business and waits not to worship is as foolish as though he had not put on his clothes, or cleansed his face, and as unwise as though he dashed into battle without arms or armor."
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Don't lose heart!
Mike and I on our way to vote. We just read Luke 18 and received this reminder from our Lord - men ought always to pray and not lose heart! "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
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