Creational Theology Applied

TM Moore (see previous blog post) has been doing a series on Creational Theology. He defines it as seeing God in all that is around us, at least that is a shorter version. His series is 5 short lessons so far, and it is very helpful in encouraging us to really have open eyes and open ears. I have decided that I should try to write some of my own personal observations down, as he encourages us to do. So.....

Thursday I was sitting in front of a Starbucks waiting on a friend to arrive. I started noticing a sparrow hopping all around the tables looking for crumbs, or I should say non-existing crumbs to my eyes. He was eating away, enjoying his breakfast. It reminded me of some of the reasons why creational theology is important. He was first of all hungry, and second he was alert to the feast that he could find all around him. We too have to be hungry for spiritual truth and for the truth that is the person of Christ. We have to also be alert and aware of the precious crumbs that feed our souls that God scatters in front of us everyday. As the sparrow sees them because she is hungry, observant, and aware of where her subsistence comes from, and trusts enough to know it will be there, so we as believers need to see the provision our Heavenly Father puts in front of us in the moments of our days.

I will write more in the days and weeks to come.

He Speaks to me Everywhere

Chuck Colson and TM Moore have started a Worldview Center with tons of resources. One of the resources is that TM writes a daily, practical study that I have been listening to everyday. It is short and only takes a minute or two. Today his study was one I have tried to teach my students, when I was teaching. I would say, "God speaks every where in everything. You can see Him in every thing. You have to learn the Word, then train yourself to see it." I gave them a challenge then to say anything, and I would try to see how it would show me something of God. Classical education speaks of this training as an integrated approach to learning. The study from Viewpoint this morning was something I wish I could have articulated as well as TM Moore did. Take just a few minutes to read this, and also, go to their new web site. It is a gem.

http://www.colsoncenter.org/wfp-home

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 1:13

Solomon was wise because he understood that everything on earth has its proper place in the divine scheme of things – “under the heavens”, as he put it. Everything we see or hear, every experience and fact of creation, all of it has a place in the divine economy (Eccl. 3:1-8). And God has put eternity in our hearts – the ability to peer past mere temporal reality into the eternal counsels of God – so that we can know Him and His world, using the mind of Christ, if only imperfectly (1 Cor. 2:16; Eccl. 3:11). As we press ahead in our work of creational theology we will want to integrate our observations with the Scriptural associations they suggest. Here we will make bold to offer some concise statement concerning the glory of God which we have discerned, revealed in the things He has made.

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The activity of integration involves trying to put what we have observed in creation and what we know from the Scriptures into our own words, that, by doing so, we make a statement concerning what God has spoken to us about the things we have seen. Such conclusions are not to be considered normative, that is, on the same level of Scripture. Rather, they give us ways of heightening our awareness of God, enhancing our understanding of Him, deepening our experience of Him, and reflecting on His presence with us in more personal and meaningful ways. Our world may, in many ways, seem out of sorts and wrong – not what God would want it to be. But we may reflect from such observations that “This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done…” God is still bringing His redemptive work to His creation as we, His people, take up the good works for which He has redeemed us in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:19-21; Eph. 2:10). By integrating your observations with the Scriptural associations you identify, you create a means of noting and training yourself to respond to the “voice” of God as He speaks to you everywhere. That passing thunderstorm over the sun-burnt grass says, “I will never fail you nor forsake you; wait on me, and do not despair.” The reliability of your office computer and the fruitful work it allows you to produce may speak of the steadfast love and faithfulness of God, Who never sleeps, and Who causes all our work to prosper in His Name. Once you have matched your observations with relevant Scripture, integrate them into a statement, prayerfully considered, carefully crafted, and boldly set forth, that will be a record of how the glory of God has come to your attention in your daily journey with the Lord.

Trip to Covenant

Ken and I took Margaret to Covenant to start school. We left on Tuesday morning and came back late afternoon on Wednesday. I miss her. I feel great about where she is, and her roommate is a gem. God is going to teach Mo a great deal this year, and open up new opportunities that she has never even dreamed of.

Karen is with her senior class (new school). They are at a retreat to start out the year all on the same page. God is already showing her things, and molding her into the godly woman that He wants her to be. He must have significant plans for her people wise in her future, because this will be the fourth school she has attended in four years of high school. He never wastes a thing in our lives to prepare us for the rest.

Rebekah is loving cheerleading.

What a joy mothering is.

Thank you Father.

Rebekah made Cheerleading Squad!

My Bekah went to a new school, and didn't know anyone. Scary for a thirteen year old. She stayed after school all week to try out for cheering and she made it! I am so proud of her for over coming her fear and pursuing what she wanted.

More of Timing and Waiting

"A wizard is never late, or early,Frodo Baggins, he arrives precisely when he means to." Frodo then throws his arms around Gandalf's neck and clings to him. The scene opened where we see Frodo sitting under the tree waiting.

I wrote the following post a month or so ago about what God impressed upon my heart then. When I get really down, I turn to Frodo, Gandalf, and Sam Wise to help my perspective. Re read the following and then I will add to it.

"............Teacher you must come, my daughter, she is terribly sick. The physicians have come and gone. They say there is nothing else for them to do, she will not make it. They tell me you are a healer. They tell me you have even expelled demons. Please, oh please, come help her. She is only twelve years old. She is my only child, I cannot lose her." On the way to to this man's house, which was quite a walk, quite a journey, a desperate woman fights the crowds, fights the attempts of the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth to move Him along. After all, Jairus, the little girl's father, is a very influential man. All she wants is to touch the corner of His cloak. As she does, immediately, Jesus stops, something, someone's faith has touched Him, His power has been tapped, and He knows it. Healing of soul and body take place, delay happens, a twelve year old is pronounced dead. Jesus deals with the woman. "A wizard arrives precisely when He means to." God's glory is revealed to a greater degree than if Jesus had been on Jarius's timetable. That's the difference between God's glory and our perspective of life. This man was fighting on another's behalf, I am fighting on my own.

Has God ever delayed on your behalf? Self absorption tells us that no one's troubles are greater than our own. God's delays are always for our good and His glory, always. What are you waiting on? Are you waiting on your own happiness, comfort, or some other expectations? God's delays are always good-and He always arrives "precisely when He means to."

God's timing is always right. I need to trust His timing. There are times when His timing seems unreliable, like right now. Will He show up when I need Him? I need Him now. The woman in Scripture waited for a long time, and she never gave up. I too am to hold on to truth even when it seems like truth will not be there.

But......."A wizard is never late, or early, He arrives precisely when He means to." Then Frodo throws his arms around the wizard's neck. Most of the time when God does arrive, I just complain and ask Him where He has been? May I wait patiently by the tree, and when my Father does show up, I throw myself in His arms and love Him.

Waiting................................Lynn

Wisdom Teeth and Spiritual Growth

Friday I took Margaret to get her wisdom teeth taken out. The rest of the day on Friday she just slept and moaned a little. Today her cheeks are chubby, not as bad as Katie's were when she had hers out, but just chubby. She can't eat all that she wants to yet. We had meat loaf, mashed potatoes, broccoli, fruit salad and garlic bread for supper and she ate two helpings of mashed potatoes, with lots of butter. It reminded me of about where I am spiritually. I feel like I am just not able to take in the "meat" I have in the past. Have you ever felt that way? I feel like I am back to a diet of soft foods, and mashed potatoes. I am back to basics in every area. Die to self, be unselfish today, be happy, don't complain, don't worry about tomorrow, all those things that I have "preached" for years to my kids. There have been times that I have thought that I had "conquered" some of those traits. God is now taken me back steps and showed me I haven't "conquered" anything, and anything that I did before, was done by His Spirit.

Margaret has had to scale back her eating because of her condition. I guess I do to.

Solitude

I was reading in a Space for God by Don Postema, which was recommended by Upsidedownbee, in Mr. Postema's chapter on solitude. We are not creatures that like it really, solitude that is. We are restless not wanting to be left alone with our thoughts. I am an introvert, that cannot possibly be me. I love being alone, don't I? I have been meditating and experimenting on this idea of solitude.

I am at the doctor's office this morning and am having my first test of solitude. I always take a book with me for the waiting room, this morning was no different, except I have forgotten my glasses. I have tried to read, but I can't, I really can't even write legibly, but I'm giving it a try. I cannot even sit here for twenty minutes without trying to "redeem" the time by writing something that could be used or useful. I can't stand the thought of being useless. Deep down my image of what I "should" be is someone that is useful. If I am not useful, then I might as well give up. Is that true though? I am having an avalanche of thoughts that need Biblical introspection, not just what the world tells us. Is this an area of my life that I have not "changed my mind" about and brought it in line with Scripture?

I need to be quiet, to listen to what my heart is telling me about myself. Then I need to bring it to the light in line with what the Bible says.......

That Evening..............

It has rained all day, and so I am on the dreaded treadmill instead of walking in the woods. I loathe the treadmill. I have tried to read while walking, but it just doesn't work for me. So, I pray. More tests of solitude. My mind wanders from person to person, event to event. And the Holy Spirit touches me deep inside myself. As I am praying I realize that people, even the people that I love deeply, are projects to be checked off. Oh Father, to love like You do. I am so tired of trying to to check people off my list of worries. I don't even think I know how to love. Teach me in my solitude, in those rare moments when reality shows it's ugly head. Why is it that I don't want to need You as much as I do? Then I suppose I am exposed for the impostor I truly am. I need You Lord. I can't even love the way You want me to. I need you. Lynn

God's Perspective

Everything negative in life whether it be loneliness, sadness, or fear, we look at as something to be shunned, avoided at all costs. When we stop and see these things or circumstances from a different perspective they are not negatives at all. Loneliness can be turned into a time when God the Father is calling you out, wooing you to be just with Him. Sadness can be a time when God wipes away all your tears as you run to Him, fear can be a time when God shows us the places of our hearts that run to anywhere, but Him. Through these times we are drawn closer and closer to the only one who can always be with us, wipe away our tears, and as a mother bird hides us under the pinions of His wings.

From Graced Again

"Religion is, I obey, therefore I'm accepted’. The Gospel is, ‘I'm accepted through what Jesus Christ has done for me, therefore I obey’. Religion gives you control, that's why its so popular.
If I am saved by what I can do, then there's a limit to what God can ask of me. I still have some control. But if I am saved by sheer grace, then there's nothing He cannot ask of me”. Tim Keller

Boneman's Daughters by Ted Dekker

I just finished a very disturbing book, Boneman's Daughters by Ted Dekker. The disturbing part is that it is the story of a serial killer and really explores the mind, motives, and methods of the said killer, who is killing young girls and breaking their bones in order to make up for the fact that Christ's bones were not broken at the crucifixion. I will not go into all the details, but some of Dekker's descriptions are pretty freaky. Usually when things are disturbing they some how illustrate reality in some way. Dekker's books are almost universally allegorical in nature. They illustrate some aspect of the Christian life or the Christian story. I don't know whether they fit the strict definition of allegory, but he loves to illustrate the bigger meta-narrative of the Christian Worldview in story form.

I found myself wanting to weep at the end of this particular novel, because he touched a raw nerve of mine. I have been very convicted lately of just how much I protect myself from any kind of hurt. Self protecting is a game I play very well, and recently the Holy Spirit has been showing me just how much. Fear is a factor that can easily take over my life. Not fear of drowning, or airplanes, or anything like that, but fear of how others can hurt me. I have found myself not just skirting relationships, but running the opposite way, even with my immediate family members. The more I run from human relationships, the more I run from Him. This shows a great deal of insecurity on my part when it comes to my Heavenly Father.

This is where Dekker's book comes in. The story involves the depths in which the Father in the story will go to save his daughter, who doesn't want to have anything to do with him. She is an adopted daughter who is being held captive by a serial killer. The dad walks through hell to save his precious daughter, all the while knowing that he could die at anytime. When the father finally gets to his daughter she rejects him at first, but he ends up saving her and nearly loosing his life in the end, and they are reconciled. You need to read the book to gain an adequate picture of this harrowing scene. It disturbed me, because it moved me to crying from the depths of my soul. You know, one of those really deep cries. There is a part of my heart that really doesn't grasp just how much Christ suffered for me, because He loves me. That's what this book is trying to illustrate, the depths, the price, and the suffering that Christ went through, because He loves me and wants me to be His daughter, to love, to cherish, to even honor me. If I truly, with all my heart, believed that Christ loves me that much, then I would not, as a habit, put such walls of protection around my heart. So, I am on a quest, a quest to actually experience that kind of love. A love that is open, free, giving, because He loves me first.

Always learning, Always exploring, Always onward......................Lynn

At the Beach with Friends

At the beach with Friends, there was laughter and there were tears.

There was sorrow, pain and grief, yet hope that forever endears.

Promise of a place that will take away the tears.

A place where our Saviour reigns, and hope is always sure.

This earth is not our home, and it can't compare to the wonderful crystal sea,

as we gaze eternally on that distant shore.

The cares of this world will no longer weigh us down,

praising the One and surrounding His throne.

At the beach with Friends, the past became just that.

Time became a symbol of a temporary load,

that one day we won't carry on that clear glass road.

Forgiveness is the answer that only He can give.

And Death is swallowed up by His sacrifice of love.

We as sisters were compelled onward to follow in His ways,

to show the world around us His love that He gave.

At the beach with friends, there was laughter and there were tears.

The future became a symbol of friendship on and on,

forever will it carry the force of that song.

The song of redemption, of ultimate relief,

of a time when sin will forever cease.

The tears became a symbol of a love that never ends.

The laughter of the redeemed as we will witness to the world,

that one day our friendship will never be rent in two,

Because of sin, or of time, or of distance.

We will one day be all together and love will be the key,

that takes us once again to the beach beside the crystal sea.