Waiting

Over the last few weeks I've been aware of how many of us-- students, faculty, staff, alumni--struggle with looking to the future rather than enjoying the present. We look forward to the end of school, to the new semester, to a new opportunities. We struggle with waiting on God to "work all things together for good" and His timing is not our timing. What do we do in times of waiting on the Lord? How do we respond to difficult situations we wish were over? What do we do in the present when the next step seems far away? The Lord has been repeating three things over and over to me--"Wait, Do good to all, Praise Me in the Dailies". Thank you, Lord, that you know the past, present, and future and all you ask us to do is "be still and know that You are God".

balance

This month, for Wives Book Club, we're reading one of the most intriguing books yet on Marriage. Intimate Allies by Dan Allender and Tremper Longman looks at five different marriage scenarios, and then "brings them back to Eden" to look at what Scripture says about God's intent for marriage. Part Three especially addresses what is unique in male/female reflection of the image of God. Man, in his strength, embraces the characteristics of holiness, order out of chaos, truth, and justice. Woman, in her nurturing, embodies mystery, grace, and mercy. In the book's words, "one without the other is a grave distortion of God. Order without mercy is authoritarian; mystery without form is hedonism. Male and female operate in the precarious balance between life and death".I can't help but wonder about the parallels in our Christian world. In the recent past, "masculine" traits of God were the primary emphasis--truth, order, justice--yet sometimes failed to balance out with the more feminine side of grace. Yet the pendulum now swings to highlight a more "feminine" side of God with the emphasis on grace, mercy, nurturing, with a downplaying of His masculine traits of absolute truth and holiness. A preference for either side without a true wonder of appreciation and need for balance of the other creates a distortion of the glory of God in His people. To fail to equally value both sides of God creates chaos out of what the Lord intended as harmony. May we know You in your fullness, Oh Lord, and our need for all perspectives in the body of Christ.
Labels: truth and grace
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9:33:00 AM
by Carley Wecks
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"like a weaned child..."

This semester in Seminary Chapel, faculty are asked to share "What if it were my last lecture?". What would I want as my last words to the students? As I've been thinking about this over the last week, my thoughts have come several times to Ps. 131. It's a short Psalm and one of the simplest--almost child like. David, as a warrior king, with life out of his control, lets us into his most private thoughts with the Lord.

"O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
Nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me"

David knew underneath his armour was a simple man placed in a difficult world. He couldn't figure it all out, so he wasn't even going to try. Instead...

" Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child rests against his mother
My soul is like a weaned child within me"

In the midst of the struggle and confusion, David knew his source of comfort and strenght--not demanding from the Lord , as a nursing child demands milk--but coming as a weaned child, trusting that his mother knows what's best, submitting to her love and protection, even if the circumstances don't make sense.

As I look back on my life, when things often seem not to make sense, God has shown me repeatedly to stop trying to figure it all out. Stop trying to make things work according to my plan, but just to "curl up in Jesus lap" as a warrior child, and submit to His plan for me. No better message I could leave others than to rest in Him.

"Oh Isreal, hope in God from this time forth and forever more"

Unity; evangelism

Last night John and I attended Luis Palau's Portlandfest. We were amazed at the number of people, the organization of the festival, and the opportunity for the entire Christian community to come together for a common cause. The corporate vision and support of bring others to Christ was overwhelming. The greatest impact on me happened as Mercy Me sang "I Can Only Imagine", focusing on what it will be like when we come face to face with the Savior in heaven. As I looked over the crowd, there were extreme differences in age, culture, ethnicity, and dress, but all were singing the same words with the same focus. I couldn't help "imagining" that this was much what heaven will be like--different outwardly, but unified in our praise and joy at being in the Lord's presence.

Dependency difference

As I was preparing for Seminary Orientation today, I was pondering what is the difference between a Christian institution and a secular institution, a church and a club, a Christian counselor and secular counselor, and even a believer and a non-believer in the day to day. I know that there are polar differences in mission, doctrine, belief system, but what are the differences in daily practise with daily decisions? What does the internal dialog look like personally and corporately? The Lord impressed on me that the difference is in terms of dependency. Is my every decision bathed in dialog and trust in Him? Am I looking for His direction even in things I've done before or seems obvious in daily task? Is my prayer life, publicly or privately, really a formality, or motivated by a true heart-felt need? Lord, help us all, students, faculty, institution, and especially me personally, to understand the need of You for direction and strength. May I truly "inquire" of You and trust You for wisdom.

God's faithfulness

I was able to spend some time with pastors' wives from Village Missions a few weeks ago. Their faithfulness and trust in the Lord in small rural pastorates inspired and encouraged me. So often we judge ministry based on numbers, programs, books published, buildings, but I was reminded that success in God's kingdom is measured by faithfulness, servant leadership, loving the flock, and obedience to the Father. The pastors and their wives modeled trust, maturity, and desire to bring the gospel to those in America that may not have a church near them. May we never leave our first love because of the world's view of success. Thank you, Lord, for allowing these precious women to minister to me and include me in their fellowship and friendship.

The Kingdom of God

John and I are reading through the New Testament this summer, sharing our thoughts with one another, and focusing on seeing scripture through a broad picture of the Lord's purposes. As I was interacting with the Lord over Matt. 16-22, I was impressed that the Kingdom of God is not as an earthly kingdom, with an emphasis on power, but the opposite--the first shall be last, we are to be as a little child, and identification with Christ comes from suffering, not power or glory. Lord, help me to have Your perspective and desire Your glory and to be as a little child in my relationship to You and to others.