Absent

I know I've been absent for a while.  I've learned you sometimes have to be flexible and go with the flow. It's a busy time and while I do have thoughts spinning around in my head, they often only get as far as a jotted note on my dresser, a digital note in Evernote or an email I send myself.  So those are all piling up and need to be recorded here.  My goal is to do that. 

Heidelberg One

I recently read Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport: Making Connections in Today's World by Richard Mouw.   It was an interesting book and I enjoyed it.  He spent much of the book talking about the Heidelberg Catechism.  If you're unfamiliar, the Heidelberg Catechism is a Protestant confessional document taking the form of a series of questions and answers, for use in teaching Reformed Christian doctrine. The catechism was divided into fifty-two sections so that one could be explained in preaching each Sunday of the year.  It had actually been a while since I read the very first question and answer of this document.

The last few months have been peppered with deaths in the lives of many friends.  They've been in mourning and I my heart aches with them.  It's sad to see so many friends in pain and overcome with grief.  I wish that grief was not a part of this fallen world, but it is and there's nothing we can do to change that.  But in this season of death, this brings me comfort.  (Green text is my emphasis.)

Question 1.
What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer.
That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a)
am not my own, (b)
but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c)
who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d)
and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e)
and so preserves me (f)
that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g)
yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h)
and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i)
and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)

(a) Rom.14:7,8. (b) 1 Cor.6:19. (c) 1 Cor.3:23; Tit.2:14. (d) 1
Pet.1:18,19; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:2,12. (e) Heb.2:14; 1 John 3:8; John
8:34-36. (f) John 6:39; John 10:28; 2 Thess.3:3; 1 Pet.1:5. (g)
Matt.10:29-31; Luke 21:18. (h) Rom.8:28. (i) 2 Cor.1:20-22; 2 Cor.5:5;
Eph.1:13,14; Rom.8:16. (j) Rom.8:14; 1 John 3:3.

In Memory of:

Winston's Sister

Karen's Dad

Maria's Husband

Jan's Husband

Mailee's Friend

Sean's Mom and Dad

Nancy's Cousin

Molly's Friend

**This is a shot I took from my best friend's porch in Louisiana.  I LOVED watching sunsets there!**

How Deep The Father's Love

I took the day off today to remember Mom and our twins. This is the day, January 28 (1998), that Mom left this world of pain and entered into eternal peace and happiness with her Saviour...or as she always called it "Glory"! I started this practice on the first anniversary of her death as I traveled to Alabama to visit the cemetery where she is buried. As we've moved around the country, I often don't get back to Alabama, but I find somewhere close by to retreat.  I continued to do it each year because it was always so healing for me.  I was quite angry with God and the unfairness of life, so I had a lot to get out. It became a great gauge for me to see where I've been and track my personal, emotional and spiritual growth. "Bitterness comes when we use grief or anger as an excuse not to grow". I believe it's important to to be alone with God, to process, to remember and read about (if you journal) His faithfulness through the years.  This is how we grow!

So this is my 13th year to take a personal retreat. I usually don't have trouble relaxing and settling into a rhythm but today I was unusually scattered and unfocused. I couldn't concentrate on anything. I couldn't come up with scripture to quote. And I couldn't even enjoy the Pacific Ocean that lay out in front of me . . . and I LOVE the water and beach. So I just began to pray . . . praying that the Lord would calm my restlessness so that I could concentrate on the "task" at hand. Nothing. So I decided to put down my books, journals, pens, and highlighters and just walk the beach. I noticed that as I walked I kept my eyes on the ground in front of me . . . never looking up. To be fair, I was looking at all the really cool rocks and seashells.  I began this internal dialogue about how silly it is to have such an amazing panoramic view in front of me of the Pacific Ocean and I'm not even looking at it. So I looked up. I stared at the vast expanse of the ocean in front of me. And this song came into my head.  Click the link to listen as you read the words below:

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory


Behold the man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished


I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Music has always moved me. And this song in my head overwhelmed me. His love overwhelmed me.  I no longer felt restless or unfocused.  I just needed to look up at the view in front of me and the love of my great big God!

**If you don't know this "modern" hymn, you should check it out.  There are many versions, but I prefer Selah's rendition.  You can download the Selah version on iTunes.**

 

**I took these sunset photos tonight.**

So Many Tears Today

You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them. 

Psalm 56:8