fear of the Lord. HUGE difference
Scotty Smith
Monday, January 31, 2011
Fear of the Lord
The Law will make you afraid of God but the gospel will give you the
fear of the Lord. HUGE difference
fear of the Lord. HUGE difference
Hallelujah! What a salvation!
�What are believers saved from?
From their former position under the wrath of God, the dominion of sin, and the power of death; from their natural condition of being mastered by the world, the flesh and the devil; from the fears that a sinful life engenders, and from the many vicious habits that were part of it.
How are believers saved from these things? Through Christ, and in Christ. Our salvation involves first, Christ dying for us and second, Christ living in us and we living in Christ, united with Him in His death and risen life. This vital union, which is sustained by the Spirit from the divine side and by faith from our side, and which is formed in and through our new birth, presupposes covenantal union in the sense of our eternal election in Christ.�
J I Packer
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Living in the wonder-filled humble boldness of the gospel
"I guess we should call this gospel brokenness, because only the gospel of
God's grace can enable us to be completely honest about our stuff without
falling into toxic shame or self-contempt. And only the gospel can humble
us, soften us, and give us the power to repent—or, at least, not run away
or rant. When followers of Jesus walk openly in this kind of
brokenness—gospel brokenness—angels in heaven rejoice, and people without
faith or those with much cynicism about Christians, are likely to
reconsider who Jesus is."
Scotty Smith, Restoring Broken Things
Through& without, never because
"God's blessings at times came to us through our labors and at times without our labors, but never because of our labors."
Martin Luther on Deut. 8: 17-18
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Shout out for a great group
Click here for a Google map of our meeting location:http://www.internationalfriendship.org/about/map-to-the-if-house.
Please check out our website for more info and a sample lesson: www.internationalfriendship.org.
Background
There is nothing in the Exodus 9 account that does not comport with
what is known scientifically about the lethal power of a severe
hailstorm. Fatal hailstorms occur often around the world still today.
what is known scientifically about the lethal power of a severe
hailstorm. Fatal hailstorms occur often around the world still today.
--Douglas Stuart
Keller on "fear of God"
Filial Fear
The true fear of God is a child-like fear. Some of the Puritans used to call it a "filial fear." It is a combination of holy respect and glowing love. To fear God is to have a heart that is sensitive to both His Godness and His graciousness. It means to experience great awe and a deep joy simultaneously when one begins to understand who God really is and what He has done for us.
Therefore the true fear of God is not a fear that makes a person run away and flee from God. It is a fear that drives him to God. Love for God and fear of Him are, therefore, not at all incompatible. To think that they are is to fail to see the richness of the character of the God we worship. It is to ignore the way in which knowing Him in all of His attributes, and responding appropriately to Him, stretches our emotional capacities to their limit. Scripture portrays the fear of the Lord and the love of the Lord as companion emotions.
Therefore the true fear of God is not a fear that makes a person run away and flee from God. It is a fear that drives him to God. Love for God and fear of Him are, therefore, not at all incompatible. To think that they are is to fail to see the richness of the character of the God we worship. It is to ignore the way in which knowing Him in all of His attributes, and responding appropriately to Him, stretches our emotional capacities to their limit. Scripture portrays the fear of the Lord and the love of the Lord as companion emotions.
--P.J. (Flip) Buys
from The Fear of God as a Central Part of Reformed Spirituality
Oop, there it is! The purpose!!
What God said was the reason for
Exodus, the plagues, and Pharaoh:
Exodus, the plagues, and Pharaoh:
that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.
This is also why we:
-- Offer a class on parenting
-- Send the Matthews family to Mexico
-- teach women on Tuesdays, morning and evening
-- send Josh Dickenson to Uganda
Et cetera, Et cetera
Why?
That God's name may be proclaimed in all the earth.
Storm of exodus 9
The hailstorm plague is recounted in greater length than any of the
other nine and acts as a climax of sorts for what has heretofore
transpired.
--Peter Enns
other nine and acts as a climax of sorts for what has heretofore
transpired.
--Peter Enns
It was the storm IN TOTO that and not simply the hail.
--D. Stuart
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Moses' prayer meditated upon
Moses fought cynicism and prayed for pharaoh--again.
Observe,
(1.) The place Moses chose for his intercession.
He went out of the city(Exodus 9:33), not only for privacy in his communion with God, but to show that he durst venture abroad into the field, notwithstanding the hail and lightning which kept Pharaoh and his servants withindoors, knowing that every hail-stone had its direction from his God, who meant him no hurt. Note, Peace with God makes men thunderproof, for thunder is the voice of their Father.
(2.) The gesture:
He spread abroad his hands unto the Lord--an outward expression of earnest desire and humble expectation. Those that come to God for mercy must stand ready to receive it.
(3.) The end Moses aimed at in interceding for him:
That thou mayest know, and be convinced, that the earth is the Lord's (Exodus 9:29), that is, that God has a sovereign dominion over all the creatures, that they all are ruled by him, and therefore that thou oughtest to be so. See what various methods God uses to bring men to their proper senses. Judgments are sent, judgments removed, and all for the same end, to make men know that he Lord reigns.
Matthew Henry
Exodus 9 hail and previews of "that" day
An opportunity is given to those that have any dread of God and his word to save themselves from sharing in the judgment. Note, Those that will take warning may take shelter; and those that will not may thank themselves if they fall by the overflowing scourge.
--Matthew Henry
Romans 9:17, from exodus 9
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have
raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name
might be proclaimed in all the earth."
raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name
might be proclaimed in all the earth."
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Projection and Reflection: How the Cinema Frames Perception
@ the study center
Schedule All sessions begin at 6pm.
Thursday, January 27: Introduction by Lauren Glenn, PhD candidate in Film Studies
Friday, February 11: “The Hurt Locker” (2008)
Friday, February 25: Screening to be determined
Thursday, March 24: “A Serious Man” (2009)
http://www.christianstudycenter.org/
Schedule All sessions begin at 6pm.
Thursday, January 27: Introduction by Lauren Glenn, PhD candidate in Film Studies
Friday, February 11: “The Hurt Locker” (2008)
Friday, February 25: Screening to be determined
Thursday, March 24: “A Serious Man” (2009)
http://www.christianstudycenter.org/
not IF but WHAT
Our soul-thirst is powerful, and it makes all of us idolaters.
To be sure, not many of my contemporaries bow before actual pagan altars. Nevertheless, the Bible sees idolatry as a universal problem. To be alive is to be an idolater. One of the most basic questions in spiritual formation must be "What am I doing about my idols?" not "Do I have any idols?"
-- James Wilhoit, Spiritual Formation As If The Church Mattered.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
pascal prayer
Here is
part of his prayer on "The Right Use of Serious Illness," which should
become our prayer in every sickness:
O Lord, whose spirit is so good and gracious in all things, and who art so
merciful that not only the prosperities, but also the distresses which happen
to Thine elect are the effects of Thy mercy, grant me grace not to act like
a heathen in the state to which Thy justice has brought me; but that, like a
true Christian, I may acknowledge Thee for my Father and my God, in
whatsoever circumstances I am placed. . . .
Thou gavest me health to be spent in serving Thee; and I perverted it
to a use altogether profane. Now Thou hast sent me a sickness for my correction:
O suffer me not to use this likewise to provoke Thee by my impatience.
If my heart has been filled with the love of the world, while I was
in possession of strength, destroy my vigor to promote my salvation. . . .
O Lord, as at the instant of death I shall find myself separated from
the world, stripped of all things, and standing alone in Thy presence, to
answer to Thy justice for all the movements of my heart: grant that I may
consider myself, in this disease, as in a kind of death, separated from the
world, stripped of all the objects of my affections, placed alone in Thy presence,
to implore of Thy mercy the conversion of my heart; and that thus I
may enjoy great consolation in knowing that Thou art now sending me a
sort of death, for the display of Thy mercy, before Thou sendest me death
in reality, for the display of Thy justice.
. . . Grant me grace, O Lord, to join Thy consolations to my sufferings,
that I may suffer like a Christian. I pray not to be exempted from
pain . . . but I pray that I may not be abandoned to the pains of nature
without the comforts of Thy Spirit. Grant, O Lord, that . . . I may conform
myself to Thy will; and that being sick as I now am, I may glorify Thee in
my sufferings. . . . Unite me to Thyself, fill me Thyself, and with Thy
Holy Spirit. So that, being filled by Thee, it may be no longer I who live
or suffer, but Thou, O my Saviour, who livest and sufferest in me; that
having thus been a small partaker of Thy sufferings, Thou mayest fill me
completely with . . . glory. . . . Amen
part of his prayer on "The Right Use of Serious Illness," which should
become our prayer in every sickness:
O Lord, whose spirit is so good and gracious in all things, and who art so
merciful that not only the prosperities, but also the distresses which happen
to Thine elect are the effects of Thy mercy, grant me grace not to act like
a heathen in the state to which Thy justice has brought me; but that, like a
true Christian, I may acknowledge Thee for my Father and my God, in
whatsoever circumstances I am placed. . . .
Thou gavest me health to be spent in serving Thee; and I perverted it
to a use altogether profane. Now Thou hast sent me a sickness for my correction:
O suffer me not to use this likewise to provoke Thee by my impatience.
If my heart has been filled with the love of the world, while I was
in possession of strength, destroy my vigor to promote my salvation. . . .
O Lord, as at the instant of death I shall find myself separated from
the world, stripped of all things, and standing alone in Thy presence, to
answer to Thy justice for all the movements of my heart: grant that I may
consider myself, in this disease, as in a kind of death, separated from the
world, stripped of all the objects of my affections, placed alone in Thy presence,
to implore of Thy mercy the conversion of my heart; and that thus I
may enjoy great consolation in knowing that Thou art now sending me a
sort of death, for the display of Thy mercy, before Thou sendest me death
in reality, for the display of Thy justice.
. . . Grant me grace, O Lord, to join Thy consolations to my sufferings,
that I may suffer like a Christian. I pray not to be exempted from
pain . . . but I pray that I may not be abandoned to the pains of nature
without the comforts of Thy Spirit. Grant, O Lord, that . . . I may conform
myself to Thy will; and that being sick as I now am, I may glorify Thee in
my sufferings. . . . Unite me to Thyself, fill me Thyself, and with Thy
Holy Spirit. So that, being filled by Thee, it may be no longer I who live
or suffer, but Thou, O my Saviour, who livest and sufferest in me; that
having thus been a small partaker of Thy sufferings, Thou mayest fill me
completely with . . . glory. . . . Amen
The Plague of Boils, Exodus 9
John Currid writes,
"The type of furnace spoken of here was probably a kiln for burning bricks. The
furnace, then, was a symbol of the oppression of the Hebrews, the sweat
and tears they were shedding to make bricks for the Egyptians. Thus the very
soot made by the enslaved people was now to inflict punishment on their
oppressors."
God was making Israel's curse a blessing and was turning Egypt's blessing into a curse.
"The type of furnace spoken of here was probably a kiln for burning bricks. The
furnace, then, was a symbol of the oppression of the Hebrews, the sweat
and tears they were shedding to make bricks for the Egyptians. Thus the very
soot made by the enslaved people was now to inflict punishment on their
oppressors."
God was making Israel's curse a blessing and was turning Egypt's blessing into a curse.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
plagues
as you look at the plagues, you need to remember that the plagues manifest God's redemptive work of destruction. When He comes about redeeming His people, it means the tearing down of the strongholds of Satan. And the Lord's work of redemption includes not only purchasing His people at a price, but also destroying the forces that are made against them. And when you reflect upon the drama of redemption itself, part of that drama of redemption is God's conquest of the powers of darkness. In Exodus, 7 through 11, especially as we read about what God does in the plagues, we see Him bringing plagues against the enemies of His people. That in and of itself is part of His act of redemption. It's a destruction work, but it is part of the act of redemption. The towers of God's enemies must be torn down if His people are to be safe and free. And so alongside of His positive work of rescuing his own people, there is a negative work of shattering the resistance to His rule.
This is something that you see not only in the Old Testament, but also, and we might say especially, in the New Testament. Christ's work on our behalf in the New Testament is often pictured in terms of the destroying of those forces which are arrayed against His people. In Matthew, chapter 12, verses 28 and 29, and I Peter 3:22. In fact, when John Calvin is making a comment on John, chapter 16, verse 33, where Jesus says "I have overcome the world," Calvin says that Jesus means that He has overcome every spiritual force aligned against His people. He has disarmed the spiritual forces of wickedness, and led captivity captive, and so we are now more than conquerors because Christ has vanquished all that would oppose God's elect: Death, life, angels and demons. And so we see this in the plague narratives themselves, God tearing down that which is opposed to His people. That's one thing we see.
ligon duncan
THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAGUES
Why did God do this? What was his purpose for plaguing Egypt? There are
several ways to answer this question. One is to point out that God was punishing
Egypt for Pharaoh's disobedience. Moses had told Pharaoh to let
God's people go. When Pharaoh refused, his people had to suffer the consequences
of his rebellion. Another answer, which we have repeated throughout
our study of Exodus, is that God was saving his people for his glory.
The plagues were part of his plan for bringing Israel out of bondage.
--Phil Ryken
Yeh!!
Elijah Lee West, born January 18, 2011, 8 lbs 3 oz, 19.5". Sarah and Elijah are both healthy. God is good.
Rob Pendley
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Missional Church
Tim Keller stuff on missional church. So convicting, challenging, desirable. PRAY!!!
5 minute video:
The Need for a 'Missional' Church
In the West for nearly 1,000 years, the relationship of (Anglo-European) Christian churches to the broader
culture was a relationship known as "Christendom." The institutions of society "Christianized" people,
and stigmatized non-Christian belief and behavior. Though people were "Christianized" by the culture,
they were not regenerated or converted with the Gospel. The church's job was then to challenge persons
into a vital, living relation with Christ.
There were great advantages and yet great disadvantages to 'Christendom.' The advantage was that there
was a common language for public moral discourse with which society could discuss what was 'the good.'
The disadvantage was that Christian morality without gospel-changed hearts often led to cruelty and
hypocrisy. Think of how the small town in "Christendom" treated the unwed mother or the gay person.
Also, under "Christendom" the church often was silent against abuses of power of the ruling classes over
the weak. For these reasons and others, the church in Europe and North America has been losing its
privileged place as the arbiter of public morality since at least the mid 19th century. The decline of
Christendom has accelerated greatly since the end of WWII.
Read the rest of this amazing 3 page pdf here.
5 minute video:
The Need for a 'Missional' Church
In the West for nearly 1,000 years, the relationship of (Anglo-European) Christian churches to the broader
culture was a relationship known as "Christendom." The institutions of society "Christianized" people,
and stigmatized non-Christian belief and behavior. Though people were "Christianized" by the culture,
they were not regenerated or converted with the Gospel. The church's job was then to challenge persons
into a vital, living relation with Christ.
There were great advantages and yet great disadvantages to 'Christendom.' The advantage was that there
was a common language for public moral discourse with which society could discuss what was 'the good.'
The disadvantage was that Christian morality without gospel-changed hearts often led to cruelty and
hypocrisy. Think of how the small town in "Christendom" treated the unwed mother or the gay person.
Also, under "Christendom" the church often was silent against abuses of power of the ruling classes over
the weak. For these reasons and others, the church in Europe and North America has been losing its
privileged place as the arbiter of public morality since at least the mid 19th century. The decline of
Christendom has accelerated greatly since the end of WWII.
Read the rest of this amazing 3 page pdf here.
Where we hope to go
This video involves language and ideas that has lost some momentum in my own heart and, I fear, in Christ Community. Join me in fasting and praying that Christ will re-envision us all.
This is a 1 minute video:
This is a 1 minute video:
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Exodus 9, Sunday
The Egyptians afterwards, and (some think) now, worshipped their cattle; it was among them that the Israelites learned to make a god of a calf: in this therefore the plague here spoken of meets with them. Note, What we make an idol of it is just with God to remove from us, or embitter to us. See Isaiah 19:1.
Matthew Henry
Humanity screws up creation, God will redeem both
Note, The creature is made subject to vanity by the sin of man, being liable, according to its capacity, both to serve his wickedness and to share in his punishment, as in the universal deluge. Romans 8:20,22. Pharaoh and the Egyptians sinned; but the sheep, what had they done? Yet they are plagued.
Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry
Exodus this sunday
Plague of cattle and boils
See how jealous God is for his people. When the year of his redeemed has come, he willgive Egypt for their ransom; that kingdom shall be ruined, rather than Israel shall not be delivered.
Matthew Henry
Our personal agenda
We come to our reading of the Bible with our own agenda, bias, questions, preoccupations, concerns and convictions, and, unless we are extremely careful, we impose these on the biblical text. We may sincerely pray before we read, 'Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law' (Ps. 119:18), but still the same non-communication may persist. For even that introductory prayer, though to be sure it is taken from the Psalter, is suspect because it lays down the kind of message we want to hear. 'Please, Lord, I want to see some "wonderful thing" in your word.' But he may reply, 'What makes you think I have only "wonderful things" to show you? As a matter of fact, I have some rather "disturbing things" to show you today. Are you prepared to receive them?' 'Oh no, Lord, please not', we stammer in reply. 'I come to Scripture only to be comforted; I really do not want to be challenged or disturbed.'
--From "The Contemporary Christian" (London and Downers Grove: IVP, 1992),
Consider serving during services
Contact Rob Hamersma at 352-
At
hotmail.com), or talk to someone in the sound booth if you have any questions, or you are interested in helping with this important ministry.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Middle School Mid-Winter Retreat Coming up
Website for Mid-Winter - http://www.southlandcamps.com/#/midwinter
For a better look at the facility, you can check out this website - http://sites.younglife.org/camps/Southwind/default.aspx
For a better look at the facility, you can check out this website - http://sites.younglife.org/camps/Southwind/default.aspx
Contact Nate Taylor at 379-4949 for more info and to sign up
exodus chapter 10
Reading through Exodus, we are now to chapter 10.
If you didn't know we were trying to read through Exodus, you easily could catch up by dedicating 15 minutes for the next few days.
Today's reading is Exodus 10.
Plague/Strike #Eight: Locusts
1-2 God said to Moses: "Go to Pharaoh. I've made him stubborn, him and his servants, so that I can force him to look at these signs and so you'll be able to tell your children and grandchildren how I toyed with the Egyptians, like a cat with a mouse; you'll tell them the stories of the signs that I brought down on them, so that you'll all know that I am God."3-6 Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "God, the God of the Hebrews, says, 'How long are you going to refuse to knuckle under? Release my people so that they can worship me. If you refuse to release my people, watch out; tomorrow I'm bringing locusts into your country. They'll cover every square inch of ground; no one will be able to see the ground. They'll devour everything left over from the hailstorm, even the saplings out in the fields—they'll clear-cut the trees. And they'll invade your houses, filling the houses of your servants, filling every house in Egypt. Nobody will have ever seen anything like this, from the time your ancestors first set foot on this soil until today.'"
Then he turned on his heel and left Pharaoh.
7 Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long are you going to let this man harass us? Let these people go and worship their God. Can't you see that Egypt is on its last legs?"
8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. He said to them, "Go ahead then. Go worship your God. But just who exactly is going with you?"
9 Moses said, "We're taking young and old, sons and daughters, flocks and herds—this is our worship-celebration of God."
10-11 He said, "I'd sooner send you off with God's blessings than let you go with your children. Look, you're up to no good—it's written all over your faces. Nothing doing. Just the men are going—go ahead and worship God. That's what you want so badly." And they were thrown out of Pharaoh's presence.
12 God said to Moses: "Stretch your hand over Egypt and signal the locusts to cover the land of Egypt, devouring every blade of grass in the country, everything that the hail didn't get."
13 Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt. God let loose an east wind. It blew that day and night. By morning the east wind had brought in the locusts.
14-15 The locusts covered the country of Egypt, settling over every square inch of Egypt; the place was thick with locusts. There never was an invasion of locusts like it in the past, and never will be again. The ground was completely covered, black with locusts. They ate everything, every blade of grass, every piece of fruit, anything that the hail didn't get. Nothing left but bare trees and bare fields—not a sign of green in the whole land of Egypt.
16-17 Pharaoh had Moses and Aaron back in no time. He said, "I've sinned against your God and against you. Overlook my sin one more time. Pray to your God to get me out of this—get death out of here!"
18-19 Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to God. God reversed the wind—a powerful west wind took the locusts and dumped them into the Red Sea. There wasn't a single locust left in the whole country of Egypt.
20 But God made Pharaoh stubborn as ever. He still didn't release the Israelites.
Strike Nine: Darkness
21 God said to Moses: "Stretch your hand to the skies. Let darkness descend on the land of Egypt—a darkness so dark you can touch it."22-23 Moses stretched out his hand to the skies. Thick darkness descended on the land of Egypt for three days. Nobody could see anybody. For three days no one could so much as move. Except for the Israelites: they had light where they were living.
24 Pharaoh called in Moses: "Go and worship God. Leave your flocks and herds behind. But go ahead and take your children."
25-26 But Moses said, "You have to let us take our sacrificial animals and offerings with us so we can sacrifice them in worship to our God. Our livestock has to go with us with not a hoof left behind; they are part of the worship of our God. And we don't know just what will be needed until we get there."
27 But God kept Pharaoh stubborn as ever. He wouldn't agree to release them.
28 Pharaoh said to Moses: "Get out of my sight! And watch your step. I don't want to ever see you again. If I lay eyes on you again, you're dead."
29 Moses said, "Have it your way. You won't see my face again."
The Message (MSG)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Hamersma Adoption Testimony
The plagues were attacking the sources of security (idols) of the Egyptians. One of these was the fertility goddess, Heqet (frog plague). She was to keep people safe in childbirth and “breathe life” into their children.
In the modern day, we too seek the goal of safe childbirth and healthy children. We've moved beyond praying to Heqet, and instead we depend on assumptions about how simple it will be to harness our own fertility at the time we desire to, or on medical technologies or other sources for providing some means of becoming parents, hopefully of a healthy child.
We decided we were "ready" for children in 2002, but God closed the natural doors for us to have children. After some limited and ineffective medical intervention, we decided to pursue adoption instead, in January 2006. We decided to adopt from Russia, where the process was supposed to take 6-8 months. I remember feeling a weight lifted: "THIS way will work - we will still be able to get the children we want." In whom did I place such confidence -- an adoption agency? A country with endless bureaucracy? It hardly makes sense, but at first I was sure that adoption would work for us and we'd become parents as planned. It would just be a matter of going through the prescribed process so that our child would be delivered to us (granted, later than expected, but that would be manageable).
The first lesson we learned was that God is in control.
There was a very specific moment in our first adoption process - having been led along for over 2 years getting the message that our adoption was right around the corner - that I had a very dark moment with God. I realized that He was in control, and at that time it didn't feel good to realize that. He could thwart our efforts. He did not owe us children, and had never promised them, and he was going to do whatever he willed for us. It was a scary moment for me but also a step toward a right understanding of God. It turned out we had to trust God with the destiny of our children much like Moses' mother did when she placed him in the Nile.
Our God is not Heqet, in the sense that He does not promise fertility (or any particular outcomes) but rather His own faithfulness. We know in the Bible of a few special cases in which God makes a promise of fertility to an individual, but imagine the thousands of Hebrew women who probably cried out to God to give them children but remained childless. If we became parents, it would be a gift from him, and nothing less.
Another lesson we learned was to relinquish the illusion of control over the health of our baby and over the inherent risks involved in adoption.
Our adoption process required us to make a lot of choices most people never make about their children - how old or young do you want the child to be upon arrival? Do you want to select the gender? Race? How much money are you willing and able to spend? What medical conditions are you willing to accept? Keep in mind, there is no way to avoid making a choice, as your adoption is overwhelmingly likely to proceed with a child with your maximum acceptable risks. Filling out these forms in some sense felt like playing God. But at the same time, we still had to fill them out, and then pray for the best. A friend whose children are biologically her own mentioned to me that our process really reminded her how God controls the health of our children, even though the many rules of modern pregnancy may lead expectant mothers to believe they alone control their child’s health.
A third lesson we learned was to depend on God, our church community and our adoption community.
Our first adoption process felt like wandering in the wilderness -- I described it to people as a time warp. We kept making friends with other childless people who were getting younger and younger than us! I remember telling our community group honestly "I just don't trust God with this." It was a scary thing to say out loud. Praise God for their withholding of judgement on my unbelief, and their kindness in seeing us through those hard times.
We ended up traveling to Russia in May 2008 to meet our child, and after a second trip to Russia in June we returned home with Meredith who had just turned 1 year old. Knowing the length of the possible process, we then prepared our application for a domestic adoption in January 2009. In most domestic adoptions, there is no “waiting list” but rather each family submits their profile and just waits to be chosen by a birthmother, which could happen quickly or slowly or never. By God’s grace, in September 2009 we were chosen by Lucas’s birthparents during their pregnancy to adopt him. In March 2010 we were at the hospital when he was born (photos).
The last lesson we’d like to mention is that children are not a human project or even an act of faithfulness by God to give us something he promised - they are a pure gift of grace.
It is an incomparable thing to watch someone sign a piece of paper entrusting their child to you permanently. We witnessed Lucas’ parents sign these papers two days after he was born. I will not forget Lucas’ birthfather’s words upon signing: an awkward “Congratulations.” I got a short hug from his birthmother, a stoic person just trying to hold it together. Their parting words were, “We’re trusting you.”
The idea that Lucas was entrusted to us is not unique - if you have a child, biological or adopted, God has entrusted that child to you. When we feel like incompetent parents and that our children deserve better, we try to remember (with our friends' help) that God really has chosen us to be their parents. While full of responsibility, it’s ultimately a gift of grace, and the things we do for our kids pale in comparison to what God has done for us.
Sarah and Rob Hamersma
In the modern day, we too seek the goal of safe childbirth and healthy children. We've moved beyond praying to Heqet, and instead we depend on assumptions about how simple it will be to harness our own fertility at the time we desire to, or on medical technologies or other sources for providing some means of becoming parents, hopefully of a healthy child.
We decided we were "ready" for children in 2002, but God closed the natural doors for us to have children. After some limited and ineffective medical intervention, we decided to pursue adoption instead, in January 2006. We decided to adopt from Russia, where the process was supposed to take 6-8 months. I remember feeling a weight lifted: "THIS way will work - we will still be able to get the children we want." In whom did I place such confidence -- an adoption agency? A country with endless bureaucracy? It hardly makes sense, but at first I was sure that adoption would work for us and we'd become parents as planned. It would just be a matter of going through the prescribed process so that our child would be delivered to us (granted, later than expected, but that would be manageable).
The first lesson we learned was that God is in control.
There was a very specific moment in our first adoption process - having been led along for over 2 years getting the message that our adoption was right around the corner - that I had a very dark moment with God. I realized that He was in control, and at that time it didn't feel good to realize that. He could thwart our efforts. He did not owe us children, and had never promised them, and he was going to do whatever he willed for us. It was a scary moment for me but also a step toward a right understanding of God. It turned out we had to trust God with the destiny of our children much like Moses' mother did when she placed him in the Nile.
Our God is not Heqet, in the sense that He does not promise fertility (or any particular outcomes) but rather His own faithfulness. We know in the Bible of a few special cases in which God makes a promise of fertility to an individual, but imagine the thousands of Hebrew women who probably cried out to God to give them children but remained childless. If we became parents, it would be a gift from him, and nothing less.
Another lesson we learned was to relinquish the illusion of control over the health of our baby and over the inherent risks involved in adoption.
Our adoption process required us to make a lot of choices most people never make about their children - how old or young do you want the child to be upon arrival? Do you want to select the gender? Race? How much money are you willing and able to spend? What medical conditions are you willing to accept? Keep in mind, there is no way to avoid making a choice, as your adoption is overwhelmingly likely to proceed with a child with your maximum acceptable risks. Filling out these forms in some sense felt like playing God. But at the same time, we still had to fill them out, and then pray for the best. A friend whose children are biologically her own mentioned to me that our process really reminded her how God controls the health of our children, even though the many rules of modern pregnancy may lead expectant mothers to believe they alone control their child’s health.
A third lesson we learned was to depend on God, our church community and our adoption community.
Our first adoption process felt like wandering in the wilderness -- I described it to people as a time warp. We kept making friends with other childless people who were getting younger and younger than us! I remember telling our community group honestly "I just don't trust God with this." It was a scary thing to say out loud. Praise God for their withholding of judgement on my unbelief, and their kindness in seeing us through those hard times.
We ended up traveling to Russia in May 2008 to meet our child, and after a second trip to Russia in June we returned home with Meredith who had just turned 1 year old. Knowing the length of the possible process, we then prepared our application for a domestic adoption in January 2009. In most domestic adoptions, there is no “waiting list” but rather each family submits their profile and just waits to be chosen by a birthmother, which could happen quickly or slowly or never. By God’s grace, in September 2009 we were chosen by Lucas’s birthparents during their pregnancy to adopt him. In March 2010 we were at the hospital when he was born (photos).
The last lesson we’d like to mention is that children are not a human project or even an act of faithfulness by God to give us something he promised - they are a pure gift of grace.
It is an incomparable thing to watch someone sign a piece of paper entrusting their child to you permanently. We witnessed Lucas’ parents sign these papers two days after he was born. I will not forget Lucas’ birthfather’s words upon signing: an awkward “Congratulations.” I got a short hug from his birthmother, a stoic person just trying to hold it together. Their parting words were, “We’re trusting you.”
The idea that Lucas was entrusted to us is not unique - if you have a child, biological or adopted, God has entrusted that child to you. When we feel like incompetent parents and that our children deserve better, we try to remember (with our friends' help) that God really has chosen us to be their parents. While full of responsibility, it’s ultimately a gift of grace, and the things we do for our kids pale in comparison to what God has done for us.
Sarah and Rob Hamersma
The Finger of God, message handout
I. The Limits of Satan and The Power of God
A. “This far and no further.”
Exodus 8:18 When the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not.
Phil Ryken: Pharaoh’s magicians were able to duplicate the first two plagues. They performed their magic in opposition to God, and thus in service to Satan. Satan has other powers as well. He has the power to rebel (Isa. 14:12-14), to tempt (Matt. 4:1), to deceive (Rev. 20:10), and to accuse (Zech. 3:1). He has the power to hold sinners captive in their iniquity (2 Tim. 2:26). On certain occasions he has the power to torment the elect with various afflictions (2 Cor. 12:7), including disease (Job 2:1-7) and imprisonment (Rev. 2:10). The Bible describes Satan as the one “who holds the power of death” (Heb. 2:14). God even gave Satan the power to betray his one and only Son (Luke 22:3-5), a betrayal that resulted in our Lord’s sufferings and death on the cross.
B. God can use anything
Charles Spurgeon: When IT PLEASES GOD by his judgments to humble men he is never at a loss for means: he can use lions or lice, famines or flies. In the armory of God there are weapons of every kind, from the stars in their courses down to caterpillars in their hosts.
Luke 11:20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
Phil Ryken: Jesus was making the same point that God made when He plagued Egypt with insects. He was showing that Satan has limits. He was also showing that in order to defeat Satan, all He had to do was to lift His little finger.
The prince of darkness grim
We tremble not for him
his rage we can endure
For lo, his doom is sure
One little word shall fell him --Luther
2. The Choice of God (Exodus 8:22-24)
A. There it is. Is what it is.
Matthew Henry: As the plague of lice was made more convincing than any before it, by its running the magicians aground, so was this, by the distinction made between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. Pharaoh must be made to know that God is the Lord in the midst of the earth; and by this it will be known beyond dispute.
B. All of Grace
Safety was found in Goshen. Not because the people of Goshen were better than those of Egypt. They were recipients of mercy from God, plain and simple.
‘Tis mercy all! Immense and free!
That thou my God, shouldst die for me. –Wesley
“The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love”
-Deut. 7:7-9a; cf. 10:14, 15
A. “This far and no further.”
Exodus 8:18 When the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not.
Phil Ryken: Pharaoh’s magicians were able to duplicate the first two plagues. They performed their magic in opposition to God, and thus in service to Satan. Satan has other powers as well. He has the power to rebel (Isa. 14:12-14), to tempt (Matt. 4:1), to deceive (Rev. 20:10), and to accuse (Zech. 3:1). He has the power to hold sinners captive in their iniquity (2 Tim. 2:26). On certain occasions he has the power to torment the elect with various afflictions (2 Cor. 12:7), including disease (Job 2:1-7) and imprisonment (Rev. 2:10). The Bible describes Satan as the one “who holds the power of death” (Heb. 2:14). God even gave Satan the power to betray his one and only Son (Luke 22:3-5), a betrayal that resulted in our Lord’s sufferings and death on the cross.
B. God can use anything
Charles Spurgeon: When IT PLEASES GOD by his judgments to humble men he is never at a loss for means: he can use lions or lice, famines or flies. In the armory of God there are weapons of every kind, from the stars in their courses down to caterpillars in their hosts.
Luke 11:20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
Phil Ryken: Jesus was making the same point that God made when He plagued Egypt with insects. He was showing that Satan has limits. He was also showing that in order to defeat Satan, all He had to do was to lift His little finger.
The prince of darkness grim
We tremble not for him
his rage we can endure
For lo, his doom is sure
One little word shall fell him --Luther
2. The Choice of God (Exodus 8:22-24)
A. There it is. Is what it is.
Matthew Henry: As the plague of lice was made more convincing than any before it, by its running the magicians aground, so was this, by the distinction made between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. Pharaoh must be made to know that God is the Lord in the midst of the earth; and by this it will be known beyond dispute.
B. All of Grace
Safety was found in Goshen. Not because the people of Goshen were better than those of Egypt. They were recipients of mercy from God, plain and simple.
‘Tis mercy all! Immense and free!
That thou my God, shouldst die for me. –Wesley
“The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love”
-Deut. 7:7-9a; cf. 10:14, 15
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Chapter 6. God's promise & plans re-affirmed
Exodus 6:7
"I'll take you as my own people and I'll be God to you. You'll know that I am God, your God who brings you out from under the cruel hard labor of Egypt."
See it at YouVersion.com:
Friday, January 14, 2011
When God Makes Life Hard
That is the theme of chapter 5
Exodus 5:2
"Pharaoh said, "And who is God that I should listen to him and send Israel off? I know nothing of this so-called 'God' and I'm certainly not going to send Israel off.""
See it at YouVersion.com:
It is not too late to read the book of Exodus! Take 15-20 minutes around the fire tonight or 1st thing tomorrow morning. Read chapters 1-5. You'll be glad.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Exodus 8:22
not-His people. J.I. Packer writes:
How God Can Humble
When IT PLEASES GOD by his judgments to humble men he is never at a loss for means: he can use lions or lice, famines or flies. In the armory of God there are weapons of every kind, from the stars in their courses down to caterpillars in their hosts.
Charlie spurgeon
Exodus; plagues
Exodus 4
This chapter, I. Continues and concludes God's discourse with Moses at the bush concerning this great affair of bringing Israel out of Egypt. 1. Moses objects the people's unbelief (Exodus 4:1), and God answers that objection by giving him a power to work miracles, (1.) To turn his rod into a serpent, and then into a rod again, Exodus 4:2-5. (2.) To make his hand leprous, and then whole again, Exodus 4:6-8. (3.) To turn the water into blood, Exodus 4:9. 2. Moses objects his own slowness of speech (Exodus 4:10), and begs to be excused (Exodus 4:13); but God answers this objection, (1.) By promising him his presence, Exodus 4:11,12. (2.) By joining Aaron in commission with him, Exodus 4:14-16. (3.) By putting an honour upon the very staff in his hand, Exodus 4:17. II. It begins Moses's execution of his commission. 1. He obtains leave of his father-in-law to return into Egypt, Exodus 4:18. 2. He receives further instructions and encouragements from God,Exodus 4:19,21-23. 3. He hastens his departure, and takes his family with him,Exodus 4:20. 4. He meets with some difficulty in the way about the circumcising of his son,Exodus 4:24-26. 5. He has the satisfaction of meeting his brother Aaron, Exodus 4:27,28. 6. He produces his commission before the elders of Israel, to their great joy, Exodus 4:29-31. And thus the wheels were set a going towards that great deliverance.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Exodus chapter 3, the reading for Jan 12
1-2 Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the west end of the wilderness and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. The angel of God appeared to him in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. He looked. The bush was blazing away but it didn't burn up.
3 Moses said, "What's going on here? I can't believe this! Amazing! Why doesn't the bush burn up?"
4 God saw that he had stopped to look. God called to him from out of the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
He said, "Yes? I'm right here!"
5 God said, "Don't come any closer. Remove your sandals from your feet. You're standing on holy ground."
6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob."
Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.
7-8 God said, "I've taken a good, long look at the affliction of my people in Egypt. I've heard their cries for deliverance from their slave masters; I know all about their pain. And now I have come down to help them, pry them loose from the grip of Egypt, get them out of that country and bring them to a good land with wide-open spaces, a land lush with milk and honey, the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
9-10 "The Israelite cry for help has come to me, and I've seen for myself how cruelly they're being treated by the Egyptians. It's time for you to go back: I'm sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel, out of Egypt."
11 Moses answered God, "But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
12 "I'll be with you," God said. "And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this very mountain."
13 Then Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the People of Israel and I tell them, 'The God of your fathers sent me to you'; and they ask me, 'What is his name?' What do I tell them?"
14 God said to Moses, "I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the People of Israel, 'I-AM sent me to you.'"
15 God continued with Moses: "This is what you're to say to the Israelites: 'God, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.' This has always been my name, and this is how I always will be known.
16-17 "Now be on your way. Gather the leaders of Israel. Tell them, 'God, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to me, saying, "I've looked into what's being done to you in Egypt, and I've determined to get you out of the affliction of Egypt and take you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, a land brimming over with milk and honey."'
18 "Believe me, they will listen to you. Then you and the leaders of Israel will go to the king of Egypt and say to him: 'God, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness where we will worship God—our God.'
19-22 "I know that the king of Egypt won't let you go unless forced to, so I'll intervene and hit Egypt where it hurts—oh, my miracles will send them reeling!—after which they'll be glad to send you off. I'll see to it that this people get a hearty send-off by the Egyptians—when you leave, you won't leave empty-handed! Each woman will ask her neighbor and any guests in her house for objects of silver and gold, for jewelry and extra clothes; you'll put them on your sons and daughters. Oh, you'll clean the Egyptians out!"
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
3 Moses said, "What's going on here? I can't believe this! Amazing! Why doesn't the bush burn up?"
4 God saw that he had stopped to look. God called to him from out of the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
He said, "Yes? I'm right here!"
5 God said, "Don't come any closer. Remove your sandals from your feet. You're standing on holy ground."
6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob."
Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.
7-8 God said, "I've taken a good, long look at the affliction of my people in Egypt. I've heard their cries for deliverance from their slave masters; I know all about their pain. And now I have come down to help them, pry them loose from the grip of Egypt, get them out of that country and bring them to a good land with wide-open spaces, a land lush with milk and honey, the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
9-10 "The Israelite cry for help has come to me, and I've seen for myself how cruelly they're being treated by the Egyptians. It's time for you to go back: I'm sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel, out of Egypt."
11 Moses answered God, "But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
12 "I'll be with you," God said. "And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this very mountain."
13 Then Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the People of Israel and I tell them, 'The God of your fathers sent me to you'; and they ask me, 'What is his name?' What do I tell them?"
14 God said to Moses, "I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the People of Israel, 'I-AM sent me to you.'"
15 God continued with Moses: "This is what you're to say to the Israelites: 'God, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.' This has always been my name, and this is how I always will be known.
16-17 "Now be on your way. Gather the leaders of Israel. Tell them, 'God, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to me, saying, "I've looked into what's being done to you in Egypt, and I've determined to get you out of the affliction of Egypt and take you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, a land brimming over with milk and honey."'
18 "Believe me, they will listen to you. Then you and the leaders of Israel will go to the king of Egypt and say to him: 'God, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness where we will worship God—our God.'
19-22 "I know that the king of Egypt won't let you go unless forced to, so I'll intervene and hit Egypt where it hurts—oh, my miracles will send them reeling!—after which they'll be glad to send you off. I'll see to it that this people get a hearty send-off by the Egyptians—when you leave, you won't leave empty-handed! Each woman will ask her neighbor and any guests in her house for objects of silver and gold, for jewelry and extra clothes; you'll put them on your sons and daughters. Oh, you'll clean the Egyptians out!"
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
Exodus
Jesus Christ is the Moses of our salvation. He has defeated the power of
Satan and opened the way to eternal life. When we hear the good news of
his death and resurrection, we should say, "This is the finger of God." For it
took the very power of God to atone for sin and to raise Jesus from the dead.
--Phil Ryken
Sunday we sing
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside
Great is thy faithfulness!
Exodus chapter 2: Moses! God raises up a baby to save His people
Rob Pendley
Monday, January 10, 2011
Why not read it now?
We're reading a chpt per day in exodus. Here is today's reading: Chapter 1
1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with
Jacob, each with his household:
2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was
already in Egypt.
6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.
7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they
multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled
with them.
8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
9 And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of Israel are too
many and too mighty for us.
10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if
war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape
from the land."
11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy
burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the
more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people
of Israel.
13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves
14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick,
and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they
ruthlessly made them work as slaves.
15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was
named Shiphrah and the other Puah,
16 "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the
birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a
daughter, she shall live."
17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt
commanded them, but let the male children live.
18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, "Why
have you done this, and let the male children live?"
19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not
like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before
the midwife comes to them."
20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and
grew very strong.
21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to
the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every
daughter live."
Outline of exodus 1
We have here,
I. God's kindness to Israel, in multiplying them exceedingly, (Exodus 1:1-7).
II. The Egyptians' wickedness to them,
1. Oppressing and enslaving them, (Exodus 1:8-14).
2. Murdering their children, (Exodus 1:15-22).
Thus whom the court of heaven blessed the country of Egypt cursed, and for that reason.
--from Matthew Henry
Sexual Assault: Disgrace and Grace | The Resurgence
Here is an article from a book that looks helpful and hopeful
http://theresurgence.com/2009/09/08/sexual-assault-disgrace-and-grace
Rob Pendley
Sunday, January 09, 2011
GRU sewage
Sir Walter Raleigh, best known by some as the man who laid his coat over a puddle for Queen Elizabeth I
Reading Exodus in 40 days
Start Monday with chapter 1.
Date Chptr.
1.10 1
1.11 2
1.12 3
1.13 4
1.14 5
1.15 6
1.16 7
1.17 8
1.18 9
1.19 10
1.20 11
1.21 12
1.22 13
1.23 14
1.24 15
1.25 16
1.26 17
1.27 18
1.28 19
1.29 20
1.30 21
Exodus Big picture
The beginning of the former book shows us how God formed the world for himself; the beginning of this shows us how he formed Israel for himself, and both to show forth his praise, Isaiah 43:21.the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.
There we have the creation of the world in history, here the redemption of the world in type.
There are more types of Christ in this book than perhaps in any other book of the Old Testament; for Moses wrote of him, John 5:46 (For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.). The way of man's reconciliation to God, and coming into covenant and communion with him by a Mediator, is here variously represented; and it is of great use to us for the illustration of the New Testament, now that we have that to assist us in the explication of the Old.
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