No Nobler Career

"There is no nobler career than that of motherhood at its best. There are no possibilities greater, and in no other sphere does failure bring more serious penalties. With what diligence then should she prepare herself for such a task. If the mechanic who is to work with "things" must study at technical school, if the doctor into whose skilled hands will be entrusted human lives, must go to medical school... how much more should the mother who is fashioning the souls of the men and women of tomorrow, learn at the highest of all schools and from the Master-Sculptor Himself, God. To attempt this task, unprepared and untrained is tragic, and its results affect generations to come. On the other hand there is no higher height to which humanity can attain than that occupied by a converted, heaven-inspired, praying mother." ~~ Anonymous, quoted from The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliot, page 95

"... let in the light of heaven."

I think that I have commended Timberdoodle in the past.  Timberdoodle is a solid, family-owned, business that I adore.  When we lived in Washington, I would drive to their place to pick up my order.  I probably didn't save any money, with gas and a latte for the road, but it was a peaceful drive through the woods, and they were always so kind to me and the kids when I picked up the box, and that was priceless. 

Anyway, in their December email, the letter to customers is just what I've been pondering, and struggling with, in the last few days.  It distills some of our culture challenges on how to celebrate Christmas in the midst of a very commercial world.  It challenges me, and might inspire another post in the process.

(I was going to post just part and link the rest, but I don't think there's a link, so I'll post the entire note.  Blessings!)

Dear Friends,

This year we are taking a slight departure from our annual bashing of secular Christmas, to urge you to take inventory on the condition of your children's hearts.

What if you discovered, quite by accident, that your married daughter was flirting with the UPS man? Would you not beg her to remember the vows she made before God and man? And wouldn't you feel sick if she laughed and continued to engage in such destructive behavior?

Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians implored "...I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ." If your children are to spend eternity with Christ, as a godly parent, don't you see a need to train your children to treasure Him above everything else?


For all the warmth and joy that the Christmas season can bring, it can also become a cesspool of impulsive passions. Or it can be a season of opportunities, uniquely designed to sanctify your family. The caroling missed because of the flu, the must-have toy not purchased because of a scaled back budget, the annual Christmas pie tossed because the cat sampled it, are all occasions to take a peek into where your child's affections are. For all the hoopla surrounding Christmas, there is disturbingly little emphasis placed on pleasing the One whose birth we are celebrating, and wholly too much importance placed on making ourselves happy.

Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish Presbyterian theologian (1600-1661), wrote "... if you see a man shut up in a closed room, idolizing a set of lamps and rejoicing in their light, and you wish to make him truly happy, you would begin by blowing out all his lamps; and then throw open the shutters to let in the light of heaven."


This Christmas, may we all remember to whom we are betrothed and set our affections fully on Him,


Enjoying Timberdoodle products in a whole new way,
Dan, Deb, Joy, Hope, Grace, Abel, and Pearl

(photo credit to tollen at Flickr)

A Beautiful Inheritance

this post, taken from Andree Seu's series on the Book of Joshua, challenges me- am I satisfied in God alone?
In the work of parenting, of wife-ing, of serving His people, am I satisfied in God alone?  His inheritance is beautiful. 
Do read the entire piece.

Or have you even gotten to the point where the choice of God is not a sacrifice? Have you gotten to the place where you have stepped into obedience enough times, and chosen the way of faith often enough, that you have learned a very cool secret—that the joy is immediate and the deepening intimacy with God is something you wouldn’t trade for all the olive oil in Asher?

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance” (Psalm 16:5-6).

(art credit:  Madagascar Olive Leaves, Elizabeth Thompson, 2008)

Amen

from Femina, Nancy Wilson's blog-

"Paul must have been thinking of the duties of mothers when he wrote these verses:

“….warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14

Holy Triumph

Introduction from
The Godly Man's Picture
by Thomas Watson

CHRISTIAN READER,

The soul being so precious, and salvation so glorious, it is the highest point of prudence to make preparations for another world. It is beyond all dispute that there is an inheritance in light, and it is most strenuously asserted in Holy Scripture that there must be a fitness and suitability for it (Col. 1:12). If anyone asks, 'Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?', the answer is, 'He that has clean hands, and a pure heart' (Psalm 24.4). To describe such a person is the work of this ensuing treatise. Here you have the godly man's portrait, and see him portrayed in his full lineaments. What a rare thing godliness is! It is not airy and puffed up, but solid, and such as will take up the heart and spirits. Godliness consists in an exact harmony between holy principles and practices. Oh, that all into whose hands this book shall providentially come, may be so enamoured with piety as to embrace it heartily. So sublime is godliness that it cannot be delineated in its perfect radiance and lustre, though an angel should take the pencil. Godliness is our wisdom. 'The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom' (Job 28.28). Policy without piety is profound madness. Godliness is a spiritual queen, and whoever marries her is sure of a large dowry with her. Godliness has the promise of the present life and of that which is to come (1 Tim. 4.8). Godliness gives assurance, yes, holy triumph in God, and how sweet that is (Isa 32.17). It was Latimer who said, 'When sometimes I sit alone, and have a settled assurance of the state of my soul, and know that God is my God, I can laugh at all troubles, and nothing can daunt me.' Godliness puts a man in heaven before his time. Christian, aspire after piety; it is a lawful ambition. Look at the saints' characteristics here, and never leave off till you have got them stamped upon your own soul. This is the grand business that should swallow up you time and thoughts. Other speculations and quaint notions are nothing to the soul. They are like wafers which have fine works printed upon them, and are curiously damasked to the eye, but are thin, and yield little nourishment. But I will not keep you longer in the porch. Should I have enlarged upon any one characteristic of the godly man, I have contracted my sails, and given you only a brief summary of things. If this piece, (however undigested) conduces to the good of souls, I shall have my desire. That the God of grace will effectually accomplish this shall be the prayer of him who is...
Yours in all Christian affection,
THOMAS WATSON

Old Ways. Ancient Paths.

From time to time since 1963, a rebel organization had tried to overthrow the Indonesian government. In 1976 this rebel movement surfaced again, attracting some of the young people- even children of church leaders. The youth went back to long, matted hair and to painting their faces and bodies for war. They started to make bows and arrows and spears. "We're going back to the old ways," they announced.

"How could you possibly want to go back to fear of spirits and the miseries of no food, of pain and cold, and of war and death?" their parents asked them.

Most who joined the rebel forces were nominal Christians, young people who had come up in the church and perhaps were even baptized but had not been born again. They thought the rebel movement offered excitment...
(from Torches of Joy, John Dekker with Lois Neely, YWAM Publishing, 1985)

We've been reading of the missionary adventures of John and Helen Dekker, and their work among the Dani tribes people in the Toli Valley of Irian Jaya (formerly Netherlands New Guinea). The Lord did amazing work through the Dekkers and other missionaries, including native converts who became missionaries, in that land. And yet, we read that indeed, there is nothing new under the sun. At some point, even the children of converts, first-hand witnesses to such obvious extremes between light and darkness, were tempted to turn back to the "old ways."

The passage caught my attention, and I lingered over it. And I continue to think about it.

Then in devotions this morning, I read a reminder of what we are to teach our children. We need to teach our kids that the Word of God is all Truth, and is infinitely more satisfying than anything the world offers. We need to help our children develop eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart to understand (Matthew 13:10-17).

And, we have to persevere in prayer, in the words of Jeremiah 6:16, for our children to "see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it...," literally from the Strong's Concordance description, "the true piety and uncorrupted morals that are ascribed to the men of old."

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death," Proverbs 16:25 tells us. I pray for the wisdom to seek out the ancient ways, not just the old ways.

(photo credit to richj_gsy at Flickr)

Draw Your Sword

"DRAW YOUR SWORD" ~ Westley, the farmboy, Princess Bride

We have the opportunity to raise up warriors for His Kingdom. We have the privilege to equip them to fight the Good Fight. The battle is real. Prayer on their behalf is a powerful weapon. We are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world...against wicked spirits in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 6:12 NLT). God's word (our sword) prayed back to HIM promises to not come back void.

So, for the sake of my children, I pray this...

"Father, I pray that (children's names) would put on the whole armor of God, that they may be able to stand in this battle. I pray that their waist would be girded with truth, having but on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod their feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which they will be able to quench all the fiery darts if the wicked one. I pray that they would take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance...(Ephesians 6:11-18)."