Morning from Valley of Vision

Compassionate Lord,
thy mercies have brought me to the dawn of another day,
vain will be its gift unless I grow in grace,
increase in knowledge,
ripen for spiritual harvest.
Let me this day know thee as thou art,
love thee supremely,
serve thee wholly,
admire thee fully....

O ever watchful Shepherd,
lead, guide, tend me this day;
without thy restraining rod I err and stray;
hedge up my path lest I wander into unwholesome pleasure,
and drink its poisonous streams;
Direct my feet that I be not entangled in Satan's secret snares,
nor fall into his hidden traps.....

Come with almighty power amd cast him out, pierce him to death,
and abolish in me every particle of carnal life this day.

From Valley of Vision - A collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

Self-righteousness

I believe there are many ignored sins that "clutter" our Christian lives. My last post was on discontentment, which is one of those sins. Another is self-righteousness. Matthew 23 talks of the Pharisees and how they do things to be seen by others. "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matt. 23:12). Christ goes on to tell us in verse 25 that hypocrites "clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." This is a perfect definition of self-righteousness, that we make sure what others see is pleasing and possibly worth coveting, and yet what Christ sees is filthy, dirty unrighteousness.

After considering these things in my own life, I believe this is a sinful trap that a lot of Christian women fall into. We induce self-righteousness by comparing ourselves to others, worrying how others view us, and making sure we look like we have it all together. Forms of legalism can creep in here as we convince ourselves that the way we do things is the only way. We model our lives after what we see on the media and among Christians. I see this among Christian women's blogs. Some use it as an opportunity to boast in themselves, their children, their homemaking skills causing many who read it to feel that's what the Christian life looks like. If you have a platform to speak, let it be to make much of Him and less of you. Share your suggestions and thoughts on the home and raising children but ultimately, let God be glorified and exalted.

Discontentment

Philippians 4:11-13 says, "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have leaned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

In the country of America, we can ironically face much discontentment. We are discontent with material things such as houses, cars, clothing, finances, etc. We are discontent with personal relationships such as spouses, children, friends, parents. We are discontent with our circumstances, our careers or lack of, our insignificance, lack of recognition, etc. Discontentment shows that you don't trust God, you don't believe He knows what's best for you, you are self-centered and ungrateful. Ouch! I see it at times in my own heart and as a mother, I see how my self-centeredness and ungratefulness is cultivating the same in my children.

I encourage you today to mediatate on this passage. Confess any discontentment you may have in your heart and repent of the sin of self-centeredness. Paul had much more to complain about then we do and yet he rejoiced in God who gives him strength. Living life abundantly requires rejoicing instead of complaining. May you rejoice in the Lord today!

Self-indulgence

James 5:1-6

Compared to some in the world, I am rich. And compared to others, I am poor. It depends upon where you live in this world as to whether you are considered rich or poor. In reality, we are rich if we have more than we need. And let's face it....most of us have more than we need. But when I read this passage in James, I am most convicted, not about the amount of money I have or don't have, but the level of importance I put on it. Verse 5 says, "You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter." Of course, immediately my mind goes to how many Christian Americans live self-indulgent lives. But God's Word is a light to my path and when the light of this verse is shone on my path, what is revealed? I pray you will consider the same. "A life without self-denial is a life that soon runs out of control in every area," quoted John MacArthur in one of his sermons on this passage.

What is shaping you?

It is inevitable that you will be shaped by what you are most influenced by; that could be the world but I pray it is God's Word. The world will shape you in such a way that God and His Word will look boring to you. How can it be that the God of the universe, who created all things and by whom all things are held together, the One who knows the very details of every living creature great and small, the One who controls every act of nature from the things you see to the depths of the ocean where you cannot see, who has spoken to us and given us His written word, be boring? It must be that you have left His word sitting on the shelf thinking that it is not relevant for your present day life. John Piper says it best, "Without Bible reading, meditating, memorizing, you starve the grace that God puts in you designed to thrive on the Word of God." I encourage you this week to hold fast to the Word of God. Do not absorb more from the world than the Word. Instead, fix your attention on Him.

Resolutions by Edwards

One of my favorite preachers and authors is Jonathan Edwards. When he was 20 years old, he wrote, over a period of several months, 69 resolutions. I love to read these over for they remind me how temporal things are around me and they encourage me to be more heavenly minded. One of my favorites is #53 and it says,

"Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him, that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer." July 8, 1723

As the new year begins, may you set your mind on heavenly matters and let the distractions of this world pass you by.

I am too busy!

I have come to despise the word "busy". And it is at this time of the year that I seem to hear it and say it the most. What am I truly busy with? I ask myself, not just have I forgotten the reason for Christmas, but more.....have I forgotten the purpose for which I am created? I am created to bring glory to God and not to myself. I have to wonder if all the things that I am busy with are truly for His glory or mine? I can't help but think of Mary and Joseph and the fact that there was no room for them....or for Christ, the Savior of the world. Were the citizens of the town so busy that they did not notice the baby to be born that night in Bethlehem? Forbid that I would be like them! As Spurgeon said, "Oh! sinner, if thou hast room for him let him be born in thy soul today." Consider your busyness and who is it for. Contemplate Christmas and the treasure of Christ dwelling among us.

New Beginning

This excerpt is from Valley of Vision:

Incomprehensible, Great, and Glorious God,
I adore thee and abase myself.
I approach thee mindful that I am less than nothing,
a creature worse than nothing.
My thoughts are not screened from thy gaze,
My secret sins blaze in the light of thy countenance.
Enable me to remember that blood which cleanseth all sin,
to believe in that grace which subdues all iniquities,
to resign myself to that agency
which can deliver me from the bondage of corruption
into the glorious liberty of the sons of God.

Conviction

I can think of 100 other things that I could be doing with my life right now. Things that wouldn't bring such controversy. However, the key word is "my". It is not mine to have. I was created for His glory, therefore, I will stand for truth and righteousness at whatever the cost. I'm not seeking approval from others or trying to win their affections. I seek to exalt Christ and encourage others who claim His name to live by His standards. I don't want to be doing 100 other things....I want continue to point young people to truth and to have enormous care for the condition of their eternal soul. This is my conviction and my calling.

Remind me, Lord.....

.....of what my purpose is while in this world. The song is true, how my heart is prone to wander from You and Your purposes. I become so distracted by the world around me. I covet so much and how easily discontentment finds me. I find my pursuit is for my own happiness and not Your glory. Thank you for reminding me that it's not about me. One of the prayers in Valley of Vision says,

When I desire worldly possessions,
help me to be rich toward thee;
When the vanities of the world ensnare me,
let me not plunge into new guilt and ruin.
May I remember the dignity of my spiritual release,
never be too busy to attend to my soul,
never be so engrossed with time
that I neglect the things of eternity;
thus may I not only live, but grow towards thee.

Is God enough?

Forgive me for my laziness in posting this last few weeks. I have been contemplating this lie that Satan tells us, "God is not enough". I am quickly realizing that I am not enough, no matter how hard I try to be. I've tried to consider in what ways was I believing this lie, although my mind says I'm not, but my actions speak otherwise. I find that often I put an addendum on God: all is well when this is like this, or when I have that, instead of "all is well when it's just God". Consider.....what do you try to add to God? It all breaks down to your own happiness, that's a given, but try to be specific. Is it good grades, a peaceful homelife, the right image, a certain relationship, etc. As I thought about Job this week and how God was enough for him, I wonder if He is enough for me? Oh, how my mouth wants to shout out a "YES" but I will pause and check my hands to see what am I still holding on to....

Enslaved

I've been reading recently the Old Testament and specifically about the bondage of the Israelites in Egypt. It truly is a fascinating story of how God delivered them out of slavery but that tends to be all that we focus on. The deliverance is only sweet when you recognize the bondage they were in. For a moment, compare their bondage to the bondage we're often in here in the present time. Quoted by Andrew Peterson in his song "Deliver Us".....

Our enemy our captor is no Pharaoh on the Nile,

Our toil is neither mud, nor brick, nor sand.

Our ankles bear no callouses from chains yet, Lord, we're bound,

Imprisoned here we dwell in our own land.

Our sins they are more numerous than all the lambs we slay,

Our shackles they were made with our own hands.

Our toil is our atonement and our freedom Yours to give

So, Yahweh break this silence if you can.

When he sings about our shackles being made with our own hands, WOW! Consider....what shackles have you made? What is keeping you in bondage or enslaved to sin? For some, it is image. For others, it is pride. For me it is ______________(fill in the blank for yourself).

May you recognize your shackles and your Deliverer. And may the Truth set you free!!

What are you using God for?

While studying God's Word today and reading a little from John Piper, I realized that Christians often times use God for their own gain. John 17:3 says, "This is eternal life, that they know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." This is the Gospel, plain and simple. We may think eternal life is freedom from pain or being with loved ones or freedom from sin. Then we allow that kind of thinking to permeate our actions and responses here on earth. We may want forgiveness in order to feel relief from guilt. Or, we may want direction and guidance so we can make it further in the corporate world. Maybe we want healing so we can stay longer with our loved ones. Whatever it is that you desire, are you using God in order to achieve it? We are guilty of savoring the creation and not the Creator. John Piper says it best, "God will not be used as a currency for the purchase of idols." Remember, all things were created by Him, through Him, and for Him. It's all for Christ and the glory of God................what are you using it for?

The stranger I live with.....

.....is my own heart. Anthony Burgess said, "Men are great strangers to their own hearts." I've been deeply considering this lately as I have been reading a book on Jonathan Edwards (one of my favorites).

Jeremiah 17:9 states it clearly that "the heart is deceitful". So what does a deceitful heart look like and why am I considered a stranger to it? Quoted from the book I'm reading, William Whately says, the heart of man "is the devil's storehouse, an heap of odious lusts; his tongue is a fountain of cursing and bitterness, and rotten communication; his hand is a mischievous instrument of filthiness, deceit, violence; his eyes great thouroughfares of lust, pride, and vanity...In his soul and body there lies the spawn of all wickedness: of atheism, of pride, of unbelief, of hypocrisy, of rebellion, of impatience, of hatred and contempt of God, and of His Word, of indevotion, of profaneness, of ambition, of wrath, of filthiness, of worldliness, of arrogancy, of self-conceitedness, of murders, of whoredoms, of thefts, of perjuries, and whatsoever thing besides, is hateful to God, and contray to His most holy law."

If you can't understand how the heart works then you will never understand your need for a Savior. The reason we are strangers to our own hearts is because we deny the power of sin and the depravity of our soul. Our actions originate in and come from the heart (Matt. 15:18). Consider your heart and the condition it's in that you may no longer be a stranger to it.

*Quotes taken from Knowing the Heart: Jonathan Edwards on True and False Conversion edited by William C. Nichols

New to blogging.....

Yes, I am new to the blogging world. New to writing one but not new to reading and following them. Mainly because, as you listen to the first song on my playlist, I have nothing to say....about myself, that is. But after reading so many and following some, it soon became very obvious that many Christian blogs (and other internet spaces) were self-glorifying. I was deeply bothered by this and desired to have my "own space" where I don't make much of myself but of God.

Who I am is simple: I am a redeemed wife and mother. God has blessed me with a beautiful family, although you won't find them being paraded here. Instead, you will find beautiful pictures of God's creation. I have always been drawn to gardens for they showcase His creation and it is breathtaking. And the things I have learned through my journey with Christ I will share here, therefore calling it "my garden of grace".

May you smell the sweet aroma of Christ, see the beauty of His creation and hear His tender call as you walk with me through my garden of grace.

My first post

Since here and now matters so little and eternity matters so much, the question we should be asking ourselves is how much of today's investments impacted eternity, and how much were wasted on just here and just now.