by Kimberly | Aug 27, 2013 | Books, Uncategorized, Women & Books Together
We come to the final chapter of the Begg and Ferguson book on the names of Jesus. I hope if you have read this book along with us (or just read it in general) that it has been a great encouragement to you and given you new eyes with which to see your Savior. And if you haven’t read it – I pray that you will soon pick it up and renew or get a fresh glimpse of who Jesus is.
The authors have chosen to end this book with the last book of Bible: Revelation. Don’t let this book scare you – but allow it to show you the true and glorious look at Jesus as the Lamb on the Throne. Here are some thoughts I took away from this chapter:
1. Will we ever be like John the Revelator? As the authors talk about John – he is one who was faithful to the gospel as it had been revealed to him – and he was in trouble with the law for it. As we continue in a time of a governmental structure and world who don’t see the supremacy of Jesus – let us be bold in our sharing and believing of the gospel. We don’t have to go look for ways to be persecuted and imprisoned or exiled, but let us also be faithful to the gospel of Jesus.
2. Jesus’ whole life was in accordance with the Scripture. As Begg and Ferguson have pointed out many times before in this book – Jesus isn’t just a NT star. He is the agent of creation and continues His work all the way through the remainder of the Bible even to His supremacy in the book of Revelation and throughout eternity. I love how the Word is not contradictory or going in all different directions!
3. “Weep no longer, John!” (pg 165) The idea of no more tears or weeping in the presence of God is an overwhelming thought to me – especially right now as my hormones have me crying at least once a day! But, we usually think that there will be no more pain or sin, so that is the reason there will be no more weeping. And that is correct. But, another reason – maybe more of the central point to no more weeping – is that Jesus is doing what He was given power to do: reveal, open scrolls, defeat sin, and all in the presence of His Father and the saints who have been saved by His blood. There is no more searching!
4. “God is much simpler than all that!” (pg 171) The authors illumined something very important about the reading and understanding of Revelation and prophecy and the time to come. We don’t know for sure. We can think, scrutinize, be obstinate about our beliefs, or refuse to hear any other way of thinking. Books have been written throughout the modern era that all look at the end times and heaven and prophecies in a different way. We don’t know. What we do know: God will be there. He is good. Jesus and the Spirit will be there. Let us focus and hold to what we do know for sure. The authors have declared Jesus to be beautiful and worship-worthy – but sometimes we get so focused on the unimportant stuff that we will never figure out that we forget to look at the One for whom all is due: Jesus.
Let us focus on Jesus – the author and perfecter of our faith – as the writer of Hebrews says!
by Kimberly | Aug 20, 2013 | Books, Women & Books Together
This was another impactful chapter from Begg and Ferguson’s book Name Above All Names. I have learned that what I am experiencing in life helps determine how I will read a book – this one is no diferent. Here are some highlights from the “Suffering Servant” chapter:
1. Isaiah 53: “He carried our sorows” – Sin plays a harsh role in this world. Our sorrows are born from the sin in this world. But, we don’t need to carry them all by ourselves. We have communities: friends, blog readers (y’all), pastors, family members (some), but most of all we have a willing Jesus who already has born all of our sorrows and will continue to do so until He returns – (then we won’t have any because we’ll be perfect) – as He intercedes for us next to the throne of the Father. This is such a reassuring thought!
2. “How is it possible for the purpose of God to be at the heart of all this? How can Isaiah say – however reverently – that God is in control of it all, that it “was the will of the Lord to crush Him” (pg 140). This is an important doctrinal lesson to know and believe. If you can’t believe this fact – that God the Father was in charge of the darkest moment of history – then why would you believe that God is in charge of the darkest moments of your life?
3. “Our Lord’s outward posture here is expressive of the passion within” (pg 144). Though this quote is not talking about musical worship – I think the same principle applies. If we are passionate about God within – won’t we come to worship and participate in worship in an outward manner? That may mean different things like singing with a smile on our faces – singing loudly and expressively. It may mean getting on our knees or lifting our hands as far they can go and not caring about who sees (and also not being distracted by those who choose to worship in this manner). It may mean lifting our hands in prayer giving up our private worship to the God who sees. It will look different for different people – but we are all worshipers.
4. “All three persons would always be involved in everything God was doing. The Father would plan salvation, the Son would come to procure it, and the Spirit would be sent to apply it” (pg 144). Another important doctrine is the one of the Trinity. We can’t forget one of the persons of the Trinity in the work of salvation. I’ve learned a lot of this from Dr. Bruce Ware, a professor at SBTS, a gentle, humble, and brilliant father, husband, professor, and author. Our prayer life will change when we learn and love this doctrine. Our prayers of thanksgiving will change when we know and live this doctrine. Our corporate will worship will change when we see the magnificence of all the persons of the Trinity.
5. “My soul is overwhelmed” (pg 146). Jesus was a vulnerable Savior. He didn’t hide His true feelings. He was real with the disciples at the hardest moment of His life (up to this point). He wasn’t pithy or unreal with His disciples. He said He was overwhelmed. He ultimately knows that it is the will of His Father to crush Him – but He doesn’t hide His emotions (real, true, honest, not sinful) from those around Him. This is part of what makes Him the perfect Suffering Servant.
6. “It is this theology of the cross that we find here. God grant that in seeing Christ as the Suffering Servant we will be done once and for all with the superficial triumphalism that sadly emanates from too many Christian organizations and churches” (pg 155). How are you real and vulnerable with those in your church? How do you show compassion and true life with those in your church? Does everyone think you have it all together? I hope not. Because we are all sinners and have damaged lives but who are greatly redeemed by a compassioned Savior. Let us not diminish the work of Christ on the cross by having others think we have it all together.
Join me next week as we finish up the book! It’s been a great one for me!
by Kimberly | Aug 14, 2013 | Uncategorized
“My soul finds rest in God alone
My rock and my salvation
A fortress strong against my foes
And I will not be shaken
Though lips may bless and hearts may curse
And lies like arrows pierce me
I’ll fix my heart on righteousness
I’ll look to him who hears me”
Townend/Keyes – Psalm 62
Does anyone doubt we struggle against not flesh and blood but against a great and powerful enemy, who is known as the Father of Lies, who loves to feed God’s children with the lies of his mouth?
In the book I am reading, Name Above All Names, the authors Begg and Ferguson talk about the great conflict that is throughout the entire Bible. Starting in Genesis 3 and ending in Revelation – the conflict is always between Jesus and Satan. Good and evil.
Around me, in friendships I have all over the world – there is sickness, death, doubt, lie believing, struggles, unrepentant sin, tears. A friend has been praying for her children the truths of Psalm 119 that her children would not believe the lies of satan but would instead cling to the words of Truth found in Scripture.
Wherever you are this morning, this weekend, or whenever you read this – I pray that these truths that have been an encouragement to me to be used by God to diffuse the lies that Satan is feeding you: legalism, defeat, untruths, doubt – fix your eyes on the Word, the Gospel, the Victor – and you will not be moved even when the storms come (Matt).
Psalm 119:31-32: I cling to your testimonies, O Lord, let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!
Psalm 119:159: Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love!
Psalm 27:1-4: The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers asail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of The Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of The Lord and to inquire in his temple.
Isaiah 60 1-5, 9: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness, the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around and see, they all gather together, they come to you…then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall thrill and exult…for the coastlands shall hope for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar; their silver and their gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because He has made you beautiful.
Matthew 7:24-27: Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it didn’t fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.
What other Scriptures do you use to defeat the rehearsing of lies from the enemy and encourage your heart with Truth?
by Kimberly | Aug 13, 2013 | Books, parenting, sin, Uncategorized, Women & Books Together
On the first page of this chapter in Begg’s and Ferguson’s book, Name Above All Names, I have scribbled, “this chapter resends hope to me on every page”. What an encouraging page to head back to after having read it many weeks ago – especially on a day when my pregnancy hormones are crazy and it seems like every email or text I receive just hits me in the wrong way. HOPE
Here are some thoughts from the chapter on Jesus: Son of Man:
1. “We are struck by how deeply embedded some of their character traits seem to be” (pg 103). As a parent – do you wonder what traits you are passing to your children? I think about that often now that I have two loveable boys of our own. My husband often says that is one of the hardest jobs in parenting: seeing your sin looking back at you. I think my parents did a good job of raising me – but as an adult I see where some of my traits come from and it is scary to think that I too could pass on some less than desirable or Godly traits to my boys. This is where hope comes in. God is a God of bringing hope and change into a family. Just because your family is one way doesn’t mean that those traits and cycles have to continue to the next generation. Sebastian’s life verse ends in hope for the children in the coming generation – the good of the Lord (Jer 32:39) Do you parent or live like there is hope in breaking the sin cycle in your family?
2. “The kingdom of God will overwhelm all other kingdoms. The Kingdom of God will be established and will endure forevermore” (pg 105). I already dislike seeing ads for the Presidential race in 2016. Good that a new president will be coming either way, but not looking forward to the next 2+ years where the backbiting and slander will happen everywhere. And when the bad news comes on the news or as I watch previews for certain coming shows or movies – previews that revel in betrayal, sin, murder, affairs – I know that God is still on His throne and He will make all things right in His time. That brings me hope.
3. “The Son of Man is coming to the source of ultimate authority. It resides exclusively in the Ancient of Days, who is seated on the throne.” (pg 107). I’ve learned recently from Rob Rienow that any question of sin or dysfunction in this life is really a question of authority. Who is the ultimate authority in your life? Who is the ultimate authority in this world? If our answer is not God – we are wrong. Some will think and say and live and believe that they are their ultimate source of authority – but God created and gave life to everyone of us, so He is our ultimate authority. That is very hope-giving to me.
4. “The remarkable thing about this picture of Jesus is that He is never isolated from His people” (pg 108). I’ve actually thought much about this in light of some of the “suffering” and tears I’ve had over the last two months. Not all of my tears are hormone related. And one of the things that brings me the most comfort is that Jesus suffered. He had people slander him. Yet He believed and taught and lived truth and was planted firmly in the hand of God His Father. This brings me hope when I am going through trials.
5. “Kingdom grace brings more than forgiveness. It brings freedom from the powers of darkness and restoration to new life” (pg 118). My husband would probably like me to frame that quote. It was probably one of the most powerful in this whole book to me. Grace is the only thing that sets us free from the tyranny of listening to others, or repeating harmful lies to ourselves, by letting others’ thoughts control us, or by living in destructive habits that control our lives. Walk in light. Dwell in freedom.
by Kimberly | Aug 7, 2013 | life together, marriage, Uncategorized
Eating, and hospitality in general, is a communion, and any meal worth attending by yourself is improved by the multiples of those with whom it is shared.
Jesse Browner
Marriage includes many joys!
One of the highlights of marriage and ministry for my husband is the idea and general enthusiasm I have for hospitality. He is a very hospitable person – but how “odd” is it for a family from your church to come to lunch at the home of a bachelor? Even one who keeps his home immaculately and can cook a great meal. E was grateful for marriage for many reasons but one of them was his increased opportunity to practice hospitality. I’m all for it.
Most anytime I mention an idea I have to practice hospitality, my husband gives me the thumbs up. Here are some that we’ve had the joy to do in our home, yes, with an infant, yes, moving to a new town.
1. Write the Word parties: where a group of women come over one night every other month to talk about the word and write out or journal a specific book of the Bible. All I need is chairs and maybe extra pens. What is optional: coffee, tea, water, evening goodies. My husband hangs out with the little mister so I can focus on talking with the women who come over.
2. Worship Ministry Birthday Parties: My husband is a worship pastor and loves pastoring those in the choir and orchestra. And I am not a part of his choir, but I do want to be involved in his ministry. So, each month we pick a night to have the birthday people for that month (and their immediate families) over for a dessert time. I love to bake – sometimes I get to be creative, sometimes I don’t. But each month it has been a joy to get to know families – no matter how many birthday people can make it that month.
3. Men’s Discipleship Groups: Every other week my husband would meet with a group of men from the church to discuscuss a book on church ministry and leadership. I loved exploring some new breakfasts with this group, but I have to admit this one was the hardest because I experienced first trimester through this one. Early mornings were rough, but the men were gracious as was my husband. They survived some weeks on bagels or store bought muffins. And with this one, much of it could be prepared the night before and ready for Eric to welcome them in the morning.
4. Hang Out times: This one I’m sure many of you do anyway. I love being able to have women in our home during the day while E is at work. Baby can be sleeping, or other babies can come along and join in on the fun. Especially helpful if you just have something to drink on hand – but that is not necessary either. Fellowship in your home doesn’t require anything but an open door and a welcome smile.
5. Sunday Lunches: Our Sundays are long days as you can imagine, but the crockpot comes in handy for this one! Or you can always pick up a pizza on the way home! Pick a different single, couple, or family. This one with my family where it is right now is easy – because right when we get home little mister goes to bed, so he sleeps through almost anything. The afternoon is cozy and good for conversation. We don’t do this one a lot because of the hecticness of Sundays, but it is fun when it happens.
6. Porch Nights: This one is about to start. We have many single ladies in our church and I love ministering to them, discipling them, and getting to know them. We have a great porch with plenty of room. So, we are having a quarterly theme for the single ladies to get together and hang out – no agenda necessary. We are doing appetizers in August.
This post was meant to be a help to you – to know that you don’t have to have a big house, lots of money, a love for cooking, or home decorating to practice hospitality. I love opening our home to others. And God gives us the command to be hospitable to others! Have fun fulfilling this command!
