by Kimberly | Oct 3, 2012 | 31days, Bible
A new friend pointed me to this Psalm as a way that she was able to persevere through the first couple of weeks of her child’s life. Once her sweet daughter was born she was immediately taken into surgery and then faced several days in the NICU. Sounds familiar – except the surgery part. I haven’t even met this friend or her daughter but already I know we are going to be good friends.
This Psalm I have whispered to myself probaby 100 times over the past two weeks. I have whispered it to Eric as we lay in bed at night, exhausted from a newborn and the joys of moving to a new state. It is definitely taken out of context, because we know the psalmist is not moving and has not just born a child, but the truth remains because God never changes.
Psalm 68.19 “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah.”
I hope this offers you encouragement in whatever daily battles you are facing.
by Kimberly | Jun 19, 2012 | Bible, James
There are two types of wisdom according to the book of James: earthly and “wisdom from above”. Which one characterizes you and your daily interactions with other believers. As I read some in Lydia Brownback’s book this morning, I was reminded of how we should act and be in our relationships with other believers, especially in corporate gatherings.
So often since I’ve been old enough to recognize it, I see and dislike politics within the church. I am not talking here about Democrats and Republicans. I am more referring to one-upping others to get one’s way or catering to the powers that be or financial preferences one can see any virtually any religious organization or denomination. I’m referring to fights at religious gatherings or arguments over non-important matters. Even in important matters, there is a way to discuss with “wisdom from above.”
As we relate every day as Christians in a world full of other Christians, all in need of saving grace, may we remember these verses:
James 3:13-18
“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
by Kimberly | Jun 18, 2012 | Bible, mothering, parenting
Conway Twitty. I remember riding in the car blaring 97 Country or sitting in our trailer on the Suwannee listening to him. His voice is unmistakable. One of my favorite songs by him is “That’s My Job” about a dad to a son. I woke up singing it this morning and then as I was quoting it to the hubs this morning over breakfast, tears flowed. I knew what the post would be today.
I woke up cryin’ late at night when I was very young
I had dreamed my father had passed away and gone
my world revolved around him I couldn’t lie there anymore
so I made my way down the mirrored hall and tapped upon his door
And I said Daddy I’m so afraid how will I go on with you gone that way
Don’t wanna cry anymore so may I stay with you and he said
Chorus:
That’s my job
that’s what I do
everything I do is because of you to keep you safe with me
that’s my job you see
Later we barely got along this teenage boy and he
most of the fights it seems were over different dreams we each held for me
he wanted knowledge and learning
I wanted to fly out west
said I could make it out there if I just had the fare
I got half will you loan me the rest
and I said Daddy I’m so afraid there’s no guarentee in the plans I’ve made
and if I should fail who will pay my way back home
and he said
::CHORUS::
Every person carves his spot and fills the hole with light
and I pray some day I might light as bright as he
I woke up early one bright fall day to spread the tragic news
after all my travels I settled down within a mile or two
I make my living with words and rhyme and all this tragedy
should go into my head and out instead as bits of poetry
but I say Daddy I’m so afraid how will I go on with you gone this way
how can I come up with a song to say I love you
That’s my job
that’s what I do
everything I do is because of you to keep you safe with me
that’s my job you see
My friend, Lara, posted a convicting blog the other day about our job as parents. So, that is where I want to take this post:
The Bible has much to say about what our jobs are as parents. As E and I have both celebrated our first “Day” now and we get closer and closer to the birth of our son, we are only beginning to realize the burden and responsibility (and joy) that it is to raise a son in light of the Gospel.
Here are some Scriptures that remind us of what our job is as parents:
Colossians 3:21
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Psalm 78:1-11
Proverbs 22:6
Of course, these are just some of the MANY that tells us what we are to do with our children, for our children. But, no where in the Bible does God, our Father, tell us to SAVE our children. We cannot. The job of our child’s salvation is not ours. The role of salvation in our children is directed by the Holy Spirit. When we get overwhelmed with the responsibility of making sure our children follow Christ one day, all we can do is:
Pray. Lead. Guide. Teach. Train.
Let’s obey what God has told us to do and leave the worrying, fretting, and salvation regeneration to the only One who is able to do so.
by Kimberly | Jun 7, 2012 | Bible, Women
Continuing on our discussion of the Danvers Statement from yesterday, we finish off with Affirmations 6-10. I hope these have been an encouragement to you and not another list of rules to follow. Sometimes it is difficult to know how to apply Scripture to our lives when sin has marred the world we live in. Thank God that He is redeeming all of creation for His glory!
6. Redemption in Christ aims at removing the distortions introduced by the curse, both in the family and in the church. (Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7; 1 Cor 11:2-16)
The death of Christ on the cross is available for all who believe (and if they believe they will be the elect of God). God knows those whom He has saved – both male and female. Males don’t have an easier time being saved. We are all on equal footing: sinners in need of a Savior. While we are equal in that rite, there are some standards and roles that God set up before the foundation of the world, that now that sin has entered the picture, these roles are more difficult to adhere to – but nevertheless, we are told to adhere to them. Husbands and wives have equal partnership but different roles in the home. Elders and roles in the church that require biblical teaching of men needs to be reserved only for men. God has a great purpose in this. We would find great joy in the beauty of submission in these areas.
7. In all of life Christ is the supreme authority and guide for men and women, so that no earthly submission – domestic, religious, or civil – ever implies a mandate to follow a human authority into sin. (Daniel 3:10-18; Acts 4:19-20; 1 Peter 3:1-2)
This definitely was seen with the DOMA voting that occurred in NC recently. Many politicians and even many Christians Iwere agreeing with the government in their allowance of homosexual and lesbian marriages. There were so many issues that were included in this. My thought process started out as one thing, moved to another, and then voting day came and went. We do not live in a theocracy. Even though truth is truth, we can’t expect non-Christians to want to adhere to the same biblical truth that we obey and live under. So, even if we passed a lot (which NC did) that marriage is between one man and one woman, it is only one state – any couple can just choose to up and move to another state. As Christians, we have a different standard in life than non-Christians. Non-Christians will be under the wrath of God at judgment day. We have been freed from the wrath of God because of the blood of Jesus. But we can’t impose biblical standards on those that don’t believe Christ is the only way to heaven. But, we must live according to the Bible. And that goes for every area of our lives: home, church, gender roles, etc.
8. In both men and women a heartfelt call to ministry should never be used to set aside biblical criteria for particular ministries. (1 Tim 2:11-15; 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9)
Earlier on in my life I struggled with this one, primarily because I hadn’t been taught any better. When I was in college, I was assistant to our youth pastor at a church (whom I loved and learned a lot from and loved being in ministry with those girls and families). I was encouraged to go to a certain seminary because the seminary I wanted to attend put too many restraints on women. When I started being taught what the Bible had to say about roles within the church, I learned more about women could do and what women couldn’t do. These mandates are not set up for our punishment, but for our good, for us to thrive under God’s authority. When women will come to me saying they are being led of God to be a pastor, I honestly have to suppress a laugh (which is sinful), but then I’m hurt that they don’t see the laws of God as beautiful. I want them to open their eyes and see God’s beauty. What this is saying is not that women have nothing to say to men or they don’t have the ability to teach, it is just saying God’s way is His way and it is the best for our good and His glory in the church, our families, and the world.
9. With half the world’s population outside the reach of indigenous evangelism; with countless other lost people in those societies that have heard the gospel; with the stress and miseries of sickness, malnutrition, homelessness, illiteracy, ignorance, aging, addiction, crime, incarceration, neuroses, and loneliness, no man or woman who feels a passion from God to make His grace known in word and deed need ever live without a fulfilling ministry for the glory of Christ and the good of this fallen world. (1 Cor 12:7-21)
Some people ask this question: can a women lead a man to Christ. By all means, yes. That is declaring the truths of salvation. Whether you are sitting on a bus, waiting at a terminal or hospital, sharing with your husband – this isn’t haven’t Scriptural authority over a man in a church’s teaching role. There are many ministries: orphanages, nursing, sex trafficking freedom, etc that women can do and have such a great impact in this world. Why some women understand that the only way they can have an impact for the kingdom is by preaching to men/leading worship to men is beyond me? There is so much more out there. Women can have a huge impact for the gospel in many arenas that men can’t. Think of Muslim cultures. Men and women don’t talk to each other. How else will these lost women hear the gospel if women don’t share it with them?
10. We are convinced that a denial or neglect of these principles will lead to increasingly destructive consequences in our families, our churches, and the culture at large.
This has definitely been the case. Look at: single-parent homes, divorce rate both in and outside the church, the feminization of the church, lack of men’s involvement in local churches, gay marriages and lifestyles on the rise.
The Danvers Statement was written 25 years ago. Men and women have been upholding it by the grace of God ever since. Will you strive to live by the laws and beautiful truths found in God’s Word, or will you demand your own way. Self-enslavement is worse than God-enslavement (taken from Amy Spiegel’s new book, Letting Go of Perfect).
Go in peace and grace.
by Kimberly | Jun 5, 2012 | Bible, mothering, Worship
The following quote is taken from the 1689 London Baptist Confession:
And verily there is one spring and cause of the decay of religion in our day which we cannot but touch upon and earnestly urge a redress of, and that is the neglect of the worship of God in families by those to whom the charge and conduct of them is committed. May not the gross ignorance and instability of many, with the profaneness of others, be justly charged upon their parents and masters, who have not trained them up in the way wherein they ought to walk when they were young, but have neglected those frequent and solemn commands which the Lord hath laid upon them, so to catechise and instruct them that their tender years might be seasoned with the knowledge of the truth of God as revealed in the Scriptures; and also by their own omission of prayer and other duties of religion of their families, together with the ill example of their loose conversation, having, inured them first to a neglect and the contempt of all piety and religion? We know this will not excuse the blindness and wickedness of any, but certainly it will fall heavy upon those that have been thus the occasion thereof; they indeed die in their sins, but will not their blood be required of those under whose care they were, who yet permitted them to go on without warning – yea, led them into the paths of destruction? And will not the diligence of Christians with respect to the discharge of these duties in ages past rise up in judgment against and condemn many of those who would be esteemed such now?
Breakdown of the family unit in today’s society is something that not only Christians and churches worry about, but for many reasons politicians and sociologists are concerned with it as well. However, this isn’t just a problem that plagues our society today. It is a problem that for over 300 years church leaders have seen as something that needs to be addressed.
I live in a part of town that is known for some crime and general “lolly gagging” by people of all ages. This part of town is also known for single-parent homes or absent parents altogether. Latch key syndrome. Yes, this is definitely a problem and the breakdown of the family has been at least one cause, if not the leading cause, of the rise in crime among teenagers/college students. The trend continues.
I think another danger that we have to be careful of is a type of legalism. I was watching a video the other day that showed four youth getting baptized. All of them said something like this: “My parents raised me in a Christian home and we read the Bible, did Christian things, etc. But, it wasn’t until later that I accepted Christ.”
The Psalms and Proverbs talk much about delighting in the Word, meditating on the Word, etc. Deuteronomy 6 tells fathers to talk about the Word every chance you get – teaching it to your children. It is something we are commanded to do as parents. It is our main responsibility. But, we are parents cannot assume that our church going and Bible reading is going to save our children.
1. Shepherd your children. By leading home worship you are doing this very thing. Home Worship doesn’t need to be long and complex. Some ways my husband and I started doing it when we were engaged were praying together at night and reading a Bible verse at meal times. We look forward to continuing and building upon that when Baby Campbell arrives. If you have someone who can sing or play an instrument (or a YouTube video), incorporate singing into your home worship routine. Make sure the Word and the Gospel are intrigal parts of your time together and that you do it. It doesn’t have to be done every day, but some sort of schedule will help you keep doing it – habit, right?
2. Home Worship can’t save your children. In Elyse Fitzpatrick’s book Give Them Grace, she talks about rule following that would lead your children to be better Pharisees (in a negative light) than Christ-followers. The heart of your children need to be changed by a gracious God. We can’t save our children by doing more and better home worship, or demanding their obedience, or regulating their wardrobe, iPod playlist, or friends. We can give them the Word and pray for their salvation, showing them much grace and forgiveness as they are coming up in our homes.
Grace and discipline. The two go together in this thinking of home worship. We need to have discipline to do home worship with family members and show the Word of God as a permanent and prominent fixture in our home. One of the ways we are doing that as we prepare for Baby Campbell’s arrival is by adorning the nursery walls with Scripture. We also must rely on grace. We can’t possibly adhere to the true gospel and think that by us doing family worship, even every night of the week, will gain us (or our children) an audience and relationship with God – we can’t have that apart from Christ. The Gospel is D-O-N-E not D-O.
“As the years go by, more and more we realize that if our children turn out right, it is only because of amazing grace.” – Joel Beeke, Parenting by God’s Promises
by Kimberly | May 29, 2012 | Bible
“Let every creature rise and bring, their grateful praises to our King.
Angels decend with songs again, and earth repeats a loud amen.”
Neil and Kate Robins – Sojourn, Advent Songs
Psalm 148:
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the LORD!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the LORD!
(Psalm 148 ESV)
(Picture taken by Eric Campbell at the South Carolina Aquarium on 5/25/12 – Charleston, SC)
