Everyone is entitled to their own 'stupid' opinion

My dear Prince has often said when a bit disgusted by someone's blathering that everyone is entitled to their own 'stupid' opinion. Now he is just jesting...mostly.

This past Sunday I was deeply convicted and, indeed, even had an "Ah, ha!" moment. It is so true that much of what we argue about, or shall I say discuss with verve, is simply a matter of differing opinion.

I mean really, when was the last time I got into a heated debate about the sovereignty of God, or the absolute necessity of the cross, or the glorious mystery of the Trinity?

With shame I admit that it wasn't that long ago I spoke heatedly about the ignorant idea that we can actually spend ourselves out of debt. There's a bird-brained idea to argue about.

So when the Pastor began to discuss the need to accept one another in love (despite differing opinions) I was a bit rattled. But the best part was that it finally dawned on me that we really are entitled to our own opinions but that's all they are...opinions. Arguing about nonessentials as though they are essentials shows a lack of, even contempt for, love. Pastor Monty said, "If I do not accept folks as they are then I am not loving." Long ago in a Bible I simply wore the cover off of I had written on the flyleaf these words: "If I am not very loving then I am not very holy." Exactly.

Pastor's sermon also reminded me of an old 70s chorus (that's 1970s!) which went: If you want to be great in God's Kingdom then you must be the servant of all.

And finally I loved the sweet, meaningful phrase included in the sermon. We are to work toward unity and we are to treat those with differing opinions with benevolent kindness. Benevolent kindness. Because that is how God has treated us.

I would really like to be able to always accept another's opinion without judgment and to treat all with benevolent kindness.

Whew...I have a long way to go!

'Favorite' or 'Life' Verses

This past Sunday our Pastor related some 'life verses' from some well-known folks then asked if anyone would like to share their 'life verse'. I take seriously what Paul said in I Corinthians 14:34 that "in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church." Therefore, I did not share some of my 'favorite' verses. I am not always successful at keeping my mouth shut, but at least at this point in my life I feel badly and know that I have resisted the teaching of the Word when I speak when I ought not.

So I will share some of my 'favorite' or 'life' verses here:
...aspire to live quietly and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may live properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. I Thess.4:11-12
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." I Thess.5:16-18
...pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding." Romans 14:19
The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 2Tim. 4:18

Indeed, to Him be the glory!

Prayer for....

I wrote the following prayer awhile ago and I meant it. But now, much later, I realize that one doesn't always know what they are praying for or even about. It means much more to me now than when I first whispered it to my dear Lord Jesus.

In all things, Lord Jesus, you are Sovereign and Your preeminence in our lives continually gives us courage. And with your gift of courage You pour into us joy. And your immeasurable joy gives us comfort in everything You call us to do.

By Your generous grace we follow You wherever You lead and we do so with the confidence of a child. We welcome the opportunity to enter into Your suffering knowing full well that this is the road to maturity.

We love you, Lord Jesus. Help us to love You more.

Singing the old hymns...

We attend a church that has a 'blended' worship service. The preaching is inspiring, convicting, straight from God's Word and preached by someone I honor and respect. The order of service is pretty traditional and our monthly communion service includes excellent instruction and is very dear to me (I only wish it were more often!). Our Sunday School class is a source of learning, sharing, thinking and even struggling over some of the areas of Christianity where the rubber actually meets the road. I am learning much from it.

The music during the worship service is mostly contemporary with one traditional hymn. Now I have to say that most of the contemporary (7-11 choruses*) choruses that we sing are Scripturally correct. Occassionally we have one that doesn't exactly jive with Scripture. I even appreciate many of these contemporary songs, but I regret never having any music to read from (pretty hard to sing parts without it!) and I am a bit flustered by the fact that we are frequently singing choruses that are unfamiliar. There isn't one that we have sung in the past year that I could actually sing, or even hum, while I go about my domestic duties. And sometimes they are just plain hard to sing congregationally.

That brings me to the traditional hymns. I admit some of them didn't get right what I understand to be correct theology either. But there are many, many that do.

One that recently has been a source of comfort to me (and I can sing it without the music in front of me because I have been singing it for decades!) is What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

Meditate on these words:
What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!

It was the third line in this first verse that I've been thinking on. I am actually forfeiting my peace when I fail to go to my dear Lord Jesus for comfort, strength, peace and courage. I'm still thinking on this and hope to be more faithful in leaning on the everlasting arms when I'm in the garden or elsewhere.

So bottom line: I love the old hymns on which I was raised; I can appreciate the contemporary songs, but consider their form of delivery deficient (no music, no parts etc.) and sometimes their Scriptural accuracy is lacking.

Perhaps it really is a matter of preference, but even if it is, whether we sing traditional hymns or contemporary songs they MUST BE SCRIPTURALLY CORRECT. Maybe that's really the bottom line.

Humming about my friend Jesus as I go about the day. Now you're probably humming it, too.

* 7-11 choruses; seven words sung eleven times

Billy has ARRIVED!

Today was a very big day for two little girls (and one not so little, Aimee!).

Billy has arrived at the Blessed Life Ranch. He was a little anxious so the previous owners brought Dixie to keep him company for awhile until he gets use to us and the BLR. He is a Welsh pony and beautiful in every way. Gentle-natured, well-broke, and the color of Aimee's hair.

Well, he is just about perfect!

Run to Jesus in the storms of life!

Make no mistake: the storms of life come to us all. Some experience devastating loss for which there seems to be no explanation. Others may live with chronic pain or disability. Some endure the hardships of financial meltdown while others suffer through the agonies of a faithless spouse. Parents pray with groaning for a wayward child and many know the sting of a faithless friend.

I told someone recently (someone who is in the valley of affliction) that there seems to me to be only one answer when these storms of life assail us: Run to Jesus. Run. He will help you carry the load, indeed, He will carry you and the load. The Everlasting Arms will be your comfort and you can safely hide under the shadow of His wings. There just doesn't seem to be any other option for me as a Christian. I must run to Jesus in the storms of life and only there will I find the strength for each day...no matter what it brings.

So if you're looking for me, I am either running to Jesus or ...... running to Jesus!

Sunset on a beautiful Minnesota lake.

Thank you Bruce and Peggy for allowing us those splendid days at your lake home! They even got Grandma to go tubing. More fun than a person ought to have!

Sunrise at the Blessed Life Ranch

July 2010

Run to JESUS

I have posted about my home little signs that read "Run to JESUS!" The reason being: absolutely everything that comes my way can be appropriately addressed by my dear Lord Jesus. He is my comfort, joy, companion, teacher, instructor and, above all, my dearest, truest friend.

And how does one find out about our precious Lord?

The Scriptures.

I ran across an old hymn in an old hymnal entitled, "Thy Word Is Like a Garden, Lord", and since I am a gardener I was most appreciative of the analogy.

Thy Word is like a garden, Lord,
With flowers bright and fair;

And every one who seeks may pluck

A lovely cluster there.

Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine;

And jewels rich and rare

Are hidden in its mightly depths

For every searcher there.

O may I love Thy precious Word,

May I explore the mine,

May I its fragrant flowers glean,

May light upon me shine.

O may I find my armor there,

Thy Word my trusty sword;

I'll learn to fight with every foe

The battle of the Lord.

(I wish we sang more of these old hymns...sigh!)

So I have purposed in my heart to always run to Jesus and to find Him I need only look into His precious Word.

Sweet joy and a garden of delight!

Crocus Hill

We were up to Devils Lake on April 17 to celebrate my Mom's 90th birthday. Of course, we went to the Cove for lunch. It was great! Then we drove around the lake...well, some of the lake. It has become very large and we would have to get up very early in the morning to drive around ALL of the lake. We did drive out to the side of the lake where my grandparents had their farm and where my mom grew up. Of course, the farm is long gone and the shore line is now just a few feet from the farm house's previous location. It was once about 2 miles away! We drove around what was left of the farm land and pastures and had the thrill of climbing Crocus Hill, a place my mom eight decades ago picked the lovely harbinger of Spring. It was with a haunting joy that I huffed and puffed to the top.

We found an old dump hay rake and each took a turn sitting on it. I imagined my grandpa making hay on a hot July day and I could almost smell the sweet fragrance of fresh-cut grass.

Making hay and Crocus Hill...what a sweet treat. What a joy to spend the day with Mom.

The Cross Triumphant

I just completed reading aloud to my student, Alex, The Cross Triumphant, another fabulous publication from Lamplighter Publishing.

Written in the 19th Century this little gem describes clearly the law/grace debate and sets the story in the last 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation period just before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. I really grew to care about the young rabbi turned believer and felt deeply the horror of those last days just prior to the end of the Jewish age.

It was really worth reading.

Pastor Monty Strikes Again!

I am re-reading some of my notes from Resurrection Sunday and came across a few quotes I attribute to my shepherd.

• In dying we live.
• On the cross the Innocent is condemned.
• Our Benefactor is put to death.
• The Righteous One dying for the unrighteous.
• The Lord of Glory hanging on a cross!

Under my 'Remember this:' I have written:

The cross shows us the horrors of sin and God's inflexible justice. It was absolutely necessary so that we might be saved. There was no other way. In fact, the cross displays God's absolute holiness, His absolute justice, and His overwhelming mercy.

It is good to be reminded about these things...and more frequently than just on Resurrection Sunday.