by Elizabeth | Aug 22, 2011 | Learning Story
A good question to ask your kids: Who ARE you??:)
Facebook was full of it. Headline News featured it. It must be a hot topic, so why not weigh in? The focus seems to be on parents struggling with kids going back to school. I wrote this a few years ago, and as I reread it, I found that I still agree with it and want to begin this new school year as a parent with the gospel way as my center:
Christian ethics is not a matter of ‘discovering who you truly are’ and then being true to that. It is a matter, as Jesus and Paul insist, of dying to self and coming alive to God, of taking up the cross, of inaugurated eschatology, of becoming in oneself not ‘what one really is’ already but ‘what one is in Christ’, a new creation, a small, walking, breathing anticipation of the promised time when the earth shall be filled with God’s glory as the waters cover the sea.”
N.T. Wright, The Bible and Tomorrow
Wright points out that our culture often tells us to ‘look inside’ to find that ‘inner creativity’ to make an impact in the world. Thank God, a M.O.M.’s core story tells me something different – it’s not from within me but from without that the power for transformation comes and has come. I don’t have to look for the perfect parenting program or school them in the latest educational approach or use the correct disciplinary method to grow children God’s way. It is not entirely up to me to do it right. I can admit that I’m weak, broken, mean and confused. I can do all of this because of the gospel story which tells me that resurrection has changed me and will change me. On dark days, the power for hope comes from remembering resurrection – Christ was raised from the dead, and in that moment, he made me a new creation. And not only that, but it is through Christ’s being raised to life that my kids will be raised – TO LIFE!
by Elizabeth | Aug 19, 2011 | Learning Story
I’ve decided to do it. Write a food blog. At least one. I love food, and feasting is a regular and important occurrence in our family and in my theology (see Story Feasting and Chapter Four and Seven of Learning God’s Story of Grace.). Lately we’ve had a lot, trying to finish up birthday feasts for all four children who have summer birthdays before all but one left for college. (I know we didn’t finish, Robert). Last night was our second child’s last night at home before returning to school, and she got to choose her feast. In a beautiful cookbook called Peace Meals, given to me by the wonderful ladies at Spring Cypress Presbyterian Church, she discovered a recipe for Deep Dish Spinach Pizza. I’ve been making Spinach-Pesto pizza for years (after I convinced the kids that it was Chuck-E-Cheese’s special recipe (but that’s another story.) Guess what — Deep dish pizza is not that difficult to make. Don’t get me wrong — this took a while, making the dough, sauteeing spinach and garlic, chopping all the veggies, and then putting it all together. But it is doable — you could even use that great dough from Publix. Enough talking. Here are the pics. I can’t give you the recipe because I think that would violate copyright. But it’s basically dough, sauce (I use Tre Fratelli), sauteed spinach and garlic, basil, tomatoes, green and red peppers, and six-cheese Italian blend.
by Elizabeth | Aug 16, 2011 | Learning Story
We were made for shalom; how do we live in broken shalom?
Your job is cut. A child dies. Your rotator cuff is torn — again. Refrigerator and microwave die at the same time.
Ian Duguid, in writing about the life of Abraham, describes a “reality gap,” “between what God has promised and the circumstances in which you find yourself. Surely this isn’t what life should be like as a Christian, you think to yourself.”
Dr. Duguid explains our struggle in the reality gap:
“So how do you stay strong in the midst of the reality gap, when you find yourself drowning in painful feelings, dire circumstances, or broken relationships? The answer is simple — at least in theory. You cling to the promises of God and the God of the promises. You don’t have to understand; you just have to cling. That is the lesson that Abraham had to learn. Like so many of us, he had to learn the lesson not once, not twice, but repeatedly….
We have an advantage over Abraham. We have the whole history of God’s faithful dealings with his people, recorded in the Scriptures for our instruction. What is more, God’s promises to us have been signed and sealed in the broken body and blood of Christ…We have this further assurance: ‘God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’ (Romans 8:32) Ian Duguid, Living in the Gap between Promise and Reality
A prayer for those struggling in the reality gap:
Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Today I hurt and I wonder what you are up to in my life. My head knows you promise to work in our lives for our good and your glory; right now my heart doubts that this story is very good for me. What are you doing? Why are you letting me suffer? My narrow perspective can’t see the whole picture. Stun me with the brightness of your glory. Knock me over with the power punch of your goodness. Fill my mind with memories of how you’ve moved in the past and sustain me with a vision of what you will do in the future. Thank you, God, that the only thing you ask is that I cling to the crucified, and that you wrap my heart around this hope. You are indeed God; I daresay again that you are good. So very amen.
by Elizabeth | Aug 15, 2011 | Learning Story
“Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.” Matthew 21:31
Have you ever heard the self-righteousness in your tone or words even as they are coming out of your mouth? What did you do? I am ashamed to say I had that experience yesterday when I had the opportunity to share in the human condition but instead went the route of ‘holier-than-thou.” That would be bad enough, but what made it even worse is I repeated this story several times, making sure everyone knew how cool I was because I can see what is truly valuable. I just read these words from Tim Keller. Not only do they point to the dangers of self-righteousness, but they remind me that the gospel is for people like me, who fall in all kinds of sin, including self-righteousness. Read this and rejoice with me in the gospel for the not-good.
Religion and philosophy in general says that God and salvation are only for those who are good. The gospel is also exclusive. It says that God and salvation are only for those who know they are not good and can only be saved by grace. But the gospel has a far more inclusive exclusivity! Anyone can belong to God through the gospel at once, regardless of record and background, regardless of who you have been or what you have done or how weak you are. Religion is for the noble, the able, the moral, the strong, but the gospel is for anyone. Jesus actually said that the able, moral and strongare in general farther from the kingdom than the moral failures and the spiritually weak.
(Matt.21:31).
by Elizabeth | Aug 11, 2011 | Learning Story
This isn’t a Pollyanna post. This is a reality check. Sarai did many things before she laughed…do I want to wait as long as she before I embrace God’s hilarious grace? Read this diamond from Charles Spurgeon:
“And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” Genesis 21:6
It was far above the power of nature, and even contrary to its laws, that the aged Sarah should be honoured with a son; and even so it is beyond all ordinary rules that I, a poor, helpless, undone sinner, should find grace to bear about in my soul the indwelling Spirit of the Lord Jesus.
I, who once despaired, as well I might, for my nature was as dry, and withered, and barren, and accursed as a howling wilderness, even I have been made to bring forth fruit unto holiness.
Well may my mouth be filled with joyous laughter, because of the singular, surprising grace which I have received of the Lord, for I have found Jesus, the promised seed, and He is mine for ever. This day will I lift up psalms of triumph unto the Lord who has remembered my low estate, for ‘my heart rejoiceth in the Lord; mine horn is exalted in the Lord; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in Thy salvation.’
I would have all those that hear of my great deliverance from hell, and my most blessed visitation from on high, laugh for joy with me. I would surprise my family with my abundant peace; I would delight my friends with my ever-increasing happiness; I would edify the Church with my grateful confessions; and even impress the world with the cheerfulness of my daily conversation.
Bunyan tells us that Mercy laughed in her sleep, and no wonder when she dreamed of Jesus; my joy shall not stop short of hers while my Beloved is the theme of my daily thoughts. The Lord Jesus is a deep sea of joy: my soul shall dive therein, shall be swallowed up in the delights of His society.
Sarah looked on her Isaac, and laughed with excess of rapture, and all her friends laughed with her; and thou, my soul, look on thy Jesus, and bid heaven and earth unite in thyjoy unspeakable. Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
by Elizabeth | Aug 9, 2011 | Learning Story
Who is the architect and builder of our lives?
Yesterday I wrote a post about leaving my daughter at college that was really about the necessity of prayer as parents. Today I received this in the mail — this is a great prayer about how and what to pray as parents:
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Ps. 127:1–3
Heavenly Father, it is a liberating joy to address you today as the architect and builder of your own house—including the household of faith and our children’s place in your family. No one loves our children more than you. No one has a greater investment in their future than you. No one can teach us to parent them like you.
As I look back over the years of my pragmatic parenting, I’m saddened, for there have been consequences. But I’m also gladdened, for you’ve always been faithful to your covenant love, even when I was overbearing and under-believing. The move from parenting by grit to parenting by grace has been a fitful, but fruitful journey. Take me deeper; take me further.
You’ve rescued me from parental “laboring in vain”—assuming a burden you never intended parents to bear. Father, only you can reveal the glory and grace of Jesus to our children. Only you can give anyone a new heart. You’ve called us to parent as an act of worship—to parent “as unto you,” not as a way of saving face, making a name for ourselves, or proving our worthiness of your love.
Oh, the arrogant pride of thinking that by our “good parenting” we can take credit for what you alone can graciously do in the lives of our children. Oh, the arrogant unbelief of assuming that by our “bad parenting” we’ve forever limited what you’ll be able to accomplish in the future. by Scotty Smith
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