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Grace in the Contrasts
Fair-weather forecasters (probably not born and bred in Michigan) are saying this weekend is going to be chilly and drippy. But we know better, don’t we? As the northern winds and mist blow across our Mitten State a golden opportunity arises. A brief seasonal moment must be seized within a matter of days.
Of what do I speak? The autumn colors of bright red, orange, and yellow, of course! The chilly, drippy weather that unacclimated Eeyores despise comes with a grand payout: startling, jaw-dropping colors will splash across every horizon from Mackinaw to Detroit.
Come to think of it, that’s just like God.
Our Creator paints out His grace and glory in the contrasts.
Darkness then light. Evening then morning. Winter then spring.
Death then resurrection. Suffering then glory.
Feel the winds of His glorious grace in the contrasts…
We won’t understand God’s infiniteness until we understand the fractions of our finiteness.
We can’t comprehend the magnitude of God’s grace until we realize the magnitude of our sin.
We won’t know the intensity of fullest joy until we journey through valleys of pain.
We won’t taste the delights of the harvest until we spend time sweating and toiling in the field.
We can’t revel in the future weight of glory until we finish walking under the weight of the cross.
Our present sufferings will serve to intensify and amplify our future thanksgiving.
We see this path in the person of Christ through Mark’s gospel, especially highlighted at the epicenter of his account:
“And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again…” (Mark 8:31)
But this trail of contrasts into the weight of glory isn’t only for Christ, but for all who live as His followers:
“And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35; see also 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
As I now look out the window of my study, I see the cold rain dripping and dropping. The blanche-gray clouds overhead indicate no-end-in-sight. Damp, dreary moisture drenches the weathered leaves on nearby trees.
Perhaps your life resembles today’s weather. I’ve been in that place, too. The waiting, dripping, suffering, chill-to-the-bones sort of circumstances are pulling your heart into shadowed valleys. The storm ceiling leaves no indication of any end in sight.
Ah, my friend, but there is. The sun will rise on the damp, frosted leaves. Bright blazes of light will sing across the horizon. You’ll want to stop your car and capture a thousand pictures of the beauty.
And with Christ, the moment will be forever.
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This Sunday at 9:15AM and 10:45AM at Mayfair Bible Church, we will turn our hearts toward the Savior who came for sinners. We’ll behold His shocking, culture-erupting grace that invaded the hearts of the dirtiest, greediest, and darkest with Light and Love. I can’t wait to continue with another message in our new series through the Gospel of Mark – this week in Mark 2:13-22. See you then and, as always, feel free to bring a friend!
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Practice produces Progress
Our latest video-devotional:
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Recently, my little daughter, Everlynn, and I went up to Camp Barakel for their Father-Daughter Retreat, in which I was invited to preach. Among the beautiful forests and hills, we had the joy of engaging in all kinds of fun activities together: a zip-line, a giant 100’ slide, hiking, riflery, archery, and much more.
Everlynn and I have these target sheets from our one attempt at the rifles. I shot a .22 and she gave her best try at the BB gun.
As you can see, we weren’t too swift and savvy. The Marine Corps isn’t chomping at the bit to give us the marksman classification.
But of all the activities, Everlynn most enjoyed archery. Unlike riflery (which we gave just one attempt), Everlynn kept saying with a bright sparkle in her eyes, “Daddy, let’s go do archery again!” Three and four times we returned to let those arrows fly through the wind. With rapid progress, she became better and more at ease with each visit.
On our first try, should could barely get the arrows set on the string and they were flying all around the target and up into the trees. But after our third attempt at the range, she was landing those arrows into the target every time. Whap!
Progress!
Spiritual growth – progress forward as a Jesus-follower – doesn’t happen by a passive drip-process of reverse osmosis.
Justification and sanctification are by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But this does not mean we lean back, do nothing, perhaps take one stab at following Jesus, and then rest back on our laurels. Not at all. Through the life of Christ living inside us, God gives us the Holy Spirit’s power to practice.
God-guided practice produces holy sweat by the Holy Spirit.
Paul wrote to Christ-followers in Philippi:
“The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9)
Hear the cadence in the command to practice: “learned…received…heard…seen.” God has given us a guide for practice, a method of Spirit-empowered growth. Glancing back at the context of this command, we discover that practicing our focus on whatever is “true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good reputation, and worthy of praise” leads us into this peace (see Phil. 4:8).
Practice leads into Peace.
To the young pastor Timothy, the apostle wrote:
“Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.” (1 Tim. 4:15 – ESV)
Another way to translate the word “practice” in this verse is accurately rendered in the NASB: “Take pains with these things…”
Sometimes practice is pain – the pain of repetition, rudimentary memorization, and mental or muscle strain. Take those pains as gifts of God to grow you in Christ-likeness.
Practice involves Pain.
Progress doesn’t occur by passivity but through practice. But don’t miss this: the practice is a grace-given, Spirit-empowered discipline of what “things?” Here is Paul’s practice guide from the preceding verses:
“For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things. . . . in conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example to those who believe. . . give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” (from 1 Tim. 4:10-13)
So you and I must “pay close attention” in these steps of our practice and persevere in the practice! (v. 16)
Practice produces Progress.
Q: So what Spirit-empowered, grace-given practices have you been, perhaps, ignoring or resisting?
Prayer? Studying the Bible? Serving others?
Guarding what you watch, read, or immerse yourself in?
Gathering with the local church for worship, preaching, reading, training, and celebrating of the Lord’s Supper (which we’ll be enjoying this Sunday at Mayfair Bible Church)?
Think about it.
Lean into the practice. Take pains in the practice. Practice leads to progress.
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One Dying Leaf
One recent morning, I rushed through the double doors outside my study with ten pressing tasks on my mind. Yet five steps in, I saw out of the corner of my eye a small object flutter in the breeze.
I paused, looked down, and noticed a reddened maple leaf with a mosaic of orange, brown, and green hues blended through its feathery center. The deciduous remnant, apparently, blew through the night before and drifted slowly to the floor.
Without hesitation, I leaned over and picked up the lonely leaf. My first gut-instinct was to mindlessly tossed it in the nearby trash can.
However, as I held the once lush green leaf in my hand, I grew misty-eyed. The change of seasons has a way of developing tears in me – not merely because the crisp northern wind makes my eyes water, but because the shift to yet another season reminds me that life is always pressing forward.
The clock is forever ticking. Life doesn’t come with a pause button.
A change of seasons reflects the fact that my children have grown another inch or two in height. They’ve moved up a grade in school. Our five kids are changing, maturing, and hopefully, developing as disciples of Jesus.
How rapidly these fleeting moments race passed our noses. Will I notice or just hurry on by?
Pondering the aged leaf of an acer saccharum prods my mind toward the reality of aging. Another season… a few less brown hairs and several more gray strands on my head.
And I wonder: “Am I just growing older, or am I growing better, sweeter with the aroma of Christ?
A shift in seasons brings my heart back to the first week Stephanie and I spent together with my family in 2007. Autumn arrived late that year in Texas. Maple leaves brightly adorned the ground. Stephanie’s effervescent smile sparkled with the November sun. Now we’re in our twelfth fall moment together.
I pray our loving union as husband and wife is tightening, not loosening, sweetening not souring.
A turn of seasons. The grass will soon turn pale green and brown with dormancy. Flower buds and petals will close up, droop down, and fade away from the sun.
Autumn forces us to peer into the piercing beauty of growing, aging, and dying – a pacing set by Providence.
It’s bewildering yet enlightening… even reviving to the soul.
Hear the ancient words of King David in these poignant lines of poetry:
“As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, and it’s place acknowledges it no longer.”
(Psalm 103:15-16)
With the deciduous flashes of crimson red, sun-flame orange, and deep golden yellows, God gathers my attention.
Watch. Wait. Listen. Life is short. The seasons never stop their forward march.
The grace of aging comes through knowing what is never changing. Follow the next lines in David’s song:
“But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep His covenant and remember His precepts to do them.”
(Psalm 103:17-18)
Our Creator of the seasons is the eternal Giver of love and Guardian of all that is right. Those who bow to Him in joyful, willing faith receive His un-aging, unstoppable love.
A song of grace blows through the wind-whipped trees:
King David tells: our days are numbered
The winds of time will ever blow
Our moments are built to be seasoned
The steps we take are seeds to sow
The grass withers
A flower fades
But the Word of the Gospel?
This foundation forever remains
God’s message chants in the breeze:
Many seasons wax and wane
Mankind will rise and fall
But this is ever-true:
I Am
Compassionate in your weakness
Gracious toward your failures
Slow to anger in your rebellion
Faithful in my love toward you
Through every shadow and season
I Am with you to the end
So I gaze, again, at the fading streak of green in the center of a quickly dying maple leaf. I remember: The Lord’s lovingkindness is from everlasting to everlasting. No end is in sight to the measure of His mercy.
God has continually proven Himself faithful. So why should I doubt Him now?
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Dear Younger Me
Dear Younger Me,
Life is hard but one day things are going to be okay…
You will realize that grace wins and legalism loses; that nothing you can do will make Jesus love you more or less than He did when you came to Him for salvation at 7-years-old. You will wish you had known this much sooner in life, but grateful it happened at all!
You will forgive. You will thank Jesus for those who hurt you. Even though not every relationship is restored, you have peace and joy.
You will finally accept yourself the way God made you; that all those years of frustration, hurt, and angst because you had so many hidden insecurities and fears, are over and you’ve moved into a healthier mentality.
You will have many people tell you that you are “too loud”, “too opinionated”, “too independent”, “too much everything”. Don’t listen to them. You will be exactly who He created you to be someday and you will love your life. God will surround you with people who love and accept you in spite of, or perhaps because of all those things. 😉
You will meet a man who changes your whole world. He will accept you for who you are; all the quirks, the silliness, the opposite way of doing things, and your extreme love of beauty and life. He will show you what grace really means.
You will have a strong and smart son who struggles, but who will also see the world in an incredible and unique way. You will teach him what you can, but more than anything else, you will learn so much from him.
You will have a daughter, who is a spitfire with root beer brown eyes and feet that run like the wind. You will teach her that she is strong, can do anything, and that it’s okay to be effervescent and bold as long as we are kind, loving, and truthful.
You will have a little blonde-haired blue-eyed boy whose winsome smile lights up your world. He will be a continual light and gift to your family.
You will have six babies in heaven. Even though you’d rather have them in your home, you’ve changed so much through the losses (and you will never understand why they happened). But you will accept and grow.
You will have fought against false accusations, character assassinations, the end of friendships, and relational struggles. But the people who care will stay, and the people who don’t will go. You will mourn, but you will move onward.
You will come to strongly fight against the injustices of those around you and far away, pray to be a messenger, light, and world-changer in any way you can.
You will have gone through many physical fires, but you will have cried out to God for strength so many times. You will not be fully healed. But lovely girl, you will be a fighter!
You will be a pastor’s wife just like you always wanted! It won’t always be easy, but it will be worth every single moment. You will grow to love so many people who will become like family.
You will love people fiercely and not always receive love in return. You will love anyway.
Keep smiling because God is going to blow you away and He will be with you through every part of your journey. ❤️
Darling girl, you are going to be more than just okay.
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”
~ Zephaniah 3:17
Blessings in Christ,
Stephanie Anna
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I’m Blessed With Iron
A timeless truth to put-into-play jumps off the page:
“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
I’m blessed with iron. Howard Hendricks often commented to us in seminary: “Everyone needs a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy.” Each time I heard him reinforce this idea I’d inwardly respond, “Thank you, God, for bringing so many mentors and encouragers into my life.” I’ve never had to search for a Paul or a Barnabas because good, faithful men had already identified me as their Timothy.
Today, I’m reminded of two men much wiser and further down the trail of life, who’ve taken time to invest in me. One up close. The other far away. They’ve asked me heart-level questions and remarkably remembered specific details about my life and ministry. The one nearby knows me much better than the other. But they both have deeply impacted my heart and mindset about the calling and work of a pastor.
As I was filing away some old notes and scribbled quotes this week, I uncovered a short series of heart-searching questions from Ken Pierpont, the up-close mentor, under whom I once served as an inner-city missionary in Flint and later as a pastor of youth and education in metro-Detroit. Let these words soak of your soul:
Heart-Searching Questions
“You’re growing older, but are you growing better?”
“Are you becoming more like Jesus?
“Is your loyalty and love for God increasing or decreasing?”
“Are you growing sweeter with the aroma of Christ or sour with concentration on yourself?”
Think about it. Don’t hurry past these questions. Respond with the answers they demand.
Just a couple weeks ago, I heard that the mentor at-a-distance, Ray Ortlund Jr., had fully retired from his lead pastoral role. We’ve spoken in-person only a few times. But I make certain to read everything he writes. His words are saturated with scripture, marinated in God’s overflowing grace, and seasoned with pastoral wisdom.
The last time I spoke with him was at The Gospel Coalition conference this past April. After gleaning as much as I could from his breakout session, I hurried out to find the rest of our team and make it into the next main gathering. But later on, amid the torrent of activity in the booksale area, he stopped me in my tracks to specifically ask how I was doing with my family and ministry. He’d greeted me prior to his breakout session. But he wanted to probe into details based on a conversation we had years before. His piercing blue eyes didn’t rush over my heart concerns. He intensely listened to my answers to his questions and offered to continue our conversation.
Another young pastor who had the joy of working much closer with Ray, wrote a poignant article this week about three reflections on being pastored by Ortlund. Here’s short a excerpt with a link to continue reading the entire piece:
3 Memories of Ray Ortlund as My Pastor
“Ray Ortlund Jr. is an honorable man of God. I’ve been hanging out with him for the last decade, and in all that time, I’ve seen no breach in his integrity. I have heard him confess many sins and watched him wrestle through many difficulties. But I’ve never seen him shy away from following God into the fray. The reason, I think, is simple. Ray fears and loves God.
My memories are filled with the evidence. . . .”
Continue reading here: https://www.
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Just as I’ve seen modeled through my mentors…
May Christ continually expose my sin, immaturity, and self-interest.
And with His patient grace form within me…
purity,
wisdom, and
selfless love.
In Christ Alone,
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Living “The Good Life”
“I’m living ‘the good life’!” someone remarked to me several months ago.
With a big smile, they proceeded to share with me how they were reveling in a windfall of financial freedom, extra time, good health, and frequent vacations. I was genuinely happy for them. Enjoying life isn’t bad. I’m not ready to hit people on the head with a Puritanical mallet, nor is God a cosmic kill-joy. As James reminds us, “every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above” (Jm. 1:17a). By God’s grace, all humanity enjoys gifts from His created order on earth. Life-giving rain showers and warmth-giving sun-rays fall upon everyone (see Matt. 5:45).
However, in the back of my mind, I knew there was a missing vital-component. God wasn’t a part of their “good life”. It’s not just that they hadn’t brought up God, the Creator-Savior-Sustainer, in our conversation. I knew they had not entered into the experience of personally knowing God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Their life looked remarkably good, but God wasn’t in the picture.
Think about it: Do you want to live “the good life”? I think we’d all nod in agreement. Nobody would voluntarily vote for unending poverty, famine, and sorrow. But what is God’s definition of the good life? As the singer-songwriter, Asaph, surveyed the people around him, he nearly fell into believing the good life could be void of God. Take a look at his rather honest, transparent lines of Hebrew poetry:
“But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant, as I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their death, and their body is fat. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like mankind. . . . their eye bulges from fatness; the imaginations of their heart run riot. They mock and wickedly speak of oppression” (Psalm 73:2-5, 7-8a)
Reading the descriptors above may cause some of you to envision the proverbial Fat Cat. I was immediately reminded of that smarmy, slimy Star Wars character, Jobba the Hutt – sitting on his pile of wealth, violence, and lust.
Yikes…
But we wonder: What if following God’s way isn’t worth it? Would we be happier in this life without God’s instructions? These are very much the same questions that arose in Asaph’s mind:
“Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence; for I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning. If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’ behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.” (Psalm 73:13-15)
As if to quickly cover his mouth, he thinks about what would’ve happened if he shouted his feelings out loud. Have you ever felt this way, too?
But then he leads the ancient readers and us – today – toward the true definition of “the good life.” Allow these words soak over heart:
“My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.
But as for me, the nearness of God is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.” (Psalm 73:26-28)
The Good Life, as defined by God’s Word, is being close to God. Period.
When you begin another week of rather exhausting work…
When the decision to obey God causes you to lose a relationship…
When temptation toward greed, lust, or pride fights against your soul…
…remember: the nearness of God is your good.
“Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.” (Psalm 73:25)
In God’s Vineyard,
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Remember When…?
Remember when? Throughout my 36 years, God has granted me some deeply rewarding, long-lasting friendships. A dozen or so numbers nestled away in my phone’s contact list represent relationships with guys, who I’ve known since we were all just kids. We worked, biked, hiked, camped, fished, wrestled, boxed, debated, and planned a whole slew of other antics as we grew up together.
We’ve celebrated at each other’s weddings, cheered one another on at the birth of our children, and challenged each other to devotedly follow the way of Jesus. I could call any of these men at the drop-of-a-hat and we’d pick up right where we left off. In fact, I just spoke with one last week who lives in California. Next week, we’re going to spend an evening with another good friend who is raising his family down near Brighton.
Atop Mt. Oberlin in Glacier National Park | Summer 2007
Without fail, at least half of our conversations begin with, “Hey do you remember when…?”
Laughter ensues as we retell our perspectives on the crazy trip to Washington, D.C., the cross-state cycling journey, our evangelistic efforts in downtown Flint, or the campout in the dead of winter. We look back with fond memories, but also some wise evaluation of how we’ve ended up where we are now. We reflect on some regrets and discuss how we’d like to plan for the future.
Most importantly, as we remember the experiences, choices, and outcomes of our youth, the conversation moves toward the grace and power of God. We give thanks for what He has done in our lives. We praise Him for how we’ve grown in our understanding of who He is and of His plan for our families. We recall how we were often self-centered jerks, ignorantly arrogant, or just plain stupid (like the time I attempted to climb a giant, sheer cliff without properly roping up).
Through all of this, we pause to recognize the shocking, unbelievable kindness and mercy of God.
So we remember.
As we talked about two weeks ago at Mayfair Bible Church in my message on DNA: Core Value #3: Vibrant Worship, the first movement in the biblical theology of worship is intentional remembrance. Just as all believers have entered into covenant with God in Christ by faith, so we are to recall His faithfulness to us in the past and our responsibilities as the faithful in the present. The entirety of God’s Word is replete with examples of worshiping through remembrance (see Gen 8:1, 9:14-15; Exod 6:5-6, 13:1, 20:8; Psa 20:7; 105:42; Luke 1:54; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Rev 2:1-5).
By reminding ourselves of God and His faithfulness, we are encouraged to take hope and endure in the faith despite hardship and difficulty. The prophet Jeremiah enters into worship this way after the demise of Jerusalem:
“My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind [lit. “bring back to my heart/mind”], and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lam 3:20-23).
God’s people may be discouraged in times of stress and tribulation. Yet we can have faith in the faithful One. As Dr. Jim Allman always reminded us during seminary class lectures, “what God has done in the past is a promise and model for the future, but He is too creative to do it the same way twice.” God has been faithful, He is faithful, and He will be faithful.
The public reading of Scripture and the preaching of God’s Word call God’s people to worship through remembrance. Finally, for believers in our age, covenant remembrance is most fully performed in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper:
“This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 | NASB)
Our communion around the Table correlates to the second position of the heart in worship: a confident anticipation of the hope of glory.
We know that in Christ we have been made right before God. Yet we also have a future anticipation deeply seated in our hearts and minds. We have the hope of the resurrection and the hope of His return, and “we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.” (1 John 3:2)
And we will celebrate.
In Christ Alone,
This coming Sunday at Mayfair Bible Church – Michigan, we’ll gather around the Lord’s Table for communion during our 10:45 AM worship service. I urge you to come with hearts prepared through intentional remembrance of God’s great love, truth, and power. We’ll also enjoy fellowship and Bible study at our 9:15 AM Bible classes for all ages. We’ll also hear from a young missionary, Alyssa Carrell, who recently returned from Africa.
I’m praying for and anticipating by faith a great work of God among us this coming Lord’s Day!
Church @ The Park
Just in case you missed it, check out our Church @ The Park (on June 23) video invite, with a special message for Mayfair family. Click on the image to watch the video on our YouTube channel or click below:
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Touching the Line
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been building a fence around the perimeter of our backyard. With the help of many friends, we’re now almost done with the project. Yes!
In an effort to make the fence as straight and uniform as possible, we’re using several different types of leveling devices – a corner level, carpentry level, and masonry string with a bubble level. In particular, the string and attached level provide the benchmark so that each post is at the same height. However, once the masonry line is carefully leveled and strung tight, it’s quite important to not disturb it; otherwise we’d no longer have an accurate guide for the fence.
We have a large yard of lush green grass, trees, and open space to play. But can you guess where our young children want to be?
Yep. Right on the line.
I instructed them, “Stay away from the line. Don’t touch the masonry string, kids. Don’t lean on the line.”
But where do they seem magnetically drawn? You guessed it. Directly to the line. Every time they go outside they want to touch the line, run dangerously close to the line, and wander on the other side of the line.
Argh.
So the debacle continues:
“But that bright pink string with the funny green bubble thing is soooo interesting, Papa!”
You can imagine my frustration.
But then I realized, this is just how you and I are with the lines and loving rubrics set in place by God. All-too-often, we simply want to touch, watch, taste, or do simply because we wonder why God says not to. We are practically animalistic about what has recently been coined as #FOMO – the fear of missing out.
We wonder…
“Am I missing the fun and pleasure I need by not touching that line?”
“Did God really say this would be bad for me?”
“Does God know best about what brings me happiness or does He just not understand me?”
“Can I touch that line or cross off that guide-point from God’s Word and suffer no consequences?”
All-the-while, God is observing our childish yet dangerous behavior with sadness and dismay. If we’d only realize He is not looking to unleash a thunderstorm on our lives, but longs for us to experience the sunshine of authentic joy! Yet we want to touch that line simply because we’re told not to. Gadz!
God’s rules aren’t for our detriment but for our good. His design for life is holistically according to the beautiful, satisfying pattern He’s made for “life-to-the-full” – abundant life in relationship with our Creator (see John 10:10).
Yet just like my young children, our sin-propensity pulls us to and over the line all the time. So let us hear from the heart of God:
“But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. ‘Be appalled, O heavens, at this, and shudder, be very desolate,’ declares the LORD. For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:11b-13)
Don’t turn from God and make attempts at replacing God! Empty, stone basins only hold death. You and I have been down into those empty, waterless, lifeless cisterns time after time after time.
Stop in your tracks.
Remember you’ve tasted grace…a life worth more than this.
Cheap, broken God-replacements don’t work and cannot satisfy. So slay lust before it is consummated. Don’t allow nascent sin-thoughts to conceive and give birth to death in your soul.
The apostle James writes of the tell-tale signs that mark this pathway of the death-life:
“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” (James 1:14-16)
But how can we stop, turn, and run free from the nagging temptation? By refusing the lie of the lust-line and, in turn, believing in the Source and Treasure-Hold of true goodness and life: God.
James’ quill was guided by the Holy Spirit to point us squarely in this direction immediately after discussing the lie of lust:
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17)
We fight against the pull of the line by treasuring true goodness. So, today, oh children of God’s family: live in the expansive, sweet, green lawn of God’s grace by believing and delighting in God Himself and the good gifts He has given.
Don’t bother with touching the line.
In God’s Vineyard,
My friend, Dave Radford, of The Gray Havens, wrote an exquisitely powerful song that captures the message of how we must turn and run from the downward, deathward pull of lust. Watch his award-winning music video entitled SIRENS:
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The Day that Never Came
We all love the feeling of anticipation about a long-awaited day. We look forward to exciting things happening as we circle items on our calendars. We count down the hours by crossing off the finished days each night. We have hope in our waiting.
The only due date I don’t like, however, is the one marked for a baby that will never come.
The baby who left many months ago.
The baby whom most may have forgotten, but who will never leave our hearts.
The baby that my kids still ask me about.
The baby who was very wanted and loved.
Today is one of those due dates for me. I am so very grateful for my three living children and love them dearly. But they will never replace or negate our six children in heaven.
Someday I will see them again, but here on earth I will always love, grieve, and miss their presence with us. My heart hurts tonight. That’s the raw, sincere, and honest truth.
My arms are not empty, but tonight they do feel lonesome for the sweet baby who should have been cradled there. ❤️
Here are some healing words of truth from a sister on this same journey:
“When you feel pulled back into grief it doesn’t mean you are going backwards. Grief is like a spiral—you can spiral up or spiral down. Just when we think life is feeling a little more normal, it can sneak up and hit us like a heat wave. And you may feel it today in great measure. Or you may not. Either way, know this: you can continue to grow forward.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matt 5:4). Friend, we are not blessed because we mourn—that’s not the blessing. We are blessed because in our mourning we can experience God’s comfort. So may you feel the warm embrace of his comfort today. May you know God’s blessing in the midst of your pain.” ~ Adriel Booker
Dedicated to baby Lyric.
Due April 24, 2019.
Went to heaven September 1, 2019.
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The Weight of the World
One evening after a long day of landscaping, my brother, several of my employees, and I gathered down in the basement to see who could push the most iron. Lots of “talking smack,” ridiculous ego, and testosterone swirled around the room. After watching a couple guys bench-press some serious pounds, I took my turn on the bench. As “the boss” of the landscape company, I heard some tongue-in-cheek chants from the boys:
“Come on, Mike! You da man, push that iron… fast as you can!”
Oh boy. 150 Ib. felt pretty good. 175 Ib. went up without too much trouble (I was in a lot better shape back then). Suddenly someone (I will not name who) decided to slam it up to 220 Ib. I lifted the bar off the rack and within a split-second the crushing weight tore against my elbows and triceps, driving the weight rapidly down on top of my chest.
“HELP!” I gasped as my two cocky spotters reluctantly eased the bar off my rib cage…quietly enjoying the fact that I was struggling under less weight than what they had previously conquered.
What weights are pressing down on your heart this week? Do you have specific concerns that frequently cycle through your mind? Two diagnostic questions I often ask myself and those I counsel are: What’s the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning and what’s the last thing on your mind just before you go to sleep? For many people, the answer to those two questions produces the same answer, namely, a singular concern, fear, or need that bears down as a perpetual stressor.
The feelings of angst and anxiety can super-glue onto our craniums. Scraping them off seems more difficult than pulling a stubborn molar. As a result, we often shuffle through life with our shoulders slumped over by the poundage of bondage to our fears, worries, and myriad anxieties.
I’ve often found myself under the anvil of seemingly insurmountable needs and concerns. You, too? I thought so. But there is a way forward and out from under the crushing kilos of relentless anxieties and fears.
King David learned the hard way…many times over. Yet God, in His patient grace, continued to draw David back to contrition and dependance on Him. Remember when he purposely faked insanity before Abimelech? David was certainly at the end of his rope at that life-juncture. The Philistine King Abimelech later routed David out of the region. But with all those fears and pressures weighing down on his life, David penned a profound poem of trust and hope in God:
“I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed. . . . O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:4-5, 8)
Yes, David wrote these very words shortly after he departed from the land of King Abimelech. I encourage you to take a moment to read the entirety of Psalm 34 this weekend.
No matter what anxieties have stuck onto our souls, these three things we can know: (1) The Lord hears our cry (2) The Lord is always near, and (3) The Lord is good. Because these promises are true, God’s people can take refuge in Him.
So today, God’s Word through David’s song invites you and me to bring all our requests to Him. Take every sour note of your worry-filled song and play it before the Lord. He will listen to the end. After you’re finished, look to Him…gaze upon His face. You’ll find that God’s love for you hasn’t diminished by a single ounce. His heart will still be overflowing with kindness and mercy toward you.
From that place of grace, step into the experience of the Lord’s abundant goodness. Taste of His safety, peace, and presence. O brothers and sisters, you’ll find that He is forever good.
Take refuge in Him.
In Christ Alone,
______________________
Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
This past week, Stephanie and I participated in a forum for pastors and wives hosted by Ethnos 360 (formerly New Tribes Mission). These men and women are like the Green Beret unit or Navy SEAL team of gospel missions. We enjoyed great conversation on what we can and should do as sending and supporting churches, and also what we can expect from Ethnos360 and our missionaries. We’re thankful for the fellowship, encouragement, and opportunity to join with about 12 other pastoral couples and their executive leadership team. Mayfair currently supports 8 missionary families associated with Ethnos360.
Stephanie and I also had the joy of meeting Dean Hess, one of Mayfair’s missionaries with Ethnos360. Dean is a key member of their finance team at the US home office and has been with Ethnos360 since 1998. Please pray for Dean, Trudy, and their four children.
Pray for their support level to increase; for wisdom as he leads Ethnos360 in transitioning to new finance programs and protocol; pray for them to have numerous opportunities for gospel witness in their community. Dean also shared with us that he was diagnosed with autism while serving in Senegal. He discovered God specifically gifted him for bookkeeping and does fantastic work for the Lord. It’s so encouraging to see how God is using Dean with his unique gifts to serve the global Church!
Flushing Christian Outreach Center (FCOC) is now OPEN! This afternoon, Jeremy Jentzen and I took a quick tour of FCOC’s new location in Mayfair’s THRIVE Center building. They moved all the belongings from their old location last weekend and officially opened just two days ago. Take a look!
FCOC is a non-profit food pantry, clothing dispensary, and community services organization that is led by a collaborative of nine local churches. If you’re interested in volunteering at FCOC, simply click on this link to their website and give them a call –> https://www.
Plans are also underway for a joint Grand Opening of the THRIVE Center with FCOC on Saturday, May 18th. We’ve begun design work for the front suite of the THRIVE Center (see below). If you’d like to be on the work team for initial flooring, painting, and decor work, simple contact Matt Pearson (elder), Pastor Michael, or call the church office at: (810) 733-7130.
Here’s a 3D rendering of a possible design for the multi-purpose front suite of the THRIVE Center, in which we’d like to incorporate these 4 components:
- Laundry Corner: small-scale laundromat services via coupons earned through FCOC and member churches for those who volunteer hours or complete parenting classes, marriage courses, financial coaching, or job counseling, etc.)
- Learning Corner: comfortable seating, screens, and sound for classes such as Financial Peace University (or similar), Celebrate Recovery, marriage or parenting seminars, TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language), job coaching, and more!
- Community Corner: coffee shop style counters and seating for gospel conversations, light food service, and fellowship. FCOC will also use this area for food packaging once per week.
- Kids Corner: A fun, colorful space for kids to read, watch a Christian kids show, or play learning games while their parents wait for laundry to finish, complete job coaching, etc.
Spring Business Meeting and Luncheon
We will be sharing more details about these and other exciting ministry projects at this coming Sunday’s spring business meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend the potluck luncheon in the gym immediately following the 10:45 morning service and the business meeting. We’ll present a couple announcements during the luncheon and then transition to the auditorium for a few brief but important business meeting agenda items. We hope you can make it!
Be sure to scroll down to see other important announcements about our first-ever Easter Egg Drop (next Saturday, April 20th) and more!
See You Sunday!
I’ll look forward to worshiping Christ with you this Sunday morning as we continue our REBORN series with “Nicodemus: Religion to Relationship” (John 3:1-21) and another profound video transformation story from someone in the Mayfair family.
