"And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" Mark 11:17.
Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the anniversary of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and the beginning of what is known as Passion Week. Passion Week is the week leading up to Jesus' crucifixion (commemorated on Good Friday) which culminates with Resurrection Sunday, or Easter. As I am preparing myself for the holiday, I am spending time in the Gospel of Mark, reading about the events of Passion Week. Today I read Mark 11:12-19, which corresponds to the Monday before his crucifixion. As I was reading, I was struck by the passage from Isaiah that Jesus quotes in verse 17. It is an interesting dichotomy: A teaching vandal. Jesus is overturning the tables of the money changers and the benches of the people selling doves for sacrifice in the court of the Gentiles. This was an area reserved for Gentiles (non-Jews) to enter the temple. The Jews had allowed this area to become a noisy, smelly marketplace. Jesus was rebuking the Jews and was teaching the people that God had intended to make a place for the foreigners to worship God, a 'house of prayer for all nations.'
Isaiah 56:6-7 says: "And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant--these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." Essentially, Jesus is revealing not only that the temple of God has been defiled, He is showing that the Gentiles are being shut out of the blessing. They are not being shown God's love or His offer of protection and acceptance. They are being taken advantage of in this context.
I love that Jesus is disciplining His people and revealing the truth of God's Word to the Gentiles. What does God's Word reveal as the response of the people? They are 'amazed at his teaching' (v. 18). This fits in very nicely with the topic of suffering that we learned about at this past weekend's Bible conference. Suffering has purpose, and sometimes, that purpose is discipline.
May God's richest blessings flow over you,
Jennifer
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Training a Younger Princess
I was watching the movie The Princess Diaries this evening. I had seen the movie before, as had my older children. However, the youngest two had not. Lily was intrigued by the story of the young, awkward misfit who finds that she is truly a princess of a far-off land. Being only 4, she does not yet understand the intricacies of the story--why the popular girls are cruel to the main character, Mia, and why Mia cries when the boy she likes is unkind to her. What she did understand was the transformation that Mia undergoes as her grandmother, the Queen of Genovia, teaches her to be a princess. She liked the scene in which the hairdresser reveals the lovely, made-over Mia.
In the movie, Mia wants to hide from the people around her so she carries herself in such a way that no one will notice her. It works very well until her new-found identity is revealed. Her grandmother teaches her how to behave politely, how to stand and sit correctly, and how to carry herself like a lady. I found myself overcome with emotion at a key moment in the movie: The queen introduces her newly crowned princess to the rulers of the world at a lavish ball. As the two ladies enter the room, the queen extends her gloved arm to Mia, who places her hand atop her grandmother's. The queen escorts the princess into the room, and they both smile at one another as they make their grand entrance. I actually teared up!
Why did this scene affect me so? Perhaps it is because of the young princess-in-training sitting close to my right watching with me. I feel a sense of responsibility to teach Lily how to carry herself and how to be brave. I hope that I am teaching her well. I think that it also hit me how important it is for the older generation to lead and guide the younger. I have begun mentoring a young lady that I have known for several years. She has recently been married, and approached me to mentor her. To prepare for this, I began reading Titus 2:3-5. I am teaching her to love her husband, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to her husband so that no one will malign the word of God. It is rewarding to see how the Lord is working in both of our lives through this relationship. I think that the movie reminded me of something precious that is often not shared: Wisdom. As I saw the queen regard her granddaughter, I was struck by the truth and beauty displayed in such a simple scene. When an older woman invests her time and wisdom in a younger woman, the young daughter of the King benefits greatly.
I benefitted from the godly wisdom of my mother, grandmothers and older mentors in church. No matter who you are, you will benefit from a mentoring relationship--whether you are the mentor, or the one being mentored.
May God's richest blessings flow over you,
Jennifer
In the movie, Mia wants to hide from the people around her so she carries herself in such a way that no one will notice her. It works very well until her new-found identity is revealed. Her grandmother teaches her how to behave politely, how to stand and sit correctly, and how to carry herself like a lady. I found myself overcome with emotion at a key moment in the movie: The queen introduces her newly crowned princess to the rulers of the world at a lavish ball. As the two ladies enter the room, the queen extends her gloved arm to Mia, who places her hand atop her grandmother's. The queen escorts the princess into the room, and they both smile at one another as they make their grand entrance. I actually teared up!
Why did this scene affect me so? Perhaps it is because of the young princess-in-training sitting close to my right watching with me. I feel a sense of responsibility to teach Lily how to carry herself and how to be brave. I hope that I am teaching her well. I think that it also hit me how important it is for the older generation to lead and guide the younger. I have begun mentoring a young lady that I have known for several years. She has recently been married, and approached me to mentor her. To prepare for this, I began reading Titus 2:3-5. I am teaching her to love her husband, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to her husband so that no one will malign the word of God. It is rewarding to see how the Lord is working in both of our lives through this relationship. I think that the movie reminded me of something precious that is often not shared: Wisdom. As I saw the queen regard her granddaughter, I was struck by the truth and beauty displayed in such a simple scene. When an older woman invests her time and wisdom in a younger woman, the young daughter of the King benefits greatly.
I benefitted from the godly wisdom of my mother, grandmothers and older mentors in church. No matter who you are, you will benefit from a mentoring relationship--whether you are the mentor, or the one being mentored.
May God's richest blessings flow over you,
Jennifer
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Bluebonnets and hopscotch
As you can see, Lily had a ball!
Lily will be starting Kindergarten in the fall, which means that our days of fun together will be shortened considerably. I have enjoyed being at home with all of our children, and am curious to see what God has in store for me as our youngest child begins her education in the public school. God is good, and I am certain that He has big plans for me. In the meantime, I am remembering to "consider the lilies" as Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-32. Each day has enough trouble, and so there is no use worrying about what will happen months ahead. I find that this phase of my life requires great patience. I am learning to wait on the Lord, and to focus on each day and the joys and tasks that each one brings. Those who know me well know that I am a big planner. I am notorious for scheduling. These days, I find that I am scheduling minimally. I am learning to trust God for each day, and to plan only as much as necessary. The more I plan ahead, the more I discern that I am attempting to control the circumstances of my life. This "letting go" is very alien to me. However, a dear friend tells me that this surrender to God will bear much fruit in my life.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Psalm 3:5-6
May God's richest blessings flow over you,
Jennifer
Monday, March 22, 2010
Happy Spring!
The first day of spring here in The Colony brought with it cold, wind, and snow. Today, though, it is sunny and in the 60's. I love this time of year with its promise of sunshine and blooms. Examining my garden this afternoon, I noticed that the roses and blackberry vines are putting on new growth, and the peach trees are blooming. The fragrance of the peach tree blossoms is lovely, and I especially love that they hold the promise of fruit in the summer. Honestly, I've planted blackberries and peaches in the yard because I so love the cobblers that I make with the fruit. Mmmmm....just thinking of them makes my mouth water!
Last week, just before spring break, I planted bluebonnets in my front beds. When those are blooming, I will post pictures. I think this weekend I'll work on my vegetable beds. I am determined to get some tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries out this year. My husband is going to build me a new raised bed that I intend to fill with purple hull peas and okra.
I hope that you're enjoying the beautiful weather, and I hope that it reminds you of the Creator who spoke all things into being with His powerful Word.
May God's richest blessings flow over you,
Jennifer
Monday, March 1, 2010
Meditations on the Bylaws: Myths About Covenant
It has been some time since I have written, and I have been promising for some time that I would write on the myths about covenant that have been put forth in the process of introducing our work on the church's Constitution and Bylaws. As you may know, the church elected a Bylaws Team in August of 2008 to review our current Constitution and Bylaws and recommend changes. I serve on this team, and have written about how this came together in an earlier blog post. In the course of our work, we noticed that churches are utilizing covenants as a part of their membership process. Our church currently has one in our Bylaws, but our team proposed having a new membership covenant to be signed by prospective church members before they join the church. In our current draft of the Constitution, we have a place for a signature. The goal is to have prospective members be thoughtful about the commitment that they are about to make with regard to joining the church. My generation and younger have not had a good track record with regard to commitment; the proposed covenant outlines the expectations of church membership (praying for one another, attending, giving, and loving one another).
During the town hall meetings that we had in 2009 when we first introduced the proposed Constitution, I heard some folks express some misconceptions about the idea of covenant. I would like to dispel those here, and hope to encourage the members of our church to delve deeply in God's Word about covenant.
Myth #1: "My covenant is with God, throught Jesus Christ. I cannot enter into a covenant with anyone else."
Truth: It is true that our covenant with God is cut in Jesus, literally. The Hebrew word that we translate as "covenant" is beryth (which means "a compact made by passing between pieces of flesh")1. When this word is used to speak of an agreement between God and man, it is accompanied by signs, sacrifices, and a solemn oath that cements the relationship.2 Our bond with God has been made by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ--His precious blood poured out on our behalf and His miraculous resurrection from the dead. So, in essence, we do have a covenant with God. However, this covenant with God does not preclude making other covenants, or entering into covenant relationships. One may be a Christian and be married, for example. The wedding ceremony signifies a covenant that is enacted between a man and a woman. In addition, it is permissible for a person to enter into a covenant of friendship or loyalty, such as David and Jonathan did. This is recorded in 1 Samuel 18. 1 Samuel 18:3 says: "And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself." Jonathan agreed to look out for David and to be loyal to him. The next verses in chapter 18 reveal the aspects of the covenant ceremony and the implications for Jonathan: The giving of his robe, the giving of his tunic, the giving of his weapons--all meant to signify that Jonathan was willing to take on David's enemies; he would defend David. There is rich treasure in studying covenant, and how the covenants of the Bible reveal truths about the character of God. Our covenant relationships on earth should draw us closer to God, as well. In short, there is no Biblical restriction to Christian brothers and sisters entering into covenants with God's people.
Myth #2: "I can't keep a church covenant, and will fail, so I mustn't enter into one."
Truth: In our own power we can do nothing. We can do all things through Christ, who enables us to do them (Philippians 4:13). Will I make every effort to pray? Will I know what to pray? Of course, you will--through the power of the Holy Spirit! God is the might and the power of the universe. He gives us life, heals us, enables us, and is our provider. We diminish His might when we say, "I can't keep a covenant." This also reveals our lack of faith, and our own selfish tendencies. God is in control, and we can enter into a covenant or commitment to His Church because it is a righteous thing to do and He will enable us to carry out that commitment.
Myth #3: "I can't say 'I will pray' or "I will attend". I would rather say 'I will try to', or 'I will endeavor to'."
Truth: In the Bible, there are no covenants that the people of God enter into where God's people say "I will try..." in response to God's covenant promises. God's chosen people demonstrate for us a model with regard to our response to God: "I will." In Exodus 24, the Israelites confirm the covenant offered to them by God at Mt. Sinai by saying, "Everything that the LORD has said we will do (verse 3)". Either we will believe God, and do what He asks, or we don't, and we won't. Again, the idea is not that we are perfect, but that God will enable us to do great and righteous things for His Kingdom.
There is an element of faith in all that we do. We must believe that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. Our faith is demonstrated in the commitments that we make and keep. If our actions and relationships are marked by fear and distrust, then we must examine our faith. We are not our own as Christians. We belong to God, and He expects us to love Him and one another. I hope that this brief treatise on covenant myths and truths has been informative and helpful to you.
May God's richest blessings flow over you,
Jennifer
1Arthur, K. Our Covenant God (WaterBrook Press: Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1999), p. 31.
2Ibid.
During the town hall meetings that we had in 2009 when we first introduced the proposed Constitution, I heard some folks express some misconceptions about the idea of covenant. I would like to dispel those here, and hope to encourage the members of our church to delve deeply in God's Word about covenant.
Myth #1: "My covenant is with God, throught Jesus Christ. I cannot enter into a covenant with anyone else."
Truth: It is true that our covenant with God is cut in Jesus, literally. The Hebrew word that we translate as "covenant" is beryth (which means "a compact made by passing between pieces of flesh")1. When this word is used to speak of an agreement between God and man, it is accompanied by signs, sacrifices, and a solemn oath that cements the relationship.2 Our bond with God has been made by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ--His precious blood poured out on our behalf and His miraculous resurrection from the dead. So, in essence, we do have a covenant with God. However, this covenant with God does not preclude making other covenants, or entering into covenant relationships. One may be a Christian and be married, for example. The wedding ceremony signifies a covenant that is enacted between a man and a woman. In addition, it is permissible for a person to enter into a covenant of friendship or loyalty, such as David and Jonathan did. This is recorded in 1 Samuel 18. 1 Samuel 18:3 says: "And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself." Jonathan agreed to look out for David and to be loyal to him. The next verses in chapter 18 reveal the aspects of the covenant ceremony and the implications for Jonathan: The giving of his robe, the giving of his tunic, the giving of his weapons--all meant to signify that Jonathan was willing to take on David's enemies; he would defend David. There is rich treasure in studying covenant, and how the covenants of the Bible reveal truths about the character of God. Our covenant relationships on earth should draw us closer to God, as well. In short, there is no Biblical restriction to Christian brothers and sisters entering into covenants with God's people.
Myth #2: "I can't keep a church covenant, and will fail, so I mustn't enter into one."
Truth: In our own power we can do nothing. We can do all things through Christ, who enables us to do them (Philippians 4:13). Will I make every effort to pray? Will I know what to pray? Of course, you will--through the power of the Holy Spirit! God is the might and the power of the universe. He gives us life, heals us, enables us, and is our provider. We diminish His might when we say, "I can't keep a covenant." This also reveals our lack of faith, and our own selfish tendencies. God is in control, and we can enter into a covenant or commitment to His Church because it is a righteous thing to do and He will enable us to carry out that commitment.
Myth #3: "I can't say 'I will pray' or "I will attend". I would rather say 'I will try to', or 'I will endeavor to'."
Truth: In the Bible, there are no covenants that the people of God enter into where God's people say "I will try..." in response to God's covenant promises. God's chosen people demonstrate for us a model with regard to our response to God: "I will." In Exodus 24, the Israelites confirm the covenant offered to them by God at Mt. Sinai by saying, "Everything that the LORD has said we will do (verse 3)". Either we will believe God, and do what He asks, or we don't, and we won't. Again, the idea is not that we are perfect, but that God will enable us to do great and righteous things for His Kingdom.
There is an element of faith in all that we do. We must believe that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. Our faith is demonstrated in the commitments that we make and keep. If our actions and relationships are marked by fear and distrust, then we must examine our faith. We are not our own as Christians. We belong to God, and He expects us to love Him and one another. I hope that this brief treatise on covenant myths and truths has been informative and helpful to you.
May God's richest blessings flow over you,
Jennifer
1Arthur, K. Our Covenant God (WaterBrook Press: Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1999), p. 31.
2Ibid.
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