Tried With Fire

This is overdue, but here goes. I am thankful for... I went home to visit my mom recently. She had been in rehab for a few months after a fall and other illnesses. Thankfully she is now back at her assisted living facility. I'm thankful for how well Mom has adjusted. I sat next to her at church, and it was so encouraging to hear her sing along with the hymns and choruses. She would also follow the Bible verses that were projected on the wall, but interestingly she would read them in Chinese. Mom's sense of humor has been coming out too. She can be really funny and crack some good jokes. I'm thankful how God has kept her. I cannot imagine how hard it is to lose your memory and be unable to grieve and bring closure to losing your husband. Yet God is near to the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. I'm thankful for God's grace for the empty-nester (me) and the not-a-baby bird who is spreading her wings (my daughter.) I'm thankful that she is quickly buildin...

I am thankful for: God's protection. I was working at my computer Monday afternoon and heard a strange sound in the backyard. I looked out the window and saw this. The tree from which this branch fell is one of three sweet gums right next to the house. When I looked up, I could see where the branch snapped off. It must have come straight down but the weight tipped it away. This is at least the 4th time that branches have come down near the house but not on it. God's preservation of his Word and the work of Bible translation. I had a chance to visit the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC with friends from church this week. There's so much to see in the museum that I need to go back. Five hours wasn't enough. One gallery was devoted to the history of the Bible in terms of its physical preservation, propagation, translation, and publishing to the present day. It was fascinating to see the manuscripts in ancient languages from ancient cultures and how the Bible ha...

It's been a while since I have done one of these posts, and it is long overdue. Tomorrow, Lord willing, my daughter will be defending her master's thesis in physics. This marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next as she will begin her PhD studies in the fall.  Based on the number of pages written and the hours spent, she has earned this degree. But as proud as I am of her academic achievement, I am thankful for how the Lord has grown her in her faith and her humanity. He's done a lot of healing in her life and will continue to bring her on to greater wholeness, I believe. I'm also thankful for her professors who have been mentors and friends and for their encouragement that has been above and beyond the call of duty. I'm thankful for the gift of prayer and being able to pray with the brothers and sisters in small group last night. Some good news was shared but also some very sad and heavy circumstances. We need one another for help, suppor...

I am thankful for  the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting . Jesus is fully man and fully God. Otherwise, he could not be our savior and our interceding high priest. He also did not cease to be human at his resurrection and ascension. God created us as human beings. We don't become angels when we die. We don't become disembodied spirits, as though the goal of the Christian life is to rid itself of the physical body. This denigration of the material is Platonic and Gnostic, both pagan in their origins. The problem isn't the body. The problem is sin. But because of Christ's finished work, the problem of sin has been dealt with once and for all. We are saved as human beings, and we will be fully human as we were intended to be. The souls of those in the presence of the Lord will be reunited to their resurrected bodies when Christ returns. If we are still alive that day, our bodies will be changed as well into bodies that will never experience sin or ...

It's been a busy summer and fall for my family. We moved my mom into memory care and then my dad into assisted living. Shortly after his move, my dad's health took a down turn, and he was hospitalized and in rehab. He is now home with hospice care. It's a sad time for us, but God has been so kind even in the grief. As my friend Kim wrote this morning, "In these days when it seems like all around us see nothing but doom and gloom, we need to understand that God is good." So it wouldn't be right if I didn't thank him for all that he has done. Answered prayer:  Based on the observations of the hospice and assisted living staff, they suggested that family come sooner rather than later. We went up last weekend, but prior to leaving, I asked the folks in my church to pray that we would be able to see my dad and that he would be able to meet his first great grandchild. God answered both of those prayers. It was hard to not start bawling when my nephew held...

This has been a busy summer. Normally we go see family once or twice a year, but we've been up three times in the last four months to move my parents into memory care/assisted living. With that in mind, I am thankful for: - Their new home. I am hopeful that it will meet their needs and also give us peace of mind. - All the help from the brothers and sisters in their church. - All the prayers for my parents and their move. - Stamina for the long days of packing, sorting, and decluttering. - How God has used this to draw my family closer together. - My job that let me take the time off to care for family. - God's perfect timing. I discovered that my hot water heater was leaking the day we were going to leave last week. I'm thankful for a brother who could shut the water main off at the street and a sister who could meet the plumber the next day for the diagnosis. There was no water damage to the items stored in my garage, and the water drained toward the driv...

It's been a very busy summer. We moved my mom into memory care last month, and we will be moving my dad into assisted living next month. There's a lot to do, most of which falls on my sister who lives nearby. There are addresses to change, stuff to pack, and items to sort through. There are health issues as well as stress and anxiety to deal with. Growing old is not for the fainthearted. Neither is it easy for the caregivers and family. But in all of this, God has been faithful, so I am thankful for: - His providing a good, safe place for my parents to live. - Their caregivers who show genuine care and concern. - My sister who works so hard and does so much for our parents. My brother-in-law too. - The flexibility of my job and my supervisors who are letting me take the time off to help family. - For getting caught up with work, at least this round. - The prayers of the saints for my family. - The opportunity to pray daily with my dad for God's keeping. - That G...

I'm thankful for - - My daughter's commencement and associated festivities. I sat with the pastor's wife, since her husband was among the faculty, so we had a good time of fellowship, trying to stay cool in the heat, and cheering for the few students that were part our church. It was a very full day but also a day to reflect on God's providence. He has been faithful and will continue to be so to my daughter. - The privilege of prayer and committing everything to God. - God the Holy Spirit. In Sunday's sermon, the absolute security and assurance we have because the Holy Spirit is the down payment of our redemption was driven home like never before. If God cannot deny Himself, how can He deny His children whom He has given Himself to? - Small mercies in my never ending car saga. There's still a leak in the coolant system. Thankfully we made it to small group where a couple brothers could give advice as to what to do. The pastoral intern followed us home...

I am thankful for -  - The arrival of spring even though it is probably the shortest season. - Grocery store flowers. - God's protection over my elderly parents, and my sister and brother-in-law's proximity, presence, sacrificial love, and care for  them. There are still hard decisions to make in the near future, but God knows what is best for them. So we pray and trust. - God's kind providence. We came home from getting carryout on Tuesday evening, and when I walked around the front of the car, I noticed white smoke coming out of the grill. My daughter said she heard a sizzling sound. When I opened the hood, there was water bubbling as well as streaming out the bottom of the car. This is the 3rd time my car has died in the driveway when it could have happened at any number of extremely inconvenient places. I'm also thankful for the offers of help from my church, practical advice about what possibly went wrong from a brother who knows about cars, and a mecha...

I am thankful for... Snow! Our area is under a blizzard warning with possibly 8-10 inches of snow. It started last night and will continue through this afternoon. We have about 5 inches now by my guesstimate, but I couldn't get the front screen door open because of the drift. My office closed today, so this gives me a chance to get caught up with the work that piled up when I was on vacation over Christmas. I'm also thankful I can work from home, as neighborhood roads never get plowed, and we won't get above freezing until Monday. Heat. The thermostat acted up on Sunday evening and wasn't tripping the furnace. Thankfully, it started working again. Family. We spent Christmas with extended family. We had a wonderful time eating lots of good Chinese food, talking, laughing, crying, and praying together. It's a challenge assisting aging parents make some difficult decisions. I am especially thankful for my sister and brother-in-law and the countless ways look ...

I am thankful for: ~ Fall is finally here! I have un-raked leaves in the yard and the days are noticeably getting shorter, but there is something about the crispness in the air and the quality of the sunlight that is so nice after the heat and humidity of summer. ~ My daughter's school and God's providence in placing her there. She has great teachers, but I am thankful for more than their academic knowledge, which is impressive. They genuinely care for their students and go the extra mile, even helping to mend a broken shoe. ~ The testimony of other Christians who have had their eyes opened to the good news of the gospel. I was listening to a podcast where two pastors were sharing their testimonies and having trouble not getting teary-eyed because I could relate so well. Christians need the gospel too! ~ The sola fide debate has given me a reason to go back to the scriptures to see what they have to say about salvation. I am thankful that at the end of the day an...

I am thankful for - ~ A beautiful sunrise to brighten the BJ's parking lot as I was filling the gas tank early this morning. ~ God's care in the little things. I picked up this lovely bolt or whatever it is in my right rear tire last week. I am thankful the tire didn't blow or develop a leak. I was able to get it to the mechanic (honest, reliable, and very nice which is another thing to be thankful for) where they were able to see me right away and patch the tire. ~ That Christians are discussing difficult issues. Mental illness, depression, and anxiety were not on my radar 20-30 years ago. Consequently people didn't talk about postpartum depression or being overwhelmed by anxious thoughts. We toughed it out as best as we could but with very little understanding of ourselves or from others. The interaction between body and soul is a marvel of creation, but those aspects of our lives have been marked by the fall. I'm thankful for Christian counselors, books ...

I am thankful for... ~ The sun breaking through the clouds after a brief shower. ~ A nice strong cup of British tea to burn off the brain fog. ~ Brothers and sisters who pray and stick with us through sorrow and joy. ~ Next year's theology conference. David Murray, author of Christian's Get Depressed Too , will be the speaker. I'm also thankful that more Christians are addressing mental illness. Praying that I will see the stigma go away in my lifetime. ~ The already in the midst of the not yet . There's so much beauty in the world and yet so much pain, but these contradictions drive us to the Lord. ~ God's ways are not my ways. It's only in hindsight that I can see a little bit of what He was weaving through my circumstances. In the same way, I don't know what He is doing in the lives of people I love. But I hold on in faith, even if it is the size of a mustard seed, and pray knowing that He is really the one who is holding onto us. Photo cre...

We were encouraged in Pastor Ryan's sermon to pursue joy in God, in the Gospel, in the body of Christ, and as we live our daily lives. So in light of that, I am pursuing joy by thanking God for these things. What are you thankful for today? - A nice cup of PG Tips to warm me on a gray and rainy day. - The stillness of the hour. Even the birds are quiet at the moment. - Safety from a creepy, crawly, quarter-sized spider. For some reason, these extremely large spiders like building webs around my house. I nearly walked into two by my car a week ago. I was not so fortunate yesterday morning. I was running late and walked straight into a large sticky web. I had no idea if the spider landed on me or in my handbag. I didn't have time to do a search and reconnaissance, so I prayed that it wouldn't start crawling on me while I was driving, resulting in a fit of panic and a potential accident, or hide in the car only to be discovered later. Mercifully the critter was on the...

I am thankful for - A good cup of coffee. It's taken until my 5th decade, but I have finally succumbed. The medium of writing to get thoughts out of my head so I can see them more clearly. The writing of others that move, challenge, and encourage me. God is able to heal decades-old misplaced shame. The reminder that God is God and I am not. With that being said, perfectionism can take a hike. Reminders that in moments of discouragement, the Holy Spirit doesn't stop sanctifying me or my brothers and sisters. He also doesn't stop calling people to repentance and faith.

I used to write "thankful" posts weekly but somehow got out of the habit, but I want to start again. It's easy to get sidetracked with all the wrong that is going on in the world and forget the good, especially the goodness of God in the midst of the bad. All the more reason to thank Him for the seemingly insignificant all the way up to the "big" things. So I am thankful for: - A good start to my daughter's senior year in college. These years have been a learning experience for me in transitioning from a primarily parental to a sisterly role. Not always easy, but necessary and good for us both. - Answered prayer. - The little kind providences that I don't even think of praying for. - The middle-aged-ish women's group will begin reading "Humble Roots" by Hannah Anderson next week. It was such an encouraging book for me, and I hope it will be for them. We never get past needing rest in God when even normal life is more than we can...

I had a late night conversation with my daughter a few days ago. After filling her in on the latest Christian hubbub in social media, she asked me, "Is this what the church is really like? Because if it is, it's depressing." True. If this is the only side people see, it looks like we aren't doing "They will know that we are Christians by our love" very well. But there is another side, and this is what I told her: - Jesus said that He will build His church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18 - God has given us a preview of the glorious church in heaven around the throne. Fully sanctified, every earthly barrier torn down forever, and praising Him for our salvation with one voice. Rev. 7:9-12 - Our sanctification isn't left up to ourselves. The Holy Spirit is at work to purify and renew all God's people. Phil. 1:6 - God is able to deliver us from error. Just look at the Trinity debate. Many of us were wrong about the...

I am thankful for: - Flu vaccines, doctors, and Tamiflu. - Repairs around the house thanks to a brother-in-Christ. - Food, water, shelter, and warmth. Not to be taken for granted when many don't even have the basics. - God's sovereignty and His very personal providence especially over things I do not understand. - The latest sermon series on Revelation. To be honest, this book used to terrify me but not anymore. It is not a commentary on current events nor the panels of a Jack Chick tract. It is the unfolding of God's plan from various aspects but with a common message - God is fully in control and His children are completely secure for eternity no matter what may befall them in this life.

I am thankful for - Catching up on sleep after catching up on work after vacation. That first cup of tea. Working air conditioning and one that is more efficient. The electric bill still goes up in the summer but not nearly as much as before. The pleasure of making something beautiful with your own hands. I misread the instructions, so I have to backtrack 6 rows, but at least I haven't dropped any stitches. Audiobooks to go along with the knitting. Small group meeting after many weeks apart. Midweek fellowship is a blessing. Time to ponder serious issues. I used to write more in the heat of the moment, but I am content to let posts sit longer before they get published. If my goal is to encourage people to think about how they think, I should do the same, and it is worth the time it takes. Seeing how scripture and doctrine are woven together. My pastor and the pastoral intern are preaching about the historical Adam, and the intern is teaching a class on Christolog...

I am thankful for: - A visit with family last week. As we traveled, the corn and soy bean fields on the Eastern Shore were bright green against the blue sky. We were able to spend almost every day with my elderly parents. I am thankful God has kept them all these years, and His grace is sufficient for the remaining days He has for them. I'm grateful that my sister and brother-in-law live close by, so they are able to help them in more ways than I can count. We also got to see extended family we hadn't seen in 2 years. We ate far too much food and had a wonderful time. - Getting caught up with work. Even though I have been typing like a busy little beaver (sorry for the mixed metaphor), I am thankful that I had a job waiting for me when I got back home. Lord willing, my pile will be completed by this weekend. - New Sunday school series on the Doctrine of Christ. Our church has a summer pastoral intern from Westminster California. It's been good to be reminded of Chr...