Words of Wisdom for the Weekend ~ We will See Him on the Road to Suffering

"And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

And Jesus said to them,“You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."

(Mark 14:26-28)

"If Jesus "will go before" his disciples from Galilee as he had gone before, then this is a call to follow him down the hard road of conflict, criticism, enmity, persecution, suffering and death and resurrection. So the passion story becomes a roadmap for all of Jesus' followers (who deny themselves and take up their crosses) whether Christians martyred in the first, or Christians bold in the twentieth, centuries. 

"Read this story, then, as a detailed itinerary of the disciple's life. 

"But hear in it as well the constant consolation—not only that he, in "going before us" is always near us, however hard the persecution; but also that we, in going his way to Galilee, will see him as he told you. The dearest comfort in this promise is that precisely by taking the Way of the Lord, we will meet the Lord himself. In suffering is he revealed! In the experience of our own crosses is he made manifest . . .  

"Be cross-bearers then. These are the truer followers.  

"From Galilee to Golgotha: first we study the map, the Passion; and then—actually travelling the passionate path ourselves, "going" even as we were called—we will see him too, just as he promised we would."

"Master,

Grant me, in the study of your story, both love and faith. Love will make me attentive to all you do. Faith will make me bold to follow you. I beg to see you, O my Saviour! Amen"

~Walter Wangerin Jr., Reliving the Passion

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{Email subscribers, I welcome you to come over and listen to this beautiful hymn,
 "In the Valley" by Sovereign Grace}

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{Words for Wisdom for the Weekend: These are words that I have been challenged or encouraged by that I have read throughout my week that I kept pondering; words that I couldn't get off my mind and heart throughout my week. 

For other Words of Wisdom for the Weekend posts see here.}

Welcome Suffering When You Desire Super Power {Meditation of My Heart Mondays}

You can call it crazy. I prefer to call it curious.

While anticipating the birth of my firstborn I was eager to fully know what it would be like to deliver the living, growing child within my womb. I was determined to not have any pain-relieving medication during this agonizingly rip-roaring miracle. I wanted as natural a childbirth as possible and, besides, I have a strong dislike for needles.

Here's the curious thing: I wanted to know how painful childbirth really is. I wanted to go through the whole labour and deliver and experience the excruciating pain and the exhilarating joy.

Yeah, you could say crazy.

The stranger thing is when I was pregnant with my second, I was fully aware of the kind of pain that was ahead of me, but I still wanted to know if it would be just as intense as the first time. By the time I was swollen with my third child, you would think I would not need to wonder any longer, but my curiosity got the better of me. For the third time, I knew the multiplied pain in all its original curse.

I consider that bearing and bringing forth a child is a privilege and a blessing. By doing it without any pain management medication, I was enabled to feel the full extent of the power within to bring forth life. It really was an exhilarating kind of pain and I found out it's true when they say you will forget the pain (may I add, momentarily) when you know the exciting joy of new life.

We are afraid of pain and suffering. If we can avoid it, we will. And I'm not talking about the punishment of pain in childbirth now, but all suffering we endure for the sake of Christ.

What if we were crazy enough to embrace suffering for the sake of Christ?

I've always been struck with Paul's longing that he expressed in his letter that he penned while suffering in prison.

"that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

His goal and aim in life was to know Christ in an intimate and personal relationship. The great apostle knew that to know the power of new life, he would have to taste suffering and become like Christ in His death. 

Paul knew it's the one who suffers much that experiences the all-sufficient grace of God.

In suffering we will experience the exhilarating joy of God's power at work in us.

In the storms of life we will see the lighthouse that stands firm.

In pain our purpose is made clear.

A life without suffering lacks the need to look unto Jesus, the One "who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame" and was raised to heights of Glory at the right hand of the throne of God.

Resist suffering and you resist seeing God's powerful hand at work in your life.

Gratefully accept the thorns, the tremulous times, the troubles, and trials and God's power will rest upon those who gladly boast in their weakness.

Suffer for Christ sake and you will know a Power that brings forth new life.

Cause we're not just talking about crazy or curious perceptions in life, but the whole purpose of your life.

Dare I say, 'bring on the pain'?

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Are you willing to share in the suffering to know Christ? Share in the comments how you endure suffering for the sake of Christ?

When Homelessness is More than a Face and our Hearts Break Afresh

We put out seeds in the old feeder for the birds and enjoy the theatrical show from the kitchen window and shoot them with glass lenses.

Front and centre, the chickadees flitter back and forth calling us 'hey sweetie', the sparrows and finches alternate between perching on the edge of the feeder and gleaning on the ground, and the wood-peckers tap, tap, tap.

The dark-eyed juncos prance and dance in the snow and the white-breasted nuthatches forage down the tree headfirst.

Bossy blue jays bully their way in and try to take over while the mourning doves sing and coo.

We catch only a glimpse of the hawk hiding high up in barren branches.

From off-stage, out there on a limb, the bright pair of shy cardinals swiftly glide in and out before their predator spots them, and then find safety in their shelter in the snow crested pine tree.

They all fly home.

"And Jesus said to him, 

'Foxes have holes, 

and birds of the air have nests,

 but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.'"

{Mathew 8:20}

Homeless used to be an unknown face.

Now it's a name.

It's a loved one far from home but not far from our hearts.

It's not just a vagabond with vacant eyes.

Not just a beggar with a cardboard box and dirty clothes on top of a street vent.

Or the humblest creature hunched over a few coins.

It's family, a brother, a son.

A long lost loved one.

It's the least of these, our brothers living in the lowest means.

We look to heaven and pray he'll find his way home.



When homelessness has a name you look at the desperate with different eyes.

We offer the smallest token of God's love.

We extend hands, look deep into eyes to say God's loves you.

Offer a warm bowl of soup and a cup of hot coffee, maybe a sweet donut, on a bitter winter's day.

Step away and pray that it will be received as God's comfort in a cold world and that it will make our hearts bleed like Christ's even more.



When it hits close to home it can't be ignored.

In the words of William Wilberforce, " . . . you may choose to look the other way but you can never again say that you did not know".

We must look straight to the heart of the Messiah who left His home with His Father, chose the lowliest birth, and "was laid . . . in a manger, because there was no place for [him] in the inn".

The One who makes all things beautiful in His time, was a babe in a manger at the appointed time.

He knows homelessness. He bore it's name.

But in His redemptive plan he gave it a new name.

It's called Hope and it was birthed out of Mercy and Grace.

We're all homeless until we are called home. All without hope until we reach out in faith and take hold of His.

Living Hope in a manger to call the lost, wandering ones home.

Called us—now sojourners, pilgrims, temporary residents here on earth. 

Those of us who have received mercy, who have found hope?

May our hearts break over what breaks His.

May our brothers who have no home, know His hope this Christmas.


 

The Most Important Thing I Learned While Hunting in November 2013

"November is usually such a disagreeable month . . . as if the year had suddenly found out that she was growing old and could do nothing but weep and fret over it. This year is growing old gracefully . . . just like a stately old lady who know she can be charming even with grey hair and wrinkles. We've had lovely days and delicious twilights." 

~L.M. Montgomery, 'Anne of Avonlea'

She was nearly silenced.

Left without words to offer.

Stormed in with only a whisper.

Barely breathing in grace.

As the sun and moon took their turns in the November sky she could only keep hunting in the storms.

Groping her way to shelter.

Searching for refuge.

Gracefully bending under burdens.



Day after day, weak ones begged for intercession.

Storm after storm, weary ones cried out for sanctuary.

Battle after battle, warriors appealed for peace.

She tuned in for a song to be somewhere in the suffering.

She watched for joy to come in the mourning.

She waited for worship to follow the weeping.

She shook her head at the things that could silence her.

How the exhausting days, an off-handed comment, relentless struggles, winds of life whipping her in the face, darkest nights, and the depravity of her own soul could leave her hushed, scared, unsure of setting one foot in front of the other.

Her default, to wrap herself in fear instead of walking in faith, threatened to deride her.

But she had set out to hunt and although it looked different then she anticipated, in hunting, she opened her hand to God's grace, steadfast love and never-ending mercies, she released her grip on fear and she found refuge in the present suffering by seeing it in light of God's eternal promises.

Yes, tears fall in the tiring days.

Yes, strength fails in the storms of life.

Yes, disease and death do sting.

But as prayers are on the lips of the saints, the God who bottles our tears also gathers our prayers in golden bowls.

As our weeping endures for the moment, we know the victory has been won, the Messiah has come in mortal flesh as a babe, conquered all sin and death as the God-man, so our prayers will be worship to the One who sits on the Throne.

As our suffering must be seen in light of God's eternal promises, so our prayers will be made sweet incense when the worthy Lamb, who suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, opens the book and loosens the seals.

This is the thing with bottled tears and bowls of prayers:

God turns our wailing into dancing and our prayer into worship because, "behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered" and we will weep no more.







When the world screams no God she yearns for more God.

So she set out in an earnest search and called this month 'Morevember'.

And she found that this hunting was just what she needed.

To open her eyes to see,

to open her hands to grasp,

to open her heart to hear.





So even when she was dumb she was not without a hope.

When her tears fell, she believed there would be a turning to joy.

When prayers faltered on her lips, she presented only groanings and was confident the Spirit would plead on her behalf.

With bold supplication she surrendered, knew her own weakness and found refuge.



November grew old, and now passes on with a white gleaming crown.

And the one who was silenced, now she silences the nay-sayers with a charm of her own.

She gives thanks for the delicious twilights and the sunrise after the storm.

For the Son in the midst of the storm.

For the Rock who is her Refuge.

She finds her song in the suffering.

Her hope in the hurting.

Her joy in the world.

In Him. More of Him.

In His presence. His goodness. His love.

November wanted to fill her right to the deepest marrow with melancholy.

But in the hunting, her ears were ripened to His music. His mercy. His grace.

In the silence her heart heard His song.

"The Lord your God is in your midst,

a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing."

Emmanuel has come.

In the morning we wait for fullness of joy.

God with us.

***

This is the final post for this series of Hunting for more of God's Grace, Steadfast love and His Mercies that are new every morning in 'Morevember'.

I invite you to never stop hunting along with me for more of His mercy and grace  and steadfast love to see more of Him in #Morevember on Facebook and Twitter.




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Linking with Emily. What have you learned this month? Please share.

Startled by the Surprises of His Never Failing Goodness {#Morevember}

Wake up to His wonderful deeds

and there is His tender mercy that never ends.

Listen up to His voice calling 

and there is His everlasting hope for the days to come.

Hold up His precious promises 

and there is His overflowing grace out that never runs dry.

Look up to His ever-present help 

and there is His steadfast love that never ceases.

Treasure up His eternal words of life 

and there is His perfect peace that flows like a river.

"Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

Sing to him; sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!"

"Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day."

"For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised"

"Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name"

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"

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Hunting for more of God's Grace, Steadfast love and His Mercies that are new every morning in 'Morevember'.

3 gifts behind a door:
~Listen, He's standing at the door and knocking {the gracious calling of a long-suffering Saviour}
~Looking outside and seeing the sparkle in his eyes as he plays in the snow shimmering in the sunshine
~Children gathered and learning together at our homeschool co-op

I invite you to hunt along with me for more of His mercy and grace in #Morevember on Facebook and Twitter.

Enter your email address to subscribe to A Soft Gentle Voice and have this series delivered to your inbox.   

When you Wake up to His Abundant Mercy and are Made Whiter than Snow {#Morevember}

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; 

according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 

 . . . wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

(Psalm 51:1,7)

There are times you want to hibernate with the bears and wake up in the spring.

Escape the pain and wait for the joy to return.

But the long dark days have barely begun and the only way through to new life is to walk the way of death.

Although death no longer has the victory, there is still a very real struggle with the darkness.

So what do you do when you don't know what to do with all the loss and pain and anguish?

These are dark days.

Days of trial, terror, and typhoons.

Days when doctors tell you to come back for biopsies.

When brothers refuse to talk to each other.

Days when mothers wail.

When fathers walk away.

Days when daughters cut and cry out for love.

When sons flounder, lost, longing for affirmation.

Days when babies are buried.

When sisters talk about and tear each other up. 

The way these days hurl us against the waves leaves us battered. 

Tossed and torn, ripped and ragged, struck down and troubled on every side.

But not in despair.

From our mother's womb we knew sin. 

But darkness never has the final word.

Light always shines forth.

Mercy is poured out and washes the dark stains bright.

Morning breaks and we wake to a winter wonderland. 

A delicate white covering the deadness of autumn.

For what can make sin whiter than the snow that falls down fresh in the morning, like new mercies? 

Nothing but His blood.

His crimson blood that makes the scarlet sin whiter than snow.

He has made us whiter than snow and His never-ending mercy, steadfast love, and grace know no end.

So no matter the turmoil we face in this life, as we trust in His goodness, He gives us hope and the confidence that our sorrow will blend with joy, fusing the music of our days to bring forth a beautiful symphony of praise.

In the storms, seek Him.

In the dark days, dwell with Him.

In the trials, trust Him.

And in the morning, sing of His mercy.

"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever."

(Psalm 89:1)

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Hunting for more of God's Grace,Steadfast love and His Mercies that are new every morning in 'Morevember'.

3 gifts at noon:

~the first snowfall fresh on the ground

~driving out of the storm and into the city

~meeting up with friends to hear the symphony together 

I invite you to hunt along with me for more of His mercy and grace in #Morevember on Facebook and Twitter.

Enter your email address to subscribe to A Soft Gentle Voice and have this series delivered to your inbox.   

"Mercies Anew" - A Song for Your Morning or At the End of Your Day

"Mercies Anew"

"Every morning that breaks there are mercies anew.

Every breath that I take is Your faithfulness proved,

And at the end of each day, when my labors are through,

I will sing of Your mercies anew.

When I've fallen and strayed, there were mercies anew.
For you sought me in love and my heart you pursued.
In the face of my sin, Lord, You never withdrew.
So I sing of Your mercies anew.

And Your mercies they will never end;
For ten thousand years they remain.
And when this world's beauty has passed away,
Your mercies will be unchanged.

And when the storms swirl and rage, there are mercies anew.
In affliction and pain, You will carry me through.
And at the end of my days, when your throne fills my view,
I will sing of Your mercies anew.
I will sing of Your mercies anew."

(Sovereign Grace Music)


(Email subscribers: to listen to song, click here.)

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Hunting for more of God's Grace,Steadfast love and His Mercies that are new every morning in 'Morevember'.

3 gifts ~ from my window:

~pulling back the blinds to welcome a brand new day

~watching, with my son, the bluejays and chickadees

~looking up to a sliver of a moon that offers a hint of light in the immense darkness as another day is tucked away

I invite you to hunt along with me for more of His mercy and grace in #Morevember on Facebook and Twitter.

Enter your email address to subscribe to A Soft Gentle Voice and have this series delivered to your inbox.   

Words of Wisdom for the Weekend ~Being Alert with Thanksgiving while Hunting for More of God's Grace, Steadfast Love and Mercy in #Morevember

"Paul tells us to 'continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving' (Colossians 4:2). Thanksgiving helps us to be grace-centered, seeing all of life as a gift. It looks at how God's past blessings impact our lives. Watchfulness alerts us to the unfolding drama in the present. It looks for God's present working as it unfold into future grace.

"Watch for the story God is weaving in your life . . . Corrie ten Boom's father often reminded her, 'The best is yet to come.'"

~Paul Miller, 'A Praying Life'

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Hunting for more of God's Grace,Steadfast love and His Mercies that are new every morning in 'Morevember'.

3 gifts worn:

~clothed with the garments of salvation

~covered with the robe of righteousness

~taking up the whole armour of God

I invite you to hunt along with me for more of His mercy and grace in #Morevember on Facebook and Twitter.

Enter your email address to subscribe to A Soft Gentle Voice and have this series delivered to your inbox.   

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{Words for Wisdom for the Weekend: These are words that I have been challenged or encouraged by that I have read throughout my week that I kept pondering; words that I couldn't get off my mind and heart throughout my week. 

For other Words of Wisdom for the Weekend posts see here.}