The Real Christmas Story with John MacArthur
Bad News: Santa Claus is Coming to Town by John Piper
The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10
As I look back over the course of the week and wonder how I ended up in this pit of despair, I am able to glean from the experience a couple of things. The first, of course, is the obstacle of my own sin…the sin of pride. Whether thinking too highly of myself or too lowly of myself, it’s still thinking of myself…not Him. My thoughts needed to shift from me-centered to God-centered. I need to seek His kingdom first not mine. The second snare was trying to muddle through the week on my own strength instead off crying out to God and relying upon Him. I should have stopped everything and set myself before Him on my knees. Instead, I stuffed and stuffed my life with the temporary trappings of this world, hoping they would somehow distract me and dull my pain. I should have armored up for battle.Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy. Jude 1:24
Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Revelations 12:10
It has been awhile since my last blog. The last few weeks have been difficult. Our son, Zach, had an
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Psalm 30:11-12
Romans 5:8
One way surpasses them all though: the way He strengthened me through the body of Christ. I received great encouragement and inspiration through my sister in Christ, as she ran alongside me. We cheered each other on and challenged each other along the way. Crossing the finish line with her is a moment I will never forget. She is the one in the picture waving and smiling. I’m the one that is in her arms about to collapse. This is a great visual of what happens within the body of Christ as we rejoice with one another and we bear one another’s burdens in life.
Since I was adopted into the body of Christ in recent years, I have been blessed to experience the love of this great family under our Almighty Father. I have learned so much during this time about what it means to truly love one another and have authentic fellowship. In Blackaby’s “Experiencing God” study, he explains that the Greek word, koinonia, is most often translated “fellowship” in the Bible. He describes it as the most complete expression of a love (agape) relationship with God. He says that when you live in this kind of love relationship with God, you will have the same quality of loving fellowship with other believers. He also says you cannot be in fellowship with God and His Son and not walk in godly fellowship with one another!
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:26
“I wish I could start over!”
Those were the words of my 10 year old son as he "fell apart at the seams" one afternoon. For no apparent good reason, he was completely unreasonable and uncooperative and couldn’t concentrate on any particular task despite his desires to do so. In my frustration, I recalled that the weekend had been packed with activity including camping in the woods, playing in his junior football game, and doing homework. Though he wouldn't admit it, I knew he was exhausted. He takes after his mother and requires a great deal of sleep in order to be coherent and cooperative. If we don’t get that, things can get a little ugly in our
Oh, how often I have felt that same way! Whether it’s sleep deprivation or any other thing that sets me off my game, it’s a miserable feeling to “feel” one way when you want to “feel” another. How marvelous is our God that despite our “feelings”, He never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and His mercies are new every morning. Perhaps our circumstances haven’t changed, but neither has He. He is still the sovereign ruler of the universe and I am finding that He alone is my peace (Ephesians 2:14).
Just recently, I had one of those days. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. I found myself depressed and downcast. I had quite the little self-pity party and wondered where my peace had gone. I knew I should probably pray and read my Bible, but I just couldn’t, or wouldn’t. So my dear beloved husband prayed over me and sent me to bed, knowing a good night’s rest would be one of the most beneficial things for me.
About 3:30 in the morning, I was awakened, most surely by the Spirit as I felt Him whisper across my soul, “Seek…don’t sleep. Seek….don’t sleep.” In my fatigue and stubbornness, I laid there for two hours wrestling with that thought. Finally, I arose and opened my devotional. Of course, He met me there in His word and spoke right to my heart. The verses for the day were the following:
The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:17
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 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: 8-9
So, if I want peace, I must seek righteousness. I must arise and seek Him and His word. I must fall on my face and cry out to Him and He alone will give me peace. I must fill my mind with the wonderful things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent and praiseworthy – things that are of God. When I dwell upon the things of God and memorize His word, there is no room for self-pity and depression. Oh, how my perspective had changed that morning. I am so thankful God allows us to “start over” with new mercies every morning.
For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23
To the angel of the church of Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands. Says this:
I know your deeds, your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you have found them to be false, and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary.
But I hold this against you, that you have left your first love.
Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first.
Revelation 2: 1-5
Had I gotten so busy with ministry, with evangelism and discipleship that I had forsaken the very One who redeemed my life from the pit? Was I so concerned with doing “God’s work” that I was no longer just sitting at His feet and coming to know Him more? In the days that followed, I did just that. I sat at His feet and listened. What He showed me completely changed my perspective as I came to understand His will for me as a wife and mother in Proverbs chapter 31. As I set out for a long run, I turned on my iPod to see what sermon I might listen to. It was keyed up and ready to play a message by Pastor John Macarthur on the role of the wife in a series “The Fulfilled Family”. I remember thinking I probably didn’t really need to listen to this one and actually considering skipping it! I expected to hear about submission, which is something I have embraced and treasured since I came to know the Lord. Little did I know how the Spirit would use it teaching to bring me to godly sorrow realizing how short I have fallen in what God desires for me in the role of the wife and mother in a Biblical family. As Macarthur talked about Proverbs 31 and the expectation God has for women to pour everything they have into their husband, children and home, my heart was breaking. I began to realize how backwards I have everything. I have been so focused on ministry, evangelism and discipleship that I have made that the “main thing”. My family had taken a back seat to all that I have going on. I had spent so much time and energy on people and things outside of home that I had little left for the people that matter most in my life.
A dear friend of mine pointed out a verse within Proverbs 31 that has changed my perspective. It is one that I often refer to now when trying to decide how to spend my time.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
She does him good and not evil
Proverbs 31: 11-12
The way I spend my time should benefit my husband. So, now when I am faced with a decision, I ask myself “Will this benefit my husband? Will it bring him good or evil?”
I was also reminded of the very reason for which woman was created.
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18
These verses were so freeing to me! Being a prisoner of the Lord and a slave to righteousness is so glorious. God was so clear and so faithful to answer the plea of my heart to show me His will.
I have been amazed at the change that has occurred in my heart and home since this encounter with God last spring. It certainly has not been easy and I have had lots of ups and downs, but He has given me a new desire for my husband and children – the desire to be a Proverbs 31 woman. God tells us that no matter what we're doing, we should do it to glorify Him (I Cor. 10:31). I am coming to understand that this is a season of my life in which I can glorify His name in the simple things like playing Candy Land with my kids and stirring a pot of mashed potatoes. He is teaching me so much through it all. I can’t wait to see what’s next.