What I Learned at...

The Sovereign Grace Small Group Leaders’ Conference was amazing as usual. This conference is truly one of my favorites, and now that it only happens once every three years, I am even more aware of the unique blessing it is. I can only describe being there in terms of experiencing wave after wave of God’s grace through worship, a musical review, teachings, workshops, and fellowship. For my own benefit more than anything, here are three of the many, many things I learned:

1. In C.J.’s teaching, “the Priority and Practice of Application” I learned that I am simple, and so is everyone else I know. The implications are that I am not going to be able to apply a ton of truth to a ton of areas in my life that need growth. My kids aren’t either. My husband isn’t. The ladies I am called to minister to aren’t. But one bit of scripture applied to one bit of life will begin the momentum of change in other areas. This will not limit growth, it will ensure it.


2. In Mike Bullmore’s teaching, which was a work of art as far as teachings go, entitled “The Functional Centrality of the Gospel”, I learned all over again that all Christian behavior should flow out of the gospel. I must see the connection. I must help others see the connection. I think of this with my kids. How often I have issued a moral command apart from the gospel (Stop being unkind to your brother. No grumbling and complaining, please. Say you’re sorry to your sister.) I must stick the post-it note of behavioral moral exhortation to the fly wheel of the gospel because the momentum is already there. And also, may these not just be buzz words that I have learned to parrot, and taught my kids to parrot, but may it become an increasing genuine practice in the Reyes house as Jason seeks to lead us in it.


3. In Dave Harvey’s teaching about faith I learned that faith looks up and faith looks back. Faith looks up and believes that God exists, and God is good. This has extremely practical application. In fact, this morning I remembered it when my kids woke up at their body’s normal time 7 am, but the clock had been turned back to 6 am. My hope was to wake before them and have a leisurely time with the Lord, but that did not happen. I complained. I asked my husband why he let them come down early. I was angry. In that moment I remembered to ask myself the question Dave Harvey told us to ask: Does God exist? Is God good? My disappointment seemed silly after considering the fact that God was there and had my good in mind even if it meant I wouldn’t get the long time in His word that I was hoping for. I was able to confess my sin, and be at peace with the kids up an hour earlier than usual. Ah faith…so practical.

Those are just a few of the jewels I found in the treasure trove of the conference. I am so happy that some of my favorite people, our care group leaders, were able to be there to benefit from the wealth as well. I pray for grace for all of us to make application a priority as we enter reality this week.

For Aunt Cathy

A bit of background for this poem: My aunt Cathy, who died October 20, 2005, lived the 54 years of her life completely dependent on others for her care. She was profoundly mentally retarded having the capacity of about a nine month old baby. My whole life I’ve wondered what she would be like once we were in Heaven and she had her perfect mind and body. That is the inspiration behind the poem as well as a desire to honor the people who loved her and cared for her – particularly my grandmother.

For Aunt Cathy

In modest respect both Sun and Rain tucked themselves away;
The day she left us aptly clothed itself in white and gray.

From childhood on I’ve wondered just how would Aunt Cathy be
Once we were beyond the skies, in Heaven’s glory.

Would she have hair long, raven brown? Would she keep her milky skin?
Would she see all of the angels as her old familiar friends?

Would she be boisterous, or quiet; would she be sassy or be sweet?
Would she give us the old love pats, or her classic tight squeeze?

More than how she’ll look or act, I wonder what she’ll say.
I can imagine now that it might go this way:

     “I wanted to scoop Charli up and squeeze her chubby thighs!”
     “I wanted to do laps around the kitchen with the guys!”
     
     “I wanted to dance with Maggie and draw pictures with Si-Si.”
     “I wanted to build lego ships and have adventures with Spidey.”

Would she say that she enjoyed the Cannon ladies’ constant chatter?
Would she say she had her very own opinion on a matter?

All those are just my little musings on what Aunt Cathy’d say,
But I think I can speak for her when I try today

To honor a few on her behalf who loved her even though
She could do very little to personally let you know -

She’d say:

     “Thank you, my dear brother who fought on my behalf,
     For hours on the phone for me with good-intentioned staff.”

     “You knew that one day might come when I would be with you.
     In private you bore the burden of discerning what to do.”

     “No one else could get the nurses, therapists, bed, and chair.”
     “Only God and I now know what you went through for my care.”

She’d say:

     “Thank you dearest sister that I have ever known.
     I will not forget the greatness of the love you’ve shown.”

     “You dressed me, and you fed me; you stayed with me night and day,
     You cried out for mercy on my behalf, and I could hear you pray.”

     “You took upon yourself my care, though hard it was indeed,
     Can you hear echoes of One saying, ‘you have done it Unto Me.’?”

If Cathy were most eloquent with the most brilliant mind
I think it still would be very difficult to find

The words to express gratitude to one who loved her dearly
The one who demonstrated God’s love for her most clearly.

She might say:

     “Mom, I was a special gift that God entrusted to
     A family that could love me, a mother who would view

     “Me as her sweet darlin’; her angel from above.
     I always felt your joy in me; I always felt your love.

     “Thank you for our morning coffee, the coke and ice cream
     “Thank you for the hand to hold however tight I squeezed.”
     
     “Thank you for sleeping by my side for fifty-four years
     Thank you for comforting me and wiping away my tears.”

     “Thank you for the care you gave, that only can compare;
     with the care that I receive now that I am not there.”

     “If only I could tell the world all that you’ve had to do.
     If only I could whisper in your ear, how much I love you.”

I could keep going on and on imagining Aunt Cathy’s words,
But any attempt I make would be lacking for those who heard.

But God’s voice will be heard because the Bible speaks to us today,
If you have ears to listen, Grandma, I think you’ll hear Him say:

     “Your children rise up and call you blessed; your husband also saw
     That many have done nobly, but you surpass them all.” Pro. 31:28,29

     “You are My good and faithful servant; faithful with my special one.
     You will enter into My joy. You will hear me say, Well Done.” Mt.25:21




     
     


     

Wise Words About Apathy

"Easy roads make sleepy travelers." -Charles Spurgeon from October 23 pm of Morning and Evening read the rest of it here. (You will have to enter the date. For some reason it won't link me directly to the reading itself.)

sad news

My aunt Cathy died this morning due to complications associated with pneumonia. She was 54. Please pray for our family, especially my grandmother. She has suffered profound loss this year: her husband, her home in New Orleans, her sister, and now her daughter. I'll post more later. Thank You.

Wise Words About God's Will

When I was single, this simple quote comforted me when I didn’t understand what God was doing with my life, especially with regards to a disappointment concerning who I thought I was supposed to marry.

“God’s will is exactly what my will would be if I knew all of the circumstances.” – Bill Gothard

How sweet it is to look in retrospect and heartily say that God’s will with regard to whom I would marry (the boy next door!) was indeed not just what my will would be, but so much better than I would have dared hope for.  

Future is a Tempter

Future is a tempter enticing me to come
But I can never catch him however fast I run
He teases me and taunts me and tells me how much fun
It is to be with Future, but I can never come.

Past is a joker, choking back on time.
He beckons me to return to memories of mine
But when I go to visit them it seems I always find
Past is somehow hollow when it’s lived a second time.

Present stands here all alone and asks me to embrace him.
I look to Future and to Past because I cannot face him.

I wrote this poem when I was still single and felt like I was awkwardly suspended between college and marriage. I thought if God didn’t have marriage in store right away, then surely He had some wonderful adventure in ministry waiting for me. I dreamed of church-planting ventures where I would go and be a support by babysitting or starting a children’s ministry, or playing keyboards. I dreamed of going on e-teams to other countries and traveling the world. I did not dream of sitting in a classroom at Magnolia Middle School as a substitute teacher. I did not dream of working at Greenleaf Christian Bookstore. I did not dream of absolutely no guys on the horizon.

In order to spare you from lengthy posting, I will continue this saga on Thursday.

Favorite Children's Commentary

Really, this is the only children's commentary series I'm aware of. The series, by Nancy Ganz, is called Herein is Love. The commentary is called Genesis: a Commentary for Children.I am using it for Bible this year with the kids and we love it. There is a passage from the book of Genesis to read. Then we read the commentary (about three pages of beautifully written commentary...on a child's level - and mine!). Then we do the craft from the back of the book where the lesson plans are. This commentary, thus far, has been Christ-centered, God-glorifying, and absolutely beautifully written. Nancy Ganz has also written commentaries for the book of Exodus and Levitcus. I hope she keeps them coming. Here is an exerpt from her commentary on Gen 1:26-31; 5:2

Man was created in the image of God, but he was not God. At the appointed time, however, there was born into the world a Man, who was the full "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" (Hebrews 1:3). The God of heaven, who is Spirit, became flesh and lived upon the earth, being found in appearance as a man. "Although He existed in the form of God, although He was in very nature God...He made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men..." (Phil 2:6,7)How extraordinary that man was made in the likeness of God and that God then took for Himself the likeness of man! Jesus Christ - "He is the image of the invisible God...for God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him...In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form..." (Col 1:15,19&2:9). (emphasis mine)

I love how she makes this connection with Jesus. I would never have thought to teach the sixth day of creation this way. Just thought I'd pass it on!

Wise Words for Wives

This isn’t an exact quote, but the principle is so true.  Lars Gren (Elisabeth Eliott’s husband) once said something to the effect of:

When a gal marries a guy she is usually perfectly happy with at least 90% of him, and would only change maybe about 10% of him. Now she can spend the rest of her married life trying to change the 10% and maybe end up changing 2%, meanwhile making both of them utterly miserable, or she can just spend her days enjoying the 90% she fell in love with in the first place.

Favorite Strong Drink

And no, it's not alcoholic! But I bet I got your attention. It is a grande sugar-free vanilla breve latte. Good hot or cold. Try it! My mom turned me on to them...just another way she sets the example. By the way, does anybody know if I'm doing something illegal with the graphic? I consider it free advertising for Starbucks, but if I'm wrong, please tell me. I got the graphic right off the google search for images.

Wise Words About Strength

“Instead of immediately asking for deliverance, Paul prayed that the believers in Colosse would grow in maturity. If you think about it, how do we grow in endurance and patience? Only one path exists, which we’ve already mentioned: to have both our endurance and patience sorely tried, even past the breaking point, until we learn to rest in ‘God’s glorious might.’ You’ll never develop your biceps if you lift just one-pound weights; you have to stress the muscle beyond its normal routine. The same principle holds true spiritually. If God gives us situations we already have the strength to handle, we won’t have to grow in order to deal with them.”                             –Gary Thomas from his book Sacred Parenting pg. 146

I can’t resist the urge to comment on this quote in light of my previous post. These godly older women and others whom I didn’t mention are mature in Christ and able to carry heavy loads (that I cannot at this point imagine carrying) because when they were younger they worked their muscles in smaller situations. I also want to bear the five pound weight of sick children, sleepless nights, an unruly four-year-old, a mountain of laundry, homeschool preparations, having to get up and serve even when I’m sick, etc., etc. You get the point. More than exercise my own pitiful biceps, I want to learn the secret my mother and other Titus 2 ladies have learned: my strength is from the Lord. I want to go to Him for strength in these little things so that when big things come, like caring for an elderly parent/disabled sister, moving into a retirement community, seeing my husband have a heart attack, experiencing the death of my child, moving from my house to my grown daughter’s house because I cannot keep up with the work physically, working with younger people who disregard my wisdom and experience, I am ready. (By the way, all of the things in that list were real challenges of ladies I was in Bible study with yesterday– not imagined hardships I could encounter). I am grateful for those going before me. They are spiritual body-builders for sure!

Strength and Beauty

Strength and beauty. It is an unlikely combination. Beauty is often so fragile and fleeting. Even the most glamorous succumb to age and gravity eventually. But I have seen in the  lives of two older women (in the lives of many older women, but I’m only describing two) absolutely breathtaking beauty combined with a strength that inspires me as a younger woman to want to be like them someday, Lord willing.

In a recent caregroup leaders’ meeting, my friend Cathy shared that she was struggling with the fact that she and her husband were leaving her single family home to move into a condo for retirees. Cathy loves her garden. She loves the memories she’s made with her grandchildren in her house. She has been exemplary in showing hospitality in this home. She has it decorated just the way she wants. Cathy loves her home, and it is hard to leave to go to a place that is probably going to be her last home. Yet in my basement, at a meeting with other believers who were praying over her and her husband, we had the privilege of hearing her surrender with many tears to God’s will. She was willing to be a pioneer once again, into a new land – not to retire, but to be used of God in a whole new adventure. I will never forget her prayer…not just the content, but the emotion as well. This was true beauty. This was true strength.

My mother stands as another pageant winner when it comes to strength with beauty. I have thanked God so many times for the privilege of watching my mom up close in this particular season. My mom has opened her home to my grandmother and my aunt. My aunt is profoundly mentally handicapped with the capacity of an infant. My grandmother is no longer able to care for my aunt due to her own chronic pain caused by spinal stenosis which means my mother is doing the hard work of caring for my aunt. (think of all that is involved in caring for a baby, but this is a grown 56 year old woman who weighs over a hundred pounds). My mother also lives with constant joint pain. You would only know this if you saw her trying to get up and down from a chair – she never complains about it (the doctors still don’t know why she has pain in every joint, therefore it is not really treatable – so frustrating to me! But my mom bears with it). All of this to say that my mom’s life changed so dramatically in the course of two days, our heads are still spinning. What has been her attitude? She has humbly submitted to the will of God. It is amazing how she has risen to this challenge. She gives all glory to God. She would tell you this season is yet another example of her life verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” What holy ground to watch her serving so heroically in the strength of the Lord.

Both of these women are true beauties. The world misses the mark when it comes to what true beauty is. Anyone can wear pretty clothes, put on makeup, and get a cute hairstyle. The world says that the most exquisite beauty is reserved for the young. Not true! A thousand times not true! I have seen Cathy and my mother demonstrate beauty like no younger woman I know. I am inspired to do what they did in their youth: study God’s Word rather than casually read a devotional here and there; grow through little trials rather than try to escape them and take the path of comfort and ease, learn to follow God wherever He leads instead of resist and stubbornly go my own way, and boast in my weakness rather than trying to meet the challenges of the day in my own strength. And one day, I hope to trade the beauty of youth (which is everyday fading) with the more impressive beauty of the older women around me.

Thank you, Cathy.

Thank you, Mom.