“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many.”

Ransom has been echoing in my mind since I read it.  Two parts seem to need to be in place to uphold the framework of the idea…someone or something that is a prisoner, captive, or a slave & someone or something that is able to restore that prisoner to freedom by paying a price.

Jesus diagnoses the Pharisees: they are slaves to hard hearts, inflexible intellects, & are using divorce as a topic to provoke him.

Jesus diagnoses the rich young man:  he is captive because he covets, caught up in thinking he can ‘do’ something to inherit eternal life, & choking on the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth…powerless to respond & follow.

Jesus diagnoses his disciples: they are not ‘getting it’.  They need constant correction & a heavy dose of perspective-versus-reality-recalibration.

God’s word, through the examination of the spiritual slavery of the Pharisees, the rich young man, & the disciples powerfully shows me that I am just the same – my mind dull, my spirit calloused, my earthly priorities too precious, my own pride too strong.

Thanks to God that he did not abandon us as prisoners!  Praise to Jesus that he endured being condemned, handed over, mocked, spit on, flogged, mocked, & killed to purchase our freedom.  Alleluia that he rose three days later & now sits on God’s right hand!

I pray that God would prepare specific opportunities for you & I, this weekend, to share the joy & hope of the ransom he paid for our souls, with the souls of the people He has yet to set free in Christ.

The Bible reading for today is John 11 .

Once again, the last few days of Bible reading have left me feeling extremely convicted.  Jesus’ words have hit home over and over in Luke’s gospel and again today in John’s.  I’ve been challenged to leave everything and follow Jesus.  These words take some thinking–I mean, I live in the ‘real’ world and I need to take care of ‘real’ things, like laundry, cooking meals, cleaning house, helping with homework, overseeing piano practice.  So, for me, what does leaving everything involve? 

Setting aside my desire to set my agenda for the day, to program what will get done around the house, to stay comfortable on the throne of my life–it means stepping down and yielding my day, my emotions, my to-do list to God’s agenda.  It means (like Elaine Garrett shared) when my husband complains about something I’ve done and my children are clamoring for attention and a dish breaks, I don’t get sucked into self-pity and snap at everyone.  Rather, I cry out to God, the Master of my heart, ‘Help me respond with grace, give me patience, give me kindness,’ and depend on Him to follow Jesus. 

It means looking for a hurting person, a lonely co-worker or neighbor, a troubled person and inviting them over even though my house doesn’t look great and I could really use a nap. 

It means seeking the lost like Jesus–diligently, sacrificially, with joy.  Jesus tells us, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.  But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you.  You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” 

Who will you invite?  Who will you seek?  Who might you find today? 

“there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents”

The Bible reading for today is Luke 16:17:10.

Our second gathering of Little Oaks was delightful!  Although sweet Zoe here was one of only 2 girls (the other being Claire), the little band of brothers had lots of fun with trains, cars, blocks and books.  Books were quite the hit (especially with Isaac).

Besides learning to share, there were some important lessons in the making of noise–beautiful noise at the piano!

And the mothers?  Well, we sipped some orange juice and commiserated on lack of sleep (again).  But we also shared recent books enjoyed and what we’ve been eating for breakfast lately (Lindsay’s got a great recipe for Blueberry Almond granola apparently), discussed whether or not to have our children get the flu shot, and enjoyed some conversation with peers (which can be in short supply some days). 

I realize I could have taken a better picture of the mothers, but I was far too busy snapping them of these cuties. . .

That seemed a good place to stop–looking forward to seeing you next time we meet!

The Bible reading for today is Luke 14-15.

If you have been following along with the Bible readings the last few days, you’ve likely been shocked at Jesus’ words in Luke.  They’ve been anything but “meek and mild”!  I have felt myself flinching at some of his very piercing words–and pausing to consider where I need to repent and obey.  Listen for yourself. . .

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (reference Luke 10:38-42 for the full story)

Woe to you, Pharisees!  For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God.  These you ought to have done.

Woe to you, Pharisees!  For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.  Woe to you!

Woe to you lawyers also!  For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you youselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.  Woe to you!

Take care, be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.  (And later in the parable the man who says, “‘Soul, you have ample good laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry’ is told by God, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’  So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”)

And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.  For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom and these things will be added to you.

Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth?  No, I tell you, but rather division.

You hypocrites!

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

If [it should not bear fruit], you can cut it down.

Strive to enter through the narrow door.  For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

One of the remarkable things about Jesus is how plainly he speaks.  To the proud, he cuts deep.  To the humble, he is tender and gentle.  When he speaks of Jerusalem, he says, “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!”  Why don’t we humble ourselves, seek first His kingdom, practice justice and the love of God, trust Him with money, tomorrow, our life? 

It’s clear its the only safe place to be.  

The Bible reading for today is Luke 12-13 (yesterday’s was Luke 10-11; John 10:22-42).

I mentioned last week my current breadmaking inspiration–after having an entire loaf devoured last night at Growth Group (with nearly every woman requesting the recipe), I decided to share it with you, as well as encourage you to attend our next Sisters Together gathering (November 12) where we’ll be demonstrating Soups and Breads before the panel discussion.

This recipe is taken from Kneadlessly Simple (Nancy Baggett) and is entitled ‘Crusty White Peasant-Style Pot Bread’.  Here’s what you need:

A 4-6 qt. pot with oven-safe lid (it doesn't have to look as dirty as mine).

4 c. flour (I use unbleached), 1 t. sugar, 2 t. salt, 3/4 t. quick-rise yeast, 2 c. ice water

Just a quick, quick note to say how thankful I am that next weekend (and subsequent weekends) Julie Roper will be blogging here.  It will give me a ‘break’ on some of our home’s busiest days (especially Sundays!). 

I hope your faith was fed today by God’s Word, the fellowship of your sisters and brothers and the presence of the Holy Spirit.  And I hope your body and soul found some sabbath rest on this Resurrection Sunday.  I’m hoping to get mine starting right now (that means the kids are bathed and in bed, the dishes are done, the laundry has been moved and my responsibilities for today are completed). 

Goodnight. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

The Bible reading for today is John 9:1-10:21.

“If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.” (G.K. Chesterton)  Perhaps your fear of ‘doing badly’ has kept you from beginning some form of family worship or devotions at your home–last night at the James’ home, we gathered to discuss the nuts and bolts of how to get started and why its worth doing (even badly).

While the wee ones dined in the kitchen (pardon the red eye) and discussed their latest nap schedules over Domino’s pizza, the adults gathered in their dining room and caught up on each other’s lives (Lily took this next picture).

Then the kids headed downstairs to play, while we moved to the living room and listened as Jeff and Clarinda shared from their experience the importance of teaching our children to worship God, key elements of a family worship time (prayer, Bible, song), the challenges and joys of leading our children in worship and lots of resources for getting started.

Jenny Jezek then encouraged us to write out a prayer for our child/children, as well as one or two goals that we wanted to take away from the gathering.  And then we spent time together in prayer for our children–a beautiful and sweet time of calling on our God to instill within our children wisdom, love, contentment, faith, a spirit of peacemaking, patience, kindness and more.  We left with a list of resources and goals, the encouragement of our sisters and brothers in Christ, and prayers for our children. 

A good night, indeed.

The Bible reading for today is John 7-8.

One of our goals in Women’s Ministry is to deepen our knowledge of each other that we might better encourage each other in our Christian walk, and one way we do that is with A Cord of Three Strands.  The familiar passage in Ecclesiastes that prompted this talks about the difficulty of life lived alone, and the great advantage of ‘two’ for staying warm, helping the other if one falls, standing against an attacker, and working hard–it ends, “a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” 

We currently have 18 women from the church (or 6 strands) that are involved with this ‘program’.  I asked two women, Emily Wencel and Marie Benware, to share their experience this past year with their group–I hope reading it encourages you to consider joining a group or to build on established relationships within our church.

(1) Why did you choose to be a part of the Cord?

(E) To get to know the women of NCC better, and connect with them on a deeper level as we grow together into a new church. I was also eager to study the Word and what the Bible has to say on different topics of the Christian life with other women.

(M) To get to know some ladies of our church in a more in depth way, developing relationships where we can encourage and challenge one another spiritually. Without an actual appointment, I don’t make the time, and these relationships would never have developed.

(2) How often has your group chosen to meet and what locations have you used?

(5) Anything else you’d like to add with regard to your experience with A Cord of 3 Strands?

Thanks, ladies!  For those of you interested in joining a group with two other women from the church, contact Peggy Lynne Cupp (check out the How Do I Get Connected? page on the website for contact info) and she’ll gladly create a group for you.  And if your group is looking for resources, let me know and I’ll send them your way.  Let’s continue to encourage one another!

The Bible reading for today is Matt. 18.

I have a love affair with the color white–everything in the girls’ room (except the wall color) is white.  Dresser, beds, bedding, doors, crib, trim, mirror–you get the idea.

Because of my obsession and the large quantity of children living in my home, I also have a love affair with bleach.  But, I still can’t keep whites white (check out the door yesterday after Simeon took a permanent Sharpie to it).

You’re looking at the ‘after’ picture, as in after I scrubbed the door with soft scrub–that’s likely as good as it will get. 

Things don’t stay white in our home–even the lovely hard-boiled egg with its creamy white exterior that I was ‘warming’ in the microwave for Lily (don’t ask).  It exploded all over the microwave.  And the pristine salt in the saltshaker–yep, Charlotte dumped it all over the counter, along with cinnamon, nutmeg, onion powder, basil and parsley.

Just when I thought it was safe to leave her and move a load of laundry. 

This excursus on the color white comes of course from our passage yesterday–because it was these words that initially stood out to me: “and [Jesus] was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them” (Mk 9:3).  Terror strikes James, John and Peter (the ‘them’ in the verse) as they see Jesus glowing with this intense whiteness, this unearthly purity, this glory.  Their minds recall Moses (see Exodus 34:29-30) coming down from Mount Sinai with a face shining so brightly from reflecting God’s glory that he had to cover his face with a veil so people could look upon him.  Jesus, on the other hand is transfigured, which means his own glory was being made visible for the three, not a mere reflection. 

And then Moses and Elijah appear, and the cloud which certainly represents the Shekinah Glory of the Old Testament envelops them and the voice of God says the amazing words: “‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him.’”  And the scene ends with, “And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.”  For these Jewish disciples, the message was clear, Jesus is greater than Moses and Elijah–He is nothing less than God’s Son.

You might think it would be nice to have this sort of mountain-top experience to confirm your faith in Jesus, but listen to Peter’s words in a later letter he wrote, “We were eyewitnesses of [Jesus'] majesty.  For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.  And we have something more sure, the prophetic word (i.e. the scriptures), to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. . .” (2 Peter 1:16-19).

More sure.  The scriptures are more sure as a testimony to Jesus being the Son of God than an eyewitness account of Jesus’ transfiguration.  Take it from one who was there.  And pay attention to the prophetic word.

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The Bible reading for today is Matt. 17; Mark 9; Lk. 9:28-62.

As part of our goal with this blog is to deepen our knowledge of our sisters at New Covenant, I’ll be conducting ongoing ‘interviews’ with the women of our church.  Our first, today, is with Charleen Gray.

(1) How did you decide to make New Covenant your home?

It was through a set of circumstances that God got our attention about the New Covenant Church plant.  Sam and I were quite surprised when God wanted us to be a part of it.  We hesitated to obey, but the Lord got our attention and here we are.

(2)What circumstances brought you to God and when did you give your life to Him?

When I was 45 years old, I went through a divorce, and began to get help with my alcoholism.  I went through treatment for three months and then 3 months of recovery in a halfway house.  I was so broken.  My twin came for a visit and told me I needed the Lord. After considering what that meant, I asked Jesus into my heart and life, and I have never been the same.  That was in July 12, 1991.

(3)What are you involved with at New Covenant Church?

I attend Growth Group, sing in the choir,and attend some Outreach events and Sisters Together.

(4)What has challenged you the most this past year and how has God used New Covenant Church to mature you as a Christian?

I was challenged as a Growth Group hostess for the Wheaton area for a year.  I learned about hospitality and how to serve a group of people in my home on a regular basis.  I feel a lot more confident hosting a group of people. Being a part of New Covenant Church has given me a greater knowledge of God, strengthened me in my faith and grown me in steadfastness.

(5)How can we pray for you and your family?

My husband Sam has many health issues, pray especially for his walking and dementia. I have unsaved children, Brian and his wife Melissa and grandchildren Kyle and Jack.  Pray I would grow in Christ–I need to be daily filled with the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness, self control.  And pray for grace in caring for Sam.