November | 2016 | Sherry's A Labour of Love

It seems that the world is falling apart. People are rioting in the streets due to the freedom of an election, there is death for the lost, friends that are ill, persecution of the saints and it’s getting colder with winter on it’s way. I know that last part isn’t a reflection of the world falling apart, yet it reflects the desperation of my prayers. For warmth and for my hope to become attainable! Warmth in the kindness people could show one another, warmth in healing, warmth in the sun and warmth in the gentle arms of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hope in the protection of His wing when the wind blows fierce enough to try to knock me or those whom I love over.

Finding hope in a lost world can be a daunting task. Looking around, there is so much more to be in despair about. Hope seems to be something one has to convince himself/herself of, not knowing if hope is that which is to be attained. Hope in healing, hope in kindness, hope in warmth, hope in love and hope in freedom. Is it to be? How can one be sure that hope is going to become reality? Truth of the matter is one cannot be sure of a great deal. For many, uncertainty becomes an unknown reality of which doesn’t deserve the time or effort of hope. Hope seems too far in the reaching in a world which thrives in strife. Sometimes it seems that by getting hopes up, one will only have a dashed spirit when the outcome is not what was hoped for. Completely understandable since disappointment is the human natural reaction to a crushing blow . Yet, for a Christian, this thought process seems unacceptable or improbable. Is it really? Unacceptable? Improbable? That sounds a bit irrational! After all, human nature and the human spirit do not differentiate between that of a Christian and non Christian. Right?

Wrong! The definition of human nature tells us it’s the nature of humans; especially : the fundamental dispositions and traits of humans (Websters). Yet, for a Christian, there is something else to consider. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, hence the reaction of the human spirit. The human spirit that experiences a knowledge in which human nature cannot compete with. It’s the truth and knowledge that there is something much greater than ourselves at work. Something revealed by the grace of the Lord which is more powerful than that of human nature. For a Christian, this knowledge is the understanding and acceptance that the will of man and the will of God are not always in sync. That God always has a plan, that His will is perfect and that His timing is exactly that…His! Knowing that although we are living in a world of continual unholy drama, we have trust and faith in that which we cannot control. During illness, a Christian has hope that healing will come. If healing is not to come, a Christian has the hope of eternal salvation that is yet to come. If persecuted, a Christian knows that God’s plan is perfect and there is hope in knowing that all things work for His Glory! In watching the destruction of the fallen world, a Christian has the knowledge that this is not the end, only the beginning.

(I need to pause here with a sidebar…I stopped at this point to take care of some family needs. While I was waiting at an appointment I was unable to find my phone, which I usually take a look at during such times, so I picked up the book I had also brought. It was my book that was to be finished by tonights book study with a friend. As I was reading, I was once again struck with praise to the Lord for His care over my spiritual life. Here I was, writing my blog prior to leaving the house and then I was reading the chapter that fit so well with the above. I did not know this was going to be the case when I started writing, God knew. He knew I would not need my phone as much as I needed to read that next chapter before continuing on. Praises of Thanksgiving!)

Does this mean that we as Christians just have hope and go along in our daily lives not worrying about anything or doing anything about concerns that creep up? Not at all. What we do however, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, is become driven to find resolve in the Word and through prayer. We don’t sit by and say “there’s so much more, God has this covered, I just need to sit by and watch”. Christians actively seek out and try to stay focused. It’s not an easy thing for many.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)

I mentioned how my reading of my book study was so compelling as an argument for what I’m trying to say here, that I just have to share the following notes from the book. (Book: The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung; my notes and some of the quotes below are in italics.)

A question in the book asks, “how does the spirit work in us to make us to make us holy?” Through various paragraphs my notes are such:

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (Ephesians 3:14-16 ESV)

Wisdom from the Spirit

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. ( 1 Cor. 2:6-16)

The Spirit is power and light!

We can try to say all the right things to ourselves about how it will work out, yet are we going further to directly and actively seek the gospel truth in order to obtain the hope needed in persecution, illness, and fear?

“But in the pursuit of holiness we need to look at more than the past acts of redemption. We have to look forward and trust in future grace.”

Because of the future promises of blessings, our passion for hope is fueled by the power and light of the Holy spirit.

In closing, I may look crazy, sound like I’m not a realist (which happens quite often) , yet I am hopeful for a future blessing amongst the chaos that goes on around me. I am not always happy, I am not always positive, yet I strive to do my best in such times of despair to seek the council of the Lord and to trust in the wisdom that He chooses to impart my way. Am I always naturally secure in my hope? In all honesty no. However, that being said, my hope does not come through my own power of will, but through that of the Holy Spirit which gives me the strength to be secure. To locate the hope of the future blessings that He has yet to reveal. I pray that any and all adversities that I experience will be used for the greater good of sharing the gospel truth with those who may be in need. In closing, the book mentioned a quote from Martyn Lloyd -Jones which I want to share:

The New Testament calls upon us to take action; it does not tell us that the work of sanctification is going to be done for us…We are in the ‘good fight of faith’, and we have to do the fighting. But, thank God, we are enabled to do it; for the moment we believed and are justified by faith, and are born again of the Spirit of God, we have the ability. So the New Testament method of sanctification is to remind us of that; and having reminded us of it, it says, ‘Now then, go and do it’. (Marty Lloyd-Jones, Romans: Exposition of Chapter 6: The new Man)

Be well dear reader and go forth seeking hope for that which is yet to come.

Uncle Ron… Gosh, I wish I had more pictures.

I haven’t written once again and although I consider it I am lost in my thoughts without much to say.

I recently commented to a few individuals I respect, how much I cannot understand the sin of the world. It dumb founds me. I mean, I know it is because of the fall of man yet I see so much evil and sin around me that I just have a difficult time understanding it or wrapping my head around it. I think that’s why I haven’t been able to write. I just cannot seem to say what I want to.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16

As I sit here on this beautiful day, I praise God that my family is together, we respect one another, we praise and worship together and we stand by one another. I thank God for saving me and capturing my heart, turning me away from the sin of the world and for saving my husband and children. I know that we will make mistakes and be tempted as long as we are here on this earth, yet I also know that God has instilled in us the moral character of faithful Christians who will recognize temptation as it comes our way so that we will have the ability to turn away and turn toward Him. Oh the blessing of His saving Grace and for His Word that sustains and leads.

Last night we said goodbye to another beloved family member. It’s interesting how life works and how even when a loved one has turned away from God for the purpose of self indulgences, family still stands by out of love for that individual and can pray and weep in mourning together. He may not have been perfect, he had his faults, yet he was loved by many.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Corinthians 13:7

Over the years I sat by and observed how my uncle loved his children and those around him. He tried to be a part of their lives in so many ways. His children unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried, walked away from him in either silence or defiance. Their sin was repeatedly overlooked by him due to his love for them. I never understood why he continued to try so hard only to be disappointed over and over. In the last few years of his life, my uncle had let go of trying so hard and accepted his place in their lives, which by witnessing his lifestyle became apparent he had a hole in his heart he was trying to fill.

I was sitting here this afternoon, resting, eating my lunch, and watching the end of a movie, during which I was profoundly overcome with tears and joy over a discussion that took place in the movie. Let me recap the conversation:

Man: “Do you love me?”

Woman: “What is your interest in me? What do you want? I don’t get it? I’m old, I’m broke, I can’t cook a decent meal, I’m fat…Why would you love a ruined person that ruins other people?”

Man: “Is that it? You think that because you screwed up once you don’t get a second chance?”

(Fast forward through the description of his sinfulness of adultery etc.)

Man: “My kids are still mad. I get a calendar for Christmas. It doesn’t matter if your kids love you or not…It’s not their job to love you….It’s your job to love them! That’s why you were put here. That’s why you’re their mom. That’s why I’m my kids dad. I love my kids so much….”

I thought of two things:

While my uncle had so may years of loving and forgiving his children for their own sin, his love for them was felt and known. Whether or not they accepted it didn’t matter, they knew he loved them unconditionally. He didn’t put prerequisites on their behavior in order for him to love them, he just did because he was their dad. He forgave them time and time again, waiting patiently for them to come to him while still showing them he loved them. With sadness, he never got to witness their homecoming back into his life. It was on his deathbed that one of his children stood over him holding his hand telling him he loved him. His other child lives across the country so it’s unknown what their reaction was. I am betting that there was soul searching and a broken heart.
I listened to the conversation, with ears hearing that of the Father who gave so much for his children out of unconditional love. I know that the movie did not intend to portray that of scripture, yet for me it struck a chord and moved me to finally be able to write what I’m thinking. As a parent, do we love our children unconditionally? Do I love my children and look beyond their sin? Do I show them how much I love them? When I am departing this world will my children be able to say, “Mom loved me and gave me her all. She wasn’t selfish in her own ambitions in life, she was not into self indulgences, she was a woman filled with the Word of God loving, serving and forgiving unconditionally”?

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1John 4:7-11

I am sad for my uncle that he could not see how much his children loved him, yet, as spoken above, I think God has used and will continue to use the examples he set for others to perhaps take note and consider. If not now, then perhaps when and or if the Lord calls them by name. He loved unconditionally and he lived and died unknowing. I will miss his love for my family, especially for my mom. He was there for her from the beginning, always embracing the roll of the big brother, protecting and supporting in some of her darkest moments of fear, rejection and loss. His love for my own family over many years was amazing. He took an interest….. I think that’s the part I have missed and will continue to miss the most. I don’t know whether or not I will see my uncle again as I don’t know where he stood with God. Sadly he did not live a life dedicated to Jesus Christ according to His Word. I only know that whatever relationship he had with God is between the two of them, and God has blessed me with the treasured memories of a predominantly selfless man that will have to last a lifetime.

Perhaps this is a bunch of jumbled thoughts to you dear reader, yet I hope that through my writing I have offered you something. Either sparked a thought, sparked a conversation or sparked an interest in learning more of a loving Father and that in which we are created for on this earth.

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1Timothy 1:5

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:21