Wedding Watch #8 January 29, 2010

This time next Friday, I will be getting ready for my wedding…my WEDDING! It is incredibly hard to believe it’s so close! I have waited and prayed and longed for this day for 29 years! And it’s here! 

Amidst the excitement and anticipation is the growing awareness of what it is I am doing. (I’m a slow learner.) With all the wedding planning and myriad of details, it has been easy to lose sight of what it’s all for – to get me married to the love of my life, the man for whom God has been preparing me. All of this wedding “stuff” is just details and fluff…it gets me to the point of being able to spend the rest of my life beside David. And every time I stop and think about that it takes my breath away. I still can hardly believe it.

So, on to the update!! We are getting lots done!!! I’ve settled on a hair style (praise the Lord!) and we have the décor for the auditorium figured out and nearly ready to go. I had a trial run with make-up (too fun!). We signed our marriage license (which, by the way, was pretty incredible to see “Male Applicant” and “Female Applicant” instead of “Party A” and “Party B” – hurray for Amendment 2!!). We finished our pre-maritals – oh, what a valuable time each lesson was!! I had my last dress fitting and now my dress is in my possession (it’s sooooooooooo pretty). 

There’s still lots and lots to do, though! I have a multitude of errands to run, thank-you notes to write, suitcases and boxes to pack, vendors to follow-up with, last appointments and meetings to attend, etc, etc. And we are praying for health and strength these last few days as both David and I have been pretty sick. But then…Friday will be here and I don’t care what happens. I am marrying David Alan Fountain!

Love, I am so looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you. The sovereign plan of the Lord had me confused often over the years as I wondered what on earth He was doing. Now, (silly, anxious me) I look back and see His hand at work in my life preparing me to become your wife – and His hand at work in your life preparing you to lead me (the harder job, for sure!). I am so in love with you.

“The time it took to find you, I’d wait again, my baby…”

Broken-Down House January 28, 2010

I love word pictures – it’s how the Lord oftentimes speaks to me.  I compare it to a child’s love of picture books without words – I guess I’m elementary enough to need such communication, but the pictures offer so much more than books with only words  can provide.  This is why the Lord spoke so often in parables, He wanted to be sure we got the picture, so to speak!

I suppose this is why I am gleaning so much from Paul Tripp’s new book, Broken-Down House, Living Productively In A World Gone Bad.

He uses the metaphor of a broken, dilapidated old house in need of serious work.  But the restoration needed requires us to live in the midst of the mess.  We would much rather leave the work to someone else and come back when it’s all finished to enjoy.  But God has ordained, even commanded us to stay and dwell in a dangerous place where rusty nails, splinters and broken glass abound.  No matter how careful we are, we are sure to get hurt at some point in the restoration process.  Tripp shares in his Introduction:

“The bad news is that you and I are living right in the middle of the restoration.  We live each day in a house that is terribly broken, where nothing works exactly as intended.  But we do not live in the house by ourselves.  Emmanuel lives here as well, and He is at work returning His house to its former beauty.  Often it doesn’t look like any real restoration is goin on at all.  Things seem to get messier, uglier, and less functional all the time.  But that’s the way it is with restoration; things generally get worse before they get better.

So in the pages that follow, I invite you to consider one simple thing.  What does it look like to live productively in a world — a “house” — that is broken down?  Someday you will live forever in a fully restored house.  But right now you are called to live with peace, joy, and productivity in a place that has been sadly damaged by sin.  How can you live above4 the damage?  Even better, how can you be an active part of the restoration that is at the heart of God’s plan of redemption?

May God help you to be fruitful in all you do, even though you live in a broken-down house!”

Age of Opportunity January 25, 2010

My children are now 4, 8 and just turning 11.  In the recent months it has become quite apparent to me that we are entering a new phase with my oldest son.  All of a sudden, things seem different………his responses, questions, doubts, fears and joys are markedly changed.  It took me a little while to begin to see what was happening.  Then, suddenly it dawned on me.  He is getting ready to enter adolescence.  I must admit a little panic set in, not because of fear of what was happening to him, but more-so of feeling unprepared for the changes.  I knew they would one day come, but really didn’t know what to expect.  Then I remembered a book I had bought a while ago, which had been recommended by many friends.  It is Paul Tripps “Age of Opportunity.”  I have started reading it and oh how helpful it is to me.  It is both very practical and encouraging.  It is helping me to see the big picture, but also showing me how to put it all into practice.  The following is an excerpt which has been particularly helpful to me.

“We need to teach our teenagers what it means to live for God where they live every day, in all those unspectacular moments at home, at school, or with friends.  There are two questions that, if regularly asked, will bring God into every one of those moments.  We want to ask them of our teenagers until they learn to ask them of themselves.  They are summarized by these two words:  trust and obey….In every situation we want our teenagers to have a heart for God.  We want them to have the goal of living to please him.  So we must encourage them in every situation to ask, “What, in this situation, are the things that God calls me to do that that I cannot pass on to anyone else?” …Once the teenager has biblically clarified those responsibilities, the only proper response is to obey.   The word trust points the teenager to the fact that he has limits….So we need to get our teens to ask this question:  “What, in this situation, are the things I need to entrust into God’s capable and loving hands?”……we need to teach our children that every moment is God’s moment.  There is always a higher agenda than personal happiness, there is a bigger, more significant story than their story of the moment, and in every situation, they are called to trust and obey God.”

Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God January 22, 2010

If you’re not familiar with this title, it’s a wonderful book written by C.J. Mahaney and subtitled “What Every Christian Husband Needs to Know.” And it’s so true! It’s a part of the pre-marital material at Metro Life Church and, as I am nearly finished with this small volume, I’ve seen how packed it is with wonderful biblical truths of God’s design for marriage, sex and romance.

What I have been so struck with while reading through its pages (and especially Carolyn’s “A Word To Wives”), is the idea of how essential selfless and sacrificial love is in marriage. Sure, love can be fun Facebook statuses, making a home together, feeling your heart leap when he walks in the door, anticipation of the honeymoon and other fun and meaningful things. But, wow, it’s so much more: it’s a daily laying down of my life, putting his preferences over mine, being aware of HIM. And what a privilege to do this for the one I love. I’m so looking forward to the lifetime opportunity to (continue to) do this for David…in 13 days!!!

Our God January 20, 2010

My favorite book I have read this year, and one of my all time favorites ever now, was Our God, by Octavius Winslow.  I did finish reading the book not long ago, but feel like I could only fully grasp and remember parts of it.  Our God is SO packed full of amazing truth that I plan on reading it again during my devotions this year.

Each chapter of Our God focuses on different “perfections” of Him.  Some of the chapters include:  The God of Love, The God of Holiness, The God of Patience etc.   Instead of using many of my words to describe this book, I will just write a few quotes directly from it.

“Oh, how the love of God changes the aspect of everything! Afflictions are revealed to be disguised blessings; trials, proofs of divine faithfulness; clouds, chariots paved with love and penciled with light, in which the Savior comes to us.”

“You have thought of Him, perhaps, as the God of holiness, the God of justice, the God of power, the God of judgment; come now and meditate on Him as the God of love. And while you muse on this marvelous and soul-subduing truth, may the fire of a responsive affection kindle in your heart so that your tongue breaks forth into thanksgiving and praise.”

“Why do you hesitate to trust all your personal interests and affairs and to disclose all your temporal needs and sorrows in prayer to God? He is not too hight for your lowest needs, nor too great for your smallest care.”

“Why do I need to be troubled about this matter anymore? Why yield to fear and despondency? I am released from responsibility, my obligation is cancelled, my debt is paid, and I am legally discharged from all liability, arrest, and judgment. I will emerge from the shadows and walk at liberty, bearing with me my legal protection and my full discharge, none daring to make me afraid.”

It is seriously like every single paragraph is packed full of amazing, spirit lifting, God glorifying truth. I am so grateful for books like this that God uses to send my focus back to where it should be.  On HIM!

Posted by Jaime

Prodigal God January 18, 2010

This week we’re going to share with you books that we’re reading and how they’re affecting us.  Not a book review, really; we’ll be sharing an  excerpt and how it’s helping us personally.  We begin with Debi who is sharing about Prodigal God, by Timothy Keller.

I recently finished this book and when asked to share with you on this topic – I knew the exact quote I wanted to share.  It was the only one I remembered off the top of my head – quite miraculous these days!

This section of the book is about relationships and how vital they are to our growth in godliness.  He shares an example from C.S. Lewis’ life that has had a lasting impact on how I value relationships in the church:

“C.S. Lewis was part of a famous circle of friends called the Inklings, which included J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, and also the author Charles Williams, who died unexpectedly after World War II.  In his book The Four Loves, Lewis wrote a striking meditation on his death in an essay entitled “Friendship.”

In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out.  By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets.  Now that Charles [Williams] is dead, I shall never again see Ronald’s [Tolkien's] reaction to a specifically Charles joke.  Far from having more of Ronald, having him “to myself” now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald…In this, Friendship exhibits a glorious “nearness by resemblance” to heaven itself where the very multitude of the blessed (which no man can number) increases the fruition which each of us has of God.  For every soul, seeing Him in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest.   That, says an old author, is why the Seraphim in Isaiah’s vision are crying “holy, Holy, Holy” to one another (Isaiah 6:3).  The more we thus share the Heavenly Bread between us, the more we shall have.

Lewis is saying that it took a community to know an individual.  How much more would this be true of Jesus Christ?  Christians commonly say they want a relationship with Jesus, that they want to “get to know Jesus better.”  You will never be able to do that by yourself.  You must be deeply involved in the church, in Christian community, with strong relationships of love and accountability. Only if you are part of a community of believers seeking to resemble, serve, and love Jesus will you ever get to know him and grow into his likeness.”

What a precious picture of how each of us reflect the Savior.  I know more of Him by being friends with you!  This draws my heart to long to know others – to draw them out about their love for Jesus.  We need each other as Mom to Mom, but also friend to friend.  This has had a lasting impact on how I value each friend with whom God has blessed me.  Through them I will learn more about Christ – and this will last forever!

Posted by Debi

Wedding Watch #7 January 15, 2010

Ok, we are on the home stretch, ladies! I will be married in THREE WEEKS! How is this possible?! It seems like just yesterday I was lamenting the fact that I was still single (of course, now I’m lamenting the fact that the engagement season is lasting FOR.EV.ER.)! Three weeks…it’s going to be here before I know it! The days fly by with such rapidity I hardly know what’s happening! It’s not four months away or even eight weeks away, it’s THREE weeks away. I’ve hit the stage where I’m just shrugging my shoulders at problems because it kinda is what it is at this point. I’d rather enjoy these last three weeks as much as possible without stressing about minutiae. Ok. Well, that’s my goal, at least!!

We’re down to our last two pre-maritals and finalizing all the details…things like making sure all the vendors have deposits and delivery confirmation, finding people to assist with the myriad of tasks the week of and day of the wedding, writing my vows, shopping and packing for the honeymoon (which is a surprise!!! I know it’s a beach-y place, but that’s it!), giving head counts to the caterer, picking up my dress, etc, etc.

The list seems to keep growing, but the difference is that my wedding day is in sight!!! It’s coming! It will be here so soon and I will be marrying the man I (and many others) have prayed for for years! The faithfulness of God has been so evident to me this past year as I have struggled on a roller coaster of varying circumstances, praying through decisions and seeking wisdom on issues the Lord knew I needed to help build my faith and trust in Him alone – my Rock. I am so amazed and grateful for this gift He is giving me!

Why Require Unregenerate Children to Act Like They’re Good? January 13, 2010

My choice for one of my favorite blog posts of 2009 was found here and is by John Piper.  Make sure you read the end of a list of “let us” things to do for our children.  This is an amazing read!  Enjoy!

If mere external conformity to God’s commands (like don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t kill) is hypocritical and spiritually defective, then why should parents require obedience from their unregenerate children?

Won’t this simply confirm them in unspiritual religious conformity, hypocritical patterns of life, and legalistic moralism?

Here are at least three reasons why Christian parents should require their small children (regenerate or unregenerate) to behave in ways that conform externally to God’s revealed will.

I say “small children” because as a child gets older, there are certain external conformities to God’s revealed will that should be required and others that should not. It seems to me, for example, while parents should require drug-free, respectful decency from a 15-year-old, it would do little good to require an unbelieving and indifferent 15-year-old to read his Bible every day. But it would be wise to require that of a 6-year-old, while doing all we can to help him enjoy it and see the benefit in it.

So the following points are reasons why we should require smaller children to behave in ways that conform at least externally to God’s word.

1) For children, external, unspiritual conformity to God’s commanded patterns of behavior is better than external, unspiritual non-conformity to those patterns of behavior.

A respectful and mannerly 5-year-old unbeliever is better for the world than a more authentic defiant, disrespectful, ill-mannered, unbelieving bully. The family, the friendships, the church, and the world in general will be thankful for parents that restrain the egocentric impulses of their children and confirm in them every impulse toward courtesy and kindness and respect.

2) Requiring obedience from children in conformity with God’s will confronts them with the meaning of sin in relation to God, the nature of their own depravity, and their need for inner transformation by the power of grace through the gospel of Christ.

There comes a point where the “law” dawns on the child. That is, he realizes that God (not just his parents) requires a certain way of life from him and that he does not like some of it, and that he cannot do all of it.

At this crisis moment, the good news of Christ’s dying for our sins becomes all important. Will the child settle into a moralistic effort the rest of his life, trying to win the acceptance and love of God? Or will he hear and believe that God’s acceptance and forgiveness and love are free gifts—and receive this God in Christ as the supreme treasure of his life?

The child will have a hard time grasping the meaning of the cross if parents have not required of him behaviors, some of which he dislikes, and none of which he can do perfectly.

Christ lived and died to provide for us the righteousness we need (but cannot perform) and to endure for us the punishment we deserve (but cannot endure). If parents do not require external righteousness and apply measures of punishment, the categories of the cross will be difficult for a child to grasp.

3) The marks of devotion, civility, and manners (“please,” “thank you,” and good eye contact) are habits that, God willing, are filled later with grace and become more helpful ways of blessing others and expressing a humble heart.

No parents have the luxury of teaching their child nothing while they wait for his regeneration. If we are not requiring obedience, we are confirming defiance. If we are not inculcating manners, we are training in boorishness. If we are not developing the disciplines of prayer and Bible-listening, we are solidifying the sense that prayerlessness and Biblelessness are normal.

Inculcated good habits may later become formalistic legalism. Inculcated insolence, rudeness, and irreligion will likely become worldly decadence. But by God’s grace, and saturated with prayer, good habits may be filled with the life of the Spirit by faith. But the patterns of insolence and rudeness and irreligion will be hard to undo.

Caution. Here we are only answering one question: Why should parents require submissive behaviors of children when they may be unregenerate rebels at heart? Of course that is not all Christian parents should do.

Let there be much spontaneous celebration verbally of every hopeful sign of life and goodness in our children.

Let us forgive them often and be longsuffering.

Let us serve them and not use them.

Let us lavish them with joyful participation in their interests.

Let us model for them the joy of knowing and submitting to the Lord Jesus.

Let us apologize often when we fall short of our own Father’s requirements.

Let us pray for them without ceasing.

Let us saturate them with the word of God from the moment they are in the womb (the uterus is not sound proof).

Let us involve them in happy ministry experiences and show them it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Let them see us sing to the King.

Let us teach them relentlessly the meaning of the gospel in the hope that God will open their eyes and make them alive. It happens through the gospel (1 Peter 1:22-25).

Still seeking to grow in my role as a father (of our family and our church),

Pastor John

Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

Posted by Jaime

A Simple Gift in the Midst of Suffering January 11, 2010

A  dear friend of mine sent me this post last May from FamilyLife MomBlog.  After I read it I began to follow FamilyLife and the blog by the author of this post Rebecca (Barbara Rainey’s daughter) going way back in her posts to get her full story.  Her life bore many similarities to mine, especially in the losses of her children  and the way the Lord was leading her and comforting her in her grief.  The following post was a reminder to me to be thankful for all the Lord has given me.  Even though I have experienced the loss, I still need the reminders in my day to day life when the momentary circumstances seem to overwhelm me.  God has been so good to me, in the brief times He allowed me to mother some of my children and these extended seasons He has abundantly blessed me.  I pray this will be helpful to you to look at all He has given and not what may have been taken away, regardless of the season or trials which you face at this time.

http://www.familylifemomblog.com/2009/05/children-are-a-blessing.html FamilyLife MomBlog

http://rebeccacooks.blogspot.com/2009/05/simple-gift-in-midst-of-our-suffering.html Rebecca Cooks

Posted by Elyse

Friday Favorite: God’s Word January 8, 2010

God’s Word is a precious gift!  We value it because it is God’s inerrant word to us – His children.  In it we find the words of life and help for all we need to grow in godliness.

As Moms we need instruction from God on how to train our children.  It is a demanding task that requires our attention daily whether we “feel like it” or not.  This is why setting aside time each day to hear from God through His Word is more than a discipline – it’s a necessity.

We invite you to join us as we travel this ancient road – through His Word.  Metro’s Route 66 blog is committed to providing accountability and encouragement to you to stay the course this year.  We ask that you pray to see what God would have you commit to in 2010 in reading the Bible – it may be to study one book all year – or you may be motivated to read through the entire Bible.  Whatever you sense God saying to you – simply let us know and you’re in!  Route 66 will send you regular encouraging e-mails throughout the year (but not too many to be burdensome) to help you stay focused on your goal – obeying God!

We pray this will be the year where God’s Word becomes a light unto your path.