I know the plans I have for you…

One year since we moved to a new state.

One year since our waiting ended and we moved for the fourth time since we were married and the second to last time before we were settled.

Tomorrow, we will have been married for 2 years.

In two months, our puppy will be a year old.

In 70 days, we will be welcoming our first child into the world.

Someday soon, Lord willing, I’ll finally publish the book I have been working on for over three years.

Time comes and goes. There is a time for everything, Ecclesiastes tells us. In this time, there has been mourning and joy, peace and worry, love and fear, loss and blessings. Two years ago, I couldn’t have told you what I thought our lives would look like now. I don’t think this is the painting I would have painted. Perhaps there would have been a job acquired sooner, the debts paid off quicker, a move made smoother (or fewer). Perhaps we would have stayed in the same state, or moved farther across the country. Perhaps our first child would still be coming.

Perhaps a great many things may have happened. I don’t know what would have happened otherwise now that this is our present. I know that my trust was not always strong and my fear and despair often overwhelmed me. Even now, six months into carrying a child, I recognize how small I am, how powerless, how full of fear I have become. I have felt more than alone. I have been isolated from nearly everyone and everything I have ever known.

These last couple of years, with the changes and moves and separations, have brought much worry into my life. We couldn’t help but ask, “What is going to happen next? When is it going to happen? How??”

It seemed like every month was a period of recovery from the month before, confusion at the present, and hope for what might but probably wouldn’t happen next month.

I don’t know a lot of things. Would I change things now? Looking back, would I wish things had happened the way we had planned for them to go? Can I really say that our plan was disregarded entirely?

I don’t know the answers to a lot of these things, and perhaps I never will. Yet in this I have hope and on this my faith rests:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

~ Jeremiah 29:11 ~

It’s true: This passage was written to Judah before they went into exile in Babylon. They were afraid, for they we’re going to a place they had never been and perhaps some would not return from. But God promises them this: I will come back for you. Despite their sin, their lack of trust, their fear, their rebellion, God promises to hold onto them. They were His.

Through all of our travels and struggles, fears and concerns, the Lord was always with me as He promised to be. A lot has happened in the last few years, but the Lord holds me in His righteous right hand. My body and my soul rests secure in Him. In Him, I was never alone. He held me in His righteous hand. He has known the paths that brought me here and was never unfaithful. Great is His faithfulness, even when I doubt! Furthermore, He knows the plans He has for me. Yes, we have plans, and we walk in active dependence, but it is God who directs our steps. He is the one who holds our hand when we cry to Him that we are slipping. He is the one that leads us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. He is the one who cares for us even more than He cares for the littlest sparrows of His creation.

I know what our plans are for us, and I know that God is sovereign. Two years ago, I didn’t know this is where we would be, but I know He is faithful and will continue to be with us and guide us. He holds the plans for our future, and they are to bring us closer to Him. It is on that promise that I rest secure and to His salvation that I cling. I need to rely on all the promises He has made to me. He already covers my sin and has saved me, and He has promised to never leave or forsake me. I don’t know what the future holds other than that Christ is sovereign over all, including my life, and that is a comfort for the future.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

This Little Light

“If this Jesus thing is so important to Christians, why aren’t they obsessed with it?”

“You shouldn’t talk so much about the Bible and religious stuff. If I wanted to hear it, I would go to church!”

I was listening to an old podcast this morning during which the host mentioned a couple of emails he received, two of which are paraphrased above. While he often received letters from atheists telling him to stop talking so much about God, he was somewhat shocked to receive one from a man professing to be a christian. Why would a christian say something like that? The comment from the atheist was also eye-opening. If Jesus, life eternal, following His commands, and everything that goes with it means so much, why doesn’t it consume every part of Christian’s lives, or at least appear to do so?

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is not longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

~Matthew 5:14-16 ~

What happens if you put a lamp under a bowl? Not only will the light be useless to everyone who needs it, the light will go out. Yet this is exactly what we Christians have done with Christianity. We go to church, hopefully, and then go out into the world with a cap over that flame as if it didn’t exist. Where has our fire gone? Where has our love and passion for the Gospel gone? The letter from the listener really convicted me. Why is this joy not always on my face, the praise for my Creator and Savior not on my lips? Why is prayer mostly relegated to mornings and evenings? Why does anger fill my heart at times? Why do I respond to accusations and discomfort with hate? Is this light inside of me shining for others to glorify God?

A lot of important subjects have been relegated to the back seats of our lives. After all, what are the things you are “never supposed to talk about”? Sex, money, politics, religion. What are the things we most need to talk about? Those very things. They are important as they have an enormous impact on our day-to-day life. For one in particular, the impact is also on the life to come. Yet we have decided that God, Jesus, and religion is just for church! You don’t need to talk about it with friends, family, on podcasts! In a way, as this podcaster mentioned, our churches have become secular and our lives atheistic.

Scripture says, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” But how do people recognize us today?  Do we care for the people around us regardless of who they are? Do we show the love of Christ and His effect on our lives? Where is Christ evident in our lives?  In all honestly, I struggle to see a difference in the lives of many Christians from those of the world. We are to be in the world, of course; how else are we to minister to those who need to Gospel and God’s love? But we are not to be of the world. Somewhere along the way, we have confused our mission on this earth. We are letting our flesh win.

Think of what the early church was like. The world around them saw Christians as being starkly different. Some called them cannibals, or baby-thieves, or anti-government, or heathens who didn’t worship any gods, or as just plain confusing for the love they demonstrated. They didn’t understand who would willingly die instead of simply bowing down to Caesar or an idol. They were so different that the world didn’t really know what to do with or make of them. But they came to know one thing for sure: Christians were followers of Christ.

I know more about the political beliefs, and sometimes even the sex-lives, of my friends and family. Those around are not shy to speak their opinions. In some ways, this is good. People should be open about what they believe, what their values are, and why they believe what they do. I am not saying we should not talk about these other things. Yet we are still missing our core. There will always be one thing or another to be outraged about, another crisis to plunder, another candidate to disappoint, another opinion to state. But do the people around us Christians know about their Creator who loves them? In fact, the Creator who loves them so much that He died for them? Do they know that they can lay their burdens at the foot of the cross? Do they know that they are forgiven? Do they know that hope and peace can be found?

I don’t think they do. I think they see us for the hypocrites that we are. We hide the light of Christ while professing to be one of His followers and live our lives like the rest of the world: unloving, ungodly, uncompassionate, hateful, blaspheming, slandering, unwelcoming. We display what the world does instead of what we were called to be. How can they know that there is a Savior who loves and cares for them if we do not love and care for them? Not shove the Bible down their throats or tell them that they are wrong, but to really, truly care for them. We don’t shine like stars in the darkness of this world. This is not to say we are perfect. Not by any means! But we are being sanctified and are called to live godly lives in holiness and reverence to God. Is Christ evident in our lives? Do we preach the Word in all seasons? Do we live like redeemed children of the Lord Almighty? He will reward each person according to what he has done. Are we going to be like one escaping through the flames? Or are we going to ask for forgiveness are start living our lives as if this Jesus thing really matters?

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

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Works Referenced 

Matt Walsh Show – Ep. 66

Have Mercy on Me, O God

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out all my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

~ Psalm 51:1-2 ~

Have mercy on me. The phrase “have mercy on” is repeated a couple dozen times in Scripture, from Exodus to Romans. Most often, I think it is associated with the Psalms and Gospels. In these places, the speaker is asking for mercy from God, that God might not abandon them, or destroy them, or even asking for God’s sustaining power and healing. But the first place that I could find where this phrase is mentioned says, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion in whom I will have compassion.” (Ex. 33:19) How humbling it is to remember that we are at the mercy of our God.

Whether we wake or sleep, whether we eat or drink, whether we breathe or die, everything we do is at the mercy of God. But why here does David ask for mercy from God? In this particular instance, he asks for mercy after committing adultery with Bathsheba and then for committing murder after killing her husband, Uriah. But David does not stop there. He asks for forgiveness for all his transgressions. He knows that his guilt is always before the Lord (v. 3) and that it was only against the Lord that he sinned, not Bathsheba, Uriah, Nathan, or anyone else (v. 4). God is the lawmaker and the judge, so He is right when He lays down justice; we deserve it (v. 4). From the time Adam and Eve rebelled in the Garden to when you sinned perhaps this moment, our guilt is laid before God only and openly. He has had every right to condemn us where we stand.

David furthers this confession when he speaks about how long he has been sinful (v. 5) and how he even sins despite the fact that the Lord has taught him the way of righteousness (v. 6). David pleads with the Lord that he might be made clean; not that he would be rejected by the Lord, but that he would be restored the joy of salvation and given a “willing spirit” to do what has been commanded of him (v. 7-13). And this is what God requires of us: not a sacrifice of things but in a sacrifice of heart (v.16). David could have done that and been done with his guilt. But this is not what God truly wants from his people, and this is a point of this psalm.

God wants a broken and contrite heart from us. He wants a humble heart that does not put ourselves first but rather puts God and His commands first in our hearts, minds, and lives. God wants for us to come before Him humbled and asking for His mercy, and we know that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (Jas. 5:16). God shows mercy on whom He will have mercy. And what does God want? He wants a broken and contrite heart that knows it needs mercy. This is our sacrifice to God. God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins (Jhn. 3:16). If we did not sin, then why would He have to die? But He did die and rise again because we did sin, because  we needed saving. So when we do sin, why should we flaunt God’s sacrifice as if we did not need it? We do need it, therefore we ask God for mercy on us in our helpless state that He might forgive us (Matt. 6:12, Rom. 5:1-11).

David opens this psalm by immediately asking for mercy. And he does not ask it according to what David has done. It is not according to David’s righteousness that he asks for, or even tries to say that he deserves mercy. No, he says “according to your unfailing love”, according to God’s love, that his transgressions and sins be blotted out. Thanks be to God and His grace that we are saved! This is the final point of this psalm: that we cannot save ourselves. And how wonderful it is that our salvation does not depend on us and what we can do! How inadequate our actions would be! But God instead showers His love on us and sees us as blameless in His Son (Eph. 2:1-10, 1 Pet. 1:3-6, 2:10). He knows we fall short and that we are justified freely by His grace. Therefore we ask God for mercy and praise Him for His grace, everlasting kindness, and that He chose to have mercy on us – even us!

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

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Hymns: What a Friend we have in Jesus

Joseph Medlicott Scriven was in 1819 born to John and Jane Scriven of Banbridge, Ireland. Joseph had a rather turbulent life even from a young age. He had wanted to serve in the military, but his poor health led to him studying at Trinity College, which he graduated from in 1842. A year later, his fiancée drowned the night before their wedding. This, along with religious convictions, prompted him to leave Ireland for Canada in 1845. Here, he met another woman to whom he became engaged, but she died in 1860.  While in Canada, he lived a life of service, though he was often overlooked. He gave freely of his time, property, and skill. Ironically, many who knew Joseph thought him “eccentric” because of the way he lived and many friends left him. Still, those he cared for appreciated his selflessness and charity.

It was in 1855 that he penned the well-loved hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” then fittingly first called “Pray Without Ceasing,” for his ill mother back in Ireland. This hymn was not among the lyrics he published. In fact, the hymn was hardly known until Charles Crozat Converse found the lyrics and put them to music in 1868.

Sadly, Scriven’s life ended in sickness and despondency. While a friend cared for him in the fall of 1886, Scriven, quite ill, went out into the night and disappeared. By the time he was found in a nearby body of water, Joseph Scriven was already dead. Despite his tragic life, Scriven dedicated everything his did and said to caring for others, even down to a poem for his sick mother that brings many people comfort to this day.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!

Unlike our earthly friends, we have a Friend who bore our sins on the cross, understands suffering, and hears our prayers (Mat. 8:17, Luk. 5:20, 7:34, John 15:13-15, Isa. 53). This should not be something that we take lightly or approach in a careless manner. This is a privilege that we can approach the throne of grace and take our every need and care to Christ, our Lord, Savior, and God (Heb. 4:15-16, Jas. 5:13-14). This is a privilege offered to us without hesitation, and yet we so often think that we are enough to bear our own burdens and do not need Christ (Mat. 7:7-11, Luk. 18:1, Eph. 6:18). This is why the author points out that we forfeit peace and bear pain needlessly because we are to stubborn or prideful to cast our burdens on Christ, who cares for us immeasurably (Eph. 3:17-19, 1 Pet 5:7, Psa. 55:22). How often we forfeit peace and let ourselves fall into despair because our first thought is not to turn to our Father! In prayer, God’s peace fills us, for He is a friend who can truly bring comfort to an aching soul (Phil. 4:6-7).

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do we have trials and temptations? (1 Pet. 4:12-13) Of course! But we do not lose heart, for Scripture reminds us that we should take everything – worry and joy – to the Lord (Jas. 5:13-16, 1 Pet. 5:7, Eph. 6:18, Rom. 12:12). And why should we do this? Besides the fact that it is a spiritual discipline and Christ has modeled it for us. He is our friend who is faithful and able to sympathize with us because He came in Flesh to dwell in us (Heb. 2:17-18, 4:14-16). What could we take to Him that He could not bear? He already bore our sins and knows our nature (Isa. 53:2-7, 1 Pet. 2:24, Eph. 3:12). Moreover, He cares for us. Take your troubles to Him!

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge–
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.

We are told in the Gospels that we will have trouble in this world and that our sin is heavy upon us. But we should not lose heart, for God bears our burdens and has overcome the world – He is our refuge that we turn to (Mat 11:28-30, Jhn. 16:33, Psa. 18:2, 28:7, 68:19-20). Even in spite of our troubles, of abandonment, in spite of hatred and ruin, Christ is our ever-present help, so we can take everything to Him in prayer (Psa. 27:10, 41:9, 46:1-3, Pro. 18:24, 1 Pet 3:12, 1 Jhn 5:14-15). This world will not bring us peace, but God loves us and has saved us. In prayer, we find peace and comfort with God (Isa. 26:1-4, Psa. 3:1-6). This hymn is a reminder that our God loves us, cares for us, and is always there to hear our every need. This is why He is a friend, and this is another reason why we should always pray.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

 

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Works Referenced

Scriven, Joseph Medlicott

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

101 Hymn Stories

Falling into the Slough of Despond

Now I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended this talk they drew near to a very miry slough, that was in the midst of the plain; and they, being heedless, did both fall suddenly into the bog. The name of the slough was Despond. Here, therefore, they wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink in the mire.

PLI. Then said Pliable; Ah! neighbour Christian, where are you now?

CHR. Truly, said Christian, I do not know.

PLI. At this Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect betwixt this and our journey’s end? May I get out again with my life, you shall possess the brave country alone for me. And, with that, he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on that side of the slough which was next to his own house: so away he went, and Christian saw him no more.

Wherefore Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone: but still he endeavoured to struggle to that side of the slough that was still further from his own house, and next to the wicket-gate; the which he did, but could not get out, because of the burden that was upon his back:

Being heedless, both Christian and Pliable fell into the Slough of Despond, or as we might now say, the Swamp of Despair. Despondence is from the Latin despondere, which means “to give up”, specifically ones heart or soul. This is more than a state of dismay but rather a state without hope. This is a state many people find themselves in. Here, Christian finds himself in despondence very early in his walk on the Way to the King. Though he started out with high hopes, he fell into troubles and lost hope. Pliable, and later the World, points this out. He is weak. He is easily brought low.

Despair is an easy thing to fall into and a difficult thing to get off of you. Under a cloud like the Slough, the weight of worthlessness hangs on like muck, clinging closer than a garment. Its weight is additional to the burden on Christian’s back, and it lasts longer than the time Christian was stuck in it. Such burdens are difficult to bear. They come in the form of slothfulness, regret, shame, uselessness, guilt, hate, jealousy, withholding love, worthlessness, fear. These leave a person in a state of despondence that, on our own, we cannot get out of.

I am not sure when such a weight began, but I can remember specific instances. I remember when I was very young and having little thoughts creep into the back of my mind, thoughts that said, “You are not good enough, and you will never be good enough.” These thoughts came into my mind and then I started to repeat them to myself. I remember repeating the phrases like, “You are terrible, and you are not going to heaven.” I thought if I told myself them enough, I would be good enough for God. How crazy is that? Those thoughts are not where it ended. In the spring of 2009, I began to notice that the Holy Spirit worked in my life. One night, I recognized that tug and began living actively as a Christian, though I had been baptized long before. But after that, new thoughts began to darken my mind. These thoughts said, “There is no Heaven. There is no Hell. There’s nothing after this. It doesn’t matter if you die.” These went on for months before they stopped, and they only stopped after a lot of prayer.

Unfortunately, these are not the only nor the last times these thoughts came. In fact, these moments of despair find their way into my life on a regular basis, and they weigh me down in ways I cannot describe, at least not well. They come and they go and I know they might come again. I know this is tempting from Satan. What am I to do?

A hymn that has been circling in my mind for weeks now is “Before the Throne of God”. While I know that I am redeemed, I often feel mired in my own worthlessness. This is not every day, but it is not infrequent. I feel Satan creeping over me and tempting me to despair, feeding me with the thoughts of hopelessness. He wants me to be stuck under the weight of my inadequacy. I feel that weight in my fingers when I try to write, in my head as I try to see, in my heart as I try to feel. I am numb as the thoughts of inadequacy seep into me. I feel crushed. I feel without hope. I recognized that most would tell me I am depressed, but I know that word is not correct. Melancholy is not quite right either. This is a spiritual battle (Eph. 6:10-18). The burden of my sin weighs me down and I fall in. I am in the Slough of Despond.

but I beheld in my dream, that a man came to him, whose name was Help, and asked him, What he did there?

CHR. Sir, said Christian, I was bid go this way by a man called Evangelist, who directed me also to yonder gate, that I might escape the wrath to come; and as I was going thither I fell in here.

HELP. But why did not you look for the steps?

CHR. Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way, and fell in.

HELP. Then said he, Give me thy hand: so he gave him his hand, and he drew him out, and set him upon sound ground, and bid him go on his way. [Ps. 40:2]

Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and said, Sir, wherefore, since over this place is the way from the City of Destruction to yonder gate, is it that this plat is not mended, that poor travellers might go thither with more security? And he said unto me, This miry slough is such a place as cannot be mended; it is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction for sin doth continually run, and therefore it is called the Slough of Despond; for still, as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there ariseth in his soul many fears, and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place. And this is the reason of the badness of this ground.

It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain so bad. [Isa. 35:3,4] His labourers also have, by the direction of His Majesty’s surveyors, been for above these sixteen hundred years employed about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might have been mended: yea, and to my knowledge, said he, here have been swallowed up at least twenty thousand cart-loads, yea, millions of wholesome instructions, that have at all seasons been brought from all places of the King’s dominions, and they that can tell, say they are the best materials to make good ground of the place; if so be, it might have been mended, but it is the Slough of Despond still, and so will be when they have done what they can.

True, there are, by the direction of the Law-giver, certain good and substantial steps, placed even through the very midst of this slough; but at such time as this place doth much spew out its filth, as it doth against change of weather, these steps are hardly seen; or, if they be, men, through the dizziness of their heads, step beside, and then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there; but the ground is good when they are once got in at the gate. [1 Sam. 12:23]

Out of fear, I have let myself wander and fall into the Slough again. I do not always look for the steps first as I walk, but instead, I let myself mill about, not watching where my mind and heart go (or what they focus on), not keeping my eyes pressed forward on the prize to which Christ calls me. I let the burden of my sin weigh me down in spite of the fact God has taken it from me. I listen to the hellish things Satan whispers at me instead of trusting in the promises of God. I mire myself in the feelings of inadequacy and despondency rather than praise God for the talents, the tools, and the gifts He has given me and serve Him in those manners. Instead of looking to God, who is my strength, I rely on myself and fall into the familiar darkness of despair.

The walk of a Christian is one reliant of faith, trust, God. In recognizing the fallen nature, doubt creeps in and overwhelms the soul to the point of physical pain. Similarly, there are many things in this world that can drag us into the mire as well. Our shortcomings, failures, and wrongdoings present themselves before our eyes as if to say, “But did you forget about me? Surely you are not good enough.” And indeed, I am not. So what am I to do? Shall I remain mired in my despondency?

For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

…

O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.

Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

~ Psalm 38:17-18 & 21-22 ~

It was not Christian who got himself out of the Slough. Though Pliable got out, he ended up going right back to the town he came from. He did not actually escape. The mire was still there, though he did not recognize it. Pliable was discouraged, so he turned back. He let the world convince him that following the Way was not worth the trouble. Christian had been told of the hope to hold onto, but he still fell into the Slough. Instead of getting out on his own, Christian needed Help. I fall into the Slough of Despond and I know it when I do. I know the hope I have to cling to, and yet I let go under the weight of the devil’s lies. But when I fall in, I know  that not only can I not get out on my own, I will let myself stay there if I do not ask for help. It is not by our own strength that we succeed. Prayer is difficult during these times I find myself in, but pray is what I must do (Jam. 5:13).

As Christian was taken out of the mire by Help, we must ask God to help us in our times of need (Heb. 4:16). This is why we must look to the Savior, our ever-present help in times of trouble (Psa. 46:1). He is the One whose hand we grasp to lift us out of slough and onto solid ground (Psa. 40:1-4). God is our refuge and our strength (Psa. 62:1-12). He is always with us and will never forsake us (Deut. 31:6). And when we fall in into the Slough of Despond, God makes us clean. Though Satan will tempt us to despair, we must remember who made an end to our all sins (1 Pet. 5:7-10).

Those awful thoughts may continue to find their way into my head and heart, and maybe they will for you as well, but God is with us and He will sustain us in times of trouble. Despite what we may feel – despondency, inadequacy, hopeless, mired – God is faithful and loving, and He has saved us.

O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

 

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Works Referenced

Bunyan, John. The Pilgrim’s Progress: From This World to That Which is to Come. Project Gutenberg. 2008.

“despondence.” The Online Etymology Dictionary. 2017. Accessed 14 May 2018.

Hymns: Before the Throne of God

Charitie (Smith) Bancroft was born June of 1841 in Dublin, Ireland. Her father was a Reverend at the Colebrooke Church in Dublin, and her “talent for poetic composition” arose early in her life. Charitie’s first poems and hymns were published before she was even twenty! Outside of her writing, little is known about her life besides that she married an Arthur Bancroft and died in California in 1923. “Before the Throne of God”was written in 1863 and published shortly in Spurgeon’s Our Own Hymn Book, among other hymnals, though arranged into six stanzas and under the title “Jesus pleads for me.” Though this hymn has been set to many tunes, the one that is in common use today was arranged by Vikki Cook in 1997.

 

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
a great High Priest, whose name is Love
who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
my name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heav’n He stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart.

As we stand before God and His throne, we offer nothing more than Christ. We acknowledge that nothing we do could make us righteous in God’s sight, nothing by our own merit could have paid our sins. Since we have nothing to offer, we plead only to our Great High Priest who is Love and has made us right with Him (Heb. 4:14-5:10, 7:17-28, 1 Jon. 4:8-10, Eph. 2:1-10). He is our mediator, our defender (1 Tim. 2:5-6, 1 Jon. 2:1-2). We have nothing to offer but Christ’s love and sacrifice, and He pleads for us in our stead. Christ’s redeeming act is also why the hymnist quotes Isaiah, for God says, “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isa. 49:16). Therefore, we rest secure because we know that we can never be separated from God’s love (Rom. 8:1-2, 28-39, Psa. 89:2). This is why our plea is strong and perfect, because this plea is that Jesus died for us.

 

When Satan tempts me to despair
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look, and see Him there
who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free,
for God the just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me.

We know that Satan and our guilt often seeks to destroy us, our sinful nature battling within us (1 Pet. 5:8, Rom. 7:14-23). We are weighed down and burdened. How can we stand under it? It can often feel unbearable. Yet of what are we reminded in the previous stanza? We are not crushed or dismayed (1 Cor. 4:6-10). God has made us a new creation; He has forgiven and redeemed us (Rom. 8:1-2, 1 Cor. 5:18-19). He has ended our sin, making it as though it never was in the sight of God. It is not about what we have done or what are able to do but only Christ crucified and raised again. Our sinful soul is counted free because Christ has made a sacrifice once for all; we are pardoned (Rom. 6:10, Heb. 9:11-14, 26-28, 10:10). When we are in despair, let us remember what the psalmist writes:

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

~ Psalm 43:5 ~

 

Behold Him there! the risen Lamb!
my perfect, spotless righteousness,
the great unchangeable “I AM”
the King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself, I cannot die;
my soul is purchased by His blood;
my life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ my Savior and my God.

The final stanza moves to praise Christ, not that the former stanzas do not include praise, but here we recognize God’s holiness, righteousness, and awesomeness in addition to His grace and forgiveness (Rev. 7:9-17). Scripture many times calls Jesus the Lamb of God, from John’s introduction of Christ to Revelation (John. 1:29-34, Rev. 5:12). We see the Lamb as our perfect and spotless Righteousness because He was slain for our sin and rose again, reigning forever as one God with the Father and Holy Spirit, with whom we will dwell for ever (Jer. 23:5-6, 1 Cor. 1:30-31, Phil. 3:7-9, 1 Jon. 2:2, Rev. 5:6-8, 7:10-17, 14:4). He is forever, He is faithful, and He has purchased us with His blood – we are His (Psa. 24:10, 33:4, Heb. 6:17-20, 10:23, John 8:58, Col. 3:3, 1 Pet. 1:18-19, Rev. 5:9). We rest secure in these promises, praising Him, and this is was we can stand before God’s holy throne: Christ is our Savior and God who pleads for us.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

 

---

Works Referenced

“Before the throne of God above, I have a strong, a perfect plea.” 

“Charitie Lees De Chenez.” The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press. Accessed 10 May. 2018.

Hatfield, E. F. The poets of the Church. New York: Anson D. F. Randolph and Company. 1884. p. 35.

Spurgeon, C. H. “Jesus pleads for me.” Our Own Hymn-book. London: Passmore and Alabaster. 1883.

Robinson, C. S. Annotations Upon Popular Hymns. New York: Hunt & Eaton. p. 208.

Withering off the Vine

 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

~ John 15:1-8 ~

A key part of our faith, as we are reminded in the book of James, is walking in the faith. This simply means that we not only say we are Christians but also do which Christ says (1 Pet. 2:21, 1 Jon. 2:4). Our belief does not simply say that we can just raise our hand stating “I believe”, checking a box, and going on with our lives as though nothing has happened. Many of the things we are concerned by do not necessarily produce good, or any, fruit.  We cannot look into a mirror and then forget who we are; neither can we read the Word, call ourselves Christians, and then do not do what Christ commands (Jam. 1:22-25).

In order for us to remain in the vine we must remain in the vine. That sentence seems obvious, and yet in our life how often do we do things that are opposing to the way the vine grows? Apart from Christ, “we can do nothing” because we will die. Before Christ, we were dead in our sins. How, then, can we think we can go on living our lives without Him? Our sin will consume us and we will wither like a branch with no access to water. Instead, we must remain in Christ, for He supports us and gives us life (Rom. 11:17-20). Remaining in the vine is remaining in Christ. This is done and encouraged by reading His word, being steadfast in prayer, and communing in fellowship (Heb. 3:13, 10:24-25).

If we remain in Him, we will bear much fruit for our Father’s glory and we will not wither in our sin.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

Finishing Strong

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made you good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

~ 1 Timothy 6:11-12 ~

What does it mean to fight the good fight of faith? It is easy to fall into the rhythm of life and forget we are fighting a spiritual battle. After all, we fight “not against flesh and blood” but against the darkness and evil of the spiritual realm (Eph. 6:12). This is a battle, not only with the struggle we face as Christians in a sinful world, but also against the Devil and his schemes, his flaming darts and minions (Eph. 6:11).

We are reminded that this is a battle when we are told to put on armor, like a soldier would before the fight (Eph. 6:10-11). And what is this armor? It is: Truth, wrapped around us like a belt; peace, fitting our feet with the readiness to share the Gospel; Faith, to shield us from the deception and flaming darts of Satan; Salvation, which guards our hearts and minds like a helmet; the Word of God, which is the Sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:14-17). Furthermore, we are to be in constant communication with our Commander, Jesus, by praying in the Spirit always (Eph. 6:18-20). This is how we will be strong in the day of evil.

But what else are we to do? We do not only go out into the world to fight, but also must stand our ground and be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, not our own (Eph. 6:10). Even after everything in us is spent, and we have fought, we are to stand in the Lord (Eph. 6:13. This is the good fight of faith: that we not only fight during all our days to falter at the end, but finish strong.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

~ Ephesians 6:13 ~

We are to fight the good fight of faith and to hold onto that faith so that our faith might not be shipwrecked on the rocks on life and doubt; this is why we wear our armor (1 Tim. 1:18-19). Many will come and try to deceive us, so this is why we must faithfully be in the Word and to know the reason for the hope that is in us (2 John 1:7; 2 Pet. 3:15; Eph. 5:6; Col. 2:4). Not only this, but we  must also be careful that as we run, we bring Christ with us. If we run ahead and teach without Christ, we do not have God with us; we must watch ourselves and others so that we do not lose what we have (2 John 1:8-10).

 

While the first letter to Timothy was written while Paul was still traveling and preaching around the world, the second letter was written as he was nearing the end of his life, and he knew it. He knew that his race was almost over, yet he had finished strong. What does this look like?

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

~ 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ~

Paul’s point is made in the second sentence: Run in such a way as to get the prize. The Olympics were of greater importance to the Corinthians, who were Greek, than to us today, yet we know what Paul was talking about. We know the strict training it takes to be even qualified to run a race, then the endurance to finish such a race. Do we recognize the same things apply to running the race of faith? And like Paul says, they run for a temporal crown of glory. But what race or fight do we want to finish strong? The fight of life and faith and eternity! Our crown of glory will be eternity with Christ after we shed this mortal flesh. But how do we get there? Do we get there by running aimlessly or becoming lazy in reading and preaching the Word? Certainly not! On the contrary, as Timothy was instructed, so are we commanded to do:

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.

~ 2 Timothy 4:2 ~

And why do we do this? It is not only for ourselves – as we should invest ourselves in the Word lest we fall away, forget, and do not do what we have been taught (Jam. 1:22-25). No, it is also so that others may see Christ in us and that they might also come to a knowledge of the Truth (1 Tim. 4:16). And why is this?

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

~ 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ~

So what are we to do? Thankfully, Scripture gives instructions on how to fight this good fight. Paul tells Timothy in his letter, as the opening verse states, to flee from ungodliness and pursue righteousness, faith, endurance, and love (1 Tim 4:11). He also instructs him to  keep his head “in all situations, endure hardship” and to preach the Word to all (2 Tim 4:5). We are to do our best to present ourselves to God as a “workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) We are to press on to the prize which God has called us heavenward (Phil. 3:12-14).

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

~ Hebrews 11:2 ~

 

So what does it mean to finish strong? It is not enough that we say we are Christians, but also that we live a life worthy of our calling, keeping the faith, following Christ’s commands, and preaching the Word (2 Thes. 1:11). This is what we are to do so that, like Paul, we may say that we finished the race and kept the faith. We also may look forward to the crown of life that awaits us, the life that will forever be spent with the Lord. We must keep the end in mind as we run this race and fight this good fight of faith. Keeping these things in mind, we can finish strong

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

~ 2 Timothy 4:7-8 ~

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown. 

Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 

~ Revelation 3:11, 22:12 ~

 

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

 

Marriage in Scripture

 

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable to him.” … So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made the woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’, for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

~ Genesis 2:18, 21-24 ~

 

Some Pharisees came to test him [Jesus]. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate.”

~ Matthew 19:3-6 ~

 

What is marriage? What is sex? What is love? These are questions that most people ask at some point in their lives, or some variant thereof. Perhaps they are a young person with their first crush, or they had their first kiss, or they are wondering what boundaries are. They could be someone a bit older, looking for the person to spend the rest of their life with, who is wondering if cohabitation is right. They might be someone who has been married a long time; perhaps content, perhaps not. Yet they each might wonder the same things: What does love, sex, and marriage have to do with each other, and why does it matter?

Marriage, love, and sex are tricky things. Now, they do not have to be, but they often become so. In an age where casual sex is common and broken marriages or families are every one in two, it can be hard for a person to know how to navigate a life with love. What is right and wrong? Is there a right and wrong choice? The answer is yes, regardless of the desired answer.

In the beginning, God made them male and female; their names were Adam and Eve. Though there was likely no ceremony, no gifts, no officiant, these two were married. Why? The answer was simple: they were united in flesh. Not only were these two made for each other because they were of the same flesh – or kind, which is mankind – they were united in body through, you guessed it, sex.

In today’s world, and perhaps especially in the United States, we think someone is not married until they have signed a marriage license. These licenses are a rather new phenomenon and have a rather negative history. Moreover, they are not what actually makes two people married. Others say a couples has to be married before a pastor, and this is a little bit closer to the truth, but not exact. People are married in the eyes of God when they are united in flesh. This is because marriage and sex are two things that should never be separated.

Marriage and sex are closely intertwined. People should only have sex if they are married and only engage in it with the person to whom  they are married. There are no third parties in this: no adultery, no threesome, no porn, etc. This is a sacred and intimate act that should only ever be engaged with a ones spouse. Regarding the marriage contract, while for some it is nice to have a physical statement of commitment, that is not the true goal. The goal is to recognize the sacred institution of marriage before God and that you will not break that contract for any reason, besides death, which breaks the contract, or adultery, which does not make you unmarried – but those are for another time.

Thus, sex should only be between a husband and a wife. But what about love? Well, this is when people make things unnecessarily murky. People know that marriage should only be between a husband and a wife. Yet at some point,  people decided if they weren’t getting what they wanted in marriage, they could go elsewhere to find it. This was wrong. Sometimes the wrongness took the form of secret partners, prostitution, or rape. Each are wrong and on a number of levels. But instead of calling the wrongness for what it was, the definition of what was right and accepted and wrong was blurred some more. People decided that so long as they loved each other, or consented to the act, they could have sex. But this blurred the lines more, because then people didn’t know if it was truly consensual or not. Worse, families were broken, lives lost, and children grew up with bad examples that they were keen to follow. Why keen? Because as was from the Rebellion, mankind has been prone to follow the sinful nature. Because sex was disassociated with marriage, people were harmed by their own or someone else’s actions. In the end, it was “not good” and not the way that God intended the union of two people to be.

So what about love? Well, love, marriage, and sex do not always follow. Sometimes, one spouse will not love the other. For this reason, they think they are justified to have sex with the person whom they love. They associate sex with love and love with sex instead of sex with marriage which typically results in love. Instead of following the natural order, they did what was wrong. You see, when people disassociated marriage from sex, they forget its true purpose. By doing what was wrong in the Lord’s eyes and snubbing commitment, they discarded the family and spousal roles they agreed to follow when they became one in marriage. They forgot that no one should separate what God has joined. In doing so, they confused themselves in their own sin and then fear the consequences they dwell in because of it. They were caught in their own folly.

Marriage always has to come first. Then sex may and should follow. In engaging in this holy and intimate act, love is bound to follow. But this order does not go the other way. And in fact, even when love and sex aren’t there, marriage  still stands. Marriage is a contract before the Lord and to each other that should not be broken. As our Lord said, “What God has joined together, let no man separate.”

People have made these three things very tricky, but as I said, they need not be. If one follows the guidelines laid out by the Lord, one will be fine. God does not give rules for no reason – though even if our understanding is below His and we don’t see the reason, we should still obey. But no, the Lord gives rules because He loves us, just as He disciplines us when we disobey. It is not to our detriment, but for our good. Sex is not a game or something for the mere sake of pleasure. Sex was designed only to be between a husband and wife. Anything outside of this will result in suffering. On the other hand, one can avoid the consequences of extramarital sex when one follows what the Lord has taught. This is not to say that marriage will be smooth sailing, especially since mankind is fallible, but these rules exist to guide us towards what is right and what pleases God our Savior. There is a right and a wrong choice regarding marriage, sex, and love. But no matter what stage you are at, beginning to follow the commands of God is always the best way to go; Our Lord is a forgiving Savior, and He loves us with an unfailing love. And as His Church is His bride, He will be faithful.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

 

Find Rest in God

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
pour your hearts out to Him,
for God is our refuge.
…
One this God has spoken,
two things have I heard:
that You, O God, are strong,
and that You, O Lord, are loving.
Surely You will reward each person
according to what he has done.
~Psalm 62:5-8, 11-12 ~

The last couple weeks for me have been quite stressful; yesterday and today have brought me nearly to the end of my rope. I am exhausted, I am anxious, I am stressed. I am ready for this season of my life to come to a close so that the next one can begin. I am ready, and I am tired. I am thankful for a God who remembers us, especially on days like today. Today I have forgotten, music, food, books, my coat, even where I was walking within a five minute span. How He “is yet mindful” of us is often overwhelming to me. And today, I read my favourite Psalm. I find rest in God, my refuge. Toady, He put in my path a couple good friends, He brought together some things I needed accomplished, and He brought me my fiance, all when I needed these things most. I am burnt out, but my God is strong. And He is loving. And throughout all of my forgettings and failings – beyond even just today – He is faithful, and loving, and enduring.

My prayer for each of you, in whatever trials or difficulties you are going through, is that each of you may find rest in God. He is faithful, and He loves us, as His salvation demonstrates. Trust in Him, lean on Him, and find rest in Him alone.

 

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

Sometimes, It Rains.

Sometimes it doesn’t just rain; it pours. The last couple weeks have been like that for me.

But for starters, I’ll preface this gloominess with some sunshine. I got engaged to the love of my life! It was the happiest day of my life and I could not be more thankful to God that He blessed me with such a man.

That being said, wedding planning can be a nightmare at times.  Between listening to multiple people’s opinions, trying to find a hall, waiting to hear back from halls, not having money for said halls, finding a photographer and florist, and remembering that we haven’t even gotten to the dress, I got a little stressed out a little soon in the year.

But then things settled down.

Kinda

For about a week.

For you see, I’m still in school. Senior year, woo! And with that comes more challenges. Like taking eight classes. Or adding on another part-time job. And then there’s the fun status of being a commuter. And maybe I’ll have lunch today? We’ll see. At the end of the week, I’m too tired to draw, or play guitar, or even write my book.

And yet, life was just not interesting enough.

Friday, my car decided to stop working. At first,I thought it was just coolant. As it turns out, I need a new head gasket. So what went from a $15 fix is now a $2,600 fix. Did I mention I didn’t buy all my textbooks yet either?

So today as I drove home from one state to home in my fiancé’s also slowly dying car, it rained. And it was dark. But I was with the man I love. I am within walking distance from school, even with the snow. I have food and a place to stay. I have jobs.

And in spite of the storm brewing outside, I know there will be a rainbow tomorrow.

Now the rainbow is not just bouncing light through water in the air, it is a symbol of God’s promises to us. It is enduring. First, a promise that He won’t flood the earth again. But God promises us other things too. He promises to love us, guide us, and give us our daily bread (Proverbs 30:8-9).  Sometimes He trying to push us to trust; and we have to remember we live in a fallen world. A world that still adheres to the 2nd law of thermodynamics no matter how much we protest it.

And yet God endures. I have to remind myself that He is still taking care of me. I have legs to walk, and a place to live. I can continue to eat pizza for one more week even though I’m about sick of it. I have a fiancé who loves me. And most of all, I have a God who cares for me, loves me, and who died for me.

Right now, it’s still raining. But God’s promises will endure as He is enduring. And that will be true in spite of our circumstances.

I love you, O LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn if my salvation, my stronghold.

I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,

And I am saved by my enemies.

~ Psalm 18:1-3 ~

God’s peace and ever-present comfort be with you all,

~Rose

Great is His Faithfulness

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope.
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
~ Lamentations 3:19-24 ~

 

I find often that I recall the sad and bitter things in my life. I let them well up inside of me, and when I let it continue, they overflow. It is like a record book that is looked over every day. It never changes, but they seem to multiply each time I look back. Sometimes, I feel like there is more bad than good. As if God somehow wasn’t holding me up or wasn’t there for those dark times. I think, I remember, I dwell and despair. I feel a heaviness in my heart that I carry with me wherever I go. I find it hard to picture a soul being downcast. But I think of it as something weighed down so much that it cannot even bear to look up.

But then I stumble across a verse like this. “Because of His great love, we are not consumed.” You see, the book of Lamentations was written while the Israelites were in exile. They had been on a long journey to the land of their captors, their homeland ravished, their friends and family dead. Quite literally, all seemed lost and God appeared to not be with them. Over and over they were told to turn back to him, yet they did not. But still, over and over again He told them that He would bring back a remnant and from that there would be a Savior. They were not forgotten, and their troubles did not fail to reach God’s notice. Why? Because they were His children. And though they had disobeyed, He still loved them. They were being punished. And sometimes in punishments, we fail to see how we our loved. Like from a parent we wonder why our parents despise us so. But that is not the case. On the contrary, they still love us very much, and the pain won’t last forever.

As God showed to His people Israel, He also shows His great love and compassion towards us. Our troubles don’t overwhelm us. Though in the moment we may only remember the wrong, the punishment, the sadness, the anger that we feel and endure, God’s love has not faded away. If we wait on Him, if we put our hope in His love, we will see that His compassion is renewed every day. Our life has not ended, and neither has His love. He is faithful and our portion. We are not consumed by our troubles, but filled with His Love.

~Rose