What is God's Sovereign Grace?

Not Grace to bar what is not bliss,

Nor flight from all distress, but this:

    The grace that orders our trouble and pain

    And then in the darkness is there to sustain.

- John Piper

Piper used this short poem in a sermon on God's sovereign grace that I listened to last week.  I love this quotation/definition.

I'd like to get back to serious blogging.

That's all.

Divine Scheduling.

"This day's been crazy but everything's happened on schedule.
From the rain and the cold to the drink that I spilled on my shirt.
'Cuz you knew how you'd save me before I fell dead in the garden.
And you knew this day long before you made me out of dirt.

"And you know the plans that you have for me.
And you can't plan the ends and not plan the means..."

-Caedmon's Call, "Table for Two"

I've had this lyric in my head for about a month now. Sometimes I get stressed or anxious or upset despite the command against such, but it is still a comfort to know that God knew this day before I was born. He knew theoutcome, from the tiniest details- even myown sin. Nothing is a surprise to him, and all of it is for my good and his glory. How could I doubt such a God!

And while I'm at it...

My desktop picture. The students at school always remark, "I didn't know Mr. Grinder could be affectionate!" Ha!

Honor

Our pastor gave an incredible sermon about honor yesterday. Basically, he defined honor in order to enlighten our continued study of 1 Timothy 4. He gave several reasons why he thought he ought to define honor for us. What struck home was reason 2: the engrained idea of rugged American individualism. So true! How unwilling we are as Americans to value others and their opinions (not necessarily agreeing) above ourselves!

"Who are you to tell me what to do?"

He gave a funny example from his own experience. One day, he said to his child, "I bet you don't know the meaning of honor." With a quizzical look on his face, the child answered, "What?" And then the pastor replied, "I bet that you were thinking, 'I know what honor is. Why does he think he has to tell me?'" And a sheepish grin appeared on the child's face proving that he had begun to understand.

He said something else that I have come to see play out as a teacher and hope to emulate as a parent one day. After challenging the young people, he talked to the parents about modeling honor for their children. At one point he said, "What do your children think of the political opposition, whoever they are? Do they think that they are merely wrong, or that they are idiotic jerks?" I think the same applies with modeling for other authorities. I have struggled with students not respecting school authority mostly because their parents have been unwise in speaking about that authority at home, or not honoring it themselves.

But as much as I gripe, I realize that I am going to need so much help in all these things when I become a parent- and even now in putting into practice Biblical honor. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound..."

Thoughts on Ruth

So, I am teaching Ruth in my Old Testament class. And my preparations have been challenging to my own faith as I dig deeper into the text- especially in light of what Matt and I have been talking and praying through together and some of the challenges we have faced lately.

On Sunday, part my pastor's sermons on 1 Timothy 4 had to do with perseverance as an instruction for young Timothy's ministry. He said, "God expects faithfulness, not success." And I have been reminded more and more of the faithful endurance of saints gone by and how easily swayed I and my Christian culture seem to be when anything even begins to feel hard or unsuccessful.

Part of a commentary on Ruth that I read said that her faithfulness in the story was reflected in the following ways:

1. She was faithful to God despite bitter setbacks. (Death of husband, new land, etc.)
2. She was free from the securities and comforts of the world. (i.e. she left her own home)
3. She had the courage to venture into the strange and unknown to be faithful.
4. She had a radical commitment to the relationships in her life which God had appointed.

That I could be this kind of woman!

Discouragement

I feel discouraged. I had some news today that completely took me off guard. It has Matt and I considering what we are doing here and what our longterm plans really are. Some of the consideration is great, but overall, I am feeling hurt.

I have to remind myself yet again that what I think may be best for me, or for anyone else for that matter, may not be. God is God. And He has blessed us in so many ways this year. And even this discouragement may be a blessing in disguise. Either way, it is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Matt has been reading some short bios of Christian saints gone by, and the biographer has commented about their endurance and faith, remarking that our own age is characterized by an emotional self-centeredness that might have been foreign to these great heroes. How much I need to learn!

"God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain."

William Cowper