My summer slipped away...

...and I didn't blog. I have excerpts from my new book to share. Soon.

Practicing Glory: Confession

The picture above is my friend Anna, photographed by her sister Rhoda. I love the snowy scene. It reminded me of this verse:

The Lord says,“Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow. Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool.”

(Isaiah 1:18 GNT)

I love Anna's dancing pose. Anna knows who she is! Anna knows who God says she is! So Anna can serve Him and celebrate.

In each chapter of Practicing Glory, you'll meet a cast member of a Christmas Pageant. Today, it's a man playing Isaiah.

They're kidding, right? That has to be a misprint in the cast list. Third shepherd on the right is what I do every Christmas. Everyone knows that - it's tradition. Bathrobe, towel, flip-flops and a "behold, some aerial being that gloweth like the sun disturbeth my slumber and frighteneth the sheep" expression behind my fake beard. I can do that. But Isaiah? Seriously?

This means I actually have lines to speak. Real, powerful words anticipating the advent and redemptive work of the Messiah himself, the creator of the world. "For unto us a child is born... And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father..." You need a voice for that. Sonorous, melifluous, low and powerful. Like James Earl Jones, or Barry White.. My voice is more like Betty White. I mean, I'm just a guy who wants to serve God in a not-too-conspicuous fashion. I like the wings, not center stage.

Why did the director choose me for this? What could he possibly have seen in me? I know what I see. I see a quivering wannabe that melts into a pathetic little puddle of forgotten lines and missed cues at the first flash of the spotlight. All I wanted was a minor role, and here I am stuck as a major prophet. Me? As Isaiah? What could I possibly have in common with him? God... help! I am so not ready for this.

Though he lived centuries before the Messiah appeared on earth, Isaiah proclaimed prophetic messages that included many details of the Savior's life. Isaiah was a prophet who called the people of Israel to repent and to remember God's great love for them. God gave Isaiah a vision of Himself, not in a manger but on a glorious heavenly throne. Notice his reaction.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth.” The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.

Then I said: “Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips,and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed and your sin is atoned for.”

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Who should I send? Who will go for Us?

I said: “Here I am. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:1-8)

Isaiah shows us the spiritual discipline of confession. Though current use of the English word “confess” usually involves admitting wrongdoing, the Greek words have a larger meaning. There are two verbs translated “confess” in the New Testament: homologeowhich means “to speak the same thing, to assent, accord, agree with” and exomologeo which means “to confess forth” as in acknowledging sin, professing something openly or praising and gladly acknowledging.

How did Isaiah agree with God in this passage? I noticed three agreements:

Isaiah acknowledged God's identity as the holy King,

he confessed his own sinfulness,

and he agreed with God that he was forgiven and ready to serve.

Which agreement will you use in your prayer today?

Practicing Glory is a ten chapter Bible study designed for individual or group use. Look for the label "Practicing Glory" under this post and click it for all the posts about this book. Practicing Glory will be available in September. My husband Mark wrote the Cast Member quote.

Practicing Glory: Making Worship a Priority

As I wrote Practicing Glory, it was important to me that it not become a book about how Ruth worships God. I wanted to share scriptures about worship, tell a few personal stories, and then show a wide variety of worship practices to give you ideas to refresh your spritual practices. The Bible shows us so many different personalities worshiping God in their own ways. Mary broke open a costly jar of perfume, Paul risked his life to spread the gospel, and an unnamed little boy gave Jesus his lunch.

So I posted a question on Facebook, asking my friends to join a private worship research group.

As I wrote about spiritual disciplines, I asked my friends how they put these into practice. The variety of answers was fascinating.

One week I asked my friends to fill in the blank: “When I want to make worship a priority, I ______________________________.”

Roseanne said, “I sit on my back porch and look at my tree and talk to Him.”

Christie answered, “I make reading the Word and uninterrupted prayer an even bigger priority. Sometimes I have to drive to town very late at night and sit in a restaurant with my Bible and a soda to get that uninterrupted time. With four little ones at home, it's nearly impossible to be very focused.”

Melany shared that she goes to bed early and prays herself to sleep.

Kerry is a pastor and an artist. He said, “I get away from the city and all media. I listen to music and pray in color.”

Mary answered, “I pack a snack and coffee and drive anywhere, using my Bible and my choir music to give me focus on Him. He always gives me a new direction or unlocks a knot in my neck, and I am freed to view the blessings in my life through His eyes.”

Dana said, “I go for a prayer walk. Getting outside clears my mind and I truly connect with God.”

Erica mentioned the outdoors also: “I take my kids for a ride in the car through the beautiful Black Hills. We listen to music from Sunday School and we sing. We stop along the road and take pictures of the miracles God put in this world.”

Varina reads past journal entries. “It's amazing how much I forget in even just a few days!”

Karen makes an effort to really read and ingest His word, not skim it, asking God along the way what in the world He meant by that passage, and wonder how she can put it into practice today.

Laura goes somewhere alone and quiet. “In the stillness, away from everything that is frustrating me, I can listen to God and talk to Him. I often pray a psalm of praise.”

Sara says, “I put on worship music and dance around with my kids.”

Lissa tries to find a chance to worship the Lord near water—a lake or a river.

How about you? When you want to make worship an even bigger than usual priority, what do you do?

Practicing Glory: a gift-giving guide

Last Christmas, I took my youngest daughter shopping for her sisters. Tina wanted to buy a gift for her daddy too, and (because she admired it) she thought baby blue nail polish was just the thing.

I offered a few other suggestions, she remembered gifts that I had given in the past, and in the end, she chose a scarf.

It was wonderful to watch her give it to Mark on Christmas Day. Mark is the wage-earner who enables all the gift-giving in our home, but Tina enjoyed the giving and Mark appreciated the gift.

In a similar way, I have nothing to offer God without His enabling me to do so, and I need a little guidance in how to worship Him. I want to serve Him thoughtfully, to look at the commands in His word, and to see how others have put those into practice over the centuries. As I mentioned in a previous post, the spiritual disciplines are a suggested gift guide for us as we worship the Greatest Giver.

Let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe.

(Hebrews 12:28)
And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word. (2 Corinthians 2:16-17)

Practicing Glory explores ten spiritual disciplines that I see in the lives of the first worshipers of the Lord Jesus: worship, confession, stillness, surrender, service, fellowship, sacrifice, discernment, celebration and simplicity.

Click here to find other posts about this Bible Study book.

Practicing Glory: Illuminating Worship

Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella,
Bring a torch, come swiftly and run.
Christ is born, tell the folk of the village,
Jesus is sleeping in His cradle,
Ah, ah, beautiful is the mother,
Ah, ah, beautiful is her Son.

--Renaissance carol, translated from French to English by E. Cuthbert Nunn

This old French song describes a custom of bringing candles to light a nativity scene, joyfully lighting up the scene so everyone can admire the beauty and ponder the mystery of the Son of God. Did you notice the words “beautiful is the mother”? Mary was beautiful because she reflected the glory of the God to whom she surrendered her life.

That same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the spirit, transforms us into His likeness, in an ever greater degree of glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18 GNT)

Imagine for a moment that you are Jeanette or Isabella, holding a candle to illuminate the figure of the tiny Baby. Pause there for a moment to wonder at the mystery of the Creator living among His creation.

Now your candle's light falls on the people surrounding the manger. Mary quietly ponders her Son, Joseph thanks God for the angel that told him the truth about the baby, and the shepherds merrily rejoice together. Others will arrive in the scene a little later: the elderly Simeon will pray over the Child, the equally aged Anna will proclaim a celebration, and the travel-weary wise men will offer expensive treasures.

The characters of the Christmas story show us specific worship habits, called spiritual practices or spiritual disciplines. Think of the word “discipline” as a choice to participate in a training program. Let the word “practice” remind you that these things take time and repetition.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

Practicing Glory explores ten spiritual disciplines, what the scripture says about them, and how we can put them into practice. Think of the disciplines as a gift guide--gifts of worship you can offer to the Greatest Giver of all.


Practicing Glory is a ten-chapter Bible study, suitable for individual or group use. It will be available in September. I will be blogging through the book and posting short video messages each week, beginning in early September.


Artist Kerry Jackson gave me permission to use his painting of Mary. View more of his work and learn about his ministry at Drawingtotherock.com.

Practicing Glory: a first glimpse of a new study book

new Bible study coming this September

Practicing Glory

worship lessons from a Christmas Pageant

On a dark hillside near Bethlehem, a group of sleepy shepherds are startled awake by the glory of God. Center stage, an angel's mighty voice booms out the joyful news of Messiah's birth. An enormous chorus of angels enters from stage everywhere proclaiming, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!" In the middle of this spectacular message, the angel reveals the location of the Son of God. He's lying in a feeding trough, surrounded by animals. Glory is mingling with dust in a stable and sending invitations to lowly ragged shepherds.

The Baby grows up, and shares the glory:

I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. (John 17:22)
That same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into His likeness in an ever greater degree of glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18 GNT)

Jesus Christ calls us and enables to become like Him in attitudes and actions, putting glory into ever-increasing practice in the dust and mud of everyday living.

...Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. (Philippians 2:12-15)

He calls us to work out (not work for) our salvation as we reverently serve Him and shine for Him.

Doesn't that sound glorious? But what does it look like? How do we practice glory today? Where do we start?

Let's begin by watching a Christmas Pageant. How will this cast of characters worship God in their own unique ways? Have a seat. They’re dimming the house lights, and…curtain!

Thankful

Claudia is at the hospital, cooperating with the Creator in bringing a new little person into the world.

Maura is getting a scan to see if her cancer has returned.

I'm at home, praying for both of them and editing a chapter on Fellowship. I kneel in front of my chair, scribbling in a notebook, checking Facebook (has that baby arrived yet?), and moving Fritz the cat each time I turn a page.

Thank you, God, for friends like Claudia and Maura. Thank You for the technology that keeps us all in touch. Thank You for Fritz--always ready and waiting for any attention I can spare. Thank you for this tea-colored chair and the rosebud tea precariously balanced on the arm.

This God, our God forever and ever— He will always lead us. (Psalm 48:14)

Thank You for leading us all through today.

I'm joining Micha Boyett's Thankful Tuesday

and L.L. Barkat's On, In and Around Mondays.

Giving...and Giving Up

Blogger has issues. Or I have issues. This is not formatted in the way I would prefer it to be. But I think giving up my plans for a perfectly formatted blogpost is one of my sacrifices today.

I'm praying through the Spiritual Disciplines, asking God how I can put my love for Him into practice. This week I'm praying about sacrifice, asking God what He would like me to give or give up.

I thought of Jesus' life on earth, and the great sacrifice He paid for us. I thought about the smaller sacrifices in His earthly life, and this story came to mind:

Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ...
About eight days after these words, He took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men were talking with Him—Moses and Elijah. They appeared in glory and were speaking of His death, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him. As the two men were departing from Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.
While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud.
Then a voice came from the cloud, saying: “This is My Son, the Chosen One; listen to Him!”
After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was found. They kept silent, and in those days told no one what they had seen.
The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. (Luke 9:23, 28-37)

Jesus took three close friends up the mountain to share an amazing experience. They caught a glimpse of Jesus in His glory, and they saw two Old Testament heroes. They heard the mighty voice of God the Father.

And then they all came back down the mountain to meet a large crowd—a crowd with needs. Jesus took up His daily routine again. There was no lingering in the glory; He had a job to do.

I have a job too. However glorious my morning quiet time, whatever truth and comfort God impresses on my heart, I do have to come down the stairs and make breakfast, do the laundry and care for my children.

Sometimes sacrifice is simply giving myself and giving up what I want to do. Before Jesus took the disciples up the mountain, He spoke to them about denying themselves and taking up their crosses daily. There are difficult, annoying and painful things that I must face as I serve God. Some are larger then others. Some are simply the everyday routine of work when I'd really rather sit down and drink my tea and look outside at the mountains.

And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. (Ephesians 5:2)

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up.(Galatians 6:9)

Lord, show me how to live in love today, to serve my family and You.

Writing

I can't seem to blog and write a book at the same time. This is my writing season. I am in the middle of a project--a new Bible study that should be ready in the fall. 

I would appreciate your prayers. Pray for wisdom and clarity and a great title. Pray that I won't forget to do the laundry while my brain is busy. Most of all, pray that my life will be changed as I study God's Word. I don't want to simply share information. I want to share powerful truths that have shaped my life.

Pray for Jenni

If you're my Facebook friend, you've read my "Please pray for Jenni" status updates. Jenni had several strokes this month and she's been hospitalized for weeks. Tomorrow she's having surgery. Jenni has three young children. Please pray that Jenni will be get to return home soon, that she will be able to care for her children and that she will be able to continue her writing project. Pray for her husband, her kids and her relatives who are helping to care for her kids.

Let me tell you a little more about her. Here's an excerpt from Only for My King, in a chapter I wrote last spring about surrendering our resources. This segment is titled "Serving with Limited Resources."


Mark and I were married for four years before our first living child was born. During that time we had two miscarriages. I found encouragement and friendship at Hannah's Prayer Ministries (hannah.org), a Christian online support group for women facing infertility, miscarriage or infant loss. I still keep in touch with a few friends from Hannah's Prayer, including Jenni Saake, the cofounder. Jenni experienced infertility and miscarriage herself. Jenni wrote a book, Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage, & Adoption Loss, to encourage women and share the comfort she found in God's word.

Now Jenni is in a different chapter of life, mothering three children, homeschooling and blogging. She handles these duties while coping with very limited resources of strength and energy: she has an immune disease called XMRV, formerly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Jenni describes this as an “ongoing daily battle.”

The MS-like issues have escalated with involuntary muscle twitching at rest, and many random nerve sensations ranging from pain to tingling to numbness. I battle vertigo frequently and when I'm especially tired I drag one foot when trying to walk. I rarely leave the house without a wheelchair and often hold my hands out for balance when walking in my own home. I completed a survey this week that helped me see that my current ability is around 35-40% of my pre-illness ability, and that's a marked improvement from those first earliest years as well as the setback that had me in bed for much of 2007. I grieve that my children are growing up without ever knowing the mom I so long to be.




Most people see the "face" of a healthy-looking me, the vast majority of the time. They cannot see that I live with a ticking time-bomb called XMRV that can land me hard down in bed with the smallest provocation, or sometimes for no apparent reason at all. They can't see that I'm one step away from walking past a balloon and landing in the hospital for a latex allergy like I did this week. They can't see that I struggle every day to get out of bed and try to lead as normal of a life as possible, despite immobilizing fatigue and ever-changing levels and kinds and cycles of pain or cognitive dysfunction and a variety of other symptoms ranging from the annoying or distracting to the downright unmanageable.


I am an author. I am living with "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". When questioned by a doctor last year on my cognitive function, I explained, "I have written one book, but where others could have written it in several months, maybe a year or two, it took me ten." I continually turn down speaking engagements and travel requests because I do not have the stamina for public speaking, nor the strength for travel. Writing is my passion, my therapy, my outlet. But "being a writer" while fighting through this illness isn't an easy road.


I believe pain is a gift, though certainly an odd one. The thing that makes it a gift is the way it drives us to dependence on God. If I'm fixated only on my illness, or my desire to be well, I miss out on God's best for me right here, right now, right in the heart of living these trials.


Because I cannot see the big picture from God's perspective, instead I must cling to His promise that His grace is enough and accept that His power can shine most fully through me when I yield my heart to His plans. Therefore, I will boast gladly in my weakness and thank Him for the power that He gives me for every step He enables me to take, every breath He blesses me to draw. (quoted from Jenni's blog, Given Me a Thorn)

Jenni finds encouragement in these verses:

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-4 Message)

I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. (Isaiah 45:3 NIV)


The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of darkness, a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)


[Because of] the Lord's faithful love, we do not perish, for His mercies never end.

They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:22-23)