Giving Grace

I'm studying Catherine Martin's A Woman's Walk in Grace, and participating in an online study of this book at Ministry for Women. Last week's chapter was titled "The Fine Art of Gracing Another." I am still pondering that chapter and praying about how I can give grace to others. Today I read an interview with Bono, and these words caught my eye:

I don't let my religious world get too complicated. I just kind of go: Well, I think I know what God is. God is love, and as much as I respond [sighs] in allowing myself to be transformed by that love and acting in that love, that's my religion. Where things get complicated for me, is when I try to live this love. Now that's not so easy. --Bono, in an interview quoted at The Poached Egg

I like the idea that my faith should be reflected by loving actions. He went on to talk about grace:

... along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that "as you reap, so you will sow" stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff.

Amen. Praise God for His grace!

So, back to the idea of gracing others: does that mean I need to give grace to those who do stupid stuff? To my daughter who lost a school book? Again? I'm not talking about not giving consequences, but acting with a graceful attitude. I am praying for a graceful tone of voice and a gentle response. Even to stupid stuff.

This is my post for Thought-Provoking Thursday, hosted at SomeGirl's Website.

(Note: For an interesting look at the faith of several members of U2, check your library for We Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel According to U2.)

1,000 Gifts, Chapter 2 and 3

I'm reading One Thousand Gifts with the Book Club at Incourage. I think I'll be re-reading this book in the summer, as I am too distracted right now to give it the attention it really deserves. I'll need this book in the summer; it's focus on gratitude will help refocus my heart when the desert heat soars. Summer in the desert is like a winter without any cozy holidays. The weather is intense, we stay indoors as much as possible, and there's a long break from women's Bible study.

Yet as I read the book now, even in my distracted state of mind--planning my participation in two women's retreats and the book I'm writing and the small group meeting in our home and the laundry that is reaching new heights in the hamper--I am being encouraged and challenged.

Let me share with you a quote from chapter 2:

As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible. Joy is always possible. Whenever, meaning--now; wherever, meaning--here. The holy grail of joy is not in some exotic location or some emotional mountain peak experience. The joy wonder could be here! Here in the messy, piercing ache of sorrow, joy might be--unbelievably--possible! The only place we need see before we die is this place of seeing God, here and now. (page 33)

Joy is possible. Right here, today. I am not in the place of sorrow the author wrote from, but joy is certainly possible in the bustle of my day-to-day life. Today I will choose to be joyful. I will praise God for the Greek coffee perfuming my morning, the clouds rolling in with the possibility of rain in our desert, and my daughter singing "Spoonful of Sugar" in the bathtub.

And from chapter 3:

I may have always known that change takes real intentionality, like a woman bent over her garden beds every day with a spade and the determined will to grow up something good to strengthen the heart. (p. 44)

That is the main theme of this book so far: a determined will to plant gratitude and grow a grateful attitude. The author describes gratitude as "the language I've got to learn to speak." I agree. With God's help, I will learn this language and teach it to my children. It will strengthen all our hearts.

Ann Voscamp is blogging about the practice of time. I've had such a hard time keeping track of time lately...moments are just slipping away from me. I lose the whole month of January every year, I think. It vanishes. Now here we are halfway into February, I'm enjoying several creative projects that do take a bit of time, but I'm not sure I'm capturing this time and savoring it. This week my goal is to savor time with my oldest child. My little ones tend to crawl in my lap and spend time with me, but I need to be a little more intentional in spending time with my oldest. She likes to do a bit of her schoolwork independently now, and dash off to play when it's done. We do need to do a bit more discussion of said schoolwork, so my plan is to make a pot of tea and make our schoolwork discussion a bit of a date with Mama. She's due for a spelling test too, and the reward for a spelling test is always nail polish. Twenty words on the spelling test...twenty fingers and toes to paint.

How are you savoring the moments of this week?

Book Study: One Thousand Gifts, chapter one

My online friend Linda at Being Woven mentioned the book One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voscamp. The subtitle of this book is "A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are." I liked the sound of that, so I ordered the book. I found a discussion of this book at Incourage and I decided to join.

Today the book arrived and I rushed through the first chapter. I had to hurry because the first chapter was so emotional, and I didn't have time to be emotional today. The chapter describes the griefs the author has experienced. Those griefs were a little too close to home. She writes of losing her sister when they were both children, and later losing two infant nephews. At least I think those were the losses mentioned. I can't go back and re-read that part right now. I cannot absorb the heartbreaking words. This month it is eleven years since my first miscarriage--a different loss than those mentioned in the book--but the loss of a child at any stage of life is heartbreaking. At the time, I felt as if I wasn't really supposed to be grieving--after all, I hadn't met my children--and somehow that just added to the grief. I wasn't sure the rest of the world considered my grief valid. And that hurt.

So...I rushed through those first few pages of One Thousand Gifts, struggling with memories. And then I came to this beautiful thought:

I wonder... if the rent in the canvas of our life backdrop, the losses that
puncture our world, our own emptiness, might actually become places to
see.
To see through to God.
That that which tears open our souls, those holes that splatter our sight,
may actually become the thin, open places to see through the mess of this place
to the heart-aching beauty beyond. To Him. To the God whom we endlessly
crave.

I can testify to the truth of that statement. Certainly the losses in my life have become places to see through to God.

I look back at my miscarriages and I cannot say, even eleven years later, that I am thankful for them. No, they are wounds that, though no longer requiring a bandage, have certainly left a scar.

But I can say that those losses made me who I am today.
They made me call out to God as I never had before.
They made me read the book of Psalms with a desperation I had never felt before.
They made me trust in God's sovereignty. It was easy to see that God had some beautiful purpose for my babies to fulfill in heaven. But to trust that there was a purpose for me...that there was a point to all the tears and grief...that was harder.

Most of all, losing Robin and Hope made me realize the presence of God with me. It didn't matter what the rest of the world thought of my grief when the Creator promised to carry my sorrows.

That is a gift. That is why I can live fully right where I am.

Remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. (Matthew 28:20)


You can read Ann Voscamp's blog here.

I looked at a few "Multitudes on Mondays" posts (see the button above) and I see that other participants are listing blessings. I don't know that I really want to number them. That seems far too organized for me. But here are a few of today's blessings:
*That orange scarf hanging in my closet--a duplicate of the one my youngest daughter gave me for Christmas and I promptly lost. I found this on clearance a few days ago.
*My children joyfully singing together in the backyard after a few Monday squabbles.
*Guacamole. Homemade. By my Husband.
*Catherine Martin's A Heart that Hopes in God study and all the women studying this with me on Tuesdays.

Praise and Sacrifice: a Potpourri of Scriptures and Meditation

Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His love is eternal.
He alone does great wonders.
His love is eternal. (Psalm 136:3-4)

I will thank the Lord with all my heart;
I will declare all Your wonderful works.
I will rejoice and boast about You;
I will sing about Your name, Most High. (Psalm 9:1-2)

Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name. (Hebrews 13:15)

To sacrifice means to surrender, relinquish, or yield. When we make a sacrifice, we are offering up a gift. It encourages me to know that my praise is often a sacrifice--a gift to God and a release for me...Praise, particularly in difficult circumstances, arises from a desire to obey God and to trust in His ways. Perhaps the Lord wants us to offer praise because in this "sacrifice" we are released from the bondage of anxiety and freed to see His hand working all things together for good. (Cynthia Heald, Abiding in Christ, p. 44)

Lord, open my lips, and my mouth with declare Your praise. (Psalm 51:15)

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by Your gift that Your faithful people offer You true and laudable service: Grant that I may run without stumbling to obtain Your heavenly promise; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Divine Hours, p. 149)

Lord, it is only through Your enabling and strengthening me that I can offer You my praise and my service.

Potpourri of Scriptures

Let the whole earth tremble before the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. (Psalm 33:8 HCSB)
O God, you know how foolish I am;
my sins cannot be hidden from You. (Psalm 69:5 NLT))
Answer my prayers, O Lord,
for Your unfailing love is wonderful.
Take care of me,
for Your mercy is so plentiful. (Psalm 69:16 NLT)
I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the working of His power. (Ephesians 3:7 HCSB)
Be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. (Ephesians 6:10 HCSB)


Faith is your response to God's growth work in your heart. Spiritual growth does not occur by osmosis; it develops in your walk with God day by day and moment by moment. You don't just sit around, passive and uninvolved. God will ask for obedience, surrender, love, commitment, resolve, trust, patience and more in your relationship with Him.-- Catherine Martin, A Woman's Walk in Grace, p. 58


Lord, I do stand in awe of You!
You know all my faults, yet You answer my every prayer.
Your compassion is great and Your mercy is plentiful.
I am amazed that Your grace allows me to serve You, empowering me with Your strength.
You call me to grow in faith and surrender.
Help me today, Lord, to hear Your voice and follow Your leading.

Amen.

Video Post: Focus, Flexibility and 5 Minutes

Catherine Martin asked me to share a few thoughts about Quiet time during a video conference at Ministry for Women tomorrow. Here's my trial run with my little speech.

I don't know why the silliest frame from the entire video is chosen as the photo here. I'm not really that cheesy. Really.

stop picking blackberries

I'm reading a delightful book by Fiona Castle titled His Light in Our Darkness: an Anthology of Praise. It's filled with hymns and poems and the author's own meditations. Today I read a little poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning:

Earth's crammed with heaven
And every common bush afire with God
But only he who see it takes off his shoes
The rest sit round it and pick blackberries.

Isn't this a fascinating situation to visualize? I can just see a crowd of people bustling around picking blackberries while one quiet person stands barefoot in worshipful awe because he has become aware of God's presence and heard God's voice. It's so easy to get caught up in our daily duties--many of them necessary, some of them related to our ministry--and forget to stop in awe and wonder at the presence of God. Maybe we can't see His fire, but His spirit lives within us, and His word is available to us.

Lord, keep me aware of You and focused on You today.


Note: I'm a featured author at The Pastor's Wife Speaks today.

a potpourri of Scriptures

These verses spoke to me today as I begin a new homeschooling year, start teaching a new Bible study session next week, make notes toward writing another book and occasionally notice the housework that needs to be done around here.

The Lord upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down. (Psalm 145:14 NKJV)

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. (Ephesians 6:10)

...live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ... (Philippians 1:27)

For it is God who is working in you, [enabling you] both to will and to act for His good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)

Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

I will make known the Lord's faithful love
[and] the Lord's praiseworthy acts,
because of all the Lord has done for us...(Isaiah 63:7)

Oh Lord, Your vast strength enables me to live for You. Remind me to take my worries to You and rest in Your peace.

Book Giveaway: Holy Available

This week I'm giving away an almost-new copy of Holy Available, by Gary Thomas. I bought this book because I was intrigued by the subtitle: "What if holiness is about more than what we don't do?" I was so intrigued, in fact, that I accidentally ordered this book twice. So I'm giving one copy away.

Leave me a comment, and on Friday I'll draw one of the commenter's names and mail this book to them! In your comment, please share the title of a book that made a difference in your life.

I'm extending the giveaway! I'll announce a winner on Sunday!

Book Giveaway: Six Secrets to a Powerful Quiet Time

I have an extra copy of Catherine Martin's Six Secrets to a Powerful Quiet Time. It's practically new. Catherine Martin's books are always encouraging and practical, filled with scripture and godly advice. From the back cover:

Are you enjoying the closeness with God you desire? Are your prayer times
transforming your life from the inside out? Are you sensing God speaking to you
through your Bible reading?

Now you can join Catherine Martin on an exciting 30-day journey to discover
how to really have a quiet time. She provides effective, practical steps you can
take to go deeper with God...

I'm giving this book away on Friday. Between now and then, leave me a comment with the title of your favorite devotional book. One of the commenters will win this book.

Praise Patterns: The Holy One

Here's an excerpt from Chapter Six--the chapter about the Holy One. The third day of each chapter features a passage from the Gospels.

They came to Jerusalem, and He went into the temple complex and began to throw out those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers' tables and the chairs of those selling doves, and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple complex.

Then He began to teach them: “Is it not written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?' But you have made it a den of thieves!”
(Mark 11:15-17)

Out of town visitors to the temple bought their sacrifices from these merchants in the temple's court. Money-changers were conveniently located nearby to convert the traveler's money, but they weren't always honest in their exchanges. The merchants and money-changers were all focused on money rather than witnessing. Other people used the temple courtyard as a shortcut, traipsing through it carrying various baggage. Jesus knew what belonged in the holy place, and what needed to go. He brings this same discernment to our lives.

For the grace of God has appeared, with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age. (Titus 2:11-12)

And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that [comes] through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; (I Peter 1:14-16)

So rid yourselves of all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.
(I Peter 2:1)

Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. The Lord's slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness...(2 Timothy 2:22-25)

As we strive to follow the Holy One who calls us, we can praise Him for understanding us completely and being ready to set us back on the right path every time we fail.

For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested. (Hebrews 2:18)

Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time. (Hebrews 4:14-16)


Reflect & Respond
“Jesus knew what belonged in the holy place, and what needed to go. He brings this same discernment to our lives.” Have you ever felt that He was toppling everything over in your life and removing things that didn't belong?


Look back at today's scriptures and list things that belong, and things that don't belong in our lives as Jesus' followers.


How does Hebrews 4:14-16 describe Jesus?

Praise Patterns will be available to order very very soon.

Praise Patterns Excerpt: The God Who Sees

The theme of Praise Patterns Chapter Five is "The God Who Sees". This is a very meaningful chapter to me because I was writing it when my friend Maura was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. As I worried about her and prayed for her, I clung to the knowledge that The God Who Sees was aware of Maura's condition, her needs, and her service to Him.

This excerpt comes from Day Three, and it follows Day Two's discussion of the story of Hagar (see Genesis 16).

The story of Hagar shows us that God is aware of our circumstances. Today we'll see that He is aware of our service and sacrifice.

While all the people were listening, He said to His disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces, the front seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive greater punishment.”

He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins.”I tell you the truth,” He said.“This poor widow has put in more than all of them. For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 20:45-21:4)

Jesus talked to His disciples about the religious leaders who bragged about their faith and righteousness while demanding honor and being unkind to the poor and taking advantage of helpless widows. Then, while watching people leaving their offerings at the temple, He drew their attention to a woman of great faith: an impoverished widow giving her last coins to God. I wish I knew the rest of this story: why did the woman offer God all she had? What did she eat that night? Did she have a place to sleep? Yet the more I meditate on this story, the more I see that that it is more meaningful this way. When I don't know all the details, Jesus does. He sees the heart attitudes and motivations, the sacrifices, the unnoticed service to Him. I don't have to remind God who is valuable to Him, or how much someone loves Him. He sees. He knows.

Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
(I Corinthians 15:58)

Isn't that encouraging? Here's the Message Bible's contemporary paraphrase:

With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.

God calls all His children to serve Him in some way. Some Christians serve God in obvious ways on church platforms and in mission organizations, while others serve in less visible places. Perhaps today you are serving God by being kind to less-than-courteous customers or making sure your family has clean laundry. Maybe you are discouraged by the dishes piling up in your sink or the e-mails flooding your inbox. You might be offering the sacrifice of a quiet demeanor when you feel anything but serene inside. Whatever your act of service is today, you can be sure that He sees both your sacrifice and your heart.

Reflect & Respond
How has the Lord called you to serve Him—or sacrifice for Him—in this season of your life?


Do you know someone who serves the Lord in a thankless or not-very-visible way? Pray for that person today.

Read more about my Praise Patterns book here.

5 Minute Devotional Books

There are seasons of life when an hour of Bible study all at one time is easy to schedule every day, but there are other times when even ten minutes at once is difficult. It's better to spend five minutes than none at all, and often I find I can fit several five minute readings into a busy day. Or perhaps I have a nice long study in the afternoon, but I want to begin the day with a quick upward glance: a focus on the Lord as my strength for the day. Of course there are also the days when I have lots of spare time, but, well, very little brain. Needier-than-usual children or a backache or a migraine can really be distracting. These are the times that short devotional books are useful.

I like to keep a few devotional books in various places around the house so there's one handy whenever I have a few moments. I can read while I wait for my tea kettle to boil, when I grab an afternoon snack or just before I fall asleep.

Today I'm sharing some of my favorite short devotional books. Please leave a comment about your favorite and how you fit it into your busy schedule or tell me about a time in your life when you found short studies especially helpful.

First, of course, is the Bible. In busy seasons of life it is too easy to read other people's thoughts on the Bible and neglect the most precious book of all. Psalms is easy to dive into when you only have five minutes. Try Philippians too: a joyful book full of verses you can meditate on a few at a time.

Ruth Myers wrote a wonderful series of books: 31 Days of Prayer, 31 Days of Praise, 31 Days of Power and The Satisfied Heart. These Scripture-based prayers will encourage readers to pray and praise and respond to God's word. The daily segments are only two pages long.

I'm currently enjoying Jennifer Rothschild's Fresh Grounded Faith. The author's goal was to write daily devotions that you can easily read in the time it takes to drink your morning coffee. She shares meditations on Scripture and stories from her own life in a thought-provoking way that is not too deep for those early in the morning still-haven't-finished-your-caffeinated-beverage times.

Ken Hemphill wrote several short books with titles like God Is, God Will, We Are, and We Can. Daily segments are two pages long and begin with a scripture about who God is or what God says about us. Ken Hemphill explains the scripture with everyday illustrations and personal examples.

Joni Eareckson Tada's book More Precious than Silver has 366 daily readings. Joni's testimony of faith and endurance is encouraging; her thoughts are especially relevant to anyone experiencing pain or difficulty. Joni wrote at least two other devotionals in this format: Diamonds in the Dust and Pearls of Great Price.

Daily Light on the Daily Path has been a popular devotional book since it was published in the 19th century. Author Samuel Bagster chose two topics for each day (a morning reading and an evening reading) and wove together scriptures that speak on those topics. There are many versions of this available: paperback, leather-bound, abridged, KJV and NKJV. Mine is a leather-like substance in hunter green.

Another classic devotional is Amy Carmichael's Edges of His Ways. This missionary's prayers and meditations are encouraging and challenging.

The Divine Hours by Phillis Tickle is a weekly pattern of short scripture readings and classic prayers. It is set up for believers who want to pray several times a day and desire a little guidance to begin praying or to stay focused during their prayer times. I really appreciated this book when I was in a very exhausted season of life, wanting to converse with God but not coming up with many of my own words. The Divine Hours would prompt my own prayers. It's a small book, very handy for an early morning in the park or a long vacation. Not every prayer in this book will fit every denomination's theology, but I found I rephrased the prayers in my own words anyway.

Ann Spangler's two books on prayer will take a little longer than five minutes a day, but you can certainly divide up the reading into smaller portions if you need to. The titles are Praying the Names of God and Praying the Names of Jesus. She also co-wrote a one-year devotional with Jean Swyserda: Women of the Bible.

If you like a little artwork with your quiet time, try Lillias Trotter's Blossom in the Desert. This missionary woman gave up a promising art career to be a missionary in North Africa from the late 1800s until 1928. This book blends exerpts from her writings with sketches from her diaries. Every page is beautiful. Open this book up on a cookbook stand and enjoy it.

Another book that's great on a cookbook stand is Catherine Martin's Drawing Strength from the Names of God. Georgeous landscape photos accompany Catherine's prayers and explanations of the names of God. I like to read a page or sometimes just a paragraph while I wait for my teakettle to boil in the morning.

Catherine Martin also wrote a devotional book: Quiet Time Moments for Women. Themes include love, grace, prayer, quiet, and ministry. I like to read this in the evening before bed.

What are your favorite five minute Devotional books?

Praise Patterns: Praising the Savior

In Praise Patterns, these Praise Psalms follow yesterday's post.

Our God is a God of salvation, and escape from death belongs to the Lord God.
(Psalm 68:20)
But as for me—poor and in pain—let Your salvation protect me, God.
(Psalm 69:29)
God of our salvation, help us—for the glory of Your name.
Deliver us and atone for our sins, because of Your name. (Psalm 79:9)
I will give thanks to You because You have answered me
and have become my salvation.(Psalm 118:21)
I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. (Psalm 62:1)

God my Savior, as I contemplate the crucifixion I am once again amazed by Your sacrifice and Your love. I praise You and thank You and rest in You.

Praise Psalms

Another excerpt from Praise Patterns:

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God!
I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God! (Psalm 42:11 NLT)
Lord my God, You have done many things—Your wonderful works
and Your plans for us; none can compare with You.
If I were to report and speak [of them], they are more than can be told.
(Psalm 40:5)
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love
and His wonderful works for the human race. (Psalm 107:8)
Sing to the Lord, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name. (Psalm 30:4)

Wonderful Lord, tonight my heart longs to praise You, but I am exhausted. I will borrow phrases from a few Psalms and praise You with words that are not original but are certainly heartfelt.

Responding to Exceeding Joy

Here is an excerpt from my Praise Patterns book, Chapter Three ("My Exceeding Joy"), Day Four. Each chapter's Day Four is focused on our response to God. Praise is not just a bunch of nice things we say to God; praise is responding to God in obedience and love.


I think it's impossible to talk about joy without talking about troubles, and finding joy within troubled times. Let's think again about that scene in the temple, when Mary and Joseph and Simeon and Anna were praising God together. The Jewish nation was expecting the Messiah to come and deliver them from Roman oppression. This little group probably had this in mind as they praised. They didn't know God's great plan of redemption in detail. They just knew He had arrived, so they praised Him.

I think there is a lesson here for us. In the midst of a situation with no solution in sight, God's presence is our comfort. When worry or grief or pain darken the sky, we can whisper the name of Jesus and remember that He is with us. This knowledge may not instantly produce a spectacular sunrise of joy, but it can light a tiny candle within the dark night, a gleam of hope within our hearts. Maybe our praises are timid, perhaps they aren't as eloquent or determined as Habakkuk's—but God accepts what we are capable of offering. Look at these Scriptures about joy and rejoicing:

...through Him, we have received access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith —more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy. (I Peter 1:6-8)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:12-14)
May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father who has enabled you to share in the saints' inheritance in the light. (Colossians 1:10-12)

When circumstances are bleak and grim, the Lord never leaves us, and we can ask Him to be our Exceeding Joy—our joy that exceeds our situation.


Praise Patterns will be available to purchase in about a month.

My Exceeding Joy

The third chapter of my book Praise Patterns is titled "My Exceeding Joy." Here's an excerpt from Day Two:

Habakkuk was an Old Testament prophet who wrote the book that bears his name. It begins with a prayer of questions and a longing for justice. God answered him with the frightening news that Israel's enemies were going to sweep in and conquer the land. Habakkuk kept praying, pouring out his questions and concerns and heartbreaks to God, and God continued to show him the judgments that were coming to his nation. In chapter three, Habakkuk proclaimed God's power, and closed the book with a prayer of determined joy. Habakkuk's circumstances didn't change; in fact he had God's assurance that things were only going to get worse. Yet Habakkuk responded to God with praise. Notice the last phrases—not only did Habakkuk write this beautiful prayer, he set it to music.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Yahweh my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!
For the choir director: on stringed instruments.(Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Habakkuk didn't start out with this joyful attitude. First he took all his concerns and complaints to God, listened to God, and responded in prayer. Then he praised. I see a similar pattern in David's words in Psalm 42.

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.
O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar.
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—a prayer to the God of my life.
I will say to God my Rock,“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a breaking of my bones, my enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,“Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.(Psalm 42 NKJV)


Praise Patterns will be available to purchase in about a month. In the book, this segment is followed by a Prelude to Praise (a quote from a historical Christian and a few details about that person's life), discussion and application questions, and a selection of Psalms.

Links worth clicking

Keith and Kristyn Getty have an excellent post today about writing for children, with quotes from C. S. Lewis:
On Writing for Children

Catherine Martin has a new book coming soon: Quiet Times for Women

Rachelle Gardner tries to clear up the mystery of query letters: Queries: Really not that Complicated

And if you haven't found this book review blog yet, you should check it out:
Miscellaneous Mumblings

Psalms in 60 Days

I love to read the Psalms. When I write a devotional book, I end each day's readings with four or five verses from Psalms, because they prompt me to pray and praise and meditate on God's word. My Sacred Signposts book included a schedule to read through the book of Psalms in 60 Days. The schedule link is a free download. You can print it on a file card and use it as a bookmark. Here is a not-as-clear-as-I'd-like-it-to-be copy of the page in Sacred Signposts.


Amy at Mom's Toolbox is hosting a 60 day tour through the Psalms, using this schedule.

Review: A Woman's Walk in Grace

“The garden of God's grace,” writes Catherine Martin in A Woman's Walk in Grace, “is a place of security, abundance, provision, joy and hope.” This book is a guide to that garden. It's full of practical advice and Biblical wisdom to encourage believers of all maturity levels to keep growing and delighting in God's grace. Catherine points us to Biblical, historical and contemporary people whose lives are shining examples of the power of grace. I especially enjoyed the stories of Amy Carmichael's co-worker Ponammal and Hudson Taylor's daughter-in-law Geraldine Taylor. This book is equally appropriate for individual study or group discussion.