by Elizabeth | May 14, 2012 | Learning Story
I’m so excited — in the fullness of time, we are doing final nesting for the new ‘baby’ — Living God’s Story of Grace, the second in the Living Story series. This morning, my editor asked me to send him a copy of the permission which Michael Card kindly granted, to use a portion of the lyrics from his marvelous song about God’s surprising baby that came to a faithful/faithless couple who had given up waiting more than once before he arrived. This morning this gem played in my heart…beautiful lyrics by Michael Card…Sing it in your head today as you remember how God has surprised you with his grace. (If you don’t know the remarkable story, read at least Genesis 21, but better — read the whole unfolding story in Genesis 12-21. (Or definitely, check out the study in Living God’s Story, soon.
They called him laughter
“A barren land and a barren wife
Made Abraham laugh at his wandering life
A cruel joke it seemed then to call him the father of nations
A heavenly prank, a celestial joke
Cause grey hair and babies leave no room for hope
But hoping is something this hopeless old man learned to do
Chorus:
They called him laughter
For he came after
The father had made an impossible promise come true
The birth of a baby to a hopeless old lady
So they called him laughter
Cause no other name would do
A cry in the darkness and laughter at night
An elderly couple sat holding him tight
An improbable infant, a punchline, a promise come true
They laughed til they wept then laughed at their tears
This miracle baby they’ve wanted for years
Would make a messiah who’d give us impossible joy…
What about you? What stories in the Bible or in your life make you laugh at the hilarious beauty of God?
by Elizabeth | May 12, 2012 | Learning Story
Okay, so almost Sunday Faves by now because of the ever-wonderful May-mom’s-madness
Very thoughtful and with challenge regarding education from Sandra McCracken.
Tim Keller on the core issues regarding Christianity and homosexuality.
by Elizabeth | May 9, 2012 | Learning Story
It is the month of May-hem, which for many of us means ‘awards-season.’ Here is a strange story of one I attended today…
Jammed into a high school auditorium, we often overhear our neighbor’s conversation. Still, I was surprised to hear my son’s name spoken by strangers. The words were whispered garble – “awards…all,” but the tone was clear – mocking disdain. Yes, he had received a few. After the next award, a special one given by the principal to a student who had made positive impact, I heard the dad scoff, “I’m surprised he didn’t get that one too.”
At first I wanted to tell them off (“He already received that award!”) (Yes, that’s how ugly my heart can be!) But then I just wanted to tell them…How hard he studies. How fervently he prays to keep his head on straight. How his dad and I are recovering perfectionists who don’t want him to live a life shackled to performance. How we have conversations about what it means to give glory to God in all we do.
But then my son spoke. As president-elect of next year’s SGA, he was charged with giving closing remarks. His words invited us to celebrate the multi-variegated gifts of the students represented. He went on to call for and express gratitude, “If you are a student receiving an award here today, you should not take that for granted. It is a big accomplishment. If you are a parent of one of these students, we thank you for your presence and support. I know from personal experience how much that means.”
Somehow the brief word relieved me of the strong urge to ‘justify’ my son to this sour couple next to me. It reminded me of what they might not have realized – we’re all here to worship – not the students – but the God who created them and gifted them. We’re here to thank and enjoy God and others. Neither awards nor self-justification can bring the lasting rest our Lord and Savior brings. We know that it is the hope of the gospel where our truest reward lies.
by Elizabeth | May 8, 2012 | Learning Story
Our son just left to take his AP Spanish exam. I noticed the notebook sitting on the counter and thought – this is a word for any and all today.
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11
by Elizabeth | May 4, 2012 | Learning Story
This week’s Friday faves leads off with a wonderful talk from Chuck Colson on what is Christianity. Settle in and listen to him tell “THE story.”
A most relevant article from Relevant magazine: “When You Can’t Pray the Pain Away”
A topic we should all familiarize ourselves with: Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Cases Take Toll on Children
And a great food I’m learning about: Quinoa: What it is and How to Cook it
What are some of your favorite things? Comment here or tweet to me @elizturnage to let me know!
by Elizabeth | May 3, 2012 | Learning Story
The biblical story shows that faith is strengthened by the memory of God’s rescue. Here is one of the more famous redemption songs of the Bible — we too could write songs remembering the works and wonders God has done for us. If you’d like a free guide to help you write or ponder your own redemption song, sign up here.
The Song of Moses and Miriam
15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
“I will sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.
2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense[a];
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.[b]
5 The deep waters have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, Lord,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand, Lord,
shattered the enemy.
7 “In the greatness of your majesty
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
it consumed them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils
the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood up like a wall;
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy boasted,
‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.
11 Who among the gods
is like you, Lord?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?
12 “You stretch out your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies.
13 In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.
14 The nations will hear and tremble;
anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people[c] of Canaan will melt away;
16 terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone —
until your people pass by, Lord,
until the people you bought[d] pass by.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,
the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.
18 “The Lord reigns
for ever and ever.”
![When’s the last time you highlighted your weakness?
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor. 12:10
All-Powerful God,
We confess,
we in Western culture
crave power, control, and independence.
The last thing we want
is to seem weak.
And yet, weakness is the way of Christ,
so it must be our way as well.
The apostle Paul understood that,
so in the face of accusations
that he wasn’t an apostle,
he countered the boasting of the “super-apostles”
with some boasting of his own:
“If I must boast,
I will boast of the things
that show my weakness” (2 Cor. 11:30).
And then he mentions how he was lowered in a basket through the window of a wall in Damascus, of all places,
a place he went to persecute Jews only to be knocked down on the road,
struck blind, by his Lord and Savior himself.
Paul shares many other weaknesses in 2 Corinthians,
a book that’s all about weakness as the way
of followers of Christ.
He asked that you would relieve him from a “thorn in the flesh,”
but you did not.
Instead, you said,
“My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).
Lord, we know we really are weak —
[for each of these areas, name any weaknesses you have]
weak in our bodies,
weak in our work,
weak in our wills,
weak in our faith,
weak in our hope,
weak in our love.
We believe
that you your power is made perfect
in and through our weakness.
Help our unbelief.
In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Read 2 Corinthians 11:30-12:10.
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