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Awards and True Rewards

by | May 9, 2012 | Learning Story

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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.

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What’s your focus today?

by | 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.

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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

Friday Faves

by | 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!

Sing a Song of Redemption

by | 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.”

The Stormy Path

by | Apr 30, 2012 | Learning Story

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Saturday I spent a rich time reflecting with other women what it means to live in faith in difficult seasons. I opened Spurgeon to find his timely words on stormy seasons.

Thou art my hope in the day of evil.”
— Jeremiah 17:17

“The path of the Christian is not always bright with sunshine; he has his seasons of darkness and of storm. True, it is written in God’s Word, “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace;” and it is a great truth, that religion is calculated to give a man happiness below as well as bliss above; but experience tells us that if the course of the just be “As the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day,” yet sometimes that light is eclipsed. At certain periods clouds cover the believer’s sun, and he walks in darkness and sees no light. There are many who have rejoiced in the presence of God for a season; they have basked in the sunshine in the earlier stages of their Christian career; they have walked along the “green pastures” by the side of the “still waters,” but suddenly they find the glorious sky is clouded; instead of the Land of Goshen they have to tread the sandy desert; in the place of sweet waters, they find troubled streams, bitter to their taste, and they say, “Surely, if I were a child of God, this would not happen.” Oh! say not so, thou who art walking in darkness. The best of God’s saints must drink the wormwood; the dearest of his children must bear the cross. No Christian has enjoyed perpetual prosperity; no believer can always keep his harp from the willows. Perhaps the Lord allotted you at first a smooth and unclouded path, because you were weak and timid. He tempered the wind to the shorn lamb, but now that you are stronger in the spiritual life, you must enter upon the riper and rougher experience of God’s full-grown children. We need winds and tempests to exercise our faith, to tear off the rotten bough of self-dependence, and to root us more firmly in Christ. The day of evil reveals to us the value of our glorious hope.”
C H Spurgeon