January 22, 2008, marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision which lies at the core of our national debate about abortion. In those 35 years, more than 47 million infants have been legally murdered by residents of this nation alone. The Supreme Court, seeking to protect a woman’s right to privacy from government interference, neglected to protect the rights of the unborn in what seems to many a monstrous parody of ‘justice’.

This man, Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun (1908-1999), wrote the majority opinion in Roe v. Wade. May God have mercy on his soul.

On Sunday our pastor spoke about what the Bible says about three pertinent questions:

1. When does life begin?
2. What about a person’s choice?
3. What about forgiveness?

It was an excellent, courageous, insightful and straightforward discussion which left no room for doubt that:

1. The Bible clearly indicates that human life begins in the womb, and that God values in utero life in no way less than an adult human.
2. A woman’s choice for her body is subject to God’s control and will, and (as a child of God) her body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. As with any person, her body is to be offered to God to do works of righteousness; this does not include murder.
3. God’s forgiveness is offered freely to all who sin and the blood of Jesus is more than enough to forgive even the vilest of crimes.

Our pastor is a very kind man, and his sermon was delivered in such a way that people would really have to work to be offended — yet he didn’t pull any punches in laying out what the Bible says. I was proud of him and delighted to sit under the teaching of such a man.

The verses our pastor cited are as follows:

The unborn are created and known by God: Psalm 139:13-16

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

The unborn are called babies: Luke 1:41 (John the Baptist), Genesis 25:22 (Jacob and Esau). (The same Greek/Hebrew word is used in the scripture for the unborn as for infants.)

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD.

The unborn are protected as persons: Exodus 21:22-23

“If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

The unborn are called by God: Isaiah 49:1, Galatians 1:15

Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.

But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased …

Our pastor went on to list several specific applications, ranging from political to personal:

• We are fortunate to live in a nation that allows us to vote, and we should apply that vote in support of a candidate who values human life as God does.
• We must not grow weary in praying for justice for the unborn; rather we ought to be praying more and more fervently.
• We are surrounded by many opportunities to show love to those who find themselves with unwanted pregnancies; in our own community there is CareNet, which offers ultra-sound services and counseling to thousands of women each year.

I John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Thanks be to God that He is able and willing to forgive any and all of our sin, whether public or private.

Tim

Our Small Group/Bible Study/Fellowship Group/Home Group (what do you call them?) tries to meet once a week. We are currently in between studies. We had a fantastic time going through the Love and Respect dvd series and then we did a 5 week study by Ray Vander Laan. I’m not sure what we’re going to settle upon next.

This is how we spent tonight’s small group:

1) Snacks (always key) - fresh carrots, homemade chocolate chip cookies, hot cider, pretzels and Breton crackers.

2) Worship - Ray led us in an amazing time of singing and prayer. All of the children joined us (the family room was FULL of people) for the singing. What a blessing to have a skilled worship leader in our midst.

3) Memory Verses - the group is trying to add scripture memory work to our lives. Each week everyone is encouraged to memorize three verses. When we come together in group, there is time to recite the verses (and receive applause, of course). When the children in AWANA show up their parents, you know it’s time to start memorizing!

4) Thanksgiving Sharing - Ray ended our worship time with some discussion of Thanksgiving memories.

5) Scum - One couple left but the rest stayed to play cards. What fun!

It was a good night and I’ll leave you with one of my verses.

“He who loves discipline, loves knowledge but he who hates correction is STUPID.” Proverbs 12:1.

I think finding a verse with the word “stupid” in it is rather unique and should be immediately memorized.

Next week is Thanksgiving - look how the holidays gallop along. If you’re in a small group Bible study, I’d love to hear what all you’re studying. We take any and all ideas. Thanks!

Kathy

Today our pastor preached the fourth sermon in our month long Choose stewardship campaign. The four topics were Invite, Belong, Serve and Give. This morning’s sermon was on giving, looking at the story of the widow’s coin in Luke 21.

As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)

You decide, are these two giving out of their wealth or poverty?

It was an excellent sermon, encouraging us to give generously and delight in God’s blessing in our life as we serve Him with our time, energy and finances. I was struck by the picture of Jesus visiting the temple and observing people as they placed their gifts in the offering.

“What would it be like to have Jesus watching you as the offering plate passed by?” I whispered to Tim, my eyes wide at the thought.

“Um,” Tim’s expression was a bit puzzled, “Kathy, He is watching you.”

Ouch. Somehow the image of Jesus sitting next to me and looking at me while I take and pass on the offering basket was very convicting. Thinking of Him searching my heart and counting all the treasures I’m storing up here on earth, brought a flush to my cheeks.

Maybe we’ll find all those missing socks when we get to heaven.

This afternoon we watched a portion of one of our favorite family movies, FlyWheel. Flywheel, produced by the church that filmed Facing the Giants, has a low-budget but an incredible message. I encourage everyone to go out and find a copy of this movie! It is slow in places and the acting “raw” but the transformation of the main character, as he decides to trust God with his whole life, is remarkably powerful.

Early in the movie the family attends church together. When it’s time for the offering, the father takes out his envelope, makes sure it is EMPTY, and then very carefully places it into the basket. His wife sees him and shakes her head with disgust.

If someone were watching…

Jesus sees what I do with my time and my money. The scriptures are full of promises regarding rewards the Lord will give those who are faithful, loving, and generous. Do I trust His Word? Do I believe the treasures I can store up in heaven are worth more than the temporal things of this world?

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. (Matthew 16:26-27)

It was a day full of conviction and challenge. What would it look like, I wondered, if I gave sacrificially, loved with my whole life, and said “Yes!” to the Lord? Am I willing to be stretched? Do I believe He is watching?

Kathy
Project 365- Day 273

My spirit was drained and my soul weary by the time Sunday evening approached. I had a full morning of ministry and Bible study. The afternoon was largely spent in intense conversation and prayer with a new accountability partner. By the time I returned home, there was less than an hour before we needed to leave for the Concert of Prayer. I felt close to tears. My spiritual muscles were sore from use and my faith joints creaky and protesting.

Tim drew me outside to sit with him in the sunshine. We basked in the warmth of the late afternoon and spent precious minutes in sweet conversation. He did NOT offer to take the children off to church and let me stay home. He did NOT say we should all take the evening off from responsibilities. Neither did he lecture me about the importance of prayer and our commitment to the church or remind me of all the people we’ve invited to come and pray this evening.

He gave me time to talk and absorb the glory of the warm sun and then cheerfully gathered the family into the van.

My spirit quailed at the thought of spending another hour and a half at church. I was drained and weary. I had already given of myself - to the grownups in our Sunday School class, to the preschoolers, to the ministry leaders, to my family, to friends. I had already spent time in the Word, in prayer and in service. Surely I deserved some quiet time alone.

Welcome to the Ministry Fair!

How is it possible that I, who have been a believer for so long and who comes from a rich and godly heritage, could have such weak spiritual muscles? How could I have so quickly forgotten the passage we studied this morning?

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. I John 3:16

Here was an opportunity to lay down my life, my agenda, my desire for solitude and rest and come together with a beloved body of believers and intercede for the needs of the church.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! I John 3:1

In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. Matthew 18:14

My heart was cold and my attention distracted through the first song we sang as part of the worship time. Slowly, however, the Lord warmed my heart the way the afternoon sun had warmed my body. And then we sang Everlasting God. Surely this song was selected just for me, by the Almighty God who knew I was weary and tired and facing a full week of homeschooling and difficult parenting.

I may grow tired and worn, spending my pathetically small reserves of faith and grace, but the Lord — He who created the sunshine and the beauty of this world, who is eternal and unchanging — won’t grow weary. He promises to be my strength and salvation.

I don’t need to be strong — I can rest in His strength and continue laying down my life, knowing it is safe and secure in His hands.

Kathy
Project 365 - Days 255 & 256

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

On Saturday Rachel and I stopped by to visit some friends. They are just completing the building of their new home and we have been privileged to watch, with excitement and wonder, the different stages of development over the past year. Tim and his brother Mark, along with the older boys, helped move the piano into the study on Saturday afternoon. The finishing touches are slowly and steadily being completed. It’s truly amazing to look around this beautiful home and know that Pam and Jay have done almost all of the work themselves.

Zachary is excited to move into the new house.

I heard that the carpeting was to be installed on Monday, covering the plywood floors of the upstairs, and thought that offered a unique opportunity. Treasuring and pondering the words in Hebrews about the LIVING Word of God, I asked if I could come over and write some verses on the bare floors. Receiving permission, Rachel and I brought our bag of Sharpie markers, grabbed two Bibles and set about to work.

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

This family has been dear friends to us for many years and their love for the Lord is sincere and true. I was overwhelmed with a desire to bless and anoint the house with God’s Word in any way I could. I kept thinking about the power of walking in and on and through the living and breathing Word.

Emily works on the floor of her closet.

My Bible reading the night before led me to a verse for the boys’ bedroom which in turn brought me to a passage for the girls’ room. Suddenly I was eager to find verses for each of the upstairs rooms. A song of praise for the Lord in a room where music will be practiced, a reminder about physical training and godliness on the floor of the exercise area, verses about love and respect and marriage in the master suite, the passage from Philippians about thinking on that which is noble and pure and lovely and right for the library, the Bible treasure hunt was on.

After just a few minutes, Rachel and I were joined by Pam, Zachary and Emily, Bibles and Sharpies in hand. For close to an hour we copied Bible verses onto the bare, rough wooden floors of the upstairs. Pam found verses about clothing yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience and wrote them in the closet. Zachary wrote down his favorite verse, John 3:16. Emily copied parts of Proverbs 31.

It was a precious, sweet time, as we worked all the while amidst hammering and nailing as Jay put up the trim and the little ones played. Zachary told me he wished he could copy the whole Bible on the floor of his room so he could easily turn to just the right verse. There is power in God’s Word. It is ALIVE. It is HOLY. It is the power to change and transform our lives.

For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. (Hebrews 3:4)

May our hearts and homes be built on the solid foundation that is only found in Jesus Christ!!

Kathy