The well thought out lament of Jeremiah

John Piper has an article about the book of Lamentations.  He mentions that it's one of the most "formally crafted books in the Old Testament."  Its chapters contain 22 stanzas each.  Three of the four chapters are in acrostic form fitting the Hebrew alphabet.  The structure is very organized and well thought out.  The interesting thing is that it's also one of the most emotional books of the bible.  Written during a dark time in biblical history when God's people were suffering the horrible judgment of God.  Here is a good example of how we can channel our emotions in a way that expresses the depths of our experiences.  He mentions that people usually need time to reflect on what they are feeling and afterwards are better able to put it into words (sometimes through poetry).  His point is that there is a place for spontaneous emotional expression, but there is still a greater place for sharing meaningful experiences after much reflection and meditation.  Both are critical to a healthy spiritual life.  Here is a quote from the article.

"Emotions are like a river flowing out of one's heart. Form is like the riverbanks. Without them the river runs shallow and dissipates on the plain. But banks make the river run deep. Why else have humans for centuries reached for poetry when we have deep affections to express? The creation of a form happens because someone feels a passion. How ironic, then, that we often fault form when the real evil is a dry spring."--John Piper

Injustice and Children from Great Expectations

I came across this quote recently from Charles Dickens.  It is a good reminder to take care around the little ones, lest they be offended.

"In the little world in which children have their existence whosoever brings them up, there is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt, as injustice. It may be only small injustice that the child can be exposed to; but the child is small, and its world is small, and its rocking-horse stands as many hands high, according to scale, as a big-boned Irish hunter."
Great Expectations
Chapter 8.

Hope for Depravity

I considered this verse today on the way to church while meditating on the depravity of the human condition as it relates to me and house.  It is a hopeful verse knowing that God is able to intervene in our lives to renew our hearts.  He is sovereign over our struggles with sin and is able to cause us to stand before him in Christ.  He is a faithful Father who has promised to finish what he has begun in us by Christ.

"The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:  "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words."  So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel.  And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.  Then the word of the Lord came to me:  "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord.  Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel."  Jeremiah 18:1-6

Writing this I am reminded of another verse I read during worship recently. 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."  Ephesians 2:8-10

Praise the Lord.  He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw hear to God through him.  I can rest in this.

Chrysostom on Prayer

Prayer is a haven to the shipwrecked man, an anchor to them that are sinking in the waves, a staff to the limbs that totter, a mine of jewels to the poor, a healer of diseases, and a guardian of health.  Prayer at once secures the continuance of our blessings, and dissipates the clouds of our calamities.  O blessed prayer!  thou art the unwearied conqueror of human woes, the firm foundation of human happiness, the source of ever-enduring joy, the mother of philosophy.  The man who can pray truly, though languishing in the extremest indigence, is richer than all beside, whilst the wretch who never bowed the knee, though proudly sitting as monarch of all nations, is of all men most destitute.--Chrysostom 

On Joy

God seems to be speaking to me about Joy lately.  Joy is like oil.  It helps things run much smoother.  It keeps things cooler.  It strengthens the heart.  Without the joy of the Lord, life becomes stale and stress can build up and lead to bitterness.  I'm convinced that apart from a healthy godly sorrow that Christians need once and again, we must be hungry for more joy.  I want to live what Peter said, "Though you have not see him, you love him.  Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory." (1Peter 1:8)  In the face of life's difficulties I want to maintain that joy.  As James wrote, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds." (James 1:2)  It is work, but it is God's work.  We can trust him to establish it in our hearts.

God's Will and a Four Year Old

Tucking Olivia in tonight she asked, "Daddy, can you stay with us for a long, long time until we grow up?"  Yes, I said, ....if the Lord wills.  Not missing a beat she said "The Lord will wills."  I hope she is right.