Living Story Grace

Four Friday Fave Reads

etstory — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:42:43 +0000

I realized last week that I couldn’t leave books out of my “faves,” since I’m usually reading several books at one time. All of these books are well worth the time, so pick one and dive in.

Dan Allender and Tremper Longman III em>Cry of the Soul: emotions and the Psalms. A short quote; click to read the rest:
“Fear distorts our perception of ourselves so that we seem weaker than we really are. It distorts the size of our problems so that they seem huge and undefeatable. But perhaps most significantly, fear distorts our picture of God.”

C.S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces, a novel about love, shame, betrayal, and reconciliation. “I was with book as woman is with child.”

Mark Helprin, The Pacific and Other Stories. Helprin, crafter of exquisite stories, writes of restoration and hope. One of my all-time favorite stories, “Monday,” about renewing 9-11 wreckage is in this collection. One great line from the story “Perfection”: “If Ruth could, among the alien corn, begin the line in Judah that led to David, then what was not possible here, and what would not be disallowed?” To read another quote, click here
Chris Cleave,Little Bee, a redemption tale dealing with persecution, freedom, horror and hope…this is a real “heart-stretcher.” One quote:
“I could not stop talking because now I had started my story, it wanted to be finished. We cannot choose where to start and stop. Our stories are the tellers of us. ”

Fear, the Psalms, and Cry of the Soul

etstory — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:24:57 +0000

A search for a quotation reference today hooked me back into the best book I ever read on emotions and God. My copy of Cry of the Soul, by Dan Allender and Tremper Longman III, which I first purchased at a conference in 1997, bears the tattering and teeth marks left by a chocolate lab named Gracie. Somehow that seems appropriate for a work that invites us to take the tears and tears of our soul to the Lord and shows us how that’s exactly what many of the Psalmists do. Listen to this small portion on fear:
“The Psalms, and the Bible generally, extol a type of fear that God greatly desires to instill in us. It is the fear of the Lord. ‘The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in nothing but his unfailing love” (Psalm 147:11).
What are some Psalms you turn to to express emotion or when you are dealing with fear?
Fear distorts our perception of ourselves so that we seem weaker than we really are. It distorts the size of our problems so that they seem huge and undefeatable. But perhaps most significantly, fear distorts our picture of God. God seems weak, uninvolved, or uncaring in the midst of our troubles. After all, we think, if he were strong and concerned, he would not leave us in this mess.

Fear reverses reality by making evil seem all-conquering, and God impotent. But God is not impotent. The psalms bombard us with images of his power. He is a king (Psalm 47), a warrior (18:7–15), a rock (31:2), and a fortress (46:7, 11). They also fill our minds with pictures of his goodness, compassion, and mercy. He is the shepherd (Psalm 23) and a loving mother (Psalm 131).

A Surprise Story

etstory — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:29:44 +0000

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?

Saturday Faves

etstory — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:46:15 +0000

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.

Awards and True Rewards

etstory — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:12:52 +0000

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.