Crosses In My Office

Our building is going through a much needed renovation. As a part of that renovation I moved to a new office. It is the biggest one that I have ever had and I had a whole blank wall to fill. I wanted to find something special to put there. I have never been one to use crosses to decorate. In some ways it seems wrong to use so holy an object as a decoration. But when I was looking for something to hang I found all these beautiful metal crosses. I was just drawn to each one.


So there are now 9 crosses on my wall. The one in the frame is made of nails and the verse beside it is Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the Lord. Even though this was something very different for me I think that I was drawn to each one. I want my office to be a place that is powered by the love of Christ and the cross is the strongest symbol for that love. As I walk in each day and come back to my office after going to class I want to see this wall and be reminded in a powerful way of Christ' love. I think about how Jesus can take something so horrible, like a cross, and make it something beautiful, like these crosses. I want every student and friend that walks in that office to know that they are loved.

This morning during my prayer time I found this prayer from the Puritan Prayer book that my son gave me.

At the cross that relieves my conscience
let me learn lessons of self-denial, forgiveness, and submission
feel motives to obedience
find resources for all the needs of divine life.

Then let me be what I profess
do as well as teach
live as well as hear religion.

It is amazing how these words written 200 years ago so perfectly express what I feel now. Oh Lord may I always be drawn to your love that was shown through the cross.

Siesta Memory Challenge - July 15

Here is my new verse. I chose this one because it is a familiar one, a beautiful poetic scripture, that I decided that I should be able to quote. It is also about the wisdom of God and as I get ready to start another school year this verse will remind me the source of any knowledge I might try to share.

Romans 11: 33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who had been his counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay them? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Since my verse list is getting long now and I have posted the full text in previous posts, I will just put links to the verses that I am memorizing this year.
Hebrews13:20-21, TNIV
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12, TNIV
Isaiah 30:20-21, TNIV
John 17: 25-26, TNIV
Jeremiah 24:7, TNIV
Psalm 16:11
2 Peter 1: 5-8
2 Timothy 2:24
1 Corinthians 10:31
Ephesians 5: 19-20
James 4: 7-8
Isaiah 43: 18-19
Philippians 3:12-14

Our Anniversary

Yesterday was our anniversary. We have been married 27 years. Last night the last thing we said to each other was 27 years, can you believe it?

The infatuation and emotion of falling in love has been replaced by a true and strong love, a love that is both head and heart. There are many couples today who walk away from marriage because they say they don't love their partner any more. I think this is because they see love as an emotion or feeling only. True love is a decision as much as an emotion. It is deciding to love someone else more than yourself. It is keeping a promise, a commitment, that you made.

One of my memory verses is Ecc. 4:12, "A cord of 3 strands is not quickly broken." I think that a strong marriage is like that. Each person is a cord, but it takes that third cord, the cord of Jesus' love for us, to make it one that is not quickly broken.

Lord, thank you for the wonderful man that you have given to love me. Thank you for the wonderful 27 years we have had together. Thank you for our children and all they have given to our lives, for adding their cords to our lives. I pray that my children will see that we have woven the cord of Christ's love into our lives and that they will one day weave that cord in their marriages.

Running Ahead of God

1 Kings 20:46
The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

This verse comes after the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel. He had seen God defeat the prophets of Baal. He had prayed and God had sent rain. And now he was outrunning evil King Ahab riding in a chariot. This was a time of great victory. Elijah had been faithful and God had powerfully answered his prayers. He was running with the power of the Lord.

But then Jezebel had sworn to kill him and he was afraid. He left his servant and went alone to the desert. He was running away.

Elijah ran ahead of God, without God telling him where to go. Before he had always gone where and when God had directed. He started running in a good direction toward the Mountain of God, the mountain where God had made his covenant, but he was still running scared. So he ran out of strength and grew discouraged. He asked God for it to just be over. He had had enough.

Still God came to him. He sent an angel to provide him with food and he went forward.

And so Elijah ended up at the mountain of God and hid in a cave. Now God spoke to him and asked "What are you doing here?" The question implies that Elijah had come for his own reasons. His answer was defensive - "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

His answer was focused on himself. Then God passed by, first in a wind, then in an earthquake, then in fire. And finally in a still whisper. God asked the same question, "What are you doing here?" and Elijah gave the same answer. He didn't understand what God was saying for his focus was too much on himself. Elijah had wanted God to call judgment on the people of Israel through wind and fire, God was going to speak to them through a single voice, like he spoke to Elijah at the mountain.

Even though Elijah didn't understand, he still followed the Lord's instructions to go back and appoint Hazel king over Aram and Jehu king over Israel and appoint Elisha to be his successor. Later on these kings would the instrument of God's judgment but through Elisha God would still preserve a remnant who were faithful to him.

Elijah's time of greatest discouragement came after his greatest battle and victory. I wonder what more Elijah would have done, how else God would have used Elijah if he had not run away. Thankfully, he did not run away forever, but walked back to his job. He followed God and again showed great faith and courage in delievering God's message to another king.

Oh, LORD when I don't understand and want only to run away, help me to always listen to you and to faithfully walk where you lead. Help me not to run ahead of you, but walk where you lead in your power. Amen

Siesta Memory Challenge - July 1

Here is my new verse. I chose this one because as I face the coming year I am overwhelmed by the work I still want to do to get ready. This verse tells me that I need not fear for God will equip me with everything I need to do his will.

Hebrews13:20-21, TNIV
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


Since my verse list is getting long now and I have posted the full text in previous posts, I will just put links to the verses that I am memorizing this year.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12, TNIV
Isaiah 30:20-21, TNIV
John 17: 25-26, TNIV
Jeremiah 24:7, TNIV
Psalm 16:11
2 Peter 1: 5-8
2 Timothy 2:24
1 Corinthians 10:31
Ephesians 5: 19-20
James 4: 7-8
Isaiah 43: 18-19
Philippians 3:12-14