Why I am not worried about another great depression October 8, 2008

Doesn’t she look like she has a lot on her mind for a three year old? Most of us do. Some of us have a more dim outlook on the economic future than others.

You can include me in that camp. No doubt some people think that they might have to hold off on designer jeans until the economy picks up while others wonder if there will be a repeat of the thirties standing in bread lines. You can count me in the second camp. I am not worried though. Even though I have two precious little girls to feed and a husband to offer moral support to in a tough economy I can say that I am not losing any sleep at night. Here’s why.

1. My God is the Jehovah Jireh – the God who provides. It might not be prime rib and a 3000 square foot house but all we have is manna from the LORD. We give thanks for our beans a rice.

2. For those with wisdom God says “When you lie down you will not be afraid, when you lie down your sleep will be sweet” (Proverbs 3:24). I do not fear President Bush or our congress and their foolhardy decisions but I fear God for the word of God says “the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10) and “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). I have heard it said from the mouth of a missionary teaching young people that we should not fear God. They were obviously wrong because it is in the fear of the LORD that we find peace. Strange but true. God is not a fire breathing dragon; the fear the Bible speaks of is more a heeding of His word. It is similar to the fear of a just parent. We know they love us and deal with us with grace, but we know there are consequences for disobedience.

Get wisdom, get peace.

3. Maybe, just perhaps, the church will stop ignoring it’s calling to “bear one another’s burdens”. I am not talking about merely bringing a meal to a new mother (although this is a great ministry opportunity), but I am talking about housing the homeless, feeding the hungry, adopting the orphans, helping those without insurance, etc. In the case of another great depression the neediest of us will no longer be sequestered into the slums where others of us in our large houses with well stocked pantries can ignore. The needs are going to grow, and with it I hope and pray that the church and the gospel will too. It seems that in hard times the gospel has more opportunity to make itself known.

4. In our four years of marriage we have learned to “do without” many things and to make do with less. In many ways that I think are going to be necessary – we are already there. We eat food cooked from scratch, we wear used clothing, we hang our clothes to dry, I can sew, we stay home, etc.

5. God loves us and will not bestow upon us more than we can endure. That is not to say there will not be difficulties ahead and that we will be without suffering, but where we are weak He is strong.

6. Perhaps life might be less enjoyable and we will no longer long for some rest or relaxation on our couches or our beds, but for our eternal rest in heaven. Anything that causes us to long for and meditate on heaven is a blessing, not a curse. There is an Andrew Peterson song I love called “Little Alba” (I think that’s the title). Here are the lyrics:

Little Alba how’s the sun in south America
does it shine upon the faces of the poor?
Do they see in it the brilliance of the place that’s been prepared
dwell upon the hope of what’s in store
or are they just like me do they only see an opportunity to complain about the heat

and little alba how’s the rain in South America
does it fall upon the roof tops of the sick
do they thank the lord for coming up with such a great idea
and dream about a place beyond all this
or are they just like us do they gripe and fuss
about the rain and mud when they’ve had too much?

Cause I’m just a little jealous
of the nothing that you have
you’re unfettered by the wealth of
the world that we pretend that’s going to last

well I’m weary of the spoils of my ambition
and I’m shackled by the comfort of my couch
well I wish I had the courage to deny these of my self
and start to store my treasure in the clouds
for this is not my home
I do not belong where the antelope and the buffalo roam

Cause I’m just a little jealous of the nothing that you have
you’re unfettered by the wealth of
the world that we pretend that’s going to last
They say God’s blessed us with plenty
I say you’re blessed with poverty
cause you never stop to wonder
whether earth is just a little better than the land of the free

so I hope you’re safe and dry in South America
cause I’m feeling pretty good in Tennessee
may you never be so happy that you forget about your home
your home in the land of the free

Is it time to make the stylish move to a minivan??? February 8, 2007

Yesterday Zac and the kids and I made a trip to Sam’s to get some yeast, wipes and long grain rice. A trip to Sam’s is no longer so simple and quick though. Our Sam’s is being renovated so they have displaced everything. In our walk around the store we found some additional items we could not live without (ha!). A movie for Zac, two boxes of diapers that were marked down on the “as is” cart, and half a ton of napkins (we had company over last Thursday, he got the last napkin and the rest of us used washcloths). With our overflowing cart we happily payed for our goods and made our way outside. We got to our CAR and realized we had no room for all this stuff.With some creativity and not an inch of spare room we got all of our goods into our car. This is when I thought to myself “why don’t we have a minivan”. Well I suppose the reasons are obvious. It was another reminder for me to be content with what we have. It is indeed what the LORD has provided for us. He has given us no more or no less than what he wants us to have. He owns the cattle on a thousand hillsides and everything in between.

So the answer is, no it is not time for a minivan. It is time for us to be content with our little car, and everything else we have and don’t have.

Beyond the gates of splendor January 29, 2007

You must see this documentary. Zac and I watched it last night and were truly blessed. Well I speak for myself, but I think it encouraged Zac too. There were no explosions, swordfights, or fistfights, and he managed to stay awake.

Anywho, this documents the story of the gospel coming to the Waodani people of the Amazon in Ecuador. Five missionary families moved to Ecuador from America to serve these people and in doing so, the five husbands were speared to death. Elizabeth Eliott and Rachel Saint (one of the men’s wife, and one the men’s sister(I think)) forgave the Waodani and moved to their village to share the gospel with them. There was an amazing turn around. This is just the big picture. There are many other stories within the story that are interesting and encouraging. Check it out.

Put your money where your heart is January 26, 2007

We live in a consumerist society (revelation). Although I don’t relish the fact, I understand that no matter what I do or say people are going to shop and spend (including me). One wise person once said “every dollar spent on a product is a vote in favor of their practices.” For many people, doing research on every product that enters their home is just not practical. This is my service to you today. What woman (or metrosexual man) doesn’t need a good tote bag to tote such things around as books, diapers, and the like.

Freesetbags is a business that is in the business of the gospel. They help young women in Calcutta who have been lured into prostitution for a host of different reasons to leave the world of prostitution while sharing the gospel and love of Christ with them. These women make these bags and an honest, living wage. So if you are in the market for a gift for someone or treat for yourself, order one of these.