A Christmas Poem

The Word made flesh and blood and bone,
The Lord of all without a home,
The Son of God made Son of Man,
The Creator enters creation's land.
He parts the stars, dons tiny frame–
His glory hid in earthy shame–
Eternal One confined in time,
Sent to fulfill the ancient rhyme:
To crush the Serpent's head, we're told,
To restore anew our Eden old,
To save us from all death and sin,
To save us from what lies within.
The babe, Who is the Great I AM,
The Lion born to die a Lamb,
Good Shepherd laid in manger bed,
(With His own flesh his sheep are fed).
In Bethlehem inside a shed
Is laid the One called Heaven's Bread.
He'll feed the hungry, heal the sick,
And wear the curse of thorny sticks;
The Sinless One becoming sin,
Mocked and bruised by sinful men.
Upon the Skull He'll place His heel,
The pain and wrath of God to feel,
That tiny One from Mary's womb,
Will rise victorious from the tomb.
The world's last hope hangs on a thread,
A single cord that's dyed blood red;
Our only hope is born tonight,
To pierce the dark and raise the light–
The hope of all the ages born,
The dawning glory, history's Morn.
We wake today in simple awe
that Jesus Christ has done it all!
The fragile Child of God above
Has saved us by His mighty love.
By His own flesh and blood and bone,
The Word of God gave us a home.

Merry Christmas!

-a

Dragons Can Be Beaten

This dragon was sketched by a little valiant knight-friend of mine. I couldn't resist playing with it just for fun; I added color and a Chesterton quote for good measure.

“Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”

-G.K. Chesterton

-a

Finding Brave Hearts

Life is risky sometimes. It's an uphill battle against the come-easy things, like selfishness, and faint hearts. It's a battle against Self. And the sword gets heavy. I look down at my weak hands, feel my feeble heartbeat. I doubt my ability to be brave and faithful, to completely die to self when things don't go my way. It's daunting when pride and self-love choke, fear of what others think creeps in, hearts ache and circumstances threaten to drown; when having a brave heart is hard, and being a coward is so...easy. It's much easier to put down the sword and give in.

But there is the problem: That is not life, according to Life Himself. And He calls us to life.

"I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly."

-John 10:10

Abundant life. And that means swimming upstream. As G.K. Chesterton put it:

A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.

It's easy to go with the flow. To just do what comes naturally since the Fall. To buy the world's "wisdom." To be discontent. Proud. Jealous. Fearful. Despairing. Rebellious. Exploitative. In other words, to live for self. I don't know about you, but no one had to teach me how to be selfish. It comes easy.

But the truth is...to live for yourself is the easy way.

It's cowardly.

It takes a brave heart to go against the flow. To be selfless.

Nothing is more difficult than to forsake all carnal thoughts, to subdue and renounce our false appetites, and to devote ourselves to God and our brethren, and to live the life of angels in a world of corruption.

-John Calvin

But it can be done. Just not alone.

[The Lord] wants those who belong to Him to be brave and fearless. He shows us Himself how weakness of the flesh is overcome by courage of the Spirit. This is the testimony of the apostles and in particular of the representative administrating Spirit. A Christian is fearless. (Emphasis mine)

-Tertullian

Think of the people you most admire and respect. They probably aren't very selfish. The strongest women I know are the most submissive and selfless. They are no doormats; they are lionesses, princesses in invisible tiaras. The strongest men I know are the most gentle and servant-hearted. They are no wimps; they are warriors and kings. The bravest knight has the softest heart.

painting by N.C. Wyeth

They follow the True King, Jesus Christ, Who came to serve and not be served. They pour their lives out for the weak and despised, the widows and fatherless, the disabled, poor and needy, for their families and communities, for the Kingdom of Christ. And they find their life abundantly. They fight for victory against The World, The Flesh and The Devil. These are true heroes. They are brave and strong...precisely because they know they aren't.

What?

“Welcome, Prince,” said Aslan. “Do you feel yourself sufficient to take up the Kingship of Narnia?”

“I - I don't think I do, Sir,” said Caspian. “I'm only a kid.”

“Good,” said Aslan. “If you had felt yourself sufficient, it would have been a proof that you were not…”

Prince Caspian – Ch. 15

They are weak. But He is strong. I'm not strong enough or brave enough to fight the good fight...alone. "But thanks be to God Who always leads us in triumph in Christ!" (2 Cor. 2:14) God gives His children His own brave heart through His Spirit. Like Caspian looking into the eyes of the Lion, doubt your ability, and trust His instead. He is strong enough to enable us, weak and unfit as we are, to do brave things for His Kingdom. Not alone.

We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and acts in and through us in ways that on our own we are not capable of. This is our purpose. This is our hope. (Emphasis mine)

-Francis Chan in "Forgotten God"

I continually need a brave heart, to know my insufficiency and His all-sufficiency, to be emptied of me and filled with the fullness of Him who fills all in all, to die to self and find Life abundant. It's an uphill battle, but victory at the top will be worth it. Broken hearts will be bound up, and battle wounds will be healed. The brave know, and they press on for the joy set before them. Not alone.

Do you need a brave heart too? Keep your eyes on Him alone - He is the one with the Brave Heart, who's name is Faithful, and it's only from Him you will find a brave heart.

"You have listened to fears, Child,” said Aslan. “Come, let me breathe on you. Forget them. Are you brave again?"

Prince Caspian - Ch. 11 : The Lion Roars

Listen to His heartbeat and take heart.

-audrey

Music Video

Here is a music video my brother JD made recently, featuring our good friends the Kingery family. I helped with the filming with my Canon T2i.

Enjoy.





~A

The Gospel in Four Words - Spurgeon

“‘Come unto me,’ he says, ‘and I will give you.’ You say, ‘Lord, I cannot give you anything.’ He does not want anything. Come to Jesus, and he says, ‘I will give you.’ Not what you give to God, but what he gives to you, will be your salvation. ‘I will give you‘ — that is the gospel in four words.

Will you come and have it? It lies open before you.”

C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, 1950), I:175.

-A

Reformation Celebration Pics

Our church fellowship has an annual Reformation Celebration in remembrance of Martin Luther's nailing of his 95 Theses to a church door on October 31st, 1517, sparking a fire for truth and changing the world.

We celebrated with a theme: the Reformation in Holland. So some people showed up in wooden shoes. Well, not really. But we had a great time with pumpkin tossing, "sword" fighting, feasting, music, singing, fellowship, and the Five Solas of the Reformation:

Sola Scriptura, Scripture alone.

Sola Fide, Faith Alone.

Sola Gratia, Grace Alone.

Soli Christus, Christ Alone.

Soli Deo Gloria, to the Glory of God Alone!

My sis Hannah and I playing with some friends. Taken by Grace Bailey.

-a

Wisdom of Fénelon

I've really enjoyed reading the Dialogues of Fénelon, published by Lamplighter Publishing. Read on, it's good. (Emphasis mine)

from Francois de Fénelon, 1651-1715

I quite understand that all your troubles come from excessive self-consciousness, and from letting yourself be too much guided by feeling. As soon as you cease to find prayer a perceptible solace to you, you are tempted to be discouraged. Do you desire to be at peace? Try to be less occupied with yourself, and more with God.


One of the most dangerous delusions of self-love is when we grow sentimental about ourselves, are perpetually self-engrossed, and are absorbed in ourselves with a restless, anxious care which troubles, withers, and disables the heart, deprives us of the consciousness of God's presence, and ends by hopelessly depressing and discouraging us. Say, with St. Paul, "Yea, I judge not mine own self." You will watch all the better for the real correction of your faults, and the fulfillment of your duties because of the absence of all this self-willed restlessness.


Then it will be out of love of God that you will simply and quietly repress whatever that watchful love shows you to be faulty and unworthy of the Beloved. You will work at conquering your failings without impatience or pettiness; you will humbly bear with yourself without flattering your weaknesses; you will accept reproof, and be ready to obey.


Conduct such as this tends far more to self-renunciation than yielding to all the fancies, vexation, and impatience of a self-love, which is too eager for perfection.


I do not care to have you a wise, strong, and virtuous woman on a grand scale; I want everything on a small scale. Be a good little child.

Autumn Gold

October twenty-first. Mom, my youngest brothers and I walked the Billings zoo park.

The sky stretched bold and blue overhead. Rustle. The strong fingers of late Autumn's sun touched our welcoming faces. Rustle. Columns of cottonwoods, steady years etched into their bark, passed serenely by, faithfully holding up the vaulted cobalt ceiling. Their topmost branches were cathedrals painted with rich yellows, mellowing greens, brilliant scarlets; the leaves danced to the earth, and grandeur infused us with a sense of the fleeting glory of the changing season. Rustle. We kicked the fallen leaves back into the air, and I remembered being 6 years old in Pennsylvania's Autumn, where falling leaves made mountains just for jumping into. Rustle. The earthy wizened perfume of Autumn wafted through the air like her dancing leaves. Everywhere we walked, Autumn rolled out her gold carpet. Rustle.

This October twenty-first day felt like a bit more than eye could see; somehow, the Sistine Chapel or the Taj Mahal might have seemed a bit dull compared to the sun-gilt palace halls of Autumn and her golden carpets.

Fiddlers in the Fall

Pictures from the small and fun Three Forks fiddle contest last weekend:

I placed 3rd. (But I'm on the far left)




Hannah placed 1st in her division.

The Last Cookie: A Short Film

Here's a humorous short film my siblings and I made this fall. The figurative becomes literal as the age-old debate continues: Who ate the last cookie?

Enjoy. :)

Mosaic of Fall 2010

Our grandparents came out from IN and surprised JD for his college graduation.

Cody played some fall ball.

Visited Isaac's grave, nestled at the foot of the Beartooth mountains.

Sirs Will and Jed reveling in our Indian Summer.

Praying for an end to abortion with 40 Days for Life.

Josties' Concert

On 10/10/10 (cool, eh?) we enjoyed another live concert by our awesome friends, the talented Jost family (J like Joe, Jost like post); band name: the Josties. Through their music they testify to the faithfulness of God in their lives. They have such a heart for encouraging Christian families to surrender all to Jesus, and find all we ever need in Him. Not to mention they're so much fun to see and hear! They're really good.

Here are a few pics, and while you're at it, check out the hilarious short films, also known as Jostie Flicks, made by Joel, Josiah, and Emily. Their videos are all family friendly, professionally done, and SO funny! Did I mention some of my siblings and I were in one of their flicks? Yes, I'm bragging. Check the end of this post. :)
























And last but not least...

...a Jostie Flick for your enjoyment. :)

-A

J.D.'s Surprise Graduation Party

^{[Brag Warning] Recently my brother JD finished his college courses, took his last test, fought the good fight of "higher education", breaking conventions and challenging the status-quo with creativity and dedication. He will have a bona-fide four year diploma for Business Management mailed to him. He did it on his own with a little help from CollegePlus Online for a fraction of the average cost of college education, in under two and a half years without setting foot in a campus classroom, all before his 20th birthday.}

^{And now he is free.}

^{So what did we do? Threw him a surprise graduation party, of course! It's safe to say he was very surprised. Our grandparents from Indiana drove all the way out the day before, and oblivious JD never suspected it was so they could be at his party the next day. Around 55 people attended, and a good time was had by all. And I could finally sleep soundly again after all that planning. A special thanks to my sister Hannah and my great friend Grace for all their help. Could not have done it without them. Honestly. :)}

A degree isn't really all that special. It's just a piece of paper to hang on the wall and collect dust. But the perseverance, godly wisdom, and dedication he has cultivated are special. And by God's grace, they will never collect dust on a wall.

^{Psalm 1}

¹ Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
³ He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

⁴ The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

⁶ For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

40 Days For Life

40 Days For Life just kicked off this week. It's a peaceful prayer vigil taking place all across America and Canada; together Christians are crying out to God around the clock in front of Planned Parenthoods in hundreds of cities until October 31st for the end of abortion in our land. 40 days for life in the midst of 365 days of death by abortion.

We attended a kick-off event here in Billings where various pastors from various churches spoke on the spiritual warfare to be waged in these next 40 days. We lit candles, and walked in the September dusk to the front of Planned Parenthood. Its sign glared at us in the night, but its light was nothing to the light of each heart. The prayers started. And they continue...

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. - 2 Chron. 7:14

Let's be the generation of Jacob, "the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face." - Psalm 24:6

Let's pray the Lord will say to us what He said to King Josiah:

"Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the LORD. - 2 Kings 22:19

Recall what the King of Judah did: "And he defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter pass through the fire to Molech." - 2 Kings 23:10

The Molechs of our day are the false gods Convenience, Affluence, Fear, and Self. And children are sacrificed to these every day through the fires of abortion. Little image-bearers of God are being destroyed by the father of Lies who hates the image they bear.

So let's cry out to God for those whose cries may never be heard, for repentance and revival starting in our own hearts, for the deceived women seeking abortion, for the cowardly men leading these women, and the priests of the temples of death to be given grace and repentance. For light and truth to triumph over the darkness and lies of modern-day child sacrifice. For God's glory to wave over the death mills and turn them into havens of life. For each of us to see ourselves more clearly, and our own need for God's grace.

May it be.

Cloaks and Glory

The clouds cloak September's brow this morning, and messy hair cloaks mine as I type. It was damp last night. Sleep wouldn't come, because memories crowded it out.

Today, Isaac would be five months old. As I've typed here months ago, it's hard to believe it's been that long, or hasn't been that long. I miss him.

I think back and remember my frailty and humanness, feelings of such weakness and helplessness in those twelve days. Coming to the end of me. And I remember the feeling of a solid, divine strength bearing the weight underneath. Coming to the beginning of the Eternal. Remembering that long last night, the quiet, the dark. Utter fatigue. The thin blankets on the bed. Cody sleeping between the wall and I. Drifting in and out of black sleep as the nurses floated in and out during the night watches. The green recliner within my arm's reach and my sweet Mom resting there, the dulled light of the lamp silhouetting her mother's face; Isaac laying on his tummy, his head over her heart. And the morning came, soft, pink, quiet. And Isaac was gone. And a peace that completely surpassed my little understanding permeated the room. I felt it as real as the dawn. The Good Shepherd carried our little lamb home, but He hadn't left us alone. And then the tears came later. They still come, softly, in the stillness of night. But the peace and assurance of a Good Shepherd remains, cloaking us in His tender mercies. God is good.

~~~

I love this devotional from Charles Spurgeon, taken from "Morning and Evening", the morning of July 19th. (Emphasis mine.)

“The Lord our God hath shewed us his glory." Deuteronomy 5:24

God’s great design in all his works is the manifestation of his own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man’s eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth to work their deliverance.

He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who “do business in great waters,” these see his “wonders in the deep.” Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man.

Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God’s greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you might behold his glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Les Misér-apples

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here's a three-thousand word story of how this Sour-Cream Apple Pie came to into being. Too bad we can't share aromas online yet. (Try not to drool on your keyboard, it isn't good for it.) :)_

First Act: The Apples find out things aren't as they seem.

Second Act: Adversity slices through their lives.

Third Act: [The ending of this story is rather predictable, and left to
the theater of your imagination's tastebuds.]



Fin

Looking Unto Jesus

Here is an excerpt from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotional; he has so much wisdom to offer, conviction to dole out, encouragement and insight to share. For the record, this is from the morning devotional from June 28th, which is also my birthday. :) This is such a good reminder to stop "navel-gazing" and start "Savior-gazing," and find rest and assurance by solely LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith.

"It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of his children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus.” All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that 'Christ is all in all.'

Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith.

We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by “looking unto Jesus.”

Keep thine eye simply on him; let his death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to him; when thou liest down at night look to him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee."

“My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness:

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”