Here is the text of a Puritan prayer that was shared at church recently, and which can be found in this book Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur G. Bennett. Normally I'm not one for poetry, but it's growing on me, and this particular poem is a large reason for that.
O God of unsearchable greatness.
Before Thee I am nothing but vanity, iniquity, perishing;
sin has forfeited thy favour,
stripped me of thy image,
banished me from thy presence,
exposed me to the curse of thy law.
I cannot deliver myself, and am in despair.
But a resource is found in thee,
for without my desert or desire,
thou didst devise an everlasting plan,
honourable to thy perfections,
and which angels desired to look into.
And the Word which announces all the glory of this goodness
is nigh me, invites me, beseeches me.
May I, a convinced and self-despairing sinner,
find Jesus as the power unto salvation,
His death the centre of all relief,
the source of all gospel-blessings.
Help me to repair to that cross,
be crucified to the world by it,
and in it find deepest humiliation,
motives to patience and self-denial,
grace for active benevolence.
faith to grasp eternal life,
hope to lift up my head,
love to bind me forever
to Him who died and rose for me.
May His shed blood make me
more thankful for thy mercies,
more humble under thy correction,
more zealous in thy service,
more watchful against temptation,
more contented in my circumstances,
more useful to others.
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." -Colossians 3:1 (ESV)
March 7, 2010
March 3, 2010
That Steady Strength: Encouragement, Sacrifices, and Discipline
I realize that every time I write on here I somehow mention the need to write more and to write more often, and three months since my last attempt is downright pitiful, especially for someone who enjoys writing so much. I get online nearly every single night, and think enough thoughts and experience enough experiences during the day where I should be able to come up with even a short couple paragraphs of "nothing new, going to bed, look at this quote." With this disclaimer in place, I must add a disclaimer to the disclaimer: time is precious, and could best be spent elsewhere.
Since this last September or so, I have been both working full-time and taking a full-time college class load online for a business degree. Since this last July, we have had another crazy little boy to take care of, in addition to the boy added the September before that, and the wife added the September before that. To sum up these additions, time is precious, and there are multiple responsibilities that must be met on a daily basis. Time management was lost on me in high school and my first college experience way back when, and I have had to learn the skill through trial and error. You can sleep in late each morning, but then you don't have time with the family before you leave for work at noon. You can go right to bed when you get home from work at 9pm, but then you lose that essential quality time with your wife. You can watch television or surf the internet all night, but then you wouldn't have any time to get all that homework done. Responsibilities must always be met, and priorities must be set, with the discipline to stick it out, make sacrifices when necessary, and endure, sometimes painfully but always slowly, until one responsibility ends. And ideally you won't need more than one guess as to which responsibility comes first.
I would honestly like nothing more than to work a regular shift, come home and spend a few hours with the boys and then the wife, then spend some time reading or writing before going to bed before 2am (on a good night). However, we don't have the luxury of voiding out one of these responsibilities; although we technically could, the costs would be far too high. This is a season of our lives that calls for sacrifice and increased responsibilities, to make up for time lost (or wasted) so that the future can be that much brighter, not just for us, but for our kids, our family, and those around us.
I say all that to say that it's actually not too bad right now; the work schedule seems to allow the best possible balance between work, family, and school responsibilities. I have never really felt overwhelmed by it all; the classwork isn't too terribly difficult, the work is relatively easy and with a good company for a good wage, and the family is a joy and encouragement I can't begin to describe. Yet, things could get hairy these next couple of months: it's a busy season at work, with it getting close to the end of the fiscal year and needing to meet year-end goals; I'm taking an additional class for a total of five (corporate finance, insurance & risk management, business law II, managerial communication, and e-management); I'll be completing an internship through my employer to meet a graduation requirement for school; and spring is so, so very close and we all can't wait to spend as much time outside as possible. Regardless of how many responsibilities there are, or how difficult or trying they are, this season too shall pass, the sacrifices will lessen, and the investment will be paying off.
We have a lot to be thankful for, with all this going on. I am able to attend a high-quality business school for little (but still substantial) out-of-pocket expense; we have been greatly blessed with the job I have right now; bills are paid, some money is being saved, we have a lot of diet food in the house; and we all are healthy, if not depressed with the long, cold winter we've been enduring. I think I will be writing another post on thankfulness soon, seeing as I have free time before classes start 03/08/10 and the subject is so crucial to living in our high-debt, high-pressure society of today. I might even be able to include some examples from folks I have talked with at work. We shall see.
Until next time, which will be sooner rather than later if all goes according to plan, here are some wise words to ponder on:
"He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense."
-Proverbs 12:11 (NASB)
Let him who would enjoy a good future waste none of his present.
-Roger Babson
Since this last September or so, I have been both working full-time and taking a full-time college class load online for a business degree. Since this last July, we have had another crazy little boy to take care of, in addition to the boy added the September before that, and the wife added the September before that. To sum up these additions, time is precious, and there are multiple responsibilities that must be met on a daily basis. Time management was lost on me in high school and my first college experience way back when, and I have had to learn the skill through trial and error. You can sleep in late each morning, but then you don't have time with the family before you leave for work at noon. You can go right to bed when you get home from work at 9pm, but then you lose that essential quality time with your wife. You can watch television or surf the internet all night, but then you wouldn't have any time to get all that homework done. Responsibilities must always be met, and priorities must be set, with the discipline to stick it out, make sacrifices when necessary, and endure, sometimes painfully but always slowly, until one responsibility ends. And ideally you won't need more than one guess as to which responsibility comes first.
I would honestly like nothing more than to work a regular shift, come home and spend a few hours with the boys and then the wife, then spend some time reading or writing before going to bed before 2am (on a good night). However, we don't have the luxury of voiding out one of these responsibilities; although we technically could, the costs would be far too high. This is a season of our lives that calls for sacrifice and increased responsibilities, to make up for time lost (or wasted) so that the future can be that much brighter, not just for us, but for our kids, our family, and those around us.
I say all that to say that it's actually not too bad right now; the work schedule seems to allow the best possible balance between work, family, and school responsibilities. I have never really felt overwhelmed by it all; the classwork isn't too terribly difficult, the work is relatively easy and with a good company for a good wage, and the family is a joy and encouragement I can't begin to describe. Yet, things could get hairy these next couple of months: it's a busy season at work, with it getting close to the end of the fiscal year and needing to meet year-end goals; I'm taking an additional class for a total of five (corporate finance, insurance & risk management, business law II, managerial communication, and e-management); I'll be completing an internship through my employer to meet a graduation requirement for school; and spring is so, so very close and we all can't wait to spend as much time outside as possible. Regardless of how many responsibilities there are, or how difficult or trying they are, this season too shall pass, the sacrifices will lessen, and the investment will be paying off.
We have a lot to be thankful for, with all this going on. I am able to attend a high-quality business school for little (but still substantial) out-of-pocket expense; we have been greatly blessed with the job I have right now; bills are paid, some money is being saved, we have a lot of diet food in the house; and we all are healthy, if not depressed with the long, cold winter we've been enduring. I think I will be writing another post on thankfulness soon, seeing as I have free time before classes start 03/08/10 and the subject is so crucial to living in our high-debt, high-pressure society of today. I might even be able to include some examples from folks I have talked with at work. We shall see.
Until next time, which will be sooner rather than later if all goes according to plan, here are some wise words to ponder on:
"He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense."
-Proverbs 12:11 (NASB)
Let him who would enjoy a good future waste none of his present.
-Roger Babson
November 29, 2009
Those Passing Days: Gratitude and Anticipation
It is very surprising how fast time can go by. Just a few short months ago our second son Josiah was born, and the year 2010 is just another month away. Before we know it Josiah will be a whole year old, spring and summer will be here again, and another year will have passed.
The Thanksgiving holiday was a few days ago, and it was very enjoyable this year. We got together with Kasey's family; in-laws, grandparents, nieces and nephews, uncles, distant cousins, everyone was there which made for a full house and fun all-around. We had a huge feast: appetizers of spinach-artichoke dip and olives; a main course of the traditional, low-calorie, low-fat fixings; and finished off with several slices of apple, pumpkin, and pecan pie (all homemade!). It was all so delicious and filling that I couldn't walk when we were all finished; I could only roll myself in the general direction I wanted to go.
As is often the case, I've found myself reflecting on what I have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season. So here I am to share a little, and to also get a blog post in for the month of November.
Family- I am thankful for my wife. There's no one I know who does as much for her children and the household as Kasey does. She is my best friend, who I can share anything with and she will give her honest opinion, even (especially!) when it's something I've been struggling with and won't exactly like the answer I need to hear. She is always singing and laughing, sometimes about something completely random, other times singing our youngest to sleep. I don't know how I could go through a day without talking with her, without us saying our "I love yous."
I am thankful for my sons. Benjamin and Josiah are growing up so fast, it's both shocking and amazing to see. I remember when Ben couldn't move himself around at all, and now he's running around everywhere and I can barely keep up with him (because of the huge Thanksgiving meal, mind you). Josiah is at the stage where he wants to run around with us, and starting to want the food we're eating, yet can't seem to get his legs going fast enough or move his hands in time to grab the food before we do. I cannot wait to watch them grow even more over the coming months and years, and see the changes that are in store.
I am thankful for grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews and cousins. There's nothing like gathering everyone into one place and spending time with one another, laughing, playing, eating, talking, and sharing together. A little peace amidst a trying world.
Church- I am thankful for Willow Creek Baptist Church, and the pastors, members, and friends we've found there. It's been a long time since we've felt welcomed and challenged by a particular church, and both Kasey and I are so thankful for it. I am so thankful to have strong, Biblical teaching and influences for the family I am responsible for leading. Worship is powerful and Christ-centered; the preaching is centered on God's Holy Word; and the fellowship that has grown through events and times of service and the community groups has been so beneficial. We have all been so blessed by our time thus far at Willow Creek. I am thankful for a great church body, and a wonderful Creator-Savior, who sits on His throne above all the problems and miseries of this world.
House- I am thankful for a nice, comfortable house for us to live in. With two boys, and numerous bins of books and Christmas decorations to store, we needed more space than an apartment could allow. We've lived in this house for more than a year now (and are running out of space already; I'm also thankful for books :) and can't imagine living in an apartment at this stage in our lives. We could have made do in an apartment; we don't need more stuff (as in books) and the boys can always share a bedroom, but we had a gift given to us, and we were glad to accept. It is so enjoyable to live ten minutes from work, get to drive home on lunch break, and see my boys watching out the window for me as I drive down our road and park in the driveway.
Job- I am thankful for a job. In today's world, just to be working is such a blessing, regardless of the kind of work or the company. We would do well to think of the countless thousands that are looking for work, and have no options and no where else to go. And not only do I have a job, but a good job with great benefits and great co-workers. Sure, working in a call center has never been the easiest or most enjoyable, but this particular job has been the most rewarding by far, not only to me personally but to our family as a whole. Who knows where we will be in a year or two, but right now I cannot help but give thanks for the great job I have been given.
School- I am thankful for the opportunity to earn a college degree. It hasn't been easy, and there's been plenty of sleepless nights and missed time with family, but by this time next year (hopefully, according to plan) I will have earned an accredited bachelor's degree from a top business school, all with little cost out-of-pocket. Yes, I could have taken the time and the courses to finish a while ago, but to be able to afford to take classes now, while working and raising a family, has been difficult at times, but also extremely rewarding. In the long run, the hard work and sacrifice we put in now will pay off handsomely in the future.
Country and Military- I am thankful for the united States of America, and the armed forces serving to protect her. While we may not agree with the politics and politicians of today, or support any foreign wars we now fight, we can be thankful that we live in a country where we can disagree and not support such things. While we may not like the political party currently holding office, we can be thankful to be living in a country where elections matter and votes do count. While we enjoy the right to work and live and learn as we please here at home, we can be thankful that others have died, are dying, and will die to protect that right and make sure posterity does as well. I am thankful to live in America, and I am thankful to be an American.
While I could list multiple other things to be thankful for, I realize the Thanksgiving holiday has already come and gone, and now is the time to (officially) prepare for Christmas. However, never forget to be thankful for what you do have, what you have already been given, and what God Almighty has already done.
Say thank you to your family and friends and country's soldiers, whistle while you work, and pray a prayer of thanks to the One who gives and takes away.
"The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe."
-Proverbs 29:25 (ESV)
The Thanksgiving holiday was a few days ago, and it was very enjoyable this year. We got together with Kasey's family; in-laws, grandparents, nieces and nephews, uncles, distant cousins, everyone was there which made for a full house and fun all-around. We had a huge feast: appetizers of spinach-artichoke dip and olives; a main course of the traditional, low-calorie, low-fat fixings; and finished off with several slices of apple, pumpkin, and pecan pie (all homemade!). It was all so delicious and filling that I couldn't walk when we were all finished; I could only roll myself in the general direction I wanted to go.
As is often the case, I've found myself reflecting on what I have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season. So here I am to share a little, and to also get a blog post in for the month of November.
Family- I am thankful for my wife. There's no one I know who does as much for her children and the household as Kasey does. She is my best friend, who I can share anything with and she will give her honest opinion, even (especially!) when it's something I've been struggling with and won't exactly like the answer I need to hear. She is always singing and laughing, sometimes about something completely random, other times singing our youngest to sleep. I don't know how I could go through a day without talking with her, without us saying our "I love yous."
I am thankful for my sons. Benjamin and Josiah are growing up so fast, it's both shocking and amazing to see. I remember when Ben couldn't move himself around at all, and now he's running around everywhere and I can barely keep up with him (because of the huge Thanksgiving meal, mind you). Josiah is at the stage where he wants to run around with us, and starting to want the food we're eating, yet can't seem to get his legs going fast enough or move his hands in time to grab the food before we do. I cannot wait to watch them grow even more over the coming months and years, and see the changes that are in store.
I am thankful for grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews and cousins. There's nothing like gathering everyone into one place and spending time with one another, laughing, playing, eating, talking, and sharing together. A little peace amidst a trying world.
Church- I am thankful for Willow Creek Baptist Church, and the pastors, members, and friends we've found there. It's been a long time since we've felt welcomed and challenged by a particular church, and both Kasey and I are so thankful for it. I am so thankful to have strong, Biblical teaching and influences for the family I am responsible for leading. Worship is powerful and Christ-centered; the preaching is centered on God's Holy Word; and the fellowship that has grown through events and times of service and the community groups has been so beneficial. We have all been so blessed by our time thus far at Willow Creek. I am thankful for a great church body, and a wonderful Creator-Savior, who sits on His throne above all the problems and miseries of this world.
House- I am thankful for a nice, comfortable house for us to live in. With two boys, and numerous bins of books and Christmas decorations to store, we needed more space than an apartment could allow. We've lived in this house for more than a year now (and are running out of space already; I'm also thankful for books :) and can't imagine living in an apartment at this stage in our lives. We could have made do in an apartment; we don't need more stuff (as in books) and the boys can always share a bedroom, but we had a gift given to us, and we were glad to accept. It is so enjoyable to live ten minutes from work, get to drive home on lunch break, and see my boys watching out the window for me as I drive down our road and park in the driveway.
Job- I am thankful for a job. In today's world, just to be working is such a blessing, regardless of the kind of work or the company. We would do well to think of the countless thousands that are looking for work, and have no options and no where else to go. And not only do I have a job, but a good job with great benefits and great co-workers. Sure, working in a call center has never been the easiest or most enjoyable, but this particular job has been the most rewarding by far, not only to me personally but to our family as a whole. Who knows where we will be in a year or two, but right now I cannot help but give thanks for the great job I have been given.
School- I am thankful for the opportunity to earn a college degree. It hasn't been easy, and there's been plenty of sleepless nights and missed time with family, but by this time next year (hopefully, according to plan) I will have earned an accredited bachelor's degree from a top business school, all with little cost out-of-pocket. Yes, I could have taken the time and the courses to finish a while ago, but to be able to afford to take classes now, while working and raising a family, has been difficult at times, but also extremely rewarding. In the long run, the hard work and sacrifice we put in now will pay off handsomely in the future.
Country and Military- I am thankful for the united States of America, and the armed forces serving to protect her. While we may not agree with the politics and politicians of today, or support any foreign wars we now fight, we can be thankful that we live in a country where we can disagree and not support such things. While we may not like the political party currently holding office, we can be thankful to be living in a country where elections matter and votes do count. While we enjoy the right to work and live and learn as we please here at home, we can be thankful that others have died, are dying, and will die to protect that right and make sure posterity does as well. I am thankful to live in America, and I am thankful to be an American.
While I could list multiple other things to be thankful for, I realize the Thanksgiving holiday has already come and gone, and now is the time to (officially) prepare for Christmas. However, never forget to be thankful for what you do have, what you have already been given, and what God Almighty has already done.
Say thank you to your family and friends and country's soldiers, whistle while you work, and pray a prayer of thanks to the One who gives and takes away.
"The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe."
-Proverbs 29:25 (ESV)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)