Sunday Hymn - I am His and He is Mine

Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know;
Gracious Spirit from above, Thou hast taught me it is so!
O this full and perfect peace! O this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.

Heav’n above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green!
Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen;
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms, pillowed on the loving breast.
O to lie forever here, doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His; Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee, firstborn light in gloom decline;
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.

Responding to Criticism

In this post, I'm putting on my pastor's wife hat. I had the privilege a few weeks ago of presenting a devotional for our elders' wives. I had been thinking about criticism of leaders. This is not a response to any particular situation but just a reflection on leadership and what it can mean to those who are not directly in leadership but who support and serve, especially pastors' wives. I think that it's good to think about various situations and think through possible responses before a situation arises. It's all part of maturing in godliness.

So when your husband is criticized, how do you respond? Are you a "mama bear" when it comes to criticism of loved ones? Do you defend your husband to anyone and everyone at any cost? What does a godly response look like?

Before I get into my main points, let's consider who the criticism is addressed to. It's important for us as wives to remember that criticism of our husband is not an attack on us. So the response must be tempered by the knowledge that we cannot, and should not, respond directly to the person making the remarks. Our responsibility is to respond to our husbands and to God.

First, consider the source. This is on a continuum and has a point at each end. Is the person complaining someone who is from outside the church or has little relationship or influence in your husband's life or is it someone who has a lot of influence and a close relationship? On one end, it might be someone commenting online whom you don't know and on the other end, a fellow elder or leader in the church. Or it might be someone in between. While each person is created in God's image and should be treated respectfully and honourably, there is a difference in how we respond between a close friend and a stranger.

Second, consider your identity in Christ. Gal. 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." Years ago, my husband attended a John Maxwell seminar and one phrase has stayed with us. Maxwell said that he told his staff, "you don't have to survive." As Christians, our identity is in Christ and in his death and resurrection. We have been crucified with Christ so we no longer live. This means that when criticism or attacks come, we don't have to take it personally. We can remember that our life is in Christ and that because the gospel is true, those attacks are not what judges our lives. Our life in Christ is what we live our lives by. This doesn't mean that words won't hurt and that we can't be grieved by what others say but it does free us to forgive hurtful words and be ready to let things go. It also frees us to look at the other person and see where he or she is coming from. We can let go of our defensiveness and look honestly at the criticism to see if there is validity in it or where the other person may possibly be hurting. Terry coined the term several years ago - "thick skin, tender heart". When you are in leadership, thick skin enables you to take criticism without reacting in anger and a tender heart allows you to have compassion on someone who is hurting.

Third, consider what is true. Our mama-bear tendencies will want us to immediately dismiss the criticism as unjust and untrue but we owe it to our husbands to prayerfully consider the criticism. Even if it is mostly unjust, is there a core of truth in it that needs to be addressed? Is there a problem of perception? Our calm wise analysis can help our husbands to evaluate what has been said and see if there is truth. Or maybe it's something that has completely blindsided you and you have no way to objectively evaluate it. Maybe it's something that you need to take to others and ask if their perception of the situation is the same as the person who has been critical. Years ago, when our oldest was under two, someone criticized both our parenting and my housecleaning (all in one conversation!). I remember asking an older woman in the church to give me her feedback and there was a measure of truth in what had been said. It may be that there is no truth in the accusation and we can help our husbands to discern that as well. It's important to be humble in one's response. Phil. 2:1-11 is a good passage to meditate on when one is feeling attacked.

Finally, consider your response. Remember that the accusation is not against you. So your response will be different from your husband's. We have a great responsibility to pray for and love everyone in the church. Here are seven things to consider in our response.

1. We should pray for both our husband and the accuser. Prayer will work to not only change the situation but our hearts as well. Sue Rowe says in Letters to Pastors' Wives, "Our prayers are not just pleading that God remove the difficulties but rather that God's will be done in the circumstances to his glory and to the ultimate benefit of the church and to all who are involved." (p. 165)

2. Be a good sounding board. The quality of a sounding board in a piano can make the difference between a beautiful, resonant tone or terribly, tinny sound. When you listen to your husband, bounce "good sound" back to him. Listen well - listen to both what he is saying and what he is feeling. Remind him of the truth of the gospel. Help him to analyze what the real issues are but be careful to speak in such a way that you honour God and the other person. Eph. 4:29-32 says:

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

3. Keep your heart pure. Inspect your own heart for anger or malice. Confess your sin if your heart contains anger and bitterness. Rowe also said,

"Let's assume that the responsibility for bringing a peaceful solution to the conflict is not mine but belongs to others. I still need to come to grips with the reality that I have the responsibility to keep my heart pure before God as I respond to conflict and the effect it has on me and on those I love. I do this when I resist the temptation to respond in sinful ways that are motivated by the feelings of my flesh (Gal. 5:16-21). I will be instructed by God's word and motivated and empowered by his Spirit to respond with faith and obedience (Gal. 5:22-24). Jesus said it in a nutshell: to keep our hearts pure during church conflicts and in every other challenging situation in life, we must love God and love our neighbours. Both of these commands are other-focused. We are born into this world self-focused and loving ourselves. When we yield to life's temptations (which often ride on the coattails of conflict within our churches), either we are not loving God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, or we are not loving our neighbour, or both. Thus we should respond not with anger and bitterness, but with forgiveness; not with hate, scorn or withdrawal, but with love; not with gossip and slander, but with kindness; not with worry and anxiety, but with thankfulness and patience; not with malice and evildoing, but with self-control; not with despair but with hope; not with fear, but with faith. (p. 166)

4. Avoid gossip but get wise counsel if you need it. Guard from the temptation to talk to others, even other elders' wives, about the problem unless there is a definite need to do so.  Remember that if you talk to someone else not involved in the situation, you are placing a burden on them in how they see the other person in the conflict, especially if they are from your church. If you do need to talk to someone, choose your confidante wisely and make sure your husband knows that you will be talking to this person. Generally, I think if you need to talk to someone, don't talk about the conflict or the other person's sins but talk to someone about how you are handling it and how to respond in a godly way. 

5. Count your blessings. Look for ways to be thankful even in times of suffering. This will help keep things in perspective too. If we tend to dwell on the problems, it can magnify the problem instead of keeping them in perspective. 

6. Respond in faith. Believe God's word and trust in His promises. For example, He has promised in Matthew 28:18-20 to be with us always. In a time of difficulty, remind yourself that He is there. He has promised that if we come to Him with our burdens that He will take them and "His yoke is easy" (Matt. 11:28-30). Rest in that and place your faith in God, trusting that He will work out a difficult situation to His glory.

7. Finally, respond in love. Be a peacemaker. If you feel that you can't love the person who is causing problems, pray for them. Don't just pray that they will repent. Pray for the ability to love them and see beyond the criticism. Be kind and compassionate and forgive them. If you are tempted to think judgement on them, take that critical spirit to the Lord each time you think it. Meditate on verses like Ephesians 4:1-3 - As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 

Dazed Excitement

Well, this is exciting, mind-boggling, mind-blowing and kind of weird all at once!

I worked last summer on writing a Bible study guide for our upcoming women's Bible study on Colossians. After I got it all done, I asked our Executive Pastor for some help in turning it into a study guide format, just because I like a book better than pages in a binder. He edited it, turned it into book format, and arranged for self-publishing through Lulu.com so that we could offer a printed copy as an option for our women.

Today, I got an email with the link to the following:

Colossians Bible Study guide

Colossians Study Guide. He put it on Barnes and Noble and Book Depository too.

A friend in the church did the cover and I love it too. I'm so amazed and grateful for the talent and generosity of the people around me.

I'm really looking forward to digging into Colossians with our ladies. This whole project has been a bit of an experiment for me. I wondered if I could write a study guide that would be flexible for women in different seasons of life for studying and that would really help us to learn more about God and our relationship with Him, as well as understanding more of how Colossians fits into the whole of Scripture. Time will tell if the project was successful in that regard!

Sunday Hymn - All Creatures of our God and King

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

Refrain

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

Refrain

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.

Refrain

Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.

Refrain

And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!

Refrain

And thou most kind and gentle Death,
Waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.

Refrain

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

Refrain

A more traditional version:

Sunday Hymn - Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It

This was a draft that I had saved from several months ago. It's still true today so here it is:

Spurgeon's morning reading from yesterday, which I read today, reads:

“The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.”

Matthew 9:6

Behold one of the great Physician’s mightiest arts: he has power to forgive sin! While here he lived below, before the ransom had been paid, before the blood had been literally sprinkled on the mercy-seat, he had power to forgive sin. Hath he not power to do it now that he hath died? What power must dwell in him who to the utmost farthing has faithfully discharged the debts of his people! He has boundless power now that he has finished transgression and made an end of sin. If ye doubt it, see him rising from the dead! behold him in ascending splendour raised to the right hand of God! Hear him pleading before the eternal Father, pointing to his wounds, urging the merit of his sacred passion! What power to forgive is here! “He hath ascended on high, and received gifts for men.” “He is exalted on high to give repentance and remission of sins.” The most crimson sins are removed by the crimson of his blood. At this moment, dear reader, whatever thy sinfulness, Christ has power to pardon, power to pardon thee, and millions such as thou art. A word will speak it. He has nothing more to do to win thy pardon; all the atoning work is done. He can, in answer to thy tears, forgive thy sins today, and make thee know it. He can breathe into thy soul at this very moment a peace with God which passeth all understanding, which shall spring from perfect remission of thy manifold iniquities. Dost thou believe that? I trust thou believest it. Mayst thou experience now the power of Jesus to forgive sin! Waste no time in applying to the Physician of souls, but hasten to him with words like these:—

“Jesus! Master! hear my cry; Save me, heal me with a word; Fainting at thy feet I lie, Thou my whisper'd plaint hast heard.”

It made me think of the hymn, Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It.

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.

Refrain

Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.

Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.

Refrain

I think of my blessèd Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long:
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.

Refrain

I know there’s a crown that is waiting,
In yonder bright mansion for me,
And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
At home with the Lord I shall be.

Refrain

This is a lovely version that combines two of the tunes for this hymn.

Verses for Bad Days

A friend just sent me this link that she found helpful for bad days. It's a good one to share with each other.

10 Verses for When you are having a Bad Day

This friend is a new believer but not a new friend - we've known each other since high school. What a blessing it's been to see her spiritual growth this year.

If you are like me, you've heard some buzz about the idea of "one-to-one Bible reading". Last fall, my friend & I decided to start reading the Bible together. We started reading through John weekly via Skype (or whatever technology decided to work that day - none of them are reliable!). It has been a blessing to my soul! We're starting Colossians this month but using a study guide I've been working on (more on that later).

I have enjoyed just reading the Scriptures with her very much. We don't discuss it much - just answer questions occasionally and keep reading. I highly recommend it!

Sunday Hymn - Stayed upon Jehovah

This morning, my husband is preaching on Psalm 91 which begins with

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91 is one of my favourite Psalms and it reminds me of one of my favourite hymns - "Like a River Glorious". I know I've posted this one before but it seemed like a good opportunity to restart my blog (see the next post, hopefully this week).

Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Refrain

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Refrain

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Refrain

(The sermon will be posted at Calvary Grace's website tonight or tomorrow. I'm sure it will be worth listening to!)