Forget the ladder. Remember the cross...

One of our pastors, Mike Plewniak, preached an incredibly encouraging sermon last Sunday on Psalm 73.  It particularly hit home with me because I struggle with fear of man...which can breed envy...which results in despair and a lack of faith.  For me the sinful scenario in my mind sounds something like this:

"Oh! There's so-and-so!  I really enjoyed talking to them last week.  I wonder if they enjoyed talking to me...  They probably don't even remember meeting me.  They probably don't even know I'm alive.  If I was funny like so-and-so they'd like me.  If I dressed more hip like so-and-so they'd like me.  If I was in better shape like so-and-so they'd like me.  Dad-gum-it!  I'm such a boring, style-less, middle-aged pudgy woman!  Why am I like this?  Why couldn't God make me a witty, stylish, ever-youthful, slender woman?  I'd be having a whole lot more fun right now!"

You see...in my fear of man struggle I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about ME.  Yes, I'm looking at others...but, only in the light of how they compare to ME.  One point Mike made as we observed Asaph's struggle in Psalm 73 was, Asaph was so focused on the "life of ease" that the wealthy, prideful and wicked seemed to enjoy that he lost his contentment in God and began questioning the benefit of living a life centered on God and being pure before Him.

Mike shared a quote by David Powlison, "We have a genius for erecting the wrong standards."  Mr. Powlison describes how we determine a wrong standard then begin putting forth maximum effort to achieve that standard.  He compared it to climbing a ladder to nowhere.  We look horizontally...determine a standard...turn the standard into a ladder...and begin climbing.  One example he used was beauty.  Our culture is enamored with external beauty.  Girls begin climbing the ladder of "beauty" at very young ages...leading to fractured lives consumed with eating disorders, plastic surgery, and plastic lives.

Does God value beauty as we value beauty?  (Can you say "rhetorical question"?)  Proverbs 31:30 says, "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."  1 Peter 3: 3-4 says, "Do not let your adorning be external -  the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."  

So, how do we get off our ladders...whether your ladder be beauty, wealth, fame, success, etc...?  Asaph got off the ladder when he went into the sanctuary of God.  His language changed from "I... they" to "You" as he realized his hopelessness apart from faith in God.  Mike challenged us with what Asaph learned 1) Faith looks to God...not to others  2) Faith looks to eternity  3) Faith leads to satisfaction in God.

How I long to live as if I believe with every fiber of my being what Matthew Henry said, "All is well if God be mine."

This is not something I can "will" into being, though. It is only possible through the transforming power of the cross.  The battle of fearing man is won by replacing the lies I believe with the truth that I am accepted by God because of the cross.  The battle is won by ceasing my ladder climbing and remembering that Christ came down from heaven, took on human flesh, lived a sinless life, gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for my sin, endured all of God's wrath that I deserved so that I could be clothed in His righteousness...and adopted by God.  The battle is won by remembering that the battle was won on the cross.

"O LORD... Convince me that I cannot be my own god, or make myself happy, 
nor my own Christ to restore my joy, 
not my own Spirit to teach, guide, rule me...
Take away my roving eye, curious ear, greedy appetite, lustful heart; 
show me that none of these things can heal a wounded conscience, 
or support a tottering frame, or uphold a departing spirit.
Then take me to the cross and leave me there."

                     The Valley of Vision, "Man A Nothing"

Time for bed. But, before I go...

As I head off to bed after a wonderful day of worship with our church family of Cornerstone Church of Knoxville, God encourages me, once again, with this song.  Thank You, Father, for this day...for Your Word...for Your church...for Your grace...for Your Son...

"Jesus, King of Angels"  by Fernando Ortega

Jesus, King of angels, heaven's light,
Shine Your face upon this house tonight.
Let no evil come into my dreams;
Light of heaven, keep me in Your peace.

Remind me how You made dark spirits flee, 

And spoke Your power to the raging sea.

You spoke Your mercy to a sinful man;
Remind me, Jesus, this is what I am.

The universe is vast beyond the stars,
But You are mindful when a sparrow falls, 

And mindful of the anxious thoughts 
That find me, surround me, and bind me . . .

With all my heart I love You, Sovereign Lord.
Tomorrow, let me love You even more.
And rise to speak the goodness of Your name 

Until I close my eyes and sleep again.

Jesus, King of angels, heaven's light,
Hold my hand and keep me through this night.

One for him. Fun for us...

Okay...so I'm already thinking about how I can express my love to my sweet hubby on Valentine's Day.  The hard thing is...his birthday is February 8th...the week before.  I have to put my thinking cap on and get creative so that each day is special in its own unique way.  I want his birthday gifts to celebrate his life.  I want his Valentine's Day gifts to celebrate our love. 

So...I did an internet search for extra special, super-duper romantic, Valentine's Day gifts that scream, "I Fell In A Pile of You and Got Love All Over Me!"...and here are some of the offerings I found.  (Wow! There are some brilliant folks out there!)

"The Hand Hugger"...the mitten built for two!  Ingenius!

"The Heart Car"...very sweet!

"Fundies"...the underwear built for two!  Are you serious?!

"Heart Print Toilet Paper"...you need this when you use this...

The "TwodaLoo"...I'm still laughing my head off!

Sometimes I look at things and think, "I could've invented that!" 

...hasn't even crossed my mind!

Any creative ideas you care to share?  ...anyone?  ...don't let these intimidate you!

Unto the least. Unto Him...

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.'  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.  Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates."  (Proverbs 31: 28-31)

I know it is January...nowhere near Mother's Day...but, I have a mother that I could celebrate everyday.  So, let it be known that today...Sunday, January 10, 2010...I'm celebrating my mother...Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!

This is the whole "clan". My mom and dad are seated in front and are surrounded by (from left to right) Loren and Jake Simmons (grandson); Peter and Bethany Hedger (granddaughter); Drew Simmons (grandson); Mike and Kay Simmons (daughter/me); Josh (grandson) and Meggie Simmons; Trey (son) and DeLeith Gossett; Chris, Grant and Tori Gossett (grandsons and granddaughter).

I was talking to my mom the other day and she told me about a book she had recently read called Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent.  She described some of the story to me, which is a factual account of an unlikely friendship between a very wealthy art dealer, and a homeless sharecropper. The friendship is formed when, at the insistence of his wife, the art dealer begins serving meals at a homeless shelter.  I read a review written by one of my favorite (and most trusted) book reviewers, Tim Challies, and he thoroughly enjoyed the book...saying that he is sure someone will buy the rights to make the story into a movie...so, you should read it so you can say you knew about it before there ever was a movie!  But, I digress...

In our conversation my mom told me she had just wept and wept as she read this book...and that she is reading a second book by the same authors that contains personal stories of how the first book impacted its readers.  She told me about a woman who was "sold out to the Lord...big time"...I don't remember if she was part of the book or not...but, I somehow connected the book with the story about this lady...maybe she was someone who read the book and shared how it had provoked her to action...but, I'm not really sure about that...oh, my...I'm digressing again...

So..."this lady" loved the Lord and my mom was so impacted by how she put feet to her faith...by loading up her van with blankets and socks and whenever she encountered a person who appeared to need a blanket and socks, she would stop her van and provide them with some.  My mom then said, "I read that and just felt like I haven't done anything!"  I didn't respond immediately...but, my response has been forming ever since our conversation.  This post is my response. Mom, you have done much to live out your love for the Lord your God...and your neighbor.  (Matthew 22: 37-39)

Here are some examples:

I remember in the height of the HIV/AIDS scare, my parents still lived in Auburn, AL (WAR EAGLE! ...sorry...I never pass up an opportunity!) and there was a group of ladies, my mom included, who wanted to serve the victims of that horrific disease.  At that time, the people who contracted the disease were treated like they had the plague.  Nobody wanted to touch them...they were immediately judged and outcast...I think we were pretty close, as a society, to reverting to Bible days when people with leprosy and such diseases were commanded to yell, "Unclean!" to alert people to their untouchable state.  But, these were the people my mom and the other ladies had hearts to serve.

There was a lady who had been hospitalized with AIDS, and my mom discovered, upon her first visit, the lady had been put in a hospital room and pretty much left to die all alone...with minimal care and no visitors.  I'll never forget my mom telling me how she would go into this lady's room and the lady was pretty uncomfortable just laying in bed.  Of course, her circulation was, as a result, pitiful.  So, to ease her discomfort and promote some circulation, my mom would rub the lady's legs and feet with lotion...after clipping her toenails which had been allowed to grow quite long.  Mom said that as she rubbed the lotion into the lady's skin, the lady would softly moan with grateful relief.  "...as you have done unto the least of these, you have done unto Me." (Matthew 25:40) 

When Hurricane Katrina hit there were thousands of people who had to evacuate their homes and head to higher ground.  Some of them made their way to Lindale, TX where my parents now live.  I don't remember exactly how it happened, but I think my mom heard a story on the news about some people serving hurricane refugees and Mom thought, "I wonder if we have any refugees here in Lindale..."  ...but, she didn't stop there.  She called local hotels and asked if there were people there who had escaped the hurricane.  She found out that there were quite a few families who were finding refuge in Lindale.  So, Mom's next thought was, "How can we serve these people?"  Again, the details are fuzzy how it all came together...but, Mom got busy on the phone and those folks ended up being invited to Lindale United Methodist Church to eat and some even slept there, I think... and some of them even went to my parents' house where Mom and Dad served them with meals and extended such sweet hospitality.  "...as you have done unto the least of these, you have done unto Me."  (Matthew 25:40)

There was a friend of my mom's in Auburn who contracted cancer.  My mom, dad and many others in their church persevered in prayer for this friend.  I remember mom telling me that one night she felt very impressed by the Holy Spirit to go to this friend's house to pray for her.  I think she said it was pretty late...so, when she arrived at the lady's house, she didn't want to wake anyone up, so she just sat in her car in front of the house and interceded for her friend.  "...as you have done unto the least of these, you have done unto Me."  (Matthew 25:40)

These are only a few examples of how I remember my mom and her huge heart for people...which ultimately grows out of her love for her Savior.  Maybe she doesn't load up her van with blankets and socks everyday...but, God has loaded her heart with His grace...and she has extended that grace to many, many people.

Mom is keenly aware of the incredible mercy God has shown her in the sacrifice of His only Son. She's also aware it is only mercy that she was not the lady in the hospital bed with AIDS.  It is only mercy that she did not have to flee Hurricane Katrina.  It is only mercy that she has not personally fought the battle of cancer.  Jesus said that we are merciful to the same extent we understand the amount of mercy we've been shown.  My mother is well aware of God's mercy towards her...and she brings much glory to Him by first, loving Him...and second, living unselfishly, compassionately and mercifully, loving her neighbor as she loves herself.

Mom...as you have done unto the least of them, you have done unto Him.  May you feel His delight and pleasure!  I love you! 

To listen to a very encouraging and challenging sermon by Tim Keller (senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC) on how having saving faith / believing the gospel should be reflected in the lives of authentic followers of Christ go here.  It is worth your time!! 

April 27th. Another life eternally...

I'm going to be a GRANDMOTHER!  Is that a kick or what?!?!  I must say it is quite surreal to look at our daughter who, 25 years ago, I carried next to my heart (and on top of my bladder and all up in my ribs) for nine months, and see her pregnancy belly getting bigger and rounder.  My child is going to have a child!  I know this is how God ordained everything to happen...it's just a crazy feeling seeing my "baby" having a baby.  Now...don't misunderstand me...I can't wait to meet this precious little boy around the end of April...and I have no doubt that Bethany is going to be a much better mother than I ever dreamed of being!  My sweet hubby and I are already praying that God will save this precious child early in his life.  What a privilege to pray and what a gift that God hears us!  Thank You, Jesus!

Here are some ultrasound pics of Baby Hedger.  Hopefully you can see his preciousness amidst all the "snow".  Trust me...he's BEAUTIFUL!!

There's a hand...see the little fingers?

Look at those little feet!  I'm a sucker for baby feet!

Here's a profile shot.

...and quite a shot of his unmentionable!

A 3-D pic.  Isn't this amazing?!?

Looking at these photos just magnifies the miracle of birth for me.  There's absolutely no convincing me that life began with a "big bang", some slime and a tadpole.  There's also no convincing me that these photos are of "a mass of tissue".  These photos are pictures of a HUMAN LIFE...a BABY...a LITTLE BOY...our GRANDSON!  But, the law of the land would say that Bethany is within her "rights" to kill this baby by abortion.  Yet, if she was in a car accident...the other driver's fault...and the baby was killed, the other driver could be charged with vehicular homicide.  That is just ludicrous!  The baby is a living person whether killed by an abortion doctor or by a reckless driver.

I came very close to killing our firstborn son.  God moved my father to unwittingly intervene and save Josh's life.  I've contemplated that day many, many times and I always reach the same conclusion.  If I had gone to the abortion clinic...had an abortion...Joshua Michael Simmons would not be here.  But, he would not ever have been less than a living, breathing human being...even if the only life he had known was in the womb...the God-created sanctuary for nurturing life...which has become the most dangerous, life threatening place in all the world.

There's a reason that an abortion is the only "medical procedure" never shown on television in America. Go here to find out why (Warning...explicit!).  There's a reason that Planned Parenthood doesn't want pregnant women to be able to have ultrasounds in a Crisis Pregnancy Center.  Go here to read an example of why.  There's a reason that in Europe over the last 25 years the younger population (aged 14 and under) has decreased by 21 percent so that currently there are more elderly people than younger people in the EU.  Go here to see mind-blowing statistics.  There's a reason that the abortion advocates are so adamantly "pro-choice".  Go here to learn how lucrative the abortion industry is.

Forty-seven years ago my father delivered me at home.  It was an unexpected surprise...but, one that, I believe, established a special bond between us.  After I had been born and transported to the hospital with my mom, Dad returned home to clean up the awful mess associated with childbirth.  I'm not sure of the exact moment he sat down to write...but, he must have realized the miracle he had just witnessed and he expressed his worship to The Creator by penning this poem which was later set to music by a dear friend:

Lord, in miracles we believe and in Thee alone we trust;

for before our very eyes we have seen a new life thrust.

The first breath... a hush... a sigh...

Nothing sweeter to behold than the glories of Thy love

which to us Thou didst unfold.

We had thought of life as sweet, yet still sweeter it shall be;

for now, oh Lord, we know another life eternally.

I'm sure I will be singing "my song" with gusto in my heart upon the arrival of Baby Hedger...because, you see, "my song" is really every baby's song.  ...and...well...I'm going to be a GRANDMOTHER!!  Is that a kick or what?!?!  

Nothing planned. Nothing gained...

My sweet husband often sends me, our children, his Wednesday men's group, and other friends encouraging words.  Today he sent us a list of "New Year's Questions" that he found on Don Whitney's website.  As I am challenged at the moment with the gross unintentionality (if that's a word) by which I live my life...these questions were provoking to me.  Perhaps you will find them encouragingly provoking, as well...perhaps enough to light a fire under ye 'ole tail?  I'm feeling a little heat myself...

1.  What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2.  What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3.  What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4.  In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5.  What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6.  What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7.  For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8.  What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9.  What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10.  What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years?  In eternity?

There are 21 additional questions Mr. Whitney poses in the article.  If you would like to be challenged by those, as well, you may find them here. 

His final encouragement is so good to one like me...prone to legalism / performance.  He says, "So let's evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical diligence, remembering that, 'The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage' (Proverbs 21:5).  But in all things let's also remember our dependence on our King who said, 'Apart from Me you can do nothing' (John 15:5)."  Now that's a good word!

Temporal pleasure. Eternal hope...

...and so another year begins. Resolutions have been made...some have probably already been broken.  It's around this time of year that Ecclesiastes usually comes to my mind.  As we begin to prepare to "usher out the old and ring in the new" the media stories are a rewind of the previous year's end:  "Celebrities Who Died"..."Top 10 Stories of the Year"..."Eat All You Want Without Gaining an Ounce"..."Exercise Without Breaking a Sweat". Yada, yada, yada...it's all the same...every year.  As the writer of Ecclesiastes said, "Vanity of vanities!  All is vanity...What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun."  (1:1, 9)  It's pretty depressing.

I must admit I awoke on December 31st with a slightly heavy heart.  The holidays had come and gone...and I wasn't ready to be finished with them, yet.  Children and their spouses had come and gone...and I wasn't ready for them to leave, yet.  The year had come and gone...and I wasn't ready to engage the challenge of remembering to write a new year's number on my checks, yet.  My 46th year of living had come and gone...and I wasn't ready to be 47, yet.

As I sat down at our dining room table to talk to the Lord about my unreadiness to move on...the Holy Spirit brought these Chris Tomlin song lyrics to mind:

"How can I keep from singing Your praise?

 How can I ever say enough, 'How amazing is Your love!'

How can I keep from shouting Your Name?

I know I am loved by the King and it makes my heart want to sing!"

Busted!  Once again, I was bringing an ungrateful and complaining heart to God's throne of mercy and grace. Once again, He gently reminded me He's not terribly concerned with gifts that satisfy my flesh.  He's given me the best gift...the eternal gift...to satisfy my soul.  I had taken my eyes off of Jesus and forgotten the gospel.  Thus, I was crashing and burning.

The next words I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me were:  "Be joyful in hope."

Busted again!  I was lacking joy because I was placing my hope in temporal pleasures.  True joy is found in hope rooted in Christ...in the gospel.  God encouraged me through His Word by reminding me:

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."  (Romans 5: 1-2)

"The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man...He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.  The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.  The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.  Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love, that He may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.  Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.  For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name.  Let Your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in You."  (Psalm 33: 13, 15-22)

So...as I journey through 2010, my prayer is that I would, by His grace, be ever joyful in hope in the God of my salvation.  As this prayer from Valley of Vision says,

 "O LORD of grace...

May I never forget that Thou hast my heart in Thy hands.

Apply to it the merits of Christ's atoning blood whenever I sin.

Let thy mercies draw me to Thyself...

My soul is often a chariot without wheels,

clogged and hindered in sin's miry clay;

Mount it on eagle's wings and cause it to soar upward to Thyself!"

Amen...and amen!

Here are some pics of our family's Christmas fun.  Enjoy!

Our den...which our children painted for me while we were in Texas.  It used to be very, very, very dark paneling...truly cave-ish.  It is now a gift that keeps on giving...every morning when I wake up!  Awesome!

Drew, our youngest son, obviously excited about this gift... How 'bout that beard?!?  It is no more... I'm trying to contain my excitement.

Bethany with her new Boppy pregnancy pillow.  We hope she's able to sleep more comfortably now... She's over half-way there!  YAY!!

Loren was so excited to receive a keepsake book of wedding photos, as well as a framed print of one of her favorite wedding pics.  Sweet!!

 

Jake...striking a pose with his new pipe.  Oh, yeah!

Peter was pretty stoked about his new XL mug with all the in-laws pics on it.  He's definitely a keeper!

 My man with my favorite cologne.  It's a dangerous combination!

An incredible blessing...a 2001 Ford Taurus for us from Mike's parents.

No more gas guzzling Yukon!!  Thank You, Lord!!

 

Bethany and Peter's boxer, Dublin.  Too much fun for one day!

Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night.