Allow me to say...

First, just a few things I want to mention.

I do want to apologize for the lack of blogging on my part. "Writer's block" has hit me like a ton of bricks, in the past several weeks and I've been feeling particularly uninspired.

Also, I recently peeked into the spam comment file on our blogger dashboard, and saw several non-spam comments that had found their way in there. So, if you're wondering why your comment never showed up, that's why. Sorry about that! From now on, I'll try to remember to check that file, periodically, and release the comments that aren't spam.

And, third and finally, I've wiffle-waffled a great deal over the blog post below, and finally decided to publish it here even though what I've written hasn't really fully captured what's in my mind and heart. I know the readers that we have are gracious and will take what I have to say with a grain of salt. If there's anything helpful there, I'm glad. If not, feel free to lambast me as much as you want. But, your comment might end up in the spam file! Just kidding.

- Millie

"Speak the truth in love."


It’s a handy phrase – not too explicit but with a certain punch. And, "truth" and "love" are too very good things, right? Of course, right. So, we type the phrase glibly at the end of blog posts, and internet arguments, and that clinches everything.

"I’m sorry that you disagree with me, but I’m kind of glad, too, because I love a good argument, I mean, debate. And, I love you, but you’re wrong and I’m right. But just mostly, I’m right."

There’s a lot of defenders of the faith, these days, battling the sins of the world from their computer desks and shooting out pithy blog posts with their extremely "right" fingertips. They’re no doubt godly people – men and women who know their doctrine and are fighting back against the ludicrousness and sin of this world with all they’ve got. But, mostly, they just want to be right. We all want that. I know I do. I want people to know what I think, because I think what I have to say is pretty doggone important and everyone better listen up and if someone tries to argue well, so much the better. My mouth starts to water and I am aching while still halfway through their (no doubt badly spelled) comment to start refuting their argument point for point. I will parry with a few Bible verses, perhaps throw a few punches with quotes from famous theologians, and finish with a prayer that they would see the light. But, inwardly, I’m praying that they would be ENTIRELY OBLITERATED - that, figuratively, I could plant myself on their expiring bodies, waving my sword in the air and be glorified.

Ooops, I mean that God would be glorified, of course.

I wince at this description, because I know that my heart isn’t calling out for God to be glorified or for his truth to go forward or that people might truly have their hearts softened. I’m really more interested in being right. And, I’m not just talking about the Internet. It happens all the time in "real" relationships, too.

Because sometimes we get so caught up in the Biblical answer that we forget about the Biblical response.

It’s handy to remember that Paul called some people "dogs." But, we like to forget that he also was "all things to all people" and even had those "mutilators of the flesh" have at Timothy so that his uncircumcision wouldn’t be a problem to the Jews he was trying to reach.

We like to recall the thrilling event in which Jesus cleared the temple with a whip, but conveniently forget that he said not a word to prevent his being beaten and slain.

It’s very easy to type up a vehemently worded, sound rebuke to all those who oppose you or the truth you speak. It’s another thing to shut up. Because, honestly, has there ever been an Internet argument that ended with your opponent saying, "Wow! I had never thought of it that way. Please forgive me for my rude and ignorant comments. Can I be your new best friend?"


If this has ever happened, please tell me. I would be interested to hear the story.

But, for the most part, I’d wager that more people are won for Christ not by your clever words but by some good old-fashioned listening and care. Actually, I’m willing to bet that 100% of conversions have nothing whatever to do with human effort and everything to do with God’s grace.

Perhaps it’s time to realize it’s not about me, my reputation, my idea of right, or my feelings being hurt, and everything to do with God’s grace. We’ve received it; maybe it’s time to dispense it.

Oh, and that Philippians 4:8 verse - the one that’s so good for denouncing your idea of immoral entertainment? It played with my mind when my Dad suggested that this verse had less to do with pointing fingers and more to do with unity in the church. In other words, if you can find anything true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent or worthy of praise in the people around you, then focus on these things and ignore the aspects of them that annoy, anger, and hurt you.

"Let your reasonableness (or gentleness) be known to everyone." Darn it! Aren’t we supposed to be warriors for Christ? Where’s the battle in being gentle? Try it for a little while. Struggling to respond gently when people are being pains in the body part turns out to be quite a struggle, indeed.

And, here’s something that shook my world, when I learned it: "It’s not about me. At all. My feelings, my idea of right and wrong, my opinions, and even my good name do not matter." Are our arguments more about clarifying our points just one more time, or showing the gentle, long-term love that God shows us? Are we really defending God’s truth, or defending our own dignity? God’s truth really will abide and his honour will remain intact even without our valiant efforts in his defense.

Am I saying that we shouldn’t defend what the Bible says is true and good in a crooked and depraved generation? Of course not. I’m not saying that it’s wrong to disagree, or debate, or to leave long comments on Facebook statuses. I am saying that it’s okay, and maybe the right thing to backspace the angry retort you’ve started to type, to choke back the irritated remark and maybe it’s not okay for me to daydream about the day when I will dramatically renounce all my enemies for the worms that they are and they will fall at my feet in submission.

Oops, I mean at God’s feet. Because I’m really doing all this for him, right?

And, yes, I do get the irony of me writing a blog post about this. But, I promise if anyone argues with me in the comment section, I won’t argue back.

- Millie

Photo Challenge Week 22: Water

This Summer

This. This is going to be the summer.

Do you get like this in May? Vitamin D starts kicking in, and I feel like hitting the ground dancing. And I make lists in my mind – and resolutions deeper down.

Resolutions that are all about living and breathing and swinging my arms back and forth in the sun.

Because this is a summer I want to remember.

And so. I’m going to wear hats with my best friends on the beach.

I’m going to make ice-cream and put cucumber in my water and learn all about iced tea.

I’m going to wear dresses. I’m going to learn once and for all that over-dressing doesn’t kill you.

(Unless it's about playing volleyball in high heels.)

I’m going to wear cut offs and discover that what you’re wearing is the smallest part of you.

This is the summer I want to get my hands dirty and my feet wet. I want to volunteer more. I want to worry about myself less.

This is going to be the summer where I fall in  love with reading again. Heck, I’m going to fall in love with Mr. Knightly himself. I’ll make the journey to the Crack of Doom.

I’ll go on more walks, smile at more people, get down on my knees beside the little ones.

I’m going to make that quilt that reminds me of sailing on the river and be happy when the garden grows weeds.

Yes.

I hope it’s going to be a wind flying, music playing, messy time. Not perfect – but good.

And at the end of these three short months, I’ll turn 22.

I don’t know – you guys who can get a grip are probably laughing at me right now – but it’s true and scary. I’m not where I thought I would be at 22. I’m not. And sometimes I’m not sure I really like where I am.

But it occurs to me from time to time, that those wants and wishes and demands we make on life, are not really what it's all about.

And if things aren’t the way I planned, then it simply means there is something better for me ahead. No - not even ahead. Maybe the better begins right now.

You know? Just because life’s not perfect and I don’t have what I wish I had, does not make every day less breathtakingly wondrous.

If the worth and joy of my life depended on getting what I want, then maybe I’d have a reason to turn my face away from the sun. But it - this good life -  actually doesn’t depend on that.

And every summer moment of laughter and flowers and frustration and growing can be more lovely then the last. Its OK to be content – more then content – let’s be overflowing.

This summer.

It’s a thing.



~Liv

Photo Challenge Week 21: Playtime

 

 

~Liv

Spring Things

 

 

 

 

 

 

~Liv

 

 

 

Photo Challenge Week 20: Mothers

 

 

'cuz every mother has her thing.

 

And Photo Challenge Week 21: Favourites

 

The old radio that doesn't work. The beluga whale from the Atlanta Aquarium. A vintage cowboy book from a sister that knows me too well. Heather from the St. Andrews farmer's market.

Yup. We all have favourites.

 

 

 

What are some of yours?

 

 

 

~Liv

So Blessed.

I recently  heard Psalm 88 called a beautiful picture of blessing. I’m not sure if you familiar with it - but I’ll give you a verse highlight. “You have taken me from my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief.”

Left to my own devices, this would probably be the last Bible passage I would associate with the word blessing.

“Blessing” is relegated to the category of christian cliches, these days – and one that bugs me, to boot. Mostly, we hear it in association with the words, ‘baby’, ‘husband’ and ‘[insert something you wanted badly and received.]’

Worse still, is when people pull ‘blessed’ out as a word to describe prosperity, supposedly stemming from their obedience to God. “God blessed us with money when we trusted Him for provision.” “God blessed me with a husband when I was content.” “God blessed us with eleven children when we handed our fertility over to him.”

And I don’t think we have a leg to stand on if we say these things and circumstances are bad. They’re not! God is good to us – sometimes giving us people and life situations that seem so good to us.

You wonder though, how does it all fit with psalm 88? By the cliché’s standard, this guy doesn’t sound blessed. He sounds cursed! And you begin to wonder why we don’t hear the words ‘blessed’ on the lips of a mom with one child hanging from her leg and another who just spilled cocoa powder. Or from the single girl who longs for marriage as another birthday ticks by. Or the father whose children, grown and gone, are turned hard against the Lord…

And they wonder what they’re doing wrong.

Blessed? It sure doesn’t feel like it.

Yet that’s the point.

Right in the middle of psalm 88 comes a set of questions and as you read you hear the answers echoing back in your mind.

“Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you?”

It’s a whisper. Yes

“Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?”

Is anyone thinking of the empty tomb? The answer is louder – Yes! And what the minister spoke to, the blessing in psalm 88, clicks.

Because blessing is not a feeling. It is not a gold star for merit, or a reward for a job well done.

It is entirely, (hallelujah!) God’s seal of Grace on His children, because of what Christ has accomplished.

 His job well done.

In fact, as ones that the Father loves, blessed is our state of being – no matter what ups and downs we face.

In deepest discouragement, when ‘darkness is my closest friend’, we don’t have to ask why blessing is denied us. In true fact – we are closer than ever to the source of all blessing.

And You know what He loves? For us to come in our weakness and seek His face. Like the man from Psalm 88 – to search, and seek, and throw ourselves on God’s strength -  ‘not letting Him go until He blesses us,”  - these are the prayers that in His time, He will answer Yes.

And to have Him revealed to us – is really, the only blessing we need.

 

~Liv