Please join me in prayer as we confess our sins to the Lord.
Our heavenly Father,
We humble ourselves under your mighty hand knowing that you care for us. We want to confess our sins before you because you are both a holy God and a good God.
Your Word asks if we have any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, or any participation in the Spirit. And we have all those things. Our sin has been wiped away by the power of Christ and his work on the cross. We see your love for us in the gift of your own beloved Son for us. And we see how the Holy Spirit has also been given to us, drawing us into a greater fellowship with you and with your people. We have all these benefits.
And then you tell us we should do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility we should count others more significant than ourselves. And we want this. We see how this makes so much sense in light of who you are and what you've done for us.
But we have failed. We've done the exact opposite. We've been incredibly selfish. We're constantly concerned about our reputations. And so often we think of ourselves as much more important than others. Forgive us, Lord.
You also told us that we should do all things without grumbling or complaining because of your great salvation. You've made us lights in a dark place and you've caused us to be born again as children of God, redeeming us from a world that's crooked and twisted. So we have nothing to grumble or complain about.
And yet we grumble. We do it constantly. And we grumble and complain about the silliest, smallest, most petty stuff. Because things don't work out the way we want them to. And it's as if no one else seems to care about me or my needs - when you do. Forgive us, Lord.
But even as we confess these sins, we do it with great hope. We know that even these sins are forgiven through Christ. You tell us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling because you are working in us both to will and to work for your good pleasure. And we are working out our salvation by being honest with you right now about the sin that's still in our hearts.
And we set all our hope on your work in us. We know that you started a work in us when the light of Christ was shone in our hearts. And we believe your promise to finish the work that you began in us. You are the one who is causing us to see this sin and confess is. We ask that you would give us the mind of Christ, one that seeks to be humble like him, and to serve others like he did. Help is to be so satisfied in you that there's nothing to grumble or complain about.
We confess this is absolutely impossible for us to do ourselves. It would be a supernatural work to make me this kind of person, and to make us, as a church, a people who is blameless and innocent, selfless and humble, shining as lights here in Orange County. But this supernatural work is what we ask for because we believe that this is what you intend to do, and what you will do.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
(Sunday morning, April 15, 2018)
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Monday, April 16, 2018
Letter to Eva on her graduation
Eva,
Psalm 144 says "May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace." Mom and I count ourselves blessed by God because we see these qualities in you. Picture a piece of marble, carefully chosen and finished, intended to stand through the ages as part of a royal building. It's an image of something beautiful because it's noble and honorable and lovely. And it's an image of something strong because the corner pillar is quietly able to support the structure of the entire building. And we think you are a daughter like this, a corner pillar cut for the structure of a palace.
We have enjoyed watching you grow and mature for 18 years. You have always been a fun loving, composed, and thoughtful person. We've had fun watching you play with dolls, learn to draw, play the violin, sing in choir, catch a wave at Doheny, drive the car to youth group, get dressed up for dances, and travel the world. It has been a wonderful and awe-inspiring thing to see our precious baby girl grow up into a lovely and mature young woman.
You far exceeded our expectations for academic success. We tried to cast a vision of what it means to be an educated person, and you ran with it. You handled everything we threw at you: Homer and Herodotus, Wheelock's and Whitman, syllogisms and Senior Thesis. We saw you work with self-motivated diligence and whenever we read your papers or heard your speeches, we observed real thoughtfulness. We're extremely proud of you. And in addition to your academics, you acquired a remarkable skill and delight in drawing and painting which shows that you've developed a depth of character. Our hope is that your appetite for the good and the true and the beautiful is something that stays with you all the days the Lord gives you.
Mom and I also see the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. We see that you are a person with love for others, joy in life, at peace with God, patient through difficulties, kind to your siblings, a desire to be good, faithful to your church and family, gentle to those around you, and possessing self-control. These are evidences of God's grace in your life, which is only possible through Christ.
We also want to give you a few words of exhortation and encouragement.
First, you are going off to study art in Boston. You should enjoy it and stretch yourself and try new things. But, in the words of Solomon, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth." A lot of modern art is just ugly because many talented, ambitious artists have rejected the source of beauty. They think they are breaking free from outdated tradition and arbitrary rules, but by mocking God's Law and rejecting God's Word they cut themselves off from what Lewis calls the "fountain of joy". But if you remember your Creator, you have an incredible opportunity to paint and create things that are truly new, thoroughly modern, and are beautiful too.
Second, just like me and your mom, going off to college is a time to make your faith your own. You won't be going to church because Mom and Dad are going, so you'll have to go because you want to be with God's people. You won't be listening to the Bible because you happen to be at the dinner table, so you'll have to "take up and read" because you're convinced that Jesus has the words of life. This is part of becoming an adult - you decide what you really believe and how you really want to live. To that end, I'll give you a little bit of advice: make sure when you get to college, you find friends who will encourage you in the direction you want to go. Even at a Christian college, you have to be mindful of how you're influenced by those you spend time with. It's your mom's and my prayer that you will seek the Lord and continue to follow him and honor him, so find friends that will help you with that.
Finally, mom and I really hope you enjoy college and enjoy studying and painting and enjoy having new friends and late night talks and adventures and just a great time. We'll be at home praying that God watches over you, and we hope you make these verses from Psalm 16 your own:
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Psalm 144 says "May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace." Mom and I count ourselves blessed by God because we see these qualities in you. Picture a piece of marble, carefully chosen and finished, intended to stand through the ages as part of a royal building. It's an image of something beautiful because it's noble and honorable and lovely. And it's an image of something strong because the corner pillar is quietly able to support the structure of the entire building. And we think you are a daughter like this, a corner pillar cut for the structure of a palace.
We have enjoyed watching you grow and mature for 18 years. You have always been a fun loving, composed, and thoughtful person. We've had fun watching you play with dolls, learn to draw, play the violin, sing in choir, catch a wave at Doheny, drive the car to youth group, get dressed up for dances, and travel the world. It has been a wonderful and awe-inspiring thing to see our precious baby girl grow up into a lovely and mature young woman.
You far exceeded our expectations for academic success. We tried to cast a vision of what it means to be an educated person, and you ran with it. You handled everything we threw at you: Homer and Herodotus, Wheelock's and Whitman, syllogisms and Senior Thesis. We saw you work with self-motivated diligence and whenever we read your papers or heard your speeches, we observed real thoughtfulness. We're extremely proud of you. And in addition to your academics, you acquired a remarkable skill and delight in drawing and painting which shows that you've developed a depth of character. Our hope is that your appetite for the good and the true and the beautiful is something that stays with you all the days the Lord gives you.
Mom and I also see the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. We see that you are a person with love for others, joy in life, at peace with God, patient through difficulties, kind to your siblings, a desire to be good, faithful to your church and family, gentle to those around you, and possessing self-control. These are evidences of God's grace in your life, which is only possible through Christ.
We also want to give you a few words of exhortation and encouragement.
First, you are going off to study art in Boston. You should enjoy it and stretch yourself and try new things. But, in the words of Solomon, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth." A lot of modern art is just ugly because many talented, ambitious artists have rejected the source of beauty. They think they are breaking free from outdated tradition and arbitrary rules, but by mocking God's Law and rejecting God's Word they cut themselves off from what Lewis calls the "fountain of joy". But if you remember your Creator, you have an incredible opportunity to paint and create things that are truly new, thoroughly modern, and are beautiful too.
Second, just like me and your mom, going off to college is a time to make your faith your own. You won't be going to church because Mom and Dad are going, so you'll have to go because you want to be with God's people. You won't be listening to the Bible because you happen to be at the dinner table, so you'll have to "take up and read" because you're convinced that Jesus has the words of life. This is part of becoming an adult - you decide what you really believe and how you really want to live. To that end, I'll give you a little bit of advice: make sure when you get to college, you find friends who will encourage you in the direction you want to go. Even at a Christian college, you have to be mindful of how you're influenced by those you spend time with. It's your mom's and my prayer that you will seek the Lord and continue to follow him and honor him, so find friends that will help you with that.
Finally, mom and I really hope you enjoy college and enjoy studying and painting and enjoy having new friends and late night talks and adventures and just a great time. We'll be at home praying that God watches over you, and we hope you make these verses from Psalm 16 your own:
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Love,
Mom and Dad
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