When Steve and I were fairly new Christians we were members of a Baptist Church in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Our own Sharon’s father-in-law was pastor. He was a gentle and godly man with a great sense of humor, and God used him to fan the spark of faith in my husband Steve into a roaring flame.
But what I am remembering this week, as Paul Tripp takes us nearer to the cross, is how Pastor Leach heard (from guess who!) that I didn’t want to come to the Good Friday service, for going over the crucifixion was just too painful. He called me.
“I want you to come, Dee.”
“I just can’t, Pastor. It’s too horrific to go over those terrible details.”
“It is hard, but it will be good for your heart.”
I stuck in my heels and didn’t go. Steve went without me and I stayed home with our little boys.
I should have gone.
Some of you may feel the same as we get close to the cross.
Close to the suffering.
But it will be good for our hearts. Let us keep going, holding hands in the dark tunnel, spurring one another on.
At the end of the week, Tripp goes into how the cross leads to such victory, and that too is so good for our hearts — but we can’t get to the light at the end of the tunnel without going through the tunnel. So let’s go together. This poster from belief.net makes me think of Sam’s words in Lord of the Rings: Is everything sad going to come untrue?
Sunday:
- Share a God Hunt from last week.
Monday: Day 29.
2. What stands out to you from Day 29 and why?
3. I want to hear, in a sentence, what your worst job was and why! Then answer one more question.
4. Do the prayer exercise.
Tuesday: Day 30.
5. What stands out to you Tripp’s poem and why?
6. Choose a question to answer.
7. Do the prayer exercise.
Wednesday: Day 31.
8. What stands out to you from Day 31 and why?
9. Answer all three questions.
10. Do the prayer exercise.
Thursday: Day 32.
11. What stands out to you from Day 32 and why?
12. Choose a question to answer.
13. Do the prayer exercise.
Friday: Day 33.
14. What stands out to you from Day 33 and why?
15. Choose a question to answer.
16. Do the prayer exercise.
Saturday: Day 34.
17. What stands out to you from Day 34 and why?
18. Choose a question or two to answer.
19. Do the prayer exercise.
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Saturday: Day 34.
17. What stands out to you from Day 34 and why?
Jesus’ life saw no defeat so we could know victory. The darkest moments became the brightest moment ever.
When I am facing a dark moment, I can look to the example of Jesus and not give up. To not give up hope, because He is my hope.
18. Choose a question or two to answer.
What changes have you decided to make, and how are those changes going?
To be good at repenting daily when convicted of sin. There is greater awareness of the little “foxes that ruin the vineyard” in me. Very humbling to realize I cannot go through a day without falling short.
19. Do the prayer exercise.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
The foxes that ruin the vineyard is such a good way to help our hearts avoid sin.
14. What stands out to you from Day 33 and why?
God is the author of our story. His story is much better than ours! It’s a reminder that He is in charge, not me.
15. Choose a question to answer.
3. My husband and I are beginning to plan for our retirement. We are trying to write that chapter. I’m not sure what giving God control would look like. I will have a few years without health insurance until I am on Medicare (even though I would much rather pay for myself than rely on the government after watching my mom and friend go through what they did). We will find some sort of supplemental plan. I’m trusting He will take care of me.
Those are the most expensive years — right before medicare. But God will provide. I was about to give you some suggestions but realized it would be far far better just to pray!!!
17. What stands out to you from Day 34 and why?
The first sentence of the poem is so continual, never ending, harsh. It hurts. I liked this line, “The darkest moment ever became the brightest moment ever.” He came to conquer, and He did. If they knew then what we know now…
18. Choose a question or two to answer.
2. I haven’t made any changes yet, but something is drawing me to learning how to pray better. It is something I feel that I could refine a bit. I tend to dialog more with God in my head, all through the day. I want to learn to pray more purposefully.
I tend to do the same thing, dialog in my head more than focused times of prayer.
17. What stands out to you from Day 34 and why? This awesome and great message that what appeared to human eyes and human understanding as darkness, defeat, shame, helplessness, and weakness was in spiritual reality, equal to light, victory, helpfulness, and strength. It was my salvation. So as I might face lesser versions of these things, that as I surrender to the Lord, the spiritual reality, will be light, helpful, and victory for me.
18. I am processing changes, what would it look like to spend part of my week in entertainment fasting, to make room for spiritually rich activities, what would it look like to take a day (Sundays) as a sabbath from school work. Just kind of processing that.