Friday, August 28, 2009

Quiet Noises

We have turned off the ringers on our telephone, and we don't have a television. So, after the girls are asleep, a sweet silence begins to seep into the house. By the time my head hits the pillow, all that's left are the quiet noises. The gentle whir of the ceiling fan. The faint chirp of the cricket. The shrill sound of the cicada. The hoarse croak of the frog. The occasional hoot of the owl. My mind is finally free to meditate on the One who made me as I rest in the wonder and stillness of the moment. "On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night." (Psalm 63:6)

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Dark Drinking

It was about 10 a.m. on a Saturday, and I was sitting outside a Subway while John picked us up some sandwiches for a picnic lunch. Adjacent to the sub shop stood an ABC store, and I couldn't help but notice the steady stream of customers that came and went in the ten minutes we were there. No one comes out of a liquor store empty-handed. It's obviously a place you go with intention to buy, but what you buy remains concealed behind a brown paper bag. It's a rare thing to see a plain, brown paper bag used for purchases since plastic seems to have become the preferred method of packaging. Somehow, though, it seemed fitting to me that something that has contributed to alcoholism, broken homes, car accidents, sickness and death remains hidden in the dark with all that rejects the beauty of the Light. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1)

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Modesty Matters

Too trendy. Too tight. Too costly. Too curvy. Too short. Too showy. Too low. Too little. What we wear matters to God, and for women there is the added responsibility of not becoming a stumbling block to our brothers in Christ. What we put on can make a difference in their day to day struggle with lust. As this problem grows, so grows the urgency to educate ourselves on what would be pleasing to the Lord. Read the results of The Modesty Survey on Alex and Brett Harris' website. Begin a study using the book Worldliness, edited by C.J. Mahaney. Carefully mull over The Modesty Heart Check written by C.J.'s wife, Carolyn, and their three daughters. Prayerfully meditate on the many verses in the Bible that address the issue of modesty. And as you learn, spread the word to other women. Lord, let our beauty not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, let it be that of our inner selves, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in Your sight. (1 Peter 3:3-4)