Stuck in Saturday

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Principal

Another Holy Week came and went.  How did you celebrate?  Some of you probably went to a Maundy Thursday remembrance and enjoyed time at the Lord's Supper.  Some of you remembered the darkness of our Lord's death at a solemn Good Friday service.  Most of us observed Easter Sunday with a joyous worship and special activities with our family.

What did you do on Saturday?

Saturday of holy week is not one we think about  too often; we spend most of our time thinking about the great pain of Friday and the great joy of Sunday.  Saturday is simply the day in-between,  a day to prepare for Sunday.

Last year at Easter, I was feeling a great deal of pain.  My grandmother had passed away just two weeks prior and my marriage was hanging by a thread.  Easter Sunday was a day I just wanted to get through for the sake of my kids.  I had absolutely no joy and very little hope.

That Easter Sunday my pastor preached a sermon called "Everyday Sunday."  He asked us if we were stuck in Saturday.  Consider what Saturday would have been like for Jesus' loved ones.  It must have been a rough day for the disciples.  Imagine the pain they felt watching the Savior die.  Saturday was their first day without him.  They were waiting and wondering and they were mostly likely fearful.  Our pastor called it "a no courage, no plans, no hope day" (Poit).  I heard Max Lucado, a Christian author, on the radio last week call this particular Saturday "a silent Saturday."   It was the day between the darkness of the crucifixion and the joy of the resurrection.

There are times in our lives when we get stuck in the Saturdays.  We have endured the darkness of the trial and have yet to experience the joy of the victory.  We are in a holding pattern.  We are waiting for God to move, act, respond.  That's where I was last Easter - I was stuck in Saturday, and unfortunately I lived in Saturday for many months.  Thankfully, God uses our Saturdays to strengthen our faith in Him.  Lucado wrote this on his blog:  "Saturdays have their purpose. They let us feel the full force of God’s strength. Had God raised Jesus fifteen minutes after the death of His son, would we have appreciated the act? Were He to solve your problems the second they appear, would you appreciate His strength?" (Lucado).

So how do we move from Saturday to Sunday?  My pastor suggested the following:  

• Remember Jesus' words.  Cling to His promises to you.  You are not abandoned.  He is working - even if you don't feel it or see it.
• Remember the deep sacrifice He made on your behalf.  If you can find no other joy, find joy in the simple fact that God loves you deeply and sacrificially.
• Fellowship with other believers.  Find encouragement in their stories.  Revel in the deep connection and care they offer to you.  
• Continue to worship the Almighty God.  When Job experienced his deep tragedies, he fell to the ground in worship.  Pouring out our hearts in worship does wonders to keep our eyes on the only One who can walk us from the silence of Saturday to the joy of Sunday.

If you are stuck on Saturday, remember these words from the Psalmist:
"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord."  Psalm 27:13-14


Lucado, M. (March 30, 2013).  The Silence of Saturday.  Retreived on 4/17/2014 from http://maxlucado.com/read/blog/the-silence-of-saturday/

Poit, J. (March 31, 2013).  Everyday Sunday.  Sermon Notes.  New Hope Community Church.  

Who's #1?

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Principal

Do you worship idols?  When we think of the word idol, we often think of a little Buddha or a golden calf or maybe our mind goes to something more lighthearted like the origin of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.  But let's get real for a moment....are there any idols in your life?

I think we can all agree that money and success can easily become idols in one's life.  But even good things, gifts God has given us, can become idols too; our family, achievements, romance can all become more important to us than God is.

Here I am about to get real with you...I've recently been convicted that in my own life peace and joy are idols.  Peace and joy?!  Aren't those God-given gifts?!  Yes, they are, but they had become the driving force in my life - those qualities had become more important to me than God himself!   So when a time of trial hit my life this last year, where peace and joy were not found in my circumstances, I was lost, because God was not #1.  When my peace and joy were absent, it felt like God was absent too.  He certainly wasn't, but because He was not sitting on the throne of my heart, I had to dig through the muck and mire to see that His hand had been there all along.

May I recommend the book Gods at War:Defeating The Idols That Battle For Your Heart by Kyle Idleman to you?  It is an eye opening book that challenges us to evaluate what might be taking the highest priority in our lives.  Idleman says "The problem is that the instant something takes the place of God, the moment it becomes an end in itself rather than something to lay at God's throne, it  becomes an idol."

The author describes our sin life like a tree.  The trunk is the idolatry we hold tightly to and the branches are the sins that manifest from that idolatry.  He states "...anything that becomes the purpose or driving force of your life probably points back to idolatry of some kind."  It's a challenging book - no matter where you are in your walk with the Lord, it will force you to evaluate what may be standing in the way of a deeper relationship with our Almighty God.

Because of all of the challenges of the last year, my husband and I decided  to renew our vows last month.  Our first wedding was huge - 250 people - invite everybody - pack the church out.  This time it was simply us, our children, and our moms.  In the quietness of the chapel, we stood before God and reaffirmed our commitment to each other.  This time, we wrote our own vows and kept them a secret from each other.  What surprised us was that we both echoed the same sentiment...we can not do this on our own - we cannot have a successful marriage in our own strength, nor can our marriage be our #1 priority.

I wrote:  "Most importantly, I promise to run after Jesus with all of my being, knowing it's only
through His power that I can be the wife and mother you need me to be."

Brent wrote:  "I promise to live first for the Lord Jesus Christ seeking Him first and then you, loving you and you alone, through the love that He has shown me, by the power and enablement of the Spirit..."

Together, we are slowly getting it.  God must be sitting on the throne of our hearts and lives to find any success or joy or peace.  I love the song "Jesus at the Center" written by Israel Houghton.  It says exactly what  my heart sings now..."Nothing else matters.  Nothing in this world will do.  Jesus you're the center.  Everything revolves around you."  I wanted to share this song with you and found this precious 4 year old singing with her church choir.  As you listen to the song, pray that God would overthrow any idols you hold dear.  Life is so much more complete with Jesus at the center of it all.

Meeting Discouragement Face to Face

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Principal

Hello Discouragement!
I wish I could say "Pleased to meet you"
But I'm not
You've knocked at my door
And I've looked you in the eye
Do I let you come in?
I'm thinking about it -
No enthusiasm or joy?
Fear tugging at each corner of my heart?
Loss of hope?
That's who you are
And then I hear a whisper
"The waters will not sweep over you...
For I am the Lord, your Savior
And you belong to me."
A wind comes from behind me
The door slams
And I see you no more.

Have you ever walked through such deep waters that discouragement threatens your well being?  Most people who serve the Lord with their whole heart can relate and I am no different.  I'm not a person who reaches discouragement easily, and, being an English teacher, I have to have an intellectual understanding of the word, including its full etymological meaning (much to the chagrin of my students).  So when I was facing discouragement, I wanted to know all about it - what it truly was and how to battle it - and I was surprised by what I found!

When I looked up "discouraged" in my Bible concordance, I was shocked to find that over 50% of the references tied fear and discouragement together.

"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" ( Joshua 1:9).  Throughout the book of Joshua, the leader of the Israelites reminds God's people to not be afraid and not be discouraged.  

"...This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God's..." (2 Chronicles 20:17).  This same idea is repeated in many passages throughout the Old Testament.  God asks His people to not be afraid and not be discouraged.

In debate class, I teach students to research all sides of the issue - to know it backwards and forwards. So, I went in my concordance and looked up the opposite of discouragement and spent some time looking at "encouragement."  Do you know what I found?  Encouragement and strength seemed tied together.

"But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see" (Deuteronomy 3:28).

"Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace.  It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord" (Acts 9:31).

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father....encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word" (2 Thessalonians 2:17).

Times of discouragement seem to hit hardest when we are in the midst of a terrible battle.  We could be fighting for our marriages, praying fervently for a family member who has not yet been saved, seeking financial stability, or battling a severe disease.  It is at those times that we need the most strengthening.  So where do we find encouragement?  Seek out a friend.  Listen to worship music.  Read an excellent book.  But always, always look to the Lord for the best encouragement and strengthening.  After all, the battle is His!  This is the passage that helped me shut the door on discouragement; may it encourage your heart today:

"But now this is what the Lord says -
he who created you, O Jacob
he who formed you, O Israel.
'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name.  You are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior"
(Isaiah 43:1-3).

Sacred Marriage: A Book Review

by Jennie Smith
Secondary Principal

As a young girl, I dreamed of being married.  I planned my wedding multiple times over, read through bridal magazines, and imagined the life my husband and I would one day have.  I never dreamed that marriage would be the biggest challenge I ever faced. 

My husband and I celebrated the big 15 this past March and we still have so much to learn about a successful marriage.   I thought we had it all figured out, but this past year we hit some big bumps in the road as we dealt with life changes, deaths in our families, and growing children.  So, as I was looking for intriguing reading material for my summer vacation, I came upon the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.  It was the subtitle that really caught my attention:  "What if God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?"

It's an interesting premise, isn't it?  Most people look to their marriage for happiness.  But is that the ultimate goal of marriage?  If we were to answer truthfully, we would admit that our spouses don't make us happy all the time.  Some even go as far as divorcing their spouse simply because they are no longer happy.  My perspective on marriage made an about face as a result of reading Sacred Marriage - it is one I wished I would have read 15 years ago.  Here are some of the most eye-opening ideas I have taken from this book:

A Godly Marriage is Not Dependent on Romance
Romance is a relatively new premise for marriage.  Romantic love as the basis for marriage became the prevalent idea when poets like Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, and Keats argued that one should marry for love.  But when you look at the great marriages of the Bible, most married because of commitment and then love followed.  "Romantic love has no elasticity to it," Gary Thomas proclaims.  "It can never be stretched; it simply shatters.  Mature love, the kind demanded of a good marriage, must stretch, as the sinful human condition is such that all of us bear conflicting emotions."
This doesn't mean that romance has no place in a godly marriage; it is simply not the foundation of a godly marriage.


Marriage Contributes to Our Sanctification
I never knew how sinful I truly was until I got married.  It was shocking!  There was a person in my space who came face to face with my sin on a daily basis and reflected it back at me.  The author says it best:  "What marriage has done for me is hold up a mirror to my sin.  If forces me to face myself honestly..."  This spotlight on our own sin can motivate us to grow in grace.  The author encourages his readers to not enter into marriage to be fulfilled, or emotionally satisfied, or romantically connected, but to become more like Jesus. 

Marriage is a Constant Practice of Forgiveness
A single friend recently asked my husband and I what the key to a successful marriage is.  While my husband had his own idea, I asserted that the only way to have a successful marriage is to be willing to forgive.  We are married to a sinful being who will hurt us and will sin against us - that is a given.  We then have the opportunity to learn to forgive.  I didn't realize the impact at the time, but as part of our wedding vows, Brent and I said these words:  "I will forgive you as Christ has forgiven me."  Those words come to my mind all the time -  I promised and I have to follow through on that vow.

Marriage Requires Perseverance
This idea is nothing new, but one of my favorite passages from the book threw a new light on this.  "One of the most poetic lines in Scripture, one that I wish every husband and wife would display in a prominent place in their home, is found in verse 5 of 2 Thessalonians 3: 'May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.'"  If I rely on my own ability to love my spouse, or depend on my own ability to persevere, I will fail.   Instead, I should pray that I be directed into God's love for my spouse and Christ's perseverance.  It is only with His strength that my marriage will find success.

All Aspects of Marriage Point Us to Our Great Savior
In our marriage, we are reminded of our sin and we go to our Savior for forgiveness.
In our marriage, we are sinned against and follow the example of the Savior in forgiveness.
In our marriage, we face difficulties that cause us to go to our knees and seek our Savior's help.
In our marriage, we become more aware of God's presence as he works miracles in our families.
In our marriages, we learn truths about God, we learn the true meaning of love, we learn what it means to be a servant.  Our marriages can be the catalyst to a deeper relationship with God.

I highly recommend this book - whether you are engaged, newly married, or married for 60 years.  It has changed the way I see my marriage.  Instead of looking for opportunities to be happy in my relationship with my husband, I am looking for opportunities to become more like my Savior - to become holy, set apart for a purpose.  When I do that, I don't experience happiness - it is true joy that pervades my being.

Let's have a conversation about this.  In the comments below, would you answer my friend's question?  What is the key to a successful marriage?

Joy!

by Meridith Borta, Elementary Principal

“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart to stay. And I’m so happy, so very happy. I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heaaaart….“

Well, you get the idea.

This was one of my favorite songs as a child. As an adult, though it is sometimes difficult, it is one of my greatest desires to be able to wholeheartedly sing this song with the same passion and truth as I did back then. As a believer in Jesus, I have every reason to be joyful--my God has overcome the world!

The Bible tells us time and time again to rejoice. Psalms 96:11-13 says, “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.”

Psalms 47:1 says, “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!”

Do you have this joy? Or have you allowed your circumstances to fill you with anxiety, despair, sorrow, or a downright bad attitude.  

One of my favorite quotes on this topic comes from Charles Swindoll. He writes,

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

It seems a little easier said than done at times. Face it. Life is hard. How can we turn our bad attitudes to joy? How can we keep the circumstances from robbing us of our joy?

First, we must answer the question, “Are we really called to rejoice during those hard times when nothing seems to be going right?”

Well, Philippians 4:4 tells us, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Notice that the Bible does not tell us to rejoice only when things are going our way. It says ALWAYS! And then it says it again. . . Rejoice! It must be important. 

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Regardless of what is going on around us, we can rejoice in our circumstances. We are reminded again in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Is it time you got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy BACK down in your heart?