where the true power of the Spirit is seen

David Powlison:

I find myself weary of dramatic hyperbole in descriptions of the ideal Christian life. Extreme! Radical! Passionate! Awesome! Edgy! On fire! Dramatic!

I can understand the emotional appeal of such hyperbole. After all, who wants to live half-baked, mediocre, listless, dull, bland, and boring?! But the opposite of listless is not necessarily all fired up. Our faith contains a wonderfully curious surprise.

For starters, I don’t think many of us are capable of sustaining the adrenaline level. If you did manage to sustain your passion for a week, a year, a decade, it bears pondering whether the wider culture’s obsession with extreme adventure and radically awesome hyperbole might have infiltrated your operating system with a virus. If the passion ebbs, is what really matters lost and gone?

Or does it mean that it’s time to grow up?

Consider the graces that God steadily works to produce in us. They are certainly different from what we naturally gravitate to. In that sense, his purposes are Extreme! Radical! On fire! Exceedingly beyond all you can ask or even imagine! Glory, glory, hallelujah!

But then again, the Holy Spirit seems on fire to produce a life afire with rather unfiery things. His view of what is significant cuts Awesome! down to size (while being the farthest thing from dull). He is forming in you things that are good for the long haul. Good for times when your feelings are marked with pain or loneliness. Good for days or months or years of perplexity and struggle. Good for the small deaths of old age and then for dying. Good for helping others going through the same troubles...We long for dramatic action...But right now we need the good graces to carry us through all that happens until the Day when dramatic finally happens once and for all.

Consider a baker’s dozen of graces that are set on fire with the odd fire of God’s purposes. Ponder each one for a moment.

Mercy
Patience
Gratitude
Goodness
Commitment
Constructive candour
Bearing one another’s burdens
Sense of need and weakness
Reliance on another
Peacemaking
Endurance
Humility
Love

Not one of these sets off conspicuous fireworks. But these are worth more than anything else you could ever desire. Jesus lived this baker’s dozen of good graces. He is making you into this image.

Read the rest here.

further thoughts on patience

Thank you Simone for your thoughts on godliness at home with kids, which I found to be a wonderful follow-up (intentional or not!) to my post growing in patience.

It's good to be reminded (and very timely given yesterday's post on change) that there are things we can do to make patience easier, like

• change our expectations of home (it's not just a place to put our feet up, but a place to serve)
• avoid temptation when we can (some simple organisational changes certainly would have made my impatient week easier!)
• aim for godliness in all of life (like joy) and godliness in one small area will follow (like patience)
• inject fun and freshness into life when possible
• enjoy God's good gift of home.

And I love this poem too. :)

Thanks, Simone.

image is from Mrs. W. at flickr

growing in patience

Did I tell you I want to grow in patience? Well. Here's the thing.

Last week was one of those weeks. Every night I slept badly, and woke achy with tiredness.

On Tuesday I was standing in the shower, enjoying the first peaceful minutes of a difficult morning, when one of my children came in and informed me, "So-and-so did this to me!". One minute later, another child came in and told me, "I can't find such-and-such!". One minute later, another child came in and said, "So-and-so and so-and-so are fighting!". Each time, my response was a little more shaded with impatience.

By now, I was clinging to the pitiful remnants of my peaceful 5 minutes, standing with my face in the towel, fighting back tears and praying desperately that I would be patient if another child interrupted me. They did. I wasn't. They got the full force of my slowly-building frustration: "I'm in the shower and what do you expect me to do and I'll deal with it when I get out and please just leave me alone!".

God grows me by showing me my weakness.

Last week was one of those weeks. The children fought in the car all the way home from school, and filled the hours till dinnertime with whining, tantrums and bickering. (They are lovely kids. Really. But very human.)

On Tuesday afternoon my tired and hungry son swung into that state where every sentence is a whining demand for this, that and the other, interspersed with hysterical crying. I gritted my teeth and bore it as long as possible, then slammed the microwave door on his cup of warm (as demanded) milk.

The lights went out. The power went off. I ran outside to flick the switch on the fuse board, then back inside to discover that, sure enough, the microwave was blank and unresponsive. My adult tantrum resulted in the (rather expensive) purchase of a new microwave the next day.

God grows me through his fatherly discipline.

Last week was one of those weeks. I was preparing a Bible study on a particularly hard passage, and my quiet times turned into extended battles with difficult verses, which nudged the morning routine out of shape and stole my attention from the kids (contributing, I'm sure, to their bearish behaviour).

On Thursday I slept poorly (again), led Bible study (in a somewhat zombie-like state), picked up the (still arguing) kids from school, and got home prickly with exhaustion, praying that God would help me to be patient with my children. For that one afternoon, I responded with patience.

God grows me by giving me grace.

This is me. This is reality. This is God growing me in patience in the midst of life,

• as he shows me my weakness
• through his fatherly discipline
• by giving me grace.

Welcome to the coalface.

The only way to grow in patience is to walk a path where patience is required.
- Naomi Reed

images are from mdanys, depinniped, noobaru and Mrs. W. at flickr

the art of the gentle answer

This last year, one of the ways God has grown my husband is in gentleness. I've learned a lot from Steve about the way a gentle answer (his) can take away wrath (mine). Here's 3 examples I can remember.

• I went into a rant about some person who had done something in some way to upset me, and instead of saying, "Get a grip!" or "Stop being so judgemental!" or "You're absolutely right!" he said, "You must be feeling bad." Deflated. Me.
• I went into a rant about something Steve had done (I think it was something significant like the way his belongings affected the look of our living room) and instead of saying "It's not my fault!" or "Well, you did such-and-such!" or "I live here too, you know!" he said, "That must be difficult for you." And he wasn't being sarcastic. Sigh.
• I went into a rant about how some major life-changing decision was going to affect our lives and the lives of our children and the lives of everyone else we know, and instead of saying, "Well, that's just how it is!" or "Stop whining!" or "Suck it up, princess!" he said, "Yes, I know it will be hard for you", and gave me a sympathetic hug. Aaaah.

My husband is far from perfect - as he would be the first to admit! - but I've learned a lot from him about gentleness, me being a shoot-your-mouth-off let-it-all-hang-out tell-them-how-upset-you-are (as-long-as-they're-family-but-not-otherwise) kind of gal.

I can tell you from experience that a gentle answer is a salve on the bee-sting of irritation - or a pin to the balloon of wrath - or a calm which sucks the wind from the sail of anger - or something like that, anyway.

A gentle answer has long-term effects, too. Months later, when Steve's belongings still decorate the living room or I feel the effects of that life-changing decision, I surprise myself by responding with grace rather than anger. God's word is proved right once again:

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1

image is from stephen.h2010 at flickr

why I need the fruit of the Spirit

I've been praying for the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Here's why I need it.

• Love: to enable me to put others' needs above my own, even when I'm aching to have my needs met.
• Joy: to remember God's salvation and blessings when I'm moaning inwardly as I go about my tasks.
• Peace: for all the times I'm tempted to worry about the future, and so I can encourage my children to be peacemakers.
• Patience: when I don't think I can bear another request, argument or complaint and I want to scream at my kids to make them stop.
• Kindness: to help me creatively and generously care for my family and those in need.
• Goodness: a commitment to doing what's right, even when it would be easier to fudge the boundaries.
• Faithfulness: to persevere when the days feel long and weary, and I'm tired of putting one step in front of the other.
• Gentleness: so I'll bite my tongue and speak loving words that build up, not cutting words that tear down.
• Self-control: without this, no other obedience is possible. I find myself praying for this most of all!

image is from our Sunday school lessons on the fruit of the Spirit

Sunday School - fruit of the Spirit - our banner

I thought you might like to see the finished results of our Sunday School series on the fruit of the Spirit.

Here is the big felt banner we added a fruit to each week:

Here is Lizzy's small banner. Artistically minded as always, you know it's hers from the decorative embellishments.

And here is Ben's small banner. Accurate as always, he's written out the verse in full, right down to the "But" at the start, and listed the fruit of the Spirit down one side, and the fruit of the tree down the other. Only the numbers are embellished: Ben is a mathematician to the core.
So it's al over! And I breathe a sigh of relief at not having to prepare a Sunday School lesson every Friday morning. But I learnt a lot about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, and I hope the kids (and you) did too!

Sunday School - fruit of the Spirit - self-control

On Sunday we learnt about the final fruit of the Spirit: self-control. I chose an apple for self-control because it's tough, and it takes strength to say "no" to temptation.

Self-control is the iron in obedience. It's the strong walls which protect us from sin. It gives godliness its backbone. Without self-control, we are floppy, easily influenced, vulnerable. With self-control, we learn to deny our sinful desires, and to use our thoughts, words and actions to serve God.

The children and I talked about what temptation means (wanting to do the wrong thing, or other people wanting you to do the wrong thing) and what self-control means (saying "no" to temptation).

I showed the kids four props: a magic plate which produces any food you like on demand, a magic wand which gives you the power to do anything, a treasure chest full of gold coins, and a crown. I asked, "What would you say if someone offered you these?" and "Would it be easy to say 'no' to them?"

Then I shared the story of Jesus, who resisted exactly these temptations at the outset of his ministry. Who fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, and was tempted by Satan to use his powers for his own ends, to turn stones into bread. Who responded with the words, "'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4).

Who was taken by Satan to the highest point of the temple, and challenged to jump down so that everyone would see God's rescue. Who chose instead to obey God's Word, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test" (Matt. 4:7). Who chose the path of weakness and service instead of attracting followers by showing off his powers.

Who was taken by Satan to a high mountain, and offered all the peoples and riches of the world if only he would worship him. Who obeyed God's command to "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only" (Matt. 4:10). Who refused to establish an earthly kingdom, choosing instead to die on the cross that we might live.

The kids knew the story of Jesus' temptation well, and enjoyed capping me at every point ("And then Jesus said ...!"). We talked about the times we might need to exercise self-control: when tempted to be greedy, to hit someone or speak angrily, to look at inappropriate TV shows or internet sites, to lie or take something that's not ours.

"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control" (Prov. 25:28). Our craft was a door-hanger, a way to say "Keep out!", the child's version of the city wall. On one side was "Stop! Think! Obey!" in traffic-light formation, and on the other side the verse "Let us be alert and self-controlled" (1 Thess. 5:6).

Sunday School - fruit of the Spirit - gentleness

Gentleness n. - soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe; having or showing a kindly or tender nature; quiet and soothing.

We had a very ungentle lesson about gentleness! Very unpeachlike (a peach was chosen as our fruit-of-the-week for its softness).

Our example of gentleness was Jesus, who said:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matt. 11:28-30

Jesus could have entered Jerusalem on a war-horse and claimed kingship with the help of legions of angels, but came "gentle and riding on a donkey," an animal of peace (Zech. 9:9). He blessed children, spoke tenderly to the sick, and welcomed the humble in heart. He suffered silently when he was insulted, whipped and nailed to a cross, and called his followers to do the same.

In our Sunday School class, heavily weighted with boys, I discovered the truth of what Jerry Bridges says about the unpopularity of gentleness:

We pray for patience, we pray for love, we pray for purity and self-control. But who of us ever prays for the grace of gentleness? ... I suspect that of all the character traits of godliness, gentleness will be the least appealing to many male readers. For some reasons we seem to have difficulty believing that manliness and gentleness can be part of the same personality. Men often want to see gentleness in their mothers and wives, but not in themselves. The macho image of the non-Christian male world has a tendency to rub off, even on us.*

Our boys thought "meek" meant "weak," and wanted to be "strong" rather than "gentle." They didn't realise that gentleness is born of power rather than weakness, and true strength clothes itself in gentleness.

To keep things interesting, I invented a game called "King of the World." Each child received an envelope with a question printed on the outside, like "If you were the king of the world, how would you travel?" Inside each envelope was a verse about Jesus. Here's how our discussion went:

Q. If you were the king of the world, what would you do to someone who hit you, or tried to kill you?
A. Gleeful suggestions involving machine gun fire, atomic bombs, and spaceships with assorted alien weaponry.

Q. If you were the king of the world, what kind of followers would you want?
A. Gangsters (with torture chambers), armies full of soldiers, robots to turn my enemies into pancakes so I can eat them.

Q. If you were the king of the world, what would you do if snotty little children / pesky crowds bothered you?
A. Shoot them, drop bombs on them, tell them to get lost.

You get the idea.

Which caused much laughter, and should have been a marvellous lead-in to my teaching about Jesus and gentleness, except reading out lots of verses wasn't the way to go! Too long and wordy.

If I was to teach this lesson again, I would choose 4-6 significant examples of gentleness during the life of Jesus - his rules for his followers, his treatment of children and sick people, the entry into Jerusalem, his death for us - and showed the children a picture of each (a set of those felt figures would have been nice!) as we talked about how they showed gentleness.

But the children did enjoy making critters out of pom-poms, pipe-cleaners, felt pieces and goggly eyes. Although the boys were a little disgusted to discover the creatures had to be "gentle"! I think they would have preferred claws and fangs dripping with blood.


While they worked, we talked about whether Jesus is weak or strong (they agreed he was strong, so at least he's a hero to them!) and about how it takes strength to be gentle (not sure they got that one, but I tried).

So here's an idea for this week, especially for those guys amongst you who think gentleness is effeminate. Read a gospel, and look at the ways Jesus is tough on the self-righteous, but gentle in speech and act towards the weak and sinful. Perhaps we, too, will learn to "be completely humble and gentle; ... patient, bearing with one another in love" (Eph. 4:2).

* Jerry Bridges, The Fruitful Life, pp.141, 148

Sunday School - fruit of the Spirit - faithfulness

Yesterday at Sunday School we talked about faithfulness. The fruit was a cherry, shaped like a circle, which has no beginning and no end. Like faithfulness, which never fails.

Preparing this week's lesson was itself a lesson in faithfulness. I'm really struggling through this 11-week Sunday School series, with my father-in-law's death and my daughter's illness. Finding time week-by-week to write a Sunday School lesson, and digging deep for the energy to lead it, has tested my faithfulness to the limit.

I also learned how God graciously rewards faithfulness. Last Friday I sat down to read Daniel in weariness and discouragement, but by the end of the 12th chapter, my head was wiser, my heart more joyful, and my will stirred to greater obedience. I'd forgotten how the effort of faithful preparation, of plumbing deep into God's Word, is more than rewarded by the deep satisfaction it brings.

I was gripped and inspired by the story of God's faithful servant Daniel. What an amazing example of faithfulness!

- He stayed faithful to God, worshipping and praying only to him, even when the likely result was death by lion. He prayed 3 times a day, and wept for the sins of his people.

- He stayed faithful to God's Word, refusing to be defiled by food from the king's table. It would have taken courage to risk the king's displeasure, and to stand out in a hostile and pagan environment.

- He stayed faithful to his responsibilities. He was wise, hard-working and trustworthy, so that not just one but two kings put him over their kingdom.

Even his worst enemies could find nothing against him, except his service to God. "They could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, 'We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God'" (Dan. 6:4). Would our enemies be able to say this of us?

Daniel's story reminded me that we should be known for our faithfulness to God. At school and work, are we open about our faith in Jesus? We should be known for our faithfulness to God's Word. Are our lives distinct from those around us? We should be known for our faithfulness in our responsibilities. Do we avoid sloppy work, unfulfilled promises, and unfinished tasks?

Great lessons for children! To let their friends know they love Jesus, even if they face rejection. To be absolutely honest, whatever the temptations to lie or steal. To do their work and tasks reliably and well.

I told the story of Daniel using finger puppets and some plastic lions. Pity that the "handsome" Daniel had two pink tufts of hair sticking out of the sides of his head, but you can't have everything!

After church yesterday the children were proudly wearing the friendship bands they plaited at Sunday School. The boys were particularly taken by the idea that you wear them until they fall off (parents and teachers permitting!) to remind you to stay faithful to the end. Others were wearing wrist bands printed with this verse:
Fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Joshua 24:14

fruit of the Spirit bag tags

And here's the craft Liz and the kids made for their Sunday School lesson on goodness: bag tags with Micah 6:8 on them. The kids wrote their names on the back, cut them out and laminated them to hang on their school bags, to remind them to live for God while they're at school. Clever!

Sunday School - fruit of the Spirit - goodness

Today the children are looking at the word goodness. The fruit: a banana, of course! Bananas are full of goodness, aren't they?

I'm not leading Sunday School today. A kind friend offered to lead it for me, to give Steve and me time to rest and recover. But let me tell you what I learned about "goodness" as I prepared the lesson, and how I would have taught it.

It took some work to look up all the "goods" and "goodnesses" in the concordance! The Bible word "good" has a huge range of meanings, from "pleasant" to "righteous," as it does in English. Like all the fruit of the Spirit, this quality springs from God, who is "good" and the giver of "good" things to his people.

Those who are "good" imitate God in two ways:
- they are morally upright, doing what is right, fair and just;
- they do good to others, treating them with loving kindess, mercy and generosity.

The children will hear the story of one of the "good" kings of Israel, who did "what was good and right and faithful before the LORD" and "walked in the ways of his father David" (2 Chron. 31:20, 34:2). The story of Josiah, who became king when he was only 8 years old.

Do you remember how, as a teenager, Josiah began to seek God? How he ordered the ruthless destruction of idols and false priests (no pretty Sunday School story this!) and scattered their ground remains over the graves of their worshippers? How he repaired the temple, and restored the worship of the one true God?

Do you remember the glorious and terrible day the scroll of God's Law was discovered lying dusty and neglected in the temple? How Josiah tore his robes and mourned because of God's anger which was coming on his people because they had not followed God's Word?

Do you remember how Josiah read the Book of the Covenant loudly to all the people, and how they repented and pledged themselves to obey God's commands? How they celebrated the forgotten Passover once again?

I think I would have chosen an 8-year old boy from our class, put a paper crown on his head (although Josiah was much older when the law was found) and asked him to read the 10 commandments as Josiah would have to the Israelites.

Not to return the children to law-keeping! But to remind them of the goodness God demands from his people, even after our law-breaking has been paid for by Jesus' death.

The children will talk about how God's Word shows us what is "good": to love others, obey parents and teachers, and refuse to lie, cheat or steal, even when their friends act differently. They'll listen to the Colin Buchanan song "Do not lie, do not steal, do not deceive one another" (Lev. 19:11).

The craft will be a pendant or bag tag, perhaps made from bakeable clay, to hang aroung their necks or on their school bags. To remind them to stay true to God, even when it's hard because it sets them apart from friends and classmates.

I'll leave you with the Bible verse the kids may learn today:
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Sunday School - fruit of the Spirit - kindness

Last week's Sunday School lesson, unsurprisingly, wasn't quite as well run as usual! A bit like one of those awkward Bible study discussions where you ask all the wrong questions.*

Yet it was an appropriate week to talk about kindness. For my father-in-law David, who went to be with the Lord 3 days before I taught Sunday School, was one of the kindest people I knew.

Many people have shared their stories of David and Audrey's quiet, gentle, practical loving-kindness: a young man who lived with them after moving from the country, a woman who ate many meals in their house while suffering through churchly disapproval after a marriage breakdown, a student who enjoyed David's cooking during many Christian camps hosted at their bush property.

In the mind-numbing tiredness of grief, I found it difficult to prepare last week's lesson, but I won't quickly forget what I learned about kindness: a simple yet profound quality, which forgets self and cares for the needs of others.

I was frantically trying to decide which Bible story to teach, when I noticed how often the word "kindness" appears in the book of Ruth (2:13, 20; 3:10).

And yes! There it was! The story of Ruth, a humble woman who quietly cared for the needs of her mother-in-law Naomi. The story of Boaz, a faithful man who served his God by leaving the left-over gleanings of his harvest for the poor, and who took pity on Ruth and gave her food and protection.

I made one of those "televisions" where you paste pictures from a story on a scroll, roll it onto two sticks inside a box with one side cut out for a "screen", and turn the sticks to show each scene as you tell the story:

The children, appropriately enough, made pictures, letters and cards for people in need: a sponsor child, a sick brother, and, in the case of my son Ben, a grieving grandmother. He drew himself with his arms around her.

I can think of few better ways to honour David's memory than to offer the gift of kindness this week. But this humble man would have asked you instead to "honour God" by being "kind to the needy" as you imitate the "kindness and love of God our Saviour" in Christ Jesus our Lord (Prov. 14:31; Tit. 3:4).

Kindness: a friendly smile, a hospitable meal, an encouraging word, a visit to someone lonely, a gift for someone in need, a meal cooked for a grieving friend (believe me, they need it!). How many ways can you think of to show kindness this week?

*Ever told a bunch of kids how kind Ruth was to marry Boaz (Ruth 3:10) instead of running after all the younger men? Don't bother!

Sunday School - fruit of the Spirit - patience

Well, it's been a tough one, but I finally thought of a a craft for our Sunday School lesson on patience.

We're making pot-stands, because they stand so patiently bearing the heat of the pot (yes, I know, but you try thinking of a craft which illustrates long-suffering!). White tiles, a verse around the edges, a picture drawn in permanent textas, and voilà!

It also took me a long time to think of a Bible story illustrating patience. Abraham and Sarah waiting for their promised son? (We've just done that one.) David and Saul? (Too complicated.) Job? (How do you tell a bunch of kids about a guy whose children all died when a house blew on top of them? Let alone the festering boils, and the dead animals, and the cursing wife, and the unsympathetic comforters. Well, you probably could, but the task was beyond me.)

Then it hit me: why not do a story illustrating impatience? Of course! The Israelites in the wilderness! Travelling through a hot desert for weeks on end, with no water, not enough food, and a God who promised to care for them, whinging, whining and complaining every step of the way.

Sounds like a car trip with young children to me.

Except worse. Picture a sea of 600,000 tents, each with a family outside the door, wailing about all the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic they ate during their glory days as Egyptian slaves. "But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" Ever tried to serve a meal up to children they don't want to eat?

No wonder Moses cried out, "Why have you made me a nursemaid to whiny baby Israel?" (Numbers 11:4-15).

I hadn't realised what a vivid, fast-paced story this was until I came to re-tell it. And it sums up so well the temptations children face every day, when they are hot and tired, or have to wait for their parents, or don't get the meal they want.

Let's pray that we all learn to be patient, cheerful and thankful under life's daily difficulties.

patience, the forgotten virtue

If you were asked to list the most important Christian virtues, what would you say?

Love. Faith. Joy. Peace. Hope. Maybe compassion, or kindness, or humility.

I'm not sure patience would be near the top of my list. Yet Paul puts it right after the big three: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).

No doubt partly because the quarreling Galatians needed a good dose of patience. But also, I'm sure, because patience is more important than we realise.

Patience is such an everyday virtue. It's not trendy, or conspicuous, or attention-seeking. It's a grit-your-teeth-and-bear-it virtue. It's a virtue suited to mothers, or the elderly, or those who serve. It's unlikely to be noticed, or rewarded, or praised.

Yet patience is enormously important in the Bible. It's the first fruit of suffering, and the earliest expression of hope. It's the handmaiden of peace and joy. Without it, love and kindness can't flourish. It makes the greater virtues possible.

Patience silences the querulous mind, so it may be filled with hope and peace. It keeps the mouth of grumbling shut, so words of thanksgiving and praise may come forth. It stills the hands of revenge, so they may act in love and service.

In the Bible, patience is five-fold:*

1. Patience makes us long-suffering when abused by those who have power.
We imitate Jesus, who suffered silently on the cross, sought no revenge, and entrusted himself to the One who judges justly. Like him, we submit to injustice and cruelty with quiet endurance, trusting in the justice and faithfulness of God (2 Thess. 1:6-7; 1 Pet. 2:23, 4:19).

2. Patience makes us slow to anger when provoked by those we have power over.
We imitate God, who declares himself to be "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness" (Exod. 34:6; Jam. 1:19). The One who calls us to discipline our children in love rather than anger, bite our tongues when others speak hurtfully, and treat those under our authority with humility and gentleness.

3. Patience gives us the everyday virtue of forbearance with those around us.
It enables us to willingly bear irritating behaviour from family members, quietly tolerate the short-comings of fellow-Christians, and humbly forgive the sins of those we live and work with, remembering how great God's patience and forgiveness is towards us (1 Co. 13:4; Eph. 4:2-3; Col. 3:12-14; 1 Thess. 5:14) .

4. Patience enables us to wait on God.
It helps us to trust God's timetable is best, persevere in prayer, and keep believing his promises, even when hopes remain unfulfilled, prayers go unanswered, and discouragement feels unending (Ps. 40:1-2; Heb. 6:15).

5. Patience helps us to endure and persevere in suffering.
It clothes us with the beautiful qualities of endurance, standing firm in the midst of suffering, and perseverance, going on in the face of affliction. It is woven from deep trust in God's love, knowledge of his purposes for suffering, and undying hope in heaven (Rom. 12:2, 15:4; Col. 1:11; Jam. 5:7-10; Rev. 1:9, 5:10, 13:10, 14:12).

Patience is hard work. It may mean your wants go unnoticed, your rights unfulfilled, your needs unmet. No-one is likely to congratulate you for it. They may not even notice it. But to God, patience is beautiful. And he notices, and rewards those who entrust themselves patiently to him.

*The five meanings of patience are taken from the chapter on patience in Jerry Bridges' The Fruitful Life, which opened my eyes to the complexity of this big Bible word, and which led me to reflection, repentance and prayer.

Sunday School - fruit of the Spirit - peace

We had a lot of fun learning about peace in Sunday School yesterday. (The fruit? A "piece" of watermelon, of course!)

As I prepared, I realised the Bible speaks of 3 kinds of peace - peace with God, peace with others, and peace within. I decided to focus on the third, the freedom from anxiety which is ours when we trust God to care for us.

For children are anxious and fearful about so many things! Bogey-men, spiders, illness, bullies, death, intruders, the first day at a new school: do you remember how you feared them as a child?

When I was young and afraid of the dark, my mother gave me a placard which rested on my bed-head. Its blue letters said, "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8). It comforted me when I lay there feeling scared.

So the children and I decorated placards for their rooms, with a choice of verses like this one: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7).

I told the story of how Jesus calmed the storm. Not as some clever allegory about how Jesus calms the storms in our lives, but as the act which drove the disciples to ask in terror: who is this man?

Here's the pictures I drew (upside-down, which explains the wonkinesss!) as I told them the story:

1. Tired after a day of teaching, healing, and casting out demons, Jesus sleeps on a cushion in the front of the boat ...

2.Aaargh! A storm! Jesus sleeps peacefully on, while the disciples shout in fear. (The kids thought they looked like they were singing, but it's supposed to be fear.)
3. Before I drew the disciples' faces, I asked how they would have felt after Jesus calmed the storm. The children's suggestions? Relieved, amazed, happy.They were surprised when they saw the faces of the disciples and realised they were wobbling like jelly from terror!

Why? Because they suddenly realised they were in the presence of the One who can control the wind and the waves.

Jesus, the Lord of Creation, who is more powerful than all our fears, who hears our prayers when we are anxious or afraid, who will guard our hearts and minds with his peace.

the peace of God

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:1-7

This is one of my favourite Bible passages. It's comforted me many times since I committed it to memory, back when I was newly married and anxious about our future (what work would we do? where would we live? how would we eat?).

For the first time, I realised the incredible power of Bible memorisation: if I remembered God's word, I could wield it as a weapon whenever anxiety threatened to overwhelm me, and the Holy Spirit would speak it deep into my heart.

Yet these verses have always puzzled me. What is the "peace of God" Paul talks about? Is it the "peace" Christ's death has won for us, an end to the enmity between God and believers? Or is it more experiential, a sense of "inner peace"?

One of those "light-bulb" moments happened for me as I hunted through a complete concordance for the word "peace" for my Sunday School lesson (nothing like a perfectionistic session of over-preparation to help you know the Bible better).

I realsed the Bible's use of the word "peace" can be neatly sorted into 3 columns:

• peace between God and people (Rom. 5:1-11);
• peace as an inner state of trust in God, freeing us from anxiety and fear;
• peace between people (Israel and the nations, Jew and Gentile, Christians in relation to non-Christians or secular authorities, and Christians with one another).

There weren't many verses about "peace" as freedom from anxiety flowing from trust in God, but there were enough to show me this was an important aspect of the word "peace" in the Bible:

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Yet the argument in Philippians 4:4-7 is quite complex. What is the "peace of God" which guards our hearts and minds? Most modern commentators argue that "peace of God" isn't inner peace, but God's serenity and salvation, which guard our thoughts, wills and emotions from attack, including the assault of anxiety.*

However it works, of this we can be sure: that as we pray with thanksgiving, God promises to garrison our hearts and minds with his peace, keeping out intruders like anxious thoughts.

May God help us to turn to him in prayer whenever we feel anxious or afraid. And may he guard us with his peace.

My thinking about the 3 meanings of the word "peace", and the practical implications of Phil. 4:4-7, was clarified by Jerry Bridges' The Fruitful Life. There's a lovely explanation and application of these verses in Don Carson's Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians p.110-5. And Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives an intriguing psychological explanation of how God's "peace" guards our hearts and minds in his chapter on worry in Spiritual Depression.

*See F.F.Bruce NIBC commentary on Philippians pp.143-4 and Peter T. O'Brien's NIGTC commentary on The Epistle to the Philippians pp.496-7.

The Fruitful Life

I've been reading and praying through a chapter from Jerry Bridges' The Fruitful Life each morning.

I was excited to discover this little book on the fruit of the Spirit, which I thought would help with the Sunday School series I'm writing. I've been a fan of Jerry Bridges since uni days, when I read The Pursuit of Holiness.

Like all Jerry Bridges' books, this one is Biblical, thoughtful, wise, compassionate, and practical. He explores the shades of meaning in some huge Bible words: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).

Yesterday I was reading the chapter on joy when these words jumped out at me:

In Luke's account of Jesus' sending out the seventy-two to preach, he says that they returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." Jesus responded, "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (10:17-20). ... Success in ministry comes and goes, but our names are written in heaven forever. ...

Perhaps you don't feel you have much to show for your life. Maybe you haven't written a book, or seen scores come to Christ through your witness, or done anything else that seems significant. But is your name written in heaven? If it is, you have as much reason to rejoice as the most well-known and "successful" Christian. Nothing you or I will ever do can possibly compare with having our names written in heaven. The most humble Christian as well as the most famous Christian stand together on that common ground. (p. 78)

I find it so easy to be tempted to rejoice in the wrong things. When people enjoy my seminar, or a Bible study goes well, or there's lots of readers on my blog, how quick I am to congratulate myself on the success of my ministry!

I don't even realise I'm doing it until a seminar falls flat, or only one person comes to a Bible study, or there are less readers on my blog. Then my disappointment shows I've been rejoicing in my own success, not just the opportunity to encourage others.

Jerry Bridges reminded me that even if I spend my life completely unnoticed - looking after an autistic child or sick parent, caring for my family while my husband is on conferences, living a quiet life of faithful service - but my name is written in heaven, I have as much grounds for rejoicing as the most successful Bible teacher or widely-read Christian author.

Can I encourage you to get hold of Jerry Bridges' The Fruitful Life, and to prayerfully reflect on a chapter or section each day? It will inspire you to love and serve God, and lead you to self-examination, repentance, and prayer.

I'll tell you some more things I've learned from Jerry Bridges' The Fruitful Life as I blog about the fruit of the Spirit in weeks to come.

Sunday School - fruit of the Spirit - joy

Today in Sunday School we’re looking at a fruit with special meaning for me: joy! (You know, the one that's juicy, like an orange.)

My life has been lived to the tune of something I learned as a child:
What is the chief end of man?
The chief end of man is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever.
(Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q.1)

Our daughter’s middle name is Joy. For 5 long and exciting years I wrote about the Puritan quest for enjoyment of God for my PhD. And I’m leading a seminar on enjoying God in a couple of months.

So I’m really looking forward to Sunday School. I want to tell the children that we can rejoice in God – be happy that we’re his children, on our way to heaven, with the wonderful job of telling others about Jesus – in bad times and in good.

Which is harder: to rejoice in God when your life is falling apart? Or to rejoice in God when everything is going well? I think they’re equally difficult. We so easily forget God when we’re consumed by despair, or absorbed in earthly pleasures.

So I’ve chosen a Bible passage about joy in good and bad times: Acts 16:16-40. It’s the story of Peter and Silas’ joy when they suffered for Christ in prison, and their joy over the salvation of the jailer and his family.

We’ll be using two backdrops: one a dark and gloomy dungeon, and one a comfortable light-filled home. We’ll be talking about how Paul was filled with joy in God in the darkest and happiest times of all.

May we all experience the “inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Pet. 1:8) which is ours in Jesus.

Here are Paul and Silas, looking for all the world like two Southern Baptists in business class. Well, at least they look happy, if also extremely comfortable in their cardboard stocks and nicely ironed shirts. I thought naked, blood-stained dolls might be a bit much.

And here is the jailer and his family, in their comfortable home. Again, not particularly first century! But at least it should be clear which is the "happy" and which the "sad" part of the story. And lots of joyful-looking dolls in both!!

dieting and gluttony (5f) Jerry Bridges on self-control

Wondering what self-control around food looks like in practice?

Here's some helpful guidelines about how to be self-controlled in our eating from Jerry Bridges' Respectable Sins (an insightful look at "forgotten" sins like pride and selfishness).

I found his definition of self-control particularly helpful, and I couldn't agree more that lack of self-control in one area can lessen self-control in more important areas. Again, the real issue is not "How much ice-cream do I eat?" but "Does my eating control me?"

"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls" (Proverbs 25:28). ... [A] person without self-control is vulnerable to all kinds of temptations. ...

What is self-control? It is a governance or prudent control of one's desires, cravings, impulses, emotions, and passions. It is saying no when we should say no. It is moderation in legitimate desires and activities, and absolute restraint in areas that are clearly sinful. ...

[S]elf-control needs to be exercised in ... eating and drinking. Let me say right away that I am not singling out those who have a so-called "weight problem." That may or may not be due to a lack of self-control. One of the most self-controlled men I have ever known struggled with his weight all his adult life. On the other hand, some who can eat what they please without gaining weight may, because of that fact, fail to exercise self-control in their eating and drinking.

What I am addressing is the tendency to continually give in to our desires for certain foods or drinks. ... I think of my own craving for ice cream years ago when I would have a dish of it at dinner and another at bed-time. ... A seemingly benign practice greatly weakened my self-control in other more critical areas. I learned that we cannot pick and choose the areas of life in which we will exercise self-control.

One of the ways we can exercise self-control is by removing or getting away from whatever tempts us to indulge our desires. In the case of the ice cream, I asked my wife to no longer keep it regularly in the freezer. Instead, we now buy it for specific occasions. Even though I made that decision more than thirty years ago, I still have to exercise self-control. Recently I was on my way to mail a package at a contract post office that is located in an ice cream shop. As I drove, I began to think about having a dish of ice cream. As I wrestled with that strong desire, I concluded that it was a time when I needed to say "no" to myself just for the purpose of keeping that desire under control.

I'm not trying to lay a guilt trip on those who enjoy ice cream or soda pop, or even those who go to Starbucks every day for their favourite coffee drink. What I am addressing is our lack of self-control - a tendency to indulge our desires so that they control us, instead of our controlling those desires.

My highlights; this quote is from Jerry Bridges, Respectable Sins, pp.109-114.

Sunday School - fruit of the Spirit - love

A script, 6 kids, and a "marinator" (my son's word for "narrator") will help us perform a drama of the parable about the "Good Samaritan" at Sunday School this week.

We'll be adding the strawberry of love to our fruit of the Spirit banner tonight.

All kinds of big Bible ideas about love go through my mind, especially after yet more over-zealous preparation. (As well as some confusion: why does the covenant of love God made with Israel in the Old Testament sometimes seem conditional - "I love those who love me," and sometimes unconditional - God's faithful love for his unfaithful people? An enormous question for another day!)

I chose Luke 10:25-37, because it has both a great summary of love - "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' and 'Love your neighbour as yourself," and a fantastic story about what love looks like in practice - the Parable of the Good Samaritan.*

But when I looked at the parable more closely, I noticed that it's not just a story about love. Jesus told this story to a self-righteous religious teacher who wanted to show how well he kept the law, including God's demand that we "love our neighbour" - perhaps if we limit the word "neighbour" to people like me?

As usual, Jesus raises the bar on what God requires of us: he wants us not only to love people like us, but also to love our enemies. Like the Samaritan who loved the Jew who probably despised him. A Samaritan who was a religious outcast, but who was so much more loving than the self-righteous religious people in the story (ouch!). And Jesus even got the teacher of the law to admit it.

No-one is this loving - not the teacher of the law, not us. When Jesus says "Do this and you will live," there's a barb in the tail. We can't love like this. Which is why love is the fruit of God's Spirit, something only God can produce in us.

For isn't this what children - as well as adults - find hardest? To love those who hate us, who despise us, who are our enemies?

Like my friend's 8-year old daughter, who was the only girl in her circle of friends not to be asked to her good friend's party. I was so impressed by how her mother encouraged her to keep loving the girl who had hurt her!

That's the kind of nitty-gritty love I'm going to be talking about with the children today.

* This is the point that I step in and give the parable a startling new name, showing how well I understand it, except I can't think of one. Over to you, Gordon. Maybe "The parable to show the self-righteous Bible teacher how he doesn't keep God's law very well at all, really."