Author: Lissa Eggleston

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Course of Thorns

thorns_on_greenIn the lesson entitled “Charting a Course Through Thorns“  Jennifer Rothschild uncovers a biblical truth that is the most reassuring, stabilizing, hope filled truth in Scripture.  As she handles the question of the thorns in our lives, she states,

“Remember that you know and are known by the sovereign God who is in control of every part of creation.  He sees when the sparrow falls.  He knows the thorns that bring you pain.  God is able to use evil people and evil acts to accomplish His glory and our good.  God is in control of Satan and his actions; Satan can never act outside the limits God sets.”

thorns Interestingly, when this truth first hits our understanding we are inclined to balk and want to refuse it.  After all, it is more than a little unsettling to think of God in charge of thorns in our lives!  Jennifer was questioned about this teaching by a woman taking the study and she used her blog on June 29th to amplify what she has found in Scripture regarding this biblical truth.

Over the years, I have often encountered questions on the topic of God’s sovereignty and I have come to the conclusion that it is more than a little unsettling to think of God not in charge of the thorns in my life!  The question of the extent of His control has pressed me to consider what would it mean if God is not sovereign?  It seems to me it would mean that I was left to my own devices.  I would be an orphan cast out to fend for myself.  It would mean a life controlled by fear, insecurity, purposelessness, nothing that I did or that happened to me would have any ultimate meaning.

If God is not sovereign over all then what or who is?  If I reject His sovereignty does that make me in charge?  If I am in charge how would I explain when bad things happen?  Would I then have to say when things went awry evil is in charge of the universe?  If Satan ends up not under God’s control but co-equal to Him then he is free to do his worst and we are much to be pitied!  If I am in charge, that is if my will or my ability to make choices is something that God bows to and leaves inviolate then He is not God–I am–doesn’t  that thought make you shutter?

In the end, it is when I encounter the cross that my musings are silenced. It is in surveying that event  that the truth about who crossor what is in control is finally put to rest.  I ponder Satan’s efforts and watch him fling all the power he possesses against God– seeking to thwart God’s plan to save the world from evil.  I look at my Savior and weigh His suffering as Satan was allowed to do his worst.   It was there at that same cross that God was simultaneously using Satan’s evil as a vehicle to accomplish the greatest good!  When you look to the cross who do you say is in control of all things?

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.?  (John 16:33)

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Strongholds of En Gedi

Oasis_by_benarts“Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines.  That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth (rock of parting).  And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.”  (1 Samuel 23:28-29)

David on the run!  Hounded by Saul who wanted this perceived rival dead, David was hunted like an animal.  It is clear that David was running for dear life–yes, his life was dear to God if not dear to the death loving Saul.  Saul pursued his purpose which was extinguishing life–God pursued His purpose which was preserving life as dear!  To that end, God directs David to the oasis–the refreshing refuge of En Gedi.  As Eugene Peterson has written, “Saul was the occasion for David’s being in the wilderness, Saul neither defined nor dominated the wilderness.  The wilderness was full of God, not Saul.”  God is our En Gedi!

 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
   I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
   I have no good apart from you.”

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.  

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

I keep the LORD always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
    my body also rests secure. 

selected verses from Psalm 16

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High Esteem

mood-faces2In Day Four of the study, Jennifer Rothschild is hammering home the point that our feelings are not reliable guides in life.   When I think of the many moods of any one my days I know she has hit the nail on the head in this lesson.  The principle that I want to hold onto from this lesson is:

“What we hold in high esteem will eventually govern us, but what we hold in low esteem, we will govern.“

The encouragement not to bow to feelings but to enlist God’s grace to have them bow to His Word was faith strengthening this morning.  I am reminded once again that feelings are real but they are not always in line with reality!  I often say to my kids, “Just because you think a thought does not make it true!”

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O, Taste and See…

This morning in Day Three of the “Walking By Faith” study we were encouraged to consider that God invites us to “taste and see that the LORD is breadgood“.

Tasting often begins by thinking about what we are hungry for. I know myself well enough to know that thinking about tasting is not the same as tasting! Could it be that our experience of God is flat and unsatisfying because we never go further than just thinking about Him.

Tasting is defined as becoming acquainted with by experience–it is an engaging of the senses and ingesting in order to answer a craving. To identify a food craving I consider–am I hungry for salty or sweet, is this gnawing just a desire to snack or am I ready for meat and potatoes? If my heart gets set on cheese cake — an apple is a huge disappointment and does not satisfy! cheesecake

Substitutes just don’t cut it! Isn’t it wonderful to think that we were created by God with soul craving, appetites that only He can satisfy? While I try to satisfy my craving with other things, the disappointment I feel is evidence that I am trying to substitute!

Just like Nutra Sweet is not the real thing–but is a diminutive experience that approximates but does not meet the standard of the real thing–trying to answer my soul hunger with God’s gifts rather than meeting and feeding on God misses the mark. Isn’t it wonderful to know that as we taste His goodness it not only delights our hungry heart but nourishes us for the journey of living?

Lord, today–increase my appetite for you. Let me know by experience that you are the bread of life–the staple food. Don’t allow my taste buds to become accustomed to artificial substitutes–give me a craving for the Real Food that is you! Amen

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My Greatest Temptation!

open armsIf I am understanding Galatians 2 rightly,  it is a stunning correction to one of my deepest inclinations! 

According to Paul–and my heart agrees, my greatest temptation is the strong inclination to reject grace in favor of rule-keeping, moral behavior as a basis of relationship with God.  I can not ponder this too often or make too much of it. 

When I seek to make my behaving the basis of my relationship with God I have torpedoed the glorious gospel of grace.  In fact, if my arms are not open wide receiving then I am rejecting Christ’s perfect and complete work by offering.  Do I really think I have any thing to offer to the gift of salvation?  He said “It is finished!”  To reject grace is to substitute self effort!  

Sinclair Ferguson reminds me that the glory of the gospel is that God has declared believers to be rightly related to Him in spite of our sin. That is the amazing part of amazing grace!  But our greatest temptation and mistake is to try to smuggle some of our faulty, blemished character into His complete and perfect work of grace. 

My greatest need is to be reminded daily that I contribute nothing but my sin to my relationship with Christ and He graciously and freely covers my weakness with His perfection!  That is a great and amazing gospel.

My attempt to achieve acceptance or forgiveness or approval from God through any effort of my own is really a twisted form of self worship.  Thomas Schreiner put it this way, ” The desire to obey the law, though appearing commendable is actually an insidious way to gain recognition before God”.   Sounds serious enough that I want to REPENT and RECEIVE!   My arms are open and ready to receive today’s grace gift Lord!

I am under the heady influence of C.J. Mahaney’s sermon, “Enjoying Grace and Detecting Legalism”.

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Quote of the Day

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2-3)

gazing bride“Faith is occupied with the object upon which it rests and pays no attention to itself at all. While we are looking at God, we do not see ourselves–good riddance! Faith looks out instead of in and the whole life falls into line. ”

A.W. Tozer

“But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!” (Psalm 141:8)

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Quote of the Day: The Religious Sinner

PhariseeThe “religious sinner” scorns outward acts of wickedness and drives his sin inward to the sanctuary of his soul where it remains in a state of high compression. The notorious unloveliness of many religious people can be explained in this way.              A.W. Tozer