Two Conversations

"When I am talking to somebody there are always two conversations going on. The first is on the surface; it is about politics or music or whatever it is our mouths are saying. The other is beneath the surface, on the level of the heart, and my heart is either communicating that I like the person I am talking to or I don't. God wants both conversations to be true. That is, we are supposed to speak truth in love. If both conversations are not true, God is not involved in the exchange, we are on our own, and on our own, we will lead people astray. The Bible says that if you talk to somebody with your mouth, and your heart does not love them, that you are like a person standing there smashing two cymbals together. You are only annoying everybody around you."2

2. Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 2003, p. 221.

By His Blood

Nothing is so well fitted to put the fear of God, which will preserve men from offending Him, into the heart, as an enlightened view of the cross of Christ. There shine spotless holiness, inflexible justice, incomprehensible wisdom, omnipotent power, holy love. None of these excellencies darken or eclipse the other, but every one of them rather gives a lustre to the rest. They mingle their beams, and shine with united eternal splendour: the just Judge, the merciful Father, the wise Governor. Nowhere does justice appear so awful, mercy so amiable, or wisdom so profound.1

1. John Brown, Scottish pastor, Expository Discourses on 1 Peter, Edinburgh, Banner of Truth Trust, 1975

Psalm 119

I have been reading Powlinson's new book, Speaking Truth in Love. In it, this part so vividly applied Psalm 119 to my life. He points out that the psalmist knows himself, and he knows God. And because of this, the psalmist can talk to the Lord, and be real.

He knows...

• How hard it is for him to love...so he says, "Don't let me wander from your commandments."

• He gets preoccupied with the wrong things...so he says, "Incline my heart to your testimonies."

• His Bible gets routine so that he can read but miss the Lord...so he says, "Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from your law."

• He gets hooked on emptiness...so he says, "Turn my eyes away from looking at vanity."

• Sin can seize control...so he says, "Don't let iniquity reign over me."

• He's vulnerable to bad choices...so he says, "Make me walk in the path of your commandments."

• He needs mercy...so he says, "Be gracious to me according to your word."

Goodbye Punkin

Yesterday morning, I had to do a grievous task. Our 17 year old cat, Punkin, had grown so old that she quit using the litter box. So yesterday, I took her and had her put to sleep.

Anyone who has lost a beloved pet, in this way, can understand the grief I feel. No one else can. It's not as horrifying as losing a loved one. It's not like losing a pet to old age or sickness, either. The grief of the loss comes from knowing that I have done the deed, while still having a great fondness and affection, that had grown for 17 years.

So yes, I wept. I still cannot type this with dry eyes. And I know it is "just" a cat. But isn't it interesting how God uses situations like this to soften our hearts?

Goodbye, Punkin.