Hymn Ponderings {Pondered Pages}

I love to play the piano. However, as I've said often recently, my love for playing has always exceeded my ability, even back in the days when I practiced all the time. :)  Those days are in the far distant history now. I went for ten years barely touching a piano, and then tried to rapidly brush up my skills when I played for our church's children's choir for a few years. I've now gone another several years without playing on a regular basis.

All that changed a few weeks ago, though, when our wonderful pianist at our little church was led elsewhere, and I began playing for our Sunday worship services. I'm suddenly practicing an hour or more a day. Eek! :)  I'm about to drive my poor family batty by playing the one Hanon exercise I remember over and over again, because I can't locate my Hanon exercise book and I need some serious finger strengthening! Mostly, though, I'm practicing hymns...the specific hymns for the upcoming Sunday when I have them, and practicing from one end of the hymnal to the other when I don't.

As I played through hymn after hymn the other day, I was reminded of the many, many people who've been used over the years to encourage my love of hymns. My parents, first and foremost. Their church choir figured prominently in their courtship over 50 years ago, and it's not surprising that two long-time choir members (and a former church pianist) would pass their love of hymns on to their daughter.

Daddy not only passed on his love of the hymns themselves, but the stories behind them. Horatio Spafford, Isaac Watts, Fanny Crosby, Francis Havergal, and many others became heroes to me through Daddy's recounting of their lives and the stories behind their hymns.

Next would be Bro. Bill Probasco and Don Bingham at FBC, Conway, the first pastor and minister of music that I remember. Bro. Don led a worship music program that set the bar for my future church music experiences. But oddly enough, it's Bro. Bill who comes to mind even more when I sing/hear/play certain hymns. I'll never be able to hear "Sweet, Sweet Spirit", "Victory in Jesus", or "The Church's One Foundation" without thinking of Bro. Bill. Those were precious days.

Bro. Roy Chatham was part of those days as well, but his tenure was much longer in my church life, spanning 15+ years and two churches. He and his wife were also just dear lifelong friends of our family. Other than my parents, he may have had the most impact on my love of church music in general, and my love of hymns in particular. There are several hymns that I associate closely with him, as well, particularly those he taught us over the years in chapel time in VBS. And if I close my eyes and try, I can hear him whistling in the hallways at FBC, Conway. It wasn't unusual for him to be whistling at one end of the building, and my daddy to be whistling at the other. Sweet, sweet memories. *heart*

As I played through a section of the hymnal the other day, I was reminded also of Mrs. Marguerite Vann and Mrs. Austin. During my teen years, I helped both of these ladies with music in their elementary and middle school Sunday School classes. They both loved the old hymns and enthusiastically shared them with the children week after week. How I wish I could play hymns like Mrs. Vann! What a treat to learn from and play with these ladies week after week in those years!

Since then there have been many others, not the least of which has been Lyndel Hobbs from our years at Oak Cliff.  Lyndel is another whose leadership in worship music is just unparalleled. One of many, many things I'm thankful for from my years under his music leadership at Oak Cliff is Lyndel's care to sing nothing, ever, that doesn't line up with Biblical truth. As Guy Penrod says of hymns, "We don't sing 'em because they're old; we sing 'em because they're good!" It may be a well-loved old hymn, but if it doesn't square with Scripture, it's not worth singing. I'm thankful for Bro. Gary and Bro. John at Grace who share that commitment to singing Biblical truth.

Last week we sang an old favorite of mine, "The Solid Rock". I was reminded of the way God used it in my life during my college years, when my beliefs were challenged heavily, and although they weren't shaken, it was just utterly wearying. I remember sitting out by the lake (we were starting a new church and didn't have a building yet, and had some evening services outside by the lake :)) one night and singing this song and realizing the truth of these words in a whole new way, "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand."

I was prompted to journal this wonderful old hymn in my Bible, along with one of the verses from which it came. *Love* :) This was a really simple entry...we have several old hymnals that we saved from a trip to the dump (our church gave the ones in good condition to another church in need, but these were too far gone for church use), so I pulled out the hymn itself to use as a tip in, then used washi tape, letter stickers, and some of my own journaling on a journaling card from my stash. :)



Do you have a favorite hymn? Or like me, is the list too long to write down? :) Are there people who come to mind when you sing certain hymns, or those who just encouraged your love of hymns in general? I'd love to hear in the comments!



I recently had the blessing of teaching a Scripture Journaling class for a group of ladies...it was such fun, and I'm hoping to do a couple of additional classes soon! I wasn't able to share nearly all I'd planned during the evening, though, so I'm planning to do a blog series from my notes. If you are interested in keeping up with that series, please follow the blog in one of the ways listed below. Thank you! 

***

If a post or posts on Ponderings of an Elect Exile has been a blessing to you, would you do me a huge favor?  Please share the link to Ponderings with your friends using the social media share buttons below or the "pin it" button above.  Thank you! 

***
  Welcome to Ponderings of an Elect Exile!   Whether you are new here or a faithful friend and regular reader, I'm glad you're here!   If you aren't already following, I'd love to have you join us for the 2015 Ponderings.  It's easy to do, in a variety of ways!   You can follow via  Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest, or  find me on Instagram as Jenbh68. You can also sign up in the sidebar to receive new posts by email.

Show Me Your Glory!

These verses are just knocking me right off my feet this morning! In our Behold Your God study last week, we talked about Moses asking God to show him (Moses) His (God's) glory. I decided today to go back and dig into that a bit more. Wow!

In Exodus 33:11, the Bible says that "the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." What a thought!

Then in verses 17-23, after Moses has asked God to assure him that His presence will go with him as he leads the people, God assures him that He will, saying, "you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name."

Moses replies, "Please show me your glory."

Such a simple request, and yet it seems it should have an exclamation point at the end, and be in all caps or fancy lettering or something. *grin* Moses is asking the God of the universe to show him His glory.

And God says yes.

It's a qualified yes, but it's yes. He says that He will make His goodness pass before Moses, and He will proclaim His name before him, "The Lord." However, He says that Moses cannot see His face, because no man can see His face and live.

The next part is what has blown me away this morning. He tells Moses to stand on a rock, and then He tells Him that before He passes by, He will put Moses down in a cleft in the rock and cover him up with His hand until He has walked by. Then when God has safely passed by, He will uncover Moses so that Moses can see His back.

I've read these verses so many times, and always been amazed at the thought that God's glory is so great that Moses couldn't look on anything but God's back, but today I was struck with the fact that God deliberately withheld a portion of His glory, hid Moses from it, in order to protect Moses, because of His grace and mercy.

Despite the unfathomable awesomeness of the glory that God has shown us of Himself, it's only a portion. As Job 26:14 says, we only see the mere edges of His ways, and we hear only a whisper of Him.

And He withholds the rest, those things we don't understand, and the things that we don't even know of to realize we don't understand!, because of His great mercy and grace.  He hides those things from us because of His great love and goodness.

But He shows us just the back of His glory. He will show us what we can stand of His glory if we will ask. Ask with me today?

Lord, please show me Your glory. 

***

If a post or posts on Ponderings of an Elect Exile has been a blessing to you, would you do me a huge favor?  Please share the link to Ponderings with your friends using the social media share buttons below or the "pin it" button above.  Thank you! 

***
  Welcome to Ponderings of an Elect Exile!   Whether you are new here or a faithful friend and regular reader, I'm glad you're here!   If you aren't already following, I'd love to have you join us for the 2015 Ponderings.  It's easy to do, in a variety of ways!   You can follow via  Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest, or  find me on Instagram as Jenbh68. You can also sign up in the sidebar to receive new posts by email.

On Snow, Sunshine, Struggles, and Splendor!

On days like these, I always think of this verse from Amazing Grace. It's one of my favorites, and one we rarely sing. (I'm not sure it's ever been in a hymnal I've commonly used.) We had a major (for Arkansas!) winter storm yesterday, with over three inches of snow. This morning the sun came out and the melting began, and by early afternoon, most streets were clear, and the snow was rapidly disappearing from yards and houses.

John Wesley says in this hymn that one of these days,the earth is going to dissolve just like that snow. One minute it's going to be there, the next...poof! It won't. What an image! And yet, for those who are called by God, there is no need for anxiety about that day...because as another hymn says, "I am His, and He is mine!"

I've struggled so much with the gloomy weather this year, in a way I never have before. This last bout of snow and cold have threatened to send me completely over the edge. God has reminded me often during these days that my focus needs to be on Him, and not on the weather. I'm trying to focus on His glory and splendor on the dark and dreary days. I've been meditating on verses about His glory, His Light, and some things the Bible has to say about snow. I hope to post about some of those soon.

I actually started this post yesterday. As I finish it this morning, the sun is shining brightly and we are headed for a high near 50 degrees today, with spring-like weather in the 60s predicted for the next few days. I can't wait!

But even as I plan to bask in the sunshine and soak up some Vitamin D, I want to remember that my focus shouldn't be on the beautiful weather any more than the dreary stuff. This world and all its crazy weather is one day going to "dissolve like snow", and those of us who are called by His name are going to live in the city that needs no light, because Jesus is its lamp! (Revelation 21:23)

How's the weather where you are? More importantly, how's your heart? What is God teaching you right now; how are you meditating on Him and His Word these days? I'd love to hear in the comments!

***

If a post or posts on Ponderings of an Elect Exile has been a blessing to you, would you do me a huge favor?  Please share the link to Ponderings with your friends using the social media share buttons below or the "pin it" button above.  Thank you! 

***
  Welcome to Ponderings of an Elect Exile!   Whether you are new here or a faithful friend and regular reader, I'm glad you're here!   If you aren't already following, I'd love to have you join us for the 2015 Ponderings.  It's easy to do, in a variety of ways!   You can follow via  Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest, or  find me on Instagram as Jenbh68. You can also sign up in the sidebar to receive new posts by email.

Pondered Pages ~ Scripture Journaling at Ponderings of an Elect Exile

Last fall, I posted that I was beginning a new journey with Scripture journaling. In October, I shared a bit more about Scripture journaling on the Worshipful Living blog. That post ended up being Worshipful Living's most popular post of the year. :)  All over the world, people are discovering a whole new way of worshiping God through Scripture art.

Journaling. Note-taking. Doodling. Lettering. Crafting. All things I love, and all can be incorporated into Bible art journaling. Not only is this a way to express the character quality of creativity, but it's a way to deeply imprint the Scriptures being journaled on the heart and mind of the journaler.

I've always written in my Bibles. I shared in Blessings of a Chicken-Scratched Bible that I treasure the chicken-scratched notes I've made in my Bibles over the years. They are "standing stones" of remembrance of the work God has done in my life and the things He has taught me. my parents set a wonderful example in this area, and I treasure the Bibles I have from my daddy with his neatly written notes in the margins. I love watching my children write in their own Bibles during church and in their own personal study times.

Scripture journaling takes that a step further. It adds color and images and creativity to the process of worship and study. It also provides a very personal keepsake to hand down to future generations.

I plan to share some of my Bible journaling entries as "Pondered Pages" here on the blog. I hope that these posts will be encouraging and inspiring to others seeking to worship through Scripture art.

If you are new to Scripture journaling, here are some resources to help you get started:

• Shanna Noel's blog, Illustrated Faith. Shanna's blog is a wealth of information, including tutorials, videos, and guest bloggers. 
• Journaling Bible Community on Facebook. Also begun by Shanna Noel, this group is a wonderful place to share your own Bible journaling and see what others are doing. 
• Pinterest.Search "Bible Journaling", "Scripture Journaling", and "Illustrated Faith" for great ideas and inspiration. 
• Instagram. Check out #illustratedfaith and #journalingBible on Instagram.

I'll share more resources in future posts, but those are good places to start. :)

This entry was a quick one. I saw a quote not long ago from one of my favorite authors/speakers, Paul David Tripp, that reminded me of one of my favorite verses. 

The quote:

The question is not whether there is boundless grace available to you, but whether you will admit your need and seek it. ~ Paul David Tripp

The verse:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, ~2 Peter 1:3

I blogged on this verse a couple of years ago. It came up during  a Bible study I was teaching at church at the time. I was completely blown away by the fact that Paul says here that God has already given us everything we need for life and godliness. I loved the reminder in Paul David Tripp's quote that His boundless grace is available to us...it's right there...and all we have to do is admit our need and seek that grace. I've needed that reminder in recent weeks!

I did a quick entry last night using my favorite Pilot G2 1.0 (bold point) pen, a pink Bic Cristal pen, a little washi tape, and a tab made with a We R Memory Keepers file tab punch.

What has God been teaching you lately? Is there a verse or passage that has really stuck out to you? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!  I'd also love to hear about your thoughts or experiences with note-taking in your Bible and/or art journaling.

***

If a post or posts on Ponderings of an Elect Exile has been a blessing to you, would you do me a huge favor?  Please share the link to Ponderings with your friends using the social media share buttons below or the "pin it" button above.  Thank you! 

***
  Welcome to Ponderings of an Elect Exile!   Whether you are new here or a faithful friend and regular reader, I'm glad you're here!   If you aren't already following, I'd love to have you join us for the 2015 Ponderings.  It's easy to do, in a variety of ways!   You can follow via  Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest, or  find me on Instagram as Jenbh68. You can also sign up in the sidebar to receive new posts by email.

No Gray in Fifty Shades

In just over 2 weeks, women (and apparently men) will be flocking to theaters for the release of the movie version of Fifty Shades of Grey. The book is described as “an erotic romance novel...notable for its explicitly erotic scenes...”. (The description continues to describe the content of those scenes; I'm leaving out the rest because I don't want those terms to lead to my blog in a search. In my previous post on this topic, I used the phrase “pain,dominance, and bondage”. We'll just leave it at that.)

Anyone who has read my blog for long knows that porn is a hot-button issue for me. I have said before that I consider porn...in all its stages and variations...to be one of the greatest weapons of Satan in our age. The 50 Shades books/movie (and others like them) disturb me for that reason alone. These erotic fiction novels and movies are known as “mommy porn” or “soft porn”. Whatever label they wear, have no doubt: they are porn.

What disturbs me most about these books and movies, though, is how many professing Christians are reading/watching/celebrating/promoting them. As I said back in 2012:

What I cannot understand is how there can be ANY controversy about this book or this movie among those who profess to be Christians. What a heartbreaking example of Satan's powers of deception. So many people have no idea the "slippery slope" of porn and how devastatingly dangerous it can become very quickly...regardless of the gender of the one who partakes. I had read the True Woman post referenced in the comments of the Josh Harris post earlier this week, but hadn't read the comments. Wow. I am absolutely floored....although I shouldn't be. This is the power of the enemy and I am convinced that porn...in all it's stages and variations...is one of his strongest weapons in this age. *Sigh* I think I've pulled my soapbox out and hopped on...I had said that I wasn't going to blog on this, because there are already so many good blog posts out there on this topic, but I'm afraid I feel one coming on...because I am flooded with thoughts on this. One I have already shared, though, is this, " I want to be so caught up in the "more" that God created me for that I don't have time for books or movies like these to even be on my radar."

I blogged about Fifty Shades and Magic Mike back in 2012, and again last year. Since that time, I've seen more and more Christian women openly supporting these books/movies and others like them. My thoughts and feelings haven't changed since that time, but that original post (Fifty Shades, Magic Mike, and the More We Were Created For) needed a bit of a makeover, so I'm revamping it along with a few current thoughts. 

But first, a disclaimer. 
 

As I said back in 2012, for those who don't believe the Bible is the true, inerrant, holy Word of God...well, I'm glad to have you reading, and hope you'll stay and read some more, and I'd love to chat with you via the comments or email about that.  However, this particular post really isn't for you.  Because until a person realizes the depth of their sin against the holy and righteous Creator of the universe, repents of that sin, and accepts the gift of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus...the rest really doesn't matter much.  If you haven't taken that step, I'd love to chat with you about it!

But my focus in this post is Christians...those who claim to have been convicted of sin, turned to God in repentance, and accepted that gift of eternal life...those who claim the name of Christ.  

Men Should Read and Learn

I've seen several people comment that men as well as women should read the book, because supposedly, through the main character (who uses pain, dominance, and bondage in his relationships with women), men can learn how to truly love and romance their wives.  

As more than one pastor of mine has said, there is a good Greek word for that...HOGWASH!! 

Men are not to follow the example of the hero in an erotic novel to know how to love their wives...they are to follow the example of Christ in the way that He loves His bride, the Church. 

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,  that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,  so that He might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,  because we are members of His body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”  This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.  However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:25-33

The War Within

The Bible says that lust is sin. The Bible says that sex outside of marriage is sin. For those who truly are Christ-followers, the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, and Jesus Christ has become the Lord of our lives. As Paul says in Romans 7:20-8:9, there is a war going on inside every true believer. In my previous post on this topic, I referenced a Sunday School lesson I had just taught to a group of youth girls:

There is a war between our new self and our old sin nature.  But...Jesus Christ has already won the war through His death and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit helps us to live in that victory. 

But how do we live in that victory?  The key, according to this lesson, is our mind-set...our way of thinking, developed by what we make the focus of our lives.  As these verses say, "those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit."

If we set our minds on things of the flesh, our flesh will control us.  If we set our minds on things of the Spirit, the Spirit controls us.  If we are truly Christians, by relationship, and not only by name, we are to have our hearts set on the things of God, not on things of this world.  The more we feed our flesh, the less sensitive we are going to be to the prompting and conviction of the Holy Spirit.  This gives Satan greater opportunity to deceive us...to make things that are sin look beautiful and appealing.  That is what he has been doing since the Garden of Eden...making things that God calls evil look good.  That deception is obvious in the discussion in Christian circles about this book and this movie. 

I shared this story with my Sunday School girls that day:  Many years ago, when I was in college, Gilbert and Susan Baker were my Sunday School teachers.  There are many things that have stuck with me all these years from my time in their class, but one of the biggest was about gray areas.  Gilbert quoted 1 John 1:5...God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.  Gray, he pointed out, is white with a bit of black added...light with a bit of darkness.  But "in Him is no darkness at all."  So...if it is gray...it is not of God.  We are to "walk in the light, as He is in the light" (1 John 1:7)  And if we back up a verse there, He says that "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." 

He Is Lord

If He is truly our Savior, He is also our Lord. As Dr. Steven Lawson says, “Wherever Jesus is received as Savior, He must be recognized as Lord.” We must realize the tremendous importance of His Lordship in our lives, and the catastrophic results of sin when we don't allow Him that Lordship.

“If It's Offensive...” and What Do We Thirst After?

The night before that 2012 post, Bro. Gary (who is now our pastor, but wasn't then:)) preached a sermon that hit me right between the eyes. God brings bits and pieces of it back to me from time to time, and it never fails to convict me. Here are some thoughts from that sermon (from John 4):

"Only a small portion of those who 'make decisions' evidence the grace of God in a transformed life." ~Walter Chantry, author of Today's Gospel, Authentic or Synthetic:

"We've stopped telling people that their sin offends a Holy God."  The Gospel is offensive to the lost. If the Gospel doesn't step on our toes, something is wrong. 

*Anything that is offensive to God should be offensive to us.

*People who are saved are going to thirst after the things of God.  

Based on those truths: 

1. Sexual immorality is offensive to God; therefore, it should be offensive to us. 

It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.     1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28 (That applies in the reverse as well.)

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness,which is idolatry.  On account of these the wrath of God is coming. Colossians 3:5-6

2. If we are saved, we are going to thirst after the things of God.  


Another blogger posting on this subject said, "We were made for so much more!"  I commented on her post, " I want to be so caught up in the "more" that God created me for (and I want the same for my children) that I don't have time for books/movies like these to even be on my radar. "  I want to be seeking after Him with all my heart!  I want to be so full of His best for me that everything else fades into complete obscurity.  

Who Can Fathom?

The Sunday before I wrote that 2012 post, I was struck deeply by this song by by Mark Altrogge. It so perfectly declares the holiness, glory, beauty, majesty, and righteousness of our God.   How can we even think of filling our minds with the likes of Fifty Shades or Magic Mike in the light of His love and mercy and grace?

You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard 
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above

And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You 
Holy God, to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You

You are beautiful beyond description
Yet God crushed You for my sin
In agony and deep affliction
Cut off that I might enter in
Who can grasp such tender compassion?
Who can fathom this mercy so free?
You are beautiful beyond description
Lamb of God who died for me

2015 Thoughts

None of those thoughts have changed since 2012, but as I've written this post, I've had a couple more.

First, there are many things we may see and do differently as Christian women. We may be married or single, we may have children or not (by choice or not by choice), we may work out of the home or be SAHMs or WAHMs, we may homeschool or send our children off to school, we may eat all organic or hit the drive-throughs a little too often, we may vaccinate our children or not, use essential oils or not, be helicopter parents or tiger moms or moms who let our children run free. We can make different choices in those and many other areas, and all those things are okay. They are lifestyle choices, and we must seek God's direction in those areas for ourselves and for our families.

Porn, however, is never a lifestyle choice. It is never okay, in any form. This is not a gray area. This is sin, pure and simple. As Christian women, we need to acknowledge that and live by it.

Second, the fact that I've purposed to avoid Fifty Shades and other books/movies of this genre doesn't mean that I am seeking Him with my whole heart.

I've been convicted all over again while writing this post. Saying “no” to “mommy porn” isn't enough. It doesn't mean that I'm seeking Him with all my heart, it doesn't mean that I am living in His grace from moment to moment, and it doesn't mean that my heart is pure or that I'm running from other types of evil.

Saying no to Fifty Shades and the like is good, it's important, it's vital. It's a starting point, for those who've allowed that type of filth into their minds, hearts, and lives.

But it's not enough.

I want more.

I want the more He created me for.

I want to seek Him with my whole heart.

I want to be so full of His best for me that everything else fades into complete obscurity.



Is that your heart? Do you want that "more"?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments here or on Facebook, or through the "contact me" box on the right.  Disagree?  Feel free to share also...as long as it stays clean and friendly.  I reserve the right to delete if I feel something crosses the line. :)

***

If a post or posts on Ponderings of an Elect Exile has been a blessing to you, would you do me a huge favor?  Please share the link to Ponderings with your friends using the social media share buttons below or the "pin it" button above.  Thank you! 

***
  Welcome to Ponderings of an Elect Exile!  
Whether you are new here or a faithful friend and regular reader, I'm glad you're here!  
If you aren't already following, I'd love to have you join us for the 2014 Ponderings.  It's easy to do, in a variety of ways!  
You can follow via  Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest, or  find me on Instagram as Jenbh68. You can also sign up in the sidebar to receive new posts by email.