There was a Ray Boltz song that my dad really liked called, “Thank you.” Actually, I think I might have sung it with him once or twice. Today, I thought of that song as I made this video with my students who are going on the mission trip on March 6-13. Each of these students have stories of lives changed by someone’s willingness to share the message of the Gospel. Now, they are taking that hope and boldly walking in faith to share the message with communities around them. We are so thankful for sponsors and support from our teaching staff and community here, but we couldn’t figure out how to express our gratitude for the ones far away. This specific video is a thank you to the church in little Atlantic, Iowa… where the people have hearts WAY bigger than the town!
I hope your heart is as warm as mine after hearing their grateful hearts! These kids are such a beautiful reminder that God is forever moving and working in our hearts to bless others. Each time I hear their testimonies or witness their crazy lives in motion, I praise God for his faithfulness. There are other sponsors as well, from both the States and here and we continue to be so thankful for God’s provision through them!!
CUSTOM pumpkin cake with chocolate chips and cinnamon cream cheese frosting
I’ve been baking a lot lately, but that’s an understatement… I think I basically wear cinnamon as a new fragrance! In order to raise money for our mission trip, I’ve been taking orders and keeping really busy with the three items on my menu: pumpkin cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, and cinnamon oatmeal cookies. I had to go with a large glass of orange juice tonight over the usual cup of tea to wind down – there’s just too much sweet and hot going on around here!
I am praising the Lord with every batch I make because I know it is HIS provision for these kids to walk under the banner of His name and serve this community. This weekend, I have students assisting me in the kitchen, though (as always) I am most grateful for their company.
Tonight, I snuck away to work out between bakings and this wonderful song popped up on shuffle in my ipod.
I pushed through my treadmill moves with vigor I usually reserve for much more upbeat music. As I pounded out that unforgiving conveyer belt beneath my feet, I sang along with Emily DeLoach. It made me think about a conversation I was having the other day with a wise friend of mine. (Don’t worry, if I’m ever inspired while on the treadmill, I usually just try to store it away and think about it later. If I tried the cardio/philosophy combo I’m sure something bad would happen!)
We were talking about loneliness… and how the closer we get to the heart of God the more lonely it seems. These days have been like that for me. I won’t pretend I spend hours a day in deep sorrow or that death surrounds me, but this deep loneliness seems to be a lot about a heavy, oppressive grief.
Sometimes I’m surprised at how close I feel to the Father while in the same moment feeling flung out of orbit from whatever was anchoring me. I think in those moments (sadly there are just moments) I may be opening my heart completely to the Lord’s love and experiencing it pour out just as quickly. Even as I am being filled, I am feeling it rush out of me and into all the parched places, desperate for a drink.
Maybe that’s where the loneliness comes from – well, the feeling of loneliness. I’ve come to Jesus asking for more love and He’s given it, but not for me to keep. As I feel His love rushing through me, I recognize at once my need for more of Him and my eyes are opened to the needs of others.
I could post the whole song, but these are the last two verses. Be encouraged tonight, my friends, as you journey in joy to be more like the Lord!
Thou the hated and forsaken,
Thou the bearer of the cross
Crowned of thorns and mocked and smitten,
Counting earthly gain but loss
When scorned are we, We joy to be the more like Thee
When scorned are we, We joy to be the more like Thee
Thou the Father’s best beloved,
Thou the throned and sceptered King
Who but Thee should we adoring,
All our prayers and praises bring?
So blessed are we, Savior Lord in loving Thee
So blessed are we, Savior Lord in loving Thee
What a great reminder today of what is eternally significant!
1. Set an infinite value on immortal souls. 2. Gain all the information you can about “the snares and delusions in which these heathens are held.” 3. Abstain from all English manners which might increase prejudice against the gospel. 4. Watch for all opportunities for doing good, even when you are tired and hot. 5. Make Christ crucified the great subject of your preaching. 6. Earn the people’s confidence by your friendship. 7. Build up the … Read More
Sunday, I posted the song by Thad Cockrell called, “Pride won’t get us where we’re going” and I love this line,
When I lose my vision, will you lend me your eyes… to see exactly where I need to be.
It must be something… this pride. I want to make cute jokes about it, but the reality is it’s ugly. I’ve been thinking a lot about all the ways pride is like a thief. Without regard to the damage, pride steals our friendships, our families, our minds, and our affections… and then destroys everything completely.
This is an idea that’s been making a tortured trek around the hamster wheel in my brain recently. Maybe it was learning Sunday night that the brother of one of the Micah boys (and only sibling) was stabbed and killed, or maybe it was the re-introduction to one of my favorite soul-destroying films “Dancer in the Dark” or maybe it was a handful of conversations about the downward spiral of affluent youth worldwide… I’m sure of this:
the tragedies don’t stop.
I’m always trying to make some sense of things and so could I just process what has seemed to settle in my gut? I’ll take that as a yes. Bear with me… these ideas are not completely formulated.
On whatever end (or middle) of the socio-economic spectrum we find ourselves, I am starting to think what makes a person most desperate is certainly the same. We all know the feelings of humility, shame, and fear.
Unfortunately, the most ready weapon is itself destructive: pride. As John Piper‘s sermon was still marinading today in my mind, I thought about the two different groups who found themselves stuck in unbelief in John 7:1-24.
Jesus’ own brothers asked Him to go up to a party and present Himself in all His glory, with pomp and circumstance. They wanted a parade – someone they could walk behind and maybe stand a bit in the shadow of His glory. What they didn’t believe was that He was bigger than an entrance at a party or the praise of men.
The Jews didn’t believe in Him because His presence indicted them. Their lives were brought to account in His presence. Every righteous act felt less right in the presence of One who could do no wrong.
Both, Piper said, were blinded by pride (and, as a result, unbelief). I guess I’m just wondering how many sins we can really trace back to the root of pride.
I think of a recent conversation with students about 12-year-old pop singers with near-adult material with eyes ‘innocently’ set on a crash course toward success.
I think of the young girls here who are married at 12 years old to 20 or 30somethings who have very little understanding of love.
I think of the constant worry involved in “future plans,” lest a student or adult choose a less comfortable path.
I think of the person who is completely unaware of the layers of life surrounding him because he is so deeply involved in what he will do next.
Well, folks, we’ve plumb lost our vision. And I seriously think we’re seeing the results of our unbelief. We are proud – so proud – that we want Jesus around for His fame and VIP pass, but we don’t believe His presence can save us. We are proud – too proud – to admit that His deferring way of pointing to the glory of God is to us a lifeline, not a noose.
Instead, we’ve chained ourselves to the world’s ugliest attractions in hopes that we will find both significance and righteousness. God help us!
Pride is a dirty, devious thing. I suppose that’s better reason than any to
In typical Nichols (CHEESY) fashion, my mom read this poem to me because she knew I would be absent from the celebration of love. Please enjoy it and read it several times over. This might give a little insight into where all my cheesy ideas come from! 🙂 Here’s the last Valentine’s day picture of my family I can find (circa 2006?)
we were missing a few, but you can see the reds, pinks, and white in FULL force!
A VALENTINE’S DAY LIMERICK by Cindy Nichols
There once was a family strong
Who usually all got along
They just kept on growing
All the while knowing
God blessed them with love and with song!
We welcome two new Nichols girls
They both have beautiful ‘curls’
Though Natalie’s are short
And better for sport
Grace’s are long and unfurled!
The boys are men now, it’s so
Their height has stopped to grow
One is a dad
One is a “Nav”
And one’s getting married, you know!
The girls all love to laugh
To sing, to love, to craft
They talk to each other
And sometimes their mother
Who gives cheesy advice on their behalf.
We daily count our blessing
For our family of loving siblings
God is making you strong
To Him you belong
There is no greater joy you are bringing!
What a beautiful weekend… especially beautiful if I count from Thursday (sweet dinner) to tonight (Micah Project). Here are a few pictures from the sweet dinner. I pulled these off facebook… as you can see, the girls were happy as can be to have something to take home!
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This morning, I listened to a sermon by John Piper before going to church (and between my frequent checks on the pumpkin cake in the oven). I love the way we can turn a passage over and over and never examine it fully. I suppose that is part of the mystery and what makes the Gospel so marvelous. The sermon, though in two completely different perspectives, gave a good look at the sin of pride. It made me think of this song by Thad Cockrell. I have no connection to TV, but I think the grammy’s are on tonight (judging by all the facebook status updates). I’m sure there are some amazing performances, but this song sure deserves a listen.
Through the power of God alone we can overcome the temptation of pride, which leads to all sorts of unbelief. Oh, that we would believe!
Speaking of believing, today my home church presented the news of our student mission team along with prayer cards and 25 prayer cards were picked up! I am so very, VERY blessed to feel the encouragement and support of these beautiful people all the way down here. But, more importantly, to see that they are excited about my students taking steps to love and serve those around them. Praise God that we are BLESSED to be A BLESSING!
I wish I could write pages more, but you’ll have to fill in the blanks yourself because my battery is going to die. I’m going to pick up a book and call it a night!
Today, I’m claiming this! Jars of Clay put the Truth to song and it seems to be the backdrop for my morning.
God will lift up your head
Give to the wind your fear
Hope and be undismayed
God hears your sighs and counts your tears
God will lift up, God will lift up, lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
Lift up your head
Leave to His sovereign sway
To choose and to command
Then shall we wandering on His way
Know how wise and how strong
How wise and how strong
Through waves and clouds and storms,
He gently clears the way
Wait because in His time, so shall this night
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
——–
“O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.” Ezra 9:6
I’m getting ready for the SO-FAMOUS Sweet Dinner (10, 09, 06), which is happening on Thursday!! I have been thinking so much about what it means to love – really, truly love people. Loving these senior girls for the past three years makes it hard to write about love without crying. They make fun of me for it, but I’m not ashamed. Maybe tears are part of the overflow, too?
All I know is, I’ve got a GIANT lasagna (ahem, I might have used a turkey pan) and I have big plans for the special heart tins my mom sent me in a package last year. I’m working on parodies and decorations.
And in all these things, every once in awhile I take as deep a sigh as I can manage to remember that all this is just a reflection… it’s all overflow and I’ve got to keep getting filled.
So, I thought these words would be good to start out the morning. One of my favorite sounds to rummage up inspiration in my soul is The Arrows from South Africa. Two ladies rocking out, weaving clever lyrics with layered melodies is what I call a good time. Well, maybe if you read these lyrics for pilgrimage you’ll get the picture. I wish I could find a youtube video to post (if you can, let me know!). Here is their myspace page.
On this pilgrimmage to the new Jerusalem and it’s the highway of holiness that gets me there start of the journey is the day when I let the seed fall to the ground and the day that I die is the day I start to climb
On this pilgrimmage to the new Jerusalem and it’s the highway of holiness that gets me there every time I choose Your way instead of going my own direction those are the times when I fall right behind that You come to lead me along will You lead me on?
and if I ever lose my hope You’re there to light the fire You bring me everything I need when You quiet me with the Love you give and You sing those songs all over me and You tenderly You lead me out of myself and You walk with me
On this pilgrimmage to the new Jerusalem and it’s the small and the narrow gate that gets me there I know that many are called but that only few are chosen those are the few who abandon themselves to pursue Your kingdom come Your kingdom come
and if I ever lose my hope You’re there to light the fire You bring me everything I need when you quiet me with the Love you give and you sing those songs all over me and you tenderly You lead me out of myself and you walk with me and you walk with me and you walk with me and you walk with me —
Today, my chorus is, “Lord, lead me out of myself”
Today I had such a beautiful conference with a student. After a lot of round-a-bout talk about ways people disappoint us, we broke it down into my two favorite categories:
1. what I can control
2. what I canNOT control
It was easier to start with number 2, so we made a nice lengthy list and felt confident we weren’t leaving much out. Then, we agreed all our worry and anxiety over what we canNOT control is only creating more worry and anxiety because (of course) we can’t change it.
THEN my favorite part: we talked about all the wonderful things we can control and how powerful those things can be. We can control what we think of people, how we respond to people, what we say to people, how we look at people, and also what we think, say, feel about ourselves… we went on for awhile discovering what is in the realm of our control before I asked her how in the world she could have the power to choose these things if she knew she wouldn’t receive the same in return.
She fumbled a bit. (And I did, too, honestly. It was one of those I’m-counseling-you-but-I’m-getting-alot-out-of-this-too moments.)
I asked, “Who fills you up so you can do all those things you just said? It’s true you can control what comes out, but how?”
In the oh-so-typical response, she said, “God.”
Something clicked in that moment and I got really excited. Yes! God does promise us life abundant (John 10:10) – an overflowing life – when we come to drink from the well of Living Water (Isaiah 55:1).
When we come to Him and ask to be filled He doesn’t mess around. He doesn’t measure things out and make sure we’re filled just up to the brim. He doesn’t even bother with showing off His sweet design of hydrogen bonding (you know, when water bulges on the top of your glass but doesn’t spill over).
what happens when hydrogen bonds in water
When God fills us it is ALWAYS an overflowing kind of full.
always an overflowing kind of full
God offers everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). His is the only Love great enough to give without hope of receiving. When we choose to seek Him and be filled, our lives will always, always spill over with a Love greater than our selfish desire to be loved in return. The overflow will bless everyone within our reach and our joy in seeing His Love touch others will only motivate us to go back and be (over)filled again!
I can truly say my heart was encouraged as much as hers when we parted. This student is a gem, to be sure.
And you? are you going to the ONLY place offering true, overflowing life? You do know that is the only way you can
I didn’t travel back to the States over Christmas, but I was on the delightful receiving end of one very crowded suitcase that opened more like a treasure chest. I pulled out books, magazines, baking supplies, and gifts that seemed to be pining for a place under my borrowed (and fake) Honduran Christmas tree.
One of the beautiful things I opened came with an inscription from a mentor I admire very much, “…learn from the sages of the ages.” The book compiled various writings from people who influenced the life and works of C.S. Lewis, one of my heroes. I’ve always said I would love it if there was a place up in heaven that is slightly peculiar and quite like a nook. I can smell the aged pages, the worn leather seats, and the pipe on the antique side table. The stacks of books are neatly askew and the shelves are exactly full of the best classics.
Okay, I’ll hop out of my dreamworld because I should probably hop into actual dreamworld. The bottomline is: today I found some great wisdom that has nothing to do with modern thinking or progress or post-modern mumbo-jumbo.
“The best thing is neither to seek nor avoid troubles but to follow Christ and take the bitter with the sweet as it may come. Whether we are happy or unhappy at any given time is not important. That we be in the will of God is all that matters. We may safely leave with him the incident of heartache or happiness. He will know how much we need of either or both.”
I know that’s a far leap from my ranting about my library hangout in heaven with my good pal C.S. Lewis, but I love that these words get down to the nuts and bolts of things. Twice today (within the first couple hours of work) I was reminded that my reaction to frustrations can either dig a deeper hole or search for the sun. I stepped out of my selfish and petty ways for a moment to see that following is Christ is most important, then second to take things as they come. If I’m obsessing over the bitter/sweet then my eyes are clearly not focused on the One who can take me through either, offering joy on the other side.
Anyway, thanks A.W. Tozer for bringing some wisdom back! (I smell another parody… watch out Justin Timberlake I think I’ve got a hit – “We’re bringin’ wisdom back…”)
MUSINGS IN THE MIDST 