It Is Not Death To Die - Sovereign Grace

It's hard not to be moved at the pageantry of a full military funeral. The colors, the symbolism, the honor caused my heart to swell in gratitude. Even the very aged soldiers who were preforming the ceremony made me proud. I kept wondering why I couldn't hold myself together. Mr. Alonso was a kind-hearted, Korean War combat veteran with numerous medals, but I barely knew him. Then I realized, he and everyone of these men offered up their lives to die for my freedom and the freedom of our country. He was willing to die.

The next day, as I continued listening through John Piper's sermons, I came across the sermon entitled "Let the Nations Be Glad." I almost skipped it because I know the message and that God hasn't called me to leave my home to pursue full time missions to another culture. I was thinking, "Oh that sermon isn't for me." But for some reason, I listened. At the end of the sermon, I was fighting tears again. Why was I so emotional? Piper asked those in his audience who were called to full time cross-cultural missions to stand. I realized at that moment that those people were pledging to lay down their lives, their homes, their comforts to tell others the Good News. They were giving their very lives to share Christ. They were willing to die.

What is that like? What is my life? Do I give my life for any noble cause? If I don't lay down myself for the cause of Christ, then my life is wasted. Laying my life down doesn't look the same as war veterans or missionaries to Africa. But it should look differently from the lost world around me.

I'm a stay-at-home wife and mom who homeschools. That may look easy to those who've not looked at it closely and it requires a lot of me laying down my life for others. A  conference asking me to stand for everyone to clap for my service will not be necessary. A funeral where my coffin is draped in a flag won't happen either. But, I hope that in the end of my life, someone will be moved by my example to know that dying to serve others is a life well lived. I am willing to die.

Singing Theology

At some point while I was pregnant with Abigail, Rachel painted the first verse of this song on a canvas for me. I hadn't heard the song, so I didn't know the tune but kept going back to it during the hard days of being pregnant.

Rock of Ages, when the day seems long
From this labor and this heartache I have come
The skies will wear out, but you remain the same
Rock of Ages, I praise your name 

Rock of Ages, you have brought me near
You have poured out your life-blood, your love and your tears
To make this stone heart come alive again
Rock of Ages, forgive my sin 

Rock of Ages, Rock of Ages
Bind your children, until the Kingdom comes.
Rock of Ages, your will be done. 

Rock of Ages, when in want or rest,
My desperate need for such a Savior I confess,
And pull these idols out from my heart embrace,
Rock of Ages, I need your grace. 

Rock of Ages, broken, scorned for me
Who am I that you would die to make me free?
To give me glory, you took the death and the pain,
Rock of Ages, my Offering. 

Rock of Ages, Rock of Ages
Bind your children, until the Kingdom comes.
Rock of Ages, your will be done. 

Rock of Ages, “It is done” you cried,
The curtain’s torn and I see justice satisfied.
Now write your mercy on my heart and hands,
Rock of Ages, in faith I stand. 

Rock of Ages, my great hope secure,
Your promise holds, just like an anchor to my soul.
And bind your children with cords of love and grace,
Rock of Ages, we give you praise. 

Rock of Ages, Rock of Ages
Bind your children, until the Kingdom comes.
Rock of Ages, your will be done.
And bind your children, until the Kingdom comes,
Rock of Ages, your will be done.

When we sing this hymn in church, I am reminded of God's great strength that He provides for His children. What we believe is important and we should sing our theology. I'm thankful to God for a time that I can worship Him with other believers. You can listen to it here.

This past week we sang I Surrender All. Memories of growing up in my home church at White Springs Baptist Church flooded my mind. I almost expected to hear Mrs. Wood belt out the echo part of the chorus. In all the years that I've been an adult there was always someone to sing the echo part, until this particular Sunday. Near the end I heard someone quietly sing the echo and was almost relieved. (Whew, a part of my childhood still lived on.) Don't underestimate the impact of teaching young children to sing theology through the hymns.

It is well with my soul

No matter how many times I hear that song I tear up. Our family have been moved many times by the story of this hymn. Years ago, when Rachel was learning to play hymns she learned this song. It became a comfort to all of our family when we had hard days of suffering. On some days of turmoil, when your soul is at its lowest, you can't do anything but think of hymns that God has given you in the past. It has been a comfort to our whole family to hear strains of comforting hymns like this flowing through our house. Last year, when Hannah was in the choir at Truett-McConnell, they sang a beautiful version of It Is Well and our church sings it often. Hymns minister to us in so many ways and I'm thankful that God has given them to us.

Did you know...

... that the famous hymn I Need Thee Every Hour was written by a homemaker, mom of three small children. Annie S. Hawks wrote about her hymn:

One day as a young wife and mother of 37 years of age, I was busy with my regular household tasks during a bright June morning, in 1872. Suddenly, I became filled with the sense of nearness to the Master, and I began to wonder how anyone could ever live without Him, either in joy or pain. Then the words were ushered into my mind and these thoughts took full possession of me - "I need Thee every hour..."

I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord
No tender voice like thine can peace afford
I need thee, oh, I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Oh bless me now, my Savior
I come to thee

I need thee every hour, stay thou nearby
Temptations lose their power when thou art nigh
I need thee, oh, I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Oh bless me now, my Savior
I come to thee

I need thee every hour, in joy or pain
Come quickly and abide or life is vain

I need thee every hour, most Holy One
Oh make me thine indeed, thou blessed Son
I need thee, oh, I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Oh bless me now, my Savior
I come to thee