Thoughts on “evangelical obedience”

During last night’s prayer meeting, we meditated on Psalm 119:4.

 

You have ordained Your precepts,

That we should keep them diligently.

We examined thoughts from Bridges’ commentary on the psalm. He highlights “evangelical obedience” – and the born-again believer’s motivation for obeying God’s laws.

 

We concluded with the question: What is “evangelical” (i.e. gospel) obedience?

• It is obedience that springs gladly from my grateful love for my Savior’s love. (cf. John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10; I John 5:3; II John 6; Romans 12:1-2)

• It is obedience that transforms all the business of my day into my Master’s business.

A mother’s day is filled with the care of little people: wiping noses, changing diapers, doing laundry, sweeping up crumbs, again and again… Gospel-inspired obedience means that all (even the most ordinary, routine, menial tasks) will be done as if done unto Christ!

 

At the beginning of a new year, I plead for the grace my Savior stands ever-ready to give – and take heart from these encouraging, motivating thoughts!

Weeping... (and Hope!)

Twenty months have passed since the night of April 20, 2011. Together with Esther and Esteban and Marcos, we face our first Christmas in SC without Jona. The rest of our extended family faces the Christmas Season in Uruguay. At this time last year, we were all together in Uruguay.

But we are very aware that even as we sorrow (but not without hope), many families in the northeast of our country are facing grief beyond words this Christmas...

Others echo my thoughts better than I could ever pen them right now...

“As we yearn for the Day of the Lord, we grieve with those who grieve. We sit with them and pray for them and acknowledge that their loss is truly unspeakable and that their tears are unspeakably true. We pray and look for openings for grace and the hope of the gospel. We do our best to speak words of truth, love, grace, and comfort.”

“The darkness of Christmas, whether the first one or the one this [year], serves as a reminder of why Jesus had to come . . . and why He will come again...”

“This life, with all its joys and blessings, is part of a long story that is – in a very real sense – a story of human pain and sorrow. We long for babies that never come. Children come but die in the womb before we get to meet them. Parents bury children they never planned to bury; and children bury parents with words left unsaid . . . and memories of words that should have never been said. We walk through the children’s cancer ward, where bright colors and happy toys fail to hide the stinging knowledge that here are little people who are very sick. Our hearts – and sometimes our voices – scream to the unanswering sky . . . “Why? Is this what it is to be human? Where is God in all of this?” And in our most honest moments, we admit that we’re tempted to question how there could even be a God who allows such suffering. These questions are not new. And though we will never understand all of the answers in this life, God has told us a lot about why we suffer . . . and about how the long story will finally end.” [Read the whole story: God’s Story – and Yours!]

from Psalm 73

You hold me by my right hand.

You will guide me with Your counsel,

And afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You?

And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

My flesh and my heart fail;

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...

 

It is good for me to draw near to God;

I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,

That I may declare all Your works.

~ from Psalm 73

Do pray specifically!

On November 2 we posted our latest ministry report in which JM commemorates several significant anniversary milestones. We appreciate your reading and praying specifically for our current North American ministry and for what God is doing in Uruguay.

 

Recent travels took us to PA and VA. We’re thankful for educational extras we experienced in the DC area:

 

Pray for our nation!

 

JM used airline miles to fly to UT, where he participated in Kaysville Bible Church’s 40th anniversary celebration, taught a Sunday school class in Liberty, and met with friends in the Salt Lake Valley.
 

 

Do pray specifically for us! We do not take your prayers for granted. We are in constant need of them. Without God’s grace we cannot for one day – let alone 40 years – be faithful in our service to Christ.

¡Feliz Cumple, Flaco!

Happy Birthday – to my dearest friend on earth!

He has two more avid fans, too!

September 2012

December 2010

Solid Joys!

Today we sang a hymn I’d memorized in high school. My now-favorite stanza wasn’t included in the hymnbook used back then, but it’s well-worth our singing and meditation:

 

Savior, since of Zion’s City
I through grace a member am,
Let the world deride or pity;
I will glory in thy name.
Fading is the worldling’s pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show.
Solid joys and lasting treasure
None but Zion’s children know.

(by John Newton)

Love 'em!

They’re my favorite people in the universe – and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them at the soccer game tonight!

Note the Uruguayan national team shirts!

You may be wondering about our secret to getting great smiles? Well... This time JM balanced a marble-sized, crumpled-up paper on the camera! (Whatever it takes!)