Your Ears Still Hear my Prayer

When I have fallen far from grace
 Your ears still hear my prayer
When clouds cast shadows on your face
I know you still see me there

You have not wondered, you have not moved
Your righteousness still stands
And I will fall in cast my cares
Into your loving hands

A Little Girl and Her Grandpa

Oh little girl, I wish you could have met him.

It was 5 years ago today that my grandpa, Richard Leslie passed unexpectedly into eternity. I was just telling Parker the other day that I cannot believe how much one person can have such an impact on your life.

It is also hard to believe that grandpa has not been here for our weddings, graduations and babies. Those are things I always took for granted and thought that he would see. Gramps would have loved our little girl so much and made her feel so special. I am sad that she will not meet him, but I am thankful for the legacy that he left.

And in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm remembering all of the things I have to thank God for.

Little girl, I am thankful that you get to meet THEM:

I'll love you forever, Gramps

-Lys

Oh Little Spark of Faith in Me

Inspired by devotional by John Piper

March 4, 2016



Oh little spark of faith in me
Be fanned to mighty flame
He does not snuff this smoldering wick
When I call His name

His grace alone will see me through
my weakness holds no weight
For He has bought be with a price
the LORD has sealed my fate

When all life seems to wrap its arms
to choke this waning light
I look to see my hope secured
with His holiness and might

I did not start this little spark
I do not keep it still
It is the breath of a loving God
that keeps me in His will

"Culture of Death" - Movie Review (Me before You)

I am by not means a movie critic. I am also not one to "rant" on social media. Sometimes I think that blogs are just an excuse for people to rant in a way that seems more "intellectual" and socially acceptable. Nonetheless, I just wanted to say that I was deeply saddened as I walked away from the film: "Me before You."

If you have not seen the film, don't. If you would still like the see it, I must warn you that this blog contains spoilers.

I went to the movie hopeful to see an inspiring love story of two young people who "make life work" despite a disability. Instead, the movie ends with the quadriplegic ending his life by euthanasia. This man (Will) had said earlier in the movie, "You only get one life. It is actually your duty to live it as fully as possible." Really, Will? Because all I heard in this movie was "life is only worth living if you can walk."

The entire movie, I was waiting for Will to change his mind and realize that there is so much more to life than "doing" the physical things he once did. There are sunrises and sunsets. There is music. There is love. He still had all of those things. Should deaf people kill themselves because they can never listen to Handel's Messiah? Should blind people kill themselves because they will never see another human face? Please ask yourself this question: what message does this movie send to the disabled community?

Any proponent of euthanasia will pounce on me right here and tell me all about "choice" and give me anecdotes of terminally ill patients who died with dignity. Before you dive into that conversation, consider Wesley J. Smith and his book "A Culture of Death: the Age of DO Harm medicine." In a radio interview, I heard Mr. Smith describe the "ripple effect" that "treading lightly" on euthanasia had in european nations. First, they allowed euthanasia for terminally ill patients. After the culture softened to that idea, they allowed it for chronically ill patients... then acutely ill patients . .  then DISABLED patients. . . and then patients with trauma. He told the story of a girl who had been raped and suffered emotional trauma. She could not get over the trauma and was prescribed a pill to end her life.

Mr. Smith went on to ask how does "suicide prevention" and "euthanasia" exist in the same culture? To closely paraphrase his hypothetical scenario, he said:

Suppose you are walking along a bridge and you see someone preparing to jump off. "Wait! Stop! Don't do it," you say. The person replies "Oh don't worry, I have cancer." Instead you say "oh well in that case, go ahead, I'll hold your coat." 

In his white coat ceremony, my husband took the hippocratic oath to "do no harm." Below is part of the ORIGINAL hippocratic oath. I bet you can already guess the "modern version" is much different.

I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing. Neither will I administer a poison to anybody when asked to do so, nor will I suggest such a course. 

There are so many people in my life with disabilities that I love so dearly. Sure, they may not have a life like mine... but I believe their lives are still PRECIOUS and BEAUTIFUL and IMPORTANT.

I know that the "choice" mob will also claim that we just don't understand what suffering these individuals are enduring. You are right. I have no idea what they are going through. . . But maybe these are some people who would. . .


Nick Vujicic, founder of "Life without Limbs." 

As you can guess, Nick was born without limbs. His family didn't choose abortion because they believed that life was sacred. Nick struggled with depression and loneliness before he founded "Life without limbs." He now travels around the world, spreading the hope that he has in Jesus Christ. Read his bio here.















Joni Eareckson Tada, founder of "Joni and Friends"

Joni became a quadriplegic at the age of 17. Despite many struggles, she has used her life to inspire others. She is happily married and spreading the love of Jesus. Read more about her here.

Ian and Larissa Murphy, national speakers and authors


Ian and Larissa were dating when Ian was in a horrible accident. His injuries caused major brain and bodily damage which left him completely dependent on his care-takers. Once Larissa was able to communicate with him, she asked him if he would like to marry her. . . and the rest is history. I think you need to read the story for yourself here.



Contrast these stories to Will's "choice" to end his life.

“Shhh. Just listen. You, of all people. Listen to what Im saying. This...tonight...is the most wonderful thing you could have done for me. What you have told me, what you have done in bringing me here...knowing that, somehow, from that complete arse, I was at the start of this, you managed to salvage something to love is astonishing to me. But...I need it to end here. No more chair. No more pneumonia. No more burning limbs. No more pain and tiredness and waking up every morning already wishing it was over. When we get back, I am still going to go to Switzerland. And if you do love me, Clark, as you say you do, the thing that would make me happier than anything is if you would come with me. So I'm asking you - if you feel the things you say you feel - then do it. Be with me. Give me the end I'm hoping for.

Lu Clark had just poured out her heart to give will some hope.. to realize that life was worth living. The fundamental piece that was missing in Will's philosophy was the sanctity of life. To quote one of my friends, "because being smart, good looking, influential and loved isn't enough to live for if you're paralyzed."

You may have also noticed that the 3 examples I gave above were people who had the hope of Jesus in their lives. I know that my Hope is SURE and SECURE in Jesus. This is not a transient hope. Instead, it is an expectant longing for something firm and certain to come.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuinenessof your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. - 1 Peter 1:3-9

Dear Reader, God loves you and has a plan for your life. Do not settle to believe anything else. The only "choice" that matters is whether or not you will live it for him.

Two Fridays: The Hope of the Resurrection

Today is November 25th, a day I will never forget. There are times that memories will come back from that day and I try to clamp my eyes shut as if that will turn it off, but those memories are images in my mind, not before my eyes. The death of my Grandpa Rich had such a profound impact on my life.

It was sudden. It was unexpected. It was heart-wrenching. It wasn't fair. 

As the years go by, I remember the words of an Andrew Peterson song, "The aching may remain but the breaking does not." On this side of heaven, we will always feel the pain of loss. Everyone has a fatal diagnosis and everyone will stand before God in the throne room. 

Still . . . gosh, I wish he could have seen my wedding. I wish he could have seen Katie's baby. I wish he still rubbed grandma's feet every night. 

                               

But today I am not dwelling on that. With every triumph, there is a streak of tragedy. Conversely, with every tragedy there is a bright and burning hope of triumph . . . a land beyond the Havens Grey. "Where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal." . . . "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes."  

November 25th, 2011 was the best day of my grandpa's life. Because of the shed blood of Jesus, his last breath on earth was followed by his first breath in heaven. I know with great certainty that he trusted Christ as his savior. It was something that he passed down to us, knowing that we would have to personally "take hold of that for which Christ took hold of us." With that last breath, that which Christ began in Grandpa Rich was finally completed. 

I woke up this morning thinking of the similarities between that Black Friday and Good Friday. Beloved men died on those days. Both days were dark. Both resulted in triumph. One man was the Savior of the World; the other was a sinner who needed to be saved. One triumph begot the other. On Good Friday, a sinless, spotless savior was slain. There was darkness. There was tragedy. Three days in a grave is as good as dead, but he crushed death with one equally fatal blow. Hope was born. Now, a little boy named Richard had an atonement for his sin. There was new life to be had in the Holy Spirit. A little boy named Richard could die a spiritual death. He had the choice now to be born again. He could accept a new life, not knowing that Black Friday 2011 would be the consumption of that promised gift.

"We mourn, not as those without hope." I was not there on Good Friday or the first Easter Sunday. I was not one of the 500+ humans in history who saw the resurrected Christ. However, I am no less convinced that his death, burial, and resurrection were real. I am 100% sure of the resurrected Christ. I know because I woke up today and I have skin on. His Spirit lives inside me: my comforter and helper; convicting of sin and righteousness.

In the same way, I am 100% convinced of the resurrected Rich Leslie. The witnesses to his resurrection were not women in a garden, they were angels. If Christ himself could defeat the grave and I live in the truth of that reality every day  . . . if the theme of my life is "Christ was and is enough for me and his power is sufficient in weakness" . . . if I confess the resurrection of Christ: then I can believe the resurrection of my grandpa. THAT is the beauty of the gospel: BECAUSE Christ entered the grave and rose triumphantly, the grave is not to be feared.

Finally, I am also convinced of my future resurrection. This is not because of anything I have done. Instead, Christ paved the way in that first resurrection.

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, 

visible and invisible, whether thrones or rulers or authorities-

all things were created through him and for him.

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

And he is the head of the body, the church. 

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, 

that in everything he might be preeminent.

For in hi all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 

and through him to reconcile to himself all things,

whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

AND YOU, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, 

in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach . . ."

-Colossians 1:15-22

THIS is why I can say with full assurance that I will see my grandpa again. It is my hope that you too, reader, could know that Hope. 

"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his spirit, washed in his blood"

Is it possible to have "Perfect Peace" in hardships?

I have an emergency kit.

It is a 4x6 pad of paper with 50 pages of verses and quotes about God's faithfulness in the face of fear. If you know me well, you know that I've struggled with clinical and spiritual anxiety for a long time. This past week, a loss triggered a lot of fear in me, and it was "back to the emergency kit." I walked up and down our block, turning pages, reading those promises out loud and asking "Why? What do you want me to learn from this?"

This morning was rainy, so I held my umbrella in one hand and the emergency kit in the other. I stopped at Isaiah 26:3-4

"You will keep in perfect peace

those whose minds are steadfast, 

because they trust in you.

Trust in the LORD forever,

for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal"

What an incredible promise. I stopped and asked myself: "What is perfect peace?" I thought of several verses from the emergency kit.

"I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all of my fears." 

-Psalm 34:4

"Peace I leave with you; peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." 

-John 14:27

"He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."

 -Psalm 112:7

Did you notice that peace is impossible if you do not trust God? This promise means nothing if I think God is a liar. Notice Isaiah 26 again:

"YOU will keep. . ."

It is God who does the work, HE is the confidant, the provider, the sustainer. Again in verse 4, the REASON for this perfect peace is the object of our trust: The LORD.

"for the LORD . . . is the Rock eternal"

It is not enough to say "rock." I learned more than I ever thought I would about rocks this year because I taught Earth Science. Even rocks can change. Heat can melt them and wind can reduce them to dust. But God does not change; he is eternal.

I had to ask myself as the rain pattered on the pavement and pooled in the flowerbeds: "Do I trust God?" Do I trust that he is using this situation to make me more Christ-like? (A.W. Tozer). Do I trust that He is in control and has my best in mind? If God is the maker and sustainer of the universe and he loves me more than I could ever imagine, then why would I ever be spiritually anxious? Is God the same God at a funeral and a wedding? The obvious answer is "yes," so why do I sometimes feel like my soul itself might crumble?

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" - Hebrews 13:8

No, my God does not change, but my FOCUS is often diverted. Just as Peter took his eyes off of the Lord and looked at the ominous waves around him, we too are dismayed by life's challenges. I know I've heard that one-thousand times, but my heart still gets unhinged in a tragedy!

The LORD himself is the Rock that we cling to. I cannot change situations or people, the past or the future, but I can change my focus. I can keep my fingers wrapped tightly around the Rock of my salvation and say with confidence that HE is my peace (Ephesians 2:14).

"The anchor holds"

-Kristen Sauder

Chosen Portion

One of the reasons I blog so sporadically is because I am a bit too self-conscious. The Lord is still working on that part of my sanctification.

Well it is Ash Wednesday after all, right?

I always tell myself that I'm going "give up something for lent," kind of like I always tell myself that I'm going to make a New Year's resolution. . . except NOT.

. . . Because those two things should not be synonymous. We make New Year's resolutions to "make ourselves better." People usually choose something that will make the future more bright and happy. Lent is about "laying down ourselves" because Christ is better.

The sin in our life is a result of believing lies: the lies that people or things are better than Christ. Lent serves many purposes to highlight that truth. This article helped clarify some of those purposes.

But "lent" is not just for "lent season" (see John Piper's thoughts).

We are constantly bombarded with things that steal our attention, affection, and eventually our joy. Matt Chandler said that to grow as a believer, "Fill your life with things that stir your affections for Christ and REMOVE the things that rob your affection."

And since I am quote-happy, I'll share one that Doug used to share:

"Sin always takes us father than we want to go, keeps us longer than we want to stay, and cost more than we want to pay."

That price was paid and we look to the One who paid it.

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance."
-Psalm 16:5

I've struggled a lot in the last 6 months to believe that.

Do I look at my life and cards I am daily dealt and say with confidence: the LORD is my chosen portion?

What about the 21 Egyptian martyrs? They were willing to look at the situation and say "the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance."

Praise God for that inheritance.