The Valley of Vision

"Lord, High and Holy, Meek and Lowly,

You have brought me to the valley of vision,
   where I live in the depths but see you in the heights,
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold your glory.

Let me learn by paradox
     that the way down is the way up,
     that to be low is to be high,
     that the broken heart is the healed heart,
     that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
     that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
     that to have nothing is to possess all,
     that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
     that to give is to receive,
     that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from the deepest wells,
     and the deeper the wells the brighter your stars shine.
   
Let me find your light in my darkness,
     your life in my death,
     your joy in my sorrow,
     your grace in my sin,
     your riches in my poverty,
     your glory in my valley."

Candy's thoughts: It sounds odd or irreverent to say that one has a "favorite prayer." We often reference books and movies and laundry detergents as "favorites." But truly, this IS the special prayer that I return to time and again. Each phrase merits its own blog post, but time does not allow for that ambitious project. However, I have committed this day to take each thought expressed and meditate on it throughout the course of my day, particularly in the morning and before bed at night. I intend to write each phrase on a little file card and carry it with me so that I can be reminded to think through who God the Father is, what His son has accomplished on the cross, and how the Holy Spirit has applied the gospel and all the promises to us through Holy Scripture. 

Anyone want to join me in this commitment to meditate on this, my "favorite prayer?"

   

There's No Place Like Home

From the Archives: This was originally published here on Candyceland 9 years ago today. 😀

I was recently asked to share the story of how Steve and I came to plant the church in Exeter. It actually all started with two Mary Engelbreit tins...

We initially moved to New Hampshire in 1989 to be a part of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashua. We loved this state, and traveled around quite a bit on various field trips. We came out to the Seacoast area often, and one time stopped in Exeter. We wandered around its quaint downtown area. I fell in love with one shop in particular - I think it was called Lilacs and Lace. It was a specialty shop that was very "girlish" and sold Mary Engelbreit products. I purchased the two tins pictured here. The day we visited, the owner was hosting a "tea party" for a mom and her girls on a raised platform in the back of the store. When we came back outside, and were gazing at the lovely gazebo in the middle of the street, I asked Steve: "Wouldn't it be great to someday live in a town like this?"

Years later, Steve finished seminary. We started to pray about where God would have us serve Him. We investigated several options, including planting churches in Salem, NH, and Hanover, NH (home of Dartmouth College). There was also an opening at Magee Presbyterian Church in Magee, Mississippi! I am NOT making this up! But we decided ultimately that since we loved New Hampshire, and there were only a few PCA churches in the state, the wisest course would be to stay and start another one. But where, specifically?

Then I remembered the lovely town of Exeter that we had visited years earlier. Being the county seat at the time, it was a great location geographically for a new church. We moved here in 1994 to begin Exeter Presbyterian Church. Soon thereafter I headed downtown to find Lilacs and Lace, but alas, it was gone. I was so disappointed. I wanted to have tea parties there with my daughters and buy more Mary Engelbreit stuff. *sniff sniff*

Fast forward 4 or 5 years. We were having a wonderful dinner with some dear saints who had recently become members of Exeter Presbyterian. They asked how we decided to plant the church in Exeter. I told the same story as I've just recorded here - about the great store with the tins and the tea party. Leila and Ted were amazed. The store had been owned by Leila! It was only in operation for a year or so, and they never really understood why God called them to start this store and then have them close it down so soon after. Leila cried, and said that "...if the only reason for the store was to lure you here to Exeter to start the church, then that is good enough for me!"

So there you have proof that "...God works in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform." A month from today we will celebrate being in Exeter for fifteen years (now 24 years)! Through a lovely store and two small tins, God somehow directed us to the place where we were apparently meant to be!

O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

A Devotional Based on "O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go" by Lindsay I. Terry

Scripture: Romans 8:26-39

Nay, in all these these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

The story behind this hymn is remarkably similar to that behind the hymn, "No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus." Both were born out of dark sorrow. Dr. George Matheson was another of the great preachers produced by Scotland. He was born there in 1842. While still in his teens, he entered the University of Glasgow. He was stricken with total blindness shortly after his entrance into school. But not even the loss of eyesight could stop George Matheson. Before his death, Mr. Matheson recorded his own account of the writing of his masterpiece hymn. The hymn was composed in the manse of Innellan on the evening of June 6, 1882. He was alone and it was the day of his sister's marriage, and the rest of the family were staying overnight in Glasgow. Some event, known only to him, caused him the most severe mental suffering. It has been suggested that he was in love with a young lady and was jilted. This may have been the reason for his extreme distress. The hymn was a fruit of that suffering. He reported that the hymn was the quickest bit of work he ever did in his life. It seemed to be dictated to him by some inward voice. The whole work was completed in five minutes and it never received any retouching or correction:

                                       

                                          O love that wilt not let me go,

                                          I rest my weary soul in Thee,

                                          I give Thee back the life I owe,

                                          That in Thine ocean depths its flow

                                          May richer, fuller be.

Terry's thoughts: It is only the tremendous love that God has for us that causes Him to draw a curtain over our future so that we cannot see what lies ahead. Therefore, we must cling to Him for daily strength and daily guidance. Truly this makes our lives richer and fuller.

Candy's thoughts:  If only I could remember this as trials pile up and my feelings go down!

My favorite version of this hymn

Some Mother's Child

Since first becoming a mother some 36 years ago, I have viewed tragic or pitiful stories differently than before then. When I've seen news of someone causing or being a victim of a horrific crime, I've thought about the parents of both the perpetrator and the victim. If I read an account of girls being freed from the sex trade in India or anywhere in the world, I think of the joy a parent should feel in seeing their loved one rescued. Obituaries always make me wonder if there's a parent mourning the loss of their child, whether it's a young or adult one. For me it's always about the mother and father behind the person who is affected by a terrible event.

Which is why the link I'm sharing with you today struck me so hard when I read it recently. It is written by Bob Bjerkaas, a friend of ours who once labored as a pastor in Vermont and is now ministering in California. (The picture I posted is Bob with Joni Earekson Tada who is one of his parishioners.) As I read Bob's blogpost I wondered if this is the way God thinks of us as He sees us floundering/sinning/hurting/being hurt by others. I think it pains Him as much (or more?) than it pains us as earthly parents when we see our own kids struggling. I'd be interested in hearing perspectives and thoughts from all of you after you read this beautiful story and poem.

http://bobbjerkaas.com/some-mothers-child/