A Gospel-Centered Response to Stress?

I have a request for all my gospel-centered blog friends. Our church is having a women's retreat this weekend and I am supposed to be leading the ladies in a couple of worship songs before each session. The main sessions are going to be Kay Arthur videos about "The Key to Handling Stress" from Philippians 2. So I want to go with that theme and choose songs that relate to handling stress. I want to do this with a gospel-centered perspective...so my questions are:

1) How would you define/describe a gospel-centered response to stress?
2) Can you think of any hymns or contemporary songs with lyrics that speak of this in some way?

I am still somewhat new at this whole applying-the-gospel-to-every-aspect of life thing. So I would love your input :) Incidentally, as I typed this post, God brought to mind something I read from Piper a while back which I think applies here...but I'll save that for another post and wait to see what kind of response I get.

Please comment below!

Hold Fast

"It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him" (Deuteronomy 13:4).

Was reading this verse the other day and reflecting on what it teaches about knowing God and fearing Him. Some thoughts...

*What is the difference between "keeping His commands" and "obeying Him"? One focuses on the words--the commands--it's about rules, guidelines, standards. That's important. But it's not the be-all, end-all. The other focuses on the Person--it's about relationship, intimacy. It's hollow to follow rules without truly knowing (and loving, fearing, serving, trusting) the Authority behind them. The Law cannot give life--only the Spirit gives life.

*We are to hold fast to HIM--not to traditions or rules or laws. To cling to Him--as you would cling to the last rock that kept you from sliding down the cliff, to the raft that kept you from drowning. To cling as a small child clings to his mother's hand or leg or neck when he doesn't want to be left alone. To cling like this is to acknowledge helplessness, to admit need. It is to be humble. But it is not only to see reality about yourself (you are helpless, needy)...it is to see reality about your God. It is to acknowledge and prize the value of the One you cling to--to recognize His strength, His authority, His ability and power to help. It is to treasure the blessing it is to be near to Him, the privilege of knowing Him.

Oops...I Did it Again*

So it looks like I really am going for the "Golden Oven Mitt" (though not intentionally).

We had a potluck at church last night--always a good excuse to make something yummy that's too much for just Steve and I to eat. I made pumpkin cake, but there were lots of other desserts, and not as many people there as we sometimes have...so we ended up bringing home half the cake. Goodness knows how many pieces I would eat if it were left lying around in our kitchen...so...I did it again. I sent the rest to work with Steve this morning. I almost hated to do it...this Betty-Crocker-for-the-guys-at-work thing is getting ridiculous...but this time it wasn't my fault! I had no intention of sending goodies to work with him this week. Honest. If the cake had gotten eaten at the potluck this wouldn't have happened.

Anyway, just in case there was any danger of my getting a big head about all this Betty-Crocker-ness, God knocked me down a peg or two. The hot dish I took to the potluck didn't go over well...apparently it didn't look all that appetizing because I believe the only people who ate any were me and Steve. Ah well...keeps me humble :)


*Did I just use a Britney Spears song as the title for a blog post? Somebody shoot me now.

Affirming My Reluctance to Get a Flu Shot

I have no idea where they got the facts for this...but if it's true, now I know why I've never been keen on the idea of getting a flu shot. The video is hilarious and shocking at the same time...

Eye on the Flu Shot - Royal Canadian Air Farce

(HT: Amy's Humble Musings)

Started Something

Last Sunday night, I was in the mood to bake. I have an incurable sweet tooth, so when I bake, I occasionally send the extras to work with Steve--because if it's here, I'll eat all of it. I've only sent treats with him a handful of times in the last year, but it has happened before. So when he asked if I would make something he could take to work ("Mondays are always easier to bear if there's something good to eat"), I happily agreed. He voted for banana bread with chocolate glaze (the only way to eat banana bread, in my humble opinion), and I got to baking.

Monday morning, he emailed me to say that the banana bread was a big hit. One of his co-workers had already come back for seconds as of 9:30; in the afternoon, his boss grabbed a piece and commented that he was glad he hadn't known about it until then. Steve came home with an empty plate, having given away the last half-piece on his way out the door. (Thank goodness I swiped a slice before it left the house!) I was glad to have been able to bless my husband and his co-workers in a simple way, and didn't think any more of it.

Until Wednesday afternoon, when Steve told me that Stan's wife had made chocolate chip cookies. Food in the office isn't totally unheard of, but uncommon enough that twice in one week was a notable occurrence. We laughed as we pictured all the guys having gone home Monday and told their wives, "Steve brought us this great banana bread his wife made!" I jokingly remarked that I hoped the other wives didn't hate me.

I got an email from my husband a few minutes ago. Not to be outdone, Vince's wife whipped up a batch of brownies. From scratch.

Thankful Thursday, Take 7

Thanking God for...

• a date with my handsome husband last Saturday
• said husband's mad grilling skills
• vegetable beef soup, and the fact that I like it now (I wouldn't have touched it with a ten foot pole as a kid)
• a clean, no-longer-smelly dog, and a husband willing to help bathe him
• the gift of music
• sparkly pens
• changing my heart to enjoy cooking/baking
• the fabulous taste of yellow cake batter--which I believe I would choose for dessert of my last meal if I were on death row. Just give me a spatula and a mixing bowl full of the delightful stuff.
• cake batter ice cream, a brilliant invention that's almost as good as the real thing
• being "the God who sees" (Genesis 16)--not a distant, impersonal force but a loving, sovereign God who watches over every detail of my life and never slumbers nor sleeps
• the cross, which gives me reason to rejoice even in the midst of sorrow or pain

And you?

Posting to Say I've Got Nothing to Post

So I've been a lazy blogger this week. Two reasons: 1) I don't really have anything interesting to say, and 2) I've wasted too much computer time reading other people's blogs--leaving no time to write on my own :) I'll at least pass along a couple of things I've found particularly encouraging/challenging/helpful/interesting lately. After you read the posts, look around at both blogs--they're written by wise and gospel-centered women:

"Before this I just figured I was a square peg of a woman trying to fit into the round hole of home maker. There is no hope in this conclusion."

" 'God, be with me (or us or them).' How often have you prayed this or heard someone else pray it?" It's a prayer that doesn't need to be prayed.

One Powerful Sentence

Tim Keller:

"The gospel is: you are more sinful and flawed than you ever dared believe yet you can be more accepted and loved than you ever dared hope at the same time because Jesus Christ lived and died in your place."

More great sound bites from the Desiring God National Conference 2006 speakers here.

Thankful Thursday, Take 6

Thanking God for...

• safe travel to Ohio and back last week
• apple cider and apple butter from MacQueen Orchards
• hot soup on cold, rainy days
• our gas hookup only costing $20 instead of the $170 I was told in July
• the fact that having a warm house is as simple as paying a small deposit and turning a knob on the wall
• a calm, gentle dog who is friendly and completely unaggressive toward people and other animals
• the generosity, kindness and acts of service we receive so often from both sets of parents
• peony and lily bulbs my father-in-law dug up for us to plant down here (now if only I can figure out where to put them!)
• GEMS--I missed those precious girls last week! It was good to be back last night.
• a free song download from Sovereign Grace--love it!
• a warm, soft bed with heavy, cozy blankets
• the fantastic book I'm reading
• updates on the blogs of friends who don't post often
• because of Christ's sacrifice, I can call God not just King or Creator or Lord, but "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15)
• as His child, one day, I will inherit all that my Heavenly Father owns--the earth and everything in it, made perfect and forever freed from sin's effects and presence--and I will see Him face-to face--and the pleasures of that life will make these small joys listed above a dim shadow! (Romans 8:17-18)

Your turn...

Quote of the Day

"If home is where your heart is, then my home is strewn around this world and spills into Another."

--Angela at randomage

Too Early?

Is October 19 too early to start listening to Christmas music?

Between the choir songs we began practicing last night, and the free download from Sovereign Grace's forthcoming Christmas CD, I am now completely in the mood to bust out all my Christmas music. Never mind the fact that Thanksgiving is still a month away.

Go check out that free song! It's a great one. I'm sooo excited about the CD!

Why I Am Glad to Live in Tennessee

Because in Tennessee, it doesn't do this in October:

This lovely view of my parents' backyard greeted me a week ago today. Miserable. Did this Southern girl pack for snow and mean winds? No. (Did I just call myself a Southern girl? Um...yeah.)

As much as I miss many things about home, I do love living in a place where fall lasts longer and the winters aren't so nasty. Of course, we were welcomed home by Monday's cold and rainy yuck, and a house hovering around 60 degrees...but at least it wasn't SNOW in OCTOBER. And yesterday, we were back up in the 70s. Ahhh...I love me a Tennessee fall.

Overcoming Sin and Temptation

I have heard so many great things about Puritan theologian John Owen but have not yet read any of his work. What better incentive than this deal from Justin Taylor at Between Two Worlds: Order Overcoming Sin and Temptation through its publisher, Crossway, and receive 40% off retail when you enter the code "BTWOW" at checkout. Plus, order any other book from Crossway and shipping is free--to me, that was an irresistible excuse to buy another book a great deal! Then get a free PDF of the book as well. Here are a couple of endorsements of Overcoming Sin and Temptation. I can't wait to read it.

"What Owen offers is not quick relief, but long-term, deep growth in grace that can make strong, healthy trees where there was once a fragile sapling. I pray that thousands—especially teachers and pastors and other leaders—will choose the harder, long-term path of growth, not the easier, short-term path of circumstantial relief.. . . We cannot properly estimate the blessing of soaking our minds in the Bible-saturated thinking of the likes of John Owen. What he was able to see in the Bible and preserve for us in writing is simply magnificent." —John Piper, Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis

“No writer has taught me more about the dynamics of the heart and the deceitfulness of sin than John Owen. ...Read this book carefully; it will help you understand your heart and experience God’s grace.”—C. J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries

More Friends, More Photos

Thursday of our week at home found me thoroughly enjoying one of Pizza Oven's famous pizza subs. Yummy wonderful burnt-cheese goodness. Then I made dinner and our friends Kaleb and Denise came over, along with their cutie-pie son, Dawson, and a sweet teenage boy who Kaleb has sort of been mentoring. Seventeen-month-old Dawson was a little whiny before we ate--but was soon occupied with the fun of drumming on a pot. Who needs expensive toys?

As much grace as God has given me when it comes to cooking, I still struggle with making all the parts of a meal come together smoothly at the same time. I don't know why I can multi-task everywhere except in the kitchen! (The main part was an improvisation that is yummy and easy--dip chicken breasts in a mixture of honey mustard and a little lemon juice, coat with crushed french-fried onions, and bake at 400* for 20 minutes!)

Friday I got to have lunch with three of my former co-workers from Project Respect (or rather, two co-workers and my boss). Left to right: Patty, Jackie, me and Shirley. My time at Project Respect was...well, let's just say it was one of the few times in my life where I believe God specifically called me to do something I ended up hating, yet knew He had led me to it. Maybe "hate" is too strong a word. It wasn't all bad. But I was glad to be done, for sure. Anyway, the saving grace of those nine months was these precious ladies (plus a couple of others) who became dear friends. I may not have liked my job, but I did love working with great people like them.

Friday night, my college roommate Stephanie graciously drove up from Fort Wayne to see me since she was busy the day I saw the rest of the Fort Fun crew. We have made a lot of memories together in five or six years as friends and roommates--Stephanie is one of those people who knows me really well and loves me anyway. She is a busy girl doing all sorts of neat stuff and I was so thankful that she made time for me. I loved hearing about all she's up to--serving God, enjoying life.

Oh, and I got a new haircut, which you can see in the last two pictures.

Real Beauty

Via Nashville is Talking:

Rachel at Women's Health News links to an unbelievable film that's part of Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty. She's got more links to photo retouching exposes here and here. We all know that photos in magazines and such have been retouched, but it's powerful to see actual before-and-after evidence. Sheds a new light on the standards we hold ordinary women to...

UPDATE: GirlTalk weighed in on this same video today:

The Dove Campaign got it partially right—the fashion industry has certainly contributed to a distorted perception of beauty. ...their solution—“every girl deserves to feel beautiful just the way she is”—is well-meaning and yet...Even if every girl did “feel beautiful just the way she is,” it wouldn’t bring her true joy or lasting happiness or solve even one of her problems.

Truth be told, what we all deserve is not to feel beautiful but rather to be condemned to hell for sinfully seeking to attract the worship of our fellow creatures instead of living to bring glory to God.

God did not send Jesus to this earth to die so that women could get over their self-esteem problem and feel better about themselves. No, He sent his Son to die to rescue us from our sinful, futile quest for physical beauty and to reveal to us the satisfaction that comes from knowing God—whether we are beautiful or not!

What freedom and hope is found in Christ! We don’t need to feel beautiful about ourselves to find happiness! ...Rather, God has offered us in Jesus Christ forgiveness, hope, freedom from sin and a joy that never ends.