Jehovah Meginnah

     When do you feel vulnerable or afraid? Is it at night? Are you afraid of the future, afraid of circumstances, afraid of particular people or things or situations? Afraid of being tempted to compromise? Can you remember being terrified in your life? There are many causes of feeling afraid and vulnerable. Today we are going to ponder the name Jehovah Meginnah: God my defense, my shield. When we gaze at God we see, as it were, a beautiful diamond with many facets. We will look at one facet of Him in relation to all His other attributes. We will see that shield means more than a metal or animal hide implement giving only partial covering. God is a living active, responsive, incomprehensibly comprehensive shield. God our shield can be traced from Abram through David to Christ.

     There are 41 times shield is used in relation to God and we will briefly look at 3. We will spend most of our time is Psalm 18. We will find that God our shield, Jehovah Meginnah, is our protector, defender and provider. God actively delivers us. He provides protection and provides us with all that we need to contend with whatever foe we encounter, from with and without. First of all, we will look at Genesis 15. God Himself reveals Himself as Jehovah Meginnah to Abram. It is not a feeling or an inference but a revelation from God Himself. Second, we will look at a victory song of King David where David describes God as my shield, my defense, the One who rescues and is a refuge. This song is found in two places: 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18. And lastly, we will look at Ephesians 6 and the protection God provides for us today.

     Let us look at the setting of Genesis 15 before we look at the use of Jehovah Meginnah found here. Abram has defeated four Midianite kings and rescued his nephew Lot. He has given all the bounty from these war exploits to Melchidezek. We can infer that is it night from the text since God takes him out to look at the stars. Abram is probably concerned about reprisals from the Midianites, and he is still childless. Abram is afraid and worried.

     God begins by addressing Abram's fear and tells him not to be afraid. And the reason Abram doesn't need to fear? That is the revelation that God will be Abram's shield and very great reward. God will be Abram's defender, protector, and provider. A relationship with God Himself is the highest reward. Look at verse 6. Abram "believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness."

     In this short paragraph God reveals Himself as a shield and promises that He will actively protect and provide for Abram. God assures Abram that He will keep His covenant to bless all the nations of the earth through him, through a son from him and no other. Abram can be confident in God. Abram is confident and his belief is counted as righteousness. As we peek through the salvation timeline, we see our righteousness and shield comes through the promised seed, Christ. Jehovah Meginnah is our righteousness.

     The second use of Jehovah Meginnah that we are going to look at is in a thanksgiving song of King David's. This song is recorded twice. Once in 2 Samuel 22 as David sings to God, and the second time the entire song is in the psalter. This psalm is a victory song after many big wins. Wins are something to celebrate! We know a little bit of what is it is like. Chicago has been celebrating a unique victory of one of their baseball teams after not winning the pennant for 108 years. Celebrations include THE BIG "W" paraphernalia bought and displayed by many fans, the Cubs huge celebratory parade, and many parties. There was much self-congratulation.

     David's song is so different. It is exuberant, enthusiastic, ecstatic praise of God. It gives vivid descriptions of God and of his own intense, life threatening battles. The heading which introduces Psalm 18, the setting for this song of praise, is the same as the opening verse of 2 Samuel 22. Through this introduction, we learn the timing of the psalm. David probably sung this as it is recorded in 2 Samuel 22 after he had defeated the enemies of Israel and was delivered from Saul and established as king of Israel. It is an earlier psalm, coming at the beginning and not the end of his reign. Psalm 18, this same song, is taken up and included in the psalter, and sung by the whole nation of Israel. It is a Messianic psalm that looks forward to the inclusion of the nations. David will describe God as his shield, Jehovah Meginnah, and recount many experiences of protection and deliverance.

     Reflect for a moment on David's life up to this point. He was chased by Saul, who was intent on killing him. David despaired of life and was discouraged as he hid from Saul in a cave. He celebrates that he has been delivered from Saul and also delivered from the temptation to kill Saul. He engaged in many battles fighting the enemies of Israel and faced temptations. Some he describes and alludes to many other situations. This song is a relational, personal psalm. It is a psalm characterized by personal pronouns: You, I, and my. David recounts his cries, his prayers, and his pleas to God, but the focus of this psalm is God. David describes all that he has learned about God and leads us to look forward to the forever King.

     David opens with a passionate declaration of love and vivid enthusiastic praise, "I love you, O Lord." The word for love that is used denotes that love experienced and reciprocated by a mother and child, one of experiencing compassionate care. Jehovah Meginnah is not an in animate unfeeling shield, He is One who cares and loves. Jehovah Meginnah, our defense, is a safe and secure place. He is my rock, fortress, and stronghold. These are descriptions taken from David's own setting of the dessert rocky land forms in Israel and describe God's protection. They are the passive provisions of God. But God our shield is more that passive. God is active. Look at these provisions: my strength, my deliverer, my shield, my horn of salvation. "Horn of salvation," in verse 2, theologically refers to God's vertical, powerful intervention. Verse 3 summarized David's experiences. He calls out to the Lord. God answers and David is saved. But notice how God-centric David is? In the middle of this sentence is God, who is worthy to be praised.

     Verses 4-6 are a dramatic recounting of dire, life threatening events and God's response. In verse 4-5 we see Death staring David in the face. David response by crying out to God in prayer. Through out his life, David has built the practice of responding to fear with prayer. God actively hears and listens to cries for help. David says "My cry reached His ears," showing that God always hears.

     Then we are given a look behind the scenes. David recounts God's holy, righteous response. Look at the anger of God and His willingness to intervene. The poetry is vivid, dramatic, and includes many references to Moses and the Red Sea, Mount Sinai, and the book of Job. We see God in action as David recounts his experience of God's loving rescue. Again note how God centered this is. He reached from on high, which emphasizes the relational aspect of God's response. This is no impersonal dispatching of mechanical assistance. This Jehovah Maginnah, our shield and our defense, coming to David's aid. In the face of strong enemies and the earth reeling and rocking, the Lord is David's support.

     Finally let us look at Christ as our protection, shield, and armor. Christ took the full expression of God's wrath on the cross so that He could give us His righteousness. The shield of God is Christ, our righteousness. For those who believe, we are now clothed and covered by the blood of Christ, and when we come before our King and Judge at the end of time, we will be robed in white, Christ's covering for His chosen people.

     In the closing portion of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he urges them in Ephesians 6:10, "Finally be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God." In the list of armor we are to put on is the shield. "In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one." Jehovah Meginnah is our shield, our righteousness, our very great reward. He does not leave us weak and defenseless but lovingly gives us protection and provides us with all that we need.

     I asked you at the beginning, what you are afraid of: circumstances, people, situations, temptations. Do you feel that you are facing a strong enemy, calamity, or are surrounded by many waters? Are you worn down by the mini battles of daily life? Are you feeling vulnerable? I want us to listen, join in this psalm of adoration and lift what is weighing us down to our Jehovah Meginnah.

by Ruth Scharf

Trinity Wives Felloship

Faculty Wife Advisor

Seven Important Questions

Editorial Note

     For  the last two weeks in small groups we have been discussing intimacy, focusing on sexual intimacy. Since intimacy with your spouse is more than just sex, Suzanne provided us with some helpful questions to build intimacy with your spouse.

Still Dating After All These Years

     Married at the mid-point of John's M.Div. studies, we heard many great tips about building a strong foundation in our marriage. We heard frequently that good communication is essential to a good marriage. But with our busy lives, how do we nurture that communication? Seven simple but profound questions have been the key to keeping our romance and our friendship fresh for forty years. These seven questions are ones we will ask on a regular basis:

     1. How is your/our relationship with the Lord going?

     2. How is your/our service or ministry going?

     3. How is your job/professional life?

     4. How are we doing with our finances?

     5. How is our physical/sexual relationship going?

     6. How is your/our social life, should we be doing more or less with family/friends?

     7. How are the children doing? ...and is there anything else you wanted to talk about?

     We learned by experience that good communication was not only being transparent with your own thoughts and feelings, but also sensing when your spouse was receptive. Sometimes issues have to wait a few days because it is exam (or grading!) week, your spouse is sick, or they are distracted with their own challenges. Since early in our marriage we have set aside one block of time a month to really listen to one another and discuss our lives using these questions as our guide.

As a Young Couple

      Before children, I worked full time and John was a full time student. We would choose a Sunday afternoon and mark it on our calendars. We would go to separate rooms, agree not to answer the phone, and spend an hour or two with the Lord thinking and praying about each of the questions.

     When we were finished with our time with the Lord, John would ask me how my relationship with the Lord was going. When I was finished talking about myself, I would ask him the same question. Then it my turn to pick a question. We were free to pick and choose the order of the questions by what was most important to us that day, although we would always ask each other about our relationship with the Lord first, because when the relationship with God isn't going well, other areas of life usually aren't going well either!

     Spending time alone with the Lord first has always been essential for us. After the time with God, we are both humble, receptive, wiling to listen to our spouse, and want the Lord's will above our own. In practical terms, we are therefore each willing to change our minds on the issues where we differ because we want God's will for our marriage and lives.

     This pattern early on established an essential habit of being yielded to the Lord before we discuss those personal issues. It motivated us to make every effort to resolve our differences, or at least to genuinely understand the other person's point of view.

With Young Children

      After our first child, I worked half time and John worked full time teaching in seminary. On the chosen Sunday of the month, we spent time with the Lord while the baby napped, but usually didn't finish talking through all seven questions before she awoke. Sometimes I fell asleep if I'd been up late with the baby! It often took much of Sunday evening to finish our conversation. We looked forward to that one Sunday a month focusing exclusively on each other and on our baby.

     After the second child, nap times were constantly changing and became too unpredictable, so we tried different variations. The best arrangement was to first each spend an hour alone with the Lord while the other watched the children. In the late afternoon we would exchange childcare with a friend or pay a young teen to stay with the children for an hour or two and either go for a walk or go sit in the car and talk.

With Older Children

      As the children outgrew naps, we switched to a weekend evening. A table for two in the corner of a restaurant is ideal. We each tried to spend extra time with the Lord that morning. Then we go our to dinner at a not too popular restaurant - one without people standing in line waiting for our table - so we can linger over coffee. We talk through all the issues except sex. I am too afraid of someone at the next table listening in! So we save that topic for some quiet moments at home once the children are asleep (or while we were still out!)

Other Variations

      During transition years when finances were tight, I rented a favorite video or the children, fed them ahead of time, and made a candlelight dinner at home. There were always interruptions, so when finances allowed, we would go for a walk to to a restaurant to better give each other our undivided attention.

After 40 Years

      Each of us is continually growing and changing - we never know each other completely. We still need to talk together regularly and give each other our undivided attention. It is important to me to listen to John and support him whatever he is going through. After our conversations, I feel so loved because he wants to listen to me and know how my life is going.

     After the first six months, as we were getting to know each other better through the questions, we found a pattern emerged. Usually only two of the questions would require in depth discussion. The other areas were generally going fine and our answers would be brief.

     In actual practice, when life gets so overwhelmingly busy that we miss a monthly time together, we sense our need to catch up with each other. During times of great change or transition, such as having children, moving, buying a house, changing jobs, having surgery, one or both of us experience increased stress. It is more important that ever to keep our monthly dates and keep current with each other.

     This month we plan to go out to dinner while our son is at an activity - I'm really looking forward to it. I have many things to tell him.

By Suzanne Kilner

TWF Faculty Wife Advisor

My Father's Passing

     I was able to spend the last four days of his life with my father, Edson Fast. What I wanted to share with all of you was the amazing way our amazing God was in the details of these four days. It became obvious that the experimental chemo was not working, and Dad, at the age of 81, was not strong enough for another option. We requested that a nurse from palliative/hospice care speak with us. She was amazing and walked Dad through the history of his illness. I held his hand and he said, "Actually, I'm ready." And then as only our good Lord can do, when I mentioned that Dad was a minister of the Gospel, the nurse asked, "What seminary did you go to?" The story spilled out that Dad had gone to Trinity - back when Trinity was still located in Chicago. She shared that her husband had gone to Trinity in the 80's and that he now pastors a church in Toledo. Her son is taking online classes through Trinity.

     Then, there was joy as we reminisced about Dad's various ministries in New England. We sang a song that I used to sing as a young girl when we traveled as a part of a "Chalk Talk." As Dad drew a picture on a large canvas depicting a Biblical scene, Mom played the piano, the siblings played their instruments, and I scrambled to stand on a folding chair next to Dad at the pulpit. "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever..."

     Thank you for letting me share this with you. May God continue to use us and Trinity for His  glory.

By Kristen Johnson

Faculty Wife

Money and Marriage Course Coming to Trinity!

     The Trinity Wives Fellowship is happy to invite you to Money and Marriage, a course designed by Compass: Finances God's Way that will teach you in six sessions how to handle your personal finances God's way.

     The Money and Marriage course will give you the opportunity to learn what the Bible teaches about financial discipleship, and it sure has a lot to say! 2,350 verses in the Bible relate to money, and Jesus talked about money more than any other topic. Why? If we don't carefully manage the resources that Lord has entrusted to us, the financial stress related to money and debt can do serious harm to our families, ministries, and spiritual health. Ultimately, we all want to be financially free to serve the Lord with undivided focus and zeal.

     In addition to learning about key teachings in Scripture related to financial discipleship, the course will guide you through practical steps to help you establish a clear vision of what you have, what you owe, how much you need, how much you spend and create easy-to-use debt lists, budgets and yes, even a will!

     Whether you are debt-free and have savings in the bank or you are having a hard time making it to the end of the month, this course will show you where you are along the seven destinations of the Compass Map towards increasing true financial freedom and how to plan to get to the next. Going through this course will prepare you to take others in your (future) churches through the journey towards financial freedom as well, and ultimately free up more resources (time, talents, treasure) amongst all the people of God for relevant Kingdom purposes.

     The course will be taught by Jeff and Pam Stevenson. Jeff has been teaching stewardship, training leaders, and doing personal finances counseling for over 15 years both in the States and in Chile. Pam has been helping Jeff since they got married four years ago. They arrived at Trinity four months ago from Chile and are living on campus with their two children Lisa (3) and Danny (1) while Jeff studies a doctorate in Intercultural Studies.

For more information on the course, contact Trinity Wives Fellowship at twf@tiu.edu.

By Pamela Stevenson

TWF Publicity

Christian Hospitality and Our Excuses

    Besides Christ follower, wife, and mother, I desire to be a welcomer. I want everything about my life to say welcome, and I believe this is biblical. Now this doesn't come easy. I am deeply passionate about Christian hospitality, but I still struggle. I like my quiet alone time. I occasionally feel embarrassed about my small apartment or simple decor. Sometimes I worry about having enough money to feed my own family, let alone visiting mouths. I often feel overwhelmed with the busyness that comes with managing a family, working outside of my home, and homeschooling. My excuses aside though, I desire to regularly show Christian hospitality by inviting others into my home.

    Over the next few posts, I hope to write about various aspects of Christian hospitality and give a few simple challenges to further motivate you (and myself!) in this area. Today I want to address some of the most common excuses we give for why we cannot invite people into our homes.

Excuse #1: I don't have enough space.

     Honestly, this is probably the worst excuse you can give. You may not have a few thousand (or even a couple hundred!) square feet. You may not even own a home, but you do have space somewhere! Do you have a common area in your college dorm? Do you have a porch off your tiny apartment? Do you have a living room chair or a kitchen table? Do you have a yard? Let's stop waiting to have Pinterest perfect mansions, and instead focus on using the space we have now for welcoming others, no matter how small or simple it may seem.


    I'm always convicted when I think of how many Ugandans welcomed me into their homes. Rarely was there an actual couch. Usually there wasn't even enough indoor space. Often we would all gather outside in the red clay dirt of their yard. As the guest I was usually offered a straw mat or a rickety chair. It was incredibly humble by American standards, but their heart was always to welcome and I loved them for it! We usually didn't have long chats, but their goal, no matter how short of an interaction, was to honor the visitor. The Ugandans I knew modeled for me using their space, no matter how big or small, to show hospitality.

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Hebrews 13:2 (ESV)

Excuse #2: I don't feel like it.

     Are we commanded to share the Gospel? Are we commanded to welcome and care for other believers? Are we commanded to care for widows and orphans? Let's stop giving excuses and start obeying the Lord. I think those of us in the West give far too much attention to our personalities or feelings at the expense of obedience. Our homes are not our own. They do provide much needed rest and recovery from hard work (especially for us introverts!), but they are still to be yielded to the Lord. Our emotions should not gauge how obedient we will be to the commands of Scripture to show hospitality.

    One major sacrifice made for our own family happened when our adoption process was being continually delayed. We gave up our own rental home to move to a large city to get medical care for our preemie newborn. Two months later, our adoption process still wasn't finished for our oldest child, and we had to move back to our small town. Our dear friends, Matt and Kayla invited us to come live in their guest house. I was shocked and didn't want to accept such radical help. We had no other options though and a hotel would be incredibly expensive long-term.  So we made the move, thinking it would only be two months. Our stay ended up being six months!! I struggled so much feeling like a burden, but they never made us feel anything but welcomed! It was amazing. I'm sure it wasn't easy for them, bu their sacrificial love daily encouraged us. Ultimately it pointed us to Christ during one of the most challenging seasons of our life.

"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." Romans 12:13 (ESV)

Excuse #3: I don't have the money.

     This excuse often stems from our confusing hospitality with entertainment. I would offer that for the Christians, they are different! Our chief goal as Christians is not entertainment. Our desires should not be for someone to focus on our curtains, our perfect place settings, or our spotless home. Our desires should be to point others to Christ and bring glory to His name. That can be done with a simple glass of water. It can also be done with beautiful curtains and a fancy five-course meal. Fancy or simple though, our aim is to glorify God and love others, NOT to put on a show.

    To the best of my memory, the first woman outside of my immediate family to ever show hospitality to me was a mentally handicapped Muslim woman in France. She welcomed me and another female missionary into her home with mint tea and hard candies. That was it. By the world's standards, it was incredibly simple, but that was more than enough to make us feel loved and welcomed. We had a wonderful time discussing the Gospel, and she enjoyed having us try on her hijab. Sadly, I didn't keep in touch, but her afternoon of kindness motivated me as a Christian to bring hospitality to the forefront of my life. How much more hope and joy do I have to share with others through the love of Jesus Christ? Christians should not sacrifice the truth of the Gospel, but we should be know worldwide for our live and warm welcome of others in the name of Jesus.

"Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work." I Timothy 5:9-10 (ESV)

Excuse #4: I don't have time.

     This is probably my most challenging excuse personally. If you are a wife and mother, the tasks that demand your time can indeed be extensive. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the logistics of normal life and feel like you should have to worry about those outside your immediate family or close friend group. Even as I write these words, this has been my own struggle this week. I wrongly think to myself, "I am already busy with my husband, kiddos, church, work, household management, and my close friends. I don't need anything or anyone else on my plate now!" But, this is the wrong way to think of those around us. There is indeed a practical limit to our time and days. We have 24 hours in a day and some days, those hours are filled to the brim. BUT for most of us, aren't there many wasted minutes in our days (or nights) filled with skimming Facebook, watching Netflix, or doing other hobbies of non-eternal value? It stings a bit, but most of us know it's true. What if instead of thinking more about our own free time or leisure, we thought about that struggling new mom on campus or that lonely visitor at church? Dear sisters, our time is not our own to spend on whatever whim or desire we have. Even our time on this earth is to stewarded and yielded for the glory of God. I think all too often we say we are too busy for others when in fact there are still pockets of time in our lives where we could chose to die to ourselves and love someone else.

    One of my dearest friends did this regularly for me when I lived in Uganda. Dianna (pictured below!) is a wife and mom of nine children!! When I first heard that her family moved to my small town, I was so excited to meet her. I'm kind of obsessed with large family moms and learning about how they do life. I was a single mom of one at the time and really just wanted to sit at her feet and learn from her. I invited her whole family over one day for lunch and the rest was history. She warmly welcomed me into her home multiple days a week for two solid years!! Usually our time together was afternoons, dinner/evenings, or Sundays. Her time was indeed limited, but she gave freely to me of what was left. She walked with me through single motherhood, courtship, marriage, adoption, pregnancy, miscarriage and just basic learning about life as a godly woman. I know it wasn't always easy for her, and I'm sure there were days when she just wanted to lay on the couch (sometimes we did that together while we chatted about life!), but she gave me her time, and I am so incredibly thankful. To this day, I can hardly put into words the impact time with her has had on my life.

"Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." I Peter 4:9 (ESV)

So my sisters, I leave you with this challenge, think of just one woman you could invite into your home this week. It could be for dinner, tea, a play date, or a time of prayer. Don't think about your space, feelings, money, or time. Ask the Lord to enable you to obey Scripture and invite her into your home. Praying for you all!

By Lexi Zuo

Jehovah-Bore

     I have many, many friends that like to make things. I would consider a number of my friends to be "crafty" in some way or the other, whether through woodworking or throwing parties or putting together an amazing outfit. You probably have a few friends that you'd consider the creative type too. Although I wouldn't necessarily say I am crafty, I do find myself loving and enjoying art, the creations of others, and making over someone with makeup, and I guess that's a way of creating too.

     But when you think about it, have any of us really ever created anything? We merely rearrange and reconstruct materials and ideas that have already existed. Even the atomic elements are discovered (meaning they were already there) or constructed from matter that has already existed, even babies are made through miraculous, biological matter and processes that have existed since humans have always existed. None of us have ever created something from nothing.

     So, let's look at this particular name of God: Jehovah-Bore (ye-ho-vaw BAW-RAW)

     I really hadn't heard of this name prior to seeing it listed in our Trinity Wives leadership meetings, so I was curious and a bit worried that I wouldn't find information on it. There's really only about one or two passages that I found that seem to explicitly reference this name of God, but it's absolutely essential to understanding the character of the God we worship and how He is so separate and different from us. Let's first look at its meaning.

     Jehovah means the self-existent or eternal, the Eternal Lord. Bore (or baw-raw) is a primitive root that basically means to make, create, do, or dispatch absolutely.

     So what we have is the self-existent Lord God that creates. But, we have to see that He is entirely different from the kind of creating that we're used to doing ourselves. Instead of being limited to the materials, elements, and ideas that are already in existence, Jehovah-Bore can do something no one else can do: He speaks things into existence that were not there before. He creates and originates things out of nothing (ex nihilo). We see this in the very, very first verse of the Bible, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).

     It's a bit mind-bending, isn't it? But here's the other implication of this that's even more mind-bending: God Himself was never created. He created everything, but as for Himself, He has always been in existence. Nothing created Him. He has no origin, and He depends on nothing and no one for His own existence and well-being. John 5:26 tells us that "He has life in Himself." So it is quite remarkable that He who has no origin is the origin of life for all.

     So, what does that mean about us? We are the created being of the self-existent, eternal Creator-God, who literally speaks life and matter into being. This means we are utterly and totally dependent on Him, helpless without Him. We cannot take credit for the things we make, the talents we have, the jobs we might excel at, the money in the bank, the children we bear and raise, the beauty we behold in the mirror. It is ultimately nothing more that Jehovah-Bore's grace extended to us as the Chief Maker of all things.

     Now, while for many, this news may cause you to lower your head in shame, I would actually argue that this is cause to celebrate. Because we are not the ultimate creators, we don't have to attempt to find our worth in what we do or anything of our own achievement. Our value comes from the One who made us, our origins. I'd like to share a portion of Jen Wilkin's new book,  No One Like Him, to explain the freedom this brings:
     "What freedom is found in recognizing that only God creates! No longer must we labor
     under the delusion of our own self-importance. We need not find our value in people or
     possessions- it rests in our origin. We need not look to the success or failure of our pet
     projects as validation of our worth. We bear the mark of our Maker. It is not our job
     to be original, but to worship the Origin of All things. We are free to explore the limits
     of human creativity to the glory of our Creator. We are free to love and cherish others
     at great expense without demanding their worship in return."

     As a final practice of medication, I'd like you to read a second passage in Scripture that refers to Jehovah-Bore as the self-existent Maker-God: Isaiah 40:12-31. It is good news that we are not self-sufficient, and it is good news that we are not self-sustaining. We do not have to be, for we are the children of the Eternal Creator-God that relies on nothing and no one. Only someone like that is worth drawing strength from.

12 "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand

And marked of the heavens with a span,

Enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure

And weighed the mountains in scales

And the hills in a balance?

13 Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord,

Or what man shows Him his counsel?

14 Whom did He consult,

 And who made Him understand?

Who taught Him the path of justice,

And taught Him knowledge,

And showed him the way of understanding?

15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,

And are accounted as the dust on the scales;

Behold, He takes up the coastlands like fine dust.

16 Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,

Nor are its beasts enough for a burn offering.

17 All the nations are as nothing before Him,

They are accounted by Him as less than nothing and emptiness.

18 To whom then will you liken God,

Or what likeness compare with Him?

19 An idol! A craftsman casts it,

And a goldsmith overlays it with gold

And cast for it silver chains.

20 He who is too impoverish for an offering

Chooses wood that will not rot;

He seeks out a skillful craftsman

To set up an idol that will not move.

21 Do you not know? Do you not hear?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,

And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;

Who stretches out, the heavens like a curtain,

And spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

23 Who bring princes to nothing,

And makes the rules of the earth as emptiness.

24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,

Scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,

When He blows on them, and they wither,

And the tempest carries them off like stubble.

25 'To whom then will you compare Me,

That I should be like Him?' says the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:

Who created these?

He who brings out their host by number,

Calling them all by name;

By the greatness of His might;

And because He is strong in power,

Not one is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,

And speak, O Israel,

'My way is hidden from the Lord,

And my right is disregarded by my God'?

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

The Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

His understanding is unsearchable.

29 He gives power to the faint,

And to him who has no might He increases strength.

30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,

And young men shall fall exhausted;

31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles;

They shall run and not be weary;

They shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:12-31

By McKenna Rishmawy

On Campus Small Group Leader

From The Archives - Empty Cupbords

    The beginning years of our marriage were financially slim to say the least. It was hard. In September of 1976 Stephen was a senior in Bible college in Watertown, Wisconsin. I had been out of Bible college for one year (having taken the 2-year program of study) when we got married, and the Lord blessed us immediately with family building "skills." We found out shortly after our honeymoon that we were expecting our first child. We had a little saved up before our wedding in June, but it was quickly depleted over the summer of settling in our first apartment. In the fall Stephen began working security at the school during the night shift for minimum wage (about $2/hour) and taking day classes as best he could on what sleep he got. My choices were few as no one was keen on hiring someone who would leave to become a mom in a few months. I worked in an ice cream shop part-time until they stopped putting my name on the schedule. I then sold Tupperware up until my ninth month. After paying the school bill, the rent and utilities, and gas for the car, there was barely grocery money.

    I still remember being hungry day after day. Doctor visits took up any "extra" money we had as we did not have insurance with either of our jobs. We were so broke. I felt so bad for Stephen, who was so hungry, and I remember hoping and praying that church people would invite us to dinner on Sunday so we could get one good meal in a week. The baby was almost due and our kitchen cabinets were practically empty. Except for some condiments in the door of the refrigerator, the refrigerator shelves were empty. The freezer had ice cubes. For a time, when Stephen came home for lunch, I boiled water and put a beef bouillon cube in the water to make broth. I think we had crackers at first to go with it, but when they ran out I used popcorn in place of crackers in the soup. We had peanut butter for awhile, and although Stephen didn't like it previously, he grew to like it when it was all we had to eat. I remember praying that the baby would be healthy and not sickly for my lack of nutritional intake.

    Feeling very maternal expecting our first little one, I had canned red tomatoes and green sweet pickles earlier that year. We didn't have anything to eat them with, but they at least looked colorful lined up alternately above the cabinets. The "nesting" syndrome swept over me as my due date neared, so I washed the inside of all the kitchen cupboards and rearranged all my Tupperware, creating a clean and ready feeling for whenever the baby arrived.

    The big day arrived 4 days early on February 24, 1977, and the Lord gave us a healthy baby boy. We named him Michael David Harvey after Michael the archangel and Stephen's brother, David. My parents and one of my younger sisters lived only about a 75-minute drive away and though they had never visited before, they came to see the baby.

    I was glad they came and proud to show off Michael, but I was nervous about entertaining them. There simply was nothing to serve them. As a matter of courtesy, shortly after they arrived, I asked them if they would like something to drink, secretly hoping they wouldn't want anything. I was relieved to hear them say they had just finished dinner before they came and didn't want anything. We stayed in the living room visiting and looking at all of Michael's tiny features. I noticed my dad left the room and went to the kitchen. This made me nervous. What was he doing there, getting a glass of water? He had already said he didn't want anything to drink. He poked his head into the living room and said he was in the mood for some "pop" (or soda, as some say). He asked us what kind we liked and asked for directions to the closest store and left. After 45 minutes or so we began to wonder where he was, as the store was fairly close to our apartment. Storm clouds were brewing and my mom was getting worried. It was really getting dark and they had over an hour's drive to get home. Finally after a full hour we saw the car pull into the driveway. He did not come back with just the soda. He came back with 10 bags of groceries! He began unloading bags from the car into the kitchen and I couldn't keep up with him. We had more groceries than could fit in the cabinets and freezer! He said very casually, "Oh, I noticed the cabinets were a little empty so I picked up a few things!" He also had an Easter basked for the baby, several varieties of pop for us, and had put enough meat in the freezer for several weeks! I think he went down every aisle and just put a little of everything in the shopping cart. He seemed so pleased with himself for having found the store, including the Easter goodies from the discount story he wandered into first, by mistake, right next to the grocery store.

    Before my family left, my dad sat at the kitchen table and asked about our hospital bill. Inwardly I cringed. It was embarrassing and humiliating to talk about our finances when we were so strapped for money. I tried to sound casual about it, but Michael's bill had some extra charges for some newborn care he needed. I think our bill was $1200. My dad was taking out his checkbook and when I said $1200 he winced a little and I thought, "Oh my, he's not going to write a check for the whole amount, is he??" He wrote out a check and left it on the table; I think it was for $600! We were a bit awestruck that someone could just write a check out of their account for that much money (and this after purchasing 10 bags of groceries). My parents were not Christians, but they were always very generous with us, and the Lord used them many more times to help us out without our asking.

    What an answer to prayer! What a provision! Jesus was showing Himself to us as our Jehovah-Jirah and continued to do so over and over again throughout the years, and He continues even now 26 years into our marriage with many wonderful provisions. Praise the Lord!

    Post Script: That infant whose nutrition and health I was worried about? As it turned out, he grew up and signed a contract with the U.S. Marines and became a "lean, mean, fighting machine." No health problems there!

by Cathy A Harvey

TWF Vice-President 2003-2004

Memorial Stones

     Joshua 4 records an interesting incident in the history of Israel. Well two actually, but I want to focus on the less remembered part of this incident. The chapter begins with the priest standing in the middle of the Jordan as the people are crossing over into the Promised Land. Joshua is just about to tell the priests to move when God stops him. God tells Joshua to pick one man from each tribe and have them pick up a stone from where the priests are standing. Then God directs Joshua to have the men leave the stones at the place where the nation of Israel camped that night. It was only after this was done that God commanded the priests to step out of the river, and the waters of the Jordan went crashing back over the river banks.

     We remember the part of this story where God parts the Jordan as the priest steps in, but it's easy to forget about the weird part with the stones. It seems a strange detail, but it is an important part of Israel's history. In fact that action memorialized God's miraculous intervention to bring Israel into the promised land of Canaan. This pile of stones was meant to cause children to ask their parents what the stones mean. The stones were an opportunity to share with future generations what the Lord had done for Israel.

     Do you take time to remember what God has done in the past? For me one way I reflect and remember what God has done in the past is to journal. Periodically, I'll read through old entries so that I can remember God's faithfulness and provision.

     There is a two-fold purpose in memorial stones. The first purpose is to encourage gratitude and thankfulness. Without reminders of the times that God has moved in unexpected ways, it is easy to take life for granted. It is easy to feel as though all you have is your just desserts. But when we look at the memorial stone, we remember how we felt when the flood waters of the Jordan blocked our way home. God's surprising actions quicken our hearts to gratitude. The second purpose of memorial stones is to build faith in God. Memorial stones are not just dead memories of days gone by. When I look back at how God provided for my family to bring us here to Trinity, it gives me the perspective to face my current disappointments and challenges. How we are going to be able to pay off student loans isn't as terrifying when I remember what it felt like to be without a job when we first arrived at Trinity. Memorial stones remind me that God provided employment in a miraculous way. When the time comes for another challenge, I can remember how God has been faithful, and that He will remain faithful.

     What are some ways that you can erect memorial stones to God's faithfulness? Maybe you could take a second and journal when God does something amazing. Maybe you could have a picture album dedicated to pictures that show God's faithfulness. These are just a few ideas, but there are many ways to remind ourselves of God's faithfulness and kindness to us.

By Sarah Price

Crowns Editor

El Shaddai

     In the Bible, God is called El Shaddai a total of 48 times. El Shaddai, translated God Almighty in English, "emphasizes God's supreme power and total sovereignty over the creation" (New Dictionary of Biblical Theology). We first see this name for God in Genesis 17 when He makes a covenant with Abraham. "When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between Me and you, and may multiply you greatly'" (Genesis 17:1-2, ESV). God called Abraham to walk in a way that is worthy of God's standards and made a covenant with Abraham, that from him will come the nation of Israel.

     The next time we come across El Shaddai in the Bible is when Isaac, the son promised to Abraham in his old age, is blessing his son Jacob before sending him out. Jacob, renamed Israel, eventually became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 28:3). Through all of this, we see God's sovereignty in carrying out His covenantal promise to Abraham for His own glory.

     Then we come to the book of Ezekiel, which was written while Israel was in the midst of the Babylonian exile. The prophet Ezekiel's ministry focused on two main themes: judgement and restoration (NDBT). The first time El Shaddai/God Almighty is used is during Ezekiel's vision of God's glory. Taking a look at chapter ten, verse five, we find that the name is mentioned during Ezekiel's vision of the glory of God leaving the Temple. "Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the house, when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. And the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with a cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD. And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks" (Ezekiel 10:3-5). God's glory is leaving the temple because of the wickedness of the people, and God Almighty will soon bring judgement on Jerusalem for their wickedness. Again, we see God's sovereignty in how He unleashes judgment on them, and then restore them for His name's sake.

     So, what does this name - God Almighty - teach us about Him? It teaches us that God is sovereign and that He is holy. That He is faithful to fulfill His promises, and also restore for His name's sake. When we look at the life of Job, the book in which El Shaddai occurs most often, these truths about God could not be more evident. Job has lost everything, and yet, God is still powerful and good. "Then Job answered the LORD and said: 'I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. "Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?" Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know'" (Job 42:1-3). In His sovereignty, God restores Job. And He will continue to save and restore those who call upon His name in His perfect timing.

By Sarah Tank

Large Group Coordinator

How to Start Homeschooling

     My husband and I just began our fifth year homeschooling! It is definitely hard work, but we absolutely love it!! One thing I often get asked by other seminary wives/moms is how to even get started homeschooling. Many of them are completely unfamiliar with the idea. Others may just not know how to begin. There are many different reasons why a family may choose to homeschool, but for those who are interest in the how, I hope this post can help give some guidance.

     1) Learn the Laws. The most important step if you're looking into homeschooling is to learn your state's laws. The best resource for this is the Home School Legal Defense Association. This organization provides legal representation to homeschoolers across the US and around the world. Their site has all the necessary information to make sure you are obeying the law for your child's education.

     2) Read up. There are many different educational philosophies that can influence how you teach your children. A few of the most popular schools of thought are: Classical, Charlotte Mason, Unit Studies, Traditional, Montessori, and Eclectic. Homeschooling can be done in countless ways and each family can choose what's right for them.

My educational philosophy has morphed and changed each year and that's totally okay. Do not be afraid to keep learning. Some favorite books from when I was first learning about homeschooling were: Educating the Whole Hearted Child, The Well-Trained Mind, Charlotte Mason Companion, and For the Children's Sake.

     3) Discuss with your husband. After you've done your research about the laws and possible methods that might work for your family, share your thoughts with your husband. It's absolutely paramount that your husband be on board if you decided to homeschool. It's wonderful and amazing, but it is hard work. If your husband does not want your family to homeschool, you must submit to your husband and his leading of your family. If your husband is on board, move forward with researching and picking a curriculum. The Lord is sovereign over all, including the hearts of our husbands. If homeschooling is right for your family, the Lord will make that clear also to your husband.

     4) Pick a curriculum. If your children are under 5, you really don't need a formal preschool curriculum. Work on reading books aloud, learning the letters, shapes, colors, numbers, crafts, and doing lots of imaginative play. If you have a Kindergartner or older child, you will likely need some sort of curriculum. There are many ways to go about picking what to use. You can purchase an all inclusive curriculum package or piece together the subjects you will teach yourself. I have done it both ways.

     Right now with a toddler and baby running around, I find it so much easier to use a complete pre-planned curriculum package for my oldest daughter. We use My Father's World and absolutely LOVE it! This is our third year using their curriculum. Other popular choices for complete Christian curriculum packages are: Sonlight, Memoria Press, and Heart of Dakota.

     If you'd like to piece subjects together yourself, ChristianBook.com is one of the best places to shop online. You can see samples of almost anything you are interested in buying. Also Cathy Duffy Reviews is a great resource to learn more about the many different options.

     5) Talk to other Homeschool Moms. Learn from other homeschool moms about what has or hasn't worked for their family. When I was just starting out a dear friend and mother of nine children helped me get going. It was such a blessing to have an older more experienced mom to answer questions and help me keep the big picture in mind.

     6) Celebrate your first day of school. Once the curriculum have arrived and you have gotten a bit organized, pick your first day of school. Make it exciting and special for everyone involved. Our family celebrates the first day of school each year by having chocolate cake for breakfast! My kiddos love it and it's an amusing way to kick off the year. Whatever you decide, celebrate together! The freedom to teach your children at home is a blessing and one to be celebrated if you decided to go that route.

     Hope this helps make the process a little be easier for those of you considering homeschooling your kiddos. Praying for you seminary moms!

By Lexi Zuo

I Only Have Two Pigs

     This past Sunday the speaker ended his message with the following illustration. A missionary was speaking with a new convert, Pablo, and asked him, "Pablo, if you had one hundred sheep, would you give fifty of them to the Lord's work?"  "Of course!" Pablo replied, "You know I would!"  Then the missionary asked him, "If you had fifty cows, would you give twenty-five of them to the Lord's work?"  Again Pablo replied enthusiastically, "Of course I would!"  Then the missionary asked, "Pablo, if you had two pigs, would you give one of them to the Lord's work?"  "That's not fair," Pablo protested. "You know I only have two pigs!"

     Well, being a seminary wife, I often feel like Pablo. I think, "Lord, I'll give generously to Your work once..." There are too many ways to fill in that blank. "Once I have a full-time job." "Once we've gotten a handle on our student loans." "Once we graduate." The only trouble is that each stage of life has its own "Once." Once we have kids, once the kids are in school, once the kids are in college.

     However, God doesn't call us to be wealthy givers. He calls us to be cheerful givers (II Corinthians 9:7). In fact, we are called to give what each one "has decided in [her] heart" to give without feeling forced. If I sat here and guilt-tripped you into giving even a penny away, I would be in the wrong. So my goal is not to guilt-trip you but to encourage an attitude of generosity.

     It is easy to give generously from imaginary amounts. Just think of the number of people you could help if you won the lottery! That is not, however, what God asks of us when He calls us to give. We are called to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). This means our life now, in this stage, is to be lived sacrificially to the glory of God. God isn't asking us to be generous when He has blessed us with great material blessings. He is asking us to be generous as an outpouring of the rich blessings He has already given to us. God has given us blessings that He wants to share with others. We are called to be generous so that we can be a part of how God is providing for someone else.

     But I understand the thought that comes next. "That's great, but money is hard to come by in seminary." True! But to that I want to say just two things. First, generosity is about more than just money. We have many blessings to share. Through hospitality, we give of our home and our time. Through letters, cards, calls, and texts we can give the gift of encouragement. Seek out your areas of blessing and offer them to those around you. Second, generosity has no minimum amount. A dollar given faithfully once a year is worth more than a thousand dollars with are promised, but never arrive. That dollar says, "I know you have needs, and I care about you." Generosity starts today. This minute. This moment. Remember the greatness of God's gift to you. Turn and share that gifts with a friend. It is the cheerful gift God is looking for, not the flashy expensive one.

By Sarah Price

Crowns Editor

Advice for the New (or Veteran) Seminary Wife

     This week marks the beginning of my husband's third year in seminary! Lord willing, he will spend many more years in seminary as a student and then as a professor. Last week was incredibly difficult for me as I looked ahead to the start of his doctoral program. I indulged in much sinful self-pitying about the costs for me and our family.

     The difficulties can weigh so heavy in the hearts of us wives. In the difficulties though, we must turn our eyes to Christ and remember why we are here! We want to  see the Gospel lifted high and proclaimed throughout the world!!! I wrote this list for myself, but I hope it can be an encouragement to other new and veteran seminary wives.

     1) Be your husband's helper. Scripture says that Eve was created for Adam, not Adam for Eve. God made you your husband's helper... so help him! Find out what exactly he needs your help with. Maybe it's cooking hot meals, caring for your kids at home, working outside the home, keeping your home clean, proof reading papers...etc. All men are unique. Don't just go by the advice of marriage books and what others say makes the "perfect" wife. Ask your own husband and then pray for the Lord to enable you to do whatever HE needs from you as his helper. Be a helper fit for YOUR husband.

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." Genesis 2:8 (ESV)

     2) Fight bitterness. When I first came to seminary, I was overwhelmed by how bitter so many of the wives sounded. Several semesters later, I now know this temptation all too well. But it must stop there. We cannot grow complacent to sin, dear sisters. Going to seminary does come with huge financial, emotional, and even physical costs, but it is also such an incredible blessing to sit under quality theological education! Focus on the gift that seminary is, fight bitterness daily, and pray for the Lord to fill you with a truly joyful heart this season.

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice." Ephesians 4:31 (ESV)

     3) Schedule Fun. Seminary can be incredibly stressful at times. That's why it's so important to schedule some fun! Maybe it's a family trip to Chuck E Cheese, a movie night in the living room, a picnic at a park, or a full on road trip vacation to somewhere new. Plan for it. Budget for it. Pick a time. Don't fall into the trap of always waiting for this season to pass, enjoy life now!

"I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil - this is God's gift to man." Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (ESV)

      4) Spend time with older godly women. Outside of daily Bible reading and prayer, this is perhaps one of the most helpful things you can do. Older Christian women in your church can be a huge blessing in giving biblical perspective on your current season of life. We so often want to turn to our peers who are going through the exact same thing as we are, but Scripture is clear that it is the older women who are to train younger women. Humble yourself and ask them for help. I guarantee you will be blessed!

"Older women are likewise to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, and to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands, that the work of God may not be reviled." Titus 2:3-5 (ESV)

      5) Spend time every day reading the Bible and praying. Nothing is more important in any season of life than this. Scripture is sufficient for all instruction and reproof. It is living and active, transforming your mind, day by day. So run to the Word! When you are having a bad day, run to the Word. When you are having a good day, run to the Word. His grace is sufficient. Run to the Lord Each and every day of your life. Cry out to Him! In Him is the only lasting life and refreshment for the work He has given you to do.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." II Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

by Lexi Zuo

 

Lexi is a sinner saved by grace, wife to Jeremiah, mother to  three little ones, and an avid reader. She blogs regularly at www.MrsSeminary.com.

What Is Trinity Wives Fellowship?

     Hello friends. Yesterday we (Trinity Wives) hosted a dessert night for all the new families now at Trinity and to reconnect with our friends from last year. We played some Olympic games and shared delicious desserts. So I thought today, I'd let you know what Trinity Wives does through out the year. For those of you who were able to come last night, this will be a refresher. For those who weren't able to join us, maybe you'll be able to join us for some thing in the future. We'd love to see you. Thank you for already being a part of the Crowns blog.

     This year we are focusing on Family and to direct our thoughts we've chosen I John 3:1a as our theme verse. "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called Children of God and that is what we are!"

     For our first Large Group meeting we will be hearing from Jules Cole. She is the wife of Graham Cole, the dean of TEDS. On September 26th in Hinkson Hall, Mrs. Cole will be sharing with us all on "The Challenge of Living as a Child of God." It will be a wonderful evening.

     Mom's Ministry is designed to connect and minister to the moms on campus. In order to do this, Mom's Ministry does a lot! This Saturday (August 27th) there will be a Meet and Greet meeting in Rodine, where you can come and learn more about Mom's Ministry. Some planned activities are the Fall Brunch in October, Play Dates every other Tuesday, Date Nights, Kids on Kampus, and Storytime in the Library.

     Trinity Wives Fellowship also has a welcoming packet filled with useful information from nearby grocery stores to doctor's offices to fun, cheap activities. If you don't have a copy of this, please let us know. We would love for you to get one!

     Small groups are weekly ministry through Trinity Wives Fellowship. We have two off-campus groups in Vernon Hills and Highwood, as well as several on campus groups. Free childcare is available, so if your husband can't watch your kids you can still come! This year we will be working through the book of Titus. Small groups are a wonderful way to make friends and find support through the challenges of being in seminary.

     That's not all! The Clothes Horse is a small store in the Aldeen building near the Alphabet apartments. There are a variety of items from dishes to clothing available to Trinity families. Through the Clothes Horse, we also have a diaper ministry for families with little ones and grocery drop offs.

     This year Trinity Wives Fellowship is also providing two classes, one for wives and one for couples. Preaching for Partners, taught by Greg Scharf, is a wonderful class that trains women to prepare and preach sermons. It has the benefits of understanding what it takes to prepare a sermon as well as being equipped to preach and speak. It meets for three Saturdays through the Fall semester. For couples we are hosting a Money and Marriage seminar. This six week course is designed to help equip couples to discuss their finances together and make wise financial decisions. It will also prepare you to help other couples to obtain these skills.

     If you have any other questions about Trinity Wives Fellowship or want more information about a particular ministry, please email us at twf@tiu.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!

By Sarah Price

Crowns Editor

The True Vine

God is the True Vine - John 15:1

     Vine and vineyard imagery is found in the Old Testament before Jesus calls Himself the True Vine. Within the Old Testament, Israel is likened to a vine, or a vineyard. Jeremiah 2:21 says, "Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?" And Isaiah 5:1-7 says that Israel was cultivated by God to be His vineyard, a beautiful and pure vineyard. God says He did everything for this vineyard, and yet it bore wild grapes.

     Jesus, however, calls Himself the True Vine in John 15:1-11. Here we find that God, in Jesus is the True Vine, and God the Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch that remains in the True Vine bears fruit, and the branches that do not bear fruit are thrown away by the Father. Unlike Israel, the branches in Jesus are fruitful and continue to bear more and more fruit.

     The Father, as the Vinedresser, has two duties in His vineyard: 1. To take away and burn the branches that are unfruitful, and 2. To prune those that are fruitful.

     So, who are the unfaithful branches? These are the people that may claim to know Jesus but who do not actually bear fruit. This passage makes it clear that a sign of being in the Vine is that the believer would bear fruit. The believer would keep God's commandments and would continue to multiply in fruit. Those who do not bear fruit are not within the Vine and are ultimately destroyed in eternal judgment.

     Those who are fruitful, however, those who do bear fruit, are pruned so that they may bear even more fruit. Pruning is a painful process in which the vinedresser cuts away unnecessary growth and leaves during dormant seasons, cutting the branch back so that the fruit abounds more so. According to "The Modern Farmer", grape vines produce fruit on one-year-old wood, while older wood will produce only leaves and branches, but no fruit. Pruning maximizes the one-year-old wood while also ensuring that all the energy and nutrients are focused on the grapes, so they have enough energy to fully ripen. The Modern Farmer goes on to say, "Left to its own devices, a grapevine grows to a dense mass of mostly older wood with relatively little 'fruiting wood' each year. The dense growth leads to poor air circulation, which encourages fungal diseases. Expect to remove 70 to 90 percent of the previous year's growth each winter." While pruning is painful, a retired greenhouse owner once told me, "In God's kindness and grace, the pruning process happens in winter, when the plant is less likely to be hurt by the pruning." We can know when we're going through dry times, times of pain and pruning - when God takes from us and cuts us back, that  it is a dormant time - expectant of bearing more and more fruit in its due season! How kind it is that the Vinedresser would continue to prune in order that we bear more and more fruit.

     We find also in this passage the great relationship between "I" and "you." Jesus, talking with His disciples here, is coming to the end of His Farewell Discourse, where He is giving His last words to His disciples before His death and resurrection. Jesus says He is the Vine and the disciples are the Branches. He says the disciples must remain in Him, and He must remain in them in order for them to bear fruit. In fact, He says that apart from Him, the disciples can do nothing. So remaining or abiding in Him is a two-way relationship. We abide in Him, in His Word (v 7) and in His love (v 9), and He, in turn, abides in us. This reminds me of Suzanne Kilner's post from June 11th, entitled "Leaders Need a Consistent Devotional Life." How are we doing in abiding through daily prayer, Scripture intake, and communion with God? I know for myself it has ebbed and flowed this summer, but a study of this passage shows that it is vitally necessary for our lives. When we spend more time with Him, and acknowledge Him through His Word, through prayer, through communing with others, we become more like Him. And when that happens, it shapes us and our prayers are answered (v 7). We can ask what we wish when we abide in Him, and it will more likely be in tune with what our Vine wants.

     And what is the point of remaining in Him and bearing fruit? It is twofold. First, verse 8 says, "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples." Our fruit brings God glory. And second, verse 11 says, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you and your joy may be full." John Piper's summary of Christian Hedonism formulates this well - that "God is more glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." We abide in Him and in His love and we keep His commandments, just like Jesus abides in the Father and kept the Father's commandments. We abide in Him who has gone before us as the Perfect Vine and has sacrificed Himself so that we can be with Him. He is a living Vine and produces living fruit through us. We must only remain in Him.

By Sarah Smith

Small Group Leader

To Build Windows, Instead of Walls

    This summer I ran across a delightful book on marriage. "Letters to My Daughters: The Art of Being a Wife" was written by Barbara Rainey. The book has a sweet story of its own. On the eve of her marriage to the Raineys' son, Marsha approached her future mother-in-law and asked for advice on being a wife. And so it began. First as a series of letters with her own daughters and daughters-in-law (six in all) and then as this little book, Barbara Rainey has pulled from her life experience to help young married women mature into godly wives.

    The book itself covers a wide range of topics - all the way from bearing with one another's unique habits to intimacy to ways a wife/husband team learn to lead and follow. The letters on a particular topic are all part of a larger metaphor: Marriage is like . . . a work of art . . . a dance . . . tending a garden . . . building a chapel. Rainey moves gently through the varied experience of marriage and pulls you out of your circumstances to focusing on the Lord and allowing Him to work out the beauty of your marriage.

    These letters are filled with personal stories and humorous lessons. They are the type of letters that make you want to think. They challenge you to think of how to be a better wife to your husband. The letters are also full of grace. They invite each one of us to come to the Lord for forgiveness when we fall. To me the most refreshing part of the book is the emphasis Rainey places on diversity. She recognizes that no marriage is a photocopy, but each one is a unique creation. Rainey calls every wife to learn the ways in which she is best suited to help her husband. You'll find no list of what every perfect wife does in this book. Instead, you will be challenged to study your husband and at times ask him what is most encouraging and helpful to him. So if you are looking to build windows and not walls between your souls, I recommend reading through this treasure of a book.

By Sarah Price

Crowns Editor

Immanuel - God With Us

     When we think of the name "Immanuel," the first thing that comes to our mind is often Jesus. But Jesus is never directly called Immanuel. First, we want to look at the passages where Immanuel appears in the Old Testament. Then, we will talk about why Jesus is Immanuel, even though He is never directly called that.

Passages in the Old Testament
     The name of Immanuel appears three times in the Old Testament, all in the same passage. It is in Isaiah 7-8. In each situation where the name appears, God's people face a problem.

     In Isaiah 7 the situation is as follows: the king of Syria, Rezin, and the king of Ephraim (which is the northern part of Israel) come to Judah to start a war against them. Ahaz, the king of Judah was scared to death and so were all the people of Judah. So, God sends Isaiah and his son to Ahaz to tell him that he does not have to fear because of these (as He calls them) "two smoldering stumps of firebrands." And God goes on to say that both kings will soon be shattered. About Ephraim He even says an exact number, namely 65 years.

     And in order to strengthen Ahaz even more, Isaiah tells him to ask a sign from God. Ahaz was not a very godly person, so in false piety he says he does not want to test God. In verse 13 Isaiah replies, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted." So we see in Isaiah 7 that Immanuel is a sign for Ahaz that God's people will not be shattered, but their enemies will be.

     But, the passage goes on and we learn even more what Immanuel means. In the very next verse (verse 17), God continues to tell Ahaz: "The LORD will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah - the king of Assyria." Assyria was know to be one of the most cruel countries back then. And we ask, "Why? Why does God do this now?" I will skip a few verses and in chapter 8:6 we read, "Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore, behold the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck and its outspread wing will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel." Because Judah and Ahaz are ungodly, God will judge them by sending the Assyrians. And the picture is indeed pretty scary: God judges those who refuse "the waters of Shiloah." But in the end of verse 8 and the following verses we also find a huge comfort.

     First, in verse 8, it says whose land it is. It is Immanuel's land. Still. and it goes on, "Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries: strap on your armor and be shattered; strap on your armor and be shattered. Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us." We see that other lands might run against God's elect, but God will finally protect the rest and all the nations, running against them, will come to nothing. Why? For "God is with us," which is the meaning of Immanuel. So it is just because of Immanuel that God protects the rest of Judah

Fulfilled in Jesus
      In Matthew we read, "'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 'Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel."

     In Isaiah Immanuel was a sign that God will deliver His people from their enemies. In Isaiah, Judah's problem was Aram, northern Israel and Assyria. But here we read what Immanuel actually does: He will save His people from their sins. This it the main problem for all people.

     "God with us" is on the best promises we receive in the Bible. It is the promise that God renews what has been destroyed by sin, because Jesus bears all judgment. So let's listen to some verses from the very end of the Bible. Revelation 21 talks about what it will be like when God is with us and when God dwells among His people: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out from heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'"

By Elsbeth Tafferner

Resources

     There are many amazing resources out there to help you grow in godliness as a Christian, wife, and mother. Here are a few of my favorites to get you started!

---Bible Study Resources---

ESV Single Column Journaling Bible - I love this journaling Bible. There is plenty of room in the side columns to take ample sermon notes.

The Valley of Vision - This is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. They are so beautiful and lead me to meditate on various areas of Christian growth.

Free Grace and Dying Love - This is a collection of devotionals written by Susannah Spurgeon. It is amazing the depth of understanding she was able to have concerning so many verses in the Bible. If you do not know who she was, this copy is printed with an incredible biography of her life.

Concise Theology - This is one of my absolute favorite books! J.I. Packer is so easy and un-intimidating to read. This book consists of ninety four 1-3 page meditations on various aspects of theology. If you're short on time or brain capacity but still want to grow in your knowledge of the Lord, this is a phenomenal resource!

---Blogs---

Jess Connell - This blog is written by a pastor's wife and mother of seven (soon to be eight!) children. She is a wealth of practical wisdom and advice for moms.

Emily Jensen - This blog is written by a young wife and mother of four. I find myself drawn to her blog because of how gospel-centered it is. No matter what the issue is, Emily keeps coming back to the Gospel and THAT is so refreshing!

Laura Wifler - Sister-in-law to Emily Jensen (above), Laura is a wife and mother of two little ones. She seems to have a talent for writing such raw and honest things, but again always bringing it back to the cross. If you want to laugh and come away refreshed in the throws of mom life, check this out!

The Bright Blush - Fellow seminary wife, McKenna, writes about all things hair and makeup here! If you're in the mood for something fun and want to learn a few new beauty tricks for date night, she's your girl!

---Podcasts---

 The Homemaking Foundations Podcast - This podcast is by Jami Balmet of The Young Wife's guide blog (another great blog!). She discusses a huge variety of issues pertaining to Bible study, theology, marriage, parenting, and homemaking. Each weekly episode is 30-45 minutes in length.

Risen Motherhood - I cannot rave about this podcast enough! It's produced by Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler (their blogs are linked above). They discuss various issues moms face and how those topics ultimately must always lead us back to the Gospel. After every episode, I am so inspired and renewed for the work that I have to do each day. Each weekly episode is 15-20 minutes in length.

Ask Pastor John - This a great podcast where Pastor John Piper answers various theological and pastoral questions scripturally. I typically read the written transcripts, but the content is always edifying! Audio episodes are daily and usually 10 minutes in length.

By Lexi Zuo

Rabbi

     Rabbi is a term of respect and honor for teachers. A Rabbi was considered to have spent a lot of time studying and gaining knowledge. The word literally means "my great one." A person got the name "Rabbi" from their previous teachers who gave him authority. The Jewish leaders didn't like Jesus being called Rabbi because He did not have authority from them to be a Rabbi, and they didn't understand where His authority came from.

     Others were called Rabbi, but Jesus was the true teacher. John 3:22 says, "He came to Jesus at night, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God for no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with Him.'" In this passage Nicodemus, who himself was a teacher of Israel, called Jesus a Rabbi, meaning he understood where Jesus' authority came from.

     Jesus' disciples also called Him Rabbi, meaning they had a lot of respect for Him and understood He had a great depth of knowledge and wisdom. It seems like the disciples called Him Rabbi when they realized He was trying to teach them something. Mark 11:21 says, "Peter remembered and said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree You cursed has withered!'" In this passage Jesus had previously tried to teach them something about the fig tree, but the disciples did not understand. It was only later when they came by the same tree again that Peter calls Jesus Rabbi, showing he understood what Jesus was trying to say earlier. Another instance that a disciple used the term Rabbi was when Judas called Jesus Rabbi to show who he was betraying. Mark 14:45 says, "Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, 'Rabbi!' and kissed Him." Using the term Rabbi to identify Jesus was an even deeper level of betrayal and disrespect.

     By understanding what it means for Jesus to be Rabbi, we can learn to honor Jesus as a teacher. As we try to be more like Christ, we grow in our understanding of what the concept meant. This comes with a great responsibility to be well studied and be the best teacher we can be, just as Jesus was. It is also a privilege that we get to learn and study under the best teacher there ever was. We learn that with Christ as our teacher, He know how our lives ought to be lived, meaning that He knows our future better than we do. In summary Jesus being a Rabbi means we need to honor Him as our teacher and follow His example of how to teach others.

By Karla Nyhuis