The Week in Words

On the internet, we call it the House of Dreams, like Anne’s House of Dreams. But really, it reminds us more of Patty’s Place.

“If we could only find a house!” sighed Priscilla. “Look over there at Kingsport, Anne–houses, houses everywhere, and not one for us.”

“Stop it, Pris. ‘The best is yet to be.’ Like the old Roman, we’ll find a house or build one. On a day like this there’s no such word as fail in my bright lexicon.”

They lingered in the park until sunset, living in the amazing miracle and glory and wonder of the springtide; and they went home as usual, by way of Spofford Avenue, that they might have the delight of looking at Patty’s Place.

“I feel as if something mysterious were going to happen right away–‘by the pricking of my thumbs,'” said Anna, as they went up the slope. “It’s a nice story-bookish feeling. Why–why–why! Priscilla Grant, look over there and tell me if it’s true, or am I seein’ things?”

Priscilla looked. Anne’s thumbs and eyes had not deceived her. Over the arched gateway of Patty’s Place dangled a little, modest sign. It said “To Let, Furnished. Inquire Within.”

“Priscilla,” said Anne, in a whisper, “do you suppose it’s possible that we could rent Patty’s Place?”

“No, I don’t,” averred Priscilla. “It would be too good to be true. Fairy tales don’t happen nowadays. I won’t hope, Anne. The disappointment would be too awful to bear. They’re sure to want more for it than we can afford. Remember, it’s on Spofford Avenue.”

“We must find out anyhow,” said Anne resolutely. “It’s too late to call this evening, but we’ll come tomorrow. Oh, Pris, if we can get this darling spot! I’ve always felt that my fortunes were linked with Patty’s Place, ever since I saw it first.”

~from Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

Housing is tight in Columbus, Nebraska. We’d been searching for weeks without anything even close to suitable showing up. I kept passing “For Rent” signs in Lincoln and thinking of all the houses in the world–but not in Columbus, not for us.

And then we saw the ad for the House of Dreams. We called the out-of-state phone number and left a message.

I loved it from the moment I heard the street it was on. It didn’t matter that we hadn’t seen it yet. The street name was enough.

When we saw it, it was confirmation of what we’d known. This house would be perfect. Perfect for entertaining, perfect for ministering, perfect for our lives as busy professionals who love the “ministry of home”.

We barely dared to hope, though.

A perfect house in a perfect location at the perfect price in a tight housing market. Tons of people had looked at the house–the owner was sorting through dozens of applications.

There was no way ours would be picked.

But it was.

And we ended up in our own House of Dreams.

Thank You, Lord, for our own “story-bookish” tale.

Collect more quotes from throughout the week with Barbara H’s meme “The Week in Words”.

The owner of the House of Dreams is a lawyer–which means our lease is super-official with all sorts of legalese.

This Agreement of Lease is made and entered into with reference to the following facts:
1. Lessor is the owner of those certain residential premises commonly known as the House of Dreams.
2. Lessees desire to lease from Lessor the said premises, and the Lessor is willing to lease the same to Lessees upon the terms and provisions hereinafter set forth.

And on and on it goes.

Legalese isn’t that exciting–at least, not to me–but this bit is exciting, because in the end, when we signed our names, we had possession of the House of Dreams.

Yesterday, in our celebration of Reformation Sunday (at my new church–which I absolutely LOVE), we talked and read about a different kind of legal term, a term which grants us something far greater than the House of Dreams.

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whome God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
~Romans 3:21-26

Yesterday, we read of justification. A legal term. Being legally declared righteous. A legal term that grants Christ’s righteousness to anyone who through faith in Christ Jesus receives God’s grace.

There is no legal term more precious to my ear than this. No truth that has transformed my life more than this.

That God in His grace grants justification to sinners–myself, the worst.

Yesterday, we celebrated the day Martin Luther pounded his 95 theses onto the doors of Wittenberg chapel, sparking the Reformation that changed the world. And its rallying cry was a legal term: justification.

Justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Hallelujah, what a salvation!

Collect more quotes from throughout the week with Barbara H’s meme “The Week in Words”.

Human rights are a huge deal for citizens of the United States of America. We’re all about upholding human rights. And so we should be. We should be concerned about preserving others’ rights.

At the same time, I’ve oft been convicted that I am not to seek my own rights.

I don’t have rights. I ceded them when I became a follower of Christ. I can’t expect to be dealt with fairly, to be given my due. When I became a follower of Christ, I was promised persecution, hatred from the world. When I became a follower of Christ, I was called to lay down my life for my brothers and for the world.

When I became a follower of Christ, I took up my cross. I no longer have any rights. I am a convicted man.

So I’ve thought quite a bit about my rights or lack thereof–but this week, I read something that made me think about rights from a new perspective.

What about God’s rights?

“So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own, and that He may not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle your reason in His dealings with you.”
~George D. Watson, quoted by Tim Challies

I struggle with where God has me, with what He’s calling me to. I’m frustrated that His plans for me don’t align with my plans for me.

But you know? God has the right to do whatever He wants with me.

And, of course, I have the promise that even if I don’t understand–even if I never know–the reasons He has in the things He does, the purposes are good nonetheless.

But, as I was reminded this week, reading Jeremiah 29, those good purposes don’t necessarily look they way I’d have planned them.

Have you ever noticed that the nice feel good Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you…thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” falls right in the midst of God’s telling Israel that they WOULDN’T be delivered from the present Babylonian affliction?

Nope. God says, “You’re not gonna be saved. You’re gonna be carried away. What’s more, you’re gonna be in Babylon for a long time.”

“Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.”
~Jeremiah 29:5-7

So settle in, Rebekah. Make yourself a home in Columbus, Nebraska. Seek the peace of that city. Don’t just wait it out in the place I’ve appointed for you–choose to thrive in the place I’ve planted for you.

“For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.”
~Jeremiah 29:10-14

And that’s where I have to realize. God has the right to do whatever He wants with me. But He also has the right to do whatever He’s promised in His own timing.

God promised them deliverance. It took 70 years. He called them to be content and productive in the interim.

Maybe God will see fit to fulfill some of my dreams. Maybe it’ll take a life time. He calls me to be content and productive in the interim.

He has the right to do so.

Collect more quotes from throughout the week with Barbara H’s meme “The Week in Words”.

Recently, three star night posed the following question:

If you couldn’t read it, the (rather syntaxically awkward) question was:

“Is it worse to hope that things will stay the same and find that they’re different? Or hoping that things will be different to find that nothing’s changed?”

Sure, the question is worded in an awkward manner. But the question resonates. What do we do with hopes that flounder or die? When you want changes but get different ones than you wanted? When you want things to stay the same, but find it impossible to continue on the way things have been?

That’s where I’m at. I’m right here, right there–in two places at once, in two jobs at once, with two hearts at once. I’m here with a heavy heart and dashed dreams.

Justin Buzzard writes from the same place:

“My brother and I are learning that when plans fail and dreams die, God has us right where he wants us.

It’s when plans fail and dreams die that we come to the end of our strength, wisdom, and resources. It’s in these times that we face situations totally beyond ourselves. We can’t fix it! We don’t know what to do! And where do we find ourselves? Flat on our face, ‘bowed down to the dust,’ crying to God for help.”

~Justin Buzzard, from Buzzard Blog

This isn’t an easy road; it’s not a fun path–but it’s a reminder to entrust my heart to the King of the Universe; it’s encouragement to make Him my supreme Dream and Delight. It’s a coming to the end of myself, when I cling to Him.

I need Him, O how I need Him. And O how I know it in those times when my heart is heavy and my dreams are dashed.

Collect more quotes from throughout the week with Barbara H’s meme “The Week in Words”.

I haven’t read or retained a lot this week–but I guess I still have a couple of quotes to share. Some self-deprecating humour from here and there.

“When we’re not working, we’re driving the kids to non-stop activities to ensure that they become “well-rounded.” Let me tell you, I was a complete square as a kid, and I turned out fine.”
~Matthew Paul Turner, from a blog post that I don’t remember being particularly impressed with, except for that quote :-)

“[I have always sat in the pews among you while we worship] except for the first ten years when I sat up here in my big throne like a king over his minions.”
~John Piper, from a post of Pastor Piper’s witticisms (Say that ten times fast!)

Unfortunately, I can’t make fun of myself on demand, or I’d try to emulate these two. Self-deprecating humor is an art form–but one that I am utterly unskilled in. Maybe I should put it on my list of goals.

Collect more quotes from throughout the week with Barbara H’s meme “The Week in Words”.

Addendum: So I started getting all these unusual hits sent from (what appeared in my stat software to be) nowhere and was thinking “what on earth?” This morning (10/12), I discovered the problem that was sending visitors my way. A tweet from Matt Appling: “Reader linked to me on her blog, but only to say my post wasn’t great. But at least she confused me w/ @jesusneedsnewpr” The dangers of quickly scanning through my Diigo account looking for quotes on a Monday morning when I’ve got nothing.

So, to clear up the confusion, the first quote is NOT from Matthew Paul Turner but from Matt Appling of The Church of No People. And, just for the record, “don’t remember being particularly impressed with” is not the same as “not great”. It just means it wasn’t particularly memorable to me (either in a positive or negative way.) If that’s any consolation :-)

Sorry, Matt, and thanks for sending traffic my way despite my gaffe!