Blessing, not a burden

I have officially begun seminars at SBTS for a Ph.D. in New Testament . . . and boy are my eyes tired! I have a substantial reading and translating (from German and from Greek) load but am taking it a day at a time. In the opening prayer of our colloquium, our professor prayed that we students would see our time of study as a blessing and not a burden; for there are many all around our world who would give anything to have the opportunity to learn and read and write what we are learning, reading, and writing. Though my studies may at times be burdensome, pray that I will accept that as part of the sanctification process and refuse to view them as burdens, but always as blessings and opportunities graciously given to me by a gracious God.

I had the blessing of attending a lecture today on Adoniram Judson, missionary to Burma. In the course of the lecture, the professor shared the letter Adoniram wrote to John Hasseltine, his future father-in-law, asking for his consent to marry his daughter Ann. Both Adoniram and Ann knew they would leave about 2 weeks after their marrige for India for missionary service. He wrote,

… I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world? Whether you can consent to see her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life? Whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent to all this, for the sake of perishing immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?

What boldness and what faith, both of him and of Ann! May God raise up
many more.

The following graph is from http://www.gallup.com/poll/114022/State-States-Importance-Religion.aspx and shows the importance of religion for the population by state. This confirms what has always been said about the "Bible belt." However, I wonder what percentage of those who consider "religion important" have been changed by the gospel and are followers of Christ?

Snow Days

How blessed we have been this week! God has shown Himself powerful and beautiful through nature. We never lost power and didn't have any major accidents. Thanks to all who were praying for us. Classes were cancelled last week and the seminary is without power. At this point, my first class will be Wednesday. Thanks for continuing to pray. Here's some pictures of the snow!

For His glory,

The Mackeys

Good Day!

It has been a good day worshipping the Lord today. Some dear friends watched our kids this afternoon and Amanda and I were able to talk and make some plans for the week, syncronize our schedules, and talk about what we needed to be praying about. What a blessing! Two great messages from Dr. Bill Cook at church today as well. My memory verse this week is James 1:21:

"Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls."

What a great verse to turn into a prayer before we begin our quiet times. Maybe something like this:

"Lord, as I sit down to read Your word you have graciously given to me and to fellowship with you. Show me what remains of my wickedness. Convict me of any sin that stands between us. Give me the grace to put it all aside. And during this time, as I read and pray, may You reveal more to me. Then, may I continue to have the grace to choose You over it, to put it aside. In humility, I bow before you. Your word has authority over me. I humbly submit to it. I humbly acknowledge that I am nothing without You. May your word be given to me in this hour; may I receive it as a treasured, noble gift. May it be implanted deep in my heart, mind, and soul so that it may bear fruit, even in times of drought. It is this that will save my soul. I come today to receive from You, the Giver of all good things."

Wow! That sounds like a pretty good way to start a quiet time! Why don't you memorize it with me?

This week I will get the privilege of teaching Dr. Cook's New Testament II class (he's out of town); I'm really looking forward to it. I also begin my first seminars this week. I would appreciate your prayers for both of these. Finally our contract with our realtor to sell our house runs out this week. We have to decide if we are going to relist with the same realtor, change realtors, try to rent it, lower the price, etc. Pray wisdom for us for this as well, please. How can we pray for you?

For His glory,
Jason

Today's Morning Devotional by Spurgeon

“Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?”
— Ezekiel 15:2
These words are for the humbling of God’s people; they are called God’s vine, but what are they by nature more than others? They, by God’s goodness, have become fruitful, having been planted in a good soil; the Lord hath trained them upon the walls of the sanctuary, and they bring forth fruit to his glory; but what are they without their God? What are they without the continual influence of the Spirit, begetting fruitfulness in them? O believer, learn to reject pride, seeing that thou hast no ground for it. Whatever thou art, thou hast nothing to make thee proud. The more thou hast, the more thou art in debt to God; and thou shouldst not be proud of that which renders thee a debtor. Consider thine origin; look back to what thou wast. Consider what thou wouldst have been but for divine grace. Look upon thyself as thou art now. Doth not thy conscience reproach thee? Do not thy thousand wanderings stand before thee, and tell thee that thou art unworthy to be called his son? And if he hath made thee anything, art thou not taught thereby that it is grace which hath made thee to differ? Great believer, thou wouldst have been a great sinner if God had not made thee to differ. O thou who art valiant for truth, thou wouldst have been as valiant for error if grace had not laid hold upon thee. Therefore, be not proud, though thou hast a large estate—a wide domain of grace, thou hadst not once a single thing to call thine own except thy sin and misery. Oh! strange infatuation, that thou, who hast borrowed everything, shouldst think of exalting thyself; a poor dependent pensioner upon the bounty of thy Saviour, one who hath a life which dies without fresh streams of life from Jesus, and yet proud! Fie on thee, O silly heart!
Spurgeon, C. H.: Morning and Evening : Daily Readings. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. January 22 AM (emphasis in bold mine)

Good stuff, huh?

From one "who hast borrowed everything,"

Jason

Musing on Worship

We heard a great sermon this evening on worship. The main point was, "Biblical truth is the basis for and fuel for real worship." The text was Romans 11:33-36.

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."

I'm going to memorize these verses this week (and next). What are you memorizing? Share with me.

Holiday Update

Friends,

It has been too long since I've last posted and much has happened. We were able to travel to Alabama the weekend before Thanksgiving to visit with family. What a good time we had! We were also able to visit FBC Savannah, TN and see so many of our friends.

In addition to time with family and friends, we were so surprised to find that the church I grew up in--Washington Park Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals, AL--had done a pounding for us! Hundreds of dollars worth of food, paper products, and cleaning supplies! Here's a picture of each of us holding some of our favorite items. In addition to that, we have since found out that they have put our family in their budget and will support us monthly in 2009! Their support will pay for almost half of my tuition this year. As expenses increase, God's provision through His people increases as well. He is so faithful!



The end of November found us moving again. We now reside in a community of Louisville called Jeffersontown, living in a beautiful, spacious home for half the rent of our small apartment. What a blessing this has been! We've got extra room now and are looking for guests to come visit us!



Academically, my semester has ended. Thank you for praying for me and my studies. God has given me grace to complete all the assignments on time. The German and Graduate Research classes I took were pass/fail classes and I passed both. I learned some things that will be helpful as I begin my seminars the end of this month.



We were also able to travel back to Alabama for a week at Christmas. Again we had time with both sets of families and with friends at FBC Savannah and Washington Park Baptist Church. So many of our dear friends and Sunday School classes from both FBC and WPBC blessed us with Christmas gifts and money. We were overwhelmed by their generosity and how God is meeting our needs in such special ways. Unexpected expenses (increasing medical insurance costs, having to put tires on the truck, and our house still not selling) have proven to be no match for God and His people! Praise the Lord, our Provider!



We continue to have several things we're praying about and ask you to join us in:
1. Our house to sell in Savannah
2. Our children's adjustments and finding new friends
3. Our personal spiritual growth
4. Jason's time management (between tutoring, classes, class work, time with kids, time with Amanda, etc.)
5. A close friend whose husband is deciding to abandon their marriage (and four small children)
6. FBC Savannah as they continue to search for a pastor

God bless you and thanks for partnering with us in prayer!