{"id":24548,"date":"2020-03-11T07:55:12","date_gmt":"2020-03-11T11:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=24548"},"modified":"2020-03-11T07:55:12","modified_gmt":"2020-03-11T11:55:12","slug":"worship-wednesday-control-girls-miriam-and-god-how-deep-the-fathers-love-for-us-stuart-townend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=24548","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – Control Girls, Miriam, and God – How Deep the Father’s Love for Us – Stuart Townend"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

[Excerpts from the Archives<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Now hear the word of the Lord<\/span>, you women.<\/span><\/strong><\/em>
\nPay attention to the words from his mouth. <\/span>Teach your daughters a lament <\/span>and one another a dirge, <\/span>for Death has climbed through our windows; <\/span>it has entered our fortresses, <\/span>cutting off children from the streets, <\/span>young men from the squares.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

This is what the Lord<\/span> says:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

“The wise person should not boast in his wisdom; <\/span><\/em>the strong should not boast in his strength; <\/span><\/em>the wealthy should not boast in his wealth.<\/span><\/em><\/strong>
\nBut the one who boasts should boast in this:<\/span><\/em><\/strong>
\nthat he understands and knows me\u2014<\/span><\/em><\/strong>
\nthat I am the Lord<\/span>, showing faithful love,<\/span><\/em><\/strong>
\njustice, and righteousness on the earth,<\/span><\/em><\/strong>
\nfor I delight in these things.<\/span><\/em><\/strong>
\nThis is the Lord<\/span>\u2019s declaration.”<\/em> <\/strong>– Jeremiah 9:20-21, 23-24<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At first, reading this passage in Jeremiah, it could so resonate with our current situation with the Coronavirus<\/a> and how some are responding to it. There’s a lot of boasting and blaming going on in our media of how we are doing with containing the virus. Then, back to the Scripture passage, the prophet Jeremiah turns the focus away from “us” and on to God.<\/p>\n

The image above is a snapshot of part of a group of women in my life, studying the Word together. Writer Shannon Popkin<\/a> has given us a first book entitled Control Girl \u2013 Lessons on Surrendering Your Burden of Control From Seven Women in the Bible<\/a>. <\/em>It\u2019s such a great book on what controlling does to us and our families\u2026what a burden it actually is. All the stories are taken from the lives of Old Testament (from Eve to Moses\u2019 sister Miriam. So much wisdom here.\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Shannon Popkin<\/a><\/p>\n

We just finished the chapter on Miriam<\/a>, Moses’ sister. Miriam appears first in Scripture as the older sister of infant Moses, under threat of death by Pharoah. She was instrumental<\/a> in saving his life. Years later, God used Moses in His work for the release of the Israelites from Egypt, and Miriam was right there with him, leading the women in praise to God. Moses, Miriam, and their brother Aaron<\/a>, and Miriam were together in overseeing the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For Miriam, her trouble began when she took her eyes off God and focused on her own importance. She burned with ambition and jealousy toward her brother, Moses. She and Aaron then spoke against Moses, both privately and publicly<\/a>. The motivation appeared to be jockeying for more power for themselves. This triangling<\/a>, this slander, moved God to anger. He knows our hearts and He measures his judgment accordingly. Miriam’s pain of judgment (leprosy) galvanized her two brothers to pray for their sister, and she was healed. Repentance and restoration followed. God’s love abounds.<\/p>\n

When we are tempted to look on our own intelligence, strength, or wealth as superior (Jeremiah 9:23<\/a>), we take on an arrogance that separates us from each other…and especially from God. What is our boast?<\/p>\n

Let Him Who Boasts Boast in the Lord<\/em> – John Piper<\/a><\/p>\n

English songwriter Stuart Townend<\/a> wrote the hymn How Deep the Father\u2019s Love For Us<\/em>. It was published in 1995, the year we moved to Cairo, Egypt. New to us, this hymn became a standard in our family from those early days of adjusting to a new life in another country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

New to a very different culture with little ability to communicate in the local language, we found it hard to boast in pretty much anything. This hymn was a strong and loving reminder that our boast is in Christ…In Christ Alone<\/a> (another great Townend hymn).<\/p>\n

Because of what Christ did for me\u2026for us\u2026on the cross, I am no longer separated from God by the penalty of my rebellion against Him. The debt I built up through life is paid in one great act of God through Christ \u2013 His perfect, sinless life substituted, in death, for my own sin-filled mess\u2026for our own. There is nothing left to pay\u2026nothing. Christ paid in full, on the cross, for all our sins.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a wonderful, omnipotent God who deserves our highest praise, and how we feel about it is in many ways irrelevant!\u00a0 I want to encourage the expression of joy, passion and adoration, but I want those things to be the by-product of focusing on God<\/strong> \u2013 I don\u2019t want them to become the subject matter. I\u2019m trying to write songs that refer to us as little as possible, and to Him as much as possible!\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Stuart Townend<\/a><\/p>\n

Our focus in this life is not even on what we believe…It is not just that we \u201cbelieve\u201d\u2026 What Townend describes in this hymn, reflective<\/a> of the truth of Scripture, isn\u2019t just what we believe\u2026it is what happened and was witnessed by others \u2013 the deep love of God displayed in the self-emptying life and death of His Son. Hallelujah!<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the study of Control Girl<\/em>, the special women I’m privileged to know are grappling with how tempted, like Miriam, we are to take on ourselves “what’s best” for us, our families, our futures. Praise God, His love for us is not swayed by our struggle, our humanness, our sin…He ever draws us back to Himself. That alone is our boast. He alone is our boast.<\/p>\n

Worship<\/a> with me.<\/p>\n

How deep the Father\u2019s love for us,
\nHow vast beyond all measure,
\nThat He should give His only Son
\nTo make a wretch His treasure.
\nHow great the pain of searing loss \u2013
\nThe Father turns His face away,
\nAs wounds which mar the Chosen One
\nBring many sons to glory.<\/p>\n

Behold the man upon a cross,
\nMy sin upon His shoulders;
\nAshamed, I hear my mocking voice
\nCall out among the scoffers.
\nIt was my sin that held Him there
\nUntil it was accomplished;
\nHis dying breath has brought me life \u2013
\nI know that it is finished.<\/p>\n

I will not boast in anything,<\/strong>
\nNo gifts, no power, no wisdom;<\/strong>
\nBut I will boast in Jesus Christ,<\/strong>
\nHis death and resurrection.<\/strong>
\nWhy should I gain from His reward?<\/strong>
\n I cannot give an answer;<\/strong>
\n But this I know with all my heart \u2013<\/strong>
\n His wounds have paid my ransom.<\/strong>*<\/p>\n

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.<\/em> \u2013 1 John 3:1<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.<\/em> \u2013 Galatians 2:20b<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

*Lyrics \u2013 How Deep the Father\u2019s Love For Us<\/em> \u2013 Stuart Townend<\/a><\/p>\n

Worship Wednesday – How Deep the Father’s Love for Us – Stuart Townend<\/em> – Deb Mills<\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube Video \u2013 How Deep the Father\u2019s Love For Us<\/em> \u2013 Lyrics (with Scripture portions that support them)<\/a><\/p>\n

Women of the Bible – Lesson 1 – Miriam<\/em> – Vickie Kraft<\/a><\/p>\n

The Depth of Christ\u2019s Love: Its Cost<\/em> \u2013 John Piper<\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube Video \u2013 Story Behind the Song \u2013 How Deep the Father\u2019s Love for Us<\/em> \u2013 Stuart Townend<\/a><\/p>\n

Hymn Reflection: How Deep the Father\u2019s Love For Us<\/em> \u2013 Adam Faughn<\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube Video – Allison Durham Speer – I Will Glory in the Cross<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n