Archives for April 2013

This past weekend over 800 women, and a few men, converged at Ridgecrest for Missions Extravaganza.  What a weekend!

“Who am I” I asked the Lord, “that you would give me this privilege?”

And then, Roger and Rose Ann Childres, missionaries in Botswana, spoke.

“He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.  In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”  Ephesians 1:4-5

“For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us.”  Ephesians 2:8-10.  

“Be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 

How many Finleys can fit into a phone booth?

Over Spring Break we took the family to Busch Gardens for a couple of days.  On the way out of the park we almost crammed into this phone booth for a quick picture,  but one was missing.

We took this picture to send to Grace, to tell her she was missed.  But I’m guessing, for her, it brought sadness as well as joy at the silliness of her family.  It did for me too.  One was missing.

When one is missing from the dinner table, from birthday celebrations, from beach trips … it’s sad.

Our one missing is in college, healthy, happy, busy.  I’m well aware that my missing her in no way compares to the grief of the Richard family, or the Campbell family, or others who are suffering great, great loss.

It is no hard thing to consider Monday and feel horrified, and angry, and so very, very sad.  It’s not a hard thing to celebrate the beauty of rescuers and heroes and the people of Boston who are going shoulder-to-shoulder.  It’s not a hard thing to hold your babies close and even weep as you think about the pain and the loss and the fear.

What’s harder is knowing what to do with all of this grief. When one is missing. 

I’m a Christian.  For me, this means that I trust in Jesus Christ.  I live for him.  I live for his glory, with skinned knees, scraped elbows, and so many questions.  I live for him.  Years ago I made a decision to orient my life around Jesus, rather than myself.  In doing so I have gained joy, freedom, and the confidence of knowing that there will be a Day when there is no more hunger, no more thirst, no more orphans, for goodness’ sake, no more tears, no more fears …  A Day when all is made right.

Oh, I long for this Day. In the days of one is missing, I long for this Day. 

As a Christian, I turn to God with my questions, even the really hard ones.  He doesn’t always answer them, but he comforts me and gives me hope, a hope that will never disappoint.

If you’re wondering what to do with all this grief, I’d like to suggest that you join me in turning to God. Here’s how.

1.  Grieve with God.

Don’t run from the mourning too quickly.  Don’t pretend it’s okay.  Death and destruction are the work of the enemy.  Grief and anger are an appropriate response.  God is strong enough and compassionate enough to receive you in your grief.  Grieve with God.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18

2.  Grieve with God’s people.

Not the ones who are quoting Romans 8:28 to you, but the ones who know the Father of Mercies.  The ones who have experienced loss, pain, failure and found God to be a comfort.  These are the ones who are especially equipped to come alongside you in your pain.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

3.  Grieve with hope.

For Christians, we have hope beyond the grave.  This is the foundation of our faith. If there was no resurrection, for Jesus or for us, there would be no basis for our faith in Jesus Christ.  In grief, look beyond the pain of this very terrible “now” to the “not yet” that is surely coming. 

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14.

When one is missing, the grief goes deep.  Even if you weren’t at the finish line on Monday, you either have been grieving, you are grieving, or you will be grieving.  Grief and suffering are part of this shattered world. 

Perhaps this word is for you in your grief today.  Or perhaps it is to be a word encouraging you to come alongside someone else who is grieving.  Be ones who hold fast to the Father of mercies who has comforted you in your affliction so that you can comfort others, and not the ones who shallowly quote Romans 8:28.  If you’re grieving or coming alongside someone else in their grief, I would love to pray for you.  You can leave a comment, or, if you’d rather, you can email me at cynthiafin@gmail.com. 

For more:  Psalm 23:4; Psalm 42; Psalm 56:8-11; Psalm 119:49-50; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Isaiah 61:1-3; Isaiah 66:13; Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 1:8-9; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 7:15-17

If you are popping over from Knowing God Ministries where I’m guest posting today… Welcome!  So glad you’re here!

If you are a regular reader, I’m so thankful for you!  Over these past months I have LOVED the emails you have sent me, the messages on Facebook, and when your friends show up and tell me they landed here because you told them about this site.  Thank you!

I started this blog back in 2008 when our family hosted a little girl, Katya, from Ukraine.  So many people were curious why we, a family with six kids, would welcome an orphan into our home for four weeks.  They became more curious when we decided to pursue adoption.  In 2009, we welcomed Katya into our home, not as an orphan we were hosting, but as our daughter.

Although you can still read our adoption journey in the archives, or listen to this interview that Bill and I gave …

… my purpose with this blog has changed through the years.  Rather than simply give readers a window into our family life, now I want to raise up a battalion of women who will pursue Christ and his purposes at all cost.

I am convinced that we will become this dangerous, joyful, holy band of women as we link arms and:

1.  Root our IDENTITY in Christ

You are a woman created in the image of God and I want to help you discover what that really means.  I want you to experience the joy of knowing who you are, and whose you are.  And I want to celebrate with you the beauty of who you are, and who you are becoming.   

2.  Cultivate INTIMACY with Christ

Jesus cares about having a relationship with you.  He’s not so concerned with your religious activity.  I’ve found that many women need help in knowing how to have a deep and vibrant relationship with Christ.  I want to come alongside you, provide you with tools, and help you set aside religion in favor of relationship.    

3.  IMPACT the world through Christ

Before the foundation of the earth was laid, God established good work for you to do.  This work was designed by our so very creative Father for his glory and your JOY.  When you find the intersection of your spiritual gifts, your passions, your abilities, your personality, and your life experiences, you’ll discover your sweet spot.  That place where you can say with Eric Liddell, “I feel God’s pleasure.”  I want to help you get there.  

Identity, intimacy, and impact  – I believe that these are the pathway for us joining hands and becoming a dangerous, joyful, holy band of women who will be a transforming force in …

• the marketplace
• our marriages
• our mothering
• our ministry

Over these next days, I’m going to take these three themes one-by-one and dig deeper.  I want to show you more of what I’m talking about and why identity, intimacy, and impact are vital.  Sound good?

So, Knowing God friends, welcome!  Thanks for popping over!  If you like what you’re reading, stick around for a while, share with your friends, and let’s join hands to become a battalion of women who will pursue Christ and his purposes at all cost.

I would LOVE to get to know not only Knowing God friends, but all of you, whether who are a subscriber, a regular, or just landed here for the first time.  Although you are always welcome to email me at cynthiafin@gmail.com, I would love it if you would leave a comment today and just tell me a little bit about yourself … your passions, where you are in life, and, if you’d like, what was meaningful for you in this post.  Can’t wait to hear from you!    

I read on Saturday that Edith Schaeffer had died.  I was sad, but so happy to read in the Huffington Post of the beauty of her last days through they eyes of her son Francis.   

I “met” Edith Shaeffer in the same way I met many of my mentors.  Through her books.  

In September 1996, Bill and I caught a plane for the West Coast for a “Church Planting Assessment.”  Right before we left, I popped into our church’s library and picked up this book. 

While I’m not nearly as artistic as Edith Schaeffer, I began to do this with my kids.  I developed symbols like … 

• a simple crown for “Lord” and 
• a black heart to show “sin,” and
• a white heart to show when a person has accepted Jesus.

But, maybe it would be easier to show you a real-life picture of a sermon I helped Katya with in September. 

The sermon was from Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the Peacemakers.”  The point of the sermon was simply that we cannot be peacemakers unless we are at peace with God.  

With Katya, I often write questions for her to answer.  Then I draw an illustration on my paper.  She draws an illustration in a way that makes sense to her.  Like I said, I’m not nearly as artistic as Edith Shaeffer’s.  But, it works.  

Actually I think it does more than works.  I think this is a super-practical great idea that is valuable for at least seven reasons.  

• It keeps your kids engaged.  They love to see what you will draw.
• It keeps you engaged.  If you have a child waiting to see how you are going to illustrate the sermon, you have to pay attention.
• It provides a way for you and your children to review what they have heard.
• It helps you learn how to get the main point out of  a sermon.
• Your pastor will love it.   Bill loves to see how the kids and I illustrate his sermons.  I’m guessing your pastor would too.  
• It provides a meaningful keepsake for your kids.  Really more than a keepsake, it helps you to mark spiritual milestones and maturing faith.  
• If you have several kids, as the “olders” grow up, they can do this with they “youngers.”  This helps you out and they stay engaged as well.   

Super-practical great idea, right?  

There was much more to Edith Schaeffer than her sermon-note-drawing ability.  She authored 18 books, was a literary dynamo, didn’t worry what people thought of her, and was a steadfast lover of the arts.   She’s one of my heroes and I’m still learning from her.  

Illustrating sermons for my children was one of Edith Schaeffer’s super-practical great ideas I put into practice.  Do you think it would work for you?  If you’ve read The Hidden Art of Homemaking, I’d love to hear how it impacted you.  Or, if this post stirred any other questions or thoughts, please leave a message or email me at cynthiafin@gmail.com.  And you know I’d love to connect on Facebook or Twitter.