Valerie is a 42-year-old, single, Reformed Christian lady who lives in Baltimore. She doesn't remember a time
before she knew and loved Jesus, but she does remember accepting John Calvin into her heart in March of 2000.
Valerie is a member of Christ Reformed Evangelical Church in Annapolis.
Though her career aspiration is to be a housewife, Valerie has not yet found anyone suitable who wishes to hire
her for employment in that field (or, more properly, anyone suitable has not found her), so in the meantime she
earns her daily bread working in communications -- editing, writing, print design and website management.
Ten Years Ago Yesterday
On March 6, 2000, I was writing a post for the now-defunct Renewing Your Mind discussion forum on "Why I am Not a Calvinist." I was gonna show 'em, I was, why this predestination bizniss was all a bunch of hooey. And by gum, I was even going to open my Bible to prove it! Well, you might imagine what happened next. It's dangerous to play with sharp objects. When I opened my Bible, my argument got its head lopped off.
I found myself in Exodus 33:
Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."
And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."
It struck me that God's predestining privilege was tied up in His own proclamation of His glory. I'd been convinced that the notion made God less glorious, but I couldn't explain this one away. "Oh, all right," was my attitude. "I'll swallow the TULIP bulb, but I'm not going to be happy about it!"
A couple weeks earlier, Mark Cary had started teaching through Ephesians on Sunday nights at CCF (Chapelgate's now-defunct singles ministry). I was miserable about it when he started, knowing that the first chapter was all about predestination.
I had signed up to do special music for one night early in that series, when he was still in the first chapter. My crankiness dissipated pretty quickly, because I wrote this song for the occasion. Here's a quick, one-take recording.
If I were writing it today, the tune would be much more upbeat, but at the time it reflected the quietness of a spirit that had finally stopped arguing with its Maker. The first time I posted the lyrics, Jamie Soles asked me if he could write a tune for it. I was a little too attached to it then to let him, but I'd probably say yes now.
Well, I'd better get moving and get ready to go worship the God whose once-despised sovereignty has become a delight to me!
Posted by Valerie (Kyriosity) at 6:21 AM
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