It's Christmas!
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
Music: Rowland H. Pritchard; harm. from The English Hymnal
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Baby Boy: Nov 1, 7lbs 4oz, 20 1/4"
Having the time of our life . . .the sleepless, cluttered, no time for yourself time of our life!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Perspective
"Oh that God would
give every mother a vision
of the glory and splendor of the work
that is given to her
when a babe is placed in her bosom
to be nursed and trained!
Could she have but one glimpse
into the future of that life
as it reaches into eternity;
could she look into it's soul
to see it's possibilities;
could she be made to understand
her own personal responsibility
for the training of this child,
for the development of its life,
and for it's destiny,-
she would see that in all God's world
there is no other work
so noble and
so worthy
of her best powers,
and she would commit to no other hands
the sacred and
holy trust
given to her."
- JR Miller
give every mother a vision
of the glory and splendor of the work
that is given to her
when a babe is placed in her bosom
to be nursed and trained!
Could she have but one glimpse
into the future of that life
as it reaches into eternity;
could she look into it's soul
to see it's possibilities;
could she be made to understand
her own personal responsibility
for the training of this child,
for the development of its life,
and for it's destiny,-
she would see that in all God's world
there is no other work
so noble and
so worthy
of her best powers,
and she would commit to no other hands
the sacred and
holy trust
given to her."
- JR Miller
Thursday, October 15, 2009
DEPTH
"In all of my years walking with the Lord, I’ve learned to value the basics of the Christian life. We don’t need breadth on a thousand topics as much as we need depth on a critical few.
Prayer ranks at the top of this list. This private dialogue with your Father is the most important conversation you can have—whether it be in the early morning hours, in the mix of a busy day, or in the stillness of night as others sleep. When you call out to Him, He listens.
The Spirit of God working on our volition changes us!...I don't need skills; I need DEPTH."
Chuck Swindoll
Job 23:10-12
Peter, "I glory in my infirmities."
Whether I get a yes or no to my prayers, I walk consistently.
Prayer ranks at the top of this list. This private dialogue with your Father is the most important conversation you can have—whether it be in the early morning hours, in the mix of a busy day, or in the stillness of night as others sleep. When you call out to Him, He listens.
The Spirit of God working on our volition changes us!...I don't need skills; I need DEPTH."
Chuck Swindoll
Job 23:10-12
Peter, "I glory in my infirmities."
Whether I get a yes or no to my prayers, I walk consistently.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Protection, Permission - A Deep Mystery
How do we reconcile God's promises for protection with the fact that so many evil things do happen in our lives? Can we believe God for protection?
This question comes up often, and no wonder, since there are many promises in the Bible about protection, including (especially in the Old Testament) physical protection. We must be careful to interpret Scripture with Scripture, and if we examine the record we find that God did not by any means always protect His people from harm. He has absolute power to keep us safe, both physically and spiritually, but His engineering of the universe made room for man's freedom to choose--that is, freedom to will to obey or to disobey Him. This is a deep mystery. Man's disobedience brought evil into the world, and all of us are subject to it. God does not cancel out its effects, even for His choicest servants (John the Baptist, Stephen, those nameless victims of Hebrews 11:35-37, for example).
Nevertheless, we have the promises. Romans 8:35-39 is one of my most reread passages. I believe we can rest assured that we are invulnerable so long as God does not give permission for us to be hurt. If He gives that permission, He will not leave us alone. He goes with us through the valley, the deep water, the furnace. He will never, absolutely never, leave us or forsake us.
___________________________________________________
"How Long is God's Arm?", Keep A Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot
This question comes up often, and no wonder, since there are many promises in the Bible about protection, including (especially in the Old Testament) physical protection. We must be careful to interpret Scripture with Scripture, and if we examine the record we find that God did not by any means always protect His people from harm. He has absolute power to keep us safe, both physically and spiritually, but His engineering of the universe made room for man's freedom to choose--that is, freedom to will to obey or to disobey Him. This is a deep mystery. Man's disobedience brought evil into the world, and all of us are subject to it. God does not cancel out its effects, even for His choicest servants (John the Baptist, Stephen, those nameless victims of Hebrews 11:35-37, for example).
Nevertheless, we have the promises. Romans 8:35-39 is one of my most reread passages. I believe we can rest assured that we are invulnerable so long as God does not give permission for us to be hurt. If He gives that permission, He will not leave us alone. He goes with us through the valley, the deep water, the furnace. He will never, absolutely never, leave us or forsake us.
___________________________________________________
"How Long is God's Arm?", Keep A Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Things temporal and eternal
"O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong,
nothing is holy:
Increase and multiply upon us your mercy,
that, with you as our ruler and guide,
we may so pass through things temporal,
that we lose not the things eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
for ever and ever.
Amen."
The Collect for the eighth Sunday after Pentecost
without whom nothing is strong,
nothing is holy:
Increase and multiply upon us your mercy,
that, with you as our ruler and guide,
we may so pass through things temporal,
that we lose not the things eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
for ever and ever.
Amen."
The Collect for the eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Monday, September 14, 2009
On Failure - J.I. Packer
"The world’s idea that everyone, from childhood up, should be able at all times to succeed in measurable ways, and that it is a great disgrace not to, hangs over the Christian community like a pall of acrid smoke.”
--J.I. Packer, A Passion for Faithfulness: Wisdom From the Book of Nehemiah, p. 206.
--J.I. Packer, A Passion for Faithfulness: Wisdom From the Book of Nehemiah, p. 206.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Moving and an old Song
1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another,
For love is of God
And everyone who loves
Is born of God and knows God.
He who loveth not, (clap! clap! clap!) knoweth not God,
For God is love!
Beloved let us love one another
First John Four Seven and Eight!
Beloved, let us love one another,
For love is of God
And everyone who loves
Is born of God and knows God.
He who loveth not, (clap! clap! clap!) knoweth not God,
For God is love!
Beloved let us love one another
First John Four Seven and Eight!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Christ is Message and Messenger
Every word spoken by Jesus must be understood by the life of Jesus. The one cannot be separated from the other. If we attempt to understand what He said without reference to what He did, we do violence to God's revelation of Himself. Here are some examples:
"Give up your right to yourself." Can this mean self-destruction, masochism, obliteration of the personality? See the perfect Son of God, exercising his human will in the fullness of its God-given power, as He offers Himself, pours out his soul unto death. What life streams from that giving up. What strength springs from his weakness.
"The truth shall make you free" (Jn 8:32 AV)--words often wrested away from their context ("lf you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free") and also away from the Man who spoke them. His life, his every act, was perfectly free. It was free because He heard the Word of the Father, did what He saw Him do, and knew Him. His freedom was the result of his obedience. There is no shortcut to our freedom. We must live the life Christ lived--a life of faith, a will offered to the Father, daily obedience.
____________________________________________________
"Christ is Message and Messenger", by Elisabeth Elliot, A Lamp For My Feet
"Give up your right to yourself." Can this mean self-destruction, masochism, obliteration of the personality? See the perfect Son of God, exercising his human will in the fullness of its God-given power, as He offers Himself, pours out his soul unto death. What life streams from that giving up. What strength springs from his weakness.
"The truth shall make you free" (Jn 8:32 AV)--words often wrested away from their context ("lf you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free") and also away from the Man who spoke them. His life, his every act, was perfectly free. It was free because He heard the Word of the Father, did what He saw Him do, and knew Him. His freedom was the result of his obedience. There is no shortcut to our freedom. We must live the life Christ lived--a life of faith, a will offered to the Father, daily obedience.
____________________________________________________
"Christ is Message and Messenger", by Elisabeth Elliot, A Lamp For My Feet
Monday, August 3, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
When you have the King's ear...
Pray for One Another
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Be encouraged to cheerfully offer intercessory prayer, by remembering that such prayer is the sweetest God ever hears. The prayer of Christ is of this character. In all the incense that our Great High Priest now puts into the golden censer, there is not a single grain for Himself. His intercession must be the most acceptable of all supplications--and the more our prayer like Christ's, the sweeter it will be. Thus while petitions for ourselves will be accepted, our pleadings for others, having in them more of the fruits of the Spirit--more love, more faith, more brotherly kindness--will be, through the precious merits of Jesus, the sweetest sacrifice that we can offer to God. Remember, again, that the intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent [powerful]. What wonders it has accomplished! The Word of God teems with its marvelous deeds. Believer, you have a might engine in your hand; use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and you will surely be a blessing to others. When you have the King's ear, speak to Him for the suffering members of His body. When you are favored to draw very near to His throne, and the King says to you, "Ask, and it will be given to you," let your petitions be, not for yourself alone, but for the many who need His aid. If you have any grace at all and are not an intercessor, that grace must be as small as a grain of mustard seed. You have just enough grace to float your soul clear from the quicksand, but you have no depth of grace or else you would carry in your vessel a heavy cargo of the wants of others, and you would bring back from your Lord rich blessings for them that apart from you they might not have obtained.
Oh, let my hands forget their skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy seat!
*I think this is Oswald Chambers, 2/6, "My Utmost for His Highest"
Psalm 103:2
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Be encouraged to cheerfully offer intercessory prayer, by remembering that such prayer is the sweetest God ever hears. The prayer of Christ is of this character. In all the incense that our Great High Priest now puts into the golden censer, there is not a single grain for Himself. His intercession must be the most acceptable of all supplications--and the more our prayer like Christ's, the sweeter it will be. Thus while petitions for ourselves will be accepted, our pleadings for others, having in them more of the fruits of the Spirit--more love, more faith, more brotherly kindness--will be, through the precious merits of Jesus, the sweetest sacrifice that we can offer to God. Remember, again, that the intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent [powerful]. What wonders it has accomplished! The Word of God teems with its marvelous deeds. Believer, you have a might engine in your hand; use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and you will surely be a blessing to others. When you have the King's ear, speak to Him for the suffering members of His body. When you are favored to draw very near to His throne, and the King says to you, "Ask, and it will be given to you," let your petitions be, not for yourself alone, but for the many who need His aid. If you have any grace at all and are not an intercessor, that grace must be as small as a grain of mustard seed. You have just enough grace to float your soul clear from the quicksand, but you have no depth of grace or else you would carry in your vessel a heavy cargo of the wants of others, and you would bring back from your Lord rich blessings for them that apart from you they might not have obtained.
Oh, let my hands forget their skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy seat!
*I think this is Oswald Chambers, 2/6, "My Utmost for His Highest"
Psalm 103:2
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
Thursday, July 16, 2009
My Savior
I am not skilled to understand
What God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know that at His right hand
Is One Who is my Savior!
I take Him at His word indeed;
“Christ died for sinners”—this I read;
For in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior!
That He should leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die,
You count it strange? So once did I,
Before I knew my Savior
And oh, that He fulfilled may see
The travail of His soul in me,
And with His work contented be,
As I with my dear Savior!
Yea, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this Spring;
That He Who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior!
- Dora Greenwell (1821-1888)
What God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know that at His right hand
Is One Who is my Savior!
I take Him at His word indeed;
“Christ died for sinners”—this I read;
For in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior!
That He should leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die,
You count it strange? So once did I,
Before I knew my Savior
And oh, that He fulfilled may see
The travail of His soul in me,
And with His work contented be,
As I with my dear Savior!
Yea, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this Spring;
That He Who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior!
- Dora Greenwell (1821-1888)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Worth Reading
"It certainly is my opinion that a book worth reading only in childhood is not worth reading even then." -- C. S. Lewis
Monday, July 6, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Take what I give you; be willing not to have what I do not give you.
I had been praying for something I wanted very badly. It seemed a good thing to have, a thing that would make life even more pleasant than it is, and would not in any way hinder my work. God did not give it to me. Why? I do not know all of his reasons, of course. The God who orchestrates the universe has a good many things to consider that have not occurred to me, and it is well that I leave them to Him. But one thing I do understand: He offers me holiness at the price of relinquishing my own will.
"Do you honestly want to know Me?" He asks. I answer yes. "Then do what I say," He replies. "Do it when you understand it; do it when you don't understand it. Take what I give you; be willing not to have what I do not give you. The very relinquishment of this thing that you so urgently desire is a true demonstration of the sincerity of your lifelong prayer:
Thy will be done.
So instead of hammering on heaven's door for something which it is now quite clear God does not want me to have, I make my desire an offering.
The longed-for thing is material for sacrifice. Here, Lord, it's yours.
He will, I believe, accept the offering. He will transform it into something redemptive. He may perhaps give it back as He did Isaac to Abraham, but He will know that I fully intend to obey Him.
____________________________________________________________
"The Desires of My Heart" by Elisabeth Elliot A Lamp For My Feet
"Do you honestly want to know Me?" He asks. I answer yes. "Then do what I say," He replies. "Do it when you understand it; do it when you don't understand it. Take what I give you; be willing not to have what I do not give you. The very relinquishment of this thing that you so urgently desire is a true demonstration of the sincerity of your lifelong prayer:
Thy will be done.
So instead of hammering on heaven's door for something which it is now quite clear God does not want me to have, I make my desire an offering.
The longed-for thing is material for sacrifice. Here, Lord, it's yours.
He will, I believe, accept the offering. He will transform it into something redemptive. He may perhaps give it back as He did Isaac to Abraham, but He will know that I fully intend to obey Him.
____________________________________________________________
"The Desires of My Heart" by Elisabeth Elliot A Lamp For My Feet
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
My Hopes for Today are Under the Lord Jesus
When Paul was in prison, he wrote a very beautiful letter to the Christians in Philippi, a letter full of joy, love, and tenderness. It contains many little human touches which give us glimpses of a Paul who is quite different from the popular image. Here we see not a stern and redoubtable theologian-authority figure, but a kind man with a simple and thoroughly childlike trust. His heart is warm and open to these dear friends who are so important to him as he lies in chains in his cell, his every human feeling utterly submitted to the Lord for whom he is glad to suffer. Naturally he hungers for news of them and hopes Timothy will be able to bring it. Even such a common human desire is placed matter-of-factly under the authority of his Master.
"I hope under the Lord Jesus to send Timothy."
If it is possible, if it works out, if it is God's will--even this small detail he offered to the Lord Jesus for his permission, like the psalmist who prayed, "Lord, all my desire is before Thee" (Ps 38:9 AV).
Let our hopes for today be under the Lord Jesus--screened by Him who loves us and can work them all out if they are good for us and for all concerned.
____________________________________________________________
"Hoping Under the Lord Jesus", A Lamp For My Feet by Elisabeth Elliot
"I hope under the Lord Jesus to send Timothy."
If it is possible, if it works out, if it is God's will--even this small detail he offered to the Lord Jesus for his permission, like the psalmist who prayed, "Lord, all my desire is before Thee" (Ps 38:9 AV).
Let our hopes for today be under the Lord Jesus--screened by Him who loves us and can work them all out if they are good for us and for all concerned.
____________________________________________________________
"Hoping Under the Lord Jesus", A Lamp For My Feet by Elisabeth Elliot
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
We Love Thomasville
Mama & Daddy
Uncle Alex & Aunt Darla
Omee & Grandaddy & Mama
I love Ellen's laugh!
Omee & Mama
Lillian & Ellen LOVED the pool!
*I just wish I had a picture of
Lillian & Ellen LOVED the pool!
*I just wish I had a picture of
Hannah & Lillian in their matching
shoes! :(
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Precious Silence
Susan Hill's essay, "Silence, Please"--on the need for children to have the gift of silence. Available here: http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/node/1201/full
And a nugget:
"Without an experience, preferably a regular one, of what it means to spend time in silence, we are impoverished and we communicate that impoverishment, and our slowly withering appreciation of the joys of quietness, to our children. Their nature, their very instinct, is to make a noise. The sound of a playground of primary school children or their chatter, like a flock of birds as a bevvy of them pass us by in the street, are among the most joyful in the world. Children want and need to move, to leap and jump, hop, skip and run. It is not in the nature of the child to yearn to sit still or keep silent. We must teach them how to do it and to be comfortable within and unafraid of silence, because those are human needs, as much as fruit, good meat, fish, milk, bread, love and tenderness, stories and songs. Silence nourishes an inner awareness and a deep though not uncritical contentment with self. In silence, we learn to feel happy in our own skins, we discover what our personal resources are for dealing with the problems, stresses and complexities of the world and how we can deepen and strengthen them."
And a nugget:
"Without an experience, preferably a regular one, of what it means to spend time in silence, we are impoverished and we communicate that impoverishment, and our slowly withering appreciation of the joys of quietness, to our children. Their nature, their very instinct, is to make a noise. The sound of a playground of primary school children or their chatter, like a flock of birds as a bevvy of them pass us by in the street, are among the most joyful in the world. Children want and need to move, to leap and jump, hop, skip and run. It is not in the nature of the child to yearn to sit still or keep silent. We must teach them how to do it and to be comfortable within and unafraid of silence, because those are human needs, as much as fruit, good meat, fish, milk, bread, love and tenderness, stories and songs. Silence nourishes an inner awareness and a deep though not uncritical contentment with self. In silence, we learn to feel happy in our own skins, we discover what our personal resources are for dealing with the problems, stresses and complexities of the world and how we can deepen and strengthen them."
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Feminist pioneer’s rethink: ‘a woman’s place is in the home’
http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2508616.0.feminist_pioneers_rethink_a_womans_place_is_in_the_home.php
A Chance to Die
To be transformed into the image of Christ I must learn his character, love his obedience to the will of the Father, and begin, step by step, to walk the same pathway. For Christ the pathway of obedience began with emptying Himself. I must begin at the same place.
He "made Himself nothing." (Phil 2:7 NEB)
"You must arm yourselves with a temper of mind like His." (l Pt 4:1 NEB)
"If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, he must leave self behind."
(Mt 16:24 NEB)
What does this mean? Is it mere words? How can one leave self behind, make
himself nothing? The answer will not come in a vacuum. If a man or woman
honestly wishes to be a follower, the opportunity will present itself.
Christ will say, "Here is your chance. Now, in this situation, you must
make your choice. Will it be self? Or will you choose Me?"
An older missionary said something to Amy Carmichael when she was a young missionary that stayed with her for life. She had spoken of something which was not to her liking. His reply was, "See in it a chance to die."
"A Chance to Die", by Elisabeth Elliot, A Lamp For My Feet
Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
He "made Himself nothing." (Phil 2:7 NEB)
"You must arm yourselves with a temper of mind like His." (l Pt 4:1 NEB)
"If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, he must leave self behind."
(Mt 16:24 NEB)
What does this mean? Is it mere words? How can one leave self behind, make
himself nothing? The answer will not come in a vacuum. If a man or woman
honestly wishes to be a follower, the opportunity will present itself.
Christ will say, "Here is your chance. Now, in this situation, you must
make your choice. Will it be self? Or will you choose Me?"
An older missionary said something to Amy Carmichael when she was a young missionary that stayed with her for life. She had spoken of something which was not to her liking. His reply was, "See in it a chance to die."
"A Chance to Die", by Elisabeth Elliot, A Lamp For My Feet
Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Beautiful Indian Lake
Lillian and I went down to the lake this afternoon. The Wooton Yacht is holding steady and ready for another summer. As you can see, Lillian doesn't love the swing. She signed "help" the entire time she was in it.
Why are we moving again?
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
For Katy & Seth
There are two readings for 2 Tm 1:12, "I know who it is in whom I have trusted, and am confident of his power to keep safe what he has put into my charge"(NEB) or "what I have put into his charge." Christ has all the power needed to keep anything safe. What He gives me, or what I give Him, He can take care of. I can rest in perfect assurance, having that kind of coverage.
And--come to think of it--have I anything to put into his charge that He has not first put into mine? It all comes to the same thing. "What hast thou that thou didst not receive?" (1 Cor 4:7 AV).
Paul was writing from prison, where he was powerless to help those he loved or to look after things he cared for. No matter. He knew the One who is never powerless. He was sure of his power to keep.
____________________________________________________________
Title: Power to Keep
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Book: A Lamp For My Feet
And--come to think of it--have I anything to put into his charge that He has not first put into mine? It all comes to the same thing. "What hast thou that thou didst not receive?" (1 Cor 4:7 AV).
Paul was writing from prison, where he was powerless to help those he loved or to look after things he cared for. No matter. He knew the One who is never powerless. He was sure of his power to keep.
____________________________________________________________
Title: Power to Keep
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Book: A Lamp For My Feet
Monday, May 11, 2009
Happy Mother's Day
28Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
30tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations,
"The LORD reigns!"
32Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
33Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
34Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
I Chronicles 16:28-34
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__f7iesZSCI
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
30tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations,
"The LORD reigns!"
32Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
33Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
34Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
I Chronicles 16:28-34
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__f7iesZSCI
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The christian faith is not moralism.
The Christian faith is not moralism. Yet, we can (wrongly and dangerously!) pervert the Christian faith into this, in our homes and our churches. Our lists of "do's" and "don't's" can become the sum and substance of our understanding of the Christian faith, and in this self-esteem saturated culture, this ends up redounding to the glory of the "self," not the glory of God. So, we need (all of us, Christian parents and children alike) to understand glorious theological truths --
who God is in his eternal fullness as the triune God,
who God is as Creator of all that is,
who we are as created in his image,
what sin is and has done to us,
why Christ came, who Christ is,
what he accomplished,
how we receive the benefits of his work on the cross,
what God provides for us to grow as his people,
what these communities of faith called "churches" are and what they contribute,
and what hope we have for life now and forever
-- to provide the substance for what the Christian faith is, the faith that then is to be lived out in ways that reflect the character of God and his claims on our lives.
Only when moral teachings flow out of a correct understanding of the character and purposes of God and a relationship with him by faith in Christ can we see how our lives are meant to be transformed by God's work within us, reflecting his character and redounding to his glory above all else.
Bruce Ware, "Big Truths for Young Hearts"
who God is in his eternal fullness as the triune God,
who God is as Creator of all that is,
who we are as created in his image,
what sin is and has done to us,
why Christ came, who Christ is,
what he accomplished,
how we receive the benefits of his work on the cross,
what God provides for us to grow as his people,
what these communities of faith called "churches" are and what they contribute,
and what hope we have for life now and forever
-- to provide the substance for what the Christian faith is, the faith that then is to be lived out in ways that reflect the character of God and his claims on our lives.
Only when moral teachings flow out of a correct understanding of the character and purposes of God and a relationship with him by faith in Christ can we see how our lives are meant to be transformed by God's work within us, reflecting his character and redounding to his glory above all else.
Bruce Ware, "Big Truths for Young Hearts"
Friday, April 24, 2009
Tripp
Jesus didn't give you his grace to make your kingdom work.
He gave you his grace to invite you to a better kingdom.
True,
Pure,
Perserverant,
Biblical love
is not formed out of duty. It is formed out of gratitude.
Paul Tripp
He gave you his grace to invite you to a better kingdom.
True,
Pure,
Perserverant,
Biblical love
is not formed out of duty. It is formed out of gratitude.
Paul Tripp
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Duck Robe
When Lillian was very small, Lew celebrated one of her growth milestones with a little gift. She finallly got up to 8lbs, so she got a bath robe. Today, when she got out of the tub, the outfit I wanted her to wear was in the car. Yes, in the car. I have been putting my laundry in a suitcase every time we have to show the house. So, I could outfit the family right out of my trunk! Ah, the joy of having a house on the market. While I ran out to the car to collect Lillian's attire, she enjoyed some time in the play room caring for her babies while wearing her duck robe.
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