I was looking on The Gospel Coalition Website last night (click here to visit that awesome organization!) and found the link again to Pure Church blog. I have visited his site some, but not often. I was there last night because Anyabwile is a member of the gospel coalition and a very godly pastor and gospel centered believer! I found this amazing video that you must watch! It was such an encouragement to have a real home in the midst of ministry. Now I know some of you are saying, well my husband isn't a pastor, professor, missionary, minister (fill in the blank) or I'm not any of the above....But hear me. You are a parent or grandparent or you are influencing the lives of people around you and this video, although a more biographical clip of a theologian Will absolutely loves to read and greatly admires, can encourage your heart toward the gospel, encourage you to study your bible more deeply and love your family more Christ-like and be more aware of the need to look through the cross at all those we meet. I hope you watch this video and profit. I so much admire the heart for the gospel that is in these men. I hope if nothing else you are encouraged to be more focused on the essential doctrine of the Gospel, for without that what have we????
And a HUGE HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNTIE JENN!! We love you very much!
December 29, 2008
December 28, 2008
Grant, O Lord....
Grant, O Lord my God that I might never fall away in sucess or in failure; that I may not be prideful in prosperity nor dejected in adversity. Let me rejoice only in what unites us and sorrow only in what separates us. May I strive to please no one or fear to displease anyone except Yourself. May I seek always the things that are eternal and never those that are only temporal. May I shun any joy that is without you and never seek any that is beside you. O Lord, may I delight in any work I do in you and tire from any rest that is apart from you. My God, Let me direct my heart toward you, and in my failings, always repent with a purpose of ammendment.
--St. Thomas Aquinas (Taken from Keep a Quiet Heart by Elizabeth Elliot)
--St. Thomas Aquinas (Taken from Keep a Quiet Heart by Elizabeth Elliot)
December 25, 2008
A Christmas feast on Christmas-day
"My soul follows hard after You, Your right hand upholds me."
To E. M., December 23, 1855.
Dearest Friend,
Is your heart with my heart this morning? If so, you will join me in following hard after Him who is our glory and joy, and who is the substance of every type. In finding Him, we do indeed inherit substance, whatever be the changes in our frames and feelings. My soul is longing after Him as my Christmas portion and my Christmas cheer; for the Lamb's flesh is heavenly food, and to be feeding upon Him by faith is a foretaste of heaven, where the Lamb Himself shall feed us and lead us to living fountains of water, and God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes!
Now, therefore, in the wilderness let us be seeking HIM, not seeking merely pleasant sensations of His manifested love and presence—but Himself, for they who so seek shall not be ashamed....
Christmas-day—I now must finish this in His name which is above every name, and which is truly at this time as ointment poured forth in my soul. I seem to be drinking living water from the well of Bethlehem, and would pour it out again unto the Lord by sending it to some of my loved ones for whom I intensely long--that they may have a Christmas blessing, being filled with the Holy Spirit.
I am all alone in the house, and have had a royal feast in the blessed company of the King, who drew near so lovingly that my soul melted, my tears flowed, and with a glad heart, though unmusical voice, I heartily sang--"Crown Him Lord of all!" I think much of that celestial concert in which a multitude of the heavenly host sing His worthy praise.
I once scarcely thought to have been here another Christmas—but He who wills it is making it all up me, for surely this is the land of Beulah. He has brought me into His banqueting-house, and His banner over me is love. Love brought Him from the bosom of the Father. Love made Him take our nature into His own, and thus come under the law as our Husband ... acknowledging Himself a debtor to do it all, not for Himself but for us. We are dead to the law by the doings of Christ--as He fulfilled its every jot and tittle, and endured all its penalty. Since, therefore, we are now married to Him, whatever the law has to say about us must be said to Him. He has "redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." It was for this He took the prepared body; it was for the suffering of death He was made a little while lower than the angels. His "goings forth" towards this were from everlasting--and since time began, promise and prophecy, type and shadow, symbol and ceremony--have all been full of Him.
There is a veil over all these holy things which none but the Spirit can remove—but when He does so, the soul in which Jesus has been revealed, leaps for joy, as David did before the Ark.
In His birth, too, there was a covering of lowliness, so that none but the Spirit-taught mind could discern the Savior-King or know the Lord of glory. But oh! the amazing privilege of those to whom this blessed Spirit has been as the star in the East--so that from the very ends of the earth they are brought, saying, "We have come to worship Him." That privilege is ours. We have felt the need of Him, have seen His suitability, and are brought to partake of the saving benefit. What can we render? We can only sink deeper in the debt of love by joyfully receiving more, as I, a most unworthy worm, do this happy Christmas-day.
The mystery of iniquity is great—but the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh, is greater, and swallows the other up in the ocean of redeeming blood, so that when the iniquity of Jacob is sought for it shall not be found, and of Israel there shall be none. O precious Babe of Bethlehem, how wondrous was Your errand to this land of curse. Though so little and lowly, You traveled down to earth in the greatness of Your strength mighty to save. Sweetly has my heart been feeling of You, "This same shall comfort us." (Gen. 5:29.)
Fare-well! With much warm love, your ever affectionate,
Ruth (Bryan)
www.gracegems.org
To E. M., December 23, 1855.
Dearest Friend,
Is your heart with my heart this morning? If so, you will join me in following hard after Him who is our glory and joy, and who is the substance of every type. In finding Him, we do indeed inherit substance, whatever be the changes in our frames and feelings. My soul is longing after Him as my Christmas portion and my Christmas cheer; for the Lamb's flesh is heavenly food, and to be feeding upon Him by faith is a foretaste of heaven, where the Lamb Himself shall feed us and lead us to living fountains of water, and God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes!
Now, therefore, in the wilderness let us be seeking HIM, not seeking merely pleasant sensations of His manifested love and presence—but Himself, for they who so seek shall not be ashamed....
Christmas-day—I now must finish this in His name which is above every name, and which is truly at this time as ointment poured forth in my soul. I seem to be drinking living water from the well of Bethlehem, and would pour it out again unto the Lord by sending it to some of my loved ones for whom I intensely long--that they may have a Christmas blessing, being filled with the Holy Spirit.
I am all alone in the house, and have had a royal feast in the blessed company of the King, who drew near so lovingly that my soul melted, my tears flowed, and with a glad heart, though unmusical voice, I heartily sang--"Crown Him Lord of all!" I think much of that celestial concert in which a multitude of the heavenly host sing His worthy praise.
I once scarcely thought to have been here another Christmas—but He who wills it is making it all up me, for surely this is the land of Beulah. He has brought me into His banqueting-house, and His banner over me is love. Love brought Him from the bosom of the Father. Love made Him take our nature into His own, and thus come under the law as our Husband ... acknowledging Himself a debtor to do it all, not for Himself but for us. We are dead to the law by the doings of Christ--as He fulfilled its every jot and tittle, and endured all its penalty. Since, therefore, we are now married to Him, whatever the law has to say about us must be said to Him. He has "redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." It was for this He took the prepared body; it was for the suffering of death He was made a little while lower than the angels. His "goings forth" towards this were from everlasting--and since time began, promise and prophecy, type and shadow, symbol and ceremony--have all been full of Him.
There is a veil over all these holy things which none but the Spirit can remove—but when He does so, the soul in which Jesus has been revealed, leaps for joy, as David did before the Ark.
In His birth, too, there was a covering of lowliness, so that none but the Spirit-taught mind could discern the Savior-King or know the Lord of glory. But oh! the amazing privilege of those to whom this blessed Spirit has been as the star in the East--so that from the very ends of the earth they are brought, saying, "We have come to worship Him." That privilege is ours. We have felt the need of Him, have seen His suitability, and are brought to partake of the saving benefit. What can we render? We can only sink deeper in the debt of love by joyfully receiving more, as I, a most unworthy worm, do this happy Christmas-day.
The mystery of iniquity is great—but the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh, is greater, and swallows the other up in the ocean of redeeming blood, so that when the iniquity of Jacob is sought for it shall not be found, and of Israel there shall be none. O precious Babe of Bethlehem, how wondrous was Your errand to this land of curse. Though so little and lowly, You traveled down to earth in the greatness of Your strength mighty to save. Sweetly has my heart been feeling of You, "This same shall comfort us." (Gen. 5:29.)
Fare-well! With much warm love, your ever affectionate,
Ruth (Bryan)
www.gracegems.org
December 24, 2008
O holy night!
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
Merry Christmas to all of you! We pray that you have a day full of fun and rejoicing in the truth of His gracious gift! Christ is the center...truly!
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
Merry Christmas to all of you! We pray that you have a day full of fun and rejoicing in the truth of His gracious gift! Christ is the center...truly!
December 22, 2008
December 21, 2008
Christmas Messages of the Past
I have been thinking alot this Christmas season of what is encouraging to me to be more Christ focused, because we wouldn't have this holiday if it were not for Christ. Funny how we as a culture often overlook that fact! But I digress....What encourages me to ponder the things of eternity? And I thought--good preaching! So here is a great sermon from Spurgeon (of course it is good!) about Christ as given to us. One thing that has struck me more this year then ever is the amazing and redeeming gift that Christ was to us. So here is the link to the sermon, read it and profit!
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful Sunday before Christmas with your Church families!
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful Sunday before Christmas with your Church families!
December 18, 2008
The Gift At Christmas
My grandma sent me this in my email. You might think it is a bit goofy but I thought it was sweet and very true. Christ was the first gift of Christmas, given by a holy God for us wicked sinners for our redemption from our baseness! What a message of goodness and grace to send us this precious most special gift at such a time as we are in need, as we always are whether we admit it or not. I hope you enjoy this time of year as much as we do, because of the one who first brought us His grace in the Life, Death and Ressurection of His Son, our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. If you do not know and are not known by our God this season I hope you will click the two ways to live button to the right or email me or Will!
here's the link!
Your speakers must be on to hear it!
here's the link!
Your speakers must be on to hear it!
December 16, 2008
THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
My husband and I had been happily married (most of the time)for five years but hadn't been blessed with a baby.
I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with His word as my guide.
God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son.
The next year God blessed us with another son.
The following year, He blessed us with yet another son.
The year after that we were blessed with a daughter.
My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children,
and the oldest was only four years old.
I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it, As a minister once told me, "If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."
I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs.
I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint Him.
I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks.
I tried to be understanding... when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs.
When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see
how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess.
In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal
and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children.
While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother - I didn't even come close...I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God.
I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going
to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to "wash up" Jesus, too.
Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."
My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant.
My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine.
My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, "We found the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes."
But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes."
My four-year-old "Mary" said, "That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."
A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing.
I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing
Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, "Mama-mama."
Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived.
My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, "We are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur."
The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation.
"I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one," laughed the pastor,
wiping tears from his eyes
"For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of
gold, common sense and fur."
"My children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing," I said as I dug
through my purse for an aspirin.
Okay so a couple at our church sent this to William and he graciously shared it with me. So just in case you were wondering........that is my family! Or at least it will be in a few years! I just pray that none of them think it will be funny to squirt ketchup on themselves and then have their sister chase them through the house with only a babysitter on duty acting like they had committed the unthinkable--oh yeah I did that, so can't you just imagine whats in store for me??
Oh and for all those who are "Wondering" how I actually survive? I don't! God is simply a miracle worker!! Hope that helps!
I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with His word as my guide.
God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son.
The next year God blessed us with another son.
The following year, He blessed us with yet another son.
The year after that we were blessed with a daughter.
My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children,
and the oldest was only four years old.
I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it, As a minister once told me, "If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."
I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs.
I was off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint Him.
I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby chicks.
I tried to be understanding... when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs.
When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see
how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess.
In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal
and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children.
While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother - I didn't even come close...I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God.
I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going
to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to "wash up" Jesus, too.
Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."
My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant.
My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine.
My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, "We found the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes."
But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes."
My four-year-old "Mary" said, "That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."
A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing.
I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing
Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, "Mama-mama."
Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived.
My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, "We are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur."
The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation.
"I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one," laughed the pastor,
wiping tears from his eyes
"For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of
gold, common sense and fur."
"My children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing," I said as I dug
through my purse for an aspirin.
Okay so a couple at our church sent this to William and he graciously shared it with me. So just in case you were wondering........that is my family! Or at least it will be in a few years! I just pray that none of them think it will be funny to squirt ketchup on themselves and then have their sister chase them through the house with only a babysitter on duty acting like they had committed the unthinkable--oh yeah I did that, so can't you just imagine whats in store for me??
Oh and for all those who are "Wondering" how I actually survive? I don't! God is simply a miracle worker!! Hope that helps!
December 14, 2008
Kindly Working
"The more purely God's word is preached, the more deeply it pierces and the more kindly it works." -- WILLIAM GOUGE
Just thinking how gentle, merciful, and good our God is this evening!
Many Blessings! I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday celebrating His wonders of Salvation!
Just thinking how gentle, merciful, and good our God is this evening!
Many Blessings! I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday celebrating His wonders of Salvation!
December 12, 2008
My Top Ten
At this time of Christmas celebrations and many other activities pertaining to the birth of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, I began to think about my top ten things that encourage me to see more of Christ and less of self. I suppose they are my top ten Christ-isms. So here they are in no particular order.
1) Worship music--I am sure that many of you feel the same way, but I am not speaking of experience I am speaking of a true listening to the words that others are singing or that you are singing yourself. That makes me reminded more of the cross and more able and willing to view Christ the way He truly is.
2) Fellowship--Spending time with other believers always encourages me more toward Christ. Can you spend time with other believers and never speak the name of Christ or mention His working or moving in your life? Can you help but show your humanity in laughter, frustration, weeping, or serenity? I cannot. And it is always encouraging to my heart to be among Gods people, not many other things incline my heart more to my God then His people.
3) His Word--I am sure you are thinking okay, yeah yeah, Of course that is the pat answer. But honestly Lately, with His great humbling of me in my own eyes and my convictions growing about avoiding comparisons amongst others, I have truly seen many areas of scripture in a different way then ever before. For example-- I always thought that Solomon was more blessed then David because he was able to see God twice (even though in dreams). I always thought, "Oh Poor David! His sin was so great that He never got to see the Lord," But suddenly I thought in my heart and head--You know what? David didn't NEED to see the Lord. David Believed in God and had GREAT faith. No wonder God held him in such special regard- God never had to appear to David, because his heart was so tender toward the Lord. AMAZING! God didn't appear to David because he was more wicked, but because it wasn't necessary- not because of anything David did, because God was measuring our bountiful grace to David in many areas--Man David was a man after God's own heart and was a great man amongst God's people, I want to be like that! I hope that the reasons I mention His word makes more sense because He is more real and palatable to me then ever before within His word.
(now as an aside I may have missed God's appearing to David at some point, but as far as I remember from my reading of 1&2 Sam and 1&2 Chronicles and 1&2 Kings, God nor the angle of the Lord appears to David--correct me if I am wrong).
4) Reading--For those of you who don't read I am sorry I am mentioning this I do not do so to make you feel like you aren't doing something right, but I am very much aware how God changes my heart and ideas about Himself by reading things written by His people. So many books have changed and moulded my thinking about God in a way I never could have imagined. I highly recommend reading so many godly authors that are out there, from our current era and many past ones.
5) Preaching--I haven't been able to hear my husband's preaching a lot lately (my boys are kind of distracting to me at times so my intake is choppy.) but it always encourages me to see the Lord more clearly when hearing and feeling the conviction of the word. Also a lot of online sermons and messages are great and are a help.
6) Teaching--I have been visiting the various classes at our church of late and have just been so blessed by the teaching that goes on every Sunday in Sunday schools. I am so encouraged to think more on Christ and His cross through our Sunday school teachers and the material and reminded of the ways that He is moving and working in my heart and life. Teaching is so beneficial!
7) Service--Okay, so over the last year I have truly been able to glimpse the great outpouring of grace that marks not simply our God, but His people. While sick with Petra I was the beneficiary of great (although they may have seemed small to those doing them) acts of service, the Ladies of Midwestern Baptist Seminary are a wonder and have taught Will and I more about Christian community then any seminary class ever could. And have revealed the deep, deep love of Christ so clearly. Then when we moved to our new home and this Church revealed the same servants heart and willingness to serve. I once again saw the deep, deep love of Christ- and not just for us but for many others in the church. So please if someone asks to serve you, allow it watch and see that Your Lord is GOOD!
8) Serving--This may seem strange but it blesses my heart to be able to serve others. Now I know that often we don't allow people to do for us, it is simply against our nature of sin to do so, but every time someone allows me to serve them I am so blessed. I cannot explain it. I love seeing what happens when the Lord uses me.
9) Grace--Okay so maybe this one is first, but recognizing that the Lord is the one working and moving and changing and moulding and that I can do nothing. I have nothing to offer, it is so amazing! This has to be my most favorite! Just being able to embrace His work on the cross and know that it isn't different any day of my entire life! And it will be the same for eternity. Just wondrous!!! How can I explain it?
10) Liberty--Freedom in Christ is such a sweet blessing to my heart that drives me to the cross of Christ. Knowing that my personal holiness isn't an offering to God. I experience so much thankfulness and appreciation to Him who saves, sanctifies and glorifies. I cannot explain without several pages what freedom means to my heart, life, and mind. So much sweetness is contained here in. To know that I can have freedom in certain decisions and not fear. To know His sovereignty is incomprehensible. Just to recognize that it is for freedom He has set us free! Just listen to the great words of Galatians and marvel. Your works are nothing, His are everything.
1) Worship music--I am sure that many of you feel the same way, but I am not speaking of experience I am speaking of a true listening to the words that others are singing or that you are singing yourself. That makes me reminded more of the cross and more able and willing to view Christ the way He truly is.
2) Fellowship--Spending time with other believers always encourages me more toward Christ. Can you spend time with other believers and never speak the name of Christ or mention His working or moving in your life? Can you help but show your humanity in laughter, frustration, weeping, or serenity? I cannot. And it is always encouraging to my heart to be among Gods people, not many other things incline my heart more to my God then His people.
3) His Word--I am sure you are thinking okay, yeah yeah, Of course that is the pat answer. But honestly Lately, with His great humbling of me in my own eyes and my convictions growing about avoiding comparisons amongst others, I have truly seen many areas of scripture in a different way then ever before. For example-- I always thought that Solomon was more blessed then David because he was able to see God twice (even though in dreams). I always thought, "Oh Poor David! His sin was so great that He never got to see the Lord," But suddenly I thought in my heart and head--You know what? David didn't NEED to see the Lord. David Believed in God and had GREAT faith. No wonder God held him in such special regard- God never had to appear to David, because his heart was so tender toward the Lord. AMAZING! God didn't appear to David because he was more wicked, but because it wasn't necessary- not because of anything David did, because God was measuring our bountiful grace to David in many areas--Man David was a man after God's own heart and was a great man amongst God's people, I want to be like that! I hope that the reasons I mention His word makes more sense because He is more real and palatable to me then ever before within His word.
(now as an aside I may have missed God's appearing to David at some point, but as far as I remember from my reading of 1&2 Sam and 1&2 Chronicles and 1&2 Kings, God nor the angle of the Lord appears to David--correct me if I am wrong).
4) Reading--For those of you who don't read I am sorry I am mentioning this I do not do so to make you feel like you aren't doing something right, but I am very much aware how God changes my heart and ideas about Himself by reading things written by His people. So many books have changed and moulded my thinking about God in a way I never could have imagined. I highly recommend reading so many godly authors that are out there, from our current era and many past ones.
5) Preaching--I haven't been able to hear my husband's preaching a lot lately (my boys are kind of distracting to me at times so my intake is choppy.) but it always encourages me to see the Lord more clearly when hearing and feeling the conviction of the word. Also a lot of online sermons and messages are great and are a help.
6) Teaching--I have been visiting the various classes at our church of late and have just been so blessed by the teaching that goes on every Sunday in Sunday schools. I am so encouraged to think more on Christ and His cross through our Sunday school teachers and the material and reminded of the ways that He is moving and working in my heart and life. Teaching is so beneficial!
7) Service--Okay, so over the last year I have truly been able to glimpse the great outpouring of grace that marks not simply our God, but His people. While sick with Petra I was the beneficiary of great (although they may have seemed small to those doing them) acts of service, the Ladies of Midwestern Baptist Seminary are a wonder and have taught Will and I more about Christian community then any seminary class ever could. And have revealed the deep, deep love of Christ so clearly. Then when we moved to our new home and this Church revealed the same servants heart and willingness to serve. I once again saw the deep, deep love of Christ- and not just for us but for many others in the church. So please if someone asks to serve you, allow it watch and see that Your Lord is GOOD!
8) Serving--This may seem strange but it blesses my heart to be able to serve others. Now I know that often we don't allow people to do for us, it is simply against our nature of sin to do so, but every time someone allows me to serve them I am so blessed. I cannot explain it. I love seeing what happens when the Lord uses me.
9) Grace--Okay so maybe this one is first, but recognizing that the Lord is the one working and moving and changing and moulding and that I can do nothing. I have nothing to offer, it is so amazing! This has to be my most favorite! Just being able to embrace His work on the cross and know that it isn't different any day of my entire life! And it will be the same for eternity. Just wondrous!!! How can I explain it?
10) Liberty--Freedom in Christ is such a sweet blessing to my heart that drives me to the cross of Christ. Knowing that my personal holiness isn't an offering to God. I experience so much thankfulness and appreciation to Him who saves, sanctifies and glorifies. I cannot explain without several pages what freedom means to my heart, life, and mind. So much sweetness is contained here in. To know that I can have freedom in certain decisions and not fear. To know His sovereignty is incomprehensible. Just to recognize that it is for freedom He has set us free! Just listen to the great words of Galatians and marvel. Your works are nothing, His are everything.
December 10, 2008
Update
Drinking: Diet RC Cola Baby!
Reading: The lineage of Grace Series by Francine Rivers--Church Libraries are amazing!!!
Studying: Several OT Passages- thinking about reading through the New Testament again or the Old. Maybe Genesis or Joshua. Kinda in a transitional place in my personal study time.
Linking: www.shakeys.com okay so I am having a craving!
Watching: Nothing in particular--but we did reant Wall-E and it was really cute! Funny and sentimental, but cute!
Listening: To my boys talking to the toys they are playing with. Do cars really need discipline?? My thought is "no...not really..."
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