My 5 Musts

As we all know I am a die hard reader. I think if you added up all the hours I spend with my head stuck in a book of some sort it would be pretty embarrassing. I don't even get in the car without a book, on the off chance I will end up waiting for someone or something and thinking to myself...."Man wish I had a book!" So since I love to read and have read a lot of books, here are five books I think you MUST read before you die!


Five books I think you should read all the way through before you die are................

We all probably know what my first recommendation will be. Yeah, I am also a die hard Bible Fan! So many people complain about inconsistencies in the bible or the total inaccuracies without ever having read it. They say it is totally unbelievable and totally irrelevant to their lives, when they have never cracked it open, much less read the entire thing! So I say, if you think you cannot complain about the president if you didn't vote, then you cannot complain about the Bible if you have never even read it! And I bet you heard that argument from someone else who never has read it either!

The second book I think every one should read is by Francine Rivers. All of her work is fabulous, but these five novellas especially are amazing. They are about women and so women will definitely identify well with these novellas, but they are also very applicable to men and I think everyone should read them once. It makes the bible come to life almost a nearly as a bible class can. You can almost smell the world of the Old Testament in these short books. All are wonderful and all are unique in that they reveal the human condition is the same over thousands of generations! You must read these!

My third book is a memoir of the wife of Richard Baxter, Margaret. I ordered this book online from a paperback sharing organization, based solely on the fact that it was Baxter and also Packer wrote the introduction. I never imagined to find such a jewel in this little and very poignant book. I have never seen the puritans as more human (I mean the English puritans since the American puritans make it hard to see than in any way but human!) here we find the struggle with the flesh and the Love of a man for his wife who even in her struggles still sought after Christ! And Hoe Baxter Loved her! Loved her so much this was his act of grief. To record their love story, but more than that their path through life alongside one another. Man this is loving one
another as Christ calls us to. LOVED this book!

My fourth recommendation is a book that I read in college and while I enjoyed it, I don't think I really understood it then. Now about 8 years later I have begun to revisit it and have found such a gem of christian life and truth that I don't know why I wasn't more astounded that this man was able to pen this book. I cannot figure whether he was able to understand these truths because of the era or simply because God gifted him at the right place at the right time. It is just amazing his understanding of the cost the gospel carries and the huge responsibility we have, if we are truly disciples, to follow Him totally! If you are a christian or even if you think you are a christian, you must read this!

My last recommendation is a classic of Christianity. The confessions of St. Augustine and while I don't agree with all the things that he says, obviously. Overall this man is still being printed for a reason! I mean seriously, he understood his own heart so transparently it's amazing! He wasn't afraid to reveal himself as a base and unrighteous person. He also wasn't afraid to trust the Lord in all things and at all times. Here is a book that must be read by anyone. Augustine wasn't playing at church. He wasn't pretending to follow after Christ for some unknown reason. He understood he had been ransomed from a very sinful life and therefore he dedicated his life to the service of Christ. Read it, Seriously!




There are several other books I want to recommend for everyone to read. I haven't read all that much, there is still so much left for me to read. I hope though that you join me in reading these gifted authors as they impart their wisdom to us. Obviously the bible is inspired of God, but the others have used their creative minds to His glory and I know if you read these books you cannot help but understand the glories of Calvary better and our God in a deeper manner than ever before!

Saved?

I am certain after reading this above one word question you are already mulling over whether or not you are or are not saved. And I am equally certain you think you have a good understanding of what that means. But do you really know what you are saved from?

R.C. Sproul wrote this fabulous little book "Saved from What?" (Buy it here) which very simply answers this basic and yet not so basic question. I thought his answer was very clear and what most people wouldn't think. What do you say you are saved from? Sin? Hell? Damnation? Yourself? What are you saved from? Sproul says it is very clear, you are Saved from God.

Ummm, Larissa, are you sure about that? Heck, Yeah!! Why else would God have sent His only Son to suffer and die? Because HE KNEW that you and me were hopeless against Him apart from His own intervention! Does this change your view of being "saved"?

Have you always thought that, sweet gentle God just liked little Larissa so much, because "Awe, bless her cotton pickin' heart..." isn't she just the sweetest thing?! Did you really think that?! No. God is holy. And when I say Holy I mean you in his presence means destruction 100 times out of 100. You aren't a good person, you aren't lovable, you aren't sweet, you are a vessel of wrath!

But God loved us in a holy way, knowing that even though it would cost Him significantly, we would never be able to enter into His presence without the blood of Christ, because 100 times out of 100 our badness would have to be destroyed! God Himself would pour out His wrath on us, unless He Himself made a way for our pathetic selves! This kinda changes things doesn't it?!

You are saved......wait for it......from God! You are saved from having God's wrath poured out on your sweet and fabulous head, for eternity. Is this what happened at your conversion? Did you understand that you were so damaged that God would never allow you into His presence without the full brunt of His wrath? Did you understand that He knew the implications of our plight? This is no "Bad, Larissa, you sinned Larissa, let's just have a koom-bye-ya hug and don't you do it again, sweetie!" This is us drinking down the cup of wrath intended for all those who rebel against the Lord. God is love. He loved us so much He made a way for us not to experience that wrath, not because we were so sweet and cuddly, but because HE IS SO HOLY!

So if God save us from Himself. Does that mean we can just go ahead willy nilly ignoring his words and saying this sin is acceptable, "Larissa she is just a passionate Girl and her emotions get the better of her, Bless her heart!" Should we allow sin to abound that grace many abound? MAY IT NEVER BE! Do you understand that a HOLY God intervened in a GRAND way to redeem disgusting rabble like us? Or did you miss the whole point of being saved? Did you think it was praying a prayer, or accepting a gift? Did you think it was just admitting in an offhanded way "I sin all the time..."? Or did you think you had so badly transgressed the Law of God that you are incapable of ever being in His presence, save the blood of Christ?

Don't be deceived, friend, you have been saved (if indeed you have been redeemed) from the wrath of God, by the Loving Kindness of God, through the Grace of God, by the Providence of God. Read Sproul's book and also the Bible.

Cheap Grace Or Costly Grace?

Cheap grace means the justification of sin without the justification of the sinner. Grace alone does everything, they say, and so everything can remain as it was before. 'All for sin could not atone.' The world goes on in the same old way, and we are still sinners 'even in the best life' as Luther said. Well, then, let the Christian live like the rest of the world, let him model himself on the world's standards in every sphere of life, and not presumptuously aspire to live a different life under grace from his old life under sin. That was the heresy of the enthusiasts, the Anabaptists and their kind. Let the Christian beware of rebelling against the tree and boundless grace of God and desecrating it. Let him not attempt to erect a new religion of the letter by endeavoring to live a life of obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ! The world has been justified by grace. The Christian knows that, and takes it seriously. He knows he must not strive against indispensable grace. Therefore—let him live like the rest of the world! Of course he would like to go and do something extraordinary, and it does demand a good deal of self-restraint to refrain from the attempt and content himself with living as the world lives. Yet it is imperative for the Christian to achieve renunciation, to practice self-effacement, to distinguish his life from the life of the world. He must let grace be grace indeed, otherwise he will destroy the world's faith in the free gift of grace. Let the Christian rest content with his worldliness and with this renunciation of any higher standard than the world. He is doing it for the sake of the world rather than for the sake of grace. Let him be comforted and rest assured in his possession of this grace—for grace alone does everything. Instead of following Christ, let the Christian enjoy the consolations of his grace! That is what we mean by cheap grace, the grace which amounts to the justification of sin without the justification of the repentant sinner who departs from sin and from whom sin departs. Cheap grace is not the kind of forgiveness of sin which frees us from the toils of sin. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves.

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'ye were bought at a price', and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us.

Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.Costly grace is the sanctuary of God; it has to be protected from the world, and not thrown to the dogs. It is therefore the living word, the Word of God, which he speaks as it pleases him. Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: 'My yoke is easy and my burden is light' ...

...This grace was certainly not self-bestowed. It was the grace of Christ himself, now prevailing upon the disciple to leave all and follow him, now working in him that confession which to the world must sound like the ultimate blasphemy, now inviting Peter to the supreme fellowship of martyrdom for the Lord he had denied, and thereby forgiving him all his sins. In the life of Peter grace and discipleship are inseparable. He had received the grace which costs.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer Cost of Discipleship

I praise God for this man! Oh, how his conviction and astuteness has been a balm to my heart! What an encouragement he is in following wholeheartedly the Gospel of Grace, not of cheap grace, but grace which cost my Savior's life. I pray that the Lord would raise up more men and women like Bonhoeffer, for this generation. People willing to say "no matter what it costs me, no matter how people reject and malign me, no matter how unpopular I am, I must stand on the Cross! I must remember the truth! I must herald the Gospel in all it's costliness! For it cost my Savior HIS LIFE and now it will cost MY LIFE!" I pray I too will be such a one as he was, following Christ's word in total unadulterated obediance! Oh, to follow Christ, to believe His words, therein is life! And cheap grace....no that's not for me!!

Unfathomable Oceans of Grace

Robert Murray McCheyne

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!" Hebrews 12:2

For every look at self--take ten looks at Christ! Live near to Jesus--and all things will appear little to you in comparison with eternal realities.How many millions of dazzling pearls and gems are at this moment hidden in the deep recesses of the ocean caves. Likewise, unfathomable oceans of grace are in Christ for you. Dive and dive again--you will never come to the bottom of these depths!When you gaze upon the sun--it makes everything else dark; when you taste honey--it makes everything else tasteless. Likewise, when your soul feeds on Jesus--it takes away the sweetness of all earthly things; praise, pleasure, fleshly lusts, all lose their sweetness. Keep a continued gaze! Run, looking unto Jesus. So will the world be crucified to you--and you unto the world!


It has been a hard week to say the least. I have truly been driven to cleve more to my Savior, this was a providential reminder to me today of where my heart should be. Often my focus is so earthly and my willingness to bend non-existent. Truly I must look toward Him and His glory so often that it drowns out even the momentary thought that another thing can satisfy as only He can and does.One thing our former pastor said once that pierced my heart-- "How come, within the storm, we are always so quick to doubt and loose faith? Did God's promises change?"

Just some food for thought.

Do Not Fear?

Lately I have been thinking on the issue of fear. And one of the most glaring facts I have discovered from scripture is that fear almost always denotes worship, either you worship and trust God or you don't. When you fear the Lord you follow His ways. When you fear anything else, those are the ways you go. It is clear that when you fear anything other than the Lord you are not following or trusting in Him alone.

Scrumptious!

Scrumptious!

Who Am I?

"Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
And before myself a contemptably woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army.
Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am Thine!"

--Dietrich Bonhoeffer**

**Part of a Poem entitled "Who Am I?" Written while he was imprisoned in Tegal. Taken from Bonhoeffer By Eric Metaxes.

Spring Update

Drinking: Well I hope everyone already knows I LOVE Sonic and their soda's!!
Recovering: Maybe the reality is we never really will recover...this condition is permanent? :D
Reading: Well....sometimes I am reading Mortification of sin....but not very often lately....I haven't read much lately--I am a slacker I know.
Studying: Romans and it's rockin' my world again....as always!
Linking: http://www.sistercircles.com/ If you haven't read these books by Nancy Moser and Vonette Bright and you are a woman and a believer....YOU MUST READ THEM!!! All I can say is why didn't they write it sooner!
Watching: Were the Wild Things are---HORRIBLE DON'T RENT IT!!! And everything is illuminated, it was surprisingly good, heavy but powerful. Amazing what happens to your psyche when you don't stand up for what you believe and without Christ the lengths you will go in the end.
Listening: My son, Silas (yeah I will rat him out!) whining about not eating the rest of his dinner, needless to say he's been eating it for a LONG time. A really LONG time!


And here are some pictures from this spring....

Kace Picked all the tulips in the front of the house. It was sweet!

Date night really was just the yearly senior dinner. Silas is our great photographer!

This is what happens to a girl when she sleeps with her hair in a pony tail and then you take it our after the morning! :D

My ham! He sure doesn't look very much like the other kiddos, but he sure is cute!

Gresham and Kace after opening Gresham's birthday box from Pop Pop, Chickie and Nannie.

Using every blanket in their room and the living room they made a fort. They loved it!

And last but not least--Gresham's homemade chocolate Birthday cake, which he loved I might add!

Unfortunately there aren't any pictures of Silas, I know. He is usually busy at school while all the fun goes down at the house and we are busy taking pictures, but he is the photographer on a few of these so be impressed by his talent even if his face is absent! :)

Happy Resurrection Day!

Happy Resurrection day to you and yours from our family! I hope you are remembering the riches of his grace we inherited in Christ because of the action of Christ! I hope you rejoice in the love of Christ which led him to die that we too might share in His death, not that we would die, but that we would LIVE to Him! I hope you are trusting in the gospel today and everyday!

Many Blessings,
The Crazy Doug Fam!

In the Name of Peace

The truth is too important to kill it in the streets for the sake of peace. --RC Sproul


How many times have we refused to confess the truth as it is and chosen instead to be in a state of "peace" with others? Have you ever argued not to do what was rooted in the truth in favor of just not offending anyone?

Guess what? That's one of the main characteristics of our postmodern secular culture! Our culture tells us everyday in thousands of ways that no one has the right to infringe on anothers' "opinion". Our culture tells us to believe in anything but allow others also to believe in anything. Is this what you do?

You may say; "No way, Larissa, I NEVER do that!" But don't you? When you choose to bow down to anothers' opinion instead of being obedient to the words of Christ spoken of in scripture, you do do this!!!

You know Christ himself makes no leaway for this "opinion" respecting attitude we are so proud of in our nation. He says those who love Him do as He commands, no questions asked, no arguments, no addendums. He says, we do! But do you?

Nope. You say, "Oh, geese, she might get mad at me!" or "Well, I would answer and tell you the truth, but I might offend you." Wow! Have we really strayed this far from the bible and still we claim to be followers of God?

We have dragged truth into the street to murder her in a flagrant disregard of Christ, but, by golly, we didn't offend anyone! Oh, but did you offend God? Um, maybe that should be your focus if in fact you have been saved by His mercy!

Jesus, I my cross have taken....

Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition, all I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition! God and heaven are still mine own.
Let the world despise and leave me, they have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like them, untrue.
And while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me, show Thy face and all is bright.
Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn and pain!
In Thy service, pain is pleasure; with Thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called Thee, “Abba, Father”; I have set my heart on Thee:
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, all must work for good to me.
Man may trouble and distress me, 'twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me; heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, 'tis not in grief to harm me while Thy love is left to me;
Oh, 'twere not in joy to charm me, were that joy unmixed with Thee.
Take, my soul, thy full salvation; rise o'er sin, and fear, and care;
Joy to find in every station something still to do or bear:
Think what Spirit dwells within thee; what a Father's smile is thine;
What a Savior died to win thee, child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?
Haste then on from grace to glory, armed by faith, and winged by prayer,
Heaven's eternal day's before thee, God's own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, swift shall pass thy pilgrim days;
Hope soon change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Henry francis Lyte

Indelible Grace