Hope in the Worst of Times

The sermon this weekend was on Ben's life verses, and it was excellent.

A Note from Ben

From a note my husband left me:

Spurgeon says today "He giveth grace unto the humble." James 4:6. "Humble hearts lie in the valleys where streams of grace are flowing, and hence they drink of them." Let us strive to "be humble that we may not need to be humbled, but may be exalted by the grace of God."

A good word.

Other Peoples' Answered Prayer

God is always showing us kindness. But this answered prayer (not my own) is a huge reminder.

http://mollypiper.com/2010/03/we-had-an-ultrasound-today-wanna-know-more-2/

Called to Work

“It is an error to think that those who flee worldly affairs and engage in contemplation are leading an angelic life… We know that men were created to busy themselves with labor and that no sacrifice is more pleasing to God than when each one attends to his calling and studies well to live for the common good.” John Calvin

HT: Matt Perman

Spring Break

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow (James 1:17).

Ben and I just got home from a "spring break" vacation with my family. We had such a grand time, just being together. I love my family, and they are one huge way the Lord has saturated my life with grace.


My gracious and generous parents. I am who I am in large measure due to their influence.




My cup runneth over...

In God Whose Word I Praise

Three times in Psalm 56, David says, in God “whose word I praise” (verse 4, twice in verse 10).

Why should we praise God for His word?

His Word is solid food for the mature (Hebrews 5:12, 14)
His Word is the tool of a workman of God (2 Timothy 2:15)
His Word is inspired by God and equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
His Word penetrates to the deepest heart (Hebrews 4:12)
His Word will never fail or end (Psalm 119:89)
His Word illuminates our darkness and confusion (Psalm 119:105)
His Word shows us His love (Psalm 119:76)

Bridal Shower

This afternoon I got to help host a bridal shower for a very dear friend of mine. I shared the devotional thought (even though out of all the married ladies in the room, I probably had been married the shortest!).

The basic outline:

In my experience as a wife, a lesson the Lord has underscored is this instruction, for wives to win their husbands (even husbands disobedient to God) “without a word” (1 Pt. 3:2).

Women in general tend to be full of words, so why did Peter include this little phrase in his directions to wives?

What does it not mean?

A wife should not be:

Without words of encouragement (1 Thess 5:11).
Without words of truth (Eph 4:15).
Without words of honor and love (Titus 2:4).

What does it mean?

A wife should be:

Without unwholesome words (Eph 4:29).
Without words of disrespect (Eph 5:33).
Without words of rebellion (Eph 5:24 and 1 Pt 3:1).
With actions and attitudes of a chaste, respectful heart (1 Pt 3:2).
With prayer and hope in God (1 Pt 3:4-6).

You can read the whole thing here.

Satisfied

I read in Romans this morning:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith (3:23-25a).

It seems a shame to me that “propitiation” is such an awkward, hard-sounding word, because it has such a wonderful meaning. Satisfied.

God had a proper and incinerating anger against my sin. And Jesus stepped forward and chose to absorb all that wrath in my place. There are no remnants of judgment left for those who trust in Jesus—God’s required punishment has been totally satisfied. That is propitiation.

And what’s more—God goes beyond absolving our guilt and actually puts on us the righteousness of Jesus (what an exchange), meaning that we may receive His favor and pleasure and all the sweet promises of our own hearts finding satisfaction in Him.

Double satisfaction. Amazing.

Leaning Upon Christ

“Everything that a man leans upon but God—will be a dart which will certainly pierce his heart through and through. He who leans only upon Christ—lives the highest, choicest, safest and sweetest life.”

- Thomas Brooks

HT: Of First Importance

Freedom in Design

A couple weeks ago, I re-read (for the "how-many"th time?) the book Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot.

One section I particularly appreciate:

What a relief it is to know that there is a divine design. This knowledge is the secret of serenity. Jesus is the perfect example of a human life lived in serenity and obedience to the Father's will. He moved through the events of His life without fuss or hurry, He met men and women with grace. He was able to say, "I do always those things that please the Father"--and it must have been with no variations of even twenty-four seconds.... In the face of the betrayal that He knew was coming, in the face of His own death, He took the place of a slave and washed the disciples' feet. He could do that because He knew who He was and whose He was. He could face also the events of the coming night and day. It was not weakness which enabled Him to become a slave. It was not resignation that took Him to Calvary. He had both accepted and willed the Father's will.

You and I can be steadied, directed, and held by the knowledge of where we came from and where we are going. To know that the whole world moves in harmony at God's bidding is wonderfully stabilizing. (p. 111)