Believers Bungalow

Sisterly Conversations

2012-02-01T22:14:00.000-06:00

We will know next Tuesday if M&M is Emma or Jack. So begins today's conversation.

Beth: So, are you going to start registering as soon as y'all find out?

Me: Yes, but I get overwhelmed by the little things, so I'll need you to come with me.

Beth: Oh, okay, because I was going to ask if I could come.

Me: Um . . . you're required to come! No "can" about it!

Good gracious! The woman's going to be in the birthing room with Michael & me as we welcome this little one into the world, but she thought I was going to bar her from registering?! Silly girl! ;-) Love you, Bethy Poo!

'Bye, Emmy

2012-01-22T06:41:00.004-06:00

Emmy is my pretend dog. Not because she's not real, but because she's not mine. But she & I like to pretend otherwise. She routinely abandons her real home to visit ours. She runs up our driveway to her pretend house so she can play with her pretend siblings & get love from her pretend Mama. She runs around her pretend backyard & gobbles up Jake & Josie's food (which isn't so pretend). She wallows on her pretend Mama's lap & shares lots of kisses while she gets a belly rub. Sometimes she does this more than once a day. It's an arrangement that works pretty well for us. Except for when we have to stop pretending & I have to walk her back to her actual family. Understandably, I guess it's an arrangement that doesn't really work all that well for them, though, because sometime this coming week, Emmy will have a new real family. And it won't be ours. :-( I know it's for the best, because she could get hurt escaping all the time as she does. And, I know why it's best that we can't have her, but my feelings for her aren't pretend, so it hurts. I hope Emmy will be happy with her new family, but I sure will miss her visits.

Books! Books! Books!

2012-01-21T16:15:00.001-06:00

I love to read! Which is a good thing, because I married a man who loves to read. Loves to read as in "3 bookcases aren't enough to hold all of our books". Loves to read as in "I don't even think 6 bookcases would do it!" Michael brought a lot of books to our marriage - kind of like a backwards dowry, & I hit the jackpot! And each year, we add more & more books to our inventory. He has said more than once that he wants our children to grow up as C.S. Lewis did - surrounded by books. I'd say we're off to a pretty good start! ;-) A start that we built on this past Christmas, especially at the hands of my beloved. My goal is to read all of these new books by the end of the year. Of course, seeing as how I'll be quite busy with our wee little bairn as Summer begins to fade into Fall, I realize I'd better get the bulk of that reading completed well before then. So far, so good! Here's what I've read thus far in the month of January:

This book can be read in a day if you have very few interruptions. It's short, sweet, to the point, & brimful of biblical wisdom in all matters of family life.

This is a poignant narrative of the erosion of the simplicities of farm life in the face of encroaching modernity from an aging widow's point of view. It's a novel that reads more like an autobiography in some respects. Even though it's not action-packed, I found myself reticent to put it down, it pulled me in so. I became attached to the characters, especially Hannah. And I was left with a sort of ache, a dull sadness over the loss of this simpler time with simpler, more homespun values where community actually meant living with your neighbors (who are really more like family) & where people worked hard at making what they had better rather than always looking for greener grass elsewhere.

I like children's literature, & this is a good example of why. Of course, this is an easy read & doesn't take any time to breeze through. I would have to say that my favorite thing about this book is how the fiercely independent Mary finally comes to the understanding that she can only "do all things" (as she so loves to quote to herself) "through Christ".

Oh, dear. What do I say about this one? Well, I will say that I loved it. So much so, that I would often make note of how I wanted to quote this or that portion on this blog or Facebook. The problem? I would have ended up quoting the whole thing! It's seriously that good! Voddie doesn't leave a single stone unturned on this topic, from a biblical defense of marriage, to the qualities (based on Scripture, of course) that husbands & fathers are to have, to an explanation of the role that a father must have in helping his daughter navigate the waters of courtship & choosing a spouse, to mentoring young men into the husbands & fathers they should be, to raising your own sons to be these sorts of men, all the way down to interracial marriage. Voddie didn't miss a thing! But of course, the very best part of it is that this book is not his opinion or some pragmatic approach - it's thoroughly biblical! I loved it, & judging by the pencil marks in the forms of underlining & starring, so did my beloved the first time he read it. My final word: Get this book!

Okay, so I've already told you that we're working through this book. We've both read through the first section laying the groundwork for a change in philosophy & purpose. Then things got really hectic, & we've had to put the practical "cleaning out & organizing our home" part on hold. But it's not forgotten! As a matter of fact, if things go as we hope, we'll be putting it into high gear very soon!

This one is ongoing as well. But from the very first page, I was hooked. This is kind of the opposite of Hannah Coulter; it's a biography that reads like a novel. So far, there hasn't been an exclusive focus on Mary Bunyan. Rather, Sallie Ford has given an in-depth picture of the climate surrounding Mary. Her father has just been imprisoned because "he would preach the Gospel". Her stepmother has just lost her newborn child. She & one of her brothers make the trek to the prison as often as possible to bring food to their father. They face judgment from people on the streets & from the assistant jailer for their "criminal" father. But their neighbors & members of the gathering that her father led rally around them through prayer & practical help. The text is full to bursting with Scripture, as I shared in my last post. In short, it is a simply delightful book, not only interesting, but also edifying in the most wonderful way.

Biblical Comfort in Affliction

2012-01-21T00:11:00.000-06:00

John Bunyan's wife, Elizabeth, has just found out that her sorrow over her husband's imprisonment is compounded by the loss of her newborn child. She has been lamenting over her afflictions & her faith is sorely tested. Her good neighbor, sister Harrow, strives to give biblical comfort to soothe her grieving heart.

"Well, shall we receive good at His hand & not evil? But what has He promised, sister Bunyan? Don't He say that all things shall work together for our good? Think of this. He don't say some things, or most things, but all things. And if we are His children, we will believe what He says; we will not doubt His word; we cannot. Look how He brought His poor old Job through all his afflictions, & made his last days his best ones. Your troubles are not equal to his; he had everything taken from him - houses, lands, children, camels, & all his servants - & you know he had a good many, for he was a rich man. And then he was afflicted in his own body - all covered with boils - the sorest things in the world. . . . Just think of him in all his distresses, & how God brought him through them all. And then you will be willing to trust Him for yourself. He was given to us as an example to follow."

"But Job was an upright man, sister Harrow, & I'm a poor, weak, sinful creature. I don't deserve any good at God's hands. I am so prone to forget Him. I don't love Him as I ought to. I don't serve Him as I should. He ought to scourge me, I am so wicked."

"Ah, sister Bunyan, you don't think anybody deserves any good thing from God, do you? Oh no; it is not for our good works that He loves us; it is all His own sovereign love & mercy. Oh, I tell you we have nothing to commend us to His favor, as your dear good man said the last time he spoke at my house; & we can't do anything. So much sin - so much sin always here in the heart - that God can't find anything in us to love us for. It is only for Jesus' sake - only because He died. There's our hope, sister Bunyan - nowhere else - no, no, nowhere else. Jesus is all, all, sister Bunyan. No merit but His. Yes, blessed Jesus! Thou art all, & in all; the beginning & the end . . . ."

~Excerpted from Mary Bunyan: A Tale of Religious Persecution and Heroic Faith by Sallie R. Ford

A Noble Calling

2012-01-16T14:23:00.001-06:00

"What does your wife do?" Michael repeatedly has to answer this question. Co-workers ask him. Patients ask him. Some people even ask him over & over, as though his answer will have changed from last week. Sometimes it seems as though we are constantly having to defend our choice for me to stay home, even against family. It can be exhausting, & it is most definitely frustrating. This morning, though, Michael came home with a "what does your wife do" story that takes the cake! A female patient posed this question, & in hearing his answer, she responded, "Well, she must not want much out of life." I was flabbergasted! One, just because you think something doesn't mean you need to speak it. Second, it's astounding what a low view some people have toward the noble calling women have to be wives & mothers.

I taught school for 6 years. Most of you know this. By the start of my last year, my heart yearned to be home. Thankfully, God brought along a man who had the same vision as I - a wife who took care of the home, relieving as many of her husband's burdens as possible while he provided for the family; a mother who took care of the children, training them in God's Word & educating them from home. In short, we both wanted a home where God was the center, where the husband provided, protected, & shepherded his family, & where the wife invested in the lives of her family & worked with her husband to build a mulitgenerational legacy that brings glory to God. By God's grace, we have been able to live this out, & neither of us see this as "settling for less". Yes, we have chosen not to indulge in some luxuries - such as iPhones & cable TV - but our lives are actually much richer for their absence, not poorer. After all, iPhones & cable TV aren't eternal, but our child(ren)'s & our souls are. What better investment is there to make in this life? To be a wife & a mother is a noble calling, a biblical calling. And I pray that our child(ren) will bear the fruit in their lives & in the lives of their children. So, I wouldn't say that I don't "want much out of life". Quite the contrary - I only want the best!

Emmy

2012-01-13T15:44:00.000-06:00

Michael hadn't been gone for work long when the dogs started going crazy. They were running back & forth between the living room & the blue room, whining & barking & just simply carrying on. I got so frustrated & fussed at them to cut it out! I looked out the window & didn't see anything, so I assumed nothing was there. You know what they say about making assumptions, right? Finally, I thought I heard the screen door bang softly, & since they were still making such a fuss, I decided to open the front door to show them there was nothing there. Much to my surprise, there was Emmy again! She was standing outside of our front door, apparently scratching to come in! I opened the door up, & she trotted right inside & made herself at home! I let her drink some water & play in the backyard again before taking her back home. Apparently, both her Mama & I have come to the same conclusion - that little Miss Emmy wants to live here - because she said she & her husband have talked it over & decided that if we want her, we can have her. Ugh! I want her - I have from the very first time she wandered up. Michael, on the other hand . . . sigh. Anyways, I regretted that I didn't take pictures of her yesterday so you could see her, so I made sure to take some today! Here's pretty little Miss Emmy!

They all really enjoyed playing together, but Josie really got into it. When I came home, they were looking for her. Once they realized she wasn't here, Josie started walking around the house whining & is now sitting directly in front of the window, seemingly looking for Emmy. :-( Maybe we can convince Daddy to let us have her . . .

Our Busy Bungalow

2012-01-12T22:29:00.001-06:00

Today has been a busy day around here! To begin with, I let the dogs out into the backyard this morning, & before I knew it, a little brown blur was leaping over the fence. "Noooo!", I shouted, thinking Josie was making another great escape - only to discover that it was, in fact, a neighbor's dog, Emmy . . . who has apparently taken lessons from Houdini. She's a sweet little thing, & this is at least the third time that she's visited our bungalow. Even though I was on a schedule, I couldn't just let her run free & risk her getting hit by a car. So, of course, I ushered her into our house & got dressed to take her back home. The problem was that when I got there, they weren't home! Since I'm assuming she escaped from their backyard, I couldn't very well leave her there. So, back to our house we went, a prospect she was none too disappointed by! She got to eat Josie's food & play with the babies in the backyard before I tried taking her home again. This time, although it broke my heart, I clipped her onto the tie they had in the front yard. If I didn't have to go shopping, I would have kept her at our house. She tried to follow me, too, further chafing my sore heart. I checked on her later, & she was safely in her home with her Mama & siblings. I promise, if we didn't already have 2 dogs, a cat, a baby on the way, & 4 chickens arriving this Spring, I'd try to keep her! Well, if I knew she wouldn't constantly break my heart by jumping over the fence, that is!

Once I got her squared away, I got ready. Before too long, the dogs started going crazy, & lo & behold, it was the UPS fella bearing my fetal doppler! I have decided that one way to curb my anxiety over our little M&M's well-being is to rent this doppler so I can listen to his or her heartbeat anytime I desire. We immediately got it out & tried it. It took a little bit to find M&M's heartbeat, & just when I started to cry from panic, Michael found it! Of course, I still cried, but out of relief & happiness instead.

Fetal doppler, care of Baby Beat!

Almost as soon as we found M&M's heartbeat, it was off to lunch & shopping for maternity clothes! Lunch, I love - shopping, not so much. I'm an online shopping girl. I hate trying on clothes & looking through racks. The good thing is, I'm a fairly quick shopper as a result. Michael couldn't come with me, so my sweet friends Angie & Amber (& little Isaac) came with me. Over my protests, Angie was even so sweet as to help me buy the clothes - after buying my lunch! I've still got to get a couple of basics, but this was a very good start!

A crimson shirt for my Alabama Crimson Tide days & some dress pants for church.

A beautiful purple shirt & some jeans.

Angie & Amber dropped me off at home, & after showing Michael my clothes, checking on Emmy, talking to Mama, & taking a much needed nap, I made supper. Breakfast for supper!

Except for the biscuits, this whole meal is farm-fresh! The sausage & milk come from a farmer a couple of hours away from us, & the Apple Butter & Blueberry Jam were made by my lovely sister-in-law, Beth! My eyes were bigger than my stomach - I could only eat 2!

Now, I'm tired again, so I'll be getting ready for bed & going to sleep soon. 'Night, y'all. Sweet dreams.

Separated Siblings

2012-01-06T23:44:00.001-06:00

Image from iNetGiant

Standing in line at Sam's yesterday, we met a very friendly older gentleman who likes to joke around & hand out soft peppermint candies. His cap displayed his Tide pride, & his words very quickly showed him to be a church-going man. Unfortunately, they also very quickly revealed his belief that black people & white people just should not mix, especially when it comes to church.

Almost a year ago, a tornado ripped through our city, demolishing or severely damaging everything in its path. One of those severely damaged buildings was a local church that has shared our church's building ever since. That church was located in what a lot of people consider to be a "not-so-nice" part of town. But this church loves their neighborhood & have a strong desire to return. Not just to get back to their building, but to get back to ministering to the people surrounding that building. The so-called "not-so-nice" people.

This gentleman seriously disagrees with the passion of these fellow believers, saying that they should just tear down that church & move to a "nicer" part of town. I wish I were quicker on the draw. If I were, I would have wanted to know what makes another part of town "nicer"? Is it the cars people drive or the homes they live in? Is it the clothes they wear or the color of their skin? I would have asked him if he thought the people in the "not-so-nice" part of town needed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, too. Don't they need the church to be Christ's hands & feet to them just as much as the people in Mexico, India, or Romania? Why is it perfectly permissible to have mission trips to foreign countries while neglecting the people in our own backyards? Are we only supposed to have white churches in white parts of town & black churches in black parts of town? Doesn't Galatians 3:18 say that we are all "one in Christ"? How exactly do you separate "one" without ripping it apart? Being saved by Christ eradicated the division between Jews & Greeks; is His blood not strong enough to do the same for blacks & whites? Is it not a denial of our brotherhood in Christ - where all Christians are children of God & co-heirs with Christ regardless of our skin color - to say that we must worship separately in our own sections of town? Does advocating & adhering to such a policy really paint an accurate picture of the body of Christ? Is there going to be a white heaven & a black heaven, & nary the two shall meet? Or will heaven be a glorious mixture of "red & yellow, black & white", all worshipping God together before His majestic throne? Wouldn't it be simply beautiful for our churches to be a picture to the world of what heaven will be like? All nations, tribes, & tongues - even from separate parts of town - bowing before God's throne & bringing Him praise together! If I were quicker on the draw, that's what I would have liked to know.

My Fear, God's Peace

2012-01-01T15:54:00.000-06:00

Last night was not a fun night for me - or Michael, for that matter. I didn't experience as much nausea yesterday, & its absence ushered in a feeling akin to terror. I know that there have always been & always will be women who lose their unborn children. There aren't words to express adequately how much I don't want to join their ranks. Even though I have no symptoms whatsoever of miscarriage, I began to fear that my lack of nausea meant a lessening of hormones which, in turn, meant I was losing (or had already lost) our child. It lasted for probably a little more than an hour. Michael told me to trust God. My response was that I do trust God to do what's right & to do what's for my good, but that doesn't mean that I'll get the outcome I desire. I can't trust that, because that just might not be. I was overcome with fear & sadness, & I begged God to take away my anxiety. I sought to cast my cares on Him, knowing that He cares for me. The alleviation of my fears was not immediate. As a matter of fact, that prayer came just at the beginning of my time of fear. Michael comforted me both with pointing me to God & with practical "proofs" that all is well. God definitely used that to help me, but I still wasn't free. After Michael left for work, I sat down to work on a new template for this blog. It's actually the same one I used last year at this time, so I just reused last year's banner as well. (Our new mantra is "organized simplicity", after all.) I always choose a Scripture verse or two to go on our banner, & as God would have it, last year I chose Deuteronomy 31:6:

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread . . . for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

I felt an instant peace wash over me. Although I don't (usually) dwell on this fact, I know that anything can happen; I won't necessarily get the outcome I want - my sweet baby born healthy & strong. But this verse brings peace nonetheless, because I know that there's nowhere I can go & no circumstance I find myself in that my Father is not already there. He will not leave me or forsake me to bear any burdens - good or bad - alone. This is the peace that surpasses all understanding. I'm so grateful for our gracious God!

(And, as an aside, God also graciously granted my prayer, & I've experienced plenty of morning sickness today! Strange as it may sound, I'm a happy girl!)

Planning for the New Year

2011-12-31T14:58:00.001-06:00

One of the many books we got for Christmas this year is quickly becoming one of our favorites! It's Organized Simplicity by Tsh (pronounced "Tish") Oxenreider, & it's not just about getting your house in order (although it is that) - it's about getting your whole life in order. Your life's purpose, your time, your money, & your home - getting all of these under control & simplified & (most importantly) getting all of these to work together toward a common goal. Keeping what's truly important, chucking what's not. All of this, as she says, doesn't happen naturally; you have to plan for it & then live out that plan. It makes perfect sense & is really resonating with both Michael & me. We've already gone to her website & printed off a lot of her downloads (which we highly recommend), & we're already using the Daily Docket to create more productive days. Her "20 Questions" & "Goal-Setting Questions" have spurred a lot of discussion in our home, as well. And, to be perfectly honest, we're both rather intrigued by her whole "'poo-free" practice! We might be giving that a try this coming year - after all, we're already big proponents of fluoride-free toothpaste & eschewing antiperspirant for chemical-free deodorant!

Last evening, in the spirit of planning a simpler life - & in keeping with my newly filled-out Daily Docket - I came up with a month's worth of meal plans, including an alternate 5th week, for us to rotate through. I have tried spending time each week to come up with a new meal plan, but I get overwhelmed trying to wrack my brain for something new all the time. So! We now have 5 weeks worth of meals already planned out that we can simply switch out at the start of each week & be on our way! Breakfasts & snacks stay the same each week, & supper is leftovers from lunch. The only thing that changes from week to week is the lunchtime meal. So much easier!

Then, this morning, I open up my email to see that Beth has sent me a New Year's post from my favorite preacher (John Piper, in case you're new here), & what is he talking about? Yep! Planning! His post took me through the Proverbs to show examples of planning & wise ways to plan. He showed me how Paul, God the Father, & Jesus all planned (present tense for the Father & the Son) & set out to accomplish those plans. His conclusion was that we should look to the Scriptures as our guide, that we should plan for the most important aspects of our lives - especially including our spiritual lives - & that we should do so not just once at the start of the year, but regularly. As usual, it's an excellent post that I highly recommend everyone reading & putting into practice. And, when you do read it, notice the date that it was actually written! My immediate thought was that God's Word is truly timeless & always applicable to our lives!

Sisterly Conversations

2011-12-30T09:46:00.001-06:00

A couple of days ago, I was talking to Beth on the phone . . .

Beth: "So, how are you feeling?"

Me: "Well, I've gagged a couple of times this morning & I'm nauseous right now, so it's all good!" (in complete sincerity)

Beth (laughing): "You're so crazy!"

;-)

Pleading for the Righteous

2011-12-29T07:51:00.001-06:00

Then the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know." So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. Then Abraham drew near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" And the LORD said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake." Abraham answered and said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" And he said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there." Again he spoke to him and said, "Suppose forty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of forty I will not do it." Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there." He answered, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." He said, "Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there." He answered, "For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it." Then he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there." He answered, "For the sake of ten I will not destroy it." And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. ~Genesis 18:20-33

This passage of Scripture leapt into my mind this morning as I was thinking about some Christians' views regarding other nations, particularly Iran. I have been shocked over the last couple of weeks that some Christians believe wholeheartedly that our policy should be one of violent instigation towards other countries. A former elder at our former church even adamantly advocated that we should turn Iran into a "radioactive wasteland". To say that we were quite disheartened that a man who used to teach us the Word of God was espousing this view is putting it lightly. Just as with Sodom & Gomorrah, there are wicked people in every country, including Iran (& including the U.S., I might add). Unlike Sodom & Gomorrah, there are also righteous people there. Even our brothers & sisters in Christ. There are also innocent people there - men, women, & children - who wish us no harm. Should we really be so gung-ho to blow them all to kingdom come, as though they are all wicked? Should we really be okay with murdering members of our own eternal family simply because they reside in another country also populated by those hostile to us? I just can't see how our consciences should be able to abide "sweep(ing) away the righteous with the wicked". Abraham's couldn't, & he pleaded for their lives before the Lord. God agreed that it would be unjust to take this action. So should we.

Living Compassion

2011-12-29T01:31:00.000-06:00

So, "Ron Paul's a racist", huh? Tell that to this man, who was on the receiving end of Dr. Paul's compassion & respect during an extremely difficult time when all the people around him who should have been helping him were shunning him because of the color of his skin. Dr. Paul's a racist, my foot.

Stories & Presents

2011-12-28T20:18:00.000-06:00

Christmas was a low-key affair this year, especially in terms of our tree. Each year we put up a big tree, usually a real one. Our first year of marriage, I put up our gigantic fake Christmas tree while Michael was at work & surprised him when he came home. It took hours! As you may have heard, I've been dealing with some pretty debilitating morning sickness, so putting in all the effort of resurrecting, decorating, & then tearing down a Christmas tree was rather daunting. Our solution? These little trees that normally sit on our porch to either side of our front door. We placed one on a small table & stacked the presents all around. The other went on a plant stand in our bedroom. They turned out really cute & aren't near the hassle!

Michael came home Christmas morning, & I had my attempt at Eggs Benedict waiting for him. I say "attempted" because we didn't have any butter to make the hollandaise sauce - & Michael loves hollandaise sauce. Lots & lots of hollandaise sauce! Also, having never used an egg poacher before, I read a recipe that recommended placing the cooked eggs in warm water. My thought went something like this, "Well, there's warm water in the pan they just cooked in, so I'll just leave them there!" Only about 5 minutes before Michael's arrival did it occur to me that the water was more "hot" than "warm" & only then did I get a slight inkling that these eggs might not be "poached" so much as "hard-boiled". Turns out, my inkling was right! Michael was a good sport about it, though, & he was able to get that Eggs Benedict the next day . . . by his own hand! ;-)

After opening gifts - topped off by a nap - we headed up to Beth & Chris' house & spent the rest of the day with them & the rest of the family. I had my trusty "throw-up basket" on hand, & while everyone was eating, I just sat off to the side & participated in the conversation. (I did eat later, & it was good!) Later, we divided into two teams & played a game that Chris dubbed "Charades on Steroids". Man alive, was that fun!!! I have to say that, in my opinion, Bradley was the funniest player, & had us roaring with laughter! So much so that I had to flee the room with my basket! That game will definitely be a staple in our family from now on!

I wish we had pictures from our get-together, but - sadly - the only ones we have are of our presents & one that I really like of an ornament on our tree. I hope you enjoy them anyways! (One present that didn't make it because it was too big to photgraph was also the most unique thing Michael got for me - the Firedragon - because he knows how much I like to play with fire! In a fireplace/pit, of course! I just laughed & laughed when I opened it!)

Sigh. Pretty.

I always have a hard time deciding what I'm going to read because I have soooo many options! I've decided that this year, I'm reading all the books that I got for Christmas - & some of Michael's, too!

Michael got Inheritance for me earlier in December, & rounded it out with the rest of the series on Christmas morning. Sweet T introduced me to "Anne of Green Gables" this past summer; loving the movie, I of course wanted the books. Michael very sweetly obliged me!

Some of my favorite movies! Notice how "The Sound of Music" is BluRay? Yeah. We don't have a BluRay. Michael says now we can get one. Sneaky fella, huh? ;-)

I've wanted an ice cream maker for 4 1/2 years! And, I just said in passing one day while we were in Bed, Bath, & Beyond, "Here's a cute cookie cutter! I need to get some cookie cutters to make cookies with our little one." I didn't think another thing about it. Apparently, Michael did! And I thought the round package must be a hat box! ;-)

We saw this in Kirkland's Home, but I didn't think Michael got it. If it was just the black scroll, I wouldn't care for it as much, but the blue flowers give it just the right pop!

We hope y'all had a Merry Christmas, too! Love to all!

Michael's Model

2011-12-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

When you are married to a woman who is 13 weeks pregnant & whose morning sickness not only lasts all day, but is set off by pretty much everything other than her lying in bed on her side, what do you do? Well, you've come to the right place, because I have some ideas for you!

     *Lay beside her & stroke her hair & back;

     *Set aside your plans to clean the living room so that you can fulfill the above-mentioned idea;

     *Run out to get lunch so she doesn't have to worry about fixing something;

     *Decide not to complete your last-minute Christmas shopping in Birmingham because riding in a car is one of those afore-mentioned triggers, & you can't stand to go without her;

     *Get some of that last-minute shopping done around town, allowing her to stay home in the bed;

     *Show lots of understanding & sympathy about her situation, especially when she laments about being a "bad wife" because she's having difficulty cooking & keeping house;

     *Run to the grocery store to pick up items that might help her nausea, even though it's late at night;

     *Be forgiving for her overly sensitive emotions.

There, that should be enough to be getting on with. And if you need more suggestions, simply ask my beloved. After all, he's the fella who fulfilled every one of these ideas all in one day, all without prompting from me. Haven't I told you before that he's a marvel & a gift from God? I love my Michael Boyd & am immensely grateful for him!

Another Year Older . . .

2011-12-23T15:15:00.000-06:00

. . . But thankfully not deeper in debt! ;-) Michael asked me earlier this month what I wanted for my birthday. My answer? These people celebrating with me!

My beloved, our friend Arnold, our sister Allison (in the blue), & her friend Catherine (who we really like & were so happy she could join us)

Michael had a hard time catching me with my eyes open. Apparently, I close them when I smile or laugh. Which I did a lot this particular evening.

Sweet T & Angie - such precious ladies!

Lynn (you should visit her blog) & Sweet T (whom you've heard a lot about!)

Leslie - pretty in pink (you should visit her blog, too!)

Amber & Brett - proud new parents of a handsome baby boy! One of Michael's favorite words to describe me is "feisty"; Amber's feisty like me! ;-)

Is this not the most precious couple?! This is Jon & Sommer - Yep! That Sommer! One of my absolute favorite people in the whole world. Nice to put a face with the name, huh? She's just as pretty on the inside, too. And her husband is absolutely as nice as he looks. They are such a great, godly couple!

And this little fella? Why, he's "my nephew" Josiah, Jon & Sommer's little boy. I adore him!

Now, I thought that I was clear when I asked these precious people to come celebrate with us that I did not want presents. They brought them anyways along with some very sweet cards. I was grateful - & felt so loved - but really just them being there was present enough! However, I did love my cards & gifts!

Allison got me these beautiful little bowls, even making sure to get one in my favorite color! Sweet girl!

Our pastor & his precious family. This past summer, they took a family photo & posted it on Facebook. I told Michael - & later Sweet T - that I wanted to print it out & put it up in our home. I love them that much! So, Sweet T surprised me with this Christmas family photo! I didn't even have to pirate it! It's already in a frame next to our sofa. It's a blessing to have a pastor's family that you love so much that you want to have a picture of them in your home! (Sorry my picture of it is so blurry; to see a better version - & fully appreciate it - visit Lynn's blog.)

I fairly squealed when I opened the envelope containing this little gem! See, one thing I haven't told you yet is that Lynn is a very accomplished photographer! So, for her to give us this gift, is truly a treasure indeed!

Where exactly do you hang your first-ever scarf (& first-ever houndstooth piece of clothing - Roll Tide!) to photograph it? Let me tell you, doorknobs don't work. And I don't like pictures of myself if I can avoid them (which, in this case, I can). So, lamp it is! A dorky position, perhaps, but a lovely present, don't you think?

This picture & the next one have a special story. This is Michael's gift to me, one for which I have yearned for years. He's never had a reason to buy it before now, though. The other day, we went to Cracker Barrel, & as he paid the bill, I strolled over to the Willow Tree display & proceeded to sob over all of the pregnant mama & baby figurines. I wasn't vocal about it, but the tears were flowing freely! Michael came over & said softly, "You can't stand in the middle of the store & cry!" ;-) So when I walked into our bedroom to find this & a homemade birthday card, you can bet the tears began again! . . .

And then, that evening, I opened up Sommer's gift to me last to find this figurine - one of the very ones that I stood in Cracker Barrel & boo-hooed over! She had conspired with Michael to get this for me, even chatting with him through her husband's Facebook account! I don't really have to tell you my reaction, do I? I felt very loved that she would care enough about me to do this. Aaannnddd, just before I opened these gifts, she asked me what Michael got me & was regaled with the above story . . . all of which she already knew, unbeknownst to me! Sneaky girl! ;-)

This hasn't been the easiest year of my life - dealing with Ginger's death & grieving over infertility - but it has been a year in which God has shown me His all-surpassing grace & mercy. And He has brought great joy into our lives by giving us the precious gift of our little M&M! He has also given us the gift of all of these wonderful people, people whom we love & are so grateful to be able to share our lives with. All in all, another year older has meant another year of experiencing God's loving presence & another year of getting to love others & be loved by them. If I do say so myself, we live very good lives! Soli Deo Gloria!

The Gospel for Islam ~ James White

2011-12-22T11:04:00.000-06:00

I know the title says "for Islam", & yes, James White does address the errors in this religion. However, he gives such a clear presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, & does such a remarkable job of showing that it is, indeed, the good news, that everyone - Christian & unbeliever alike - needs to see this. Christians, so that their faith is reaffirmed & strengthened. Unbelievers, so that before they continue in their unbelief, they know what it is they're rejecting. Soli Deo Gloria!

That's Christmas

2011-12-21T13:40:00.002-06:00

That's Christmas (Short Film) HD from St Helen’s Church on Vimeo.

"An Unwed Teen with an Unplanned Pregnancy" ~ Desiring God Blog

2011-12-20T16:03:00.000-06:00

"There is a murderous logic to those who advocate aborting children with disabilities. It goes something like this:

     -People with disabilities suffer in this world. Abortion is a kindness that prevents such suffering.

     -The caregivers (primarily parents) of children with disabilities also suffer. Abortion is a kindness that prevents their suffering, too.

     -Society suffers. Financially and administratively, the burden on society is significant. Abortion is a kindness to the rest of society to prevent such a burden from existing.

The argument has become more sophisticated over time, but the main point is this idea of preventing hardship. Everybody just wants to be comfortable. We like things easy, and cheap — the American and British eugenics movement in the early 1900s had no trouble focusing on the monetary costs to society as sufficient reason to limit the births of undesirable children.

Now, why such a depressing thought in the Christmas season? Because Mary, the mother of Jesus, shows us a different way to think about hardship.

Her circumstances weren't great. She was an unwed teenager with an unplanned pregnancy. Her betrothed was seeking to divorce her. And more than that, her son was the "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." She was told that a "sword will pierce through your own soul also" (Luke 2:35).

How did she respond? She trusted in the Lord. She knew she was his servant and she could depend upon his word. She rejoiced in God, her Savior (Luke 1:38, 46–47).

To embrace the sovereignty of God over all things means that we can also embrace his sovereignty over every kind of hardship in our own lives. God gives meaning to all suffering, and only he knows the future. The fact that we can’t understand or see what's ahead can be difficult, but God knows and we can trust him.

May we rest in God like Mary did. For she magnified the Lord,

He has shown strength with his arm;

He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

He has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich He has sent away empty (Luke 1:51–53)."

~Desiring God Blog

Bad News: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town ~ John Piper

2011-12-19T18:17:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday Jake!

2011-12-17T14:55:00.000-06:00

Yes, I am writing a happy birthday post for our dog. ;-) It's our little man's 3rd birthday today! Although, "little man" is not the most accurate name for him any longer, as you'll see! He got excited this morning when I squealed, "Happy Birthday!" & then gave him a bone. Rawhide, of course. He was so little when we got him, & it's hard to believe that he's already 3 years old!

Here he is at 4 months old . . .

And now, at 3 years old! He's a big boy now!

Just as when he was a puppy, I expect that toys, bones, & comfort (& love, of course) will always be at the top of Jakey man's priority list! He's a good boy, nigh on the perfect dog, & we love him!

"To My Fellow Christians" ~ A Letter From My Beloved

2011-12-16T00:07:00.000-06:00

I'm sorry for my absence! I've been struggling with intensified morning (a.k.a all-day) sickness for the last couple of weeks as we're approaching the end of our first trimester & simply haven't had the stomach (ha!) for writing. But, I do have something to share with you today - a rather lengthy something written by my beloved, who has quite a gift with words! I have been wanting to write a post on how Ron Paul's (yes, him again) views are, in fact, biblically based. Well, out of the blue, Michael wrote a letter doing just that! And I'd like to share it with y'all, first of all because it's very good, & secondly because I don't have to write it! ;-)

"To My Fellow Christians,

I feel compelled to address my fellow believers, especially conservative evangelicals, as pertains to the common misconceptions concerning Ron Paul. As one who has long admired Ron Paul and the Austrian Free-Market School of Economics that informs his economic thinking, and also one who loves theology, I do not understand biblically why so many believers have the problems they do with Ron Paul, or are not strongly considering him during this election season. I would like to bring up some points in my letter that many of us may have not considered and would like feedback as to where I may have possibly gone wrong in my thinking. Personally, I've kept up with Dr. Paul since the early 1990s and love the man and what he stands for. He is quite remarkable in a myriad of ways. I think it's important for us to all be aware of these things, especially since the media is not making us aware of the facts, is often excluding him, and casting him in a negative light through mischaracterizations and half-truths. My hope is I can compel many of you to take an honest, non-biased look at Ron Paul, and to fulfill a responsibility as an American and a Christian to make an informed choice.

Are you aware of the Sanctity of Life Act Paul reintroduced to Congress in 2005? Ron Paul has taken a strong pro-life stance over his 30 years in political office. His professional life began as an OB-GYN MD. He delivered over 4,000 babies and his standard in his medical practice was pro-life, having never performed an abortion in 25 years as an MD. Part of the Sanctity of Life Act includes the repeal of Roe vs. Wade. But, I would like to bring to your consideration another area that should define our pro-life stance, and this is an area that sets Ron Paul apart from all other candidates. Is it important to be pro-life for not only the unborn, but also for those innocently killed in an unjust war or as the result of U.S. sanctions on other countries? I commonly imagine a scenario, which is very real for some, of if I lived in Afghanistan or Iraq, or another country affected by our sanctions/wars, and was innocently sitting in my home with my wife who is 8 months pregnant and 3 children and a U.S. war plane's bomb misses its intended target, hitting our home and killing all my family but me. Thousands of innocent people have died by similar means. Where does this play into being pro-life? I also think of our sanctions on Iraq in the 1990s which led to the deaths of an untold number of women and children. This may not have been directly caused by our sanctions, but at the least was indirectly. Should we Christians be concerned about life issues when it comes to these type situations, or just with the unborn? Or, is collateral damage perfectly acceptable as long as it's not Americans who die? It's easy for us to sit over here in America and ignore the plight of others who've suffered due to our non-pro-life foreign policy, yet all the while we voted for and supported it. How is that Christian?

As far as Paul's foreign policy, it has been described as being a "golden rule" foreign policy and is based on the just-war theory of Christianity. Is this not the most biblical? Does this not fit more with the biblical world view in the N.T. and how we're called to think as Christians? Having looked fully into his foreign policy myself, it makes a lot of sense. He has written a book on it and is on the Committee On Foreign Affairs. For us to think we know better than other countries, dictating to them what they can and cannot do, violating the national sovereignty of other countries, playing the role of world-bully at times, and policing the world like we do is arrogant and prideful. It also makes sense that our continued military presence in Muslim lands is like pouring fuel on the fire of radical Islamists' hatred toward us "infidels" and leads to more problems than would have been otherwise. It seems evident that our foreign policy has led to resentment by other nations, like Paul points out, and that understanding fallen human nature as we do, is a plausible explanation for much of our trouble when it comes to terrorism against us. Does it not make sense that the principle of blowback and our involvement in preemptive wars are major reasons for terrorism against the U.S.? And back to my example of an errant bomb killing innocent people, what if that happened here in the U.S.? Would we not demand retaliation and harbor resentment? So why is it okay simply because we're the ones dropping the bombs? It goes both ways. Not to mention how angered we would be if they had a long-standing presence on our land with military bases. It makes complete sense that we've angered many against us, and this is particularly dangerous when it has occurred in Muslim lands where they already have religious/theological reasons to hate us. Like I said, we're putting fuel on the fire of hatred toward us. Dr. Paul has some excellent, common sense points here.

Are you concerned with the issue of economic freedom? Is it OK for one group to manipulate its way by various corrupt means into political power, and then dictate policy in their economic favor to the detriment of others? Food would be a big example in the U.S. of what I'm talking about as pertains to this issue of economic freedom. Is having someone like Paul to fight against this type of corruption consisting of theft, greed, covetousness, selfishness, and lack of love toward one's brother important? It seems like the issue of economic freedom along with other important issues are not on the other candidates' radars, and, unfortunately neither seems to be on many believers' radars. As believers, should we allow - by not voting for a strong leader such as Paul, who's keenly aware of the problem - the roughshod ways the powerful and elite corporations are running all over their smaller competition? Competition who commonly have our good in mind and are making superior products which are better for us? Should we allow them to go on inserting themselves by morally corrupt means into policy-making positions and making laws and rules favorable only to themselves while stripping away our freedom of choice? Should we not be leaders on this issue of economic freedom, and call out for what is right by putting an end to the injustice and ensuring a true free-market economy for all, so everyone has equal and fair footing? I think similarly to how Jerry Bridges points out such a thing as "respectable sins" and our lack of seriousness about them. We're ignoring the "respectable sins" found so prevalent in our federal government - greed, covetousness, stealing, pride, selfishness, and lack of love towards one's fellow man, not to mention others - while we're caught up on the "big" sins of homosexuality and a lack of prayer in secular public schools. Notice, I did not include abortion as a "big sin". Abortion should always be opposed by all Christians and should play the most prominent and overriding role in how we vote, period.

Also, in view of us living in a secular culture, would it not be better if we Christians were not known for using the political process to legislate how secular lost people live? Are we not placing ourselves in an "us vs. them" situation? Also, are we expecting unregenerate men to live like regenerate ones when there is no way they can, when this is the only way they can live since they're dead in their sins? Are we going to make them externally conform with no heart change? We should shun the culture war, and be more concerned about the spread of the Gospel. This is the only thing that will truly change a person from the inside out. I'm concerned when we get so caught up in a culture war that it hinders our Gospel proclamation and witness and muddies the water on what our mission is to be in this world. It appears that a lot of Christians are fighting to make their fellow Americans into white-washed tombs, perfectly content with an outward morality that still dooms them to eternal damnation. While I also oppose homosexuality, I believe we have proven over the last several decades that legislating morality to lost men does not work; we should rather win them to the Gospel, by the grace of God, so that both the outside and the inside may be cleansed. As relates to this, is Ron Paul's integrity in holding fast to the Constitution, which appears to end up hurting him in most believers' eyes because on issues important to Christians, he sticks to the Constitution in how the issues of concern should be dealt with. With integrity, Paul adheres to the Constitution by advocating states' sovereignty. He says, Constitutionally, the states should make these decisions, not the federal government. I'm thinking of the issue of homosexuality and homosexual marriage. If we give the federal government power to make decisions that should Constitutionally be left up to the states, do we not open ourselves up to a lot of misery in an ever-increasing secular world, as this would give them too much power to make decisions unfavorable to us down the road? Are we not better off insisting the federal government be properly caged by the Constitution according to its original intent, so we can protect against a too-powerful federal government? Our Founders warned about this, as I'm sure many of you are well aware. Our Founders were wise in the document they gave us and we should honor their design and intent like Ron Paul does. It also seems like Paul would have some credence with Christians since he handles/interprets the Constitution like we demand the Bible be handled/interpreted - getting at the authors' original intent. Also, in this same regard, would be the fact of Paul being a reformer, which is much needed with our out-of-control federal government. I liken Ron Paul to be to our out-of-control U.S. government what Luther and Calvin were for the Protestant Reformation. We should love a man like Ron Paul who rightly adheres to the Constitution, with tremendous fortitude and integrity, over a long period, when others have given lip-service to it, then trampled all over it.

Personally, I've grown weary of the same status quo, so-called conservative, historically uninformed, integrity lacking, ignorant of sound economic thinking, vow-breaking, paying lip-service to issues while campaigning but then reneging once in office (for instance those who have promised a pro-life position, but then not doing anything about abortion when they had a majority in Congress and the presidency) type of candidates being elected. I'm ready for a real leader with the manhood to lead our country out of the mess we're in. Ron Paul's record, consistency, integrity, and commitment to principle is so unlike anything we've seen. How is it that we as believers do not take him seriously and give him a serious and honest consideration? In my estimation, we're derelict not to."

Researching Ron Paul

2011-12-08T12:43:00.001-06:00

Have you ever wondered why I post videos about Ron Paul on a blog devoted to Christianity? Well, I'll tell ya - it's because my beloved & I both believe Ron Paul to be the most consistently godly man in politics. If you're one of those who believe that he must be outspoken about his Christian beliefs, this may surprise you, because other than references here & there to his Christianity, you won't hear him say much. That's because rather than exploiting his Christian beliefs for political benefit, he simply lives out his faith, both privately & publically. For us, this is a bonus, not a detriment; whereas, we are completely turned off by politicians who talk a good game about family & faith while living hypocritical lives. So, we think Christians need to pay more attention to him. We firmly believe that Americans would support him more if they would cease being sheep & simply spend their time researching Paul's views & voting history for themselves, rather than relying on the mainstream media (including Fox News) for their information. That's how I came to love him myself. Michael told me during the last election that he was the best man. I didn't take his word for it; I didn't take the media's word for it that he wasn't. I spent hours upon hours watching videos & reading about him from unbiased sources. And in doing so, it didn't take me much time to see that he was, indeed, the best man. And he still is. So, in that spirit, I give you more Ron Paul videos to help in your research. A final thought: if you, like so many others, erroneously believe Ron Paul to be "anti-Israel", you'll want to start with the bottom video. That'll set you straight! ;-)

Sexual Healing ~ A Poem

2011-12-07T17:02:00.000-06:00

Ahhh, Those Lovely Hormones!

2011-12-06T09:24:00.000-06:00

Anyone who knows me - or has read this blog for any amount of time - knows that I'm a crier. Happy, sad, angry, hurt . . . pretty much, you name it, I cry. But, there's always a reason. I'm not an irrational crier. Well, I wasn't, anyways. Until last night.

I'm reading a truly fabulous book, Natural Hospital Birth, which is helping me prepare for exactly that. I want a homebirth with a midwife, but that's illegal in our state . . . which is another post. ;-) So, back to the book. I was reading last night about the stages of labor, & when talking about early labor, she said that was a good time for husband & wife to create memories of their last moments alone together. Now, it's not as though the reality that we won't be alone any longer hasn't occurred to me already, but Michael & I enjoy an awful lot of time alone together. Time that I have always been very jealous to preserve. Even though I yearn for this child with all of my being, all of a sudden, I felt a little panic, & I came into the room with worry etched all over my face. When I explained this sentence to him, I teared up a little . . . & he laughed. I lost it! Seriously, I started to sob! I walked away with my face in my hands, & when he asked me where I went, I said in that really high voice (think chipmunk), "In the bathroom." He asked me to come back, & I wept on his shoulder. I'm sure he had no idea what was going on. The whole time that I'm weeping, there is this rational part of me saying this was crazy, but I just couldn't stop crying! Later, once I was able to calm down, I burst out laughing over my weirdness. Poor Michael, I think he's got a long road ahead of him! ;-)

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-12-06T08:32:00.002-06:00

Our Football Idol

2011-12-05T13:45:00.000-06:00

Can I tell you a little secret? I have a love-hate relationship with the college football season. I never cared in the least about it until I married Michael, but I have since come to really love certain aspects of it. Others, I can't stand. Like, how every Fall we get into a discussion over whether or not we need a TV & cable just so we can watch the games. ;-) Far worse than that, though, is people's attitudes. Even professing Christians! Being on Facebook is sometimes not such a good thing; the college football season is a perfect example. I see moms, teachers, medical professionals, & even seminary students spew spiteful, angry, & intentionally rude comments about opposing teams & their fans. So, I'm here today to offer people a reality check. Here goes: Folks - It's. A. Game. It's a game, for goodness' sake! Unless you are employed with a college football program, or you are a reporter, or you are in some other way directly involved in making your living working with college football, then it doesn't affect your life. So, stop taking it so seriously! Now, if you do not fall into one of these categories, & it is - in fact - affecting your job, your home life, your relationships with friends & family, your relationship with God, then you need another reality check: football is your idol. Really quickly, let me ask a question of my fellow believers. How open do you think unbelievers that see or hear your vicious remarks will be to your witness for Christ? The Gospel is already an offense to those who are perishing; how much of an open door do you think they'll give you when you've already offended them over something as trivial & ridiculous as football? And for those who are already saved by the blood of Christ, is it seriously your desire to anger & offend those who are part of your eternal family? A lot of times, it certainly seems so. It's not wrong, nor is it a sin, to have a favorite football team & to cheer them on. No, what's wrong is lashing out, sometimes with obvious relish, at those who aren't a part of or don't support your favorite team. What's wrong is having your emotions so tied to the game that if your team wins, you're on cloud nine, & if they lose, you're down in the dumps. How much attention are you giving the Spirit of God who dwells within you when you behave in these ways? Not much - more likely not any. Support your favorite team. Cheer them on & have fun. But do it remembering that football is not eternal or even important. And walk away from the game prepared to focus with gusto on the only things that are: the Word of God, God Himself, & the souls of men.

"The Terminal" ~ R.C. Sproul, Jr.

2011-12-04T13:10:00.000-06:00

I am always drawn to people who exhibit faith in & love for God in the midst of heartbreaking circumstances. I believe that John Piper is right when he says that "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him . . . in the midst of loss, not prosperity." R.C. Sproul, Jr.'s wife is battling cancer yet again, & he is meeting this challenge with exactly that kind of vulnerable yet strong faith that whatever the outcome, God is good & will see their family through. I saw just the other day that the clinical trial that she was involved in did not work for her, so it's back to more chemotherapy. It breaks my heart for people to suffer. I wish suffering wasn't part of life, because it's not natural; it's not the way God created our world. But it is a reality in this fallen world, & it not only sanctifies us so that we're more like Christ, it also makes our very souls yearn earnestly for the return of our King. I received a new "Kingdom Notes" in my email a couple of days ago, & it was so touching, so poignant, so true, I just have to share it with you. Please keep the Sproul family in your prayers, & let us all bear in mind that, whether we have a doctor's diagnosis or not, we are all terminal & must "look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16)

"The yellowing sky confirmed the wisdom of the forecasters, a tornado might well be just around the bend. With one eye scouring the landscape I dutifully herded my then seven children into our basement. One of them, worried, asked me- “Are we all going to die?” Tender hearted father that I am, I told the truth- “Of course…but probably not today.” We survived the weather that day, but we are all still terminal.

As my wife continues her valiant fight against leukemia she too occasionally asks me to look into my crystal ball. She wants to know if she is going to make it. The doctors don’t know, and they are considerably more knowledgeable than I am. So I tell my wife what I do know- “I don’t know if you are going to get well or not. I do know that that day was appointed before all time. Nothing will make it a day later, nothing a day earlier. Cancer cannot determine when you go home. Only your Father can.

God can and does give clues, from time to time. The Bible affirms that He opens and closes the womb. That doesn’t mean that Abraham and Sarah didn’t have reason to be surprised. That Denise is ill, that it is this kind of cancer, that form of leukemia, this other test result suggests that we have more reason to worry about her than me. Seeking to decipher all these clues causes us to ride a roller coaster of hope and fear. I have come to learn, however, that my confidence on a given day is likely more tied to how poorly I slept the night before than it is deciphering the results of a CT scan.

My calling then is to rest in, to believe, to be comforted by what He has spoken clearly. Providence is His, but there He speaks a strange language in muted tones. His Word, on the other hand is both loud and clear. We know, for starters, that God Himself is behind this. God will either defeat the cancer He has sent, or He will have sent the cancer that calls her home (Isaiah 45:7). We know that whether her time is sooner or later, it works out for the good not only for her, but for her husband and children (Romans 8:28). We know that whenever He calls her home He will at the same time heal her fully (Revelation 21:4).

Insofar as I am able, by His grace, to believe what He has revealed, I am able to be at peace about what He has not revealed. Insofar as I seek to learn the secret things, I will fail to believe what He has revealed. One thing we know for certain- He is good. He loves us with an everlasting love. That doesn’t answer the question of the day or the hour. It just makes it not so important.

It is a good and proper thing that I should, and you as well if you are willing, pray that God would make Denise well, that He would allow us to grow old together. It is, however, a better thing to pray that I would be a faithful husband to my love, and a faithful father to the children He has blessed us with. It is less important that He believe me and my conviction, that the kingdom would be better with her here. It is more important that I believe Him and His promise that the gates of hell will not prevail (Matthew 16:18), and that He who has begun a good work in us will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (Ephesians 6:10). This train is bound for glory."

My Excellent, Sacrifical Husband

2011-12-02T20:51:00.000-06:00

"Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church & gave Himself up for her . . ." ~Ephesians 5:25

My precious beloved has epitomized this verse for me this week, as he has loved me with a sacrificial love. We're both loving that I'm pregnant with our first child, but this first trimester is kicking my hiney with exhaustion & morning sickness. I joke that Michael gets to see me for 4 hours a day. I sleep late in the morning, take a long nap in the middle of the day, & then go to bed early. I don't have a lot of energy to clean house or cook. And when I am hit with fleeting energy, I get nauseous from moving around! So, needless to say, our house has been a wreck & we're plum sick of fast food! But Michael has been so loving & patient. And he has served me tremendously this week! He cleaned the kitchen; washed, dried, & folded the laundry; & straightened up our bedroom. It may not sound like it, but these were daunting tasks! He's also tackled things that I'm not allowed to do, like cleaning out Callie's litter box (which he hates with a passion) & Cloroxing the shower. All with nary a grumble or complaint. He is a marvel! I know that Proverbs 31 is about an excellent wife, but I have to say that more than once, I have thought to myself, "An excellent husband, who can find?" . . . & have praised God that I did! Thanks to Him, of course!

Katie Davis on Adoption

2011-11-30T11:00:00.000-06:00

Catalyst Atlanta 2011 from Catalyst on Vimeo.

In a word, this is phenomenal! The more I see & hear Katie Davis, the more I love her!

10 Weeks

2011-11-30T08:21:00.000-06:00

Last December, I had just finished up my yearly GYN appointment when I heard the most beautiful sound through the wall. It was a sound that, even though it had nothing to do with me, made me tear up. It was the sound of a baby's heartbeat in utero. As I usually do when I'm really touched, I put my hand to my nose & breathed out my longing to God to one day give Michael & me this gift. Yesterday, less than a year later, He did. As I lay on the table at our new OB's office, the ultrasound tech placed the machine to my abdomen, & all of a sudden, we heard our M&M's heartbeat! Of course, I cried - as I'm doing now! We got to see our little one, too, & he/she was very active! M&M jumped, wiggled, & even waved! I suppose I came across as a little dorky (not that I care) when I waved back & said - through tears, of course - "Hi, baby!" I pray I never lose this wonder & joy over the miracle that God has wrought in our lives!

Our Urgent Mission

2011-11-27T19:13:00.000-06:00

I wanted to write a post today, but my brain is more than a little sluggish, so I'm having a hard time coming up with something to actually say. Then, I went to one of my favorite blogs - A Glimpse of Our Vapor - & read what my sweet friend, Katie, wrote. And I just have to share it! I'm going to share the video that she posted below, as well as another one of my favorite missionary videos, but make sure you read her post as well. It's convicting. And we need that. Desperately.

Insight From the Smoky Mountains

2011-11-25T19:42:00.001-06:00

The road was dark & curvy, with only the light from our car fleetingly illuminating our immediate surroundings in grey patches. All we saw was the black road, bordered on both sides by black trees bedecked with shadowy leaves. Our view of the path ahead was more often than not obscured by the bend in the road. The black night enveloping us made what lay ahead & what lay beside impossible to discern.

Then, as the sun woke from her slumber, we began to behold the beauty that truly surrounded us. What the night had hidden, the light revealed in magnificent detail. The land rose up, up, up to our right while it rolled down in cascading hills to our left. The ground was strewn deeply with amber leaves, while the myriad of trees marching up & down those hills were still stubbornly clinging to an array of their sunshiney gold, fiery red, & vibrant orange siblings. Mingled amongst this riot of color were the evergreens with their springy & dark forest green leaves giving just the right backdrop. We found ourselves suddenly surrounded by God's breathtaking creation! Only, it wasn't so "sudden" after all. God's beautiful masterpiece had been there all along in the darkness, we just couldn't see it. We needed the light from the sun to reveal to us the reality that the black of night had blinded us to.

So it is with God. God is breathtakingly beautiful, awesomely majestic, & infinitely worthy of our worship. He is merciful, kind, loving, forgiving, just, & holy. But the darkness hides Him from men. Just as darkness is the essence of night, so it is with men's unregenerate hearts. In the same way that the beauty of God's creation was hidden behind the darkness of the night, so is the beauty of God hidden behind the darkness of our sinful nature. Only when the rays of light shine forth in our hearts by the Spirit of God are we no longer blind to reality. Our eyes are opened & we can see God for who He really is . . . & who we really are - creatures in desperate need of a merciful Savior. And we realize it's always been this way. The light doesn't create God's infinite beauty, it simply illuminates it.

My prayer today is that the Spirit of God would shine His light in the hearts of men everywhere, revealing to them the splendor of God & their need for His mercy. To God be the glory!

9 Weeks

2011-11-22T18:05:00.000-06:00

Our M&M is growing so fast! I love looking at these pictures & being able to see the shape of our baby. We even got to see the little heart beating today! I'm so overwhelmed with thanksgiving to God & love for Him, Michael, & this little one! This is a Happy Thanksgiving, indeed! And aren't the little captions cute? Our OB asked me, "Auburn or 'Bama?" & laughed when I said in a "duh" tone of voice, "'Bama." It obviously said, "Do you even need to ask?" Then I saw the above picture & laughed out loud! Sooo cute! Roll Tide!

Funny Pet Videos

2011-11-22T17:51:00.000-06:00

Okay, these are beyond hilarious!!!

Christmas Music

2011-11-21T06:20:00.001-06:00

Lots of people are already getting in the Christmas spirit! Just yesterday morning, I played my first Christmas songs. I'm hoping that we can get our decorations up in the next week. In that spirit of Christmas cheer, I want to recommend a couple of CDs to y'all filled with the absolute best Christmas music! If this doesn't put you in the mood to worship our Savior & celebrate His birth, I don't know what will! I can't praise these songs highly enough, & of course, you don't have to just play them at Christmas, because it's never the wrong season to celebrate Christ's birth! Enjoy!

Oh, my goodness, what a wonderful CD this is! I love each & every song, but I have to say that my absolute favorite song is "Glory Be To God". Every single time I listen to it, without fail, I start crying at the same point. When they sing, "Hosanna! Hosanna! The Lamb of God has come! Hosanna! Hosanna! He is the Promised One!" over & over, I'm overcome with emotion at this stunning fact. God promised the Messiah, & He kept that promise!!! I'm transported back to the manger & am in awe that this Child is the fulfillment of God's promise to us. He didn't forget us! He sent His Lamb, just as He said He would! I'm tearing up even now. And let me tell you what SGM has done: you can even download this very song for free on their site! Get yourself a taste of this incredible CD & stand in awe at what God has done!

Seriously, there is not a bad song in this whole CD! I have a hard time even picking out a favorite! "Behold the Lamb of God" takes you through the redemptive history of man, beginning with a song of worship for "the brave little boy who was God, but He made Himself nothing", leads you through Moses & Israel's longing for the Messiah, all the way up to the birth of Jesus. And Andrew Peterson takes his time singing about Jesus' birth; less than half of the CD is devoted to showing the need & longing for the Savior, while the rest focuses on His arrival. It's a beautiful journey through the Scriptures in song. If I have one suggestion, it's to buy the live version if you can. I normally don't prefer live versions over studio versions, but in this one, I definitely do. The "Begats", which is already so much fun, is even more so, & the way they do the very last song will give you chills. And you know what will make you like Andrew even more (& definitely tempt you even greater than I already have to buy the CD)? You can listen to the entire CD on his site!

Buy, listen, enjoy, praise God!

The Platts' Adoption Journey

2011-11-20T22:38:00.000-06:00

I've been following the Platt family's adoption journey through the Brook Hills blog, & it has been such a blessing! They aren't just sharing about their adoption of their daughter, but also of how God brought their sons into their lives. All of the stories are wonderful, filled with humor, warmth, & love. And they've all left me with a renewed adoration of God's plan & timing, which He works out with absolute perfection. May you be blessed & moved to praise God through their story as well! Soli Deo Gloria!

For These Things, I'm Thankful

2011-11-20T20:25:00.001-06:00

Dread. That's what I felt going into this day. And it turned out to be just as I feared. I didn't want to experience this day, not in the least. As a matter of fact, I vowed from the moment we knew it was coming that I wouldn't. I put my foot down so often & so hard in opposition to it that I have blisters! But, Michael insisted - insisted, even, that it would be good for us to experience it. I didn't believe him, & I still wish that we hadn't gone through it. But, you can't undo the past, even when it's as recent as this morning. See, our beloved pastor is preaching in Uganda. So, someone thought it would be nice to have a "Homecoming" for the former pastor. One in which he preached. Now, Michael used to be a member of our church during this former pastor's reign, so I've been regaled with stories of "the glory days", as some have called it (Michael not being one of them). Thus, my trepidation over this morning's service. What I haven't mentioned is that this former pastor is a revivalist, complete with all the trappings that word conjures up. And we got to witness every gory detail, of which I could say a lot - a lot - but I truly don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Instead, I'd like to focus on the one good thing that did come out of this morning's service: a renewed sense of thankfulness over what we have at our precious church. Fitting, as this is the week of Thanksgiving, don't you think?

Father, thank You for:
     *Pastors - & pastors' wives - who focus on You & Your glory;
     *Pastors who are filled with humility & grace;
     *Pastors who feed us the meat of Your Word;
     *Pastors who rely on the Spirit working in the hearts of men to bring about conviction & salvation;
     *Pastors who study Your Word & bring us correct interpretations of it;
     *Genuine, loving believers who surround us each Sunday;
     *A praise team whose sole ambition is to glorify & worship You through song;
     *Pastors who trust You to bring forth fruit, even if they can't see it;
     *Pastors who are faithful both in the pulpit & in their daily lives;

And last, but not least, thank You, Father, for bringing us to this church. May Your glory be done in & through us!

The Trouble With Altar Calls

2011-11-17T17:30:00.000-06:00

A friend & I had a brief discussion the other day regarding altar calls. Coming from a Lutheran background, I simply don't understand them. Calls to repentance & faith in Christ, I get, & I've been in churches that do just that with offers of someone to talk to after the service & assurances that leaving your seat isn't a requirement for salvation. Having been surrounded in my youth by revivalistic Baptist churches as the only models for the practice of altar calls, I usually find them to be irksome, not the least of which is because they are often emotionally manipulative & lead to false professions of faith. There are entire churches, rather than just an invitation here or there, where this manipulation is not the norm - mine being one - but this is nonetheless a common pitfall for altar calls. And then I have the problem of not being able to find the precedence of altar calls anywhere in Scripture. The fine people over at The Gospel Coalition were asked, in short, how to call people to Christ without relying on altar calls. Jonathan Leeman - editorial director at 9Marks & a PhD candidate researching ecclesiology - gave quite an astute response, one that I agree with wholeheartedly. Not everyone will agree with Jonathan's assessment, or my assent to it; however, I still ask that any readers of this post will not rely on their own feelings & opinions, but give careful thought to his words & check them - & the institution of altar calls - against the Word of God. This, not the traditions of man, must be the final arbiter of truth & the guide for all our practices & beliefs. So, without further ado, here's Jonathan's answer to this query.

Before I had arrived, the previous pastors had always given altar calls. I was now one month into an interim pastorate, and people were beginning to ask whether I would ever give them. I remember a long, meandering car ride with one sweet brother---a good friend to this day---devoted to the question.

I told this brother and the rest of the elders that I wouldn't do an altar call. Why not?

Because I think altar calls are wrong? No, I think a pastor is free to give one. It's not a sin.

Because I don't believe that people must make a decision for Christ? No, I think people must decide to repent and believe in order to be saved.

Because I don't think Jesus calls us to make a public profession? No, people must publicly profess their faith, which is why Jesus instituted baptism. (Emphasis mine)

Because I think inviting sinners to repent is inherently manipulative? No, I believe preachers should invite non-Christians to repent and believe throughout their sermons. I did this during the interim pastorate, and I did it just last Sunday when guest preaching at another church. I very clearly invited non-Christians to repent and believe in the middle of my sermon, and then told them to speak with me afterwards, or the pastor, or the Christian friend who brought them.

So why wouldn't I give an altar call? In short, I believe that this particular man-made practice, this 19th-century innovation, has produced more bad than good for Christian churches in the West. The altar call relies on the powers of emotion, rhetorical persuasion, and social pressure to induce people to make a hasty and premature decision. And producing professions is not the same thing as making disciples. Surely a number of factors are responsible for the many nominal Christians that typify Christianity in the West, but I believe that the altar call is one of them.

How many people in the last century walked an aisle, and spent the rest of their days convinced that they were a Christian, never considering how they lived!

The alternative to giving altar calls is sticking with the practices we see modeled in Scripture:

     *Invite people throughout your sermon to "repent and be baptized" like Peter did in Jerusalem (Acts 2:38). But when you do, don't just stand there waiting with emotionally charged music playing, staring them down until they relent. Rather, make several suggestions about how and where to discuss the matter further.

     *Ask people what they believe when they present themselves for baptism, just like Jesus made sure the disciples knew who he was (Matt. 16:13-17; also, 1 John 4:1-3).

     *Make sure they understand what following Jesus entails (Matt. 16:24f; John 6:53-60).

     *Explain that the fruit of their lives and persevering to the end will indicate whether or not they really believe (Matt. 7:24f; 10:22).

     *You might even explain that Jesus has commanded your church to remove them from its fellowship if their life moving forward does not match their profession (Matt. 18:15-17).

Yes, let's pray hard for conversions. But then let's do everything that Scripture requires of us in the long work of making disciples---a work that generally requires lots of teaching, lots of time, lots of invitations, lots of meals together, and finally the commitment of an entire church body.

The Most Terrifying Truth in the Scriptures ~ Paul Washer

2011-11-17T06:36:00.003-06:00

Oh, so very good!

The Gathering ~ Sovereign Grace Music

2011-11-16T09:08:00.000-06:00

Are you ready for one of the best CDs you'll ever listen to? Seriously, this one is incredible! But don't take my word for it - scroll through & listen. You won't regret it! You can download it, buy it, & look at the lyrics simply by clicking on the link below. Enjoy!

Our Little Peanut . . . M&M

2011-11-12T19:18:00.000-06:00

According to the measurements, we are 7 weeks along! It's incredible to me that I had no idea that I was pregnant for 6 whole weeks! We went in to the doctor for bloodwork & an ultrasound this past week, & so far, everything looks great! My numbers were healthy, as was our little one's heartbeat & placement. We're still in such awe over this whole surprise! I'm trying to think of a cute little nickname for him/her, because it can sometimes become a bit of a tongue twister to say "him or her" everytime I want to talk about him or her. (See what I mean?) Come to think of it, Michael might have hit on a nickname this morning, quite by accident. I was ravenous before breakfast, & I patted my belly & said, "It's okay, baby, I'm fixing to feed you." Michael chuckled & said, "A peanut M&M is bigger than our baby right now! I don't think he/she's eating that much!" I've heard people say "peanut" a lot, but "M&M" is new to me! I think it might work! ;-) What say you?

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord!

2011-11-08T10:04:00.000-06:00

I was 18 years old when the doctor diagnosed me with PCOS & laid down the news that it would be difficult if not impossible for me to one day conceive without medical intervention. Being an 18-year-old with no prospects for marriage in the immediate future, I didn't shrug it off, but I wasn't overly concerned.

I married Michael when I was 29, & we were full of hope for our future. We knew we had a hard road ahead of us in the children department. And thus has been our experience. In the course of our marriage, we've had grief over a disrupted adoption process & childlessness. I'm ashamed to say that I even railed at God a few short months ago, momentarily questioning the most basic truths of His love & goodness like a child throwing a temper tantrum because she's denied something she wants. I've had my medical diagnosis against me & neither Michael nor I are what you'd call slender, if you know what I mean! ;-) With PCOS, this is a definite strike against conception. Almost 4 1/2 years have come & gone since our wedding, & we've done pretty good at beginning a healthy, active lifestyle . . . but not so great at maintaining it.

Almost 2 months ago, something just clicked, & Michael & I not only began eating healthy & exercising, we kept it up. We trekked down to the bike trail that winds along the river 4 days a week, I worked out on the weekends while Michael went to his job, & we completely eschewed eating out, opting instead for home-cooked meals & homemade smoothies. No more ice cream, fries, or deep-fried chicken for us! Now we focused on farm-fresh eggs & dairy, coconut oil, fruits & veggies, & smaller portions. When I was hungry, I would picture my stomach & try to eat enough to cover the bottom instead of filling the whole thing. We ate just until we didn't feel hungry anymore; no more stuffing ourselves. And we felt great! Even on our camping trip, we strove not to undo all our hard work & maintain these principles.

Three days ago, Michael came home with a pregnancy test in hand. I looked at him sideways & initally refused to take it. Yes, I was late, but that had happened not so long ago as well, so I had decided that my body was simply rebelling against me. Yes, I'd had a little nausea the last 4 evenings, but that was just the food I'd eaten. Again, apparently, my body just hated me. But, I can't look into those beautiful blue eyes & deny him anything for long. So, I took the test, all the while lamenting that I didn't know why on earth we were doing this. "I'm never going to get a positive!", said I. He asked me to check to make sure the line in the test window showed up, indicating that we had done the test properly. I picked it up. "Ummmm . . . I think you need to come in here & turn on the light, because I think my eyes are playing tricks on me!" There it was - a bold, blue plus sign. But, that just can't be. My brain shut down. We snapped a picture on the cell phone & sent it to Beth, because I thought she would know what this meant. I just couldn't accept what I was seeing. She squealed with delight, "YOU'RE PREGNANT!!!" Michael raced out to get a digital test while I peppered her with the same questions repeatedly: "Can you get a false positive?"; "Can I trust this?"; "Is this for real?" Three days later, I'm still stunned. I keep looking at Michael & dreamily saying, "We're having a baby."

We're having a baby!!!

Love the Brethren

2011-10-20T22:43:00.000-05:00

"By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." No words can be plainer; & the consequence is equally plain, however hard it may bear upon any professors, that though they could speak with the tongues of angels, had the knowledge of all mysteries, a power of working miracles, & a zeal prompting them to give their bodies to be burned in defence of the truth; yet if they love not the brethren, they are but as sounding brass or tinkling cymbals: they may make a great noise in the church & in the world; they may be wise & able men, as the words are now frequently understood; they may pray or preach with great fluency; but in the sight of God their faith is dead, & their religion is vain.

~John Newton, A Pen Dipped in Love

10 Reasons Why the New NIV Bible is Bad for Women ~ Mary Kassian

2011-10-18T09:04:00.000-05:00

I'm so sorry for my long absence! Trust me, it's not by choice. Our desktop computer died all of a sudden a couple of Thursdays ago. We're able to get online with our laptop, but for some weird reason, the laptop isn't all that fond of letting me access this blog. Thankfully, it seems to be in a good mood on that front today! I have no idea when our desktop will be fixed, but hopefully it will be soon, because I have lots I want to share with y'all!

Today, it's an article by Mary Kassian on Girls Gone Wise. Have you visited this site yet? You really, really should! The articles & resources are incredible! Case in point, this one on the new gender-inclusive NIV Bible. John Piper even brings it to everyone's attention on Facebook. Mary's conclusion?

"So ladies, please don’t jump on the gender-inclusive Bible bandwagon. Be hip. Be courageous. Be politically incorrect. Insist on a Bible that accurately translates gender language – like the ESV, Holman Christian Standard, or New America Standard. Because in the end, inclusive language, and inclusive language Bibles, are bad for women." (emphasis mine)

Please read the whole post; her 10 reasons why gender-inclusive Bibles are bad for women are excellent & well worth pondering.

See & Be "Courageous"!

2011-10-05T14:38:00.000-05:00

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that the newest Sherwood Pictures' film "Courageous" is sweeping through the Christian community. A few months ago, I shared the trailer with you & enthused about our anticipation for its release. Well, Michael & I saw it last night, & let me just say that my anticipation for it was nothing to its realization! We both thought the movie was phenomenal! So much so that at the end of it, I actually clapped! (There were only 3 other people in the theater at that late hour, so it wasn't too embarrassing for Michael. hehehe) The film is overflowing with emotion, drama, & even humor. (I thought I was going to "bust a gut", as they say, from laughing so hard during the "Snake King" part!!!) The presentation of the Gospel is excellent, & the call for men to be responsible, godly, & faithful is unmatched. Michael & I both give our wholehearted recommendation for this movie & strongly encourage everyone to go see it, maybe even more than once! And, don't just see the movie, but take its message to heart. Stand up & shout, "I WILL!" . . . & then follow through. Soli Deo Gloria!

Family Movies

2011-10-02T13:58:00.001-05:00

I've got 4 movies to recommend to y'all today. These are all excellent films for the whole family! If you've got Netflix, you can even watch some of them instantly right now! I hope you love them as much as we do!

"Ociee Nash" is a sweet, fanciful movie that we saw when we kept the kids last year. It's fun & adorable!

"Jonathan Sperry" may very well be my favorite Christian film of all time. It's not forced or trite, & the way that this older man disciples these young men is incredible!

"Noah Dearborn" is a film that Michael picked out, & we both fell in love with it! It makes me long for a simpler life.

I was skeptical of "Alabama Moon" even after I watched the trailer, but only a few minutes into it had me sold! It's really a wonderful story!

Watch them, love them, add them to your collection. That's our plan, anyways!

Bloodlines ~ John Piper

2011-09-30T17:28:00.002-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I posted the teaser for John Piper's "Bloodlines" documentary; here it is now in full. If the teaser left me almost speechless - & seriously jonesing for the book - that's nothing compared to the full version! It's extraordinary! Thank goodness we already got the book in!

Bloodlines Documentary with John Piper from Crossway on Vimeo.

Mission Accomplished ~ Shai Linne

2011-09-26T21:02:00.000-05:00

"So if we can agree that the election of the Father is not universal, & the regeneration of the Holy Spirit is not universal, why would the atonement of the Son be universal?"

Quotable Christians

2011-09-25T23:19:00.000-05:00

“The rejoicing is not in the trial but in what God is doing in it & through it. We need to snap out of the delusion that God made us in order to make us happy. God made us to make us holy. ’Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me’, was Jesus’ command; and He was headed straight for the cross.”

~David Kizziah, preaching on James 1:2,

as quoted on A Glimpse of Our Vapor

"True holiness, we surely ought to remember, does not consist merely of inward sensations & impressions. It is much more than tears & sighs & bodily excitement & a quickened pulse . . . . It is something of 'the image of Christ', which can be seen & observed by others in our private life & habits & character & doings (Rom. 8:29)."

~J.C. Ryle, Holiness, introduction pg. xx

"If God's love for His children is to be measured by our health, wealth, and comfort in this life, God hated the apostle Paul."

~John Piper

John Piper & Kevin DeYoung on Holiness

2011-09-23T11:55:00.000-05:00

I have been sharing a lot of 3rd party articles & videos, I know, but I hope you've settled down to it, because I'm going to be sharing a lot more! I've been reading & watching a plethora of truly excellent material that I just know you'll want to know about, if you don't already. To kick off my continued sharing, let me begin with these 2 stellar videos featuring John Piper & Kevin DeYoung discussing holiness. Seriously good stuff!

Happy News for Beloved Friends!

2011-09-21T13:08:00.000-05:00

photo courtesy of Vinh Duong Photography

I have such an exciting story to share with y'all! Michael & I have a couple of friends from our former church whom we simply adore. Jennifer is infectiously bubbly, loving, & genuine; Josh is a jokester who loves the Lord & his family; their beautiful daughter Erin is smart, witty, & growing in her faith in Jesus. In other words, they are a super family that we're so fortunate to know & love. And they have one incredible, God-glorifying, obstacles-overcoming story to share! Hop on over to The Believer's Rest to read it! It'll put a smile on your face!

Did You Marry the Wrong Person?

2011-09-21T12:33:00.000-05:00

Did you marry the wrong person? Stephen Altrogge & Tim Challies both tackle this question on their blogs. Looking at the divorce rate, even among those who call themselves Christians, I would say this is a pretty pertinent question. I would expect that when you boil it down, the only way one can walk away from their vows "for better or worse . . . 'til death do us part" is that they believe they have married the wrong person. Tim's answer to this question, at first glance, was not what I expected:

"I guarantee that you have married the wrong person. We all marry the wrong person. Perhaps I should say it like this: we all marry the “wrong” person. We all marry a person who sins against us, who sometimes exasperates us by helping us worship our idols and at other times irritates us by smashing them to pieces. We all marry a person who has stinky breath and physical blemishes and bad moods. We all marry a person who is apparently incompatible with us on all kinds of levels."

Stephen's is good, too:

"The husband is neat, the wife is messy. The wife is talkative, the husband is quiet. The husband is always on time, the wife lives more in the moment. The wife is social, the husband is a homebody. These differences, which were initially just an irritant, have grown into something massive. What was once a tiny gap has become a great divide."

I can see how that can happen. I laughed when I read the paragraph above, because the description, with a few alterations, is exactly Michael & me. We have so many similarities, especially on the important things, but there are a lot of little differences that can drive us crazy. I can see how if you focus on those differences, they can drive a wedge. When we feel this happening, we need a reminder to alter our skewed view, one that I was happy to see Tim give.

"But here is what we need to see: The wrongness of our spouse is one of the great formative influences on us. The wrongness and the apparent incompatibilities are the very things God uses to mold and shape us. A few years down the road you will look back on all of that wrongness, all you declared to be wrong about your husband or wife, and find that God was not wrong at all. He knew exactly what you needed.

What I have found is that often times, when someone fears that he has married the wrong person, or when he fears that he is about to marry the wrong person, he is looking at the differences between himself and this other person and lamenting that this other person is not more like him. He may describe her personality or preferences or passions, but what he is really doing is showing that he wants this woman, this potential wife, to be more like him. If only she was…me! Too many men, too many women, truly want to marry an image of themselves. And why not? You tend to like your preferences, to like your idols, to like your likes.

But ask any married person what his life would be like if he had married someone who was just like himself and you’ll see the folly of it. Her talkativeness was just the antidote to your quiet nature, drawing you out, filling your home with godly words. Your sexual freedom was just what she needed to release her fears and teach her how to express love in a whole new way. Her constant lateness taught you to be patient and showed you that she wasn’t late because she was selfish, but because she cared, just like Jesus when he showed up “too late” to save his friend Lazarus. In all these ways and so many more, God uses incompatibilities to produce godliness. These differences are truly glorious, the means by which God helps us put our own sin to death." (emphasis mine)

I wholeheartedly concur with Tim! It is exactly our differences that God uses to sanctify us. I am an impatient, quick-to-anger person; Michael is the exact opposite. If he had my temperament, this would be a very unhappy household indeed! As it stands, his patient, forgiving personality is showing some evidence of tempering mine, & it makes for a much more peaceful marriage. I've heard it said that marriage is God's greatest sanctifying tool, & I think that's true. Nowhere else will you have two clashing personalities in such close communion filing away the rough edges. And, what I have already discovered in our marriage is that as our edges are smoothed, we grow closer to each other & more like God. Which, of course, is His perfect plan. So, bottom line, if you fear you married the wrong person, fear no more. God doesn't make mistakes & works all things for the good of His children. He will certainly do so in your marriage.

Secret Church!

2011-09-19T13:17:00.000-05:00

"Family, Marriage, Sex, & the Gospel"! These are the intertwining topics that David Platt will be covering with us in the next Secret Church on November 4. If you haven't been to a Secret Church yet, I strongly encourage you to come to this one! Secret Church is 6 hours of intensive teaching from Scripture. It's incredible, & it's well worth those 6 hours! After all, what is there in this life more worthy of such concentrated time & attention than God's Word & its application?

Tickets are already sold out to attend Secret Church at The Church at Brook Hills, but churches all over the nation are simulcasting the event. Some are even hosting Secret Church in homes & backyards! If your church hasn't signed up yet, encourage your leadership to do so now! And if you've missed previous Secret Church events, don't fret. All of the resources - including study guides - are online for you to watch, listen, & study!

Out of the Depths ~ Sovereign Grace

2011-09-17T21:43:00.000-05:00

I like to listen to music while I work around the house. Last night I was listening to the Psalms CD by Sovereign Grace, & in the midst of folding clothes, the following song came on. I sat on the bed, closed my eyes, & drank it in. It was glorious.

Moore on Robertson

2011-09-16T20:53:00.001-05:00

If you, like me, thought that Russell Moore's written refutation of Pat Robertson's "divorce your Alzheimer's-stricken wife" comments were incredible, hold on to your hats! It doesn't get any better than this!

Our Nephew, the Gentleman

2011-09-16T20:10:00.003-05:00

He'll probably kill me, but this is one of my favorite pictures of Bradley! And just for the record, no, he is most assuredly not an Auburn fan!

Have I ever told y'all about our nephew, Bradley? He is one smart fella, let me tell you! But even better than that - much better than that - he's a gentleman. Already, at the ripe old age of 16, this young man puts a lot of older men to shame when it comes to treating women - even his younger sisters - with respect. Rarely have I seen him not open a door for us females, & it's usually because his father or uncle get there first. Michael & I spent a good portion of yesterday up in the big city with this side of our family, & one thing really struck me when we were all leaving. Before getting into the car himself, Bradley made sure his mother was settled in the driver's seat first! "Did you see that?!", I crooned to Michael, "He's such a gentleman!" A while back, I met the family at a gas station for a milk exchange, & when I set out to pump my own gas (Michael wasn't there), Bradley was having none of it. He told me that wasn't my place & did it for me! These are just a few examples. Is he great, or what?!

1 Peter 3:7 exhorts men to "[show] honor to the woman as the weaker vessel". I've heard Mark Driscoll explain that men are like Thermoses & women are like crystal goblets. Personally, I'm rather partial to being treated more like crystal than a Thermos! ;-) I'm pleased that Bradley's already being shown how to treat women respectfully & look forward to the day when his wife will reap the benefits of his early training. For now, I'm just enjoying an opportunity to brag on our gentlemanly nephew! We love you, Bradley!

'Til Alzheimer's Do We Part?

2011-09-15T23:39:00.000-05:00

Standing before untold numbers of people claiming to be a representative of Christ, Pat Robertson spit in the face of Scripture's teaching this week & said that a man had grounds to divorce his Alzheimer's-stricken wife in order to remarry, claiming that she's "not there" anymore. There's so much that I could say, but I would never be able to say it as well as Russell Moore does in his confrontation of this heretic.

"Marriage, the Scripture tells us, is an icon of something deeper, more ancient, more mysterious. The marriage union is a sign, the Apostle Paul announces, of the mystery of Christ and his church (Eph. 5). The husband, then, is to love his wife “as Christ loved the church” (Eph. 5:25). This love is defined not as the hormonal surge of romance but as a self-sacrificial crucifixion of self. The husband pictures Christ when he loves his wife by giving himself up for her.

At the arrest of Christ, his Bride, the church, forgot who she was, and denied who he was. He didn’t divorce her. He didn’t leave.

The Bride of Christ fled his side, and went back to their old ways of life. When Jesus came to them after the resurrection, the church was about the very thing they were doing when Jesus found them in the first place: out on the boats with their nets. Jesus didn’t leave. He stood by his words, stood by his Bride, even to the Place of the Skull, and beyond."

Beautifully said! Rather than giving any credence whatsoever to such a load of tosh as what Pat Robertson doled out, let's hear what a true man of God has to say. Robert McQuilken lived out Ephesians 5:25-32 when he retired to spend his days caring for his wife of over 40 years.

It's not hard to see which view of marriage brings glory to God. And it's definitely not Pat Robertson's!

Status Quo or Ron Paul

2011-09-14T17:31:00.000-05:00

For those who keep complaining about the status quo, I have one thing to say: Stop voting for the status quo or stop complaining! If you, like we, are sick of such, sick of pandering candidates who renege on their word, sick of candidates getting drunk on their own power trips, sick of candidates who vow to uphold the Constitution & then spend all of their term ripping it to shreds, then you have one choice before you. Ron Paul.

Parenting Resources

2011-09-14T11:17:00.000-05:00

Since I mentioned parenting in my "Marriage Works!" posts, I thought it might be helpful to point out just a few of my favorite parenting resources. Even if you're not a parent yet, like me, it's never too early to get started because there's so much to learn! And even if you are already a parent, it's never too late to infuse some practical, godly wisdom into your life!

The Duties of Parents is an excellent little book! One of the things that makes Bishop Ryle one of my favorite authors is that he doesn't mince words. He's a straight shooter & makes no apologies for laying out God's Word as the foundation for any area of life, including parenting.

Parenting is not about modifying behavior to meet social norms. It's about reaching your child's heart. True salvation is not found in outward conformity but in heart-change. And what we want more than anything is for our children's hearts to be altered so that they love God supremely. Shepherding a Child's Heart gives you the tools for godly parenting. I will say that if you're anything like me, this approach to parenting is so different from your natural mind-set that you'll have to read it multiple times! ;-)

I cannot give a personal recommendation for Gospel-Powered Parenting, because I haven't read it yet. However, I have heard good things about it. So, my advice is, as in all things, read it with discernment.

Bloodlines ~ John Piper

2011-09-13T22:45:00.000-05:00

John Piper: Bloodlines Documentary Trailer from Crossway on Vimeo.

This almost leaves me speechless. All I can say is, I love this man, & I'm looking forward to this book!

Special Offer for Men

2011-09-12T16:36:00.000-05:00

Men, listen up! Ladies, you, too, because you're bound to know a man who could use this! Here's a special offer from Family Life Today to download the electronic version of Stepping Up: A Call to Courageous Manhood by Dennis Rainey for just $1.99! This offer is available now through October 15. Here's what Dennis has to say about the book & the offer. Michael jumped on this one, & you should, too!

Recipe of the "Week"

2011-09-12T13:29:00.000-05:00

It seems that everywhere you look, people are talking about how to increase our fruit & vegetable intake. A while back, Michael & I found what has turned out to be the perfect way for us . . . smoothies! We bought a Vitamix & started mixing it up! I thought I would share one of our favorites with you today. Enjoy!

Smoothies Galore!

Look at that beautiful color! Chock-full of berry goodness!

Ingredients (for a single serving):

-1/2 c. water or milk (water if you want fewer calories)

-1/4 c. yogurt (optional; we've started leaving it out because it contains so much sugar)

-honey (~1 T; I just pour it in)

-coconut oil (~1 T; this is my fat source, but 1/2 an avocado will work, too, & will give you a creamier smoothie)

-flax seed (again, I just pour it in, but I would guesstimate ~2 T)

-almonds (a couple of handfuls for protein, or you can use an organic, farm-fresh egg, which will also make it creamy; do not use a store-bought egg)

-1 banana

-strawberries (~1 c., or a bit more)

-blueberries (same as strawberries)

-spinach (1 handful; other greens such as kale will work as well)

It helps to have at least one frozen fruit; both our strawberries & blueberries are frozen in this smoothie made for 2.

Always make sure to layer your ingredients with liquids first. Blend until it reaches the desired consistency, using the tamper to push ingredients into the blades. I let mine run until it's flowing smoothly, like a fruity whirlpool. The single serving is somewhere around 20 ounces, or a little more than 2 cups, & it's easy to increase or even double that amount. Play with it & have fun!

See those lovely flecks?! Mmmm-Mmmm good!

One Thing the 9/11 Terrorists Got Right ~ John Piper

2011-09-11T22:47:00.000-05:00

The basis of our behavior is what we believe about our future. “Your reward will be great.” But this reward is fellowship with the sovereign, self-sacrificing Christ. And that hope makes us joyfully endure persecution. Murdering infidels is not the door to this reward. Suffering for the sake of their salvation is. . . . Learn from the terrorists: Don’t throw your life away pursuing their future. And don’t throw it away on the American dream. Fall in love with the final future glory. “Rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). (Read the rest here.)

A Heart of Repentance

2011-09-11T13:21:00.000-05:00

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!

~Psalm 139:23-24

Marriage Works!

2011-09-10T16:07:00.001-05:00

The story of the Bible revolves around God's redemption of mankind through Christ's atonement. From the moment of the Fall, after pronouncing curses on the serpent, Adam, & Eve respectively, God gives a life-giving promise of the coming child who will be their salvation. As the Israelites wandered & sinned in the desert, God gave them the sacrificial system as a reminder that not only were they in bondage to sin, but that their sin deserved death. Embedded in that system, though, there was also the repeated promise of the Lamb who would one day take away the sin of the world. With the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, the Son of God took on human flesh & walked the earth, healing infirmities & giving life to the lifeless. His mission carried Him to the cross, where the innocent One bore the guilt of sinners & paid the punishment we deserve. But the story doesn't end there, for being pleased with His sacrifice, the Father raised Jesus from the dead, securing once & for all victory over sin & death! Upon His ascension, He left His disciples with the charge to spread His Gospel to the ends of the earth. So, the rest of the Bible is given over to our "already/not yet" lives, the lives we live in between Christ's first & second comings. Pick any letter in the New Testament & you will see a pattern of Gospel followed by response. Repeatedly, we see that "because this Gospel is true, here is how we should respond". So, any time we see a command given in Scripture, we must always, always, always view it through a Gospel lens. To do anything else will lead us either to self-righteousness or despair. So, with this firmly in mind, let us look at the commands in Scripture that are either specific to or can be applied to marriage. This list is by no means exhaustive, but is a good starting place.

Pray for one another (James 5:16)

Wives - Respect your husband (Eph. 5:33)

Wives - Submit to your husband (Eph. 5:22-24; Col. 3:18; Titus 2:3-5)

Husbands - Love your wife (Eph. 5:25-33; Col. 3:19)

Forgive one another (Heb. 12:14-15; Matt. 6:9-15; Luke 17:3-4)

Repent to God & one another (Matt. 5:23-24; Luke 13:1-5; Acts 3:19-21)

Prefer & Serve one another (Rom. 12:10; John 13:1-17; Phil. 2:1-8)

Romance each other (Song of Solomon)

Communicate with love & understanding (Prov. 20:5; Eph. 4:29; Col. 4:6)

Put your spouse ahead of parents, children, & others (Genesis 2:24)

Be faithful (1 Cor. 6:15-20; Matt. 5:27-28)

Encourage one another (1 Thess. 5:11)

Make love (Prov. 5:15-19; 1 Cor. 7:3-5)

Some other things to remember:

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

~Prov. 4:23

"Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, & let him make her sorry to see him leave." ~Martin Luther

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ~Col. 3:8-17

Finally, let me recommend a few books for you. If you're not a reader, let me encourage you to become one, because there really is no better way to learn & grow. These are incredible books full of godly wisdom & simply bursting with Scriptural application!

Becoming the Woman of His Dreams by Sharon Jaynes is a highly practical book with 25 applications after each section, plus a study guide & prayers in the back. This book has been so helpful in giving me new ideas & re-centering me when I get a little off. I simply adore it!

Oh, me, oh, my! What an amazing book! We are inundated every day with all sorts of lies about God, about ourselves, about sin, about men - you name it, Satan (the father of lies) has led us into wrong thinking regarding it. Nancy does a superb job tackling these lies & using God's Word to show them as the twisting of truth that they really are. Seriously, you need this book!

Because this is a post for men & women, I would be remiss if I failed to include books that help husbands! I haven't read either of the following books, but I asked my beloved, & these were his first suggestions. I hope they're as helpful to you as the ones above will be to your wife.

My prayer is that you, your spouse, & your marriage are blessed by this post. The state of marriage in the church seems to be almost as bad off as outside the church, & it just should not be so. We have God's Word - the only foundation for truth to be had in this crazy, sinful world - to guide our thoughts, words, & deeds. Please, let's run to God rather than "Cosmo", "Desperate Housewives", or Katy Perry for wisdom & truth. Our marriages aren't the only thing at stake here. So is our witness for Christ to this dying world. May our marriages reflect the love of Christ & bring our Savior glory! Amen!

Ask A Calvinist ~ Justin Taylor

2011-09-08T15:52:00.000-05:00

Wow! This is an excellent post by Justin Taylor! He gives really straightforward, Scripture-laden responses to some incredibly tough questions regarding Calvinism. I don't know anything about Rachel Held Evans' blog (where this post is written), so I can't recommend it, but I unreservedly exhort you to read this post!

Marriage Works!

2011-09-08T07:33:00.000-05:00

Have you ever thought about how much of our lives are spent in preparation & study? I've been reflecting on this lately, & it occurs to me that we honestly spend the majority of our lives preparing for one thing or another. Consider: from the time we begin our formal education (sometimes even before), we are studying for exams or working hard to perfect some skill, be it sports, music, or any other discipline. We put a lot of effort into making sure that we have all of the information to excel in our studies & athletic/artistic pursuits. This hard-working mentality even carries on through our post-secondary education to whatever arena we choose to employ our knowledge & abilities, both in our jobs & in our leisure activities. We simply take it for granted that excelling in life will require a deep knowledge base & a honing of abilities, so we work very hard at acquiring these necessities in almost every area of our lives. Almost.

The one area that seems to be most neglected here is relationships. We live in a sinful world full of sinful people. Sinful people commit sin against each other. There is not a single relationship that will remain untainted by sin. And that makes relationships hard. Two relationships are the most difficult: relationships between spouses & relationships between parent & child. So, I've been thinking - why is it that we just expect to excel in these relationships without study & hard work? We will almost kill ourselves to perfect our knowledge so that we are good at our job or our passion, but we think that marriage & parenting will just come naturally. Therefore, we put little to no effort into gaining godly wisdom about how to be a good spouse or a good parent. And then we wonder why our families are falling apart. Forgive me, but this disparity just makes no sense.

Last week, I became aware of no less than 3 marriages that are now defunct. One lasted less than a year. All 3 of these marriages were entered into - & dissolved by - people who grew up in the church & still claim Christ as their Savior. One of them lamented about searching for God's will. Can I be honest here? I wanted to scream. As a matter of fact, if memory serves, I believe I did. Why is it that even believers will look to any other source than God's Word for wisdom, or even for His will? Is it because we don't believe His Word to be the final authority in all matters of our lives? Or is it because we don't like that His Word won't allow us to wallow in our sin, so we ignore it? We need a reality check.

We love to sing, "What a friend we have in Jesus"! And we truly do have the ultimate friend in Him. John 15:13 reminds us of this truth because Jesus Christ is its fulfillment:

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

We rightly revel in the truth that Jesus Christ willingly died for us on the cross! The problem is that we tend to stop here & ignore what comes next:

You are my friends if you do what I command you.

The proof that we are saved by Christ's sacrifice is that we obey His commands. It follows that if we choose to ignore His commands, this is proof that we are not friends for whom Jesus died. So, what commands found in His Word are either specific to or can be applied to marriage? We'll explore that next time.

Gospel-Light "Christian" Music

2011-09-07T15:09:00.001-05:00

I just read an article - two articles, in fact - on the topic of CCM (Contemporary Christian Music). One was from a woman who grew up in the church, an avid consumer of CCM as a young teenager, who became aware of a truth that's not even on a lot of believers' radars. She discovered that the majority of CCM is more focused on keeping up with the Jones' (i.e., secular music) than with Gospel content. This is an insightful woman, for she further saw how CCM's intense desire for "relevance" mirrored the church's striving after the same. In her longing for authenticity & truth, she saw through the vacuous nature of what she was being fed &, unfortunately, abandoned her faith. Her words - both truthful & heartbreaking - should be heeded by believers, for statistics show that she's not alone.

"In trying to compete in this market, the church has forfeited the one advantage it had in the game to attract disillusioned youth: authenticity. When it comes to intransigent values, the profit-driven world has zilch to offer. If Christian leaders weren’t so ashamed of those unvarnished values, they might have something more attractive than anything on today’s bleak moral market. In the meantime, they’ve lost one more kid to the competition."

~Meghan O’Gieblyn

The second article was actually the one I read first, the one that led me to Meghan's aforementioned piece. In citing it, Denny introduces his audience to Meghan's struggles & - accurately, I think - describes her as "a girl who becomes increasingly disillusioned with a vapid, degraded church culture". From her experience, Denny draws some very important conclusions that - just like Meghan's words - should be given careful consideration.

"In any case, there is a lesson here for all of us. You cannot market the gospel like you market a Big Mac. I have seen lots of Big Macs in my lifetime, but I’ve never seen one that looks as good as the picture on the billboard. That’s because marketers are in the business of taking something ordinary and making it to look better than it really is.

This is the opposite of the ministry of the gospel. We are not in the business of making the gospel to look better than it is. It is already far more glorious and weighty and substantial than we could ever describe. The gospel doesn’t need to be photoshopped to make it effective, nor does it need an extreme makeover “Madison Avenue Edition.” It just needs to be preached plainly and faithfully. And where that simple proclamation occurs, people find it to be the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 2:4; 4:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:5)."

Early on in our relationship, Michael tried to show me the shallowness in CCM. At that point, I had listened exclusively to CCM for around 15 years. I loved it! So, I took his negative evaluation quite personally, & it made me angry. Then, when he exposed me to Sovereign Grace Music, I thought it was "too churchy". But, as I listened to the words in SGM & compared them to many CCM songs, I became aware of a vast difference between them. The Scripture- & Gospel-saturated lyrics that flowed from SGM songs were riveting, while CCM was almost devoid of that which would make it truly Christian. Now, that being said, not every song classified as CCM bears these characteristics; however, far too many sadly do.

A clear distinction needs to be made here between that which calls itself Christian - be it media, church, or individual - & that which truly is. Just as not all that glitters is gold, not all that claims to be Christian actually is. I wonder where Meghan would be now if she had seen this distinction. If she had been in a church that unashamedly, unapologetically, unreservedly preached God's Word, that was faithful to God's Word, whose practices were informed by God's Word, would she have walked away from the faith that she was taught in her youth? Because, when all is distilled down, this is not mainly an issue with music; it's an issue with the church. And in the case of CCM, music is just a symptom of the underlying illness.

Harry Potter's Redemptive Theme

2011-09-07T07:07:00.001-05:00

It's no secret that I adore the Harry Potter book series. I know a lot of Christians do not feel the same way, & in fact believe the books to be wicked. Perhaps this lovely little video will help to change their minds. It certainly is validation for what those of us who love both Christ & Harry Potter (in quite different ways) have always been able to see, even if we haven't been able to articulate it quite as beautifully as Professor Barrs has done here.

The Business of Being Born

2011-09-06T21:31:00.001-05:00

This is, I think, the fifth time I've watched this documentary. The first 3 times were all in one weekend. I remember calling Michael at work & saying, "Guess what we're doing?! When we have children, we're having homebirths!" This coming from a girl well-versed in (& more than content with) pain meds thanks to numerous kidney stones. So, believe me when I say, this documentary is life-changing! I cry every time I watch it. **Warning: As this is a film about birth, there is some nudity.

Zeus, A Cast, & A Picnic

2011-09-06T15:42:00.000-05:00

I've been waiting to share some pictures with y'all from the last few weeks, but every time I hooked up the camera to retrieve said photos, the computer wouldn't recognize the camera's existence. It suddenly occurred to me a few minutes ago that I could insert the camera's card into the computer & try that. It worked. Duh. Hey, I never claimed to be techno-savvy!

Meet Zeus! He's a beautiful, sweet, calm (for the most part) Great Pyrenees. No, he's not ours; he belongs to Michael's sister's family. He's definitely a keeper!

He & Jake loooove to play together! Do you see how huge he is?! For reference, Jake is ~2 1/2 years old here; Zeus is ~4 1/2 months! He's gonna be a big fella!

Josie's not too keen on Zeus playing with Jake. I think she sees Jake as her playmate, & she doesn't care to share! We had to hold her back (at our own peril) or put her in the kennel so they could play. She voiced her displeasure, believe me, she voiced her displeasure!

After dealing with a very sensitive, easily pained pinky finger for nigh on a month, I finally went to the doctor. He said it wasn't the bone, but that I had injured the tendon. My guess is that the dogs hurt it. I pulled a Michael, & the cast didn't make it through the day. I couldn't function, so thankfully, I was able to slip it off & replace it with a splint. I'm supposed to have it removed this Thursday.

I don't know what I'm going to tell our doctor . . .

During TEA time, I was struck by the desire to surprise Michael with a picnic lunch!

So, I picked up the necessities, & he drove us out to one of our favorite places . . .

the lake where he proposed a little more than 4 years ago!

Oh, the joys of family, love, & memories!

A Prayer about Good Grief and God’s Comfort ~ Scotty Smith

2011-09-04T16:07:00.000-05:00

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

~Matt. 5:4

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts.

~2 Thess. 2:16-17

Heavenly Father, I’ve enjoyed hard work most of my life. I don’t mind investing the hours, expending the energy and breaking a sweat (physical and mental) for things that really matter. On the other hand, heart work has been more difficult for me, especially the heart work of grief. I don’t like grief because I don’t like loss, and I don’t like loss because it exposes my brokenness, and it makes me feel vulnerable and out of control—which, of course, I really am.

But I trust you Father, and because you tell me grief work is gospel work, I’ll roll up the sleeves of my heart and get busy. Send your Spirit into this moment and enable me to experience the blessing of mourning—the blessing of grieving as you intend. Then, and only then, will I enjoy the comfort you alone can give.

Help me to grieve the ways I grieve you, Father. I know I’ll never lose your love. I know that I can’t make you love me more, or less, by what I do. But give me the good grief of confessing my sins from a heart of love—a heart that loves your glory more than anything else. Help me to cry out with King David, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” No condemnation in Christ must not lead to no contrition for my sin. Give me guiltless humility.

Help me grieve the ways I hurt others. Don’t let me get used to wounding anyone’s heart. Forgive me when I make excuses for loving poorly, or try to justify my unkind words, critical attitude or aloof indifference. Help me humble myself, listen to the stories of people I hurt, and repent to your glory. Give me gospel sensibilities.

Help me to grieve the ways others hurt me. Neither minimizing nor demonizing the failures of others is in line with the truth of the gospel. I cannot forgive what I’m unwilling to voice, and I will not forgive what I’m unwilling to release. Forgive me for downplaying the ways I’ve been deeply hurt. Denial and overlooking aren’t the same. Forgive me for holding some people hostage to my bitterness. What I usually call righteous anger is more often self-righteous spite. Mercy-fy my heart.

Come, Lord Jesus, come gracious Father, you love us perfectly and completely, and you have given us “eternal comfort and good hope through grace.” Come now and grant us good grief gospel comfort today. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ kind and kingly name.

It's good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace.

~Hebrews 13:9

A Bittersweet Closing

2011-08-26T20:50:00.001-05:00

We finally sold our LA house. I have mixed feelings about it. It's a bittersweet event for me. Mostly sweet, especially the whole "not paying two mortgages" part, but there is some sadness. This was my first home. When I pulled into the driveway for the first time, I'll admit I was not impressed. It was not a cutesy cottage with a front porch. But, the moment I stepped inside, I knew it was mine. Mrs. Berry had only listed the house the day before; there wasn't even a sign in the front yard yet, & she was busy boxing up her belongings. I walked from room to room, falling increasingly in love with the house. It was old, it had charm & character. It had a huge yard, both front & back, with loads of very old trees. It even had a screen door. I considered that God's little gift to me. I loved it & never expected to move. Of course, marrying Michael being my reason for moving away, I'm immensely glad I did! But, I have lots of happy memories there, & it's a little sad to let it go. Ginger used to chase me around this house. My sweet niece, Randi, spent the night & we splashed in the dish water, read stories, & fell asleep with a Noah's ark nightlight chasing away the darkness. I taught 3 classes of second graders while this house was my home. I met my future husband for the first time here. Ginger ran around treeing squirrels in the backyard. Small moments to be sure, but such is the stuff of life, the moments that have real meaning. I am happy that a family who adores this house as much as I now call it home. Now they can make memories of their own there, while I continue to do so here with Michael. As long as I'm with him, I'm always home. Letting go of my first home is bittersweet. But mostly sweet.

O Heart Bereaved & Lonely ~ Indelible Grace

2011-08-19T20:44:00.000-05:00

This is a song for someone I love very dearly. I pray it helps her heart.

I Asked the Lord ~ Indelible Grace

2011-08-16T16:32:00.000-05:00

These inward trials I employ

From self & pride to set thee free

And break thy schemes of earthly joy

That thou mayest seek thy all in Me

He doesn't always do what we want Him to do, but He does always do what is best.

Snapshots of Our Life

2011-08-15T12:16:00.000-05:00

I love pictures! Don't you love pictures? One of my favorite blogs does nothing but share pictures & fun captions. I haven't shared any pictures in a while, so I trawled through ours & found some that you haven't seen yet. I hope you enjoy them!

Thankfully, he still has all of his fingers!

"That's my stick!" "No, it's mine!"

The fruits of his labor. This thing isn't going anywhere!

It's a hard knock life!

We're taking our doctor's advice here & going with a bear attack.

Mmmmm . . . cheese!

Chillin' under the shade of the crab apple tree

For once, I was able to surprise him for his birthday!

Mini meatloafs inspired by Sommer. Soooo good!

No power after the tornado meant candlelight, open windows, & pizza for supper.

This girl always wants to be outside!

Sunny sunflowers from our anniversary.

Are Respect & Submission Synonymous?

2011-08-14T23:39:00.000-05:00

I've written on submission before, so forgive me for strolling down these paths again, but I feel compelled to address the issue once more after Michele Bauchmann's absurd remark that submission & respect are synonymous in her marriage. Certainly, respect is a vital component of any healthy marriage, but it is not the same as submission, & we'd be fools to act as though they are. Respect is to hold someone in esteem, while submission is to yield to another's authority. Oftentimes, we will respect those whom we submit to, but we don't always submit to those whom we respect. For instance, I respect my sister-in-law, but I'm not submissive towards her. On the other hand, I both respect & submit to Michael. He, however, while respecting me does not submit to me. That is not his calling as my husband, while it is mine as his wife. God has been clear in His Word:

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. (Eph. 5:22-24)

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. (Col. 3:18)

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the Word of God may not be reviled. (Titus 2:3-5)

We should practice both respect & submission in our marriages without confusing the two. They are both important, but they are not interchangeable. Let's live in the light of God's Word so that our marriages may be glorifying to God.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Law & Grace: Old Friends

2011-08-13T20:42:00.001-05:00

There is apparently much debate regarding holiness that is pitting God's grace against God's law. I haven't entered into the fray here - honestly, I don't read many blogs anymore, they're just too time-consuming - but my understanding of it is that people believe that if we believe & preach grace, then there is no need to preach the commands of Scripture, & it might even be harmful to do so. Ironically, I wonder what Paul would have to say to that argument. Well, not really, because in reading his epistles, I know what he would say . . . & if you don't, you need to read said epistles.

So, anyways, Michael - who keeps up with this stuff - told me about Kevin DeYoung's post on this issue & fairly raved over it. I hopped on over to Mr. DeYoung, Restless, & Reformed to see what he had to say & found these incredibly wise & well-timed words:

"Let’s not be afraid to land on law—never as the means of meriting justification, but as the proper expression of having received it. It’s not wrong for a sermon to conclude with something we have to do. It’s not inappropriate that our counseling exhort one another to obedience. Legalism is a problem in the church, but so is antinomianism. Granted, I don’t hear anyone saying “let’s continue in sin that grace may abound” (Rom. 6:1). That’s the worst form of antinomianism. But strictly speaking antinomianism simply means no-law, and some Christians have very little place for the law in the pursuit of holiness. One scholar says about an antinomian pastor from 17th century England: “He believed that the law served a useful purpose in convincing men of their need of a Saviour; nevertheless, he gave it little or no place in the life of a Christian since he held that ‘free grace is the teacher of good works.’” Emphasizing free grace is not the problem. The problem is in assuming that good works will invariably flow from nothing but a diligent emphasis on the gospel.

The irony is that if we make every imperative into a command to believe the gospel more fully, we turn the gospel into one more thing we have to get right and faith becomes the one thing we need to be better at. If only we really believed, obedience would take care of itself. No need for commands or effort. But the Bible does not reason this way. It has no problem with the word “therefore.” Grace, grace, grace, therefore, stop doing this, start doing that, and obey the commands of God. Good works should always be rooted in the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection, but I believe we are expecting too much from the “flow” and not doing enough to teach that obedience to the law—from a willing spirit, as made possible by the Holy Spirit—is the proper response to free grace.

For as much as Luther derided the misuse of the Law, he did not reject the positive role of the law in the believer’s life. The Lutheran Formula of Concord is absolutely right in when it says, “We believe, teach, and confess that the preaching of the Law is to be urged with diligence, not only upon the unbelieving and impenitent, but also upon true believers, who are truly converted, regenerate, and justified by faith” (Epitome 6.2). Preachers must preach the law without embarrassment. Parents must insist on obedience without shame. The law can, and should, be urged upon true believers—not to condemn, but to correct and promote Christlikeness. Both the indicatives of Scripture and the imperatives are from God, for our good, and given in grace." Read the rest here.

Just as with God's sovereignty & man's responsibility, so are law & grace - you don't have to reconcile old friends.

Loss is Gain

2011-08-12T22:43:00.006-05:00

*Be prepared: this is going to be a long post. Also, I will be as discrete as possible, but some detailed explanation is needed to ensure understanding.

This has been a dreadful week. Not only for what has taken place, but also for what I have learned about myself. It all started 3 weeks ago, & these 3 weeks have been a roller coaster ride, a continuously revolving cycle of hope, followed by ever-increasing anxiety & desperation, & culminating in crushing disappointment & confusion. I have learned a lot of lessons in this relatively short time span - lessons about trust, hope, & patience; lessons about how deeply embedded is my sin, how truly depraved I am.

I am 3 weeks late. Now, having PCOS, that is not unheard of; my longest gap between cycles before treatment was 2 years. However, in the almost 2 years since I've been taking Metformin, I've never been this late. Add to that the fact that I've been regularly exercising & have had a few of the classic symptoms, & we genuinely thought we were pregnant. So much so that we immediately began taking home pregnancy tests every few days. Because I have wacky hormone levels, we assumed the negative results were simply due to us taking them too early. All throughout this, I have been forcefully reminded of how Harry Potter felt as he competed in the Triwizard Tournament. As each test day approached, I experienced a mounting tension & anxiety, which reached a fever pitch to the point where I thought I would either lose my mind or my lunch. Then, once we got the results, along with disappointment, I would feel a calm until the next test day approached. For two & a half weeks, this has been my life. It has drained me & left me frazzled.

During this time, God has been teaching me a few different lessons. Patience has never been my strong suit. I had no choice here but to be patient; there was absolutely nothing I could do to move things along. I guess, though, come to think of it, perhaps God was simply showing me my penchant for impatience, because - while I did have fleeting moments or perhaps even a day here or there where I was calmly waiting - I was mighty anxious for answers the rest of the time. I know that another lesson he wanted me to learn regarded hope. Perhaps Proverbs 13:12 doesn't mean this, but I began to see that when I "defer hope" from God & place it on something else - in this case, being with child - that my "heart [becomes] sick". Finally, of course this experience is meant to strengthen my faith. Although that has been the end result, for a time I failed miserably in this area, but I'll get to that in a moment.

Even though we kept pulling up negatives, we could see no other logical explanation, so it was practically impossible to keep our minds from daydreaming about the possibilities. We've had names picked out for a while, so we dwelled instead on how we would tell people & how we would have to redecorate the house. We were so hopeful that we would be able to surprise our families, which - if that's you - explains why you didn't know about this until earlier this week. We only told our closest friends that we thought we might be pregnant. We were bursting to tell someone, & our thought here was that our friends would not be as disappointed as our family. They have proven us wrong on that account, & I've been amazed at how they have entered into our grief with us. Having to tell everyone that we're not pregnant has been difficult, but I can't even begin to express how deeply I appreciate the love & encouragement that we've received. The fact that our friends are mourning with us means more than I can say. Especially Sommer, Sweet T, Angie, Amber, & Katie. These ladies have known me for less than a year, & the love that they have lavished on me has been overwhelming. I didn't think I could love you more, ladies, & yet, I do.

The strain of the HPTs finally broke us, & we went to our family doctor on Monday for a blood test. Michael was certain that it would be positive; I was terrified that it wouldn't be. Turns out that whole "expect the worst, hope for the best" thing isn't helpful in the least. Everything came crashing down when we got the call the next day that the test was negative. I immediately called our OB, got an appointment for Wednesday, & then curled up in our bed & sobbed my heart out. Here was my lowest point. The point when my faith failed. All of a sudden, I allowed myself to dwell on thoughts about God that I've never had in my life. I questioned His love for me. I believed that He was being cruel, that He was sitting on high laughing at my pain. I could not wrap my head around why He was "doing this to me". I would have been perfectly fine if my cycle had begun when it was supposed to, so I could not comprehend why He would dangle this hope before me like a carrot forever beyond my reach when He knows how much I desire being a mother. I tell you this not because I'm proud of it, but expressly because I'm not. Michael held me while I wept & railed. After about half an hour, I lay there spent, calm. And gradually, I felt peace & even happiness invade my soul. Unbeknownst to me, Michael was silently praying for God to give me grace, & even though I had been arrogantly faithless & altogether undeserving, He gave it to me. How deep the Father's love, indeed. That evening, Michael & I clasped hands & I prayed a prayer of deep repentance & thankfulness. I have seen anew the depths of my sin & the wonder of being forgiven by my Father.

By the time our OB appointment came, I knew that the results of another blood test would be negative. I have accepted that we are not with child, even while I am left to wonder what is going on. All through this, we have contemplated the glory that God would receive, the praise that we would give Him in front of everyone if He had given us this gift. I've struggled with not understanding why this would not be the best way for Him to receive glory from us. Because God does everything for His glory, I've come to comprehend that He means to receive glory from us another way - namely, by the growth of our faith in Him in the midst of this trial. So, I stand here now declaring that God is good, that He loves me, & that He is working out His plan - even if He chooses not to share all of the details with me. Trust is not always an easy thing to come by. I have had times in my life where my faith in God never wavered, where I easily trusted Him even though I was hurting. That was not the case this time; for the first time in my life, I doubted Him. Now I know that sometimes you have to fight to trust. I'm so thankful to have a godly husband & godly friends who have ministered to me & pointed me toward God throughout this, & even now continue to do so. I'm thankful for the love & support of my Mama & Daddy, my sister-in-law Beth, & my cousin Scott. I appreciate everyone's encouragement & covet your prayers. Thank you for being the body of Christ to us.

Soli Deo Gloria

Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

2011-08-07T19:03:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, life can wear you down. Here's a lovely song in case you're feeling a little worn down today. Close your eyes & pray the words. Run to the only true refuge for weary souls. May the God of grace & mercy bring you peace & healing.

War on Life

2011-08-05T12:01:00.000-05:00

Read this superbly illuminating article by Al Mohler regarding the war that's being declared on crisis pregnancy centers. We do indeed live in a "culture of death".

"Crisis pregnancy centers deserve the support of all who cherish the sanctity of life, the defense of the unborn, and the right of free speech. As defenders of life, crisis pregnancy centers should be committed to nothing less than comprehensive truth-telling. It is the Culture of Death, and not the Culture of Life, that fears the truth."

On Carnal Christians ~ Ask R.C.

2011-08-05T11:20:00.000-05:00

Here's another great question & answer from R.C. If I were asked this question, I would simply say "no", which would not be nearly as helpful as the details & distinctions R.C. provides. Pay particular attention to his distinctions in the last paragraph regarding carnal "Christians" & "carnal" Christians. Good stuff!

Q: Are there carnal Christians - ones who profess to believe and go immediately back to their old life, who never show evidence regeneration having taken place?

A: Yes, there are “carnal” Christians, but no, there are no Christians who never show evidence of regeneration having taken place. The notion that a person could truly embrace the saving work of Christ while not embracing His Lordship is a pernicious error made most popular by Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ. The “scholarly” support for this distorted perspective has come from Charles Ryrie and Zane Hodges both of whom taught at the dispensational mecca of Dallas Theological Seminary.

This idea has any number of problems. First and foremost is that it divides Christ. It is all well and good to distinguish between the three-fold office of Christ, affirming that He is prophet, priest and king. It is another thing altogether to suggest that one can truly embrace one part of that formula, while passing over another. To embrace the Christ who saves as savior but to reject the Christ who reigns as Lord is to divide Christ.

This notion, secondly, deeply misunderstands how it is that we even come to embrace the saving work of Christ. Because we are, by nature, children of wrath, we are unable, in ourselves, to embrace anything of the work of Christ. Before we can come to Him He must change us first. God the Holy Spirit must change our heart before we can come to faith. This is regeneration, which does not flow from our faith but is the source of our faith. If we have been given a new heart, if our inclination is no longer only toward sin, if we are not only changed by but indwelt by the Spirit, how could we help from growing in grace? He has not only forgiven us, but is cleansing us from all sin (I John 1:9).

Third, this notion cuts off the legs of our assurance. While understanding and affirming the biblical doctrine of God’s saving grace is a critical part of our assurance, it is not enough. The demons, after all, know that Jesus lived a perfect life for us, that He died as a substitute for us, receiving the wrath of the Father due to us for our sins. Our assurance is grounded in our embracing the true gospel, and our changed lives. What sets believers apart from demons and false professors of the true faith is that we are indeed changed. We are not without sin, but we are changed.

Which brings us back to the reality of carnal Christians. The term itself comes from Paul’s admonition to the church at Corinth that the believers there are “carnal.” Do carnal Christians exist? Of course they do. We’re all carnal. That is, we still struggle against our sin nature. We still sin. In that sense all believers are carnal. We are changed by the work of the Spirit, but we are not complete. We are not without sin. Our standard then is not “Am I perfect?” for then no one would qualify as a believer. Instead it is “Am I getting better?” I still struggle against sin. Did I not struggle, were I comfortable with my sin, I would be a carnal “Christian.” That I struggle demonstrates that I am a “carnal” Christian. It is a subtle difference from one perspective. From another it is the difference between eternal life and death.

A Christian View of the Debt Crisis

2011-08-03T11:04:00.000-05:00

The following is a very well-written letter from CASE (Christians for A Sustainable Economy) that I believe needs to be read by all. You can see the list of co-founders & signatories here & sign it yourself here.

"Dear President Obama, Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Boehner,

Recently, in the midst of the debt-ceiling crisis, a group calling themselves the “Circle of Protection,” led by Jim Wallis of the activist group Sojourners, met with you and your staff to claim that biblical mandates preclude limits to federal programs for low-income people. The Circle includes representatives of the National Association of Evangelicals, Bread for the World, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Wallis and the “Circle of Protection” do not speak for all Christians. However laudable their intentions, the consequence of their action is to provide a religious imprimatur for big government and sanctify federal welfare programs that are often ineffective — even counterproductive. Contrary to their founding “Statement,” we do not need to “protect programs for the poor.” We need to protect the poor themselves. Indeed, sometimes we need to protect them from the very programs that ostensibly serve the poor, but actually demean the poor, undermine their family structures and trap them in poverty, dependency and despair for generations. Such programs are unwise, uncompassionate, and unjust.

Let no one be deceived: the Budget Control Act may resolve the immediate cash-flow crisis, but the long-term crisis of government insolvency remains. The Act does not touch the mountain of debt we are preparing to pass on to our families; in fact, the purpose of the Act is to permit our leaders to make that mountain larger, by raising the debt ceiling. This debt will only impoverish even more Americans. So we ask that you meet with us, Christians for A Sustainable Economy (case4america.org). We believe the poor of this generation and generations to come are best served by policies that promote economic freedom and growth, that encourage productivity and creativity in every able person, and that wisely steward our common resources for generations to come. All Americans – especially the poor – are best served by sustainable economic policies for a free and flourishing society. When creativity and entrepreneurship are rewarded, the yield is an increase of productivity and generosity.

Compassion and charity for “the least of these” is an essential expression of our faith, flowing from a heart inclined towards God. And just as the love of God frees us for a more abundant life, so our charity must go beyond mere material provision to meet the deeper needs of the poor. To suggest that Matthew 25 – or any commandment concerning Christian charity – can be met through wealth redistribution is to obscure these truths. We encourage you to consider the whole counsel of scripture, which urges not only compassion and provision for the poor but also the perils of debt and the importance of wise stewardship.

To the question, “What would Jesus cut?”, we add the question, “Whom would Jesus indebt?” The Good Samaritan did not use a government credit card.

The government plays an important role, and communities do need the support of social safety nets for those in need. A Christian approach to the budget crisis considers the interests of the poor. All of us suffer when our nation exchanges wisdom, prudence, liberty and faithful stewardship for the chronic unemployment of a stagnant economy and the enslaving power of debt.

Both parties have failed. Our common resources have been stewarded unwisely and the United States is trillions of dollars in debt. We have reached a breaking point. Fiscal recklessness must stop. Just as we should not balance the budget “on the backs of the poor,” so we should not balance the budget on the backs of our children and grandchildren.

Even as the debt-ceiling crisis passes, the long-term challenge of making federal spending wise and effective remains. We recommend three steps:

1. Correctly identify the problem.

The debt disaster is a spending issue. Tax revenues are finite, while the growth of government is unceasing. By any measure, federal spending has skyrocketed, from $2.9 trillion in 2008 to $3.8 trillion in 2011. We presently borrow over forty cents of every dollar we spend. While increasing taxes will generate additional revenues and reduce the deficit in the short term, it will ultimately harm the economy, constrain economic growth, and hasten the out-of-control growth of government. To give more money to Washington is to give the sickness the remedy it requests. The last thing the government needs is more money. It needs to cease its unwise and profligate spending.

2. Put narrow political interests aside.

Entrenched political interests stagnate reform. Every cent of government spending must be on the table, for ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ priorities alike. The stated intention of helping the needy does not make poverty programs sacrosanct. Some of these programs ‘serve’ the poor so well that they make more people poor and keep them in poverty longer. Stop the demagoguery against those who propose substantive changes to entitlements and social welfare programs.

3. Lead for the long term.

Americans yearn for, and deeply appreciate, leaders who embrace a burden of responsibility that transcends the implications of the next election cycle. While we agree that budgets are moral documents insofar as they reflect values and decisions for which we are morally culpable, long-term budget plans are morally meaningful promises we make to later generations. Right now we are morally failing our children and grandchildren by selling their future flourishing for our present comfort. In hard times, true leaders make hard decisions. We encourage you to put aside political calculations and the pressures of special interest groups to make commitments that are in the long-term interest of the American economy and the American people.

People of faith come in all stripes, and differ on many points. Jim Wallis and the “Circle of Protection” are but one perspective. We believe they have not fully represented the large and diverse community of Christian faith, as you will see by the list of signatories below,* and have conveyed less than the full biblical witness and the counsel it provides in the current crisis. As such, even as you met with the “Circle of Protection,” we request a meeting as well. If you are committed to hearing voices of faith, even those that challenge your policy priorities, we hope you will meet with us.

As Christians striving for a sustainable economy, one that will lift the poor out of poverty and dependency on government (learn more at case4america.org), we thank you for considering our message – and for your service to our nation. May God bless America, and return us soon to wise stewardship of our common resources."

Church Leaders Who Permit Carnality

2011-08-02T08:07:00.000-05:00

Church Leaders Who Permit Carnality from NCFIC on Vimeo.

As one of my sisters-in-Christ said so well, I'm thankful our pastor isn't one of these men!

A Story of Forgiveness

2011-07-31T21:34:00.001-05:00

Photo courtesy of Corbis Images

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. ~Ephesians 4:32

Before communion this morning, our pastor preached on this verse & asked us to examine ourselves to make certain that we would not "eat of the bread or drink of the cup in a manner unworthy" & thus "be guilty concerning the body & blood of the Lord." (1 Cor. 11:20-34) As I sit here, I can honestly say that at the moment there is no one with whom I am at odds & in need of extending forgiveness toward. However, that's not always the case & certainly has not been so in the past. Forgiving others can sometimes be one of the hardest of God's commands to follow. Today, I'd like to share with you a personal story of forgiveness, highlighting God's grace in bringing me to it.

As you may or may not know, I was molested as a child; however, that's not what I want to focus on here. What I want to focus on is how God brought me through the anger & hatred that I felt for the family who blamed me to the place of healing & forgiveness. When I discovered that not only had it happened again, but that my family's reaction toward this victim was the same as it had been toward me, concentrated anger flooded over me. Anger that hardened into full-blown hate.

As a Christian, I knew it was wrong to hate, knew that:

If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. ~1 John 4:20

Yet, I foolishly thought this did not apply to me because of the heinous nature of what was done to me (& her), both by the molester & by my family. I had a right to be angry - my anger was righteous - & I had a right to hate. The result of this was that I cut off all ties with my family for several years as the anger ate me alive from the inside out.

Anger - & its by-product hate - is a funny animal. As it took hold in my heart, I nursed it. As I nursed it, it's tentacles entagled themselves ever deeper until it colored every part of my life & held me captive. I was in constant turmoil, wanting to be reconciled with those I'd once cherished, but clutching tightly to my anger in the face of their refusal to acknowledge & atone for their wrongs. The only way, to my mind, for the relationships to be redeemed was for the guilty to pay for their sins. It got to the point where I carried around a constant burning in the pit of my stomach, a knot that never loosened. I went so far as to try to escape it all by moving 650 miles away. I thought distance would heal me. It did lessen the pressure because I no longer faced the situation daily, but I was by no means healed.

During the course of my struggles, I sought the help of 2 pastors & 2 counselors. Even so, my anger & anguish were not alleviated. One evening, the Holy Spirit convicted me of my anger & unforgiving attitude. I don't remember what the sermon I was listening to was on, but I remember this overwhelming certainty that I needed to forgive. When the Holy Spirit prods, it's foolish to ignore Him, so I reached out & reconciled with my family. And I thought I had forgiven them. The only thing was that when I thought about everything that had happened - the molestation, their betrayal, their refusal to admit wrong & apologize - I was still filled with anger. And while I was on speaking terms with them, I was really just going through the motions. I told myself that my cold heart towards them was natural because they had done nothing to earn back my trust. I was just being cautious with my heart so that they couldn't hurt me again. And while it is true that you can forgive someone without placing trust in them, looking back I can say that this simply was not what was going on here. I was cold of heart because I had not fully forgiven them. I still expected payment.

Fast-forward again. When Michael & I met, I nervously shared with him the story of my molestation. Nervously, because I saw myself as dirty, damaged goods. I figured he needed to know sooner rather than later so he could bail if he wanted to. He didn't. Instead, he sent me a box of books & sermons. Contained in that box was Mark Driscoll's sermon on expiation & C.J. Mahaney's book Living the Cross-Centered Life. I cried as Mark explained from the Scriptures that Christ's death on the cross cleansed me not only of the sins I commit, but also of the sins committed against me. This laid the foundation for C.J.'s book, through which, by the grace of God, I was finally freed. And through which I was finally able to free my prisoners. It was amazingly simple! What finally freed me was the Gospel.

Christ, one with God the Father from eternity past, became incarnate & dwelt among us. Fully God & fully man, He lived a perfectly sinless life, always in the will of the Father, living in complete communion with & submission to the Father in our place. When it pleased the Father, Christ was punished for our sin in His death on the cross. Bearing our shame, bearing God's wrath, He died the death we deserve. Through His mercy & grace, we are given His righteousness when we repent of our sin & believe in Him. He was condemned so we could be justified.

As I read Living the Cross-Centered Life, the truth of the Gospel hit me between the eyes full force. I realized for the first time the heinous nature of my own sin. Because God is perfectly holy, in order for me to enter His presence, I must be perfectly holy. And I'm not. Because I'm not, to show His great mercy & to bring glory to His name, He paid for my sin so I could come to Him. The offended paid the penalty for the offender. Incredible! In seeing this truth, I also realized that the sins committed against me, no matter how horrible, pale in comparison to my sin against God. Because, the true measure of sin is not the sin itself, but who is sinned against. And since God is infinitely holy, all sin committed against Him - no matter how "small" in our eyes - is infinitely wicked & infinitely worthy of damnation. That's simply not the case when someone sins against me.

So, the conclusion that I arrived at was this: If God has forgiven me, who am I to withhold forgiveness from others? In that instant, I was finally freed! Totally, completely, wholly freed! What happened to me was wrong, but I no longer feel anger over it. I no longer hold my family hostage. I never got an acknowledgement or an apology from them, & I find I no longer need it. The truth of the matter is, if they're saved - & I believe they are - then Christ has already paid for their sins, & they are no more.

So, let me encourage you. If you're facing a situation & are finding it difficult to forgive, you can just let it go. You can meditate on & rejoice in the Gospel & forgive. And you'll discover, as I did, that you'll finally find freedom.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Courageous Movie

2011-07-24T15:04:00.001-05:00

We've enjoyed Sherwood Pictures' other films & are really looking forward to this one, too!

Glory To ~ Sovereign Grace Music

2011-07-24T05:43:00.000-05:00

Alright, people! Put your dancing shoes on! This song will start your morning off right! I tried in vain to find a video for it - somebody be a dear & make one for me, because I myself don't have a clue how to - but this link is the next best thing. Turn it up LOUD & dance around! Enjoy & give "Glory To" the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit!!!

Laughable Mayhem

2011-07-23T19:39:00.000-05:00

These Allstate Mayhem videos are proof that I have a twisted sense of humor. 'Cause they seriously crack me up!

Did you catch that wicked little laugh at the end? Hilarious!

Creepy, but SO funny! Come on, you know you laughed, too. ;-)

Catching Up

2011-07-23T17:08:00.001-05:00

I spent yesterday & part of today getting reacquainted with an old friend. We met when I was in college, & I was immediately enthralled. He was funny, exciting, & could tug at my heart-strings. I haven't seen or heard from him in 4 years, though, & have really missed him. But, yesterday, while Michael was otherwise engaged, we were able to do some much needed catching up. And, just like old times, he made me laugh, he made me cry (just a little, in a sweet way), & he made my heart race with anticipation. Great times! And I'm really looking forward to being able to spend a lot of time with him over the next 2-3 weeks!

I had you going there for a second, didn't I? ;-) Now on to book 2! Yea!

On Family-Integrated Churches: Wisdom from Sproul, Jr.

2011-07-22T10:39:00.001-05:00

Earlier, I posted a link to the film "Divided" that's recently come out. The purpose of the film is to explore youth groups in churches, specifically whether they are biblical & helpful. As a result of this movie, people are coming out in droves debating "Family-Integrated Churches". I received a new "Ask R.C." in my email this morning that is quite pertinent to this discussion. R.C. Sproul, Jr. receives questions from people on a whole host of biblical topics, & he posts the answers for the benefit of all. I found his following words to be overflowing with timely wisdom. I hope you enjoy them as well!

"Q: Help! We can’t find a family integrated church in our area. What should we do?

A: First, whenever the question is, “What should we do?” the best first answer is “Repent and believe the gospel.” God does not welcome into His kingdom only those who both trust in the finished work of Christ alone and don’t allow their children into youth group. Some, sad to say, get so excited about discovering that the notion that our children must attend youth group or Sunday School is nothing more than tradition with no biblical warrant, end up with a rather distorted sense of priorities. Some forget the vital distinction between primary and secondary issues. Some, I’m afraid, would rather be in a family-integrated Mormon “church” than a divided evangelical church. Even more, almost as bad, would rather not be in a church than be in a divided church. In order not to divide up their family, the whole family is divided from the church, as these families set up their own “churches” in their own homes. These are in turn cut off from the blessings of elders, pastors, the communion of the saints and the grace of discipline. They are divided from the church. It is madness.

Second, one can always be a family integrated family, even without a family integrated church. I know of no church that requires its members to send their children to youth group, or to Sunday School. You can keep your family together even when others don’t see the wisdom of doing so. You may have to miss Sunday School, or you could, graciously and kindly ask if your child or children might sit in on the adult Sunday School, or if you might sit in in theirs. You can always teach your family together at home before you go to join the saints in corporate worship on the Lord’s Day morning.

Third, you can relax. Though I am confident that a family-integrated church is the best way to go, though I would love to see many churches go back to how the church operated over the centuries, I know in turn that there are plenty of family integrated churches that have far deeper problems than some non family integrated churches. I know that most non family integrated churches have far deeper problems than not being family integrated. We are bodies made up of sinners, and so we ought not be surprised when sin shows its ugly head in our corporate life. When it does, our first instinct ought to be to look for the log in our own eyes. The youth leader is likely not secretly seeking to seduce your children to the dark side. He wants to help. The octogenarian Sunday School teacher isn’t the devil’s handmaiden. She wants to help. The elders who created these programs, even if those programs have some overlap with a Darwinian understanding of education, are not a cabal of Darwinians. They want to help.

With all the cancer my family has been through I have had countless deeply caring people suggest countless alternative therapies. Though they might be right, my response is a sincere, “No thank you.” I don’t need to make them agree with me. I don’t need to defeat their arguments or evidence. I don’t need to have internet wars over their theories. I just pass on what they offer. Sometimes I read their information. Sometimes I don’t. You certainly can feel free to talk to others about your commitment to keeping your family together. You can talk to your pastor and your elders about the issue. But if they don’t hear you as loving, gracious, relaxed, and committed to the well being of the congregation, then you have a bigger problem than age segregation. You have a Hebrews 13:17 problem.:

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you.

So back to step one. Repent, and believe the gospel."

A Little Political Debunking

2011-07-18T21:47:00.001-05:00

I've seen some weird statements that Herman Cain or Michele Bauchmann are "Tea Party darlings". See, I have a hard time processing how that can be because the whole Tea Party movement began with a money bomb for Ron Paul on the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party during the 2008 election. If you're a "Tea Partier" with a choice between Ron Paul & someone else, you choose Ron Paul. Period. But, because these two are getting some press, I'm going to take a little time & debunk them for you. 'Cause let me tell you, they can talk a good game, but their record shows that they are not what they pretend! Thomas E. Woods is a great historian, so this is an excellent place to begin your education. Don't take his word as Gospel, but use this as a jumping-off place. And, by all means, do not just rely on the media for your information . . . including "fair & unbiased" Fox News!

First up, learn about the trouble with Herman Cain:

As for Michele, you can read about her voting record here, which may be quite illuminating for those who believe her to be a "Constitutional Conservative".

And finally, watch below for a quick synopsis - meant for the Iowa voters heading to the straw poll, but more than applicable to the entire American constituency - of why Ron Paul is the most qualified man for the presidency:

Fireworks Fail

2011-07-17T22:34:00.000-05:00

I wanted to take really beautiful pictures of the 4th of July fireworks. Really, I did! Michael & I missed out on the last 2 celebrations because he was working. So, I was really looking forward to heading down to the riverfront to enjoy the fireworks this year. And take pictures, of course! I LOVE taking pictures, & have fancied myself to be somewhat good at it, particularly because of my Smoky Mountains & Spring pictures. Well! Turns out, taking pictures of fireworks is quite different! I put the camera on the night-vision setting & fired away. I expected beautiful pictures at which we could "oooh!" & "aaah!". Here's what I actually got. Make sure you're sitting down so you don't hurt yourself laughing at me. Seriously. Sit.

Like, seriously?! What in the world happened?! I haven't a clue. It could have to do with that delay-shutter thing that kept happening. Not being able to take rapid pictures didn't help, either, & made me miss quite a few pictures. Although, judging by the products, perhaps that's not such a bad thing! ;-) Yep. Fireworks. I think I might skip next year's "photo adventure". Then again . . . maybe the world could use some "artsy" fireworks pictures! (Artsy's what I'm gonna go with here to soothe my wounded ego!) ;-)

Believers Bungalow

Sisterly Conversations

'Bye, Emmy

Books! Books! Books!

Biblical Comfort in Affliction

A Noble Calling

Emmy

Our Busy Bungalow

Separated Siblings

My Fear, God's Peace

Planning for the New Year

Sisterly Conversations

Pleading for the Righteous

Living Compassion

Stories & Presents

Michael's Model

Another Year Older . . .

The Gospel for Islam ~ James White

That's Christmas

"An Unwed Teen with an Unplanned Pregnancy" ~ Desiring God Blog

Bad News: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town ~ John Piper

Happy Birthday Jake!

"To My Fellow Christians" ~ A Letter From My Beloved

Researching Ron Paul

Sexual Healing ~ A Poem

Ahhh, Those Lovely Hormones!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Our Football Idol

"The Terminal" ~ R.C. Sproul, Jr.

My Excellent, Sacrifical Husband

Katie Davis on Adoption

10 Weeks

Our Urgent Mission

Insight From the Smoky Mountains

9 Weeks

Funny Pet Videos

Christmas Music

The Platts' Adoption Journey

For These Things, I'm Thankful

The Trouble With Altar Calls

The Most Terrifying Truth in the Scriptures ~ Paul Washer

The Gathering ~ Sovereign Grace Music

Our Little Peanut . . . M&M

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord!

Love the Brethren

10 Reasons Why the New NIV Bible is Bad for Women ~ Mary Kassian

See & Be "Courageous"!

Family Movies

Bloodlines ~ John Piper

Mission Accomplished ~ Shai Linne

Quotable Christians

John Piper & Kevin DeYoung on Holiness

Happy News for Beloved Friends!

Did You Marry the Wrong Person?

Secret Church!

Out of the Depths ~ Sovereign Grace

Moore on Robertson

Our Nephew, the Gentleman

'Til Alzheimer's Do We Part?

Status Quo or Ron Paul

Parenting Resources

Bloodlines ~ John Piper

Special Offer for Men

Recipe of the "Week"

One Thing the 9/11 Terrorists Got Right ~ John Piper

A Heart of Repentance

Marriage Works!

Ask A Calvinist ~ Justin Taylor

Marriage Works!

Gospel-Light "Christian" Music

Harry Potter's Redemptive Theme

The Business of Being Born

Zeus, A Cast, & A Picnic

A Prayer about Good Grief and God’s Comfort ~ Scotty Smith

Top Posts: All-Time

Top Posts: Month

Top Posts: Week

A Bittersweet Closing

O Heart Bereaved & Lonely ~ Indelible Grace

I Asked the Lord ~ Indelible Grace