God is Love

Sunday night I felt like crying myself to sleep.  I just felt sad & overwhelmed by life.  Yesterday, on the phone with Mama, I finally did cry.  Ginger's cancer is back again.  My answers to a family member's questions could damage the relationship.  Another person in my life is too much for me to deal with.  We have so much stuff to move out of our little home to declutter it.  I'd love to sell it, but there's another headache.  Our LA home is still being readied for the market, so we're still paying two mortgages.  Sigh.  Overwhelming & sad sums it up.

Then, J.I. Packer steps in & reminds me:

     "Every single thing that happens to us expresses God's love to us, and comes to us for the furthering of God's purpose for us. Thus, so far as we are concerned, God is love to us--holy, omnipotent love--at every moment and in every event of every day's life. Even when we cannot see the why and the wherefore of God's dealings, we know that there is love in and behind them, and so we can rejoice always, even when, humanly speaking, things are going wrong. We know that the true story of our life, when known, will prove to be, as the hymn says, "mercy from first to last" -- and we are content."  Knowing God p. 123

Suddenly, all is right with the world.

Thank you, Lord, for being love to me.

Recipe of the "Week"

Well, I didn't think it was possible, & it happened completely by accident. I wish I could say that I had some part in it, that I was ingenious enough to improve on an already wonderful thing, but that would be a lie. Nope, it all happened simply because I didn't have the right kind of flour & because I cracked open a double-yolked egg. And because my bananas were super-duper disgustingly ripe. Thus was born. . .

Best Ever Banana Nut Bread Made Even Better

(I've got to think of a shorter title)

Dry Ingredients:

-1 3/4 c. self-rising flour
-1 1/2 c. sugar
-1/4 tsp. cinnamon
-1/8 tsp. nutmeg

Wet Ingredients:

-3 super-duper disgustingly ripe bananas, mashed

-1/2 c. oil (I used coconut oil & loooooved it! Just a hint if you do this, too: get your milk & eggs to room temperature or the coconut oil will solidify on you. Not fun.)

-1 tsp. vanilla

-1 c. buttermilk (I make sour milk with lemon juice & milk)

-3 eggs

-1 c. walnuts, coarsely chopped (not "wet", I know, but it still goes here)

Directions:

-Thoroughly sift together dry ingredients in large bowl & make a well in the center.

-Combine bananas & wet ingredients (minus walnuts) in medium bowl.

-Add banana mixture to the dry ingredients & mix together thoroughly.

-Fold in walnuts.

-Line 9"x5" loaf pan* with foil & spray with cooking spray.

-Pour batter into loaf pan & sprinkle with Streusel-Nut Topping (optional, but highly recommended).

-Bake @ 325 degrees for 1 hour or until golden brown & a fork comes out clean when inserted in the center. (This will largely depend on your oven. If it needs to bake longer, cover with foil to prevent burning.)

Streusel-Nut Topping

-Combine 1/4 c. brown sugar & 3 T flour. Using a pastry blender or fork, cut in 2 T butter (not too soft) until coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/3 c. chopped walnuts. (You'll need one recipe of this topping for the bread & another for the muffins.)

*This honestly makes too much batter for the loaf pan. It fits initially, but as it's baking, it will overflow. Trust me; learn from my mistakes. So, I pour the batter into the foiled/sprayed loaf pan, & then dip out ladle-full amounts to pour into sprayed muffin pans. Just fill 6 muffin cups ~ 2/3 full; this is perfect for preventing loaf pan overflow. Sprinkle with streusel-nut topping as well. Bake them along with the bread for 15-20 minutes (depending on your oven). And how do the muffins come out? Moist, fall-apart, eat-with-a-fork fabulous! See?!

A Walk in the Forest - Brian Crain

I love how the piano & cello seem to dance, almost like Fall leaves swirling in the breeze.

Ch. 3 - You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

Confession time. I've been avoiding writing this chapter's review. This chapter makes me angry. Why? Because it's about the "f" word: feminism. Don't get me wrong; Mary Kassian does a beautiful job explaining the foundational beliefs & resulting consequences of feminism. These two things are what make me angry. They're why "feminism" is a four-letter word in our home.

Oh, that I had the time or ability to comprehensively delve into all of those beliefs & consequences. For that, you must read the chapter*; Mary does a far better job than I could ever hope to. But, I will highlight what I think is of utmost importance & point out some truths that I think are foundational for both men & women to understand.

Nowadays, if you denounce feminism, you will be accused of relegating women mute & subservient to the back of the room; I speak from personal experience. But that's a skewed caricature at the least. It is a common (& pervasively perpetuated) belief that men want nothing more than this very thing, even (especially?) Christian men. But did you know that "when the Bible is actually properly taught, history shows that women's status improves" (Radical Womanhood, pg. 38)? Bearing this out is the fact that in Hebrew society - where Scripture was highly valued & taught - women "had a status equal to or greater than the status of many men" (RW, pg. 101). Furthermore, "women were also educated. . . . Because female literacy rates are often a window into the value of women in any given culture or society, it is a reflection of their essential equality in worth & value that Hebrew women were literate & bore the main responsibility for educating their children" (RW, pg. 101). I'm pointing this out because "an adherence to orthodox Christianity leads to oppression of women" is a commonly believed falsehood that must be debunked. As must the belief that women & men who oppose feminism hate women. That's simply not true. We don't hate women; we hate opposition to God.

Feminism is a dominant (if not the predominant) belief held in our culture that has spread its tentacles into every facet of our lives. You see it in the way women live their lives (both professionally & personally), in the way they dress, in the way they speak about & interact with men, in the way they bear & rear children, in the way they relate to God. No area of life remains untouched by this poison. And it's unquestioned by the vast majority of people; it's taken for granted as truth. Therefore, "it's important to understand that feminism encompasses much more than the cultural phenomenon of the women's rights movement. . . . Feminism is a distinct worldview with its own ideologies, values, & ways of thinking" (pg. 56). So, back to the foundations of feminism. Did you know that feminism was born out of one woman's (Simone de Beauvoir) staunch belief that "women needed to get out of the home & intentionally deconstruct Judeo-Christian ideas about marriage, motherhood, & morality" (pg. 58)? Her beliefs were wholeheartedly embraced by Betty Friedan who "suggested that in order to find fulfillment, American women should begin to question, challenge, & rebel against the accepted roles of wife & mother & traditional thoughts about morality" (pg. 59). This was during the 50s, when these predominant "traditional thoughts" were guided by Scripture. It doesn't take much to see that this exhortation to "question, challenge, & rebel" was directed at nothing less than God's holy Word. And her coup de grace, the statement that sums up the core belief of feminism: "We [women] need & trust no other authority than our own personal truth!" (pg. 59)

Some women espouse a "Christian feminism". Read the last paragraph, particularly the last sentence, & tell me if you see anything wrong with that. Feminism is built upon a foundation of tearing down biblically-based beliefs. It's built upon ripping apart Scripture. It has as its main goal the shunning of any authority over our lives save our own. Each individual person decides what is right & wrong, what is truth & error. Not Scripture, not God, not God-ordained human authority. We, & we alone, determine ultimate truth. "What's true for you may not be true for me."  How many times have we heard this?  How many times have we actually believed it ourselves?!  If God's Word is not our guide for marriage, motherhood, & morality, then we are nothing more than rafts at sea sporting a broken sail & bereft of a compass, "tossed to & fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." (Eph. 4:14) If Scripture isn't our foundation, then we're easily swayed by our own emotions; by the advice of friends; by commercials, TV shows, movies, & magazines; by false prophets who tickle our ears with what we want to hear. There is pure folly in following this path. You will find no wisdom, no truth, no salvation on this road. Sadly, it is the road oft-traveled.

Feminism's stranglehold on society found an initial foothold because there was a legitimate issue. Women were not held equal in society. There was discontentment; women were feeling unfulfilled for a reason. But because the diagnosis was in error, the treatment resulted in death, not healing. Women weren't unfulfilled because they were "trapped" at home. They weren't unfulfilled because they couldn't vote. We know this to be true, because women got everything that feminism promised. . . except that ever elusive fulfillment. We can vote, we can work any job a man can, we make equal wages, we have economic & sexual freedom. And women are even more dissatisfied & discontented (& debased, I might add) than ever. Women were (& are still) unfulfilled because they didn't have a personal, saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Feminism is a deliberate turning away from God, His Son, & His Holy Spirit toward self-determination & self-reliance. It is a lie from Satan himself. It is the way of death. We need to turn from ourselves, turn from our sin, & cry out to God for salvation that only comes from Him. Only in Him will we finally find true fulfillment.

The thief comes only to steal & kill & destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ~John 10:10

*For more resources, read The Feminist Mistake & Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild by Mary Kassian; Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley; Lies Women Believe & the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss; & Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney.  These are my favorites, but if you know of any others, please let me know.

An Answer to My Doubts

Would I know the fullness and completeness of the salvation God has provided for sinners? Where shall I see it most distinctly? Shall I go to the general declarations in the Bible about God’s mercy? Shall I rest in the general truth that God is a God of love?

Oh, no! I will look at the crucifixion at Calvary. I find no evidence like that: I find no balm for a sore conscience and a troubled heart like the sight of Jesus dying for me on the accursed tree. There I see that a full payment has been made for all my enormous debts. The curse of that law which I have broken, has come down on One who there suffered in my stead; the demands of that law are all satisfied: payment has been made for me even to the uttermost farthing. It will not be required twice over.

Ah, I might sometimes imagine I was too bad to be forgiven; my own heart sometimes whispers that I am too wicked to be saved. But I know in my better moments this is all my foolish unbelief; I read an answer to my doubts in the blood shed on Calvary. I feel sure that there is a way to heaven for the very vilest of men, when I look at the cross.

~J.C. Ryle, "Calvary"
Of First Importance

Prayer Warriors

"It Began with Bale" from Drawn From Water on Vimeo.

There is a faithful group of believers living in rural Africa who are fulfilling a mission - a calling - to be tools in the hand of Almighty God to save children from being murdered by their tribes.  These are children who have been deemed "mingi" - unclean - & sentenced to death by the tribe elders.  A designation of mingi can come about by means of a number of routes, including pregnancy out of wedlock or their teeth coming in on the top before the bottom.  The instrument of death is usually, as far as I can tell, drowning in the river.  This group of believers seeks to save these children from death &, when successful, bring them to their orphanage where they are loved, clothed, fed, sheltered, protected, & taught about Christ.  They're not always successful; Satan has a hold on these tribes & is not going to give that up without a fight.  Lately, several children have been killed before they can get to them.  This is why I'm coming to you today to plead with you to join in as prayer warriors.  This evil must be fought on our knees.  Please visit Drawn From Water & lift these believers & the tribes up to God in prayer.

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." ~Eph. 6:11-13

Recipe of the "Week"

There seems to be a lot of confusion, so I'm going to set the record straight.  Yes, I am from Louisiana. No, I am not Cajun (that's south LA), which is why I just have a typical Southern accent.  No, I don't eat seafood (or pondfood or riverfood or any kind of swimmingfood), & I don't like spicy (as in "hot") food. Well . . . okay, that's somewhat untrue, because I have taken quite a liking to salsa in the last couple of years. But generally, spicy foods & I are not on speaking terms, simply because when we do talk, they're mean to me. This jambalaya is the epitome of spicy, though, if by that you mean "flavorful". And I'm all into that! And I don't even need any Tabasco. Or seafood.

Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya

Ingredients:

-2 stalks celery

-1/2 bell pepper

-1-2 onions

-garlic (I just shake in enough to cover the top)

-1 c. rice

-2 c. chicken broth
-1-2 packages smoked sausage (we use turkey sausage & love it)
-1-2 lbs. chicken breasts
-1-2 cans Rotel
-1 small can tomato paste

Directions:

-Slice & brown the sausage & chicken, then set aside.

-Mince & sauté the celery, bell pepper, & onions.

-Combine all ingredients in a large skillet or pot & simmer until liquid is gone & rice is tender.

This is just a basic recipe, without bells & whistles. If you want something more, try this recipe; it looks fantastic, & I'll probably throw in some of those ingredients the next time I make this. For our recipe, use 2 packages of sausage if you want lots of sausage or 2 lbs. of chicken if you want lots of chicken (in the pictures you see 1 package of sausage & 2 lbs. chicken). If you want it spicy (as in "hot"), throw in 2 cans of Rotel. I just used one & it wasn't spicy in the least.

That's it! It's so simple & so good. Michael refused for more than 3 years to let me make this, but one taste & he begged me to make it regularly. Serve it with garlic bread & a salad.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Christ the Manifestation of the Father

“We have only to track the divine footsteps of the Redeemer on earth, there to behold ‘as in a mirror the glory of the Lord.’ What do we see?

A Being, indeed, of infinite holiness—unsparing and uncompromising in His rebuke of iniquity, sternly denouncing sin in all its forms, driving with a scourge the sacrilegious traffickers from His Father’s house, proclaiming the impending and certain doom awaiting incorrigible sinners, the workers of iniquity; even predicting by discourse and parable the dreadful verities of a judgment-day, and pronouncing everlasting doom on the impenitent and unbelieving; on all traitors to their trust, on all neglectors and squanderers of committed talents; thus repeating, in words not to be misunderstood, the very truth which fell on the ears of Moses in his Rock-cleft, as the sublime voice and vision were dying away—’And that will by no means clear the guilty.’

But yet, in combination with this, we are called to contemplate one of infinite purity, beneficence, tenderness; whose delight was to feed the hungry, to heal the diseased, to help the helpless, to comfort the bereaved; feeling for them; weeping for them-—in His parables, giving a welcome to the Prodigal; in His daily communion, never scorning a suppliant’s request, or a penitent’s tears; listening, even in His expiring agonies, to a cry for mercy from a felon at His side; accepting the widow’s mite; making generous allowance for the lack of watchfulness at His own greatest crisis-hour on the part of trusted disciples; pardoning, with the tenderest of rebukes, the aggravated sin of a faithless follower; the prayer, trembling on His dying lips, of forgiveness for His murderers.

Reader! take in, at a glance, this wide comprehensive view of the Savior’s life and ministry, and in it you have a picture and impersonation of the character of God. ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men.’ ‘From henceforth,’ says Christ, pointing to Himself, ‘You know the Father, and have seen Him.’”

~John MacDuff, Clefts of the Rock
Of First Importance

An Update on Ginger

It's been 2 months since my last update on Baby Girl, & I'm happy to report that she's still in remission!  She looks good (although she's stinky from needing a bath) & is eating well.  And if all of the rough-housing with Jake is any indication, she feels great, too!  All in all, everything's going well.  I'm thankful for this & for your continued prayers.

My State Before God

“When thinking of my state before God the question is not, Am I perfect in myself before the law? but, Am I perfect in Christ Jesus? That is a very different matter. We need not enquire, Am I without sin naturally? but, Have I been washed in the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness? It is not Am I in myself well pleasing to God? but it is Am I accepted in the Beloved?”

~ Charles Spurgeon, Morning & Evening, Sept. 6 devotional
Of First Importance

Humble Orthodoxy

Before coming to the Reformed faith, I lived my Christian life pretty much like I suppose a lot of Christians do. I went to church on Sunday, listened to my CCM radio station & CDs, & read my Daily Guideposts . . . well . . . daily. I loved God & longed to worship Him. Even to this day, death seems so joyful to me, because when that moment comes, I will see my Savior face-to-face. . .& that is a glorious thought! Since I was 15, I've had a true faith in Him, but it was seriously lacking in true knowledge of Him.

Enter Reformed theology. The first sermon from a Reformed pastor that I listened to was on expiation entitled "Jesus Died to Cleanse Our Filth" by Mark Driscoll. I remember cleaning my house while listening to it & having to sit down several times to just listen & cry. The second sermon was "15 Words of Hope" by John MacArthur. I listened to it on the way to AL to meet Michael's family, as well as on the way back. That sermon was my first exposure to expositional preaching, & it felt like breathing for the first time. I'd never heard anything so magnetic in all my life! I had no idea that sermons could bring about such deep understanding of Scripture. In that moment, I realized that the sermons I'd been hearing all my life had only scratched the surface of God's Word. For a few years, I had felt like something was missing in my church's worship service as well as in my own walk with God. I knew instantly that this was it. In short, I'd been drinking milk while unknowingly craving meat. And, boy, did John MacArthur serve up some steak! There was no going back for me.

I wholeheartedly believe Reformed theology to be true to Scripture. I've searched out God's Word & have found all of the Reformed doctrines to be biblical doctrines. But a problem soon arose in my zeal. I became brash & abrasive in defending Reformed theology & correcting erroneous beliefs. Michael has said that those who are new to the Reformed faith need to be locked up for a couple of years until their zeal mellows. This was SO me! It didn't matter who it was, if they espoused a belief that I knew to be unbiblical, I set them straight right fast! Now, there's nothing wrong with correcting error - in fact, it's wrong not to - but it does matter how you do it. And the only word for my manner of correction was harsh. Completely unloving.

It's been more than 3 years now since coming to the Reformed faith. I'm glad to say that God did convict me of my unloving attitudes. I realize now that I don't have to nitpick what people say, & if they are in error that loving correction is godly correction. I also came to the understanding that there are true believers in unreformed churches. None of us have it all figured out, & when we die & join our fellow believers before the throne of God, we'll see just how much we got wrong in this life.  We'll also see the one thing we all got right, by the grace of God:  trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone as our atonement for sin.

So, here are my three main admonitions to my fellow believers:

     1.) Search out the Scriptures & place yourself under men of God who dedicate their lives to presenting God's Word to the flock truly & accurately. (At the top of my list of well-known pastors are John Piper, John MacArthur, & David Platt.)  Commit to holding Scripture, not your personal opinions or feelings, as your measuring stick.

     2.) Be humble. Sometimes, the most loving thing you can do for someone is to show them their error. But, if you do have to correct someone who is in error, do so gently & lovingly, remembering that God is gentle & loving with you & such a spirit honors & glorifies Him. In this same vein, evaluate your own beliefs in light of Scripture, being humble enough to admit when you're wrong & change accordingly.

     3.) Remember that it's okay to disagree as long as both parties support their views with an accurate interpretation & application of Scripture. Just because someone doesn't believe something just exactly as you do doesn't mean they aren't true believers.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. . . . Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. ~ 1 Cor. 13:1; 4-5a

P.S. For anyone not familiar with Reformed theology or the Doctrines of Grace, I will be writing posts on this topic sometime in the near (hopefully) future.  Feel free to ask any questions you may have, though.

Serious Indeed

“Our sin must be extremely horrible. Nothing reveals the gravity of sin like the cross. . . . It is impossible for us to face Christ’s cross with integrity and not to feel ashamed of ourselves. . . . For if there was no way by which the righteous God could righteously forgive our unrighteousness, except that he should bear it himself in Christ, it must be serious indeed.”

John Stott, The Cross of Christ
~Of First Importance

Recipe of the "Week"

Who doesn't love their own personal pizza? I do, but I'm a complete novice at dough-making & am easily intimidated. But even if you're a pro, there are surely times when you just need something quick & simple. Enter Mama (mine) with the great idea to make pizzas on canned biscuit dough. You should totally try this on for size:

Personal Pizzas

Ingredients:

-1 can Pillsbury flaky biscuits

-homemade pizza sauce (it's super easy. Promise.)

-mozzarella cheese

-pepperoni (we use turkey pepperoni, & it's awesome.)

Directions:

-Line a pizza pan or cookie sheet with foil & spray with cooking spray.

-Make your pizza sauce (see below).

-Lay out the canned biscuits a couple of inches apart & flatten them with the palm of your hand.

-Spread the pizza sauce on each flattened biscuit.

-Top the pizza with cheese & pepperoni. Pepperoni is our choice, but you can obviously make it to suit your taste.

-Bake the pizzas according to the biscuit directions, just make sure to keep an eye on the "crust" to make sure it doesn't burn.

-Let the pizzas cool slightly so you don't burn your mouth.

Homemade Pizza Sauce (I failed to make note of where I got this from & all of my searching hasn't turned it up.)

Ingredients:

-1 15 oz jar/can tomato sauce
-2 Tbsp parmesan cheese
-1 tsp garlic powder (I used dry minced garlic)
-3/4 tsp onion powder
-1/4 tsp oregano
-1/4 tsp basil
-1/8 tsp black pepper (just sprinkle some in)
-1/2 tsp honey (optional; I've made this twice & haven't added this yet.)

Directions:

-Mix all ingredients together & let it sit while you "make" the dough, then make your pizzas.

-*Hint: For 8-10 personal pizzas, half this recipe.


And just so you know, my sweet husband - who is a pizza connoisseur - said this was the best pizza he'd ever had & didn't see any need in ever ordering from his favorite place again! I have no doubt that the sauce had everything to do with it!

Ch. 2 - From Him, Through Him, To Him (Part 3)

Okay, so there were several quotes that I wasn't able to fit into the last 2 posts that I simply must give to you!  These are my favorites, that were not only the recipients of highlighter vomit but also received stars:

"And regardless of how complex, convoluted, or impossible your situation may seem or actually be right now, the wisdom of God is much more than adequate to walk you through it.  'For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, & the weakness of God is stronger than men' (1 Cor. 1:25)."  (pg. 33)

"But we stand in this line with the Lord Jesus, for whom the ways of God meant divesting Himself of His rights, experiencing rejection & ridicule on a scale never known by anyone before or since, then ultimately enduring a cruel death on the cross.  'How inscrutable.'"  (pg. 37)

"The appropriate response to the fathomless depths of God's wisdom & ways is to step out of the spotlight & turn the spotlight on Him.  It is to say, 'Amen!' - wholeheartedly affirming our agreement with the Word of God."  (pg. 39)

"The way God goes about redeeming this broken world is so very different than the way we would do it.  So when we can't understand what He's doing or why He's doing it, it's not our place to challenge or dispute, but rather to humbly bow before His sovereignty, His goodness, His mercy, & His greatness - 'the riches & wisdom & knowledge of God' - & to align ourselves with His purposes, embracing His will."  (pg. 42)

Remember the third point in Part 2, about us saying, "Yes, Lord"?  Well, Nancy also shows that saying "Yes, Lord" will mean that we say "no" to some things & "yes" to others.  Would you like to know what these things are?  Buy the book! ;-)  Seriously, you'll be glad you did.

God Moves

This is a poem by William Cowper quoted by Nancy Leigh DeMoss in Voices of the True Woman Movement.  You can find this song at Sovereign Grace Music on the Worship God Live CD, which I highly, highly recommend!

Ch. 2 - From Him, Through Him, To Him (Part 2)

Today, let's move to the so what of Romans 11:33-36 as laid out in Voices of the True Woman Movement. We all know, or I hope we do, that we don't come to Scripture just to gain knowledge. We don't read Scripture just for the what, right? After all, the heart of Scripture is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it's all His story & we all know that there's both a what & a so what. Jesus Christ lived a perfect life, died the only sin-atoning & wrath-absorbing death, rose again from the grave, & ascended into heaven where He reigns at the right hand of the Father. There's the what, & the so what is that we are now children of God & co-heirs with Christ who have been commanded to love one another, serve & worship God with all of our hearts, & make disciples of all nations. Scripture influences our lives. It doesn't just work that way with the Gospel. Since all of Scripture is about Jesus - either in foreshadowing, in consummation, or in expectation of His return - then all of Scripture has so what applications for our lives.

I have to say that, although I thoroughly enjoyed this whole chapter, I particularly relished this "response" portion. The fact that my highlighter threw up all over this entire chapter bears this out. Everything in me shouted, "YES!" as I read Nancy's 3 main responses of a true woman to the truth of God's Word.

     1.) A true woman lives a God-centered life. (pg. 40) "She lives to reflect the beauty & wonder of His ways & to join every created thing in heaven & earth in glorifying & worshipping Him eternally. This is her reason for living." A true woman realizes that her life is not about her. It's not about her comfort or her discomfort. It's not about her realizing her dreams or seeing them dashed. This life is not about us. It's all about Him. Our every desire should be wrapped up in seeing God glorified, however that may come about. And when - not if - our path leads through suffering, we must remember that "our greatest problems, no matter how enormous & unsolvable they may seem, become puny when measured against the vastness of God." When we stay focused on God, our lives are put into perspective. And, not only this, but focusing on God inevitably gives us hope!

     2.) A true woman trusts in God. (pg. 41-43) As we all know, suffering is a part of life. We are told time & again in God's Word that trials will come our way. And sometimes, we can feel so overwhelmed that we lose sight of God. We sometimes even feel like He's not there. Sometimes, we become very afraid by an uncertain future that is completely out of our control. "But the true woman doesn't give in to fear. . . . She knows the One in charge of 'all things' can be trusted to know what He's doing. He has a plan we would not have scripted, a plan we may not understand, but it is His plan, & His plan is good, wise, & can never be thwarted. So a true woman accepts His plan as good, though it may not be the way she defines as good. She knows it's God who defines good, so she leans on Him." One thing that struck me in reading this point is that God has shown Himself trustworthy through the ages by keeping His promises. Each time I see a rainbow, I am in awe that a biblical promise is being kept right before my very eyes. Praise be to God, that He kept the ultimate promise when He sent His Son to be born as one of us as our perfect sacrifice! He has shown Himself faithful. We can trust Him completely.

     3.) A true woman says, "Yes, Lord." (pg. 43-45) The focus of this chapter has been Romans 11:33-36, but if you read Romans 12:1 - which directly follows this passage - you find that Paul appeals to the brethren "by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, living & holy & acceptable to God." In writing this post, it's occurred to me that these points all really flow into & overlap each other. The theme that runs through them all is that God is in control & we are to respond to Him in worshipful submission. We are to sacrifice our plans, our desires, our will to His plans, desires, & will out of a heart that has one overarching goal: to bring Him glory. I mean, we absolutely could push to live our lives our way to achieve our purposes; many people do. But if we do that, we must remember that we are then living for that which is passing away. This world will end. But the Word of God endures forever. Don't be foolish & toss aside the imperishable for the perishable. Listen to my favorite paragraph of all: "[The true woman] lives intentionally, not just drifting from one meaningless activity to the next, letting the circumstances of life pull her along. She's willing to be like a salmon, swimming upstream, living a counter-cultural life in an unholy world for the glory of God. She's willing to make personal sacrifices, not constantly asking, 'What will make me happy?' Rather, she wants to know: 'What will please You, Lord?' 'What will further Your kingdom?' 'What will display Your glory?' Her heart attitude is, 'If it pleases You, it pleases me.' The true woman reflects the spirit of Mary of Nazareth when she said in response to God's calling, 'I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word'" (Luke 1:38).

Before we leave this chapter, let us remember that we can't be this "true woman" on our own. It's tempting to read these points with a self-reliant attitude, but that's exactly the opposite of what our attitude should be. We must remember that we can't "succeed" at any part of the Christian life apart from the grace of God. It's right & good for us to want to be this kind of woman, to want our desire to be solely for God & His glory. But it's wrong to think we can do so without His help. So, as we ponder "the depth of the riches & wisdom & knowledge of God" & seek to apply His Word to our lives, let us also remember the cross of Christ where we laid down our selves & were clothed with Him.

Ch. 2 - From Him, Through Him, To Him (Part 1)

Oh, the depth of the riches & wisdom & knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments & how inscrutable His ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?" For from Him & through Him & to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. ~ Romans 11:33-36

These verses - & the chapter that expounds upon them - are a mountaintop experience. As Nancy Leigh DeMoss states, this doxology connects the what of Romans 1-11 to the so what of the rest of the book. And when you stop to behold the transcendent beauty inherent in these verses, it simply takes your breath away. It did mine. In order to give you the same sense of awe as I gained in reading this chapter, I'm going to devote 2 posts to it - one for the what & one for the so what.

"This passage . . . gives us a perspective - a grid - for responding to His sovereign choices in our lives, especially those we cannot understand." (pg. 29) And aren't there a lot of those? There are a lot of circumstances in our lives that we just simply can't understand why they're happening the way that they are. If we were in charge, we would orchestrate things in a much more painless way. Why is God doing it this way? Why do I have to experience strife in family relationships or discontentment in my job? Why is it necessary to go through a spiritually dry season? To put it bluntly, as these very verses show, because He has a depth of wisdom, knowledge, & judgment that is beyond us. We can't search them out. We can't easily understand them. We have to get it through our heads that our way is wrong & God's way is right. . . & we don't have to understand it. He is wholly other & completely above us in all ways. Unlike us, He has no lack of wisdom or knowledge. Nothing escapes or surprises Him. He knows everything about the momentous events of history all the way down to the minute details of our every day lives. He not only knows them, He's in control of them. And this brings immense comfort to His children because we know that no matter how out of control we are, He never is. Nothing ever happens to us apart from His will. And because "God works all things together for good for those who love Him & are called according to His purpose", we can rest assured that when we get that dreaded diagnosis or lose our job or face infertility or any other crisis, He is taking care of us. His plans are for our good, not for our demise. Even when - especially when - it hurts, we can know that He's working His sanctification in us, so that we will be like Him. How can we know that? "For from Him & through Him & to Him are all things." All of the circumstances in history & in our personal lives happens in order to bring Him glory. When evil occurs, He receives glory in His wrath toward that evil or in bringing the evil doer to repentance & forgiving that evil in His mercy. When one of His children suffers well, such as Rachel Barkey, trusting in Him come what may, He receives immense glory! When one of His children gives up a comfortable life to spend their lives living out & preaching the Gospel, such as Katie Davis, God receives glory! When parents joyfully raise their children in the fear & admonition of the Lord, faithfully going about their daily duties out of love for God, He receives glory. What in the world makes such people trust & serve a God they cannot see or touch? Faith. Faith that God's "riches & wisdom & knowledge" are of such unfathomable depth that we can never know them fully. Faith that lets go of having to know everything God knows for one simple reason: He knows it & that's enough. Faith that knows that God is good & only gives the best gifts to His children. Faith that knows that even when it hurts, God is there, He's working out His plan - again, for our good - & in the end He will get the glory & we will receive immense blessing. This faith is not of us. It's of God alone. To Him be glory forever. Amen.

Recipe of the "Week"

Cooler weather is on the horizon! Can't you feel Fall coming?! I LOVE Fall! Love, love, love, love! I get so excited when the weather starts to get crisp & leaves start changing colors. Shoot! I get excited just thinking about it! Tawny hued leaves floating through the air, the caw of crows, camping in the Smokies, sitting on the front porch with my dearly beloved without a rerun of "Attack of the Mosquitos". And suppers of warm, comforting foods like this. . .

Red Beans & Rice

Ingredients:

-3 cans Blue Runner Creole Cream Style red beans (you can use the dry beans as well, unless they hate you, too, & refuse to cook no matter how long you cook them & regardless of the fact that you follow "bean cooking" directions to a tee &. . .oooh. Take a deep breath. . .ahhhh. Sorry about that. Beans do that to me.)

-2 onions

-2 stalks celery

-1/2 bell pepper

-2 cloves garlic (or 1/2 tsp. dry minced garlic)

-smoked sausage (the more the better; I used 3 packages of turkey sausage & it was very meaty. Which = very good!)

-1 T Italian seasoning

Directions:

-Mince onions, celery, & bell pepper. Putting all 3 of these in the Cuisinart at once & pulsing several times works like a charm!

-Mix beans, vegetables, & seasonings in a large pot & simmer. Don't turn the heat up more than this, because the sausage takes a while to sauté, & you don't want the beans to get too soupy.

-Slice the sausage somewhat thinly (see the picture above to get an idea of the width). Of course, this is a personal preference. You may have heard me mention my aversion to big gobs of meat. Once.  Or twice.  Plus, the meat goes further when you have smaller slices.

-Sauté the sausage until both sides are the color & texture you desire. I like it to be brown bordering on black & slightly crispy. Again, it's a personal preference.

-Add the sausage to the beans & allow to simmer for 30 more minutes. Now's a good time to begin your rice.

-Serve over cooked rice with a side of cornbread or corn casserole.

Fall, here we come!!!

Sunflowers

Can you guess the name of one of my favorite flowers?  Let's see. . .what clue could I give to help?  ;-)  How gorgeous are these?!  I saw these in Publix & was compelled to give them a loving home.  Just thought I'd share!  It'd be wrong to keep all this beauty to myself.

Not Seeing Spots ~ R.C. Sproul, Jr.

I love opening up my email to read yet another "Kingdom Note" or "Ask R.C." from Highlands Ministries. Here's today's Note that is well worth our perusal:

"Saint Augustine took the view that the marital act was at best a necessary evil. Having both lived a rather licentious life as a youth and having bought into Manicheaism before his conversion puts the error in perspective. He was virtually both a recovering sex addict and a recovering gnostic. On the other hand, considering the prodigious intellect and fine character of the man, one has to wonder how he missed this. Augustine was certainly the finest theologian of the first 1000 years of the church, and may still hold that title. But he erred. He had a blind spot that is rather obvious for the rest of us to see.

Which ought not, of course, encourage us to think we’re up one on Augustine. It ought instead to cause us to consider our own blind spots. If someone with Augustine’s keen mind and warm heart could miss something, how much must I miss who is so dull and cold?

I was once engaged in friendly debate with a co-worker. She, growing frustrated with me, complained, “You always think you’re right.” She paused for a moment when I explained, “Of course I always think I’m right. So do you, think you’re always right. But I don’t think I’m right always.” All of us, when asked about this or that, always agree with us, which is another way of saying we always think we are right. All of us, however, know we are fallible, and thus we don’t think we are right always. The trouble is I believe a, and b and c, all the way down to z. But I know I must be wrong somewhere. If I knew where, then it would be easy. That’s the problem with blind spots- they are invisible to us.

Herein lies one of the blessings of friends we can trust. Too many of us, present company serving perhaps as the worst offender, pick and choose our friends precisely on the basis of their having the same blind spots we have. That is, thinking ourselves fine fellows because we believe a and b all the way to z, we naturally think that others who agree with our wisdom are the very best kinds of friends to have. Jesus told us what ends up happening here- the blind lead the blind and there’s danger up ahead. Friends we can trust, however, have far more to do with their character than their ideological test scores.

Years ago I was asked in a public setting how it was that Doug Phillips, a known non-baptizer of babies, and I, a notorious sprinkler of little ones, could be close friends. For my part the answer was easy. I respect Doug Phillips. I admire him. That, and not ideological similarities (though of course these are many, despite our obvious differences) is what makes for a good friend. Doug has, on at least one important occasion, kindly and graciously pointed out a blind spot I had been guilty of in dealing with a tricky pastoral situation. It was glorious. He spoke to me clearly but gently, and my eyes were open. Happily my bad counsel didn’t ruin the pastoral situation, and it all worked out in the end.

Do you know people that you respect, and disagree with? Make it a point to become friends. When you find yourself in disagreement with others, look first for the opportunity to have your blind spots exposed, before worrying about the blind spot, or speck, blocking your brother’s view. When you have received your sight, don’t forget to thank your friend, and He who is a friend to sinners like us."

Wonderful words of wisdom from a humble man of God.

What is the Bible Basically About?

Absolutely PHENOMENAL!!!

The Scandal of the Gospel ~ David Platt

Bear with it. The initial screen will give way to David Platt as he's preaching. This is an INCREDIBLE sermon!!!

Ch. 1 - The Ultimate Meaning of True Womanhood

If you have spent any time with me at all, you know who my favorite pastor is. All together now . . . John Piper! You've no doubt heard me expound upon all of his worthy attributes in glowing terms, so I won't go into that today (maybe). Suffice it to say, though, that I'm thrilled that the very first chapter in Voices of the True Woman Movement is authored by him. I remember hearing this message on the CDs from the True Woman '08 conference. Michael & I listened to it repeatedly, it was so fantastic. The chapter is no less electric. I'll attempt not to constantly quote him word-for-word, but - I'll warn you - that will be hard, because he's got such quotable thoughts!

Three points stand out for me in this chapter entitled "The Ultimate Meaning of True Womanhood".

1) "Wimpy theology makes wimpy women."  I know I said I would try to refrain from quoting Piper word-for-word. I'm going back on my word here, but I guarantee you'll thank me. There's no way I could put this like he does! "Wimpy theology simply does not give a woman a God that is big enough, strong enough, wise enough, & good enough to handle the realities of life in a way that magnifies the infinite worth of Jesus Christ. Wimpy theology is plagued by woman-centeredness & man-centeredness. Wimpy theology doesn't have the granite foundation of God's sovereignty or the solid steel structure of a great God-centered purpose for all things." And don't you find this true in real life? Don't you know women that use human-centered explanations for God rather than God-centered exultations in God? When trials meet this woman, she will whine, complain, get angry, blame Satan, or walk away from God altogether. And, in all truthfulness, she will be more than happy to have her influence come from the culture around her & her own fleshly desires than from God's Word. But, we do have to be careful to define the opposite of wimpy. This sentence made me laugh out loud: "The opposite of a wimpy woman is not a brash, pushy, loud, controlling, sassy, uppity, arrogant Amazon." HA! All of us have known or have been the wimpy woman, & all of us have known or have been the Amazon woman. Some of us have been both. But neither are strong, God-centered women. So, how do we become her?

2) Robust, God-centered theology makes strong, God-centered women.  I can attest from personal experience how life-changing God-centered theology is. Thinking about God correctly - & yes, there is a correct way to think about God - comes from a correct interpretation & application of Scripture. God has given us a way to know Him in His Word. And in that Word, we find a treasure trove that ultimately leads us to the way to know God - Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Savior. Only this robust, God-centered theology can make a young girl choose imprisonment for 38 years until her death rather than reject her faith. Or make a wife choose love & forgiveness for the people whom she & her family had spent 3 decades ministering to, only to have them burn her husband & two young sons alive. Or make her young daughter exclaim praise to God that He had found her father worthy to die for Him. Or make women with physical handicaps trust in God unwaveringly & even rejoice in their infirmities because they've been driven to Him. Or a woman who has lost both her husband & her mother & discovered cancer in her own body realize that what she needs most is not relief from her trials but forgiveness & cleansing from her sin of self-pity & self-centeredness (pg. 18-19 contains all of these examples). This very robust theology is the only thing that was able to free me from years of devastation & anger over my molestation. It was only when I realized how vile & wretched my sin is against our infinitely holy God, & yet He forgave me, that I was able to be cleansed from the sin committed against me. Only robust, God-centered theology leads to cleansing, freeing faith in Christ.

As incredible as all of this is, this only leads up to Piper's main point, which is that:

3) Women are distinctly created by God to bring Him glory in their femininity. Okay, here's the bottom line. Women & men are different. Not just anatomically, but we're created to be different. And our differences are created to complement each other, to bring out the best in each other. I glorify God in my femininity in a way wholly different from how Michael glorifies God in his masculinity. God designed it this way. How? In our roles. Ephesians 5:22-24 says, "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, & is Himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands." This is the complementarian view of marriage, & it's thoroughly biblical. Remember, this is how we bring out the best in each other & glorify God distinctly. A husband is the loving, protecting, providing, sacrificing head of his wife - just as Christ is for the church. And a wife fulfills her calling in lovingly honoring, affirming, & supporting her husband's leadership in humble submission - just as the church submits to Christ. These are not interchangeable any more than you can interchange Christ & the church in these verses. After all, you can't have the church being the head of Christ & Christ submitting to the church, now can you? The extent to which we faithfully demonstrate these truths in our marriages is the extent to which we reflect Christ & the church to the world.

But, what if you're not married? Piper has a section devoted to how women can glorify God in their femininity through singleness, too. And he gives 3 beautiful examples of this:

     1) It demonstrates to the world that only faith in Christ grows God's family,

     2) It demonstrates to the world that your family in Christ is more permanent & precious than your family by blood,

     3) It demonstrates that marriage is temporary by pointing to Christ & the church, for whom marriage is simply a mirror.

"God's ultimate purpose in creating the world & choosing to let it become the sin-wracked world that it is, is so that the greatness of the glory of Christ could be put on display at Calvary where He bought His rebellious bride at the cost of His life." (pg. 19-20).

No wimpy theology there.

Voices of the True Woman Movement - Introduction

Voices swirl around us every day. Voices speaking to us, calling to us, exhorting us to listen to & believe them. The siren call comes from out of the movies & TV programs we watch, the music we listen to, the books & magazines we read. It even comes to us in the voices of our friends, family, &, yes, our own thoughts. And these voices may carry life or death into our lives, depending on their message.

     "So much is determined by which voices we hear & heed: our sense of who we are & why we are here; the way we relate to others; the choices we make; the way we spend our moments & years; our personal, emotional, & spiritual well-being; & yes, the ultimate outcome of our lives." (pg. 11, Voices of the True Woman Movement)

That's the voice of Nancy Leigh DeMoss, author of Lies Women Believe & the Truth That Sets Them Free & host of Revive Our Hearts. Hers is a voice worth listening to & trusting, because she is influenced - nay, molded & defined - by God. When she speaks, she speaks not from her own opinions & prejudices, but from the authority of God's Word. She studies His Word & she applies it to our lives with amazing wisdom, insight, & love.

Hers is just one voice in the True Woman Movement. This is a movement dedicated to "calling women to be 'true women' of God, to anchor their lives in His Word, to live out what it means to be redeemed women, & to embrace His calling for their lives" (pg. 13). The book Voices of the True Woman Movement is a result of the first True Woman conference that took place in 2008. This book is going to be the focus of my next several posts. As this was one of the top books on my wish list, I eagerly signed up to get this book for free in exchange for blogging about each chapter. I have listened to Nancy for more than 3 years now, including going through her "True Woman Makeover" twice, & have never failed to walk away with an enriched faith in God. She constantly encourages me that I can be a godly woman in all of my roles through the strength of Christ. Hers is a message of life - everlasting life as only found in the life, death, & resurrection of Jesus Christ. Please join me as she & so many others speak these life-giving words into our lives.

Memories of Granny

Mama just started a blog about my Granny. You've heard me mention both of them before, particularly in my Recipe of the "Week" posts. Mama was also featured in a post about the Proverbs 31 woman, but I realized today that a post dedicated to my sweet Granny is way overdue.

My Granny is 89. She has dementia & lives with Mama & Dad. She forgets a lot of things, like where she left her purse (although I have that problem myself from time to time!) & that she's not allowed to go into the kitchen (although, sometimes I think she feigns forgetfulness just out of sheer stubbornness!). She makes a PB&J sandwich & then puts the knife back in the drawer. She can't remember whether she's washed her hair or not. She sometimes eats lunch twice because she doesn't remember having eaten it the first time.  She cries out of complete frustration because she knows something's wrong & she can't stop it. All of this is true of her, but this isn't what defines her. Let me tell you about my Granny.

Granny taught 2nd grade for over 20 years. She used to take Chris & me up to the school when we stayed with her. We got to play on the playground & in their blue-carpeted gym. (Uh-huh, you read that right.) She would take us to Claiborne's gas station for a BBQ sandwich & down to the snow cone stand on hot summer days. She lived in a little town where everyone knew everyone, & where I am related to probably half of the population. Her house was sort of in the country, or at least it felt like that because of the woods that were directly across the street on two sides. She & I would go for walks, me totally slathered in OFF & any other insect repellant you could think of, while she went completely unprotected. And who had mosquitoes & every other bug imaginable literally dive-bombing their head?! That's right - ME! True story!!

Granny is a wonderful grandmother. Chris & I used to love staying at her house. As a matter of fact, my fondest childhood memories come from those times. They're nothing fancy; just simple fun. Chris & me making "forts" out of pine straw in the backyard. Playing "Go Fish" on the living room floor. Coloring in the Christmas coloring books that she always had on hand for me. Running through the sprinklers while rainbow-water splashed down on us. Drinking her sweet iced tea. Taking a nap in her room & watching the curtains gently blowing in the wind. Remembering those times conjures up feelings of safety & contented coziness. They were the best.

Granny is a petite little lady, sweet as candy, with a laugh that is infectious. But don't let that fool you! Scotch-Irish blood is coursing through those veins, & she can be intimidating. I've only ever seen her angry once in my life, & I don't ever want to see that again! It's the short, sweet, quiet ones you have to watch out for, you know. Granny is the kind of person that everyone loves immediately. She just has that way about her. She's completely endearing & lovely.

She's come to stay with us a couple of times, & each time we made memories that I will always cherish. Again, simple things, like washing the dishes, reading Stepping Heavenward aloud, & playing in the snow. I always think of her when I hear Autumn in New England & when I lay in a quiet room listening to the hum of a ceiling fan & watching the curtains blow.

We never know how much time we have with those we love. I hope that I get to make many, many more memories with Granny. I would love nothing more than for her to be here to see our children. What I do know is that I am blessed with a wonderful grandmother who is affected - but not defined - by dementia. And she is loved.

Butterfly Waltz by Brian Crain

This is so achingly beautiful that it makes me want to cry.

Our Background. . .

will hopefully return soon.  The Cutest Blog on the Block is moving, & in the meantime, our background is unavailable.  I'll continue to attempt to log in to their site & get it back up, but in the meantime, we'll just have to deal with the white.  White means pure, the absence of darkness, not boring!  ;-)

Ahhhh!  That's better!  I LOVE this background!

Laying a Foundation

For the first time in our marriage so far, we have a big indicator that I might be pregnant. Turns out, I'm just sick. I've wondered for days now if God might finally (well, "finally" in my mind, although that's probably wrong thinking) be granting my heart's desire by giving us children. I couldn't bear to take the test, though, in case it was negative. But my hand was lovingly forced at the doctor's office today. He knows how much we want to have children, & he's a wonderful doctor, so he was genuinely sorry to pronounce the results. At least I know now. But, realizing the possibility has set my mind whirling on how I want things to go if the time ever does come that I am with child. Thinking that I might have a child within me, several things occurred to me:

     -I was more conscious of the attitudes & feelings that I allowed to hold sway. I don't want any sinfully negative feelings to affect our baby. I realize I can't always prevent this - something I've just proven over here; I am human, after all - but that doesn't mean I shouldn't fight against it.

     -I was more conscious of what food I put into my body. I want our child/children to have the healthiest environment possible as they're developing. I do not want their little bodies to be invaded with the harmful chemicals found in so much of our food today, thanks to processing. And then, I want this healthy habit to continue throughout their lives.

     -I was more conscious of the words I allowed to come out of my mouth. Even though a baby at this stage wouldn't be able to hear me, I would want to start a pattern of speech where I'm more in control of my tongue.

     -I began to think of all of the ways that we want to raise our children. How we want them to love God first & foremost & for this to show in their conduct towards others. I thought of all of the things that I need to do - that I need to know - to be the best mother possible.

These are just some of the thoughts that paraded through my mind in the past few days. Even though I'm not pregnant, that doesn't mean that all of this thinking was in vain. I can - no, I must - lay the groundwork for each of these things now. I must have control over my own feelings & over my tongue. I've had a practically life-long battle with attitudes & behaviors towards food, but I must begin that fight again & win this time. In thinking of our baby's health, it occurred to me that I don't want anything unnatural going into my body &, thus, into his/hers. I can start now preparing a healthy environment for any little one that God gives us in the future. I have a strong desire to be a good mother, & that means many things for me. It is difficult for me not to want to be perfect. I want to be firm, but not too strict; disciplined, but not overbearing; methodical, but able to be spontaneous. I want to be loving & fun. I want to be godly. I won't be perfect. I won't be able to do any of this without fail, nor will I be able to do even the smallest part without the help of God. So, with His aid & in His power, I will lay the foundation for physical, mental, & spiritual health & well-being for our future children. And if He doesn't grant us children? Well, I'll still benefit from the sanctification this endeavor will bring. Nothing is ever in vain when done in Christ!