In Other Words--Act on What You Believe

"The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act.”
~Rick Warren~

Have you ever observed someone whose actions did not measure up to what they professed to believe? Maybe they talked about wanting to live debt free yet repeatedly used their credit card. Or they lamented the need to get into shape, but never made an effort to get any exercise. Did they say they wanted to be a part of someone's life, yet they ignored invitations to get together?

If you met this kind of person, did you continue to believe them when they spoke of things they wanted to be or have? Or, did you begin to assume that what they said was not really that important to them at all? I'd be willing to guess that it was the latter.

This same principle holds true in my walk with God. I can say I want a relationship, but if I never make any effort to show up at his, oh, million invitations a day, then do I really want it? If I never sit down and read His word, do I truly love His truth? If I never allow Him to take my breath away with a sunrise or sunset, do I admire His creativity? If I never grace the doorway of a church, do I care about His family? Words are easy to say, but our actions betray what we really think and feel.

My pastor often repeats "If what you believe does not affect how you act, you don't really believe it."

It's true.

What are your actions betraying today?

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." Matthew 12:33-35

Father God, please take the intentions that I speak and grow them into passions that I feel and actions that I take. Forgive me when I say one thing and then act differently. Continue to draw into alignment my declarations and actions. Allow me to show your consistency when others look into my life that they may know You are guiding my thoughts, feelings and actions. Amen.

Debbie is our hostess this week! Please visit her blog to find other reflections on this quote.

Delayed IOW post, but good reading in the meantime

"The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act.”
~Rick Warren~

My jet-lagged brain is finding it difficult to finish my IOW post. I'll get it posted later today. But in the meantime, this week several amazing bloggers are traveling in India with Compassion. Compassion is an organziation I cannot say enough good about. And these brave bloggers are actually living out what they think and feel about Jesus' call to serve the poor. Go and visit their blogs. You will not be disappointed.

70 Left

Her Name is Lakshmi

Name


Sometimes I'm Miserable, Pitiful, Poor and Blind

Pride and Prejudice

Speechless for the First Time EVER but Compelled to Type

The Flickr Photos of the Trip are here

Why are you still here? Go. Be Blessed!

Stitching Post Saturday--25 April 2009

Taking a Break. Back May 2.

Have a wonderful week!

In Other Words--Who Has the Answers?

“Give yourself permission not to know and be satisfied knowing the One who does.”
by Joyce Meyer, “I Dare You"

Why did God choose to make grass green instead of blue?

I don't know, maybe green is his favourite colour.

Then does he like grass more than sky?

I don't know, but I don't really think he loves any part of his creation more than the rest.

Why do I have to wait until I grow up to know everything?

Baby, you will never know everything.

Then why do I want to know everything?

I don't know, maybe because God created us with lots of curiosity.

If you are a parent, you probably encounter a few dozen/hundred/thousand questions a day that you aren't quite sure of the answer (if you are a homeschooling parent this may be even more!). I have learned that it is perfectly okay to not know the answer. Somethings we may spend some time trying to find the answer (how long will it take for the peahen's eggs to hatch--28 to 30 days) while others I leave it with "that is how God made it." At six and four, my girls are pretty willing to accept that. Not always, but usually.

Not knowing the answers is part of being a child. There are some things that they are simply not ready to understand. I get that. So, not knowing the answers is not something I have really struggled against in my spiritual walk. I am okay not knowing the answers because I know who does.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
~Isaiah 55:9

There are times I pray persistently, "Lord, I know you have the answers, can you show me a glimpse of what is to come?" But mostly I'm content to wait.

That contentment has come over the years. The more I have experienced the blessing of his timing in my life, the easier it becomes to trust him with the next point of timing. In the relationship I am able to trust when he does not explain himself explicitely. Because I know, implicitely, that he cares for me and has my best in mind.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
~Jeremiah 29:11

Father, help me to live in the contentment of knowing that you hold all the answers. Flood me with a sense of your peace when I begin to try to control the timing of things in my life. May I reflect in my actions my trust in your character. Amen.

Nina at Mama's Little Treasures is the hostess for IOW this week. Please join us there and be blessed!

Stitching Post Saturday--18 April 2009

Taking a Break. Back May 2.

Have a wonderful week!

In Other Words--No Limitations

God’s promises are never affected by our failures. He can use us at any age.
~Michael Youssef from Leading the Way~

I don't know this book. Actually I only know a little about the author that I have scraped off the internet. But knowing the book might help me put some context around these two sentences, which actually seem a little disjointed together. I can easily write about "God not affected by my failures" and I can write about "God using us at any age" but how do the two fit together?

But it does remind me of the Apostle Paul teaching Timothy. He says to Timothy,

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
1 Timothy 4:12-13

Paul reminds Timothy that it is not his age that could disqualify him, it is his actions. And if he is devoting himself to right actions, then he remains qualified.

I remember way back when I was preparing to go to seminary. A church endorsement was needed for the application, and the fact that I was a woman was making that rather tricky. Finally I met with the leadership to attain their "approval." The pastor, a highly respected and gifted leader in the Southern Baptist Convention, eventually asked the question on everyone's mind: "Little lady, what exactly do you think you can do for God?" I took a measured breath and asked something about what any of us could do for God and the question was then finished "....since you are female?" Another measured breath and God gave me the answer. I said, "I'm not really sure. All I know is that God created me female and placed me in a Southern Baptist home and now He is drawing me to seminary. I don't know what I can do for Him, but I believe He is big enough to figure out those details." A few seconds of silence incurred and then an unanimous vote to endorse me was given. My gender could have been the stumbling block, but God was so much bigger than that!

Yet in every ministry position I took, I always felt that there was someone watching to see where I messed up. They were waiting to relate my failures to my gender and thus discredit any woman working in any ministry. Likewise, I believe Timothy must have felt that way--that people were just waiting for him to fail so they could say "see he's too young." But the truth is, we all fail. We are human and we are sinners and we all make mistakes, sometimes we even make huge mistakes. But it is not because of our age or our gender or ethnicity or our cultural upbringing or any of the other things that others may want to pin it on. It is because we are what we are---sinners saved by grace.

We should never be afraid to step out and do the things that God is calling us to do. It is true, we may fall flat on our face at times but his grace is sufficient to cover those times. And he is faithful to complete what he starts, irregardless of how many times we fail in the process. That's what grace is!

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
~2 Timothy 1:8-10~

Today's hostess is Karen at In Love W.I.T.H. Jesus. Please join us as we gather at her place today. You will be blessed.

Happy Easter

THE LORD IS RISEN!!!

CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!

HAPPY EASTER

Stitching Post Saturday---11 April 2009

My deepest apologies about last week's Stitching Post. No excuses, I simply forgot to post it. *sigh*

Here are my finishes for this week (okay, the last 2 weeks):


A homestead for a friends Neighbourhood Round Robin combining elements of 4 designers.



A quilt for a friend's new baby girl. You can't really tell but the quilting is random squiggles to look like the bee flying.

Thanks for stopping by. Please add your link to your latest stitching progress!

Toothless Wonder

Jewel lost her first two teeth a couple of weeks ago. Luckily the tooth fairy pillow had been finished the night before! She has two more that are wobbly. She is so funny with wanting them to all come out at once (although she was disappointed that her corn on the cob had to be cut off the cob last night due to not being able to bite into it, lol!)

In Other Words--Heavenly Perspective

“Heaven must be in me,
before I can be in heaven. ”

by Charles Stanford

What does it mean to have heaven in me? I believe that it means that we must see the world through the eyes of heaven. We should be so focused on where we are going that people can see the peace that comes with that. It is living our life as a journey to the Father.

That does not mean that we become so "heavenly minded that we are no earthly good." Absolutely not. Jesus as he walked this earth never lost sight of where he was going, but he also did not ignore the needs around him. In fact, it was in knowing where he was going that he could put perspective on the needs around him.

We are living in a day and age where needs are great. Emotional needs, physical needs, security needs, financial needs all pull at us. It would be easy to become discouraged and say that there is no use. It would be easy to think that any effort on our part is such a small drop in a big bucket that it is really not needed. When we are focusing on earth and not heaven, the problems seem insurmountable. But when our focus is on heaven, we are able to see God at work and that he is truly greater than anything that can befall us here. Perspective. Keeping heaven in us allows us to keep perspective.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
~Matthew 6:19-21~

Father God, help me today to keep a heavenly perspective. Help me to see the hurting people around me through your eyes. And if it is your plan, allow me to be a part of easing their pain and allowing them to catch a glimpse of you. Amen.

Denise is the hostess today for In Other Words. Please join us at Shortybear's Place for more perspectives on today's quote. Have a blessed day!

Marriage Monday--Friendship in Marriage

Want this button?

We spent the weekend in London with old friends. It had been ten months since we last saw them at a party, but more than that since we had any quality time together just the two families. So this was very much a renewing the friendship type weekend. We had a wonderful time. We ate together, laughed together, learned a little at the science museum together, worshiped together, and even shed a few tears together as we parted. It was good, really good.

As good as it was, all of us would admit that there were some thoughts of concern before we got together. Would the friendship still be easy? Would we still have things to talk about? How would the girls react since they hardly know them? Although we really wanted to see each other we had to wonder if it would be the same.

(for the record, it was)

That is something we never have to worry about when our friend is our spouse. Where the ebb and flow of life can pull other friendships apart, it only serves to strengthen the friendship in a Christian marriage. Those life experiences become more of the bedrock upon which the friendship is borne.

We've seen that the past few months. With the pressures of economy, work, kids, home life and the like it would be easy to pull apart. Friends we would normally see fairly often, we see infrequently as they are also in the midst of pressures of life. Those friendships will remain, but be a little more distant because of the demands of life. But the marriage friendship? It gets stronger and stronger as we share life together and as we seek God's hand in the decisions. We find more time to really appreciate just being together, just getting in the car and driving together, and just praying together and for each other. The foundation grows.

Friday night we wandered through London together. We didn't say much, we just walked together enjoying a beautiful evening in a bustling city. When we got back to the hotel German commented that it had been a perfect evening. We didn't need to talk. We didn't need to think about anything important. We just needed to be together. As he put the girls to bed, Jewel prayed and said "thank you God that we could have fun together tonight in London."

My girls saw it--just have fun being together.


That quiet togetherness is the essence of Friendship of Christian Marriage, at least it is for us.

Want to read more about friendship in Christian Marriage? Join us at Chrysalis' place for more reflections.

April Goal Post

Revisiting March goals
1. Finish NRR thatched house section, road and begin Texas windmill--still finishing thatched house backstitching, not started TX windmill
2. Finish Mystery Quilt II by March 15 (absolute deadline is 29th!)--done March 13
3. Stitch house on Robin's NRR--complete March 30
4. Complete Kristin's All About Me RR if it arrives this month--did not arrive
5. Complete baby quilt for Emily Jane--80% complete
6. Finish office clean up and organising--uh...no
7. Prepare for Easter trip to States--preorder any items that need to be delivered to Dad's--done
8. Sign up at leisure club and take girls swimming at least one time a week outside of their normal lessons--done
9. Begin new Bible Study (No Other Gods) and continue to write mentoring material as able--yes

April Goals:
1. Finish Emily Jane's quilt
2. Finish office organization
3. Work on Bent Creek Season Rows--Spring and Summer
4. Complete Kristin's All About Me RR if arrives

April is mainly a family month, so not as much goal setting as life living to be done!

photo credit: digiology found at morguefile.com

In Other Words---Healing a Broken Soul

“For most of this century we have wrongly defined soul wounds as psychological disorders and delegated their treatment to trained specialists. Damaged psyches aren’t the problem. The problem is disconnected souls.”
by Larry CrabbConnecting:Healing Ourselves and Our Relationships

I have a lot of respect for Larry Crabb as a writer about psyche and relationships. And, I do see the point that he is making in this quote. Too often we jump on a bandwagon of the latest psychological fad and miss the underlying issues of where a person is hurting. Helping people find a connection between their deepest needs and the Creator who created those needs can indeed solve many of the issues out there.

Many of the issues. Not all.

And I feel compelled to say that we as the church are not always welcoming of people who truly have those diagnoses and truly need a trained professional's help in learning to cope with life. Of course, you might expect that kind of statement from me since I am a trained counselor. I am well aware that many of the people I've provided an ear and advice to over the years needed a relationship with Jesus more than they needed a relationship with me. But some of them needed a trained professional to help them see their way through.

Sometimes, even in the midst of our relationship with Jesus, we need professional help. I know that was true for me. I knew that the scars I needed to deal with were soul scars. And I first went to my church who could only give me the answer "just trust Jesus for that." And then I went to a Christian counselor, who could only say to me "just trust Jesus for that." It took a secular counselor who wasn't afraid to challenge "just trust Jesus" who helped me get to the source of the scarring, find a way through that pain and finally be able to "just trust Jesus."

It's true, many of the issues are soul brokenness. But we have to be willing to help people get to the broken place before we can expect them to heal. Sometimes it takes a professional to do that. I wish that more "counselors" in our churches could get past the fear of the messiness of what soul brokenness really looks like in order to help restore people. It is true that we need to "trust Jesus" but sometimes we need help in reaching that point.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
Psalm 34:17-19

Father God as I come along people in my every day routine, help me to recognize the brokenness of the soul that causes them to behave the way they do. Help me to be an instrument of your healing and connection in their life. Amen.

This week's hostess is Esthermay at The Heart of a Pastor's Wife. Come, visit, and be blessed.

In Other Words--Sharing Burdens

“To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own. ”
~Abraham Lincoln~

It's been a rough week around here. One of the things leading to my blogging break didn't happen. It was supposed to be a weekend of celebration; but instead has been filled with frustration and disappointment. We're okay, but we are emotionally bruised by the battle that has been waged. Yet, in the middle of it all, we have had moments of forgetting how bad it looks.

How, you may wonder, do you forget when things just look hurtful? By keeping our perspective on the bigger picture and where God is working. And, by not allowing our pain to keep us from caring for others who are in pain. I will not engage in a political drama here, but we have a good friend who is an exec in a certain insurance company in the news. Our hearts break for him, especially since he had only arrived in this job a month before the media storm of problems. God has in the midst of our emotional roller coaster continually reminded us to pray for him and his family in the firestorm they are facing. Somehow what we face doesn't seem so large. At the same time other friends have been informed that their jobs are not secure. Again, prayer and loving support takes the focus off of us and onto God and his purpose in others' lives.

There's been a lot of heartache to share the past few weeks. Marriages breaking apart, job worries, health scares, parenting difficulties, and the list goes on. In these coming days we can expect even more heartaches to be visible. But we can share in those burdens. We can keep God's perspective on them. And in the process we will be less focused on our own. Focus on God instead of self. That is the main thing God desires.

Who do you need to reach out toward to share their burden? Do it. And, if someone reaches out to share yours, accept it. You may be helping them more than you know.

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

Our hostess this week is Susan at Forever His. Please visit the others who are writing on this quote and be blessed today.

Blogging Break

I'm taking a brief blogging break! There are many things happening at the church the next 15 days that we are integrally involved. I can't seem to put thoughts together outside of those events. I'll be back as I can!

Stitchin' Post Saturday---14 March 2009

Welcome to another Stitchin' Post Saturday!

This week I finished Mystery Quilt 2!!! Yay! In a couple of weeks I can show pictures. I've also sent Mystery Quilt 1 to its new owner, so when it arrives I can show it.

Here are the current Works in Progress:


I've been working on this Neighbourhood Round Robin (NRR) on and off (mostly off) for a couple of years. I have almost finished my "England" block. Here is the current status picture. I think I'll finish it this week. The pattern called for grey shadows at the top of each panel, but the grey was just too dark and it did not do the house any justice. So yesterday was spent frogging (ripping out) all of the grey and replacing part of it with a dark cream and filling in the rest with ecru. Got about half of what was ripped out replaced.


Here is a quilt top that I'm working on for a friend's new baby. I'm going to add some yellow "dots" to the white square centers to continue to the play of daisies. Then I just need to sandwich it and quilt it.

Thanks for looking! Please link to your latest stitching accomplishments so we can come and oooh and aaah.

Have a great weekend!

Stitchin' Post Saturday--March 7, 2009

Time for another stitching update. Unfortunately I can't show what has taken up most of my time this week, since it is the mystery quilt that cannot be pictured until it is delivered. But suffice it to say the 5000 or so hand applique stitches are now done! The borders were added last night and today I will sandwich it and maybe even get the quilting done. It should be fairly simple machine quilting.

One thing I can show is this sweet little pillow I stitched up this week. Jewel will probably make use of it by the end of the week, so timing was of the essence. I still need to hand stitch the opening closed and add a handle, but that won't take long. ;-)


What are you working on? We'd love to see it. Sign in with your link so others can come oooh and aaah.

Stitchin' Post Saturday Participants

1. Miriam Pauline

2. Kristin/Dragondreamer\'s Lair

3. Margaret

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

In Other Words---Just Obey

Welcome to Tuesday's In Other Words. I'm so excited to be hosting this week. I have discovered that I need to be very careful in the quotes I choose, because God will give me plenty of opportunities to practice what I write. And writing about obedience....well, you can probably guess how the last week has been. But it is all good when God is at work! Please make yourself at home. Mr. Linky should be working at the end of the post, so please link to your thoughts on this quote as well. And without futher adieu...

"God does not speak simply to be heard.
He speaks to be obeyed.
Obedience is the Alpha and Omega of discerning God’s voice.”

by Priscilla Shirer
Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God Speaks, p. 174

A million times a day, it seems, I hear myself say "I don't like talking to myself." It is what I say to my children when they are clearly not listening to me. I know that they are not listening because they are doing their own thing and not acting at all on the words I say. They may be nodding their heads in agreement, but their actions demonstrate that they are not hearing. And as their parent, I want obedient listening not just nodding listening.

I wonder, how many times a day God tries to say to me "I don't like talking to myself." I wonder if he is able to see in my actions that there is a connection between what he says to me and what I do. I just wonder.

I suspect he sees this forty year old child much like I see my own children...self-absorbed and slow to obey at times. *sigh*

Scripture says to us that obedience demands immediate action. It is the first thing that God desires. It is the last thing he desires. It is everything in between. The Alpha and Omega. The A to Z(ed) of hearing. God wants to see our obedience.

Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. James 1:22-24 (The Message)

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
Psalm 119:7-9

He who obeys instructions guards his life,
but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die.
Proverbs 19:6

Father God forgive me when I am slow to obey. Cleanse my heart of the selfish desires that cause me to nod agreeingly, but act independently. May I see that your call is to be obeyed immediately, instinctively and without argument. In Jesus' name...Amen.

Be blessed this week! Please visit the other participants and encourage them on this journey of obedience.

In "Other" Words Participants

1. micey 2. Loni 3. Tracy @ Thirsty for Him

4. Denise 5. Debbie @ Heart Choices 6. Karen Gillett

7. Manda @ LambsInHisArms 8. Chocolate and Coffee

Learn more about In "Other" Words here.
View More In "Other" Words Participants
Get The Code

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

March Goal Post

Here is the progress on February goals:

February Goals!
1. Finish Rosewood Manor Flag Sampler--finished on 26 February
2. Finish Mystery Quilt--finished on 15 February
3. Get 2/3 roof on thatched house stitched (currently 1/3)--completed roof and half of landscaping
4. Finish 2008 filing (otherwise known as re-find the office!)--about 2/3 complete
5. Get Jewel set up for piano lessons--started last week
6. Find an online class to learn more about my DSLR camera--found one, Thanks Iris!, but the class sold out on the first day and I didn't try to sign up until day 2. I'm on the mail list for the next class.

Now for March Goals:
1. Finish NRR thatched house section, road and begin Texas windmill
2. Finish Mystery Quilt II by March 15 (absolute deadline is 29th!)
3. Stitch house on Robin's NRR
4. Complete Kristin's All About Me RR if it arrives this month
5. Complete baby quilt for Emily Jane
6. Finish office clean up and organising
7. Prepare for Easter trip to States--preorder any items that need to be delivered to Dad's
8. Sign up at leisure club and take girls swimming at least one time a week outside of their normal lessons
9. Begin new Bible Study (No Other Gods) and continue to write mentoring material as able.

Marriage Monday---Glory

Want this button?

Welcome to March everyone!! Being the first Monday of the month, it can only mean one thing....Marriage Monday. Today Jennifer at A Pair of Bartletts is hosting us at her place around the topic of "The Glory of Christian Marriage."

The freedictionary.com defines glory this way:
glo·ry (glôr, glr)
n. pl. glo·ries
1. Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown.
2. Something conferring honor or renown.
3. A highly praiseworthy asset: Your wit is your crowning glory.
4. Adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship.
5. Majestic beauty and splendor; resplendence: The sun set in a blaze of glory.
6. The splendor and bliss of heaven; perfect happiness.
7. A height of achievement, enjoyment, or prosperity: ancient Rome in its greatest glory.8. A halo, nimbus, or aureole. Also called gloriole.

Great definition, but what does it have to do with marriage? I would contend, that actually all of this has to do with marriage. Marriage is one of the places where God displays His majesty and purpose for human relationships. God established marriage way back in the garden and has used marriages since that time to populate the earth, bring each other comfort, demonstrate His forgiveness (see Hosea), and bring joy. If you ever doubt that romantic love is glorifying to God, then you just need to read the Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon depending on your tradition) to see a Biblical exposition on the glory of love.

But for my purposes, I'm going to focus on that third definition above, "a highly praiseworthy asset." We live in a culture that more and more is willing to throw away relationships. If it gets difficult, society tells us just get out. Marriage rates have dropped as people opt for "partnerships" that are easier to dissolve. In the past few months I've been shocked on a half dozen occassions as people who have been together forever have announced their engagement--I thought they were married, by a Christian friend who has announced her wedding--in 2010--but that they are going to live together until then, of friends who have separated after 12 years because they "now love someone else" (actually this has happened four times in five months, 12 years being the minimum years together). Marriage is fast becoming an endangered species. But the Bible contends, that it is a highly praised asset.

Although most of us participating in this meme by writing or coming to read the entries would agree that marriage is a highly praised asset, we often don't treat it as highly praised. We take the irritations of our marriages and make them the gossip fodder with our friends. We quietly bash how our husbands don't do enough around the house. We complain about the minutest of details. Is it any wonder that the world doesn't want to make such a commitment when all they hear is the negatives about that commitment? It only takes one person to turn that tide of negative talk. Over eighteen months ago my accountability and prayer partner and I agreed that we would not say critical things about our husbands in anyone's company. It began with us. We could ask for prayers of blessing and discernment but we could not ask anything in a "make him do what I want" way. We knew that there would be things that irritated us. Our catch-phrase text for prayers during that time was "pray for me to submit." We acknowledged that when little things were bothering us it was us that needed the prayer to change not our husbands. Instead we focused on praising how they provided for and loved their families. I can't speak totally for her, but I can say that focusing on the praiseworthy asset of marriage has improved my marriage greatly. It spilled over into other friends lives. In a setting if someone complained about their husband, my friend or I would say something positive about ours....and everyone followed suit. The negativity tide was turned. Marriage is a praiseworthy asset, so we should praise it!

This past week has been rocky in some relationships. The Accuser has attempted to have a field day destroying relationships and causing divisions. In the midst of it all I was feeling very much attacked. I texted German at work to let him know I needed to vent when he had a few minutes to listen to me. I knew that I just needed to let off steam in a safe, permitted manner. He rang me back within five minutes. He listened, he gave godly advice and I felt better. But he did more than that. He immediately closed things up at his office and came home in the middle of the day. He decided it was more important to be with me when I was upset than to sit at his desk. That act of support meant more to me than anything else he could have done. It was a clear example to me of the sacrificial love he has for me. On that day, God was glorified in our marriage in a very simple act. German still accomplished all of his work, but he did it from home where he knew he needed to be. I didn't even know I needed him at home until he walked through the door. That is why there is glory in marriage. It exemplifies the way God wants us to relate to one another. It is a cruciable of expressing sacrifical love and is a picture of what Christ is willing to do for us.

How is your marriage a praiseworthy asset? Have you told your spouse? Share with them your praise for being married to them. It will make their day....and it will make yours too. Praise is medicine for the soul!

Stitchin' Post Saturday--February 28

Stitchin' Post Saturday will be updated later today (when I figure out how to get my new card reader to work--last week my card reader decided to break). At that time you will be able to see my FINISHED Flag Sampler. Until then, feel free to add links to your current needlework projects!

Have a great Saturday!

Edited: So sorry it has taken me all weekend to get these posted. All I can say is that a not-so-comedy of errors is taking place in my home and a backed up sink two hours before a dozen guests arrived Sunday was the culmination. At any rate....here are the pictures!!!




Title: Flag Sampler
Designer: Rosewood Manor
Fabric: 28 ct. lugana, Kiwi Illusions Toitoi
Start Date: February 28, 2006
Finish Date: February 26, 2009
Total Hours: 218.75

Stitchin' Post Saturday Participants

1. Miriam Pauline

2. Kristin/Dragondreamer\'s Lair

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

Spectacular Sins Book Club--Chapter Five

Another mind-expanding endeavor with this book! This week we are looking at the Tower of Babel and pride. Ouch.

1) What were the primary motivations of the people who endeavored to build the Tower of Babel? They desired to build a city, build a tower in the city that would reach to heaven, make a name for themselves and to not become dispersed.

2) Why did God consider is a sin to live in a city? God had commanded His creation (Adam and Eve and then Noah and his descendants) to be fruitful and multiply the earth. Building a city was not inhabiting the earth but of congregating in one place.

3) Of the five ways that Christ's glory is magnified by the spectacular sin of the Tower of Babel (pp 69-72) which one resonates with you the most, and why? I appreciate that this was foreshadowing pride being destroyed since I see so many of the sins in my life come back to pride and worrying about what others think. But the point that resonated the most with me was the fourth point: the Gospel glorified. Mr. Piper states, "A great part of the glory of the gospel is that it is not provincial. It is not a tribal religion. It breaks into every language and every people." As a person who lives outside their passport country and travels as much as possible, it is a joy for me to see how God is served and worshiped in other languages and cultures. I always walk away from a service in another country humbled that I have the opportunity to share with believers in other places. The glory of God is amazing when cultures come together to worship. It makes me ready for heaven where that will be the norm, not the exceptional opportunity!

4) Can you provide an example of the way that the Gospel of Christ takes root in literally thousands of different cultures, despite language barriers, social mores, existing religious practices, etc.? What does this say about the "uniqueness" of Christianity? When we were in Romania last Autumn, we were in congregations where the older people spoke no English (some of the teens had a rudimentary understanding). We spoke no Romanian beyond "hello," "thank you," and "peace." But we worshiped together. We sang the songs in English as they sang in Romanian. I followed along in my Bible as the Scripture was read in Romanian. Afterwards the pastor would say "what I was telling the congregation was" and we would often be able to tell him the essence even though we did not understand the words. The Holy Spirit is the same Spirit across all of the barriers and we are able to recognize the Spirit living in believers even when we cannot understand the words.

5) How are you also guilty of sin in the ways the Tower of Babel builders were? Where do you seek comfort apart from the Lord? Pride of wanting to make a name for myself, or worrying about what name I am making is a constant struggle. It is something I confess to the Lord over and over. In that regard, I often seek comfort in friends' words or ideas rather than seeking God's approval only.

6) My husband often says that at the root of every sin is pride (and I have yet to be able to prove him wrong). Was this true in the case of these people? How can you confront and rebuke your own pride? I believe that there is much truth in this. We seek to be comfortable (our own way) and to be known. I confront it with Scripture:
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. Isaiah 2:11
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? Job 38:4-5


To see other responses to this question, be sure and stop by The Preacher's Wife. You will be challenged and blessed!

In Other Words--Mourning to Joy

“Is it possible we could experience the joy of our salvation if we mourned [over our sin] as if someone had died? We cannot experience joy without mourning.”


~Pastor Robert Morris, Gateway Church. From the Sermon: “Those who mourn are happy”~

Mourning is an intricate part of our salvation process. Yes, it is true that Jesus did all of the work of salvation on the cross and all anyone must do is believe. But in order to truly believe that Jesus is my savior I must admit that I need a savior (as does anyone else who is on this journey). Truly admit it. Feel it in my innermost parts that I am a sinner and I need to be saved. I must move past the "but I've never killed anyone..." mentality to a complete surrender of "I sinned. I lied. I misrepresented myself. I acted in pride. I spoke in anger. I ignored God's invitation to help someone. I ignored His word." When I get serious about the fact that I sin and that I caused Jesus to need to die, the need to mourn is overwhelming. But, praise God, the process does not end in the mourning. Knowing that I deserve death and will not receive it brings unspeakable joy. The joy I have felt in contrast to the mourning over sin far exceeds any other emotion. I deserve death. I receive forever life. That is reason to celebrate!

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

I'm currently watching this process unfold in Jewel's life. She, at six, has such a tender heart for God. She loves to sing praises. She memorizes Scripture quickly and joyfully. And she desperately wants to go to heaven when she dies. And that is perfect for her age and understanding at this point. I can see the Holy Spirit drawing her, and she is responding to each step. Yet, she is not ready for a committing decision. Why? Because she has no connection at this time between her behavior and Jesus' sacrifice. She will tell you that God wants her to be nice to her sister, but she does not see the hitting out or the harsh words spoken as being against God.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

I suspect over the next few months I'll have the privilege of watching that connection take place. I was just a few months older than she is now when I made that connection. Thirty-plus years later I can still picture that little girl crying with her daddy and mom that she wanted to be forgiven by God. The first step of mourning. The step of salvation. Many times over these thirty-plus years I've gone back to that state of mourning, not as the first step of salvation but in the continuation of sanctification in this life. Each time I truly mourn, God gives me a deeper appreciation of what He has done for me. And that, my friends, is pure joy!

They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD—
the grain, the new wine and the oil,
the young of the flocks and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,
and they will sorrow no more.

Then maidens will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
Jeremiah 31:12-13

Father God, thank you for your love for me that died for me when I was still stuck in my sin. Thank you for continuing to love me even while I continue to sin. Thank you for the times you have brought me to tears of mourning in recognition of how totally short of the mark of your Holiness I fall every single day. And thank you for replacing those tears with the joy and peace of Your spirit taking control and sweeping out the crevices of my sinful heart. Help me to serve you fully. Help me find the courage to confess sins and the humility to allow you to reign in my life. And, Father, as a parent, help me to guide and direct these little lives that are seeking you to enable them to hear and follow your call as the time is right. In Jesus' saving name, Amen.

Michelle at Because I Love You is the hostess for this week's quote. Please come and be blessed.

Stitchin' Post Saturday--February 21

Today's Stitchin' Post was supposed to be a celebration of IT IS FINISHED but instead has become a very aggravated
AAARGH!!!

Here is my Flag Sampler, about 30 minutes from completion at the moment that I RAN OUT OF THREAD. Sorry to shout, but after 2+ years on this project, I desperately want to put it in the finished column. Thread is ordered and will be here next week, so prepare for next Saturday to be a celebration.



What are you stitching this week? We'd love to see it!

Spectacular Sins Book Club---Chapter Four

As I said yesterday, the chapter that is being discussed this week is about why God allows evil to exist. Proverbs 16:4 says, "The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble." But what does that mean? God has made wicked people? God has ordained evil? Or, as Lisa asked in her introductory paragraph, "Did God cause it by not preventing it?"

Our actual discussion was around this scenario:

You are in a coffee shop reading your Bible. A stranger sits beside you and asks, "How can you believe in a God who allows terrorists to fly into towers or children to starve and die?"

I would normally post my answer to the question here. But this week I am not. Much of my answer builds upon those that had answered before me and would be out of context here. Instead, I encourage you to go here and read the responses. Although I'd love to hear your thoughts, I don't expect much discussion here. I would hope that you will at least wrestle a little with the idea.

Have a blessed day!

In Other Words--A World in My Heart

Before I get to my IOW post, I want to note that my Spectacular Sins Book Club post will be up later today. This week we are looking at "Why Bad Things Happen to Good People?" It is heady stuff, but important to our faith walk to have a sense of why God allows things to happen, if He indeed does. For an amazingly articulate discussion, please visit Lisa at The Preacher's Wife. She has begun the discussion well!

Now, to In Other Words.

“You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.”

by Frederick Buechner, in Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale

I am unsure if I can write on this quote. It is not that I disagree. Quite the opposite. I totally agree. I live this quote. It resonates in the deepest part of me. And I wish I had been able to quote this years ago to people who said, "How can you....?"

When I left home at eighteen for university, I quickly discovered that my "world lived in" me. It came out in how I made decisions, how I spoke, what I dreamed of being, who I chose as friends. Although there was distance between me and family and growing up friends, it was deemed acceptable. After all, I had "only" gone off to college and surely I would return.

But I didn't return. When I left the great state of Texas to go to graduate school, the tremors of the quake were seismic. How could I leave family? How could I leave Texas? (I was the first grandchild to dare that feat!) My dear grandmother understood this concept, however, and gave me the blessing I needed. "We'll always be a part of you." She said it with a glint in her eye, almost as if it were fate. But it was true.

Family and friends are deeply rooted in me. I feel both of my grandmother's when I am baking one of their favorite dishes, not in a physical presence but in a sense of the continuation of what they started. I've experienced that feeling deep in my gut that says "something has happened" moments before learning of my brother's car accident and at the moment my grandfather died. A deep ache has hit my heart urging me to ring friends at a time when they needed encouragement. I've been blessed by dear friends calling me when I needed it most as well. I believe that the Holy Spirit sends those prompts and helps to tie us together, because we are family of God. He moves in their world as well, so He can prompt me to act on their needs and prompt them to act on mine.

There are times that it is quite difficult to have an ocean between me and much of my family and friends. When someone is hurting, it is difficult that I can't physically go. When someone is rejoicing, I miss the party. But I'm never too far away. That world lives in me. My life is entwined with theirs. The Spirit ensures it. What an incredible blessing it has been to not only go to whereever God has led at the time, but to also carry the lives of so many with me!

Father, today I ask you to hold my family and my friends who are physically far from me but never far from my heart. Give them your blessing today. May they see You in all they encounter. Amen.

This week our hostess is Nina at Mama's Little Treasures. Come and be blessed.

Stitching Post Saturday--February 14, 2009

Another update on the Flag Sampler. Only three quilt blocks to go, plus a star border. I think I can see the end in sight!


This week I have also finished my mystery quilt and finished about a third of another quilt. Unfortunately, I can't show either of them until they have been sent to their owners since they read my blog.

Thanks for dropping by! Happy Stitching!

Thankful Thursday---Love

Today's theme for Thankful Thursday is love, which is quite fitting for Valentine week.

Helping my friend the past two days while she helped her friend, I've been reminded about how loved I truly am.

*Thank you God for a husband who not only loves me, but adores me, even when I'm beyond lovable. Thank you for a helpmate and supporter who sees the potential in me even when I'm doubting. Thank you for his heart for You and how that is playing out in his life right now.

*Thank you God for Jewel and Flower, who love unconditionally. Thank you for their hugs and kisses and cuddles that remind me I'm loved when I'm not sure I can go any further. Thank you for the love they have shown the kids as they have come into our home--for the patience and the sharing and the acceptance they displayed.

*Thank you God that my children know they are loved. Thank you that they can take that for granted. Thank you that the only normal they know is security.

*Thank you God for friends who model hospitality and care and love so unselfishly. Thank you for allowing me to share in that ministry this week.

*Thank you God that S has found love in You and is now able to see that the abuse she has lived with for nine years is not loving. Thank you for the courage You have given her to protect herself and her children. Thank you for the love her church has shown to help her find safety and security. Thank you for the love our church has shown in material goods as well. Thank you for reminding all of us that we are your body to take care of each other.

*Thank you God for your sacrificial love for us that allows us to even understand a miniscule about what love truly is.

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:2-4

Never Underestimate the Power of Parenting

alternate title: This will make you want to cry

A friend of a friend this week has run from her supremely abusive marriage, taking her five children under the age of eight and two garbage bags of belongings. That is all she got out with, but she is out. And she is determined to make a life for them all. The past couple of days she has been getting a place to live sorted so the kids have been staying with my friend. (on a side note, the amount of furniture and clothing and other essentials donated through word of mouth has been amazing, so she is actually setting up a home!) Today my friend had an appointment and could not take her two kids plus three of the five with her (the two little ones were with their mom for a doctor appointment), so she asked if I'd watch the three kids. I was happy to help.

My girls and these kids were playing a game. I was listening from the other room. Somehow the topic of being sick was being discussed. Here was the conversation:

Middle child (7): I got sick one night in bed. It was awful!
Flower: One night I spit up all over my bed, too. When I cried Mommy and Daddy came running to help.
Eldest child (8): Your Dad came to help?
Flower: yeah...
Eldest: Really? You're serious?
Flower: uh huh

She was incredulous that a Daddy would ever help! I was on the verge of tears for these poor kids who can't comprehend that. And, I breathed a prayer of thanksgiving that mommy and daddy being there to help them is something my kids can take for granted.

Don't ever doubt that the mundane parts of parenting matter. They do. Seriously.

Please keep this family in your prayers. They will be in their home tomorrow. They still need so much, but they are grateful to be together and be safe. Pray that they remain that way!

In Other Words---Choose Love

Love needs to be based on character, if you know and love God you see He has a lot of character we are in love with. The best thing we can do for our spouse is to grow in character as listed in 1 Cor 13. It’s a love of choice. We choose to love God, He chooses to love us. Love of choice is the most powerful love, God calls that agape love, it’s a love that lasts, we should never settle for anything else between us and God and others. It’s a love that grows. Keep fervent in your love, allow it to stretch and strain as you watch it grow.
Wayne Corderio

"It's a love of choice." That phrase jumps out at me every time I read this quote. We live in a culture that acts as if love is something that comes and goes. Love is supposed to ebb and flow in our lives like the tides. And when the tide is out, that is when love goes away, then it is okay to move to the next place to wait for love to come back, usually with someone else.

That's what culture says. But that is not what the Bible says. The Bible teaches that love is a choice. And that we are to love even when we don't feel like it and even when the other person does not deserve our love. First Corinthians 13 makes this clear. Those characteristics of love show most clearly when we are loving someone who is unloving.

Thankfully, Scripture doesn't leave us with a list of characteristics to show others and no example of how it is done. No, Scripture gives us the perfect example of love. Jesus, Himself, is the epitome of love. He loved us at our most unlovely. He loved us with sacrifice. That sacrifice cost Him his very life. And it in turn gave us life. Jesus chose to love us. He only asks that we show our love for Him by choosing to love others.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
1 John 3:1a

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:16-18

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:11

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
Mark 12:30-31

Father God in Heaven, thank you for loving me. Thank you for loving me when I am a prideful, disrespectful brat. Thank you for loving me when no one around me can find anything redeemable in me. Thank you that at the moment I am most irredeemable, you redeem me. Thank you for your sacrifice that saves me from that miserable life. I love you. I want to show my love for you. Help me to choose love. Help me to choose love even when those around me are unlovable. Help me to remember that without your blood we are all unlovely. Allow my life to be a conduit of Your love to others. In the Name of Jesus and by His Blood...Amen.


Our hostess this week is Karen at In Love W.I.T.H. Jesus. Please join us there for other reflections on the quote.

Spectacular Sins Book Club--Chapter 3

Wow! This book is amazingly challenging both in that it is weighty material and in that it really makes me think and evaluate. These sparse comments cannot even begin to touch the amount of spinning my brain is doing. I do hope you can glean something from it.

1. On page 40 Piper tells us that the name Satan means "accuser." Do you ever feel accused? I know I do. Sometimes I lie in bed at night and obsess over all the ways I have failed throughout the day, or I relive all the sins of my past. Turn in your bibles (or click here) to read Romans 8:1-2. What does this verse say? If this is true, from whom are all those accusations of failure? What then should we do when our thoughts go there? What is the difference between condemnation of our sin by the Evil One and conviction of our sin by the Holy Spirit?
Oh how I feel accused at times! Paul states in Romans that there is NO condemnation in Christ Jesus. So those accusations of failure are most certainly Satan and his minions speaking at me. We need to take those thoughts captive and dismiss them (2 Cor 10:4-5) because Satan's accusations should not have any hold over us. Hallelujah for that ! I believe that the difference between condemnation and conviction is purpose. Condemnation is meant to disable my Christian walk and make me ineffective. The Holy Spirit's conviction in my life is to highlight where I need to move forward, give me a pathway back to God and restore that area of my life. It is always meant to make me more effective not less.

2. How does God allowing Satan to live bring glory to Christ?
Piper explains that a single immediate destruction of Satan at the time of his fall would have been a demonstration of power, but does not show the fullness of the glory of Christ. Through the ages since Adam and Eve's fall, Christ has been glorified in the lives that have followed Him, who have chosen not to allow Satan's deception to rule their lives but have chosen to allow Christ to be glorified in them. So He is glorified in the waiting time. But ultimately, no single act could bring more glory to God than the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross--that is the fullness of Christ's glory.

3. Read the 'Eight Things to Do with Evil" and "Four Things to Never Do with Evil" lists on pages 50-51. Which of these do you have the most problem with?
For me, "giving thanks for the refining effect of evil" (#3) while at the same time "hating evil" (#4) are great challenges. I find it a very difficult step of trust to say "God I hate this, I hate everything about it, but I will thank you for the work you are doing here anyway." I would much rather thank him for the good things and for refining work not to coincide with evil things in the world.

4. Recall Piper's introduction, specifically pages 13-16 when he speaks of persecution of the Church. Since December I have been praying for Martha Samuel Makkar. She is an Egyptian sister in Christ who converted from Islam, and has faced persecution ever since. In December, she was arrested at the airport when she tried to emigrate to Russia. Martha was placed in prison, tortured, raped, and her two and four year old sons were denied food in an attempt to cause her to renounce Christ. She was recently released on bail and is awaiting trial. You can read her story here and here (and please join me in praying!)

How might the truths Piper has conveyed in this chapter regarding evil - the "weighty doctrine" - bring comfort to Martha and her family while she undergoes persecution for Christ?
I found comfort in Piper's reminding us that we should "expect evil" but that we should also "pray for an escape." We are not being unspiritual to pray for a way out, and I think sometimes we feel like we must just bear whatever happens. I cannot imagine what this young mother is experiencing. One of my greatest fears is that my children would suffer because of my decisions. But as this book reminds us, we are to "never doubt that God is totally for [us] in Christ," so all we can do is just trust Him and His ultimate control. I realize those are just pithy answers from someone who has never encountered persecution on a minor scale much less that kind of persecution. But that is the best I can do from this point of reference.

Are you intrigued yet? If so, I encourage you to read the book. You will be forced to think in weighty things. Join us at The Preacher's Wife for further discussion.

Stitchin' Post Saturday--February 7

Welcome back to Stitching Saturday! I've been quilting this week on two mystery quilts, so can't show the progress yet! I did finish 3 more states on my Flag Sampler, and promise to take pictures later today and add them!

This quilt was received last week, so now I can show it off. The ladies at CSC Message Board did the stitching. I only did the quilting, but I'm quite pleased with the final result!




What have you been working on? Link up and show it off!

Thankful Thursday--Changes

Iris chose the theme Changes for Thankful Thursday this week. How I wish I was able to give thanks for specific changes, but for now they are still changes on the horizon! God is clearly showing us changes are coming, but has yet to give us the direction we'll be going. But, here are a few "changes" for which I'm thankful:

*Last week we were totally blessed to be able to take a family vacation to Belgium (posts are coming). The weather was predicted 40-60% rain every day we were there. But God was so good to us---we never saw a rain drop and only had one day of clouds out of six!

*Most of Britain has been locked in with unusual snow amounts this week. We have been clear and dry. Except for two hours Monday evening when the weather changed to allow two little girls to giggle and play in the snow and even make snow angels. By morning it was all washed away, but for those hours we praised God for the joy it brought my girls.

*This year we have made changes in Jewel's math program for school. Math is her struggle subject and I don't want her to learn to hate it at six! Those changes seem to be working. And I am thankful.

*I'm making some changes in my own pursuit of knowledge. I've decided to seek some classes to enhance the things I love. Just hours after putting one of those on my February goals, Iris gave me a lead of how to accomplish it. I'm thankful for Internet Friends who are there to guide and encourage. Thank you Iris!

*In spite of not knowing where the next change at work will be, German continues to have good support from his team. We are thankful for the job and for the people he works alongside every day.

*We have changes in the planning stages at church. They are huge, and they are exciting! I cannot wait to see the fulfillment of what God is starting. But for today I'm thankful to be a part of the process.

Are you thankful today? We would love it if you would share it! Join us at Iris' home...Grace Alone to share your thoughts.

Spectacular Sins Book Club--Chapter Two

As promised, the questions for chapter two. This is an amazing book, but it is heady. I would encourage you to get the book for yourselves to make more sense of what I'm trying to say!



1. I loved your quotes so much from the first session I'm going to ask you to share your favorite from this chapter!
(p. 36) "Paul's antidote for wimpy Christians is weighty doctrine. In Paul's mind, the most massive truths are meant for producing radical lives of obedience."

2. Re-read Colossians 1:15-16. Piper makes special mention that of all the things Paul could list that were made by, through, and for Christ, that he specifically mentions evil powers. In answering why Paul did this, Piper pulls an example from 2 Timothy 1:8 to show how he used weighty doctrine to address Timothy's practical issues of anxiety and fear that threatened the effect of his ministry. Considering Paul thought the 'heavy' things of God would help Timothy deal with everyday matters, how does knowing God created beings that He knew would turn from good to evil translate to your everyday life? (Use paragraphs 2 and 3 of page 36 to help form your thoughts.)
Given the difficulty I'm having wrapping my head around this weighty doctrine, I fear what that says about me (see above quote). But there is a reassurance for me in day-to-day life that God knew that what He intended for good would not always be good. I'm so like Paul in "the very thing I want to do I don't do" (Romans 7:15) It reassures that God's plan is not thwarted by my failure to live up to what He has called me to be any more than it is thwarted by the angels who rebelled. Nothing catches Him by surprise, and sometimes that is the most reassuring thought of all.

3. Five summary statements are given on p. 37 as to why God wants us to know the truth of Christ's sovereignty over 'rulers and authorities' and the way they are involved in the most spectacular sins of the universe. Which one is most meaningful to you? How does it comfort you and/or give you courage against the evil that we know has been disarmed by Christ?
The third statement is meaningful to me "our day is not so unlike Paul's...Paul was concerned that, in the pluralistic, intellectual atmosphere of Colossae, Christians could be captivated by high-sounding heresies." First it comforts me that today is not so different from Bible times that the Bible has become irrelevant, as some would have us believe. This pluralistic society needs to understand that Scripture is still absolute TRUTH and absolutely relevant to what we experience. Secondly it comforts me that no matter how sound those heresies appear, they are heresies but we can still separate them from truth through the knowledge and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

4. Okay, this question is more of an assignment. Look at the previous commenter's answers and respond to one of her(his?) insights. If you are the first commenter, you can refer to this original post. Let's get some discussion going! :) You'll have to visit Lisa's site to see the answer to this one!

In Other Words--Slippery Slopes

Caution: Road Slippery When Wet

The moment I saw this week's quote, encouraging us to look at the caution signs in the Bible, I thought of Casting Crown's song "Slow Fade."

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

We live in a world of slippery slopes. We must be on our guard. One small slip may lead to another to another until we are to a place that we never dreamed we could be--far away from the God of justice and love. But because He is a God of Love, He has provided us plenty of warnings in Scripture to help us not make that slide away from Him.

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble. Proverbs 4:18-19

CAUTION: Life is Slippery!

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. " Matthew 5:21-22

Anger leads to name callling leads to ostracizing behavior or to violent behavior leads to murder. CAUTION: Slippery!

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." Matthew 5:27-30

Looking with lust leads to lust taking hold in one's heart leads to inappropriate sexual contact and words leads to adultury. CAUTION: Slippery!

I'm not saying that everyone who makes one slip will slide down the entire mountain. There is grace and there is always a way back to God. What I am saying is that there are clear situations that God says "be wise, don't go there!" as a way of protecting us. It is much easier to keep our footing if we never walk on the slippery edge. And, as the song says, sometimes we have slid a long way (or faded a long way from our starting point) before we ever realize what has happened.

CAUTION: Slippery!

Amy at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 is our hostess this week. I am sure you will be blessed if you visit her and the other incredible ladies that write for IOW each week.

Be blessed and may your feet stay on stable ground!

February Goals

February Goals!
1. Finish Rosewood Manor Flag Sampler
2. Finish Mystery Quilt
3. Get 2/3 roof on thatched house stitched (currently 1/3)
4. Finish 2008 filing (otherwise known as re-find the office!)
5. Get Jewel set up for piano lessons
6. Find an online class to learn more about my DSLR camera

Spectacular Sins Book Club--Chapter One

I was away last Monday (okay all week) and didn't get to answer the questions. So, here goes a week late. This week's questions will be tackled tomorrow. ;-)

1. We'll start with an easy one. What are the four reasons that John Piper gives for writing the book? Which do you look most forward to hearing Piper answer?
He states reasons were to know a)Why does God tell us about his sovereignty over sin? b) Why does God not restrain sin more often? c) How can we have faith and joy during the severity of the last days and d)how is Christ glorified in a world of sin? I am most intrigued by how he will answer the third question. I believe in my inner most being that we as Christians in the western world are in for a shock of how bad things are going to get. I want my reactions under that kind of pressure to glorify God, so I want an arsenal of tools to be faithful and joyful when those times come.

Here comes the hard part. I hope you read the footnote on page 24. If you are like me, you read it several times, then out loud, then needed to discuss it with someone. We're loving the Lord with all our minds! Answer these as best you can (it's okay if you are fuzzy - we're only in chapter one):

2. What is God's role in sin:
a. Does he allow you to sin?
I believe that God has given us free will and that we will sin because we have a sin nature. He desires that we don't, but knows that until our nature is made perfect again (other side of this life) then we will sin. I don't see that as "allowing" me to sin, but an understanding that sin happens. Just as I don't "allow" my kids to disobey I have an understanding that they will disobey because they are kids. I will love them no matter, and often allow the consequences of their disobedience to happen.
b. Does he cause you to sin?
NO! But He may test what I've said my commitment to Him is by giving me opportunities to choose Him over sinful actions/thoughts/behaviors. He is molding me into His image, and sometimes I need to see how out of His image I still live.
c. Does he allow temptation to come before you?
see above
d. What resources does he give you to resist it? (quote scripture if possible.)
Scripture, scripture, scripture! And the Holy Spirit to help me remember the Scripture!
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates,
Deuteronomy 11:18-20
Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11


3. Are God's purposes sometimes accomplished through the sinful actions of man? Aside from the Crucifixion, can you think of another biblical example?
The gospel spread throughout the world because of the persecution of the early church.

4. Piper states that his primary goal is to magnify Christ. What are some ways that a Christian might do that, even under intense suffering? What are some ways that we might do that, during our day-to-day frustrations and disappointments? Have you personally witnessed any examples of either?
It is keeping the focus on Christ. Prayerfully seeking joy even in the midst of suffering. We do it in our day-to-day by deliberately seeking God, by praying, by testifying of His goodness even when things are not perfect. I've seen many examples of people under immense stress--physical, financial, marital--where their testimony of God's goodness even when in the temporary no goodness could be seen was a shining light of God. They magnified Him with their words and attitudes.

5. On page 29 he writes, "We are pushing our way through a blood-spattered life that makes us feel connected to the world yet disconnected at the same time. We are here but not here. Love binds us to the tragic earth, and love binds us to the treasure in heaven." What thoughts does this provoke in you?
These are words of hope to me. I find myself "Homesick" so often, desperate for the comfort of the world I've not yet experienced. And that hope allows me to continue to testify of His Love and Goodness even when things are not my way here on earth.

Marriage Monday---Surprise

Want this button?

This month's topic is "The Surprise of Christian Marriage." I spoke with German last evening about the topic, and we could both relate several times we had surprised each other early in our marriage, but not so many in the last few years. We wondered together if that is because of time, kids, busyness. But we concluded that, for us, it relates to two things---we are so comfortable together surprise is not always easy to achieve and (probably more importantly) he has learned that I'm not that fond of surprises. I like to be prepared. ;-)

But all that being said, marriage itself was a surprise for us. I never planned to get married. From a young age, I didn't expect to get married. The first time German heard me speak at a church function, my opening line was "I'm single by calling and by choice, and it is okay." (Obviously I was speaking at a Single Adult meeting.) When I rang my Dad to tell him I was getting married, his response was, "You're doing what?" It was unexpected. And I do believe that I was Single by calling for a season. The ministry that I was able to do during that time would not have been possible had I been married or even been looking to be married. But God had different plans for my late 20s and beyond and when I was 27 he surprised me with someone He intended to be my husband, and I to be his helpmate.

We've been surprised along the way with what God intended. Four months after we married, German took a new job across the country. It took months for me to be able to join him. He surprised us with the excitement we would feel at our first pregnancy...and the consequent grief we could endure at the loss of the pregnancy. He surprised us in how He could bond us together in that grief. He has surprised us with the ease we found the ex-Pat life, the ministry that has been here for both of us individually and together. He surprised us with two beautiful little girls who delight us and challenge us daily. As we sit here in anticipation of the next thing on the horizon we only know one thing...God already knows what it is and will delight and revealing the surprise to us in the right timing.

We do surprise one another, often quite successfully. A front yard filled with 30 pink flamingos and a billboard announcing my age on my 30th birthday was a definite surprise. Walking into his office filled with black balloons and baby pictures of himself (that he didn't even know we had) on his 40th birthday was a surprise. Unexpected flowers or a favorite meal. An hour of "freedom" from responsibilities to do whatever we please. These are things with which we are able to surprise each other. But in our Christian marriage, the surprises we love the most are the surprises that God gives us. It's been that way from the beginning of our blossoming friendship. We pray that it will be that way as we grow old together.

Marriage Monday is being hosted this week by Lynn at Unequal Marriage. Please join us there for more surprises.