Stank_N Rank_N

A Prayer for the Parents

2012-01-13T11:30:00.000-05:00

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/2012/01/11/a-prayer-for-parenting-and-re-parenting-by-grace/

A Prayer for Parenting and Re-parenting by Grace
by Scotty Smith

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Ps. 127:1-3

Heavenly Father, it’s a peace-generating joy and a heart-liberating privilege to address you as the architect and builder of your own house—including the household of faith and our children’s place in your family.

As I look back over the years of my pragmatic parenting, I’m saddened, but I am also gladdened, for you’ve always been faithful to your covenant love, even when I was overbearing and under-believing. The move from parenting by grit to parenting by grace has been a fitful but fruitful journey. Take me deeper; take me further.

You’ve rescued me from parental “laboring in vain”—assuming a burden you never intended parents to bear. Father, only you can reveal the glory and grace of Jesus to our children. Only you can give anyone a new heart. You’ve called us to parent as an act of worship—to parent “as unto you,” not as a way of saving face, making a name for ourselves, or proving our worthiness of your love.

Oh, the arrogant pride of thinking that by my “good parenting” I can take credit for what you alone have graciously done in the lives of my children. Oh, the paralyzing unbelief of assuming that by my “bad parenting” I’ve forever limited what you will be able to accomplish in the future. Oh, the undue pressure our children must feel when we parent more out of our fear and pride than by your love and grace.

Since our children and grandchildren are your inheritance, Father, teach us—teach me, how to care for them as humble stewards, not as anxious owners. Help us to appreciate and celebrate the uniqueness of our children. Should you give them a personality and passion, gifts and callings other than what we would choose for them, give us grace to enjoy, rather than just endure who they are. More than anything else, show us how to parent and grandparent in a way that most powerfully reveals the unsearchable riches of Jesus in the gospel.

Give us quick repentances and observable kindnesses. Restore the years eaten away by the locusts of both co-dependent parenting and non-engaged parenting. Write wonderful stories of redemption and restoration. Convict us quickly and surely when we don’t relate to your covenant children “in line with the truth of the gospel” (Gal. 2:14 NIV). So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ powerful and faithful name.

Always More Than You Know

2012-01-10T11:08:00.002-05:00

Know this for your own personal life. Right now there’s not a person who is not stuck in something. You are stuck financially, or stuck in your health, or stuck in your marriage, or stuck in your vocation, or stuck in your spiritual growth. There’s not a person in this room who doesn’t feel in some sense: this is a moment when I’m not making any progress and everything seems futile that I try. That is never the case with the Christian! God is always doing more than you know —a thousand times more than you know.

John Piper 11/20/11 sermon video, 25:40–26:40

Break It Down Now... aka Random Thoughts

2012-01-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

It's another post, or maybe my first one, of "Break It Down Now" or aka "Random Thoughts"

Today's episode -

Myths or Stereotypes Debunked

- Even the introverted get lonely.

- The supermodel and those with a disability have more in common than you think - they are judged solely on their looks.

- Those that encourage need encouragement too.

Sunday Evening Prep

2012-01-04T12:39:00.000-05:00

Monday Morning Motivation from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

This is a video about an upcoming book by Matt Perman on the doctrine of vocation titled "What's Best Next: How the Gospel Changes the Way You Get Things Done." I am really looking forward to this book and seeing this video only gets me more excited for it.

You can also read Matt's blog What's Best Next. Over the past year, Matt's blog has been helpful to me in regards to the workplace. I highly recommend his blog.

Everyone's Problem

2012-01-04T12:29:00.000-05:00

"...as a human being made in God's image, you do not live life based on the facts of your experience, but based on your interpretation of the facts. No one acts, reacts and responds purely based on the actual facts of reality because the moment we are greeted with the facts, we take them into our hearts and process them. Our response is then based not so much on what is, but based upon what our heart has done with what is. Everyone of us is a philosopher, everyone of us is a theologian, everyone of us is an archaeologist who will dig through the past civilization of our own lives, trying to make sense of what has happened to us. Interpretation is an inescapable and profoundly important function of the human heart. The problem is that most often you and I are not aware that we are doing it, so our interpretation BECOMES our reality."

Paul Tripp "The Distortion of Envy" - read more here.

ask what thou wilt, but don't withold your love from me.

2011-12-21T16:25:00.000-05:00

Deep unto deep, O Lord,

Crieth in me,

Gathering strength, I come,

Lord, unto Thee.

Jesus of Calvary,

Smitten for me,

Ask what Thou wilt, but give

Love to me.

If by Amy Carmichael

I Know Nothing of Calvary's Love

2011-12-21T16:22:00.001-05:00

If I wonder why something trying is allowed,

and press for prayer that it may be removed;

if I cannot be trusted with any disappointment,

and cannot go on in peace under any mystery,

then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If by Amy Carmichael

"Usefulness"

2011-12-16T15:45:00.000-05:00

From a blog treasure:

We tend to evaluate our own “usefulness” based on what we can do for God. But God doesn’t evaluate us on that basis.

Read more here.

Pursued

2011-12-12T12:17:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 23:6, "Surely goodness and mercy (steadfast love) shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." It has been a verse that has been on my mind and heart lately as I think of friends in trials and physical suffering.

Today, the verse was on my mind for myself as I went through my morning routines before work today. It encourages me and reminds me that today is one of the days of my life where goodness and steadfast love will follow me. I pondered those last two words, "follow me." Growing up, I recall the times my dog who would follow one of us around. During walks, he would get distracted by an animal or another walker and we would have to direct his attention back to us and other times, he would stay right with us, even going ahead. I find I often think of God's goodness and steadfast love like walking my dog. He's right there with me, but I think God gets distracted from time to time and I have to shoot a prayer or say a verse to direct his attention back to me.

Sounds okay, right? Now's here where I laugh. God is not like my dog and I'm certainly not walking Him around, but what is He like and how does goodness and steadfast love follow me all the days of my life? Reading in my little devotional book at work, the verse today was Psalm 23:6 (?!) and the first line is "What a surprising way to describe God. A God who pursues us." (Grace for the Moment, Max Lucado) Huh, a God who pursues us. Instead of aimlessly following behind me like my dog, God is actively pursuing me and He's the One getting my attention with goodness and steadfast love when I get distracted by other things.

That puts "all the days of my life" in a different perspective now.

Today...

2011-12-06T12:58:00.000-05:00

..you will be bombarded with what the world, others and your heart will tell you who you are and who you should be.

Remember God's word:

1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

We are beloved of the Father, children of God, heirs of the promise.

Singleness and Marriage: BOTH witnesses to the Church

2011-12-05T13:36:00.001-05:00

The church, in my opinion, does not do singleness very well. At every turn, we hold up marriage as normative, and actually I think, as superior to singleness. And we convey in subtle and not so subtle ways that you’re not really a part of this community or an adult if you’re not married.

What I want to suggest is that it’s a problem not only because it makes single people feel lousy, although that’s part of what it does, but finally it’s not a therapeutic problem but a theological problem. The problem is this: marriage and singleness were not given to individual people. They were given to the church. And both witness to the church different theological truths, different pieces of God’s economy, and we miss the point of marriage and singleness when we fail to realize that.

Thanks to my dear friend, Sarah for posting this transcript of a message at a CCEF conference a few years ago. You can read her entire post here.

Giving Thanks that God is Not Done With Me

2011-11-26T19:10:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I think because it's the holiday of my favorite season - Fall - as well as it's a time for family and friends to gather and to give thanks. It's the kickoff of the holiday season and I can't think of a better holiday to start things off right.

This year, as with others, I contemplated what to give thanks for. As I mentally made my list, it seemed small. Not small in quantity, but in quality. Now, please don't think that I am referring to the latest technology gadget (I have only had a Kindle for less than a year and now the Kindle Fire comes out!). Rather in my mind's eye, the things over the past year I'm most thankful for are not seen and not temporary.

Over the past year,

- I've become more aware and thankful for Jesus interceding for me, my family and friends in difficult trials and suffering.

- I'm thankful that God is an "ever present refuge" for His children. There is no danger that God is not a refuge for.

- I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit to speak truth and comfort to my soul in navigating the dangerous terrain of lies and bitterness. It felt like being in the middle of a field of bombs and one wrong step would cause damage, but the Holy Spirit helped me know where to walk with the least amount of damage.

These are only a few things and my limited writing skills does not adequately describe what I'm thankful for. I think if I could sum up what I'm thankful for the most is that God is not done with me. Oh, there's so much in that one statement.

God is not done with:

- Molding my rebellious heart into a heart that seeks Him
- Blessing me with every good gift He has for me
- Caring for me
- Protecting me - from myself and others
- Providing everything I will ever need
- Showering His mercy on me
- Revealing more of Himself to me
- Growing faith in Him
- Preparing me for heaven
- Working all things together for my good
- Fulfilling all the promises intended for me
- Et al.

Yes, this Thanksgiving season, I am thankful that God is not done with me yet.

Fill in the ___?

2011-07-14T13:17:00.000-04:00

I'm a fan of crossword puzzles, although I'm not terribly good at them. The clues always get me. You will not find me working the NY Times crossword in pen any time soon. I am more of a word-jumble-kind-of-girl. But I'm a fan of crossword puzzles because I'm a logophile who loves to see words connected together and a crossword puzzle literally does that.

So why am I writing about crosswords? Well I wanted to give some background before I get to the main text of this post. Recently, a new friend of mine gave me some good advice on one of my life's situations. She said, "there are alot of blanks in your life. And the tendency is to try to fill them up. Let God fill in the blanks himself." And because I'm a visual person, crossword puzzles came to mind. As I was thinking about this, several things revealed themselves.

1. I don't like blanks. Expecially those that have been that way for a long time.

2. As with a crossword puzzle, I look for the "clues" and fill in the blanks with erroneous answers. I think I do this just so it can be filled and I can move on (see point #1).

3. Life feels stuck like when you get stuck in a crossword puzzle. All those blanks waiting to be filled and no answers have revealed themselves.

4. God doesn't speak in pithy or cryptic clues, although it feels like it at times.

5. God does have answers for the blanks. The best ones. The ones that fit correctly.

So there it is. I'm a visual person and this example may be too simplistic in nature, however, it has helped to reveal to me where and how I fail to trust in God. Even though I fail, God is still faithful and for that I am truly thankful. He sees the whole puzzle, knows all the answers and will fill in the blanks in His perfect time. And just as a crossword puzzle has a theme, God's theme for my life has been and will continue to be "the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever" (Pslam 118:1)

God at Work

2011-07-07T15:08:00.001-04:00

Trials. Small or large, quick or long, few or many, we all go through them. I'm in one right now, actually many, if I count the ones that are still ongoing. While driving today, I reflected on trials in the past and how God has met me in these situations.

Here's what I came up with.

First and foremost, God IS acting on my behalf IN the trial and He has the BEST in mind for me DURING the trial. I have found that He acts in three different ways.

1. He leads me through the trial. This is more or less the main way He acts.
2. He removes the trial. This happens infrequently, but it does happen.
3. He removes me from the trial. This, too, happens infrequently, but it does happen.

God is acting and has the best in mind for me in all my trials regardless if all He does is lead me through it. Yes, I would love #2 and #3 to happen more often than not, but I have seen that God only does that if it is for my best and His glory.

Wherever you are at today, God IS acting IN your midst and He does have the BEST for you.

Grace shapes us...

2011-06-25T21:59:00.000-04:00

Grace is not a technique. It is not a magical quality that God dispenses like a candy machine, or the power for self-actualization or personal peace and affluence. It is not a lubricant to get the parts inside working properly. And it is not a three-step program for self-improvement. When we treat grace that way, we surrender to the spirit of our age by fashioning ourselves and our bodies through our own efforts. We don’t use grace to shape ourselves—it shapes us into the image of the one who gives it. - Matthew Anderson "Earthen Vessels" (emphasis mine)

In Christ we have power and victory

2011-06-04T22:55:00.000-04:00

“The resurrection of Jesus offers courage and strength to persevere because his victory over sin and death is ours both in this life and in the one to come. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us, sanctifies us, and empowers us to follow Christ and serve the mission of the church. And we know that the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead will raise us as well when Jesus returns. Here the broken find hope and courage, for in Christ we have power and victory to obey, and we will, in the end, be raised in his likeness.”

Joe Thorn, Note To Self (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2011), 31

HT:OFI

Grounds of Our Assurance are not within us

2011-06-04T22:41:00.000-04:00

"Many sincere believers are too introspective. They look too exclusively within, so that their hope is graduated by the degree of evidence of regeneration which they find in their own experience. This, except in rare cases, can never lead to the assurance of hope. We may examine our hearts with all the microscopic care prescribed by President Edwards in his work on The Religious Affections, and never be satisfied that we have eliminated every ground of misgiving and doubt. The grounds of assurance are not so much within, as without us."

Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology (London, 1873), 3:107

HT: Tony Reinke

Our hearts will not save us.

2011-06-04T22:25:00.004-04:00

"That’s why Jesus did not say, “Let not your hearts be troubled, just believe your hearts.” He said, “Let not your hearts be troubled, believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1)."

Read the whole article here at Desiring God.

it's okay to plod...

2011-06-04T22:18:00.001-04:00

Sanctification is a process—an extremely slow process—for us all. Comprehending truth, applying truth, mortifying indwelling sin, cultivating the fruit of the Spirit—it’s a process that usually takes place by small increments over a lifetime. Normally, people don’t grow dramatically as the result of a single sermon or sermon series.

CJ Mahaney, SG blog, Ordinary Pastors, Part 8

God changes lives..

2011-06-04T22:13:00.005-04:00

God is present in power in the church, changing lives and enabling an obedience that would otherwise be unattainable. The Holy Spirit is not a theological abstraction but the manifestation of God’s presence in the community, making everything new. Those who respond to the gospel have entered the sphere of the Spirit’s power, where they find themselves change and empowered for obedience.

Richard B. Hays, The Moral Vision of the New Testament (T & T Clark, 1997)

HT:OFI

::in the hands of such love::

2011-02-14T20:54:00.006-05:00

See us

steeped in

the sin of the world;

loving evil

for evil’s sake,

hating God

and all that

God stands for,

ever seeking

to drain deeper and deeper

the cup of our sinful indulgence.

The Spirit follows us unwaveringly through all.

He is not

driven away

because

we are sinners.

He comes to us

because,

being sinners,

we need Him.

He is not cast off

because we reject

His loving offices.

He abides with us

because our rejection

of Him

would leave us helpless.

He does not condition

His further help

upon our recognizing

and returning

His love.

His continuance

with us

is conditioned only

on His own love for us.

And that love for us

is so strong,

so mighty,

and so constant

that it can never fail.

When He sees us immersed in sin

and rushing headlong to destruction,

He does not turn from us,

He yearns for us with jealous envy.

It is

in the hands of such love

that we have fallen.

And it is because

we have fallen

into the hands of such love

that we have

before us

a future of eternal hope.

When we lose hope in ourselves,

when the present becomes dark

and the future black before us,

when effort after effort has issued only

in disheartening failure,

and our sin looms big before our despairing eyes;

when our hearts hate and despise themselves,

and we remember

that God is greater than our hearts

and cannot abide the least iniquity;

the Spirit whom He has sent

to bring us to Him

still labors with us,

not in indifference or hatred,

but in pitying love.

Yea,

His love burns

all the stronger

because we

so deeply need

His help:

He is yearning

after us

with jealous envy.

B.B Warfield

[HT: Justin Taylor - God Yearns after You with Jealous Envy]

(emphasis mine)

Making of VW and The Force

2011-02-11T13:52:00.000-05:00

Destroyed, but in me is your help

2011-02-11T08:28:00.000-05:00

Everything within me bespeaks my condemnation. There is not one spark of goodness in me. As a shipwrecked mariner, I must sink beneath the waves, if help is not provided.

But oh! how wonderful is the love of God against whom I have sinned. He stretches out his arm of mercy to save me from perishing. He speaks with melting kindness: ‘You have destroyed yourself, but in me is your help.’

Placed on the Rock of Ages, on Jesus, the sure Foundation, my soul is penetrated with gratitude while I listen to the gracious voice of my Redeemer – ‘I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins.'

— Thomas Reade, Christian Meditations

[HT: OFI]

VW has the Force

2011-02-05T18:49:00.004-05:00

Yikes, it's been two months!

2011-02-05T18:09:00.002-05:00

Today, one of my more obscure thoughts was about this blog and that I should post something. I also thought it had been about a month since last posting. I could not be more wrong. Two whole months. That's pretty bad and I don't even have a substantial excuse. These past two months have been busy with new adventures (sewer trap replacement - that will require a whole post in it of itself) and the mundane.

In short, I apologize for the two month absence and thanks to those who continue to follow this blog.

Updates on Alicia Hess

2010-12-02T08:45:00.004-05:00

Alicia's family has set up a Caring Bridge site to serve with updates, provide a place to share messages, etc. They have been overwhelmed (in a good way) with all the messages and requests for updates, but it is still overwhelming and the Caring Bridge site will help in keeping things all in one place.

You can visit the site or sign up and receive email updates when an update has been posted. The site works much like a blog with some extra features.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/aliciahess

I've also placed a link over on the Blog Roll list for my regular visitors.

Teach me your way, O Lord

2010-12-01T13:01:00.003-05:00

The paths that we think will be easier and better are often not better at all. They seldom end up being better routes to the life which God has designed for us to live. What seem to be better paths to us are actually self-oriented "long cuts" that actually take us away from where God wants us to be. Somehow, someway we all take daily detours of thought and desire that move us off the straight path that God has placed us on by his grace. In magnificently patient, transforming love, he has redeemed us from the jungle of our rebellion, lust, autonomy, foolishness, and self-focus and placed us on the narrow pathway of the grace of his Son.

From Paul Tripp at DG blog, The Shortest Distance Between Points

I recommend reading the whole article. There are some specific reasons as to why we take shortcuts and signs that we may be taking shortcuts that may get you thinking. I know it did for me.

And a sidebar for some of my readers out there, God's path for our lives do not include unnecessary or ineffective diversions. "The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;" Psalm 111:7 Nothing He does in our lives is ineffective or out of place. He works all things for our good.

Accepted at My Worst

2010-12-01T09:06:00.001-05:00

“In the cross, God demonstrates the deepest law of acceptance. For to be convinced that I have been accepted, I must be convinced that I have been accepted at my worst. This is the greatest gift an intimate relationship can offer — to know that we have been accepted and forgiven in the full knowledge of who we are, an even greater knowledge than we have about ourselves. This is what the cross offers.”
— Rebecca Pippert Hope Has Its Reasons, 105

[HT: OFI]

Thoughts On a Cloudy, Dark Day

2010-11-30T16:29:00.004-05:00

..it can feel like we are hidden from God, but the truth is God has his loving and caring eye fixed upon us and nothing can diminish or blur his view of us.

"Who can separate us from the love of God?" (Romans 8)

"Where can I go from your spirit? If I say, 'surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,' even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you." (Psalm 139)

Safely Leave With Him

2010-11-26T22:48:00.000-05:00

"The best thing is neither to seek nor avoid troubles but to follow Christ and take the bitter with the sweet as it may come. Whether we are happy or unhappy at any given time is not important. That we be in the will of God is all that matters. We may safely leave with him the incident of heartache or happiness. He will know how much we need of either or both."
- A.W. Tozer, We Travel an Appointed Way, page 80.

Fruit

2010-11-16T23:06:00.001-05:00

Sometimes we’ll see fruit, which is a wonderful experience. But other times we’ll just be watering, which is just as pleasing to the Lord. We’re called to be faithful to the task, not faithful to create fruit. God creates the fruit, not us.

~Stephen Altrogge, The Blazing Center

It Will Get Better

2010-11-15T13:14:00.004-05:00

Recently, I spent some time with a friend catching up with her about our lives and goings-on since we got together last several months ago. My friend is going through some major changes in her life and my hope and aim during the conversation was to encourage her and remind of her God's goodness and sovereignty in these times. At one point in the conversation, I shared with her, "it will get better" following up that life doesn't necessarily get better. Since our conversation, it struck me that I wasn't very helpful to my friend when I said that. I didn't point her to something bigger than her current situation. So here's my follow up and I do hope she's reading.

"Sister, when I said 'it will get better,' I didn't have the words at the time, but what I mean is that in these times of trial and seasons of doubt, your relationship and your view of God will get better. We will not fully understand all things and even God on this side of heaven, but I do believe our relationship with Him will get better. As He shows us more of Himself, we will learn to trust Him more. Faith doesn't look for answers, but looks for the one it's fixated on and who better to fix our gaze upon than our Heavenly Father. We are promised in God's word that there will be trials, but even more so, we are promised a Savior and Comforter as well. So press on my sister, because "it will get better."

Yeah...

2010-11-10T16:49:00.003-05:00

The process is not finished, but it is going on

2010-11-10T16:45:00.002-05:00

This life therefore

is not righteousness

but growth in righteousness;
not health

but healing;
not being

but becoming;
not rest

but exercise.
We are not yet what we shall be,

but we are growing toward it.
The process is not finished,

but it is going on.
This is not the end,

but it is the road.
All does not yet gleam in glory,

but all is being purified.
~Martin Luther

Only Jesus Video

2010-11-10T16:38:00.002-05:00

Check out Generation Letter and Bob Kauflin leading worship with the song, "Only Jesus" at the NEXT 2010 conference. Bob writes about the motivation of the composer, Doug Plank, for the song on his blog, Worship Matters.

Only Jesus from Sovereign Grace Ministries on Vimeo.

365 quotes

2010-11-04T12:47:00.004-04:00

Fell in love with this Flickr account and I've been going through it and seeing all the pictures and quotes he's put together. Below are two of my favorites.

Prepping and Making Ready

2010-11-04T12:38:00.001-04:00

Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled,

and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up.

CH Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, 11/4

Twit or Tweet

2010-11-04T12:35:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to make you aware that on the right side of the blog is where you can follow my tweets. I post things there too, mostly quotes or links from other Twitter-ers, like the following below.

A hero is someone who does the right thing in the right way for a long time whether people notice or not. -Kevin DeYoung

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’ -C.S. Lewis

So check them out on the blog or you can follow me on Twitter @stanknrankn

I am Your God

2010-11-04T12:31:00.002-04:00

You are my servant,

I have chosen you

and not cast you off;

fear not,

for I am with you;

be not dismayed,

for I am your God;

I will strengthen you,

I will help you,

I will uphold you

with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:9b-10

Knowing God as Father Helps in Obedience

2010-11-02T20:56:00.004-04:00

Over on the Desiring God blog, there was a post about the command to obedience is really the call to faith. The post is well worth the read and I encourage you to read it, especially since I'll be using it as a springboard for the following thoughts below.

As I have read, studied and thought about God as Father and its' implications, I find myself looking at things through this perspective. The results of this change in perspective have been surprising in a good way. I see how my view about God and thinking of Him as Father and I His child, impacts everything - trials, blessings, sufferings, relationships, service, etc. After reading this article by Desiring God, I see how my view of God as Father affects obedience. Do I obey because I have to obey to appease God or find favor with Him or do I obey because I trust God, that's He good, that his commands are not burdensome (I John 5:3) and they are for my good (Psalm 119:7; Psalm 119:93)?

How I view God will affect how I see obedience and when I am called to obey God in situations. The call of obedience IS a call to faith in God. Oh Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!

More Thoughts on Being Adopted by God

2010-11-02T20:37:00.004-04:00

I have not forgotten about going through the book, but I can't seem to find it so, until I do, there's more to think about and consider on the topic of adoption by God.

Here's some quotes by some men who have thoughts on the adoption of sinners by God:

If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all... JI Packer, Knowing God.

It is indeed a great thing to be right with God the Judge through the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is a great thing to be forgiven of sin, to be free from the fear of God’s wrath. But it is possible to grasp these great realities and remain unaware of what is even greater: we are adopted and loved by God the Father. In Christ, God the Father justifies us, but he does not stop there: he adopts us as his sons. CJ Mahaney, For the Fame of God’s Name: Essays in Honor of John Piper.

I Love You This Much

2010-10-30T11:51:00.003-04:00

When we think of Christ dying on the cross

we are shown the lengths

to which God’s love goes in order

to win us back to himself.

We would almost think that God loved us more

than he loves his Son!

We cannot measure such love by any other standard.

He is saying to us:

I love you this much. . . .

The cross is the heart of the gospel.

It makes the gospel good news:

Christ has died for us.

He has stood in our place before God’s judgment seat.

He has borne our sins.

God has done something on the cross

which we could never do for ourselves.

But God does something to us as well as for us through the cross.

He persuades us that he loves us.

~Sinclair Ferguson, Grow in Grace

Real Love

2010-10-30T11:44:00.002-04:00

God does not love us

because Christ died for us;

Christ died for us

because God loved us.

~John Stott

The Cross of Christ

Me ♥ Fall

2010-10-29T12:01:00.002-04:00

From my friend's blog.

Courage

2010-10-28T10:50:00.003-04:00

Click here to see image if you're an email subscriber.

I Will Satisfy him and Show him My Salvation

2010-10-28T10:38:00.002-04:00

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

Only God who gives

2010-10-25T13:02:00.003-04:00

Today over at The Blazing Center, Mark A. writes about measuring success and how a Christian should respond. It is well worth the time to read it, if you can.

The post reminded me of the verse, So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:7) Only God who gives. Any accomplishment, any success at anything in our daily lives is only because of God. And any failures He allows are part of His perfect plan. Not a small part or an inconvenience, but a part.

We don't see, we can't see, how everything works out for our good, but God is faithful and He is kind to help us in our weaknesses when we can't understand His ways. And in the end I'm not sure understanding everything will matter much because we will be with the Father.

Marantha!
Come Lord Jesus!

Those who Sow in Tears...

2010-10-24T22:50:00.001-04:00

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5-6

This psalm teaches the tough truth that there is work to be done whether I am emotionally up for it or not, and it is good for me to do it. Suppose you are in a season of heartache and discouragement, and it is time to sow seed. Do you say, ‘I can’t sow the field this spring, because I am brokenhearted and discouraged’? If you do that, you will not eat in the winter. Suppose you say instead, ‘I am heartsick and discouraged. I cry if the milk spills at breakfast. I cry if the phone and doorbell ring at the same time. I cry for no reason at all, but the field needs to be sowed. That is the way life is. I do not feel like it, but I will take my bag of seeds and go out in the fields and do my crying while I do my duty. I will sow in tears.’

If you do that, the promise of this psalm is that you will ‘reap with shouts of joy.’ You will ‘come home with shouts of joy, bringing your sheaves with you,’ not because the tears of sowing produce the joy of reaping, but because the sheer sowing produces the reaping. We need to remember this even when our tears tempt us to give up sowing.

John Piper
A Godward Life, pp. 89-90

Salvation Accomplished

2010-10-24T21:52:00.001-04:00

Believers are assured that everything works together for good

because the God who set his covenantal love upon them,

predestined them to be like his Son,

called them effectually to himself,

and justified them will certainly glorify them.

All the sufferings and afflictions of the present era

are not an obstacle to their ultimate salvation

but the means by which salvation will be accomplished.

- Thomas R. Schreiner

Romans (Grand Rapids, Mi.; Baker Books, 1998), 455.

Genuine Trust isn't Wishful Thinking

2010-10-18T16:43:00.000-04:00

Repost from September 2009

Stank_N Rank_N: Trust IS the Right Thing

Sunday Night at the Hess'

2010-10-18T12:33:00.003-04:00

"Look! We found a new toy for Sara!"

B. Hess

(It wasn't the exact same toy, but very similar.
I had some fun with Luke's toys at his 1 year old birthday party.)

"Yeah, I have a 6th child." B. Hess
"At least I go home when it's time to go to bed." -Me

Implications of Adoption

2010-10-18T11:40:00.007-04:00

Between Sunday night catching up with the Hess' and this morning, I had a random thought that has stayed with me and has now fleshed out into something more coherent and full. This thought is not a great or profound thought, but it has encouraged me greatly as I ponder it and its implications.

God sees me as his adopted child; no more, no less.

And it made me think, is this the way I see myself? I have to say no. I can be caught up with titles I currently have (single) or don't have (wife, mother). I can be caught up with how productive or non-productive my life can be (I'm still paying off debt, my house is not the way I want it to be). And even now, seeing these things in print before me, these things could change or could not change. And if these things changed, would I still be looking at myself in these ways? More than likely yes.

But that's not how God sees me. No matter the current season, role, situation I am in now or in the future, God sees me as his adopted child and co-heir with Christ. And that is an encouraging thought, becauses as seasons change, roles emerge and situations come and go, I will never not stop being God's adopted child. That is a title that is imprinted on me with the blood of His Son Jesus who died on the cross to atone for my sins. It will never fade, never get old, and is the only way for me to enter heaven.

Does this sound familiar to you? Are you caught up with your own thoughts on your life or how God thinks of you, as an adopted child of His? Do you realize the implications of what being adopted by God means?

Loved with Real Love; Showered with Real Grace

2010-10-08T15:07:00.002-04:00

Perhaps you’ve been wondering where the grace of God is in your life at the very moment when you have been getting it. But it has not been the grace of comfortable relief or release; no, you have been receiving the uncomfortable grace of rescue, restoration, transformation and refinement.

So, if you are God’s child, if you’ve ever prayed that God would be near you and would do what he has promised in and for you, then resist the temptation to doubt his goodness in the middle of your moment of stress. . . If you are God’s child and you humbly recognize and admit that the battle with sin still rages in your heart, then tell yourself that those difficulties are the sure sign of his rescuing and redemptive love.

God hasn’t forgotten you. He hasn’t turned his back on you. He isn’t punishing you in anger. He surely isn’t withholding the grace that he has promised from you. No, you’re receiving grace, but it’s grace that is willing to break bones in order to capture and transform your heart. This grace is unrelenting. This grace has no intention of giving up. This grace will not be satisfied with the status quo. This grace does not get discouraged. It will never compromise. It will never become bitter or cynical. This is loving, patient, perseverant, powerful grace.

In those moments when you are tempted to wonder if God has forgotten you, may you preach to yourself of this relentless, transforming grace. May you remind yourself that you are being loved with real love and showered with real grace. . .

Paul Tripp - Broken Bones Hymn from DG

It's Okay to Struggle

2010-10-07T12:35:00.003-04:00

"It’s okay not to be okay—but it’s not okay to stay there.”

“If you create an environment where it’s okay not to be okay, you create an environment where the gospel is breathed in and out constantly. . . We want to constantly drive people back to the cross. You come in feeling ashamed, you’re feeling dirty, you’re feeling overwhelmed? [God] knows! The whole point of the cross is you being where you are right now—so that you wouldn’t have to be there tomorrow if you submit your heart and life to the sovereign God. So it creates an environment where it’s okay to struggle.” - Matt Chandler

Via The Gospel Coalition

Significance

2010-10-07T12:30:00.000-04:00

Our lives cry out for significance.
And significance comes
from seeing ourselves
the way God sees us.

-John Piper

At the Center

2010-10-07T12:25:00.001-04:00

If you seek the Lord Jesus Christ and find him

there is no need to worry

about your happiness and your joy.

He is our joy and our happiness,

even as He is our peace.

He is life, He is everything.

So avoid the incitements

and the temptations of Satan

to give feelings

this great prominence at the centre.

Put at the centre

the only One who has a right to be there,

the Lord of Glory,

Who so loved you

that He went to the Cross

and bore the punishment

and the shame of your sins

and died for you.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Spiritual Depression, 117-118

Adopted by God - Returning

2010-09-28T12:40:00.005-04:00

Back in July, I started to write about the topic of adoption, specifically adoption by God made possible through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ for our sins. I haven't forgotten about the topic and what I had planned on doing has turned into something far more exciting. I recently finished reading the book "Children of the Living God" by Sinclair Ferguson and planned on giving a review of the book. However, due to amount of wonderful things in the book, I think I am planning on doing chapter-by-chapter review of the book.

Stay tuned...

I John 3:1
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

More Important than Trials

2010-09-27T12:25:00.004-04:00

Sometimes it takes more faith to stay than to go.

Often trusting God involves growing right where you are—

not assuming a change of scene will change you."

-E.H.

I came across this quote while cleaning out my inbox. I do not know where it came from or who "E.H." is, but reading this quote was very timely today. I think many times in life, I feel "stuck" and can't go anywhere but the place I'm in. This quote reminds me, as does God's Word, that the place where I am today is the best place God has for me and that He is using it for my good, even if it doesn't feel like. How quickly my faith crumbles when trials and the thought of never coming out of them come into view? No, there is more at stake.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:6-7

Christ's glory and honor are at stake. My faith is at stake. These are more important and more precious than my trials.

Sweet & Bitter Providence

2010-09-26T16:22:00.001-04:00

This is a great video introducing one of John Piper's newsest books
in the past year but it's also excellent
to watch and listen and be encouraged on its own.

A Little Vitality

2010-09-24T16:50:00.001-04:00

Life is not extinct, though sadly smothered.
When our renewed heart struggles against our natural heaviness,
we should be grateful to sovereign grace

for keeping a little vitality within the body of this death.
Jesus will hear our hearts,
will help our hearts,
will visit our hearts;
for the voice of the wakeful heart
is really the voice of our Beloved,
saying, “Open to me.”
Holy zeal will surely unbar the door.

CHS Morning and Evening 9/24

Gazing at my Lord

2010-09-23T12:52:00.001-04:00

"I want to stay in the habit of

'glancing' at my problems

and 'gazing' at my Lord."

(Heb. 12:12)

-Joni Eareckson Tada

You will make progress

2010-09-23T12:46:00.001-04:00

Yes, Christian, although in your daily course

you seem to struggle in your duty,

and though nothing seems to go on satisfactorily,

be assured of this,

so long as you are really looking to Christ

and relying upon Him—

so long is He working in you by His Spirit—

however difficult may be your tasks,

you will make progress.

You perhaps may never perceive it—

you may not appear to make a step in advance—

but, be not discouraged.

Remember,

‘All the promises of God in Christ are yes,

and in him Amen, unto the glory of God;’

and these promises are yours.

-John MacDuff, The Throne of Grace

God's love for you is unchanging

2010-09-22T12:54:00.001-04:00

God promises to “keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” (v. 24). This promise is an enormous assurance for our souls, and especially for those who feel as if their love for God has diminished. Receive this assurance provided from Jude: Our hearts may shift and change but God’s love for you is unchanging. May we keep ourselves aware of God’s unchanging love toward us in the gospel.

CJ Mahaney Post 9-21-10

You Are Being Rescued

2010-09-22T08:51:00.000-04:00

One of the reasons for this is that we human beings tend to focus on outcomes. We simply want things to go well and turn out right. God surely does care about the end of all things, but he is graciously at work in the process as well.

The surprises along the way are God’s surprises. He is never caught off guard or unprepared. He calls us to follow him beyond the boundaries of our wisdom, strength and character. The waiting we have to do and the surprises that we face are meant by him to be tools of grace. They are designed to release us from our self-reliance and the hold our dreams for our lives have on us.

In those moments of surprise, it is important to remember that you may be confused, but God isn’t. In this moment when you are not sure what is going on, you haven’t been abandoned. No, the opposite is true: you are being rescued. But living this way is hard for us.

Read more at:

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-gracious-rescue-of-surprise

Have Strong Emotions?

2010-09-22T08:45:00.000-04:00

Strong emotions always insist on particular interpretations of life, and they are in no mood to listen to alternatives.

Excellent article by the folks over at CCEF.

http://www.ccef.org/strong-emotions-extreme-confidence

Ian+Larissa

2010-09-20T10:14:00.000-04:00

http://www.lydiajane.com/2010/09/mr-and-mrs-murphy-forksville-pa.html

Love the Church because Christ Loves the Church

2010-09-16T16:17:00.004-04:00

I thought this post by Josh Harris about loving the church was a good follow up to Peter Privitera's message Remain this past Sunday and the exhortation to love others.

We should love the church because Christ loves the church and because Christ loves the church, we can turn and ask for help to love the church.

::My feelings do not define truth::

2010-09-16T16:12:00.001-04:00

"My feelings are not God. God is God. My feelings do not define truth. God's word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes--many times--my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens--and it happens every day in some measure--I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth. That's the way I live my life every day. I hope you are with me in that battle."- John Piper, Finally Alive, pages 165-166

Real Lasting Rest

2010-09-15T15:58:00.000-04:00

Real Lasting Rest

"Please look at Daddy's face. Do you know how much I love you? Do you know that your Daddy is not a mean, bad man? Do you know that I would never ask you to do anything that would hurt you or make you sick? I am sorry that you can't understand why Daddy is asking you to do this. I wish I could explain it to you, but you are too young to understand. So I am going to ask you to do something—trust Daddy. When you walk down the hallway to do what Daddy has asked you to do, say to yourself, 'My Daddy loves me. My Daddy would never ask me to do something bad. I am going to trust my Daddy and stop trying to be the Daddy of my Daddy.'"

Friday Fun!

2010-09-10T12:49:00.003-04:00

American "Christianity"

2010-09-07T20:38:00.002-04:00

This was posted a week ago around the blogosphere and I wanted to post it here, mainly so I would have record of it.

http://www.russellmoore.com/2010/08/29/god-the-gospel-and-glenn-beck/

I'm very thankful for this article and the clarion call to the gospel in this age of media and politics.

Ian + Larissa

2010-08-30T12:04:00.001-04:00

Ian and Larissa get married! Here's Mark A's reflection on the day.

http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2010/08/and-the-bride-wore-cowboy-boots.html

The Gospel Song - Animated

2010-08-24T16:44:00.004-04:00

More of God

2010-08-24T16:38:00.001-04:00

What you and I need most is not the affirmation of our stories, nor content-less, shapeless platitudes about the mysterious journey of faith, nor a morality pep talk, nor the undermining of God’s sovereignty. What we need is a glimpse of God in all his terrible splendor and wonderful weightiness.

From Kevin DeYoung post dated 8-24-10

Plodders are Revolutionary

2010-08-17T09:06:00.003-04:00

Here is an excellent article by Kevin DeYoung about the "Glory of Plodding" in the local church.

Kevin also has a great message at Next 2010 about the church. You can listen to it here.

New Hair

2010-08-12T23:01:00.002-04:00

The hair cut off and braided will be mailed to Locks of Love

to go towards a wig for a little girl who lost her hair due to sickness.

Experiencing Peace...

2010-08-12T16:26:00.001-04:00

If we are to experience peace in our souls in times of adversity,

we must come to the place where we truly believe

that God’s ways are simply beyond us and

stop asking Him “why” or even trying to determine it ourselves.

This may seem like an intellectual “cop out,”

a refusal to deal with the really tough issues of life.

In fact, it is just the opposite.

It is a surrender to the truth about God and

our circumstances as it is revealed to us by

God Himself in His inspired Word.

~Trusting God, Jerry Bridges

Smiling at the Future

2010-08-09T12:23:00.002-04:00

Strength and dignity are her clothing

and she smiles at the time to come.

~Proverbs 31:25

Books, Books and more Books

2010-08-06T13:09:00.002-04:00

I am currently reading through these books by Stieg Larsson.

This next set of books looks good.

I think my love of fiction is coming back.

Locks of Love

2010-08-05T16:36:00.004-04:00

So a week from today, I am getting my hair cut and donating it to Locks of Love! If you haven't heard of it, it's an organization that makes wigs out of hair donations for children who have lost their hair due to medical conditions.

Below, is a picture of my one week left with my long curly hair.

And as for what I will look like after my haircut, well, you will have to wait and see!

if any of you lack wisdom--->>>

2010-08-04T16:33:00.003-04:00

I prayed a prayer today that God would give me wisdom in a situation at work. I believe He answered the prayer in this way.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. Psalm 130:5.

Laffy Taffy: It does indeed

2010-08-03T13:04:00.000-04:00

Laffy Taffy: It does indeed: "HT: Happenstance"

Maybe one day... :)

Never Deny Himself to Us

2010-08-03T12:52:00.001-04:00

There is great comfort for us in this thought that, however dim our conscious faith and the sense of our salvation, on the Lord’s side the fountain of grace is never closed, its connection with our souls never interrupted; provided there be the irrepressible demand for his presence, he cannot, he will not deny himself to us.
- Geerhardus Vos, Grace & Glory (Carlisle, Pa.; Banner of Truth Trust, 1994), 75.

[Of First Importance]

Your PB quotes reminder

2010-07-31T13:02:00.002-04:00

Thanks to T for sending this my way!

http://jamsco.wordpress.com/2010/07/03/usable-princess-bride-quotes-you-can-too/

Have fun storming the castle!

Celebration Memories

2010-07-30T11:59:00.003-04:00

Over at The Blazing Center, Mark A. has been sharing memories and lessons learned from co-leading the annual Celebration 4th-6th grade ministry. You can go here and here to read about two memorable events. I had the pleasure and honor of serving with the 4th-6th grade ministry for a couple of years and reading these have brought back some fun memories.

Any other fun memories from Celebration?

Prayers Do Not Die

2010-07-28T13:10:00.002-04:00

The [woman] who has done the most and the best praying is the most immortal, because prayers do not die. Perhaps the lips that uttered them closed in death, or the heart that felt them may have ceased to beat, but the prayers live before God, and God's heart is set on them. Prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them-outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world. -E.M Bounds

from Josh Harris.com

Not Without Identity

2010-07-28T12:55:00.001-04:00

Grace will expose your sin,

but it will not leave you without identity.

-Paul Tripp in a post on Desiring God blog

(You should read the whole thing. :) )

God's promises

2010-07-23T15:23:00.001-04:00

God’s goodness inclines him to make his promises, and his faithfulness engages him to keep them. –Thomas Lye

God’s power guarantees he can keep his promises. His wisdom assures us he’ll keep them at the perfect time. His righteousness assures us he’ll never make a false pledge. His graciousness moves him to make hundreds of promises and his love delights to fulfill them.

God’s promises encourage us, fuel our hope, bolster our perseverance, and guide us in prayer. They cover our every need – God promises to save, sustain, provide, protect, perfect, comfort, care for, deliver, delight, revive and refresh us.

So open God’s word, find his promises, believe them, memorize them, pray for them, and thank him in advance for them…Yep, there’s a promise for that.

-from Mark Altrogee blog post June 13, 2010

we know that you love us

2010-07-23T15:07:00.001-04:00

God saw Abraham’s sacrifice and said, ‘Now I know that you love me, because you did not withhold your only son from me’ [Gen. 22:12]. But how much more can we look at his sacrifice on the Cross, and say to God, ‘Now, we know that you love us. For you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love, from us.’ When the magnitude of what he did dawns on us, it makes it possible finally to rest our hearts in him rather than in anything else.

- Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods (New York, NY: Dutton, 2009), 18.

(emphasis mine)

Dismantling Grace

2010-07-20T17:04:00.001-04:00

Grace dismantles your confidence in you,

while it gives you more hope and courage

than you have ever had.

– Paul David Tripp

--->Right Focus<--

2010-07-20T16:55:00.002-04:00

Holiness is new affections, new desires, and new motives that then lead to new behavior. If you don’t see your sin as completely pardoned, then your affections, desires, and motives will be wrong. You will aim to prove yourself. Your focus will be the consequences of your sin rather than hating the sin and desiring God in its place.

- Tim Chester, You Can Change (Wheaton, Ill.; Crossway, 2010), 28.

He leads gently those with young...

2010-07-15T12:50:00.001-04:00

For all the young and new moms out there!

http://www.9marks.org/ejournal/young-mother-ministry-guilt-and-seasons-life

Can Always Trust His Heart

2010-07-15T11:59:00.001-04:00

God is too good to be unkind.

He is too wise to be confused.

If I cannot trace His hand,

I can always trust His heart.”
~C. H. Spurgeon

Adopted by God - Music

2010-07-15T11:24:00.005-04:00

For those following along, I wanted to share about how for the past year, I've been studying the topic of adoption, specifically those who have been adopted by God through Christ. Thankfully, and I think this confirms that studying it was not my original idea, there have been resources that have assisted in the study. Today, I want to share some of the music that has aided me in thinking about being adopted by God.

This may come as no shock to some readers, but the album Sons and Daughters produced by Sovereign Grace music has had alot of airplay this year for me. The first song I heard was "The Father's Love" played during our One Single Day event and incorporated in the video. Well, then I had to get the CD of course. All of the songs are great, but the songs getting the most replaying are the aforementioned "The Father's Love," "The Prodigal," and "You Never Change."

A couple of months ago, I came across a video animation that was made of the song "The Prodigal" which you can watch below.

I'm very grateful for the musicians and artists who have taken the time to write, produce and share these songs and video for the body of Christ. It is encouraging to put the CD in my car and listen to these songs as I am driving to work, the grocery store or just to get gas. These songs are wonderful reminders of truth that God has extended lavish grace and love on His children.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. I John 3:1

Adopted by God

2010-07-13T18:03:00.002-04:00

For the past year or so, I've been studying the topic of adoption, primarily how God has adopted those He has called to faith in Christ's death for the punishment of sins. The study started with the verse, I John 3:1,

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

Over the past year I've been reading, listening and watching several materials that have strengthened my understanding of what it means to be adopted by God and how it has changed my view of God. In the next few posts, I'll be sharing the resources and my thoughts on them.

Stay tuned!

Test

2010-07-09T07:38:00.001-04:00

Just testing something.

I'm Back!

2010-07-08T16:13:00.002-04:00

Hello readers! I'm back. After a somewhat self-imposed hiatus over the last 8 months, I am back. I missed posting things and realized how much it helped me and encouraged others. So check out the old-but-new-StankN RankN!

Yikes!

2009-12-05T21:25:00.002-05:00

Sorry everyone. I have totally neglected this blog for now almost 3 months. I do plan to return to blogging more consistently, but it seems that this is a season for me to concentrate on other things. If you've been missing my blog, I do apologize and hang in there, I will be back one day.

Trust IS the Right Thing

2009-09-23T11:51:00.003-04:00

I came across this post from Lydia Brownback about trusting in God.

Here's a few gems.

We usually believe God is able to intervene in our difficulty and do something about it. What we don't believe is that he's going to work out our difficulty—whether it's a relationship or a money problem or loneliness or an unmet longing--in a way that we're going to like.

Genuine trust isn't wishful thinking, hoping that God will work things out in a particular way. Real trust is placing our problem in his hands and leaving it there, believing that whatever he does is good.

::please pray::

2009-09-23T11:34:00.004-04:00

www.prayforian.com

Steve had a seizure recently due to the tumor growing.

He will have surgery again.

In Tuesday's post, it brought me to tears about

Steve and Mary's current views and longing for heaven.

Lord you are VERY GREAT and YOUR GREATNESS

will be shown to all in this situation however this will turn out

according to your perfect, wise and loving plan.

Lord make your comforting presence especially known to Mary.

Give her strength and clarity to make decisions.