For God or For Man?

This quote from one of my history books perfectly describes my view on what much of American Evangelism has become:

"Luther made justification by faith central; this was a healthy corrective to the erroneous Roman doctrines of the day, but it conceded to humanism, in that some who followed after Luther made the salvation of souls rather than the glory of God central to the faith." 

The issue is clear, God redeems His people not for their sake, but for His. He wants His glory to be magnified. Humans were made to do that, but they will not magnify Him unless they are redeemed. 

So God redeems them and makes them more like His Son Jesus Christ, the one who magnified God's glory perfectly.

Case closed.

Want more? Go to www.desiringgod.org and check out the links to the right of the site's greeting. 

Something New

 

Outside my window...

it is dark. The sky is clear and the stars are shining brightly.  

I am thinking...

 about the peace of night and the hope of a new day....as well as the fact that I've got to take the garbage can to the curb.

I am thankful for...

my role as a woman.  

From the learning rooms...

thought a lot about Psalm 119 today.  

From the kitchen...

the blessing of chocolate, in the form of brownies. 

I am wearing...

my clothes from the day, a skirt and a long sleeve shirt. 

I am creating...

clean laundry. 

I am going...

to serve others tomorrow. 

I am reading...

my Bible....Katie's Dream...Life As A Vapor...and textbooks for history and science.

I am hoping...

 to pray more.

I am hearing...

the sound of the fan and little feet going to bed. 

Around the house...

things look good, but not as good as they did on Saturday. 

One of my favorite things...

is clean hair. 

A few plans for the rest of the week:

the usual. I'm most looking forward to some visiting.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

 I didn't take it, I just like it. This is my current wallpaper on my computer. It is a taste of summer and a reminder that i am not. 

Feel free to take part. Learn more at: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Just Thinking

Thoughts...We all have millions of them each day. What do you think about? Success, family, food, things to do, fun, the latest gadget- I'll let you fill in the blank. 

I think about so many things in a given day. What to serve for dinner, whatever I'm learning in school, things to do, places to be, whatever I've been reading, friends, God, and the future. 

The future.....That's a big one for me. It's right up there with God and His Word. Lately I've been hearing a lot about how "the end is near". I'm sure that every generation has said that, but God promised Jesus' return and as His child it is my responsibility to be ready for it. The sermons I've been hearing on the end times as well as the recent power outages we've faced, have got me pondering what does lie ahead. But more specifically, what if the end truly is near?

Am I ready? 

Can I surrender my dreams for "my" future and live today not in hopes of all that could lie ahead in the worldly sense, but rather in hopes of eternity with God? 

I'm not sure. I so want all the things that the partnership called marriage and the joy of motherhood have to offer. Reckoning with the fact that Jesus may return before that takes place is not easy for me to swallow. Why?

Because I have wrapped myself up in the here and now rather than the Him and His. May the words of Paul become the cry of my heart instead! 

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him.

Philippians 3:7-9a

This is a move I will not regret, no matter what the future holds. Won't you join me in surrendering all your tomorrows to the One who holds them anyway?

Beauty from Pain

God speaks to the hearts of His people. I experienced that this week. I have been working my way through John Piper's book, "Life As A Vapor". I work my way through books cover to cover and this book is no exception. 

Except for last week. Last Sunday I faced a trial. The root of this trial was self-pity and the minute I turned to my identity in Christ, the burden was lifted. 

However, the next day God brought me back to that trial in my morning devotions. Alongside of this devotional I was reading through the book of Mark. The reading for the day happened to be Mark 15. (The chapter leading up to and describing the death of Jesus Christ's great sacrifice on the cross.)

In the other book, I managed to read many days ahead. Now, I cannot explain this other than God's providence. Not only did I have a bookmark on the day I was "supposed" to read, I also read it daily and should know about how far into the book I am. Yet, somehow, I managed to read close to ten days ahead of where I was "supposed" to be reading. 

The result? A chapter titled: "Storms Are the Triumph of His Art". 

Through this chapter God gave a recap of the trial I faced from the day before, my attitude, my actions, and the comfort He brought me. I learned the lesson yet again: HE is my portion and in Him I have my complete being. I "need" no one else to give me my worth or acknowledge it. 

I want to share with you this poem that was written by George Herbert and cherished by John Newton.

Away despair! My gracious Lord doth hear:

Though wims and waves assault my keel, He doth preserve it:

He doth steer, 

Ev'n when the boat seems most to reel.

Storms are the triumph of His art.

Well may He close His eyes, but not His heart.

Acts 20:24 Explained

Through this verse, God showed me that He enables me to live a life of purpose.

That is: A life that testifies to the gospel of the grace of God. 

In order to testify, one must acknowledge something. Living a "Christian" life is not enough. I must also acknowledge that this Christian life is a product of the great I AM that is living within me.