Why do we celebrate??

Why We Celebrate

Why do we celebrate
Jesus’ birth at Christmas,
though we don’t know when He was born?
It was necessary and inevitable
that we select a date
to celebrate an eternal miracle--
the coming to earth
of God in human form...Jesus,
Who changed the entire world
with His message of love,
forgiveness, humility and peace.
Christmas is an obligatory
and indispensable holiday
marking the transformation
from guiltless selfishness
to striving to follow His example
of service to God and our fellow man.
That is worth celebrating.
- Joanna Fuchs-

Random Acts of Glory!

Parenting in the Thick and Thin

Do you ever feel beat up in the day? Ever heard yourself utter, "how long O Lord, how long?" I remember with acute vividness a defining moment in my parenting world. It was right after the birth of my second daughter. I looked at her, all sweet and pudgy-cheeked. I scooped her up towards my chest and cried. Yep. Cried. The reality of who I was as a person, as a parent had been revealed to me already. I knew that I couldn't promise her that I would never get angry with her or raise a harsh voice. No, I had discovered that after my first child. I didn't know I couldn't be perfect. I had all those good examples around me. I was intentionally raising my daughter in God's way. How could I not be perfect? I didn't understand. I didn't understand grace. I didn't know that God would fill in all the gaps, fill up all the leaks. What mom needs the Savior when she's got "it" all together? Can I say it. I'm hopeful in all my weakness. He shows up so brilliantly in my darkness!

Experience has taught me not to make a promise I couldn't keep. However, I did (and still do now that I have teenagers!) point them to Jesus Christ. He's the Rock. He does the impossible really well. Look to Him kids. He won't disappoint you.

NEW E*TRADE Baby -- Time Out

I love these commercials! Go E-trade!

Carrie Underwood - How Great Thou Art

Stand and Bear Witness

I love the way Spurgeon says things. I can picture a father figure speaking over his children with the charge, 'testify of His faithfulness. Has He ever left you or deserted you in a field of contention without His aid? No! Never! This is our Friend, our Savior. Is it any wonder we love Him so?'

Thanks to D. Ortland for quote below:

20 October 2010A Faithful Friend
'There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.' --Proverbs 18:24

Spurgeon:

Christ is 'a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.' And in order to prove this from facts, we appeal to such of you as have had him for a friend. Will you not, each of you, at once give your verdict, that this is neither more nor less than an unexaggerated truth?

He loved you before all worlds; long ere the day star flung his ray across the darkness, before the wing of angel had flapped the unnavigated ether, before aught of creation had struggled from the womb of nothingness, God, even our God, had set his heart upon all his children.

Since that time, has he once swerved, has he once turned aside, once changed? No; ye who have tasted of his love and know his grace, will bear me witness, that he has been a certain friend in uncertain circumstances. . . .

You have often left him; has he ever left you? You have had many trials and troubles; has he ever deserted you? Has he ever turned away his heart, and shut up his bowels of compassion? No, children of God, it is your solemn duty to say 'No,' and bear witness to his faithfulness. --'A Faithful Friend,' in Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon (New York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co., 1857), 13-14

True Love-Phil Wickham (with Matt Chandler & CJ Mahaney)

Here's another reminder that we are drawn to the beauty of the Savior, not driven to obedience to a moral code.

Five Reasons to Have Children and Keep Them

Did you ever think you needed a reason to have children? Well, in case I have any readers who are childless, do press on. And for those who do have kids but wonder why they should keep them; press on.

1. Pets are cute, but they are not children. No disrespect meant to those who love their pets like a family member. I have my black lab who is the "baby" of our all female family, (except for my husband) She's cute; she's always in a good mood, but she has never left me a sweet note on my pillow about how much she loves me.

2. Children make you see life through a different lens...the lens of a child. You forget what it's like to be a kid when you are all grown up, have your career, and so on. Kids take you back to that time in your life. For me, it makes me incredibly grateful for the husband I share life with. He's a good dad. He's not perfect, but hey, he's in the game. He helps them with homework, instructs them about life, enters into their joys and sorrows. I had no such experience. I love having a reference point for what a good daddy looks and sounds like.

3. Having children gives you Attention Deficient Disorder. Hey...that's not a bad thing! Oh my gosh....I'm glad I get to jump from thing to thing. First of all, my kids think I am a walking dictionary and can't possibly not understand their math equations! I wouldn't want to disappoint them except for the ADD that pulls me away to the next child! Thank you ADD. You have rescued me from all these inflated expectations of my dear kids.

4. Children make you laugh! Come on, everything from the first time they winch their little faces to poop in their diaper! You know what I'm talking about. You know it makes you laugh. Then they start to read and want to play Scrabble with you. Great. A little awkward when your daughter only has the k-c-f letters left and puts them around the only available vowel...you guessed it. "Is that a word, Daddy?" I don't know what's funnier; their phonetic exercise or trying not to make eye contact with your spouse:)

5. Children are a gift. Plain and simple. Undeserved gift from the Creator who loves to bless us with what we don't deserve. It's what He does so well.

"Godly Rudeness"

I just listened to this message with my two oldest daughters. Very good! It's a mini- parenting seminar too, especially for daddy's raising daughters. I would encourage any young Christian man to listen to it as well. I will be listening to more from Mark and Gracie. :)

Enjoy.

"Let Your Doing Emerge from your Being"

This excerpt got me thinking....

"In the 1982 film Annie, the orphan is swept out of the vile clutches of Miss Hannigan at the inner city orphanage, where she and her friends spent their “hard knock life” mired in menial tasks, and delivered into the gleaming mansion of the billionaire Mr. Warbucks. When she first arrives, she is mesmerized by its size and beauty, and by the scores of cheerful servants. Her hostess asks, “Well, Annie, what would you like to do first?” Annie misunderstands. She says she’d probably like to start by washing the windows, and then she'll move on to scrub the floors. She’s thinking she needs to get to work. The hostess just wants to know what fun thing she’d like to start her new life doing.

Annie has not realized she is not an orphan any more.

Christian, you are a Christian. You have a new identity. You are in Christ, and Christ is in you. Let your doing emerge from your being. It will not work the other way around."

Is it so hard to believe that our God's disposition towards us is favorable? Not tolerable, not reluctant, not sluggish in his affections. On the contrary! He is swift to bless! He runs to us when he sees us far off in the distance. He chases us down with his blessings. His goodness and mercy, they shall follow me ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE! Dare you believe it Christian? You must if you are to go on in this life with joy and confidence. We extol God's virtues and magnify His goodness when others observe our unbridled confidence in His love for us at all times. All times.

Does God ever get disappointed with us? Does he give the proverbial parental sigh and wish we could "get it right?" What does Scripture say? "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and the life I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20 There was a great exchange and transaction. Jesus took on all of my penalties and I got to receive all the rewards from His work! I am treated as if I'm the one who earned these benefits. He was treated as if he deserved all of my punishments. He did the work of living a perfect life and suffering for my sin. So why then do I try to add to what is complete and perfect already? Doesn't the adding to it actually pervert the splendor and awesomeness of it all?!

Excuse me, but if I went to the Chrysler Museum tomorrow and pulled out my black sharpie and proceeded to "enhance" some work of art, well, no doubt I would be in serious trouble but worse still, I would have profaned a master's work. So how is it that I so glibly do the same thing when I try to add to The Master's magnus opus (The finished work of Jesus on the cross?) I do it daily. I do when I fail to remember my Father's immovable disposition towards me when I fall. Oh its so easy to remember He loves me when I'm acting so "good".

What about the moments when I'm angry and rude? Not feeling the love right then. Instead of apologizing, I begin to work harder. Perhaps I resolve to read my bible a little longer, write a larger check at the fundraising banquet, speak sweeter to my husband. Great things but am I doing them out of love for God or really because I'm trying to make up for my deficit? Wait! Am I really living this "life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me..."

Seriously. Do I believe that? Do I live by faith? Do I fight to hold on to the truth..."the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Push it out a bit. Do I fear I will fall out of His good graces? Do I ignore Him like I do others who I have offended?

Do I interpret every bad detail in my life as His displeasure with me? Wait a minute? Doesn't that sound strangely familiar? Like the pagans who were always offering sacrifices to appease their gods. You mean I still do that too? After all of these years of following Christ. Surely I should be farther along than this? Oh God! Deliver me from my own plan for self-improvement! I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST! I HAVE BEEN RAISED TO NEW LIFE IN HIM!

I really must be ruthless with my thoughts. I must tell my soul, "Enough! Stop your unbelieving striving. To hell with all your works! There is nothing left to do. What you could never do was done for you! Turn away and believe. Get on with being. Then your doing will be sweet."

I just can't seem to get out of my own way. That's okay. He's got that all figured out too.

Peace. I know the One who speaks to the waves and they listen.

What Should We Be Doing?

Recently, a friend of mine introduced me to a new blog. Dane Ortland's Strawberry Rhubarb Theology. I feel like I'm going back to the brownie pan every time I visit his blog. Do you know what I mean? Here's a "piece of the brownie" for you to sample. I bet you'll be back for more!


From Dane Ortlund:


"I don't want to be obnoxious about this (and if this is old hat to you thanks for your patience--though if it feels old hat, that itself is probably indicative of your need for the very truth I'm mentioning here), but I'm going to keep mentioning things that are currently helping me, and right now I'm working through this question of the intersection of the startling freeness of the gospel and Christian holiness.

How would you fill in the blank? "It ought to be the primary goal of every Christian to ________________."

Pursue personal holiness? Lead others to Christ? Serve others in love? Cultivate the spiritual disciplines?

Here's Luther's answer: "It ought to be the primary goal of every Christian to put aside confidence in works and grow stronger in the belief that we are saved by faith alone" (The Freedom of a Christian [trans. M. Tranvik; Fortress 2008], 55). The primary goal of every Christian."

Strawberry-Rhubarb Theology: How Do We Make the Huge Decisions in Life?

This guy writes great stuff! Come on. Trust God and take a leap!
Strawberry-Rhubarb Theology: How Do We Make the Huge Decisions in Life?: "With Calvinism and courage. Calvinism says: The God presented to me in the Bible is so massive, so much more life-encompassing than the pun..."

Amazing Grace by 2-year Old

Is it any wonder that the Lord welcomes the little children?

J.I. Packer’s 11th Birthday: The Tale of the Bicycle and the Typewriter

Not What We Want But What We Need

J.I. Packer’s 11th Birthday: The Tale of the Bicycle and the Typewriter

Poor in Spirit

I found this treasure this morning.

"In conversation, the disciple who is truly poor in spirit always leaves the other person feeling, My life has been enriched by talking with you. This is neither false modesty nor phony humility. His or her life has been enriched and graced. He is not all exhaust and no intake. . . . He listens well because he knows he has so much to learn from others. The poor in spirit . . . get along well with sinners. "
--Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel (Multnomah 2005), 81

Comfort one another

Comfort one another

Driscoll, Chan, and Harris “Chop It Up”; or, Why I Participate in The Gospel Coalition

This is a conversation between Mark Driscoll, Francis Chan and Josh Harris. Very good stuff. Check it out.

Driscoll, Chan, and Harris “Chop It Up”; or, Why I Participate in The Gospel Coalition

This is the Way it Ought to Be

This article is written by Billy Graham's grandson. He talks about his reasons for combining the tradtional and contemporary worship services. Insightful and helpful for other areas for life.
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Basics 2010 - Parkside Church

Basics 2010 - Parkside Church


Please take time to listen to this. Then listen again. Thank you T for sending this to me.

Encouragement in the battle

Encouragement in the battle

Luther on Galatians

"True Christian righteousness is faith and confidence in the Son of God, or rather the heart's confidence in God through Jesus Christ. We should qualify this by saying that this faith and confidence is credited to us as righteousness for Christ's sake, in whom I have begun to believe. Because of this faith in Christ, God does not see my doubting of his goodwill toward me, my distrust, my heaviness of spirit and other sins that are still in me. But I am covered under the shadow of Christ's wings, as the chicken is under the wing of the hen, and I live without fear under that wide banner of forgiveness of sins that is spread over me. Therefore, God covers and pardons the remanent of sin in me; that is because of the faith which I began to lay hold upon Christ, he accepts my imperfect righteousness as perfect righteousness and counts my sin as no sin, even though it is indeed sin."

God makes us good

God’s love makes us good

Posted: 13 Jul 2010 09:05 PM PDT

“Christians don’t think God will love us because we’re good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”

- C.S. Lewis, Daily Quote on Twitter

Water Pik Goes Postal

It's so good to laugh! Everyday life gives us many occasions to do so. Yesterday sweet Naomi got her braces. She was so eager to get them and then show me her color selection of pink and blue bands to match her shirt. Ta da! A new thing to care for.

So this morning I say, "Hey Nomi, let's do your teeth this morning, together, just to make sure you know what you are doing."

"Sure Mom."

Did I say that I knew what I was doing? Obviously not. I started to assemble her new water pik. Hey, how hard can it be? I carefully read the instructions before I turned it on. Set the setting on low as recommended.

"Okay, Nomi...open up. Mama's comin' in; just pretend I'm the dental hygienist."

Excuse me while I laugh for a moment. My first attempt ended up in Naomi's eye! Next, we moved closer to her braces only to discover that the water tickles her mouth and now she is returning the favor all over the front of my shirt. Wow! good thing this thing isn't on high speed. After trying to find the off button, the Pik turns towards the ceiling and is now leaving water marks all over it! Pik goes postal! Duck!

Excuse me, but is this typical for first-time users? Oh well, we finally got through our maiden voyage of the Pik. I don't think Nomi wants my help tomorrow. She might stop by for a laugh though. And the water marks on my ceiling, I hope they stay there for awhile so that I can remember how much laughter there is in daily life.

Driven or Drawn? Thoughts on Enjoying God

I sure hope you have had the pleasure to hear Sam Storms explain his thoughts on Psalm 16:11.

"You make known to me the fullness of joy and at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

I'm passing on some of his quotes for your consideration.

"We were created for pleasure...not for boredom. We have been given an insatiable desire for it (pleasure). God gave it to us. Don't apologize for it!

There is in your soul an insatiable hunger for happiness. It's a chronic and unending ache for joy. God has hard-wired this into your soul. You have been given an unrelenting passion for pleasure. It's God's 'fault'. This is what it means to be made in God's image. We hunger for fascination and joy....we long to be thrilled! (hence the amusement parks we visit, the sunrises we get up early for to watch, the mathematical equations we pour over to solve, the football games we scream about)

His key statement: " The key to following Jesus is NOT from trying harder but enjoying more."


This principle explains so much of what we do and what we enjoy. Mr. Storms takes us to Greek mythology to give us a demonstration of this principle. Remember Ulysses? Can you see the scene as he is tied to the mast of the ship passing the Sirens? Were it not for the ropes that held him fast, he certainly would have given into their allure. He survived the passage.

Now recall Jason. He also had to journey through the Sirens but didn't use the ropes to hold him to his ship. He brought on Orpheus, a skilled musician, a beautiful musician whose song was stronger than the Sirens. Jason was captivated by a sweeter sound. He didn't just survive; He triumphed.

Okay, question for you? Looking at your life, would you think you were struggling to survive and make it through your difficulties or do see yourself as one captivated by a sweeter sound and thriving? Are we 'white knuckling' it with resolve and willpower? Sounds wearisome. How long can we keep that up?

So what are we driven by? Fear of the consequences of sin? Is that really enough to keep us from the temporary pleasures we enjoy in our sin?

Well, I can answer that for me. No! When I have a temper tantrum with one of my girls and give over self-control, I'm not thinking about the consequences. I'm not holding back. So what thought do I adopt in that moment so I don't keep repeating the fruitless effect of anger on my kids?

I want to be different. What does it sound like in my head?

Let's see...Sam said...."our only hope is in maximizing our pleasure in God." Lord, what is it that I really want in that moment? I want my daughter to obey. I want gratitude, I want, I want.... But what I want, I cannot have and so I argue and fight (hey, sounds like James doesn't it?) Okay, stay with me friends....so I want these things; I want to be in control. I want to be like God because God is in control of everything! But I'm not God! I won't ever be. And so, I can either do the Ulysses thing, grit my teeth, try to resist the urge to yell. Too late. No one tied me up and gagged me.

However, I can choose Jason's approach. Where's my Orpheus? Who will captivate me with a greater pleasure?

"God, somehow there is a pleasure here, a sweeter sound to be heard, a facet of your beauty to be drawn to in this moment. Oh Jesus, sing louder! I need you NOW."
And what's the beauty that draws me to Him? He was confident that His Father would never leave him in his moments of temptation...all but that one moment when He cried out from the Cross.

"Father, why have you forsaken me?"

Did I just get that? He was forsaken once that I would never have to be! Now that's beauty! That's the stuff of all true heroism! What a God. What a man! That's my Hero! His beauty is drawing me in.

And He is for me and with me at that very moment when I'm on the edge of crazy anger. He is assuring me that He is strong and won't leave me alone to deal with it!
Hebrews 13: 5 "I will in no wise desert you or leave you alone in the field of contest or in a position of suffering, I will in no wise let go or loose my sustaining grasp." He's speaking what's true all the time.

My anger won't accomplish what I want. Put it away. Let go of my grip for control and remember it's a process of change. I am changing and so is she. Suspend my judgment and don't expect unreasonable , immediate change just because I am annoyed at the moment. Fair enough. So I go back to what God says is true and rehearse it, repeat it, whisper it, lay hold of it until I believe it.

"How sweet it was all at once to be relieved of all those temporal pleasures and to be rid of the fruitless joys that I once feared to lose...You drove them from me and took their place! You, who are sweeter than all pleasures." Augustine

Sing louder Jesus! Replace my fruitless joys with You.


Remember God
“What one thing about God in Christ speaks directly into today’s trouble? … Just as we don’t change all at once, so we don’t swallow all of truth in one gulp. We are simple people. You can’t remember ten things at once. Invariably, if you could remember just ONE true thing in the moment of trial, you’d be different. Bible “verses” aren’t magic. But God’s words are revelations of God from God for our redemption. When you actually remember God, you do not sin. The only way we ever sin is by suppressing God, by forgetting, by tuning out his voice, switching channels, and listening to other voices. When you actually remember, you actually change. In fact, remembering is the first change.”

- David Powlison

A Heart Devoted to God

Dear ones...how goes the reading? I am listening to the book on CD while I travel. I wish you could hear Elizabeth's voice. It's so soothing and kind. Anyway, as I promised here are a few things for you all to engage with to help us on our journey of becoming women after God's own heart:)

Martha and Mary...a familiar story but I pray for fresh eyes to see it again today. See Luke 10:38-42. Remember " Martha was so busy doing things for the Lord that she failed to spend time with the Lord." Mary however made worship of the Lord her top priority. Time with Jesus was at the top of her to-do list:) She made a choice that indicated a heart of devotion. She knew she had to do a few things to be with Jesus. She couldn't just "go with the flow" Hey remember...she was in Martha's house and there was definitely a flow going on!

What things can you do this week to
....cease your busyness
....stop all activity and
....set aside secondary things

One thing I've done is enter my daily practices into my phone calendar! Yep, it's there. At 6 a.m. my phone calendar goes off with the song "You Make Me Smile" and reads out...."Hey sunshine! See you on the couch." It really helps me. Let me know if you are doing anything new or something you've been doing that helps you stay on track. Thanks Maggie for the "no bible; no breakfast" rule. That made us laugh. Also, can't you all just see little Lydia's sweet face saying, "Mommy, so when do you read your bible?" Precious.

Here's a quote to ponder:
"Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. It wears us out by multiplying distractions and beats us down by destroying our solitude, where otherwise we might drink and renew our strength before going out to face the world again."

Maybe you already have a scheduled time already. My schedule changes in the summer so I have to adjust things. If you are like me, today is a great day to make that choice and put it in your schedule (or phone calendar) Remember...something is better than nothing. Aim for consistency even if its just a little bit each day. "Great lives are made up of many little disciplines."

Sweet friends, I don't want us to miss the best thing for us. You don't want to either! It will be said of us as was said of Mary, "she has chosen the better thing and it will not be taken from her."

A Walk Around the Block :)

What a blessing to have you all in my living room last night. I can't stop thinking of your stories. I felt like Ruth in the field of Boaz...I got to glean so much and return home so full and joyful!

Seth is under the gift of concentrated prayer. People change when we pray. History changes. Courses change. Curses fail; blessings come! Darkness is swallowed up in Light! We will trust the Lord. I read in the book of Jude this a.m. It's the famous doxology..."To Him who is able to keep you from falling and present you blameless..." He is able and He is eager. Thank God He's not just able and reluctant. Oh no...never! May He become more beautiful to you today. May you experience in your inner man another measure of His wisdom. I hope you see Him in new places. He is working on all levels.

This morning I was walking around a neighborhood and passed a familiar sight...big moving van parked out in front with garage door open and new boxes open and ready to be packed for the move. What wasn't familiar was what happened when I passed by the young mom who was loading her two precious blonde children in her jeep. I thought, "wow Lord...wonder where her husband is. Wonder if he is overseas right now and she is left to do this move alone. Maybe this isn't her first move alone. I wonder if she has any friends here. Respect began to well up in my heart for all these military women who do this type of thing all the time. But another thing welled up too...the Lord's presence.

"Lisa, pray for her today as you walk by. I hear. I see. Do you believe that you passed her today accidentally? No. I wanted you to see her and pray for her. This is how I work." You see dear ladies, these are the "mere edges of His ways..." This is how God encouraged me today and no doubt He used my silent prayers to bless that sweet mom with her two babies and retriever. Oh how He cares and acts!

I hope you will enjoy your reading and the CD. I already love you all so much!

Oh Yeah

Hey ladies....look what's happening here. Got to love the energy!

BookClub

Hi friends. This thought came to me one restless night. Use my blog to stay connected with you all as we embark on the book, A Woman After God's Own Heart. I hope you all will avail yourself of the tool. One of the things I want to do is build our momentum. It's been my experience that I am often more talkative after meeting together; I've had time to process and think about what others have shared. Anyone else had that experience? So please....let's get on this 'blogger highway' and discuss the book as we read. I want (we want!) to hear from you. What's on your mind? It's helpful to include the page number so we can all look up the sentence or paragraph. Feel freedom to include links or songs that are meaningful to you. I want us to be eager to get together for the next bookclub. Monday June 28 :)

Our first meeting we will be discussing Part 1: The Pursuit of God.

Before we even begin the book I want to say this....this book is primarily focused on the disciplines we can follow to place ourselves before God to transform us.

Remember Elizabeth's comment about the "path of disciplined grace"

"It is discipline, because there is work for us to do. It is Grace, because the life of God which we enter into is a gift we can never earn...Discipline in and of itself does not makes us righteous, it merely places us before God....The transformation...is God's work"

Of first importance is that we truly understand that no discipline makes us acceptable to God. Jesus Christ did that work on His cross. He perfectly lived and died. That's all done. Ours now is the joy of living out the good of those realities; to get on with the good works He has prepared for us. We would miss the whole point if all our discussion and meeting were lost on working harder for God. May I present the idea that it's quite the opposite. All that we are going to discuss is birthed out of Jesus' work. We get to shatter the alabaster box at His feet and fill the room with that sweet aroma of worship and devotion for all that He has done for us. And not only that, but He enthusiastically welcomes us to come join Him in the work He is doing today on the earth. Indeed, it is a wonderful time to be alive! I can't wait to see what treasures are store for each one of us!

See you Monday. :)

Here's a link to feast on. www.offirstimportance.org