Tried With Fire

I have been trying to wrap my mind around the concept of glory, specifically the glory of God as manifested in Jesus Christ. This was triggered by reading The Glory of Christ by John Owen. I'm reading the abridged Puritan Paperback and even this version has so much to take in. Each sentence by Owen is packed full of meaning that I have to read much more slowly than I am used to. Owen defines the glory of God this way in chapter 2: The glory of God includes both the holy properties of his nature and the things he has purposed to do. The only way we can know these things of God is 'in the face' or person 'of Jesus Christ', for he is 'the image of God' (2 Cor. 4:4). But Christ is especially glorious because he and he alone perfectly reveals God's nature and will to us. Without Christ we would have known nothing truly about God for he would have been eternally invisible to us. We would never have seen God at any time, either in this life or the next (Jo...

that I would be listening to Christian rap music. Not your typical listening material for a 40-something, homeschooling mom. I also admit that rap is not a genre that I would naturally be drawn to. But I had read about a brother named Shai Linne here and here . Also, my curiosity was piqued about anyone who would write a rap about Charles Spurgeon. Well last night, a brother and sister graciously gave us a copy of Shai Linne's The Atonement . We listened to some of it and were stunned by what we heard. After we listened to Were You There , I wanted to cry and repent for my lack of love for Christ in the face of all that He has done. There are songs about the cross that express some of the horror of the event that secured our salvation. Yes, the brutality of the crucifixion is portrayed but the cruelty is greater because the spotless Son of God willing endured God's wrath to bring glory to the Father and secure my redemption. Some of these songs are not easy to listen to bec...

This humorous pos t is from reformationtheology.com. Here is a sample: The Bible says,'The Lord thy God is one', but I think He must be a lot older than that After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat. Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments.

Note : I just realized that just putting quotes up without their context will not do justice to the whole so I've tried to put the first two quotes in context. Better yet, listen to the sermon!) It has been a blessing to go through the book of Hebrews verse by verse. These quotes are from Pastor Ryan's sermon on Hebrews 9:11-20, The Blood of Jesus . They serve God to maintain their standing. We serve God because of our standing. (Our service does not give us standing with God. That is by Christ's work alone. We are enabled to serve Him as worship because of our standing in Christ.) You think something you can do can equal what Christ can do? (In regard to cleansing our consciences, His blood speaks louder than my accusing conscience.) We don't just get the stuff; We get the writer of the will. I hope the last quote makes sense. Pastor Ryan's 3rd point was that Jesus' blood seals a will, as in last will and testament. A will is not active until the one who mad...

Spring is a beautiful time in Virginia with the exception of the pollen. The brownish stuff on the ground and driveway are fallen oak tassles. It was literally raining pollen today, and the driveway is covered with it. I would have taken a closeup of the pollen but it's quite nasty looking. The following is more worthy of a closeup. These are very fragrant narcissus. The blooms are small and delicate. This variety blooms much later than our regular yellow daffodils.

These are two quotes that grabbed my attention. What we need is not “free will” but wills made free. From this post by John Samson at reformationtheology.com "You can listen to Greg Boyd and the open theists and frankly, I think you'll want to jump off a bridge to be worshipping a god who didn't know that was going to happen." Quote from Todd Friel of Way of the Master Radio on this program featuring Shai Linne's song Triune Praise

I received a call today from a dear, older sister in Christ. I hadn't seen her since September 2008, and she wanted to know how I was doing with the divorce. I was able to testify of God's goodness and faithfulness to her. However, it was very interesting when I mentioned that the knowledge of God's absolute sovereignty was the anchor that kept both my daughter and I. She immediately mentioned how God gives us free will and that my husband made the choice to leave, and he is choosing to reject God. She mentioned that God's hand is always out but he is choosing to not turn back to God. One specific thing she said was "God did not want this to happen." Probably out of respect for her age (she's the same age as my mother) and she needed to go run errands, I did not embark on a heated debate that our free will is a slave to sin, only being able to choose what is wrong. However, her immediate response was very interesting and a little bit sad because it reminde...

Yesterday, I posted a link to the Don't Waste Your Life Video. I've watched it many times and it haunts me. Probably because yesterday was the court hearing for the divorce. In the video, there's a character who is living large with everything that money could buy and then some. This guy has "his best life now." I couldn't help but think of my husband and weep for him. He is pursuing "his best life now" in his possesions and relationships but the path he is pursuing is a wasted life. But the waste is greater than the breakup of our marriage, the waste is when we treasure anything more than Jesus Christ, when we look for something to satisfy us when only He can. But I was headed down the same road of a wasted life. It wasn't fancy cars, homes, or clothes. It was marriage and family - the American Dream of the Ideal Christian Homeschooling Family. I believe God reached down in mercy and through this divorce is delivering me to find my all in Christ...

And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. Luke 12:11-12 And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in...

1. Whate’er my God ordains is right, Holy His will abideth. I will be still whate’er He does, And follow where He guideth. He is my God, Though dark my road. He holds me that I shall not fall Wherefore to Him I leave it all 2. Whate’er my God ordains is right, He never will deceive me He leads me by the proper path, I know He will not leave me I take, content, What He hath sent His hand can turn my griefs away And patiently I wait His day 3. Whate’er my God ordains is right, Though now this cup in drinking May bitter seem to my faint heart, I take it all unshrinking My God is true, Each morn anew Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart And pain and sorrow shall depart 4. Whate’er my God ordains is right, Here shall my stand be taken Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, Yet I am not forsaken My Father’s care Is round me there He holds me that I shall not fall And so to Him I leave it all

I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (Joshua 1:5) This word to Joshua is often quoted; it is the basis of that New Testament word "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Beloved, a life of warfare is before us, but the Lord of Hosts is with us. Are we called to lead a great but fickle people? This promise guarantees us all the wisdom and prudence that we shall need. Have we to contend with cunning and powerful enemies? Here is strength and valor, prowess and victory. Have we a vast heritage to win? By this sign we shall achieve our purpose; the Lord Himself is with us. It would be woe to us indeed if Jehovah could fail us; but, as this can never be, the winds of disquietude are laid to sleep in the caverns of divine faithfulness. On no one occasion will the Lord desert us. Happen what may, He will be at our side. Friends drop from us, their help is but an April shower; but God is faithful, Jesus is the same forever, and the Holy Spi...

I love Jane Austen. I find her writing style and dry sense of humor so refreshing. At one time, I was reading her six novels every year. After reading less than stellar contemporary fiction, a little Austen is the perfect thing to cleanse the literary palate. Pride and Prejudice is one of the greatest novels of the English language. There are fan fiction sites where devoted JA fans can continue that timeless story line or adapt it to suit themselves. In my case, I am writing a parody of Pride and Prejudice, adding a little Calvinism versus Arminianism theological zest to the story. I am hoping to write a bit every day, so come by Parsley in Hyperspace for your dose of Calvinistic Jane Austen. (I hope she's not rolling in her grave 'cause I think she was C of E.)

In today's mail, we received a flier from a nearby church which had the following statement, " Heaven on earth...promised to us all! " They put the exclamation point. I changed it to a question mark. Because I thought we were promised... I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. John 15: 18-20 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking...

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you." So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, ...

Bunnies are cute and make great house pets. We've had house rabbits for 7 years. However, they are not the easiest pets to have and have many unique requirements. A lot of pet stores sell baby bunnies around Easter. Sadly, people buy them on a whim and end up surrendering them to shelters when the novelty has worn off or worse, releasing them into the wild thinking they can fend for themselves. That would be like abandoning a chihuahua because its ancestor was a wolf. Don't get a bunny on a whim and consider adopting from a shelter or a rabbit rescue group rather than a pet store. Check it out first and be prepared to be a responsible pet owner and make the committment to take care of it for its lifetime. And now for our non-Easter bunnies: Big Bun is the bunny in my avatar. He came to us from a local SPCA. He is very snuggly and will let you pet him forever. Big Bun can be on the lazy side. His main activities are eating and napping. Lizzy does not approve of me disturbing ...

Because Easter is tomorrow, many folks in the blogsphere are posting hymns and scripture relating to Christ's death on the cross and resurrection. It has been very edifying for me to meditate on Christ's death and atoning work. The flip side is that there are people who take on the name of "Christian" and don't believe in the penal substitutionary death of Christ at all. That boggles my mind, and I can't wrap my brain around that one. This may be completely obvious, but I wonder if the belief that man is inherently and totally sinful goes hand in hand with believing that God is a just and holy God. It seems you can't have one without the other. If God is just, holy, and righteous as well as loving, He would not be God if He did not demand punishment for sin. He is the judge. He is the standard maker and that standard has been violated. In that case and given His absolute perfection, there is no question that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of G...

You who have had your seasons of conflict, will confess that it was not at Olivet that you ever found comfort, not on the hill of Sinai, nor on Tabor; but Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha have been a means of comfort to you. The bitter herbs of Gethsemane have often taken away the bitters of your life; the scourge of Gabbatha has often scourged away your cares, and the groans of Calvary yields us comfort rare and rich. We never should have known Christ's love in all its heights and depths if He had not died; nor could we guess the Father's deep affection if He had not given His Son to die. The common mercies we enjoy all sing of love, just as the sea-shell, when we put it to our ears, whispers of the deep sea whence it came; but if we desire to hear the ocean itself, we must not look at every-day blessings, but at the transactions of the crucifixion. He who would know love, let him retire to Calvary and see the Man of sorrows die. - Morning devotion, April 10- C.H. Spurgeon M...

A throne of honor was found for Him upon the bloody tree; no easier place of rest would rebel men yield to their liege Lord. The cross was, in fact, the full expression of the world’s feeling towards Him. “There,” they seemed to say, “Thou Son of God, this is the manner in which God Himself should be treated, could we reach Him.” Morning & Evening April 7 - C.H. Spurgeon And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him. Colossians 1:21-22 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For i...

"They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed." Psalm 34:5 And here the troubled saint will find the most to enlighten him. In the example, in the patience, in the sufferings of Jesus Christ, there are stars of glory to cheer the midnight darkness of the sky of your tribulation. Come hither, ye children of God and whatever now are your distresses, whether they be temporal or spiritual, you shall, in the life of Jesus Christ and his sufferings, find sufficient to cheer and comfort you, if the Holy Spirit shall now open your eyes to look unto him. from Sermon 195 Looking Unto Jesus - Charles Spurgeon By beholding the glory of Christ by faith we shall find rest to our souls. Our minds are apt to be filled with troubles, fears, cares, dangers, distresses, ungoverned passions and lusts. By these our thoughts are filled with chaos, darkness and confusion. But where the soul is fixed on the glory of Christ then the mind finds rest and peace for 'to ...

Today was hectic. My plans were all changed from what I had intended. The legal stuff is reaching a head. I'm not wringing my hands like I would when I was an Arminian. However, I find that I am angry. I need to learn "Be ye angry and sin not". I am sitting here and listening to Worship Live by Sovereign Grace. Now of all times, I need to look up. Look up beyond my situation, beyond what man is trying to do, beyond what the devil would try to do, and see my glorious Lord - highly exalted and given the name that is above every name. "Only a sight of glory, and nothing else, will truly satisfy God's people. The hearts of believers are like a magnetized needle which cannot rest until it is pointing north. So also, a believer, magnetized by the love of Christ, will always be restless until he or she comes to Christ and beholds his glory." from the Glory of Christ by John Owen When tears are great and comforts few We hope in mercies ever new We trust in You Note...

Is this the title for a previously unknown book by Mrs. John Owen? What does knitting have to do with the mortification of sin? Absolutely nothing. Well, why bring it up? Because I am still ruminating over the whole issue of fellowship and if we need to talk explicitly about Christ to make it true fellowship. I'm still not satisfied with what I wrote yesterday. Maybe the question needs to be reworded from "Is it fellowship if we don't talk about Christ?" to "Should it be normal for believers to be together and not talk of Christ?" I am not saying that we shouldn't get together for picnics to fly kites, or go skiing, or participate in soft ball. But if we are together and love the Lord, why would we not speak of Him even in our every day conversation? I'm talking about more than just giving thanks for the food. It reminds me of a line from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen: "Brandon is just the kind of man," said Willoughby one day, when ...

We had a church meeting last night to discuss future small groups. We're using Why Small Groups by C.J. Mahaney, et al as the springboard. It was interesting that there wasn't a consensus to what fellowship is. The author of the second chapter does not believe that a social activity even among Christians is fellowship. There was talk about whether one needed to have explicit Christian conversation for it to be fellowship or not and reasons why it is hard to have fellowship. (I don't want to give the impression that folks were only interested in the social aspect of getting together at all.) I thought Pastor Ryan made some good observations, the first being that our naturally bent is to not go to the "deep end of the pool". This is where the more heavy duty stuff like confrontation of sin and correction takes place. That needs to be the goal even though there is a journey to get there. Also, he mentioned that even a shared history together is not the basis for fe...

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!" Psalm 122:1 These are a few things that stood out to me from today's sermon on Luke 23:39-43 by Pastor Ryan. The sermon title was "Sola Gratia" - By Grace Alone as seen in God saving the condemned criminal who was crucified next to Jesus. These are only fragments from the sermon which is worth listening to. - In Matthew 27:25, both criminals were railing against Jesus. It wasn't that one was bad and the other one was good inside. - He declares his own guilt and sees Jesus' innocence. Christ is not just a token. We have to see our guilt and our need of Him. - This criminal was drawn by God and given faith to see Christ. - There is no sin, no shame that is greater than Christ's work on the cross. - We think that "my circumstances define for me the efficacy of God's grace. " But Jesus did not deliver this man from his suffering on the cross. - "Sometimes He...

This is from guinea pig jamboree . (My daughter said I shouldn't post such weird things on a more serious-ish blog. But, I have a strange side, too.)

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53: 7-10 I was trying to let go of feelings of anger and resentmen...

I have been guilty so often of reading the Bible to find out what God says about me and my situation. I think it was on a White Horse Inn podcast, where one of the guys said that we should read the Bible so we see what the Word says about God and His character. Well today, I read Psalm 68:5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation . On a totally subjective level, I feel like a widow because of my husband's exodus and filing for divorce. I feel like my daughter is fatherless because her earthly father is not here. I would love for all my concerns to be taken care of miraculously. Today of all days, I would have loved to latch onto that verse because I had to give a deposition for the divorce this afternoon. What I am wrestling with is the whole concept of claiming the verse. I believe the verse is true because the Word of God is true. It shows God's character. But, can I say, just because I read it today or because it gave me a certain fe...

I was reading Teampyro today and there was Oolong in the middle of Dan's post . It was the last place I expected to see a familiar rabbit. Oolong had a bit of celebrity status on the Internet as the pancake rabbit. He even has his own entry in Wikepedia. Of course, he would appeal to house bunny owners around the globe. After all, who can resist such a cute bunny. Go read the post on Teampyro and not just for the bunny.