Tried With Fire

The other day I was at the harbor, and saw a ship launched—she slipped easily into the water; the people on board shouted; the ship looked clean and mirthful, she was freshly painted, and her colors flying. But I looked at her with a sort of pity, "Poor ship!" I thought, "you are now in port and in safety; but before long you must go to sea. Who can tell what storms you may meet with hereafter, and to what hazards you may be exposed; how weather-beaten you may be before you return to port again, or perhaps you may return at all!" Then my thoughts turned from the ship to my dear child. It seemed to be an emblem of your present state—you are now, as it were, in a safe harbor; but by and by you must launch out into the world, which may well be compared to a tempestuous sea. I could even now almost weep at the resemblance. But I take courage, as my hopes are greater than my fears. I know there is an infallible Pilot, who has the winds and the waves at his command. There...

If you could have two Biblical characters over for dinner who would you pick and why? Give 1st and 2nd choices, if you like. (Thanks to Chris Brauns for the idea.) 1st choice: Philemon and Onesimus.  Forgiveness is a big issue on my mind and heart recently.  We studied the book of Philemon in small group, and I am still meditating on it.  I would love to hear the details of how Onesimus was brought to repentance, how God providentially sent him to Paul, and what went on in his mind before he returned to Philemon.  I would also like to learn how God enabled Philemon to forgive and be reconciled to his brother.  Incidentally I highly recommend Pastor Brauns' book Unpacking Forgiveness . 2nd choice: Adam and Eve.  Questions about creation, when death entered this world, dinosaurs, whether Adam and Eve had umbilici, and what life was like before the fall could be resolved once for all! So, who would you choose?

This is Hibiscus syriacus better know as Rose of Sharon. The flowers are about 4 inches across, but close once the sun is high in the sky. There were two fat bees fighting over who would get the nectar as I was taking photos this morning. Each blossom opens for just one day as yesterday's bloom was tightly furled. I marvel at the beauty that God bestows on a flower for a single day. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1: 24-25 [A horticultural correction: This is not Hibiscus syriacus AKA Rose of Sharon but Hibiscus moscheutos AKA swamp-rose mallow or rose mallow. The rose of sharon shrub has flowers very similar to this, but they are smaller in diameter. This proves that you can't trust everything you find on the internet.]

Be not afraid to lean too much. There was never yet a saint blamed for possessing too much faith! There was never such a thing known as a child of God who was scolded by the Divine Father for having placed too implicit reliance upon His promise.  C. H. Spurgeon from Sermon 877, Leaning on Our Beloved

I was taking a meal to a church family today and wanted to make something nice for dessert.  I bought some delicious South Carolina peaches at the local farmer's market and thought that peach cobbler would be just the thing.  I am not a very experienced pastry maker, but I didn't think it would be too hard.  After making the filling, I combined the dry ingredients for the cobbler crust.   I've had bifocals for the last few years which have helped immensely, but lately those little numbers, i.e. fractions, in recipes are getting fuzzier and fuzzier.  I read the recipe and put a stick and a half of butter into the dry ingredients and proceeded to cut in the butter with a pastry blender.  (For any experienced pastry makers out there, you can stop snickering.)  After a while, the butter didn't seem to be cutting in very well.  It also seemed odd that there was nearly as much butter for the cobbler topping as 5 dozen cookies.  After checking ...

I am thankful for: Air conditioning.  Today's temperature is expected to top 100.  With the high humidity, the heat index will be near 105.  The historical average is in the mid to upper 80s, so we are having August-like temperatures in June.  Therefore, I am exceedingly thankful for the inventive genius of Willis Haviland Carrier , the father of the modern air conditioner. Serving the community.  Yesterday the church held a free sale of household items and clothing for families in the community.  The families were invited to a cookout and then they could help themselves to the items as they had need.  We've been reaching out to the same families through several events like this one, and it's nice to see familiar faces.  Our prayer is to show the love of Christ but also to share the good news of Jesus Christ.  Although I was tired at the end of the day, it was a blessing to work side by side with my brothers and sisters in service. My s...

Nothing is so calming and comforting to the Christian pilgrim as the assurance of Divine Guidance in every, even the most minute circumstances which befall him. Without this perception of his heavenly Father's care, a thousand intricacies must beset his path.  He must be staggered at almost every step.  But when he beholds by faith the unerring hand of infinite wisdom, wielding the stupendous machine of human events, causing everything to promote the spiritual good of His people, then he quiets himself as a little child, and can say with cheerful resignation, "Father, not my will, but yours be done." from The Sovereignty of God ~ Thomas Reade 1841 (ht: gracegems )

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his   span of life?   And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, 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.  Matthew 6: 27-29

Every church softball field needs a sign like this, right?

Things for which I am thankful. The brother in our church who collapsed on the softball field had successful triple-bypass and aortic valve replacement surgery.   He has a long recovery ahead of him, but this gives the church an opportunity to practically serve him and his family in the days ahead. I have been talking to myself as Martyn Lloyd-Jones recommends.  I've been telling myself that nothing has happened or ever will happen outside of God's sovereign will. Things seemed like they were settling down with post-divorce issues, but then something else reared its head.  It is very tempting to get anxious and think, "but what if [fill in the blank] happens?"  But regardless of how I feel or how things look, the truth is that God is sovereign, God is good, and His ways are not my ways.  God is just.  God is righteous.  God is on His throne ruling over the entire universe down to my little life. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is la...

It is a great support and solace to the saints in all their distresses, that there is a wise Spirit setting all the wheels of providence in motion.  He governs the most irregular creatures and their most destructive designs to a blessed and happy outcome.  It would not be worth living in a world devoid of God and providence. Our present views of providence are imperfect in comparison to heaven.  Yet our earthly view, under all its present disadvantages, has so much sweetness in it that I may call it a little heaven.  It is certainly a highway of walking with God in this world. A soul may enjoy sweet communion with him in his providences.  How often have observers melted into tears of joy at seeing his wise and unexpected productions?  How often, if the Lord had left them to their own counsels, they would have been their own tormentors.  We can give hearty thanks that providence considers our interest more than our importunity, protecting us from peri...

These are a few reminders to myself. 1.  The local church where the Word is faithfully preached, where the members encouraged to grow in holiness and community, where the doors are open to help the city, where we are encouraged to live out Monday-Saturday what was preached on Sunday.  Perfect?  Not at all.  Striving to follow Christ and the Word?  Yes. 2. Being a mom.  It's more than homeschooling and academics.  It's more than don't work/work outside the home.  It's more than homemade cookies and milk, even though that's nice.  It's the blessing of being able to tell your child about Christ, to talk about Him and His word.  It's the privilege of waking up one morning and finding that your daughter is your sister-in-Christ who wants to have her life transformed by the gospel.  Can you take any credit for it?  Absolutely not! 3. Being a sinner saved by grace.   Craig B. has a sobering quote by Tim Keller on hell and wh...

The winner is Diane!  Congratulations and thanks to everyone who entered.  Hopefully, I'll have other giveaways in the future so stay tuned in.

1. Conditions are always changing, therefore I must obviously not be dependent upon conditions. 2. What matters supremely and vitally is my soul and my relationship to God - that is the first thing. 3. God is concerned about me as my Father, and nothing happens to me apart from God.  Even the very hairs of my head are all numbered.  I must never forget that. 4. God's will and God's ways are a great mystery, but I know that whatever He wills or permits is of necessity for my good. 5. Every situation in life is the unfolding of some manifestation of God's love and goodness.  Therefore my business is to look for this peculiar manifestation of God's goodness and kindness and to be prepared for surprises and blessings because 'His ways are not my ways, neither His thoughts my thoughts.'  What, for example is the great lesson that Paul leaned in the matter of the thorn in the flesh?  It is that: 'When I am weak then am I strong.'  Paul was taught throu...

Claymation edition...

I am thankful for the Titus 2 women's ministry at our church.  The Biblical view of womanhood is so different from what the world says.  I fear as time goes on, the contrast will become even greater.  I have  vague childhood memories of life before the women's lib movement, but younger women have no other reference point than modern feminism.  We are constantly bombarded from movies, television, and the internet to the point you become numb.  Even the grocery store isn't a safe place anymore.  There should be magazine-free checkout lines, because it's embarrassing to see what is shamelessly displayed on the covers as the perfect woman. Last Saturday, the pastor's wife led a study on purity - not just staying free from fornication or adultery, but purity of mind and thought as renewed by Scripture.  We discussed several issues that hit close to home such as how we view our appearance, why we want to be accepted, and what is driving that.  Is...

Can you guess these phrases? While unpacking, we found an old hangman game that I had played with my daughter when she was 5 or so.  This inspired her to come up with some new words to guess.  Methinks this apple is not falling far from the tree. 

God orders all events in this entire universe, but sometimes His providence flies below our radar. However, we were privileged to see His providence unfold before our eyes. Last Thursday was a typical muggy night for a softball game. When we arrived, the coach for our team was on the mound pitching the first inning. He was doing well, even throwing some strikes. That's pretty good for someone who is 69 years old. However, he began to look a little wobbly on his feet. Immediately folks from our church as well as the other team gathered around him to pray. He was still a little unsteady, so several brothers supported him as he walked off the field. Not much further, he started to pass out. It just happened that a player on the opposing team was an EMT/fire fighter with the station that just happened to be right around the corner. First aid was initiated, and a call was made for help. Thankfully he regained consciousness quickly. A fire truck was quickly on the scene followed by an a...

Yesterday Pastor Ryan spoke from Titus 1:1-4 .  In these introductory verses, Paul declares that his master is God, his message is Christ, his mission is the church.  Paul was able to spend his life for the churches because of the hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began . "God, who never lies" is literally in the Greek "the unlying God." As someone who is prone to fear, this went straight to my heart.  The pastor went on to say that very often we look for something to calm our fears, but we don't need to look any further than the character of God Himself.  How often I am scrambling for something to make those feelings go away.  How often I read a scripture that states that God is trustworthy, but in the back of my mind there is a lingering doubt.  I may think in false humility, "Is it true for me? ", but in reality I am doubting whether God will keep His word.  I am suspecting Him of saying something and then ...

I marvel that gardenias can grow like shrubs in this part of Virginia.  My only previous exposure to gardenias were as very fussy house plants.  At our old house, my neighbor had several gardenia bushes.  When the wind would blow, we could catch a whiff of the fragrance. As I looked out my kitchen window last night, to my surprise, I saw the white tell-tale blooms on what I thought was just your average evergreen shrubbery. One blossom is now filling the kitchen with its wonderful fragrance.

This is my 500th post. I started my blog in 2008 as part of my quest to make sense of what was happening in my life.  At the same time, God mercifully began to open up the truth of His sovereignty.  I'm a very different person today (for the better I hope!), and this blog has been a record of finding my home in the Doctrines of Grace. I still have much to learn in the way of writing well and wrestling through ideas. so blogging has been good practice.  I have a store of topics that are on the back burner, but I want to think carefully and learn to write with clarity before I commit to "paper".  I don't know if I have found my "voice" yet, but I think it will come as I continue to read, think, and write. It has been a joy to "meet" brothers and sisters through the blogsphere.  I have been blessed by your love of the Word, appreciation for Church history, the quotes, your sense of humor, and book and sermon recommendations.  I've learned to...

You've been unjustly accused.  You go to your best friend for prayer.  What does she say? "Cheer up!  You're worse than that.  In fact, we're worse than we even realize." What?!  Is that good news?  Is that something to lift one's heart? It certainly is when she continues.  "Cheer up!  God loves you.  He has forgiven you in Christ.  Your standing is in Him not because of your behavior." A situation came up where everything in me wanted to rise up and defend myself.  I was awake for part of the night praying and, I admit, stewing about it.  In the back of my mind I'm thinking, "What is so-and-so going to think of me ?"  Also I'm thinking what can  I  do to make the situation right? Pride and unbelief are so sneaky, aren't they?  Pride is wanting to maintain my reputation, to have everyone believe the best of me.  I don't have any problem admitting I'm depraved and sinful, I just don't want cert...