Tried With Fire

I'm thankful for the opportunity to give thanks every day this month.  Not that we should need a reason, but in the busyness of life, I often forget to stop and reflect on the goodness of the Lord.  Many thanks to Rebecca for hosting this 2010 November of Thanksgiving. I'm thankful that we are going to see my family.  My mom will be celebrating her 80th birthday this week-end. We will have a mini-reunion of family and friends.  It was supposed to be a surprise, but the cat was let out of the bag.  What my mom does not know is that her sisters (2 from Canada and 1 from NY) will be coming to the celebration.  My mom is a 2x breast cancer survivor, so we are very thankful for God's mercy to her. Lizzy at one of her favorite past times: shredding cardboard boxes I'm thankful for our friend Becky who will be taking care of Lizzy and Big Bun while we are away.  Small animals care is different from cats and dogs, so it is nice knowing that they are in...

I am thankful for unexpected and pleasant surprises. This week we are planning to visit family in NJ.  My sister called last night and asked if we wanted to take a day trip to Manhattan on Thursday to see my nephew.  It's been decades since I visited the city and my daughter has never been there. We are hoping to see the Empire State Building and other tourist attractions. As an added blessing, Lord willing we will meet Christina of Heavenly Springs ! When I learned we would be in NYC, I emailed her to see if we could connect.  We only have enough time for a quick hug and hello at the bus stop before we head back to NJ.  However, it will be wonderful to meet her in person.  To identify ourselves, we will be carrying these:

I am thankful for the reminder in today's sermon that the brightest light this Christmas is "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6).  Why is this possible?  Because... In the beginning was   the Word, and   the Word was with God, and   the Word was God.     He was in the beginning with God.   All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.   In him was life,   and   the life was the light of men.   The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  John 1: 1-5

The God I trust is true and just; His mercy has no end; HImself has said my ransom's paid, And I on Him depend. Then why so sad, my soul? though bad, Thou hast a Friend that's good; He brought thee dear (abandon fear); He bought thee with His blood. So rich a cost can ne'er be lost, Though faith be tried by fire; Keep Christ in view; let God be true; And every man a liar. Joseph Hart (1712-1768)

I am thankful for the fellowship of sisters in Christ.  (Not that I'm unthankful for brotherly fellowship, but I think you know what I mean.) I'm thankful for my daughter.  I am grateful that she is my sister in Christ.  Day in and day out, we talk about the Lord, the Bible, and theology.  She is my sounding board, and she also isn't afraid to confront me about things in my life. I'm thankful for the women in my church. I'm thankful to get a glimpse into their lives, their triumphs and struggles.  They have blessed me so much, and I believe God will draw us even closer. I'm thankful for my mom and my sister.  We may not be 100% on the same page doctrinally, but we have Jesus Christ in common.  I'm grateful for the tie that binds us even though we're 250 miles apart. I'm thankful for my friend Sue, who I will be having lunch with today. She has stood with me through thick and thin.  I'm grateful for our closeness which has been forged with...

It's that time of the year again.  It's time to think about updating that long out-of-date family photo as well as pick out our Christmas cards. However this year, I think we will kill 2 birds with one stone, so to speak. Thanks to my friend Erika , I've learned about  Shutterfly 's Holiday Card promotion.  They are inviting bloggers to write a post about their holiday cards, submit it to Shutterfly and the reward is 50 free Christmas cards! Can't beat that deal.  (I have never used Shutterfly in the past but I was very impressed with the photo albums from a friend's wedding. ) It's been fun browsing through their web site and looking at the different styles of Christmas cards available including folded greeting cards  and  flat cards .  You can even make photo calendars to share pictures throughout the year with friends and family. I'm not sure which I like best.  There are so many styles to to choose from but I have narrowed it d...

I'm thankful for a cup of tea on a damp morning.  It's very soothing on a drizzly day.  I'm glad I raked the leaves yesterday even though a new batch has fallen to the ground with the wind and rain. Perhaps I will tackle them tomorrow if they've dried off by then. I'm so thankful that I am not shopping today!  It's not worth the hassle or the crowds.  Since we're celebrating the Incarnation after many years of not doing so, my daughter and I decided to give to others rather than each other.  (Such as here and here .) I have to venture out to take care of Gracie, the chinchilla, but the rest of the day I can be at home.  I need to do some typing for my job, and then I can crank out more words for my NaNoWriMo novel.  Just 12,770 words by the end of Tuesday and then it's done!

Moving in great discernment, it takes the owner of the cats less than 20 seconds to uncover the charismatic in the ranks. (Thanks to Reformation Theology for the video and the caption.)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.  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 1:15-22 I am thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am thankful although I was once alienate...

Our church had a Thanksgiving service last night.  We gave away food boxes to families in our community and then had a brief service. Pastor Ryan shared from Col 1: 12-14 "giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."  What a reason to give thanks! My daughter goes away this afternoon thru Sunday.  I'm thankful that we can have most of the day together.  I'm thankful for the work God is doing in her life.  She told me that she would not be where she is in her relationship with the Lord if she didn't have to go through this trial.  So I'm praying of grace for her as she is away and for opportunities to share the true gospel with her father. I'm thankful for the families who invited me to join them on Thanksgiving so I won't have to be alon...

I am thankful to be a debtor to the grace of God. What am I by grace? For all I now am - I once was not. Everything which is in any sense good in me - must be ascribed to the free grace of God.  Yes, with the holy Apostle I must say, "By the grace of God, I am what I am!"   By grace - I am a new creature, created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has ordained, that I should walk in them.   By grace - I am pardoned, justified, and accepted by God.   By grace - I am united to Christ's person, and constituted a joint heir with Him.   By grace - I am God's child, the Holy Spirit's temple, and a part of the Savior's purchase. Grace called me, and grace made me willing to obey the call.  Grace washed away my sins in the blood of the Lamb, and washed my person in the laver of the Word.  All that has been wrought within me, all that has been conferred upon me, and all the good done by me - must be traced to the free and invincible grace of God!...

This may sound strange, but I am thankful for the times I have had to be alone.  I wasn't always thankful for the times my daughter is away - week-ends and split holidays, but I'm glad that the Lord has changed my attitude.  My time isn't always as profitable as I would like it to be, but my enforced solitude gives me a chance to read, listen to sermons, and most importantly to pray and think.  I now have my shuffle loaded with sermons and music for the drives back and forth.  Last night as I was driving to pick up my daughter, I listened to Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson.  I had a wonderful time of praising God for the Incarnation of the Son on the interstate. So if my solitude gives me time alone with the Lord, it is worth it.

I am thankful that I can be built together with a local body of believers. This morning Pastor Ryan spoke from Hebrews 10: 23-25 to encourage us to not forsake our hearts' commitment to the body of Christ.  This was a fitting end to the series on the Church, because our attitude about it shapes how we live.  If our view of the church is small, it will take a back seat to all the activities that seems to inundate the average American family.  If our view of the church is small, we will view our participation as a duty or even an option and not a vital part of our lives.  If our view of the church is small, what does that say of our attitude towards our Lord Jesus Christ who shed His blood to purchase His Bride? I am paraphrasing this badly, but Pastor Ryan said that we can hold to the Doctrines of Grace all we want, but we need to realize that perseverance of the saints can only happen when we are together.  God did not intend for this process to take place i...

Great God! from thee there's nought concealed, Thou seest my inward frame; To thee I always stand revealed Exactly as I am! Since I can hardly, therefore, bear What in myself I see; How vile and black must I appear, Most holy God to thee! But since my Saviour stands between, In garments dyed in blood, 'Tis he, instead of me, is seen, When I approach to God. Thus, though a sinner, I am safe; He pleads, before the throne, His life and death in my behalf, And calls my sins his own. What wondrous love, what mysteries, In this appointment shine! My breaches of the law are his, And his obedience mine. by John Newton (1802-1886)

I'm thankful for: An early start to Saturday. I need to go to Walmart, which I generally avoid at all costs on a Saturday, and few other places.  I'm glad I can get it over with before the crowds flock in. Time to do some serious writing.  There are so many things brewing in my brain.  It helps to get them out of my head and onto paper. Serious books about serious subjects.  Maybe it's because I have been doctrinally undernourished most of my life, I prefer straight theology over most books.  I am enjoying Salvation Belongs to the Lord by John Frame which is an introduction to systematic theology.  I will leave you with a quote from the book on what is theology and why it is important. What is Theology?  To known God is to know him as Lord and therefore to pursue knowledge of him in a godly way. As we come to know God, we recognize that he initiates our knowledge, that his Word is the ultimate authority for our knowledge, and that in knowing Go...

I'm thankful that we can homeschool. This was something we had decided even before my daughter was born, so we have been doing this from day 1.  Unfortunately homeschooling was a point of dispute during the divorce. However, God intervened on our behalf, so I am aware that this is a blessing not to be taken for granted. I am thankful that homeschooling enables us to deal with issues of personal discipline and character as well as academics.  Sometimes there is pressure to prove that you can provide as good an education as any public school.  But in the long run, who my daughter is as a person and a Christian is more important than an SAT score or acceptance at an Ivy league school.  

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  Philippians 4:11 These words express the glorious power of the Spirit in a mature Christian, and serve as our pattern. "I have learned", said Paul.  This is very significant.  It is not the learning of education, but of holiness.  All the degrees in the world cannot teach it. Paul did not learn it at Gamaliel's feet, but from Christ, and through much affliction. Nature never teaches it.  It is learned with many stripes in the school of Christ.    God carries His children through this world through a variety of conditions. Sometimes we lack, and at other times we abound.  This allows our graces to be tested. We will find that God's love is stable, certain, and constant in a variety of conditions.  God does not change, and His love is constant however our lives might change.    We must not learn to quarrel with God's government.  Let God do as He pleases as He brings us ...

I'm catching up on my thanksgivings because it was time for bed when we arrived home from small group, so better late than never... Last night, our small group shared a meal together to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Afterwards, we had a time where we could share the things for which we were thankful.  Our pastor encouraged us to be thankful for the good and trying seasons which we may be in, and it was a blessing to hear others voice their thanks to God. Our family is coming out of a difficult time into a fresh start for our lives, so I am thankful for both sides of this coin.  I'm thankful for the suffering God allowed us to experience.  I may not have thought so at the time, but I can see the fruit in my daughter's life and my own life as well. Also, as John Flavel writes,"Sufferings endear the family of God to each other." As I looked around the room last night, I was thankful for the brothers and sisters who came to court multiple times to stand with me, wh...

I am thankful that we are hosting the Titus 2 ladies meeting in our home tonight!  When we were looking for a house in March, I prayed for a place where we could open up our home to the saints, and the Lord provided.  We will be in Chapter 6 of  Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges.  Each time we gather, the Lord is drawing us closer bit by bit.  I love these sisters, and I am looking forward to this evening.

I'm thankful for an early start to the day.  I woke up unintentionally before the alarm went off.  Rather than going back to sleep, I exercised (much needed due to too many snacks at small group) and read the Word before my daughter was up.  We had an ordinary Monday of work, homeschooling, piano practicing, routine bunny care, running errands, etc.  Since I finished my work for tomorrow, I can enjoy the evening working on my NaNoWriMo novel while my daughter reads her Tolkien. Nothing exciting but a quiet day filled with ordinary things, which is a great blessing.

I am thankful that we celebrated the Lord's supper today.  What a privilege to remember His death until He comes. I am thankful for the conviction of the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word.  In a nutshell we were admonished to guard the deposit entrusted to us (1 Timothy 6:20-21), which is the gospel and sound doctrine. But we were challenged to guard the truth and not forget Who entrusted it to us in the first place.  Also we were challenged to guard this deposit in a manner that would not cause us to forsake our love for one another. There is much that I need to wrestle through from today's sermon, because I can see this tendency in me. (I'm still cage-stage.) There's a danger of being so vigilant about the truth that I could become impatient and unloving towards those who don't see eye-to-eye 100%. The Lord has already been pricking my heart about this issue, so I'm thankful for His faithfulness in driving this point home today.

O the power of love divine! Who its heights and depths can tell -- Tell Jehovah's grand design, To redeem our souls from hell? Mystery of redemption this: All my sins on Christ were laid; My offense was reckoned His; He the great atonement made! Fully I am justified; Free from sin, and more than free; Guiltless, since for me He died; Righteous, since He lived for me. Jesus, now to Thee I bow; Let Thy praise my tongue employ. Saved unto the utmost now, Who can speak my heartfelt joy? (The hymnal only has "Bradford" as the writer.  Perhaps John Bradford?)

I am thankful for God's Word.  I'm thankful that we can freely read the scriptures without fear of persecution, unlike many of God's people around the globe.  May I not take it for granted. From Apples of Gold by Thomas Brooks (1608-1680) Ah! the Word of the Lord is . . .   a  light  to guide you, a  counselor  to counsel you,   a  comforter  to comfort you, a  staff  to support you,   a  sword  to defend you, a  physician  to cure you! The Word is . . .   a  mine  to enrich you, a  robe  to clothe you,   a  crown  to crown you,  bread  to strengthen you,    wine  to cheer you, a  honeycomb  to feast you,    music  to delight you, a  paradise  to entertain you! Oh! therefore, before all and above all:    search  the Scripture,  study ...

I recently finished reading Why Johnny Can't Sing Hymns by Dr. T. David Gordon.  This is more than a book on the worship wars but an attempt to understand why the church at large can't and won't sing hymns and what we lose in the process. We live in a day when contemporaneity rules the day.  Newer is considered better merely by the fact that it is new. Therefore, anything that we cannot immediately relate to or understand is considered irrelevant and outdated.  But is being contemporary a valid criteria for songs fit to sing to God?  Dr. Gordon listed 6 criteria that are typical for selecting hymns for a hymnal: 1. Theologically orthodox lyrics 2. Theologically significant lyrics 3. Literarily apt and thoughtful lyrics 4. Lyrics and music appropriate to a meeting between God and His people 5. Well-written music with regard to melody, harmony, rhythm, and form. 6. Musical setting appropriate to the lyrical content How many praise choruses would pass this c...

My Friday thanksgivings: 1. My mouth is feeling so much better.  There's still some tenderness but nothing like the previous pain.  God is merciful despite my foolishly ignoring the infection brewing in my tooth. 2. My back is on the mend as well.  Just another reminder that I'm not young as I used to be. :-) 3. We were asked some hard questions in small group last night concerning our contentment in Christ and how it affects our view of our possessions and our giving. I'm thankful that the pastor doesn't shy away from dealing with these rubber-meets-the-road issues and wants to deal with them in a Biblical way. 4. I'm thankful for late night conversations with my daughter.  She hasn't turned into an alien life form once she reached her teen years, which is another reason to give thanks. I'm thankful that she wants to talk with me about weighty issues that affect her life. 5. I'm thankful for another beautiful fall day.

World War I Victory Arch - Newport News, Virginia I am thankful for the men and women who have served and are currently serving in the armed forces.  There are several brothers and one sister in our church who are deployed at sea and in Iraq.  May God keep them safe and comfort those who are waiting for their safe return.

I'm posting this late, but I had an unusual day. I rose earlier than usual today and had a lovely drive to the dentist's office.  The leaves are starting to turn in Southeast Virginia, so I could enjoy the autumnal color as I anticipated the fun in store for me. My tooth had a nice long crack to the point that it could not be saved. It was also harboring a nasty infection. Therefore, I have a big hole in my jaw where my molar used to be.  However, I am very thankful for my dentist.  The extraction was as atraumatic as it possibly could be given that a large tooth  was pried out of bone.  I'm thankful for Novocain.  Believe me, I was not about to tough this one out! I am also thankful that one day these bodies that seem to be decaying by the minute will be changed into  glorified ones.  I pulled something in my lower back on top of my tooth problems so I have been hobbling around with a sore jaw and a sore back.  I took my first pain med...

I've been neglecting what I think is an infected molar.  I dislike going to the dentist and taking medication unless absolutely necessary, so I tried doctoring myself.  Since Friday I've been waking up in the middle of the night with throbbing pain in and above the tooth.   Rather than continuing to stubbornly tough it out in pain, I contacted my dentist yesterday who called in a prescription for me. Therefore, I'm thankful for God's provision of modern medicine that can help ease our aches and pains.  Even though my tooth still hurts, the pain seems to be subsiding.  Lord willing, it should be better in a few days.

I am thankful for the reminder that the only treasure worth cherishing is Christ.  In yesterday's sermon , we were exhorted from 1 Timothy 6 to find our contentment in Christ alone.  We should be content with and thankful for God's material blessings, but we need to value Him more than these things.  If we prize Christ, the accumulation of stuff in this life, the pursuit of the American Dream and "Your Best Life Now" will not drive us.  Our contentment in Christ will safeguard us when we are tempted by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  If we prize Him above all things, we will be rich in good works that spring from our love for Him, not merely rich in possessions. I don't want Christ as my treasure to just be a Piperism in my vocabulary. I pray that the Holy Spirit would make it a reality.

One there is, above all others, Well deserves the name of Friend; He is love beyond a brother's, Costly, free, and knows no end; They who once His kindness prove, Find it everlasting love. Which of all our friends, to save us, Could or would have shed his blood; But our Jesus died to save us Reconciled in Him to God. This was boundless love indeed! Jesus is a Friend in need! O for grace our hearts to soften! Teach us Lord, at length to love; We, alas! forget too often What a Friend we have above. But when home our souls are brought, We will praise Thee as we ought. Hymn 133 by John Newton, 1779

I am looking forward to gathering with God's people this morning.  I'm thankful for my church, Grace Baptist Chapel.  I'm thankful for the sound teaching from God's Word every week from my pastor, Ryan Davidson .  My first exposure to expository preaching was here at this church, and it was food for my very hungry soul. May the Lord bless His word as it goes forth here and in every place where His people are gathered.

I'm thankful for an uneventful Saturday. Every week-end for most of this year has been filled with preparing our old house for sale, house hunting, packing, moving, unpacking, working, and finishing my online course on top of normal weekly activities.  With that hectic season now past, it's nice to have a Saturday to do household chores, bake a loaf of bread, read, work on my novel, and cast-on a scarf.  Not very exciting but very ordinary and very restful.

I'm scrapping The Green Bean Casserole Mystery.  I'm not cut out for semi-serious fiction especially with a deadline.  It's very time consuming to create a set of characters from scratch.  I was also getting very bored with the story (not a good motivator) and writing poorly.  Therefore, I am putting my ideas for this story on hold (such as using an ESV Study Bible as a blunt instrument and finding treasure clues in frozen green bean casseroles). Now it's time to take the easy way out, and the answer is... (drum roll, please) Fan Fiction! Yes, ladies and gentlemen.  I am resorting to lowly fan fiction for the 3rd time.  It's a dubious genre, but the characters are already developed and waiting to be absconded for my novel. So to better achieve ludicrous speed, I'm back to my blend of Doctor Who and reformed theology. Working title: The Dawning of the Age of Pelagius or The Finney Strikes Back . Plot (if it deserves that appellation): The Doctor a...

I'm thankful for laughter and humor.  It may seem a stretch, but I think theology affected my sense of humor or lack thereof. There was a time when I thought I would never laugh or even smile again.  I also had a very low view of God's sovereignty.  But God mercifully opened my eyes through His word, 2 pivotal sermons, and 3 Puritan paperbacks.  His decrees were not subservient to or dependent upon human acquiescence.  He was fully in control and directing all things including my circumstances and would use them for my good and His glory. The nagging sense that  it was up to me to make it through the Christian life was gone.  The fear that God's will could be thwarted by man was gone as well.  I found rest for the first time, and it changed my life.  It also changed my sense of humor. My daughter even says that I smile differently as a Calvinist.  We've certainly laughed a lot more these last 2 years. There are times...

Science is one of our favorite homeschool subjects.  There's no reason why this should be a boring subject when you consider it in the light of its Creator. To get a better idea of the extent of the universe, check out this very cool site - The Scale of the Universe (ht: Biblical Christianity ).  This tool shows creation in a nutshell, as my daughter describes it.  Not creation as in the act of creation but created things from smaller than subatomic to huge galaxies and everything in between. It boggles the mind to consider the vastness of the universe down to the intricate structure of a cell.  It's even more amazing to think that God the Son "upholds the universe by the word of his power." ( Hebrews 1:3 ).  Therefore, He's the One holding the electrons in their various orbitals around the nucleus of an atom, keeping the Earth in proper orbit around the sun, and holding our solar system in its place in the Milky Way.  No random processes, b...

I'm thankful for God's provision through my job.  As a single, homeschooling mom, I needed to find a way to provide for our family.  I have a graduate degree in Computer Science and worked prior to my daughter's birth as a developer/database administrator, but I quit my job when she was born.  But the computer industry didn't stop with me.  It has continued to grow and change to the point where my skills were as good as obsolete.  Any hope of finding a computer-related job was pretty slim.  Plus I was committed to homeschool my daughter which would entail working from home. God mercifully provided through a friend who is the manager of a large and very successful plastic surgery practice.  They needed a transcriptionist for one of their doctors, and she offered me the job even though I had no experience.  I took the job and have been typing for them for the last 3-1/2 years. Today is one of my busier work days because I have less turn around t...

I am thankful for the privilege of voting.  I'm grateful that I can vote according to my conscience without fear of intimidation or fraud.  But as I cast my ballot, my hope is in a sovereign God no matter what is the outcome of today's election, because He orders all things according to the counsel of His will.  Politicians and their agendas may come and go, but ultimate hope and security are found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Last night we sat around a fire pit in our pastor's front yard with folks from the church.  It was a beautiful fall evening, crisp but not too cold.  We made s'mores with homemade marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate. We talked, laughed, and sang.  We strolled down praise chorus memory lane including a few oldies from the 70's.  Anyone remember "Pass it on"? It's such a blessing to be together whether around the Lord's table, studying the Word together, or circling a campfire.  I am very thankful for my brothers and sisters.