Revive 11 Conference

The Revive 11 conference was a wonderful time. It was held in Indianapolis, Indiana. As we arrived at our seats, we found this gift of a canvas bag containing various helpful resources (including an ESV study Bible, given by Crossway publishers).

The theme of the conference was "Women Serving Women", and it was geared toward pastor's wives and women's ministry leaders. It was put on by Revive Our Hearts ministry. The speakers were: Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Crawford Loritts, and Susan Hunt with music by Fernando Ortega (beautiful, worshipful hymns that made you want to love Jesus more).

I've attended many women's retreats and conferences over the years. This one lacked a driving emotional undertone that is often present at such events. Rather than emotion, a love for Christ and His purposes fulfilled in women seemed to motivate (and carry) this event. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you're not familiar with this ministry, I encourage you to check it out.

Celebrating Friendship

Expect sporadic posts to this blog from now through next Monday.

My friend Kim and I are on our way to Indianapolis, IN. We'll be attending the Revive 11 conference put on by Revive Our Hearts ministry. It's geared toward women's ministry leaders (of which Kim is one). We're looking forward to it (the conference and a good road trip).

We decided to attend this conference/retreat as a celebration of our friendship. Our friendship was established at a women's retreat through our church 10 years ago (that's right, it's our 10-year friendship anniversary--no need to send cards, chocolate will suffice). Out of gratitude for what we've been given, we've always celebrated our friendship, but for the 10-year celebration, we went big (Nancy Leigh DeMoss or bust).

I thank God frequently for my friendship with Kim. If you looked at Kim and me on the surface you wouldn't find two people with very much in common, but our anchor of commonality is a love for Jesus Christ. Our friendship is built around Him and, therefore, it is a good friendship. The only thing extraordinary about the two women involved in this friendship is the Savior whom they love. And that is enough to make it a remarkable thing!

He is God; I am Not

On days leading up to a conference at the end of this week, I've been reading some specific devotional material from Revive Our Hearts ministry. I'd like to share with you one day's reading in particular (the text for that day was Job 38). It is as follows:

"Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place?" Job 38:12 (NASB)

We need to hear this question from God every time we forget that he is God and we are not. It is so easy to slip into a prideful spirit, protecting our own little kingdoms, thinking, I have it all under control, and if everyone else would get in line, things would run so much smoother!

When we attempt to take on God and challenge him with the injustice of our situation we can become like a child having a temper tantrum, screaming out accusations to a caring parent, "Why did you do that?!" Although Job wasn't screaming, and although he threw no fits and seemed rather patient, in his character was an accusation of injustice made against God. So in a barrage of more than eighty questions, God proceeded to move Job from his position of challenger to a much humbler place of speechlessness.

If we're not careful, our hearts and wounds will grow infected with resentment and self-pity. Out of our pain, we may strike back at Him with an accusatory "Why?!" We allow ourselves to ignore the truth of His Word--the fact that He cares for us and will never leave us or forsake us, that He desires to comfort us in our affliction--and instead we stand as His accuser. That's when we need to hear Him ask, "Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place?"

We need to remind ourselves regularly, although I may imagine that I am right and have all the answers, I didn't cause the sun to rise this morning! He is God; I am not!

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" The LORD of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Psalm 46: 1-11

Cookie Baking Night 10/24/11

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Emily, Ethan, and Carissa. We decided to try our hand at a box kit of Whoopie Pies.

Hmmm. The end product didn't come out quite like the picture on the box, but this is the version you get when you "add real kids". It was a fun process for us, though. Sprinkles = fun. Can't beat a good treat with sprinkles!

This project took up most of our evening (between preparing, baking, cooling, frosting, and sprinkling) but we did manage to squeeze in a fall-evening walk (lovely), and we read from Leading Little Ones to Godby Marian Schoolland.

Our lesson this evening was titled "God's Children Obey". I really liked the way this lesson was laid out. It provoked the children to deeper thoughts about God and led to much conversation on the subject. Emily read John 15:8-12 from the Bible for us.

It was a good evening and, as usual, a fun time was had by all.

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

God's Purposes

"In the infinite wisdom of the Lord of all the earth, each event falls with exact precision into its proper place in the unfolding of His divine plan. Nothing, however small, however strange, occurs without His ordering, or without its particular fitness for its place in the working out of His purpose; and the end of all shall be the manifestation of His glory, and the accumulation of His praise.

--Benjamin Warfield


"In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Ephesians 1:7-10 (ESV)