As I prepare for another book discussion with one of my young friends, I've been reading through the book Lies Young Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free (by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh) a second time. In the middle section of the book, the authors name 25 lies that young women believe. Hmmmm, not just young women. As I was reading the book last night, I was struck by lie #3 God should fix all my problems. I easily fall into that mentality and have been especially susceptible to it lately.
I was brought to my senses with this line from the book: God is more concerned with changing you to be a reflection of Christ than with solving all your problems.
It goes on to say, "The Bible teaches us that God uses trials and difficult times in our lives to help us grow. James 1:2-4 says that we are to be joyful in our trials, because God is testing our faith so that our faith will grow stronger. And Romans 5:3-4 tells us that 'suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.' So even in our trials and our suffering, God is at work in our lives!" (page 49).
Just another reminder of how easily our focus can shift to ourselves.
James 1:2-4 (NKJV)
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Romans 5:3-4 (NKJV)
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Frightening Friday 11/27
How fitting to return to Frightening Fridays (a day of intentional evangelism) on Black Friday.
This morning my good friend, Kim, and I hit the morning sales, not looking for a good deal, but looking for an opportunity to share the gospel. We went armed with gospel tracts and granola bars. Kim picked me up at 5:00 am, and we went to Menards where we found a parking lot full of cars and a line of people heading down the sidewalk and into the parking lot. Kim handed out the granola bars and I came behind her with the gospel tracts. At least 100 people received the gospel this morning.
We pray God will call them unto Him and that they will hear the gospel and respond to it in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
If you are on this blog today because you received a gospel tract from me, please check out the links at the side of the page for the name of a solid local church in the area and other Christian resources.
This morning my good friend, Kim, and I hit the morning sales, not looking for a good deal, but looking for an opportunity to share the gospel. We went armed with gospel tracts and granola bars. Kim picked me up at 5:00 am, and we went to Menards where we found a parking lot full of cars and a line of people heading down the sidewalk and into the parking lot. Kim handed out the granola bars and I came behind her with the gospel tracts. At least 100 people received the gospel this morning.
We pray God will call them unto Him and that they will hear the gospel and respond to it in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
If you are on this blog today because you received a gospel tract from me, please check out the links at the side of the page for the name of a solid local church in the area and other Christian resources.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I Am Thankful
On this Thanksgiving Eve, I thought I would take a few minutes to write what I am thankful for:
I am thankful that God saves sinners.
I am thankful that in all my self-righteousness, God was able to convict me of my sin and show me my need for a Savior. I am more thankful than words can express that God opened my eyes to my sin and allowed me repentance and forgiveness through His son Jesus Christ.
I am thankful that as it says in Ephesians 1 In love God predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ. He took a rebel and made me His child. That is a remarkable concept to grasp.
I am thankful that God continues to convict me of sin and uses that to santify me.
I am thankful that God has allowed me to marry. I am thankful that he uses marriage as a means of sanctification in my life. I am thankful that I don't have to lead our family. I am thankful that God has given that role to Greg, and that, per His design, Greg has the ability to fulfill that role.
I am thankful that Greg loves Jesus Christ and wishes to please Him and become more like Him everyday.
I am thankful that God has allowed me to help out with the family finances through my job. I am thankful that God uses this job as a means of sanctification in my life. I am thankful that God has provided me with a mission field like no other through this job.
I am thankful for relationships with friends and family. God uses these relationships as a means of sanctification in my life. True relationships allow an inescapable testing ground for trusting God.
I am thankful that I have a Bible and can read it without fear of punishment.
I am thankful that there are those who came before me who fought and died to make it possible for me to have a Bible in my possession in my own langage.
I am thankful that I live in a country that still allows me the freedom to worship God and preach the gospel.
I am thankful that God created the world and that He knows me.
Psalm 139:1-5 says: "O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up: You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquinted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You hem me in behind and before and lay Your hand upon me.
I am thankful that God is sovereign and all things are in His control. I rest in that.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful that God saves sinners.
I am thankful that in all my self-righteousness, God was able to convict me of my sin and show me my need for a Savior. I am more thankful than words can express that God opened my eyes to my sin and allowed me repentance and forgiveness through His son Jesus Christ.
I am thankful that as it says in Ephesians 1 In love God predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ. He took a rebel and made me His child. That is a remarkable concept to grasp.
I am thankful that God continues to convict me of sin and uses that to santify me.
I am thankful that God has allowed me to marry. I am thankful that he uses marriage as a means of sanctification in my life. I am thankful that I don't have to lead our family. I am thankful that God has given that role to Greg, and that, per His design, Greg has the ability to fulfill that role.
I am thankful that Greg loves Jesus Christ and wishes to please Him and become more like Him everyday.
I am thankful that God has allowed me to help out with the family finances through my job. I am thankful that God uses this job as a means of sanctification in my life. I am thankful that God has provided me with a mission field like no other through this job.
I am thankful for relationships with friends and family. God uses these relationships as a means of sanctification in my life. True relationships allow an inescapable testing ground for trusting God.
I am thankful that I have a Bible and can read it without fear of punishment.
I am thankful that there are those who came before me who fought and died to make it possible for me to have a Bible in my possession in my own langage.
I am thankful that I live in a country that still allows me the freedom to worship God and preach the gospel.
I am thankful that God created the world and that He knows me.
Psalm 139:1-5 says: "O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up: You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquinted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You hem me in behind and before and lay Your hand upon me.
I am thankful that God is sovereign and all things are in His control. I rest in that.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Cookie Baking Night 11/23
Tonight was cookie baking night and Emily's birthday choice (she's turning 9 on Saturday). Emily and Meghan were in attendance this evening. Emily chose tacos-in-a-bag for supper. For her cookie choice she wanted to make the desserts for Thanksgiving Day. We made pecan pie bars, lemon bars, and pumpkin pie bars, also a few turkey cookies for the table, and the girls peeled potatoes for make-ahead mashed potatoes. It was a productive evening, and we had a great time together.
They'll be back on Thursday to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Plumbers are Beautiful
As a commuter in traffic (about 2 hours each day), I see a lot of bumper stickers, most of which fall under the category of "offensive", "stupid", or "I have no idea what that means", but the bumper sticker I saw on my way home from work today stating Plumbers are Beautiful (one big green bumper sticker on the back of a small white car) simply caused me to chuckle.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Kids of Courage
A few months back, a friend told me about the Kids of Courage section of the Voice of the Martyrs website (http://www.persecution.com/). As the website explains, "Voice of the Martyrs publishes Kids of Courage materials for children ages 5 to 13 so families and schools can include children in learning about and serving the persecuted church."
The website contains a lot of material and a lot of free downloads. They have a section where you can download curriculum that teaches children about different countries (I counted at least 12 different countries).
My niece Emily spent the night last Saturday, and before she arrived, I downloaded the "Bold Believers in China" curriculum, which is a 52 page workbook containing information about China and a lot of activities to support the learning process. Emily and I sorted the pages, punched holes in them, and put them in a three-ring binder, so she can work her way through the book when she spends time at our house.
I highly recommend this resource for your children.
The website contains a lot of material and a lot of free downloads. They have a section where you can download curriculum that teaches children about different countries (I counted at least 12 different countries).
My niece Emily spent the night last Saturday, and before she arrived, I downloaded the "Bold Believers in China" curriculum, which is a 52 page workbook containing information about China and a lot of activities to support the learning process. Emily and I sorted the pages, punched holes in them, and put them in a three-ring binder, so she can work her way through the book when she spends time at our house.
I highly recommend this resource for your children.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Grace Gems
I subscribe to an e-mail feed called Grace Gems (http://www.gracegems.org/) which sends you a daily e-mail usually containing a quote from a puritan. I found this one particularly convicting.
"Lovers of pleasure--rather than lovers of God." 2 Timothy 3:4
Is the love of pleasure growing upon you, gaining the power and the ascendancy over you? Is it dulling the keenness of your zest for spiritual pleasures? Is it making Bible study, prayer, communion with Christ, meditation upon holy themes--less sweet enjoyments than before? Is it making your hunger for righteousness, for God--less intense? Is it interfering with the comfort and blessing you used to find in worship services, or in Christian work?
If so, there is only one thing to do--hasten to return to God, cut off the pleasure which is imperiling the soul, and find in Christ the joy which the world cannot give, and which ever enhances the life. We must test all our pleasures and amusements by this rule--Are they helping us to grow into Christ-likeness and spiritual beauty?---J.R. Miller.
"Lovers of pleasure--rather than lovers of God." 2 Timothy 3:4
Is the love of pleasure growing upon you, gaining the power and the ascendancy over you? Is it dulling the keenness of your zest for spiritual pleasures? Is it making Bible study, prayer, communion with Christ, meditation upon holy themes--less sweet enjoyments than before? Is it making your hunger for righteousness, for God--less intense? Is it interfering with the comfort and blessing you used to find in worship services, or in Christian work?
If so, there is only one thing to do--hasten to return to God, cut off the pleasure which is imperiling the soul, and find in Christ the joy which the world cannot give, and which ever enhances the life. We must test all our pleasures and amusements by this rule--Are they helping us to grow into Christ-likeness and spiritual beauty?---J.R. Miller.
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