The Daily Habit

I saw this meme at Susanne's awhile back: The Daily Habit, a list of ten things you do every day. The usual aside, such as personal hygeine, eating and sleeping and such, here are some things I do every day or nearly every day...

1. Laundry. Four kids and two grown ups equal an unending pile of dirty clothes.

2. Iron. A shirt and a pair of pants for my husband for work, every day except Friday and Sunday.

3. Read. I'm doing pretty good (so far) on my Bible reading plan (I'm using this one with 5 grace days to catch up each month which helps, at least mentally!). In addition to the Bible, hardly a day goes by where I don't read at least a few pages of something, if not a book then the newspaper or a magazine.

4. Check email. More than once and more than twice. Sometimes (only some times!) more than once and more than twice an hour. I love email.

5. Drive. To school. Home from school. To the store. To church community groups. Take this kid to guitar lessons. This kid to play basketball. Errands. All over town. Every single day. Or so it seems. I'm a taxi driver without the tips.

6. Pray. Sometimes in quietness and solitude with a heart of humility and worship. Sometimes in desperation with an urgent plea for grace and mercy.

7. Get the mail. Here's a random fact about me: I cannot stand for the mail to remain in the mailbox. People who only retrieve their mail every few days--I cannot fathom it. If I hear the mailperson stop at my box, I must go get it then. I must. Right then.

8. Instruct. My kids, sometimes in the form of gentle persuasion, sometimes more like a full blown argument. Four kids, one mom, all sinners, make for at least one confrontation a day.

9. Confess. My failures and my sins. Many times to my husband and to my kids, even more so to my God. Sometimes out of Spirit-conviction, sometimes out of self-condemnation.

10. Realize my insufficiency. Daily I recognize that what I'm doing is beyond me. I must rely on the sufficiency of my Savior! I don't always, not every day in every situation, but when I do rest in His provision, I see His strength in my weakness!

What about you? What are your daily habits?

Spectacular Sins Book Club, Chapter 5

We are continuing our conversation on John Piper's book, Spectacular Sins and their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ. Our discussion moves to chapter 5, The Pride of Babel and the Praise of Christ. This week, Missy has provided the following questions for discussion. You can see others' responses over at Lisa's site.

1) What were the primary motivations of the people who endeavored to build the Tower of Babel?
Gen. 11:4, "...make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed..." Piper describes these as the "love of praise (so you crave to make a name for yourself) and the love of security (so you build a city and don't take the risks of filling the earth). (p. 67)

2) Why did God consider is a sin to live in a city?
Settling together, refusing to disperse, was in disobedience to the Lord's command to "fill the earth" in Gen. 9:1.

3) Of the five ways that Christ's glory is magnified by the spectacular sin of the Tower of Babel (pp 69-72) which one resonates with you the most, and why?
The "danger of human uniformity" is one I had not considered. Piper asserts that a "global, monolithic anti-Christian state would have the power to wipe out all Christians" and that Christians are thereby guarded by the diversity and languages and cultures, humans being "far too evil to be allowed to unite in one language or one government." (p. 70) Also, this diversity will serve to magnify Christ's power and glory to make disciples in every language. "His power is all the more glorious because it breaks into so many different languages and peoples and brings salvation." (p. 72) Glory to His name!

4) Can you provide an example of the way that the Gospel of Christ takes root in literally thousands of different cultures, despite language barriers, social mores, existing religious practices, etc.? What does this say about the "uniqueness" of Christianity?
I have friends planting a church in New England, others seeking to carry the gospel and train national believers in Puerto Rico, and just yesterday I attended a training session to learn to share the gospel as I counsel women in a crisis pregnancy situation. In each circumstance, the gospel is relevant and powerful because it speaks to the universal human condition: our depravity and desperation before a holy God. The gospel is unique because it alone offers life and hope, forgiveness and redemption. It is the power of Christ!

5) How are you also guilty of sin in the ways the Tower of Babel builders were? Where do you seek comfort apart from the Lord?
Sadly, yes. I love praise and I love security. Sometimes I seek security in the praise and approval of others, looking for comfort by being in control. I too refuse to disperse, preferring the safety and security of the familiar.

6) My husband often says that at the root of every sin is pride (and I have yet to be able to prove him wrong). Was this true in the case of these people? How can you confront and rebuke your own pride?
Pride is ultimately self-serving self-preoccupation that rebels against the authority of the Lord. The Lord is near to the humble, but the proud He knows from afar! Combating pride begins with acknowledging my desperation, agreeing with God about the wickedness of my pride. It is easy to attempt to justify, rationalize, blame or minimize the sin of my pride. However, the Bible is clear: the Lord hates pride and sets Himself against the proud. The Bible also says that those who humble themselves before Him, He will exalt. I must humble myself before Him, realizing who He is and who I am in comparison. Nothing overwhelms me with the knowledge of my sin and arrogance like a fresh vision of God's holiness and glory. As I allow my self will to be shattered and surrender to the authority of the Lord, I can rejoice in the love and mercy He pours out on the contrite.

Next week: The Sale of Joseph and the Son of God

On My Nightstand, February

It's time for the monthly reading round up over at 5 Minutes for Books! Participants post what they're reading or finishing up reading or hope to be reading this month. Here's my list:

JUST FINISHED READING
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Oui, oui! C'est finis! I blogged my Les Miz experience using Carrie's reader's diary format. I'll be posting soon as part of 5 Minutes for Books' Classics Bookclub!

CURRENTLY READING

Tuck by Stephen Lawhead

The third in the King Raven trilogy, the story of Robin Hood set in 11th century Wales. I read and loved the first two novels in the series: Hood and Scarlet. So far, I think Scarlet is the best of the three, but I have enjoyed them all. I'm almost done so be watching for my upcoming review at 5 Minutes for Books!



Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross, edited by Nancy Guthrie

Like her Christmas anthology, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, this is a compilation of writings on the cross by both classic and contemporary writers. Thus far I've read contributions from John Piper, CJ Mahaney, Martin Luther, Alistair Begg and others and I have been greatly encouraged as I meditate on the horror and the glory of the cross.





Spectacular Sins by John Piper

I'm participating in the bookclub by the same name hosted at Lisa's site! Click on the button on my sidebar for more information...





UP NEXT--for review
According to Their Deeds by Paul Robertson
Real Moms...Real Jesus: Meet the Friend Who Understands by Jill Savage
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption by Jennifer Thompson Cannino and Ronald Cotton
The Rivers Run Dry by Sibella Giorello

UP NEXT (maybe)--not necessarily for review, just titles I'm interested in reading for myself
Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity by Kerri Wyatt Kent
Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone by Elyse Fitzpatrick
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Tim Keller

I know, I know; it's an ambitious list, one I won't get halfway through before the next go 'round! But it's a peek at my reading stack which is, after all, the whole point of the carnival!

So, what are you reading? Let us know!

25 Random Things

Or, alternatively titled, "More Than You Could Ever Want to Know About Me and Then Some"

There's a current trend in the Facebook subculture whereby participants post a note of 25 random things about themselves and then tag 25 of their closest Facebook friends to do the same. Well, I've been tagged more times than I could keep up with, now finally joining in the fun. So much fun, in fact, that I decided to share the joy with all my faithful blog readers, those of you have certainly been curious about the randomness that is me (two or three of you, maybe?). Anyway, here goes...

1. I am a sinner saved by the glorious grace of a merciful God who made me alive in Christ even when I was dead in my sin. It is by grace I am saved, through faith, and not by anything I have done or will do! To the praise of the Lord Jesus Christ!

2. One of God's greatest blessings to me is my husband of nearly eighteen (18!) years. He is so good to me and loves me far more than I deserve.

3. I am the mom of four sons.

4. I secretly thought the last son would be a daughter. I cried when I found out otherwise.

5. Then I cried because I had cried.

6. I am, of course, exceedingly grateful for my youngest boy, as all my boys.

7. Parenting is the hardest thing I've ever done I'm still doing. Parenting teenagers, especially.

8. I am a terrible housekeeper.

9. I am terrible at nearly all the domestic arts.

10. When I was a girl I wanted to be an astronaut.

11. I also wanted to be a nurse. That is, until my mom had me salt and pepper some chicken breasts. I nearly threw up.

12. I also wanted to be a writer.

13. Sometimes I still do.

14. My passion is teaching women the joys of Christ found in the study of His Word.

15. I've been teaching and facilitating women's Bible studies for over ten years.

16. In the first Bible study class I facilitated, I was the youngest one in the room of 15-10 women. Talk about being intimidated!

17. My favorite color is black.

18. My favorite food is dark chocolate, followed closely by anything someone else cooks. See #9 above.

19. I also love coffee, black.

20. I drink way too much coffee.

21. I love to read, my favorite novel being Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I will not confess to you how many times I've read it (too many to count, actually).

22. When the Pride & Prejudice movie released in theaters, my husband took me on opening night. He was one of only two men in the sold out theater. See #2 above.

23. I've been in five wrecks where I was driving (I think). Only three were my fault.

24. I'm not a very good driver.

25. All this randomness proves one thing: I am but a common, ordinary wife and mother with a common, ordinary life. Really, my only aspiration is this: to love the Lord Jesus with everything in me, exalting Him as my greatest Treasure and fullest joy. May my simple life be summed up like this: For me, to live is Christ!

Words worth pondering

Jesus' journey to Jerusalem is our journey, and if he set his face to go there and die, we must set our face to die with him.

One might be tempted to reason in just the opposite way: that since Jesus suffered so much and died in our place, therefore, we are free to go straight to the head of the class, as it were, and skip all the exams. He suffered so we could have comfort. He died so we could live. He bore abuse so we could be esteemed. He gave up the treasures of heaven so we could lay up treasures on earth. He brought the kingdom and paid for our entrance, and now we live in it with all its earthly privileges. But all this is not biblical reasoning. It goes against the plain teaching in...Luke 9:23-24 [which] reads: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."

When Jesus set his face to walk the Calvary road, he was not merely taking our place; he was setting our pattern. He is substitute and pacesetter...We can save our life only if we follow Christ on the Calvary road.

~ John Piper, from Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross, edited by Nancy Guthrie

The Great Meltdown

It's Friday, which means Susanne is hosting her Friday Fave Five carnival at Living to Tell the Story. I'm thinking of introducing a new Friday carnival in keeping with my current emotional state; something like Friday's Whiny Woes. How do you think that would fly with the bloggy crowd? Such self pity is sure to garner many readers!

Not!

Never one to knock herself out to garner readers, I'll tell you up front: I'm whiny. I'm sad. I'm more-than-melancholy. In fact, I want to run away. Hide. Quit. Cry.

Or, all of the above.

I had a rotten night last night, a tug of war of wills with my youngest son, the second such encounter of the week. The Great Meltdown Revisited. My husband was out of town, so this battle I fought solo and like all such battles, it was not pretty. There was screaming (both of us), crying (mostly me) and outright defiance (not me).

I hate it. Hate it and hate myself because of it. This morning I am still reeling from the encounter--feeling empty, broken, ashamed and downright awful. I know, I know, he should obey. He was plainly warned that there are consequences to disobedience and I stood my ground in defense of those consequences (established during the The First Great Meltdown Monday), though I wanted desperately to give in out of sheer exhaustion from the war of the wills.

I stood my ground, I just didn't stand it well.

My youngest, to his credit and the only thing he did right last night, eventually hugged me and apologized of his own accord. That is, once he realized he had made me cry. (Note to self: play the crying card early) After he hugged me, he then asked if he could watch tv (which was the whole point of the argument to begin with--he is nothing if not stubbornly persistent).

We narrowly dodged another meltdown. Maybe he was as tired as I.

My kids are sinners, no doubt about it. Their mom is too, chief among them. I wish my kids had a better mom, one who doesn't lose it, one who never screams, one who could maintain her calm, one who speaks only what is edifying in an edifying tone of voice. I wish I knew what to say and what to do and how to parent with wisdom and grace. Sometimes I am overcome by my failures as a mom, by my inadequacies and my many mess ups. Sometimes I think to myself: I cannot do this another day, much less another decade and then some. The rest of my life, moms who are older and wiser tell me.

I'm worn out and weary, I stand condemned by my own failures. I do what I don't want to do--I scream and yell, I lose my temper, I fail to be the mom I ought. What I want to do, I don't. Is there freedom for moms like me? In my shame and my woe I remember Paul's question in Roman 7: Who will set me free?

Paul's answer: Christ alone.

In Christ I am set free. Free! No condemnation, but forgiveness. Redemption. Grace. Mercy. After a rotten night, I am humbled and grateful that His mercies are new every. single. morning. Every morning!

I am unworthy. I do not deserve His pardon. Didn't He see me last night? He did, and His Spirit does His good work of bringing conviction today. I confess. I repent. And I know His glorious mercy poured out anew on this humble mom.

To God be the glory.

Giving you a heads up: my review of All I Need Is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans has been posted over at 5 Minutes for Books and guess what? Author Susanna Foth Aughtmon has 3 (three!) copies of the book for us to give away! Leave a comment on the review post to enter!

And while you're there, you can check out some of my other recent reviews: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Worldliness by CJ Mahaney, just to name a couple. Go, pay us a visit and be sure to read the great reviews my colleagues have been posting as well...

In which I write of Spectacular Sins, tornadoes and tragedy

Lisa pulls no punches in this week's discussion of Spectacular Sins, Chapter 4. She asks us to address the following scenario:

You are in a coffee shop reading your Bible. A stranger sits beside you and
asks, "How can you believe in a God who allows terrorists to fly into towers or
children to starve and die?"

Interestingly enough, as I type this, tornado sirens are blaring (though I never can tell between the warning blares and the "all clear" blares). I have the tv on, the weatherman trying to mask his excitement as he describes wind shears and velocity echoes.

I just got up to take a quick glance at the tv where the weatherman warns me the rotation may arrive in my vicinity in 18 minutes.

Live blogging a tornado warning, what a gig.

Anyway, as I wait for the "rotation," I wonder how I would react should there really be a rotation and should it cut a swath through my neighborhood or, God forbid, my kids' schools. I am not one who gets nervous, though I do have my shoes on and plan to make a quick dive for the pantry under the stairs should I hear anything remotely resembling a train. I am not frightened but still I know that the possibility is there and I would be lying if I didn't say I was a little uneasy.

Now the thought occurs to me...those tornado sirens sound eerily similar to a train...will I know the difference?

Back to Lisa's question and my own stray thoughts. What if tragedy were to come? What would I say about my God? My faith? How could I believe in a God who permitted such tragedy? Or did He permit it? Does permitting it somehow violate His love? Can both be true: a God of love and a God who permits tragedy and evil and starvation and terrorism and cruelty and suffering?

What would I say to that? What would you?

Typing off the top of my head, what with the rotation heading my way and all, my first thought is this: our understanding of God's sovereignty is closely tied to our understanding of our depravity. Questions like "How can God allow a tsunami that kills tens of thousands of people?" presupposes that we deserve something, namely life. The thing is, we will die. Death is no respecter of persons and, until Jesus returns, the only question is how and when. God hasn't promised any one of us an easy passing (nor an easy living, for that matter).

So far, no rotation. Nor even a drop of rain, for that matter. Only intermittent sunshine, interestingly enough.

Continuing the stream of consciousness mode of blogging...what God has told us quite clearly in the Bible is that our sin condemns us. In our depravity, we deserve death--you, me, my kids. That we have breath for this day is only due to the grace of our sovereign God. Life is His gift.

So, why all the evil and tragedy in the world? Where is God in that? We can't ask the question thinking God somehow owes us something, that we have rights, that we are deserving of anything other than death. As Piper says, we are to "beware of bringing to the Bible assumptions that are not taught in the Bible. That is how God's Word is nullified." (p. 56)

Just got the "all clear," at least from the weatherman. Still unclear on the various siren signals.

So, again to quote Piper, "God sees to it that all things serve to glorify his Son. Whether he causes or permits, he does so with purpose." (p. 56) As difficult as it is, we

"do not make him what he is by thinking a certain way about him...we don't make
him. He makes us. We don't decide what he is going to be like.
He decides what we are going to be like. He created the universe, and it
has the meaning he gives it, not the meaning we give it. " (p. 57)

In other words, we must be careful in assuming God must ___ or ought to _____ because He is _____. All we know about Him we find in His Word; yes, that He is loving and kind and compassionate, but also that He permits calamities and persecutions. We must realize that His ways are beyond figuring out. As the created, we cannot fully understand the Creator.

What if destruction came today? What there had been a tornado and I was left with nothing but devastation? Could I say with Job, "The Lord gives, the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord"? These are hard truths, no doubt about it. Life is just plain hard. Struggles come. Tragedy happens. When faced with things that are difficult to understand, things we cannot know, our faith is strengthened as we cling to the things we can know. Truths like God's goodness and mercy. Things like He knows and He sees. That He has purpose and a plan. There are no surprises to Him.

We can believe and know that He is working all things in order to achieve our good and Christ's glory.

It's an inadequate metaphor, but I think of my oldest son when he was a little guy, maybe a year old, and he had a fascination with the road. He wanted to be out there in the great blue yonder that was our street. He could not understand the pain inflicted on his backside by his daddy each time he cruised that direction. But what he couldn't know was that his daddy had a purpose for the pain; namely, his protection. He only perceived the hurt. However, several years later my son was able to venture out on the street, to ride his bike, to go to a friend's house, to play a game of street football. There was a plan.

Even in the most difficult of circumstances and the most heartbreaking of pains, there is a plan. There is a purpose. God is good. He holds all things in His omnipotent, sovereign hand. Though I do not understand fully, it is enough. In this I rest.

Sun's out. All severe weather has blown over (literally). I will go pick my kids up from school, humbled and grateful that I have been spared yet another day.

Too late, I remember...

For Valentine's, my husband along with the husbands of three of my friends treated us girls to a trip to the nail salon. They each enjoyed the pampering of a pedicure, me a manicure. Though I could hear my mother's voice in my head telling me my nails were far too short for such a dark and dramatic color, I threw caution to the wind and had my nails painted a deep chocolate brown.

Oh yes, I felt very trendy indeed.

It's been probably ten years or more since I had my fingernails painted. So, I figured, why not take a walk on the wild side? And while I'm at it, why not deep and dramatic and trendy?

Years ago, I used to keep my nails perpetually painted, bright red being my color of choice. I guess all the children and all the diaper changing and all the hand washing rendered pretty nails a luxury I couldn't maintain. The care necessary for keeping nail polish chip free and shiny was more than I could do compared to the care necessary for keeping four children dirt free and healthy. While I once cleaned house with the requisite rubber gloves in order to protect my manicure, I am now satisfied with just getting the house clean. Every once and awhile.

So today, too late, I remember the requisite rubber gloves as I scrubbed my shower (Yes, I did finally clean the bathroom! You may post your congratulations in the comments!). Too late, and I have now ruined my Valentine manicure.

Oh well. It is as it should be. I knew deep, dark, and dramatic, yea even trendy, was beyond my abilities to maintain!

Monday Mish Mash

On my to do list for today:

* Finish cleaning out our closet
* Clean the bathroom
* Laundry (Question: Have I ever compiled a to do list without listing laundry? I'm thinking not.)
* A trip to the store

So far, I have sat in front of the computer catching up on the (literally) hundreds of blog posts backed up in my reader. And drinking coffee. Totally appropriate activities for "no school" days, don't you think?

To my credit, I did make out chore lists for the boys, lists which they have yet to complete or even begin. I wonder from whence they learned such procrastination?

Don't answer that.

I'm still reading Les Miserables, but I'm getting a little wearied just by the sheer length of it. My weariness isn't helped by the books I received lately, some of which I've been DYING to read!

This week's Spectacular Sins chapter? Lisa called it the "No Wimp Zone", an apt title! Watch for my post later; the main discussion post over at Lisa's has been delayed...

Hey, here's a question: We are halfway through Brokenness in our Bible study group, which means it's time to be thinking about what's next. Any recommendations? Ideally, our next study needs to be about 6-8 weeks long, we might can do 10--I'll have to check the calendar to be sure.

Yesterday my pastor preached on Jesus' miracle in feeding the 5,000. He told the story of the Lord's provision at a time when he was poor and without the resources to even pay his (cheap, in his words) rent. His passionate plea to trust the Lord as our Provider struck me as I realized that so often we seek the Lord's provision in regard to the things we want and take it for granted in regard to the things we need. We wonder and worry over whether He will provide a job we love, a calling that brings significance and success, or enough money to pay for the bigger house we want to buy. Food to eat and a roof over our head, we take these provisions for granted because we are so enamored with the stuff of this world.

Just this morning I read the psalmist's words, "I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." Our God provides! May our trust in His provision set us free from the idols of this world to love and treasure Christ above all things!

Friday's Favorites

It's Friday, which means it's time for Susanne's Friday Fave Five carnival! So, in no particular order, here are five of my favorite things from this week!

1. Podcasts. Due the wonder that is the internet and the equally great wonder that is the iPod, I can download and listen to some of the greatest preaching to be had! For free! Recently I have been downloading sermons from John Piper and Matt Chandler and listening to them as I walk (for exercise, believe it or not). I love it.

On a side note, I have the privilege of listening to some of the greatest preaching to be had each and every Sunday here at my church. For free! Perhaps one day my pastor's sermons will be available via podcast and you too can share the privilege!

2. Brooke Fraser's album Albertine. I just downloaded it yesterday, but so far I really, really like it. I have loved her song "Shadowfeet" so I was pretty sure I would like the album as well. Plus it was named Christianitytoday.com's album of the year last year!

3. Bible study. I think this made the list last time, but I can't help adding it again. I thought our time together this past Wednesday was especially good. Oh, the Lord is faithful!

4. Getting together with my girlfriends for an evening of good food and great fun, not to mention lots of laughter! We munched out on salads and oohed and aaahed over each other's wedding pictures. We also played a game involving toilet paper dress design (interesting, to say the least). That plus a word from the Word made for a great night out!

5. A (long overdue) trip to Target. For no other reason than I just want to go and I haven't been in over two months. And here I am speaking in future tense because I am preposting prior to my trip actually taking place. I love Target and any time I get to go is definitely deserves a spot in any top five list, before or after! Plus, I plan to hit Starbuck's conveniently located within the Target (why, of course!)--two favorites in one!

So, what about you? What's your favorite things of the week? Post them on your site and link up over at Susanne's where you can check out other fave's!

On Bible study

I have something of a reputation as a Bible teacher. Nope, it's not any amazing communication skills nor even well organized, thoroughly researched lessons. It is, in fact, little strips of paper.

Yes, with nearly every lesson I teach (or attempt to teach), I pass out little slips of paper with a Scripture reference on it for willing participants to read at various junctures in the lesson. This quirk of mine is so well established that when my friend taught her first night of Bible study, my first "spin off" class, she too had Scriptures on slips of paper, telling the class that "Lisa would be so proud!"

They laughed.

I am indeed.

Once, as I was passing out said pieces of paper, a friend teased me about it, saying something to the effect, "C'mon, Lisa, we believe you!" meaning, of course, that she trusted what I was saying to the class, therefore it was unneccessary to provide all the Biblical support for each and every point I made...

She probably doesn't even remember making the statement, and I know she was totally kidding me about being so fastidious (yes, I can totally take a joke!), but I've remembered it after all these years because 1) it is necessary and 2) you can't trust me in and of myself. My words on their own merit are meaningless and prone to error: serious, flesh inspired, sin contaminated error.

The Word of the Lord, in direct contrast, is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword (Heb. 4:12). His Words grant life and produce faith; mine can kill and destroy far more easily than they can edify and encourage. No wonder James warns of a greater judgment on those called to teach (James 3:1); it is imperative we guard our words, humbly pleading with the Spirit to speak through us (Matt. 10:19-20).

A couple of weeks ago someone asked me, "So, how did the Bible study go today...I mean, the book study?" Though his question is technically correct, as we are in fact using a book to facilitate our study--the book Brokenness by Nancy Leigh Demoss--still his qualification rankled somewhat. It is important and necessary to me to study the Bible.

While I owe a huge debt to the many Bible teachers and authors whose studies have greatly contributed to my sanctification, I see a subtle danger in our current Christian culture--with its plethora of Bible studies and tools and numerous other resources--to find ourselves studying the study rather than studying the Bible. Or, worse yet, being enamored with the Bible teacher over and above the Word he/she teaches, which seems to be particularly tempting given the many video studies currently available, what with their professional production quality and gifted communicators. Do not hear me say it is the fault of the authors, the production team or the video teacher. It is within us, in our flesh, to exchange the truth of God's word for the lesser. And it is precisely because of this tendency within me that I am so careful.

So, as I facilitate our study, I will pass out my slips of paper and I will do all I can to point us to the study of God's Word. I will listen to Nancy Leigh Demoss's wise instruction but I will hold it up to the Truth of Scripture. I will seek after the one thing of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord as I study. I will ask the Lord to grant me a greater hunger for His Word, that it will become as necessary to me as food and water and more precious to than thousands of pieces of gold and silver (Ps. 119:72). May He open our eyes so we may see wonderful things in His Word!

This post brought to you by the letter "L"

It's the alphabet game, blogging version. Here's the rules: If you want to play, leave a comment on this post letting me know and I’ll assign you a letter. You write about ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter, and post it at your place. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain will continue.

So, my blog friend Laura at Three Times a Mom posted on the letter "M," to which I commented so she assigned me the letter "L" (perhaps a reference to Lisa and Laura?). So, in no particular order, is a non-exhaustive list of ten "L's" I love...

1. The Lord. Just today I have been studying Luke 7:36-50, which relates the incident of the sinful woman who anoints Jesus' feet. Jesus says that she has been forgiven much, therefore she loves much. I, too have been forgiven much (much!) and I too long to love the Lord Jesus with the same kind of abandon and sacrifice. I love Him, because He first loved me.

2. My Love. My man. My husband. We've been together a lot of years, but I love him more today than ever. He loves me too, though I'm certain it's no easy task at times!

3. Lo-mein. Especially the combo dish at PF Chang's. Yum.

4. Laughter. Mine, my children's, my husband's. Truly, joy-full laughter is one of God's great gifts to us!

5. Lamentations 3:21-26. Some of my favorite promises of God...

But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

6. Linguini with grilled chicken and vegetables at my favorite local Greek/Italian/pizza restaurant.

7. LOST. Yes, I'm a LOST-ie. Totally addicted, all the while totally confused!

8. Lizzy, as in Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice, my most favorite novel of all time, making her my favorite heroine of all time!

9. Les Miserables. As you know, I'm working my way through this (very L O N G) classic. I'm over 100 pages in and so far I'm liking it!

10. Laundry. You may be surprised to see laundry in my top ten "L" list of things I love and, you're right, I don't love it, not really. But I don't mind it too much; something about folding clothes appeals to my love for all things methodical. Yes, I really am that weird!

Thanks, Laura, for blog filler for another day the opportunity to play! So, anyone else want to play along? Let me know in the comments!

Spectacular Sins Book Club, Chapter 3

So the Spectacular Sins Book Club continues this week with our discussion on Chapter 3, "The Fall of Satan and the Victory of Christ: Why Does God Permit Satan to Live?" You can tell from the title alone that this chapter contains some weighty truth! This week, Missy posted questions over at Lisa's site to prompt our conversation:

1. On page 40 Piper tells us that the name Satan means "accuser." Do you ever feel accused? I know I do. Sometimes I lie in bed at night and obsess over all the ways I have failed throughout the day, or I relive all the sins of my past. Turn in your bibles (or click here) to read Romans 8:1-2. What does this verse say? If this is true, from whom are all those accusations of failure? What then should we do when our thoughts go there? What is the difference between condemnation of our sin by the Evil One and conviction of our sin by the Holy Spirit?

I often feel crushed under the weight of the enemy's accusations, be it all I didn't do and should've done, or all I did and shouldn't. Rom. 8:1 is the glorious promise of no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because the Spirit has set us free! Nothing I have done can be held against me because Jesus has paid the penalty! I am justified, declared not guilty and righteous, because of His glorious, amazing grace. I often mistake conviction for condemnation, yet conviction is the Lord's kindness to me! The Holy Spirit will do His good work of exposing my sin and I can trust that as I confess and repent, He is faithful and just to forgive; what grace!

2. How does God allowing Satan to live bring glory to Christ?

To quote Piper, "The Son of God, Jesus Christ, will be more highly honored and more deeply appreciated and loved in the end because he defeats Satan not the moment after Satan fell, but through millenia of long-suffering, patience, humility, servanthood, suffering, and decisively through his own death. A single, sudden, and infinitely holy display of power to destroy Satan immediately after his fall would have been a glorious display of power and righteousness. But it would not have been the fullest possible display of all the glories in the Son and the Father."

He goes on to say, "Satan, and all his pain, serves in the end to magnify the power and wisdom and love and grace and mercy and patience and wrath of Jesus Christ. We would not know Christ in the fullness of his glory if he had no defeated Satan in the way that he did." (page 49)

3. Read the 'Eight Things to Do with Evil" and "Four Things to Never Do with Evil" lists on pages 50-51. Which of these do you have the most problem with?

"Give thanks for the refining effect of evil that comes against you." Give thanks? For evil? For suffering? This is counter to my preference for ease and comfort and absence of conflict. But the Word is clear that we are to rejoice in our sufferings, particularly those sufferings that come to us from those who are opposed to us, knowing that suffering produces the good work of endurance in our lives. It is through suffering that Christ because all the more precious to us!

4. Recall Piper's introduction, specifically pages 13-16 when he speaks of persecution of the Church. Since December I have been praying for Martha Samuel Makkar. She is an Egyptian sister in Christ who converted from Islam, and has faced persecution ever since. In December, she was arrested at the airport when she tried to emigrate to Russia. Martha was placed in prison, tortured, raped, and her two and four year old sons were denied food in an attempt to cause her to renounce Christ. She was recently released on bail and is awaiting trial. You can read her story here and here (and please join me in praying!)How might the truths Piper has conveyed in this chapter regarding evil - the "weighty doctrine" - bring comfort to Martha and her family while she undergoes persecution for Christ?

Surely knowing there is a plan and purpose, as inscrutable as they may be, brings comfort and strength to those suffering for the cause of Christ. I cannot fathom being persecuted for the sake of the gospel (and am correspondingly ashamed of my whining and complaining), but I can't help but think of the early church that rejoiced that they were counted "worthy" to suffer for Christ. I pray that Martha and other persecuted believers will stand firm in the faith, knowing that these trials are achieving a greater weight of glory. He is worth it! May we trust Him, knowing that our enemy is already defeated and one glorious day we will know our victory in full!

What do you think? Head over to Lisa's to see what everyone else is saying! Tune in next week as we talk over "The Fatal Disobedience of Adam and the Triumphant Obedience of Christ: How Adam's Sin Serves the Supremacy of Christ."

Monday, Monday

I always have grand aspirations for all that I will do and accomplish on a Monday. My to do list on any given Monday is a lofty one, indeed.

It is 5 minutes until noon, Monday morning, and to this point I have only crossed two items off my (lofty) list.

Facebook is a real distraction when it comes to doing and accomplishing on a Monday.

Most Mondays, I am thankful for the opportunity to drop my Monday-morning-grump of a child off at school. Public education does indeed have its merits!

I'm kidding.

Sort of.

Remaining on my (lofty) to do list: making a grocery list (yuck), going to the grocery (double yuck), cleaning out the fridge (triple yuck) and posting on Chapter 3 of Spectacular Sins (no yuck whatsoever, just requiring much deep thought--watch for it later today).

Think I'll get all that done in the next couple hours?

Told you my Monday plans are often lofty.

Especially when I forget the Facebook factor.

Also on my (lofty) to do list: making out a chore chart for the boys. Sports are over for awhile, we are home every afternoon and evening, so it's time to crack the whip.

Tomorrow.

In other news, Amy linked to this post on church plants at Stuff Christians Like (a post which isn't as funny as some that I've read over at SCL, which exists to poke fun at Christian indiosyncrasies with a great deal of sarcasm and humor). I did laugh however, when I read the following advice for church plants:

Do splurge for a professional looking sign if you meet in someone’s home every
week. Something like "We are not a Cult" would be a good option.

Yes, and amen. If you only knew!

Happy Monday!

The only measure worth measuring

Some of you know this about me, but I have a degree in math. Yes, that's right. A Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and no, I have no idea what I intend(ed) to do with it. It is what it is and I confess such to you knowing that my nerd status is now henceforth and forever established. No doubt about it.

Anyway, one thing I love about math, particularly the math where there are equations and numbers and answers as opposed to higher level math which is nothing but Greek letters and proofs and such, one thing I love is that it's concrete. There's a process. There's an answer, a single answer. It's black and white. Provable. Reasonable. Measurable.

I love what can be measured and reasoned and thus evaluated. I love figuring things out. The funny thing is, so does my husband and my boys, my oldest two especially. We will have some of the nerdiest conversations you can imagine in which we try to figure out such conundrums as "If 1/4 cup of powder makes one gallon of electrolyte drink, how much powder does it take for a 24 ounce water bottle." Really. We do that. A family of nerds, that's what we are, and we wear the label proudly.

But sometimes my love for quantitative measures has more personal ramifications. Take for example Facebook. There the number of friends one has, a quantitative measure, is easily compared to another's, conveniently inviting a "<" or ">" or "=" equation. In case you're wondering, my friend count is generally on the left side of the "<" .

There are any number of measures we use to evaluate our worth and determine our significance. Our weight. Our income. Our sitemeter stats. Or take, for instance, the handy dandy "Blog follower" tool. Convenient, yes. Interesting to see who reads what, absolutely. A measure of popularity, perhaps. True confession: sometimes when I click on so-and-so's blog and happen to note that a gazillion or so readers follow so-and-so's blogworthy thoughts, I can't help but sigh. See, I have, well, slightly significantly less than a gazillion followers. (The few! The proud!)

Because I love a black and white, concrete measure, it is easy for me to conclude, for example, that because so and so has "x" number of women coming to her Bible study and I have "y" then she has the Lord's favor. Or maybe she is the better, more gifted Bible teacher. I'm talking just as an example, hypothetically speaking of course.

Okay, sometimes I really am that insecure.

It's the insecure heart that frantically looks to her left and her right to see where she measures up. Or where she doesn't. Listen, there will always be someone thinner, someone with more facebook friends, someone who's a better teacher, someone with the bigger house and someone with more obedient children. Comparing ourselves will never answer our gaping self esteem issues. Instead, comparison only invites discontent which will invite further comparison which brings greater discontent.

Let's break out of the cycle. I'm not called to look like her, whoever she is. And neither are you. Our call is this: to serve the Lord Jesus, to exalt Him, to remember the grace He pours out on us just because He loves us, to affirm our unworthiness as we proclaim that while we were yet sinners Christ died so that we might live!

After all, the only measure worth measuring is immeasurable, that is, the "immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved..." (Eph. 2:7-8)

Status Report, February

Sitting...at my dining room table, though I'm considering moving into the den so I can sit on the sofa in front of the electric heater.

Eating...Hershey's Special Dark nuggets with almonds. Can't stop.

Drawing a blank...on what to cook this week. I need to go to the store but I can't think of anything to have for supper this week. This I do not understand. I mean, I've been cooking (such as it is) for nearly two decades. How is it so hard to come up with a week's menu?

Hoping...my friend Amy will come to my rescue in the coming weeks. She's started a cooking / recipe blog here. Go, check it out and tell her hey!

Refusing...to teach my son to drive. Yes, my oldest son turned fifteen this weekend and as of yesterday, is the proud owner of the much desired learner's permit. I will not ride with him, I've declared, for at least six months. I figured I taught him to dress himself, bathe himself and take care of business in the bathroom. His daddy can teach him to drive. Note to local readers: you've been forewarned. Conduct yourselves accordingly.

Amazed...that I have a fifteen year old son. Where does the time go?

Eager...to get my hair cut tomorrow. I'm in desperate need. Desperate, I tell you.

Wondering...what we will do with ourselves now that basketball is essentially over. My youngest son has a few more games but after that we're done. So far we have no spring sports commitments. Home every night? What luxury! How will we function? What does one do with so much time?

About to begin reading...Les Miserables. Never read it, never seen the musical. Know nothing about it but that it's LONG and it's French. I got the abridged version which, though abridged, weighs in at a whopping 829 pages! Can I do it? I hope so!

Loving...little surprises in the mail from my blog friends. One such friend, Linda at Mocha With, shot me an email a week or so ago telling me she was sending me a book, the title of which made her immediately think of me! I was intrigued and couldn't wait to see what inspired her. When I received her package, I laughed! The book? Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo!
Isn't that fun? And it was--a fun, light read! I really enjoyed it. Thanks, Linda!

Pondering...brokenness as I prepare for Bible study tomorrow. Thinking specifically of James 4:8-10 and agreeing with Nancy Leigh Demoss in her assertion that this is a message we are not eager to hear. As she states, "most of us don't walk into a Christian bookstore and say, 'Can you help me find a book on how to mourn and weep?' We want to know how to be happy and whol, how to improve our self esteem, how to feel better about ourselves." But God's Word is clear that we must humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift us up. The hard part of humility is that it is often humiliating. But in humility we discover the greater portion of His presence and His power. It's not fun, but it's worth it...

Procrastinating...no more. I will make a grocery list and I will go to the grocery store. Now. Or at least soon. Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Spectacular Sins, Better Late Than Never

I'm a little late to the party. The Spectacular Sins Book Club party, that is, hosted by my good friend Lisa The Preacher's Wife and her good friend Missy of It's Almost Naptime! I say I'm late because this is technically the third week but Lisa and Missy are kind enough to let me crash the fun and, let me tell you, I'm so glad I did.

In fact, it's not too late for you to crash in as well. What we're doing is reading one chapter a week of John Piper's book Spectacular Sins: And Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ
and discussing over at Lisa's site. A whole chapter may sound intimidating but let me assure you that they are short. The whole book, an introduction plus eight chapters, is only a little over one hundred pages long. You do the math. I won't say it's easy reading but it's not long reading! :-)

Need more convincing? Go here and read the entire introduction and I dare you to not be intrigued. Here's just a small excerpt to whet your appetite:

The coddled Western world will sooner or later give way to great affliction. And when it does, whose vision of God will hold? Where are Christians being prepared for great global sorrows? Where is the Christian mind and soul being prepared for the horrors to come? Christians in the West are weakened by wimpy worldviews. And wimpy worldviews make wimpy Christians. God is weightless in our lives. He is not terrifyingly magnificent. His sovereignty is secondary (at best) to his sensitivity.

In the first chapter, Piper outlines the impulses that gave rise to the writing of the book:

1. Why does God tell us about his sovereignty over sin?
2. Why does God not restrain sin more often?
3. How can we have faith and joy during the severity of the last days?
4. How is Christ glorified in a world of sin?

Deep stuff. Heavy stuff. The deep, heavy stuff of deep, heavy theology, the likes of which many of us haven't given much thought. In chapter 2, the meat of the discussion for this week, Piper makes the statement that "the main point of this book is not information for your heads, but application to your lives." Understanding God's sovereignty is not merely an intellectual exercise meant for seminaries and pastors; it is intended to make a real and profound difference in the lives of everyday, ordinary believers. Like you and like me.

So, get a copy and jump in the deep end of the pool! I think, like me, you'll be glad you did.

Okay, enough campaigning. Down to business. Lisa has posted a few questions to prompt interaction and discussion which I'll post and answer here...

1. I loved your quotes so much from the first session I'm going to ask you to share your favorite from this chapter!

"Paul's antidote for wimpy Christians is weighty doctrine. In Paul's mind, the most massive truths are meant for producing radical lives of obedience. That's why I say the main point of this books is not information for your head, but application to your life. There is truth. Weighty truth like the kind Paul unveiled for Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:9. But the aim is love and justice and purity and compassion and courage. All to the end that Christ might be known and treasured as infinitely beautiful and immeasurably valuable. Great biblical truths are fuel in the fire of the God-centered soul." (p. 36)

2. Re-read Colossians 1:15-16. Piper makes special mention that of all the things Paul could list that were made by, through, and for Christ, that he specifically mentions evil powers. In answering why Paul did this, Piper pulls an example from 2 Timothy 1:8 to show how he used weighty doctrine to address Timothy's practical issues of anxiety and fear that threatened the effect of his ministry. Considering Paul thought the 'heavy' things of God would help Timothy deal with everyday matters, how does knowing God created beings that He knew would turn from good to evil translate to your everyday life? (Use paragraphs 2 and 3 of page 36 to help form your thoughts.)

It grants perspective. It builds faith. If I am convinced that all things--ALL things--work together according to the will and purpose of a sovereign God, even evil things and hurtful things and tragic things, then I can trust Him. I can rejoice in trials, knowing that the difficulty comes with the ultimate purpose of my good and God's glory. As I quoted above, the truth of God's sovereignty is meant to make a difference in my life; love and justice and purity and compassion and courage, as Piper enumerated. I need not fear. I need not worry. He has poured out His grace on my behalf, before the ages began!

3. Five summary statements are given on p. 37 as to why God wants us to know the truth of Christ's sovereignty over 'rulers and authorities' and the way they are involved in the most spectacular sins of the universe. Which one is most meaningful to you? Does it comfort you? Give you courage against the evil that we know has been disarmed by Christ?

The danger of "high sounding heresies" is certainly relevant to our current culture. Piper's reminder that the truth of God's sovereignty will protect us from philosophies that do not cherish the supremacy of Christ prompts me to delve ever deeper into the truths of this little book! And for this truth to make me valiant even when I feel small and vulnerable--yes, it grants me courage! Increase my faith, Lord!

4. Okay, this question is more of an assignment. Look at the previous commenter's answers and respond to one of her(his?) insights. If you are the first commenter, you can refer to this original post. Let's get some discussion going! :)

A Stone Gatherer posted the following in her comment: "We look to give glory to God in the big things so people can see who I trust is in, but never in the mundane! Hummm... All aspects of our life should bring Him glory!" This is a constant struggle for me--remembering that everything I do, the big, the little, all are opportunities to give Him glory. I so often succumb to the lie that He is only glorified in the dramatic or the obvious. Sometimes it is more difficult to give Him glory as I put on the hundredth load of laundry for the day (okay, the week). May all I do be done in His name and for His glory!

Head over to Lisa's and see what others have to say!