A Little Something on God's Sovereignty

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:10-11

Today I find comfort by remembering that God's mighty hand is the one which will bring forth all of the details that he has mapped out for my life. It's easy to become discouraged when we have certan ideas that don't work out. But we can rest that no matter what, whatever it is that GOD plans, it will be accomplished. Thankful for peace and rest in the sovereignty of our Creator.

The Rainbow in the Clouds

The rainbow appears when we have most reason to fear the rain prevailing; God then shows this seal of the promise, that it shall not prevail. The thicker the cloud, the brighter the bow in the cloud. Thus, as threatening afflictions abound, encouraging consolations much more abound. The rainbow is the reflection of the beams of the sun shining upon or through the drops of rain: all the glory of the seals of the covenant are derived from Christ, the Sun of righteousness. And he will shed a glory on the tears of his saints.*

Yesterday evening while in Winamac (celebrating Alicia's completion of high school!), a huge storm came through.  Several of us stood outside watching the storm brew and standing in the midst of it while it greeted us with its powerful presence.  To experience things like this is a marvelous reminder of the power of God. 

I saw a miraculous thing yesterday. It may mean little to my readers but to me it was momentous.  I have been praying for a rainbow for some time.  I have experienced a few since, and although they are all beautiful, I've never seen anything like this one in my life.  I want to record this and share some photos. 

I'm so thankful to serve and know the God of all creation, who creates such beautiful things and blesses us by allowing us to experience his beauty through them. 

*Excerpt from commentary by Matthew Henry on Genesis 9:8-17.

Do All in Jesus' Name

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:28

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." Colossians 3:23

These verses (along with the rest of the teaching in chapter 3) have been continually brought to surface in my life lately. It is so easy for us to do deceive ourselves into thinking that things we say or do are for God but ultimately what it boils down to is our selfish pride. We attain goals or say things to "build others up" but it's often resulting from our own motiviation to receive something for ourselves - not for the sake of Christ.

This may seem like a simple point on the surface.  Have you been able to unerringly apply this truth to your life?  I know I most certainly am not able to do it on my own - nor do I claim to have come even close.  Only through the power of the Spirit of God may we even come close to reaching this goal.

I don't bring this to you (nor do I usually bring anything that I share here), assuming it is something new or greater than anything else anyone else has said.  No, I hope I never reach that point in my walk as pride is our greatest enemy.  I share this to encourage others.  To point others to Christ.  And I hope if I am ever wrong or if others wish to share with me on my blog (or anywhere else for that matter), that they would speak up.

The Greatest Act of Mercy

"He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities."

I listened to this this morning. I found myself extremely humbled as I heard in intricate detail the pains and agony that Christ went through in his final hours, bearing the sin that I so selfishly commit against him every day of my life, so that I may be forgiven. I'm so thankful today for the grace that I do not deserve on my own, but through Christ I am granted, because of the selfless life and act of sacrifice and love that he poured out for all of us, so that our cups may truly overflow.
"He drinks for hours. He downs every drop of the scalding liquid of God's own hatred of sin, mingled with his white hot wrath against that sin. This is the Father's cup. Omnipotent hatred and anger for the sins of every generation past present and future. Omnipotent wrath directed at one naked man hanging on a cross. The father can no longer look at his beloved Son. His heart's treasure, the mere image of Himself; and he looks away. Jesus pushes himself upward and howls to heaven, "My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?" Silence. Separation. Jesus whispers, "I'm thirsty." And he sags. The merciful centurion soaks a spnoge in sour wine and lifts it on a reed to Jesus' lips, and the sour wine is the sweetest drink he ever tasted. Jesus pushed himself up again and he cries, "It is finished!" And it is. Every sin of every child of God has been laid on Jesus and he drank the cup of God's wrath dry.... "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And he dies." (Quoted from audio)

The picture painted here is a breathtaking representation of true love and sacrifice.

So here's what I heard: The Father's Cup: A Crucifixion Narrative


"Thank you, Jesus, for loving us so much that you gave your life so that your children may be forever freed from the grips of eternal sin and death. Thank you for the forgivneess of sins that we now have as a result of the pains you bore on the cross. Please grant us grace to be more like you - to love selflessly and to truly desire to turn from our wicked sin. We know that each time we sin, it pains you deeply. Please help us to love you so much and hate our sin so much that we desperately want to please you, living every moment and taking captive every thought and action for you. Please help us through the power of your holy spirit to be strengthened with all power, according to Your glorious might. Amen."

Make It A Matter of Prayer

When you are weary in body and soul

Cumbered with many a care

When work is claiming its strength-taking toll

Make it a matter of prayer.

And when you're discouraged, distraught or dismayed

Sinking almost in despair

Remember there's One who will come to your aid,

If you'll make it a matter of prayer.

And when you are lost in this world's tangled maze

When life seems a hopeless affair

Direction will come for all of your ways

If you'll make it a matter of prayer.

- Unknown -

Hearing the Voice of God!

In the below article, John Piper explains how he heard the voice of God one morning in 2007. He talks about how he knew what he heard was clearly the words of God and how he will never forget those words and the details about which they came to him.

Can you imagine?! Hearing words directly out of the mouth of God, the creater of all of the world?! The One in charge of EVERYTHING who holds your entire life and all of the rest of the universe in the palm of his almighty hand?! Speaking to you?!

You can!! Pray. Open your bible. Read. His words are throughout all of the pages! :)

The Morning I Heard the Voice of God by John Piper

Our Aim

"You who see my soul within,
You who know my unknown sin,
Through your holy eyes let me
Learn what sin is unto Thee.

Make me, Pure One, as you art,
Pure in mind and soul and heart;
Never satisfied with less
Than your perfect holiness."

The Joys (and Not-So-Joys) of The Beginning Stages of Homeschooling

I've been mulling over many thoughts and ideas about exactly which approach I want to take with Ava (not that I'm planning to pick one set approach and cling to that alone and nothing more or less). I have planned to and continue to plan to educate her clasically, but even with that there are still so many options and ideas. From curriculum choices (Do I choose just one? Do I take some of this and some of that? Do I even bother with one?) to how to know when she is ready for which level, subject, etc., to which books to choose to how often we do everything... It might be an understatement to say that I am quite overwhelmed.

My natural inclination is to want to sort everything out and have it all organized and planned out so I know exactly what I am doing before I do it; however, I have come to a couple realizations regaring this: 1. It might take me a lifetime to gain all of the knowledge I would want myself to have before beginning (sometimes I set unrealistic goals for myself) and 2. I cannot let her sit idly while I try to figure all of this out. 3. REST in the Lord, Courtney! God is the pilot of our ships and he will not lead me astray. Give it to HIM! *Sigh of relief*

As a result of these realizations, over the past few days we have been inching our way into a (very casual) routine of daily exercises for Ava. Today we did shape tracing and I was so surprised at how well she did!

The first three shapes of each row (excluding the heart) were traced jointly with me guiding her hand (you can see at the bottom of the triangle how she got excited and was ready to start on her own, thus the slippage of the line :) ). The rest she did by herself after she said, "Watch me, Mom!" She then wanted to draw a heart for her Mamae so I made that possible for her.

I am loving this!!! Teaching and watching my daughter learn brings so much joy to me!! I wonder how much more joy does it bring to our Heavenly Father when he watches us act out His plans four our lives and obey and find comfort and rest and peace and joy in Him!?

P.S. Don't judge my title. James 1:2

Obedience

"So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran." Genesis 12:4

Throughout Abraham's life we saw many examples of what obedience should look like. Abram's obedience was driven by faith. He did not know where he was going. He didn't ask any questions. He didn't have to know all of the details - exactly how it would turn out, what (if anything) he might lose on the way. He didn't wrestle with God before moving. He cut his ties, and moved.

So often I hear God telling me to do something and I hesitate. I want to make sure the waters are going to part before I step foot in.

Oh, Lord! Please give us all the faith of our forefather. Please help us to trust you with every step you guide us to take, without question and without trying to step in as though our hand is somehow bigger than yours. Thank you that we can rest in your sovereign will to guide us to where you know is best.

The Throne of Grace

The throne of grace is for the needy!

Whatever your burden is, give it to God. From a mild affliction to a heavy burden - there is no better remedy than to cast it at the feet of our mighty God! Sometimes we want to dwell on it, or face it on our own, to prove to ourselves our own might or to "strengthen" ourselves against whatever it is that we are weighed down by. But that does us no good but instead usually ends up causing further destruction. Instead...

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

When we give our burdens to God and submit our wills to Him, it is the very essence of sanctification. Each time we face trials and temptations, we must look at it as a blessing for if it turns us to Him in prayer we are filled with the grace and mercy our soul needs. Our needs are thus met with blessings.

The throne of grace is for the needy!

Our Master's Works

"All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created." John 1:3

We like to look at a beautiful piece of workmanship, and remember that some beloved friend of ours fashioned it. This makes it more precious and sacred.

Some orphan children had been received into an institution, and were exchanging their old garments for new ones. One poor boy was seen picking up the wretched cap he had been wearing, and tearing out of it a piece of faded silk that had been sewed into it. He was asked why he wanted to keep the patch; and he said, his eyes full of tears, that his mother had sewed it into his old cap with her thin frail fingers when she was on her death-bed, and he wanted to keep it in remembrance of her.

Men prize old paintings, and pay large prices for them, because they were painted by some famous master. All the works of nature would be sacred to us—if we but remembered that our Savior made them. The sweet flowers in the field would be all the sweeter—if we only thought as we look upon them, "The hands of Christ painted these!"

Let Nothing Be Wasted!

"Gather the fragments that are left over. Let nothing be wasted!" John 6:12

It seems remarkable, that He who so easily could multiply the five loaves into an abundant meal for thousands, should be so particular about 'saving the fragments'. But Jesus would teach us economy. No matter how great our abundance, we should take care of the 'fragments'. After we have eaten at our tables, there are hungry people who would be glad for the pieces that are left over.

This applies also to the fragments of time. Many busy people waste whole years of time in their life—in the minutes which they lose every day! If at the end of a year they could gather up all these 'fragments', they would have many basketfuls of golden time in which they might do much good!

Likewise, we should not waste our strength. Many people waste their bodily energy, using it in play, or useless amusements, when it belongs to God—and ought to be employed to its last particle for His glory!

Likewise, we should not waste our affections by allowing them to be given to unworthy objects or people.

There is no limit to the application of this principle. We must give account of everything we have, even the minutes of time, the little fractions of strength, and the smallest bits of bread on our tables!

"Gather the fragments that are left over. Let nothing be wasted!" John 6:12


(By J. R. Miller, "Miller's Year Book—a Year's Daily Readings")
Source: http://www.gracegems.org