Christmas

I already know that this year will afford me a spiritual renewal. I know it because my sinful heart has been at the root of all my struggles.

Thankful for the struggle because it reminds me there is much worth struggling for, I press on toward the prize. The prize is Jesus and His Rest. 

Before I can realize spiritual renewal I must recognize my grumbling--the trespass of my wicked heart. In its place goes repentance and reconciliation. 

New beginning. All is peace. No more struggle. 

God bless!

Letter to Elijah

Dear Elijah,

I labored for a little over an hour before you were born. That was on Wednesday, August 13, 2014. As thankful as I am for that amazing gift, I am even more thankful for the chance to witness God's mercy and grace through my entire pregnancy. 

Children are a blessing and an inheritance from the Lord as He has chosen to bless us through our posterity. God changes a life when He opens the womb. The miracle of life itself is difficult to contemplate, but even more so is the change that occurs in a parent's heart. 

You changed my heart while I awaited your arrival. I had spent much time feeling isolated and alone, but during those two days I waited on labor to progress, bonds were created, communication was facilitated, lives benefitted. And after you were here with us, we all rejoiced. 

Praise God for you, my little son. May you enjoy the treasures He has in store for you! His grace be with you--you are never alone. 

Love,

Mom

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."  (James 1:17)

Come Clean

The fleshy baggage of our hearts will destroy us faster than anything else. What is it? How does it get there? In short, we're born with fat hearts, and only the Redeemer can perform the necessary surgery needed to make us clean and healthy.

A moment's reflection demands the realization that anything we accomplish on our own without complete surrender fattens our hearts the more. An absolute hands down "I give up" approach is all it takes to give the Master His carving tool. Consider the botch job we make of ourselves. At best, we barely survive the nasty infection which results from our work. The fat remains and grows. At worst, we die--completely caught up in our own abilities we are separated from the only One who saves lives. 

Meditate on the the Word of God. Jesus had to die. Our understanding that His blood was "completely necessary for me lest I die" is the only way He can accomplish His work in us. This is the message that must be shared with others! And understanding, of even greater necessity, that the resurrection is the finished work of Christ, allows us to embrace the life we're given when God circumcises our hearts. 

"...What does the Lord require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him...The Lord has set his heart in love on...you above all peoples...Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn." Deuteronomy 10:12-16

What Pleases God? (A case study)

1 Corinthians 10 recounts the mistakes that the Israelites made in the wilderness. This immense crowd makes a good case study in "Dumb Choices People Make." Verses 1-4 explain the background of our case study: 100% of the people were under the guidance and protection of the Lord. They followed God in the pillar of cloud and saw his mighty hand at the parting of the Red Sea. They were all given the same spiritual opportunities as the magnificence of Christ was with them.

When the results come in, our findings are inconsistent with what we would expect. Wouldn't those who were given such opportunity have amazing outcomes? But no, we instead read "Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased..."(v. 5) And they died there in the wilderness, never to partake of the promises to come. 

We must then consider the findings of this study and apply them to our hearts. "Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved."(v. 6) From the Israelites' mistakes we learn to avoid idolatry, immorality, testing the Lord, and grumbling. But Paul urges us not to be prideful in our avoidance of such for, like the Israelites, we are all subject to temptation. God is pleased when we trust Him and His ability to provide an escape for us from ensnaring evils.

"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12