"…to be a joyful mother of children." ~ Ps 113:9

Thanks to Beka for sharing this great video!  It’s forty minutes that will make you feel really small (but in a good way).

Filed under: Bible on May 15th, 2011 | Comments Off

“…the New Testament view of the cross involves more than is sometimes realized.  That the apostolic writers present the death of Christ as the ground and warrant of God’s offer of forgiveness, and that men enter into forgiveness through repentence and faith in Christ, will not be disputed.

But does this mean that, as a loaded gun is only potentially explosive, and an act of pulling the trigger is needed to make it go off, so Christ’s death achieved only a possibility of salvation, needing an exercise of faith on man’s part to trigger it off and make it actual?  If so, then it is not strictly Christ’s death that saves us at all, any more than it is loading the gun that makes it fire; strictly speaking, we save ourselves by our faith, and for all we know, Christ’s death might not have saved anyone, since it might have been the case that nobody believed the gospel.

But that is not how the New Testament sees it.  The New Testament view is that the death of Christ has actually saved ‘us all’ – all, that is to say, whom God foreknew, and has called and justified, and will in due course glorify.  For our faith, which from man’s point of view is the means of salvation, is from God’s point of view part of salvation, and is as directly and completely God’s gift to us as is the pardon and peace of which faith lays hold.  Psychologically, faith is our own act, but the theological truth about it is that it is God’s work in us: both our faith, and our new relationship with God as believers, and all the divine gifts that are enjoyed within this relationship, were alike secured for us by Jesus’s death on the cross.  For the cross was not an isolated event; it was, rather, the focal point in God’s eternal plan to save His elect, and it ensured and guaranteed first the calling (i.e., the bringing to faith, through the gospel in the mind and the Holy Spirit in the heart), and then the justification, and finally the glorification, of all for whom, specifically and personally, Christ died.”

J.I Packer, Knowing God

Filed under: Bible on May 8th, 2011 | Comments Off

“Your job is not to change the heart of the unbelievers; only the Holy Spirit can do that. Your job is to shut their mouths.”

From Defending the Christian Faith lecture

Filed under: General Happenings on April 24th, 2011 | Comments Off

I’m not a big fan of Francesca Battistelli (or of women singers in general) however, this song is really catchy and has a good message that I need to hear over and over (and over).

Filed under: Music on April 21st, 2011 | Comments Off

…I’m going to take these prompts are from A Simple Woman’s Daybook.

Feel free to share your own!  (Yes, you!  I miss hearing about how you’re doing and your blog misses you!)

Outside my window…two houses are being built across the street. (Yes, in winter!)  Boohoo.  There goes our view

I am thankful for… oh so many things.  Number one right is now is my beloved husband, and our blessed relationship.  And for how hard he works everyday.  And for being able to stay at home.  All the luxuries that I have: three meals a day, a warm bed, books, appliances, scotch tape, so much stuff. Even all those toys that I trip over everyday and my boys delight in.

From the kitchen…I smell the ham broth that lingers from cooking all day.  It became soup along with tortellini, white beans, kale, and ham bits for dinner.  I thought it was delicious.  No one else ate any.

I am wearing…my pajamas, like always.

On my mind…I’m reading through Nourishing Traditions.  Oh boy.  It is basically telling me that everything we have in the house to eat is bad for us and we need to radically change our diet.  We know what to do, but it’s so hard to do it, especially on one acre!  I was really hoping to raise chickens this year, however we just  learned that the zoning in our area only allows chicken on five or more acres of land.  Maybe we can try to raise rabbits since there seems to be no law on how many we can raise.  But rabbit eggs don’t taste as good as chicken eggs.  Oh, those aren’t eggs?

One of my favorite things…is cuddling Charlie.  He’s such a sweet boy, and even though he’s often off with the big boys, he still lets his Mama to hug him throughout the day.  I’m finally getting old enough to appreciate it.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Tomorrow is my 27th birthday.  Ethan has big plans to make me a cake (with pink frosting).  I’m looking forward to that!  Hopefully on Saturday Ed and I can go out together for a few hours.  I’m definitely looking forward to that!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing…

Birthday Cards from Ethan and Jacob (nephew)

“Dear Mommy, I love you.  Love, Ethan”

Filed under: General Happenings, Thoughts on February 23rd, 2011 | Comments Off

“A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing.  It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit.  He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God.  Whether he lives, or whether he dies – whether he has health, or whether he has sickness – whether he is rich, or whether he is poor – whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offense – whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish – whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise – whether he get honor, or whether he gets shame – for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all.  He burns for one thing; and that thing is to please God, and to advance God’s glory.  If he is consumed in the very burning, he cares not for it – he is content.  He feels that, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if consumed with burning, he has but done the work for which God appointed him.  Such a one will always find a sphere for his zeal.  If he cannot preach, work, and give money, he will cry, and sigh and pray…If he is cut off from working himself, he will give the Lord no rest till help is raised up from another quarter, and the work is done.  This is what I mean when I speak of ‘zeal’ in religion.

- J.C. Ryle, Practical Religion, p 130

Filed under: Bible on January 30th, 2011 | Comments Off

Hey Rachel, you remember that frustrating puzzle that we had so much fun doing in November?

The picture was by Charles Wysocki.  I was so happy to stumble upon a book of his art at a library book sale since I just love his portrayal of 19th century New England life.

Sometimes I wished I lived back then.  Maybe it is just the close-knit community life that is so appealing, since I certainly wouldn’t want to give up my washing machine!

Filed under: General Happenings on January 20th, 2011 | Comments Off

I like pictures.

Filed under: General Happenings on October 31st, 2010 | Comments Off

These crackers are THE BEST!  I am so glad to have something to make with my lovely sourdough starter that doesn’t result in a doorstop-flop!

Filed under: Keeping the Home on October 25th, 2010 | Comments Off

Some time ago in family worship we read 1 Samuel 17, of David defeating Goliath. Ed pointed out the significance of the 40 days Goliath challenged the Israelites to fight him, and how that number was repeated throughout Scripture representing waiting and God’s patience, and when God removed His presence until He would take up the cause of His people and defeat His and their enemies.

God’s Word is so cool!  The more I study it, the more I am convinced of the fact that it is completely God-breathed, with every detail given intentionally and collaborating with the whole to help us understand Our Creator and how He desires us to live.  Ultimately I find out just how little I know.  Truly one could study it for a lifetime and still not understand the fullness of the mysteries of God.  That study will have to be reserved for eternity in heaven!

Here are some places of interest to me where 40 shows an overall theme of waiting:

• It rained 40 days and nights during The Flood. Genesis 7:4,12,17
• Moses was 40 years old when he fled Egypt, then another 40 years passed before God spoke to him through the burning bush. Acts 7:23, 30
• The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years as a punishment for their grumbling. Yet even in their chastisment, and their continued wickedness in worshiping false gods during that time, God had mercy on them and provided manna, and their shoes and clothing did not wear out. Numbers 14:33,34, 32:13, Deuteronomy 2:7, 8:2,4, 29:5, Joshua 5:6, Nehemiah 9:21, Psalm 95:7-11, Amos 2:10,5:25, Acts 7:36, 42, 13:18, Hebrews 3:9,17
• That 40 years of wandering was one year for each day the 12 spies went searching Canaan. Numbers 13:25
• Moses went to God on Mount Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments for 40 days and nights, fasting. Exodus 24:18, Deuteronomy 9:9, 11, 18, 25
• Elijah went to God on Mount Horeb for 40 days and nights, fasting. 1 Kings 19:8
• Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days, fasting. Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2
• Goliath challenged Israel for 40 days before David fought and defeated him. 1 Samuel 17:16
• Ezekiel is commanded to lie on his right side for 40 days for the iniquity of Judah. Ezekiel 4:6
• Judgement is pronounced on Egypt; the land will be desolate for 40 years and the people scattered until the time of their captivity. Ezekiel 29:11-13
• God gives Ninevah 40 days to repent before the city would be destroyed. Jonah 3:4
• Jesus stays with the disciples for 40 days after His resurrection until His ascension. Acts 1:3
• 40 stripes (but no more) were to be given to the guilty party of a controversy for punishment. Deuteronomy 25:3
• The land rested for 40 years after God delivered Israel from the Mesopotamian king under Othniel. Judges 3:11
• The land rested 40 years after Deborah judged. Judges 5:31
• The land rested 40 years under Gideon after he subdued the Midians. Judges 8:28
• After Abdon judged, Israel did evil and were given over to the Philistines for 40 years. Judges 13:1
• Eli judged Israel 40 years. 1 Samuel 4:18
• Saul reigned as king 40 years. Acts 13:21
• David reigned over Israel and Judah a total of 40 years. 2 Samuel 5:4, 1 Kings 2:11
• Psalm 40 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”

In God’s perfect providence, that same week of studying 40, we heard a sermon by Pastor Price including two of the aforementioned passages, and how God has purposefully placed them in His Word as a key to interpreting other prophetical passages of Scripture.

Filed under: Bible on September 4th, 2010 | Comments Off