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Firm Conviction that God is Kindly and Well-Disposed
I haven’t blogged about reading through Calvin’s Institutes for awhile (probably because I’m SO behind in my “read through the Institutes in a year” plan). (BTW—Do you think an exhausted, drugged from surgery new mom could possibly hold up that giant book and read/catch up in the hospital recovering from a c-section? Probably not, I’m thinkin’.) But today I was reading in Hall and Lillback’s “A Theological Guide to Calvin’s Institutes” and quotes like these have thoroughly enticed me to get back in the saddle and continue reading the actual Institutes, even though I’m so behind schedule for reading through them in one year: “Yet we must not understand that…
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Would you please follow this blog on FaceBook (if you’re already a FaceBook user anyway)?
It’s been a strange little journey for me (because in many ways I am SO behind the times technologically), but over the past few months, I have become a TINY bit of a regular FaceBook (FB) user. No, I still don’t do ANY quizzes or games, etc. on FB. And I decline, well, 99.99% of all requests I EVER get for anything. But, I have found it to be a convenient (and even fun) way to stay in touch with people. And this week, I signed up THIS BLOG on FaceBook. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but apparently, FB “reads” my blog and publishes it right into the…
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Counsel from the Cross (and) Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow
Every once in awhile, I am given a great gift by an author or publishing firm and asked to review either a manuscript for endorsement or a final book for promotion. As a bibliophile who is REALLY trying to stay on budget and NOT buy as many books (!!), receiving manuscripts and books in the mail is like a teeny bit of Christmas in a Media Mail envelope. I love it. I particularly love it when I can not only whole-heartedly recommend the books for others—but I, myself, am edified, encouraged, and helped along this journey of growing in grace. What gifts these brilliant, articulate, biblical, winsome authors have! I…
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How to wake a napping papa Fred …
Step one: Put on your matchies apron with Momma and grab your very-own-kids-cookbook, measuring tools and ingredients … Step two: Be sure to enjoy some beaters along the way … Step three: Roll and bake … Step four: See how long it takes for daddy to smell the nummies and come downstairs …
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Attempts to Fill Voids (HT: Christ is Deeper Still)
I’m really enjoying the quotes that keep being posted over at Christ is Deeper Still. It’s become an almost-daily read for me and this one is a good example of why: “All sins are attempts to fill voids. We might try to fill the voids we so deeply feel by doing bad things or by doing good things. When we salve the ache in our hearts, which only God himself can satisfy, by doing good things, we then feel proud and think God owes us and we get angry when he doesn’t fork over. When we salve the ache within by doing bad things, we feel shamed and think God…
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No trouble believing that this grace is for YOU …
Yesterday, I was blessed to spend time with a precious, real, friend. (“Real” in that, she is seeing more and more of the ugliness of my heart and life—and not pulling back, not rejecting me. Isn’t that a real friend?) As we closed our time together, I was struggling a bit with shame and embarrassment over some past sins that continue to haunt me. (When I think about them, I cringe. When I think about some of the ramifications, I lower my eyes and want to hide my face in shame.) And my friend comforted me with only a few words, as she reminded me of some of the struggles…
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Better than we dare to dream …
Just one more quote from Dr. Dan Doriani’s fantastic book, Putting the Truth to Work: The Theory and Practice of Biblical Application: “Pastors need integrity, but we never have enough integrity to merit the trust of our auditors. I think again of the four aspects of application—duty, character, goals, and vision—and rue our perversion of all four. Duties? We fail to discharge them, but when we do, we bloat with self-righteousness. Character? We fail to appropriate the new nature we have in Christ, but when we do, we puff with pride at our virtue. Goals? We dissipate our energies in the ephemeral and frivolous. Then, when we do find…
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Putting the Truth to Work (by Dan Doriani)
I’ve been greatly enjoying my re-read this week of Dr. Dan Doriani’s wonderful book, Putting the Truth to Work: The Theory and Practice of Biblical Application. If you’ve ever wondered about how to interpret and apply certain “difficult” passages of Scripture, I commend this scholarly-level, yet imminently readable book to you. It is fantastic (and I continue to be a Dr. Doriani junkie! totally makes me wish I could go to seminary one day …). I could quote the entire work to you, but let me tempt you with just two excerpts from Chapter 12 (“Christ-Centered Application”) and Chapter 11 (“Issues in Application of Ethical Texts” — this chapter is…
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Encourage One Another
Yesterday I received some, well, inconvenient news. So rather than indulging an incredibly-low-energy day, I had to work. Hard. And BOY was my heart grumpy about it—at least initially. But then, thankfully, the Lord helped me to repent. He reminded me of certain teachings from Pastor Bryce’s sermon. He reminded me of who I was and (even more importantly) Who He was. I began to thank Him for feeding me with the bread and the wine during the Lord’s Supper. And rather than grouse around, I began to look for ways to encourage. “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,…
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Technology Break
We’re having a wonderful time with our dearest friends, the Lyndes, here in Townsend, Montana. No high speed internet connection in this (beautiful) little town of 1,500. So this will be the only time I’m online today. But I thought I’d share some photos of our time together and wish you all a blessed Friday! With joy, Tara B. PS TJ’s ebay sales really slow down in the summer, so if you’re interested in scooping up some gorgeous paintings for Christmas gifts or just for your own home at AMAZINGLY LOW prices, I encourage you to check out his current listings. (I’m actually posting this from his studio and I…
