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Unseen but Real
Great e-devotional by RZIM: Unseen But Real Aanother great Brian Croft post: Should a Pastor Preach or Clean Toilets? And a story that you’ve probably seen by now but it was new to me and totally made me cry: Four Month Old (Miraculously!) Survives the Earthquake in Japan
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God Cares
Ed Welch’s Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest and Elyse Fitzpatrick’s Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety are both treasure troves of biblical encouragement re: fear. Consider just a few of my notes from reading these excellent books. (These excerpts are a mish-mash of direct quotes and my own paraphrased reminders.) Elyse Fitzpatrick: ‘Fear affects your body and your behavior … If you generally feel stressed about your responsibilities or fearful about your life, you won’t feel comfortable relaxing and you probably won’t take the time to eat properly or exercise. The inability to relax or sleep soundly will heighten your sensitivity to alarm and danger, causing more…
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Both Small and Safe
I was re-reading some of my notes from Paul Tripp’s, Broken Down House —Living Productively in a World Gone Bad, and thought they might bless you too: (Example of a little boy walking through loud, boisterous crowd of drunk men …) The little boy is at peace; at rest; hand tightly in father’s. “He knew his limits and he knew where security could be found. Surrounded by half-drunk guys several times his size, he was at rest.” Have you placed your hand in the huge and capable hands of your Heavenly Father? Have you realized that your life is played out in the middle of a rowdy and overstimulated crowd?…
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Our Worst Fears are Usually WAY Worse Than Our Realities …
I read this quote in Elyse Fitzpatrick’s (excellent!) book, Overcoming Fear, Worry and Anxiety: ” … Many of God’s people are constantly under apprehensions of calamities which will never occur to them; they suffer far more in merely dreading them than they would have to endure if they actually came upon them. In their imaginations, there are rivers in their way, and they are anxious to know how they shall wade through them or swim across them. There ARE no such rivers in existence … but they are agitated and distressed about them. These timid people are continually crossing bridges that only exist in their FANCIES. They stab themselves with…
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Medical Results
See … I knew it would be this … or, well, I had a pretty good feeling it would … Diagnosis? FUO. Fever of unknown origin. Hooray for a contrast CT that is healthy and normal! I’m sure a lot of people would love to be able to say those words. But off to Europe go I with a seven year-old and a fever of 101+. Hmmmmm. I wonder what lesson I am going to be learning as this drags on? And just how will God use this to draw me closer to Him? I don’t understand the means but I trust in the end. So THANKS for all of…
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Kindle — WOW! And God’s thoughts concerning us — DOUBLE WOW!
I just finished loading a bunch of books onto our family’s new Kindle and can I just say, “WOW!” It’s amazing how easy it is to grab classic after classic. I can’t imagine what this tool must be like for missionary families … you can bring along an entire library in one tiny little leather-covered-package. Amazing. (I know. I know. I’m very behind the times with technology. It’s true! You can laugh at how slow I am. I don’t mind. I laugh at myself. 🙂 ) I’d appreciate your prayers today as I have to (have to!) finalize my speaker notes for my retreat this week. (Haven’t I been saying…
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Scariest Part of the 4 G’s??
I’m trying to “finalize” (hah! does that ever REALLY happen for an extemporaneous speaker like me?) my speaker notes for the biblical peacemaking session of my new fear retreat (“This Relationship Stresses Me Out!”) and I was curious as to what YOU would say are the SCARIEST aspects of each of The Four G’s. You know … what are you afraid of when it comes to glorifying God in a conflict? Confessing your part of a conflict? Confronting someone else? Forgiving the person who has wronged you? I have my ideas of course, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. What stresses you out about peacemaking? (As always, feel free…
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Our Fears and the Immanuel Promise
I would so appreciate your prayers today as I am working all day long to (hopefully) finalize my speaker notes for my new women’s retreat on FEAR. Nothing like studying, praying, and writing on fear to tempt me to be very, very afraid. So this morning as I jump in, I’m claiming the first lesson in Session 2 … Our Fears and the Immanuel Promise: God has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’ Hebrews 13:5-6 Oh, Lord, Your Word is true. I believe! Please help my unbelief.…
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Distinguishing Marks of a Quarrelsome Person (by Kevin DeYoung)
Kevin DeYoung has a great post up right now that is convicting, but helpful too: Distinguishing Marks of a Quarrelsome Person I won’t restate his entire post, but will instead encourage you to click through and read it for yourself. Here are a few of the “distinguishing marks” he mentions, though: – You defend every conviction with the same degree of intensity. You don’t talk about secondary issues, because there are no secondary issues. – You are quick to speak and slow to listen. You rarely ask questions and when you do it is to accuse or to continue prosecuting your case. You are not looking to learn, you are…
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Organizing the Heart (and the Home)
I trust all of Challies’ recommendations and so far, everything I’ve read from his new publishing firm (Cruciform Press) has been excellent, so I’m happy to recommend their new title (and hopefully acquire a copy for myself too!): The Organized Heart by Staci Eastin One of my favorite people in the world, Carolyn McCulley, wrote an endorsement that seems to capture the heart of it well: ‘Staci Eastin packs a punch with this short book. But it’s a gracious punch, full of insights about our disorganized hearts and lives, which is immediately followed by the balm of gospel-shaped hopes. It is ideally crafted for use with accountability partners and small…
