I’m in a note-reviewing kind of mode. Can you tell? 🙂 Here are some quotes from Kris Lundgaard’s (excellent!) book, The Enemy Within: ‘That raises the question, ‘In what sense has Christ defeated sin in the believer?’ The answer is that he has overthrown its rule, weakened its power, and even killed its root so that it cannot bear the fruit of eternal death in a believer. Still—and this is amazing but true—sin is sin; its nature and purpose remain unchanged; its force and success still grab us by the throat.’ ‘Believers are the only people who ever find the law of sin at work in them. Unbelievers can’t feel…

Yet again, I have been incredibly helped (and challenged!) by the wise writings of Jill Carattini at Ravi Zacharias Ministries. Last month she wrote an essay on “vital signs” — and I URGE you to read it on this very Sabbath day. I could tempt you with line after line, but I’ll just share with you her closing paragraph: “There is life to be found even in gauges we’d rather ignore. He who made us has given us vital signs of his presence, gauges that point us to life. Empty tank or tormented conscience, might it drive us into the arms of God.” As a woman who has been struggling…

I recently heard from Emily in a comment on my previous post (“Good Point!”) and thought that you all might enjoy reading our exchange too. From Emily: “It’s me again! This entry hit home for me this morning. I am struggling with a person in exactly the same way–and this person is NOT someone whom I can avoid. Argh. It is a daily battle for me to think kind thoughts toward this person, and to pray blessings on this person. I actually find myself wanting God to mete out justice, and punish this person! My heart is so deceitful. Right now, I keep asking God, “Do I have to enjoy…

This week, as I was checking my boss and me into our hotel, I had the strangest déjà vu experience. It was like I was back in 2000 checking my (then) boss and me into our hotel … and the same stupid thing happened: The hotel got pretty much everything wrong with the reservation. (We were supposed to have club level king non-smoking rooms and we were being put into rooms with double beds and they even tried to foist SMOKING rooms on us! We were supposed to be able to check-in at 4:00 and it was already 6:30 and we were being told that our rooms wouldn’t be available…

I’m reading an amazing new book (that I highly recommend! hopefully Fred will add it to my list of “Recommended Books” just as soon as Amazon starts carrying it): How People Change, by Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp. (Yes, yes another Paul Tripp book. I know! I know! I keep recommending these astoundingly biblical and practical CCEF authors and I keep selling hundreds of their books. Simply said, I really do think that they are writing some of the best resources out there these days.) The first chapter is entitled, “The Gospel Gap” and I’ve had to slow down and read it carefully with a pen in hand.…

Another AMAZING point that the speaker made last night had to do with the nature of SIN. She mentioned how she had actually felt the “lump” or “ridge” in her breast for weeks before she did anything about it. She told herself: “It’s just tissue.” “It’s just cystic.” But of course it was the most aggressive, deadly breast cancer known to Man. Left untreated it would kill her for sure. She (again) regaled us as she described her tendency to minimize her sin: “I guess I have some issues with anger management.” And to make excuses and shift blame: “Yes, I raised my voice to you and I probably shouldn’t…

You know … one of the recurring temptations in my life … one of the snares I struggle with on a daily basis is this: “I deserve this.” I know it sounds so stupid when I say it out loud like this (or write it on a blog!) … but the truth is, when I am tempted to sin and when I give in to temptation, I am telling myself a lie and then I am believing the lie. “I need this.” (When all I need — NEED — is Christ. Of course. But OHHHHHHH — when I’m in the midst of the battle … it’s just so hard to…

Today I posted the very first message to the Peacemaker Ministries “Women” Message Board. (This is a new feature of the Peacemaker Ministries website — thanks to cutie bear webmaster & hubby extraordinaire Fred!) I thought you might also enjoy reading it (plus I’d love your counsel too of course!) … so here it is … — Help for Bitterness? Today I was somberly reflecting on the lives of two women I love dearly. Both have been hurt terribly in their lives — and although I do not presume to know their hearts, it seems that based on their words and actions, they both demonstrate lasting bitterness. (For example, they…

So I think I may be struggling with bitterness. Again. (AAAAAAAUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHH! Will I never get over this?????) I’m pretty sure that I am judgmental ungrateful and grace-less toward a person who has hurt me tremendously. (AAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHH! My wretched heart!!) It’s like there is this rotting, moldy ICK inside of me. The ramifications are nasty. I don’t like who I am or who I am becoming. O, Lord! Please have mercy on your daughter. Forgive me my sins, I pray. And grant me a new heart. A clean heart. For your glory! For your Kingdom! Please make me more like You, I pray. Amen and Amen. So … this person has…

(If you haven’t yet seen the Narnia movie and don’t want to know about any details in advance, please skip this blog! 🙂 ) So last night my friend and I left the kids with the dads and went to see The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. What a wonderful, wonderful movie! Initially, I wasn’t that excited to see it. I mean, of course I wanted to see it — but I had a tiny bit of “it’s going to be another Lord of the Rings epic, science-fiction, I’m the only one in this theater bored out of my skull” fear too. PLUS, the 7:00 show was sold out,…