Maia Moo and the Nali Collie

--The Girls and their ears--

--Maia's learning just how rough life is when you're an irresistible puppy--

--An evening spent reclining on the couch while listening intently to Glenn Beck--

Nali, the brave hunter, has just spotted a squirrel...
...and has just discovered how stealthy she is not.
Hunting is a tough job, but someone's gotta do it!
Yes, our mom takes lots of pictures of us...

A Very Special Birthday Girl

I will say to the north, "Give up," and to the south, "Do not withhold;

bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made."

~Isaiah 43:6-8

~

I spent the summer of 2002 in China. The Lord ordained my time there not only for working alongside co-laborers, but to also spend time in fervent prayer. My best friend was my email correspondent while over there, and she wrote to me just a few days after arriving in early June to let me know that our youth minister and his wife had officially begun the paperwork to adopt a daughter from China.

~

We all knew that we wouldn't see this precious girl face to face for at least another year, and that day came in February of 2004. Myself and others greeted them at the airport as Panda Mom and Panda Pop came off the plane in tears and carrying with them their daughter.

~

Now backtrack to what I was just saying about being over in China during the summer of 2002. PandaGirl was born on October 6, 2002, which means that I was there (not in the same province where her orphanage was located) while she was still in the womb. In between the English training camps, discovering new and unusual food, meeting Chinese students and adults completely infatuated with America, I prayed. Oh, how I prayed. What a time to be in intercession for this child and this family; this child whom God foreknew and ordained to one day be joined with this family.

~

So this is my simple way of saying 'Happy Birthday' to a little girl who has been diligently prayed for by many since she was in a woman's womb on the other side of the globe from where she is now. PandaGirl isn't special because of anything she has done in her young life, not unique because of any creativity conjured up in her, but because she is a very real, very appropriate representation of the Lord's steadfast love, faithfulness, and undeserved mercy upon those He adopts as sons and daughters. When I think of all the things leading up to her birth, all of the things she has experienced and already been taught thus far about the Lord, my heart swells and I'm moved to praising the Father. He is the Author of our lives, the One who calls His children from afar, and the One who knew us even before conception.

~

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there were none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

Scrapbooking anyone?

How exciting is this??? My downstairs neighbor girls informed me that the latest and greatest of scrapbooking stores has arrived in Louisville. In other words, all of my ladies from Texas should check out the website and seeing what you're missing--heehee. I haven't walked through the doors of the store just yet, but I've already been given some free 12x12 paper and a coupon came in the mail yesterday. I'm torn between utter excitement and knowing that I will need to set a STRICT budget before experiencing such a treasure trove...

http://www.archiversonline.com/

A Violation of Trust or a Pastor's Responsibility?

Yes. I am an avid viewer of "The O'Reilly Factor." While I may not always catch the show on weeknights at 8:00pm, I highly respect and admire the man who has been deemed a "culture warrior" (not surprising that such is the title of his latest book).

Last night, one of the segments on the Factor was a discussion regarding a pastor in Fort Worth who has recently been sued by a former member of his congregation for defamation. Why? Pastor Westbrook of CrossLand Community Bible Church has been sued for bringing this woman's infidelity to the attention of the congregation. Not all of the details were discussed on the Factor last night, but there was a guest who appeared to talk with Bill, an attorney representing Pastor Westbrook. When Bill asked him about the situation with the pastor exposing the woman to the congregation, the attorney very simply paraphrased Matthew 18 and the steps to appropriate church discipline. It became clear rather quickly that Bill wasn't following, and he was miffed that the attorney could not quote Matthew 18 verbatim. Keep in mind that Bill is Roman Catholic, and therefore the notion of a confession going beyond the confidentiality of the priest is unheard of. All that to say that when the attorney could not give Bill a word-for-word quote of the text, Bill simply cut in and said, "Well, I think that's bull."

I wrote a brief email to Bill in regard to last night's segment, keeping in mind that he likes the viewers who write in to "keep it pithy." I am wondering how many others watched the same segment and what the varying reactions have been. It was apparent from the start of the conversation with Pastor Westbrook's attorney that Bill was not familiar with Matthew 18 or the responsibilities of the pastor(s) of local churches to follow through with biblical, necessary church discipline. This is not an issue that seems at the forefront to necessitate legal action, even when some of the details I read in an article elsewhere (http://www.christianpost.com/article/20060927/24835.htm) make some of the aspects of this case a little sketchy regarding the woman's position in all of this (i.e. how the woman viewed her standing with the church as a professed former member of the congregation, and trying to give a title to the pastor's role in counseling her that frees her from any form of accountability to him as her pastor/elder).

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. ~Matthew 18:15-17

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. ~Hebrews 13:17

Just think of the implications of this particular case and how it fits into our ever-changing postmodern culture.

In Celebration of Fall Break

I've definitely been under the weather this week, so I think it's safe to say that Fall Break has come at the perfect time! While I will still be working next week, I have requested a day off, thus making the break from school a little more official. On this Friday before the week of rest from midterms, quizzes, and research papers, I decided to do a little something random during my slow day here at work. It's called "Complete the Thought," and while my answers aren't terribly excited, maybe you'll still find it at least somewhat amusing...

COMPLETE THE THOUGHT:

Never again in my life: will I be a Spice Girl.

When I was five: I was still trying to break my thumb-sucking habit, and I met my first best friend, Amber Shae.

High School was: a rollercoaster I'm glad to be done with. Although it was a significant time of growth, it was a chapter I closed with a sigh of relief...

I will never forget: mine and Bob's first date. We went and saw "Finding Nemo" and then I spent the night throwing up in his bathroom...how endearing.

I once met: a few singers you may or may not recognize: David Phelps, Michelle Tumes, Andrew Peterson, and Rhythm.

There’s this girl I know who: is moving to Indonesia for 6 months in December.

By noon I’m usually: antsy, ready to get another caffeine kick and wondering how I'm going to make it through the rest of the afternoon at work. By noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays though, I'm usually meeting my man for lunch at school.

Last night I: watched the season premiere of "Smallville", complained about all of the retarded new CW commercials, and fell asleep at 9:30.

Next time I go to church: will be the Sunday of Fall Break, so I'm guessing a lot of people won't be there.

What worries me most is: my personal finances.

When I turn my head right, I see: my other computer monitor, a picture of Nali, a picture of Bob and I (we're a rather handsome pair!), and my kleenex box.

When I turn my head left, I see: my cup of hot tea, headphones, company phonelist and regional map. Oh, and the evidence that I'm obsessed with cool pens that write pretty...

You know I’m lying when: I won't look you in the eye when I'm explaining myself, or rather trying to justify myself. I get defensive in a rather senseless way, and am quick to get offended when you try and call me out on what I'm saying. (Oh, the joys of questions that make you hold the mirror up to yourself...)

If I was a character written by Shakespeare I'd: be a really silly, aloof character who walks around some enchanted garden singing to herself.

By this time, next year: I'm not gonna say it, I'm not gonna say it! Because what I want by this time next year hasn't been revealed as His will just yet :) But I what I DO know is that, Lord-willing, I will be that much further through my masters degree. Oh, and Nali will be almost 4 years old, and little puppy Maia will be over a year old!

A better name for me would be: Bob likes to call me "Old Man" because that's how I move around when I'm tired...

I have a hard time understanding: 1) myself when I studder, 2) anything related to science

If I ever go back to school I’ll: be calling myself crazy for being in school for so long!

You know I like you if: I make it a point to call or email you, saying how/why I appreciate you (and if I REALLY REALLY like you, you may get a REAL letter in the mail!)

Three people who bore me are: Greta van Susteren (if you're a Fox News fan, you'll hopefully understand), Barefoot Contessa (I don't even know her real name, but she's on Food Network), and the guy who played Napoleon Dynamite (I'm just not amused...)

Take my advice, NEVER: despair. "As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." *2 Corinthians 7:9-10

My ideal breakfast is: I'm a Southern girl, so take a guess! I looooove breakfast!

A song I love, but do not have is: There are a few: "Arise and Be Comforted" from Watermark's A Grateful People CD, "May it Be" by Enya from The Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack

If you visit my hometown, I suggest: purchasing a map of the Dallas/Fort Worth area...

Why won’t anyone: whisk me away on a vacation, and bring me back to the surprise of someone having painted my apartment for me???

If you spend the night at my house, DO: expect one 65-pound dog and one 20-pound dog to climb up into the bed with you. AND they'll be your best friends for the rest of your life :)

The world could do without: spiders and skeeters (I was tempted to go political on this one, but I refrained)

I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: give blood or take part in any other activity which requires a needle

My favorite blonde is: Jana Cotton and Reese Witherspoon Paperclips are more useful than: staples. You can remove paperclips, but if you remove a staple then the paper is inevitably imperfect. There's no going back...(from the mouth of a school nerd)

San Diego means: the land of the devil? Oh wait, that's "Diablo"...yeah, I didn't do well in Spanish.

So this comes as quite a surprise! I simply responded to the question asked by the ladies at GirlTalk, and they posted what I wrote:

http://girltalk.blogs.com/girltalk/2006/09/girltalk_book_c_2.html

From Modesty to Vanity

I bought new makeup last weekend. Now, I know most ladies would read a statement like that and wonder why in the world I would devote my time and energy to writing something that is pretty standard for a woman's list of necessities. When my mom was visiting this summer, she recommended a line of makeup that I try. This is my mom who used the same brand of makeup for about fifteen years, and even she was convinced to make the switch. So after much debating, I decided to throw my cheap products in the trash and go with something totally new. As I said, this may not be all that intriguing to your average individual, but for me this was a significant move on a number of levels.

I tend to be what some would consider almost too frugal when it comes to buying clothes and makeup for myself. I've just never been a big shopper for such things. You will often find me deciding on new books or scrapbook materials to buy before deciding whether or not to purchase a new shade of eyeshadow. The same makeup has been sitting on my dresser simply because it is inexpensive, not because of it being of significant benefit to the look or health of my face. I go into stores like Ulta and have a feeling comparable to dizziness as I don't even know where to begin looking for specific products. Well, when my mother was in town, we had this discussion about my skincare, and I was convinced by the end of our talk that it was time to invest in skincare and makeup that was really worth my money. I've been using this new makeup now for just over a week and while I am not one to advertise products, I must say that this is one of the greatest purchases I have ever made when it comes to any kind of cosmetics. It is so fresh and illuminating, I oftentimes forget that I am wearing makeup at all.

There is something to be said about products that can give you full coverage, but still let you be comfortable in your own skin. This is particularly significant for me due to the skin problems I have had and will have for my entire life. Due to the nature of my condition (tuberous sclerosis), I have an assortment of issues with my skin. The most noticeable areas to the public eye are those on my face. Rather than being comfortable in my own skin, I have often tried to mask the problems. As an adolescent, even my clothing choices often reflected just how modest I was. I was so concerned with my own opinions of how my skin looked to the outside world that I covered up. I was concerned about how any article of clothing would cover me, from bathing suits to the pants I chose to wear. Looking back now, I think I was defined by how modest I was in my choice of clothing, and I saw it as some great virtue held throughout my adolescence. But when does modesty become vanity? The concern with young girls is often immodesty, but when does the extreme of that become just as great of a concern? I was more than defined by my decision to dress modestly: I was consumed.

When you look at the pattern of idols in our hearts, even modesty can become vain. Something initially desired and viewed as good can quickly turn into a form of self-worship. Modesty becomes vain when I am defined by such while simultaneously shaking my head when another woman tells me the truth that I am a child, a daughter, of the King. "'Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.'" (Matthew 23:25-26, ESV) The Lord was gracious in showing me over time that my heart is what people see. No matter how modest I may appear outwardly, others will know whether or not I truly possess a spirit of gentility and grace. If there are heart issues consuming me, such as constant concerns with my skin problems, no measure of external modesty will mask the real me. This pertains to my face as well. No amount of makeup will cover up the real blemishes--the lies regarding how I look to others, the lies that tell me that how I look outwardly is essential--those idols sitting comfortably on the throne in my heart.

PRAISE HIM that I am wonderfully made, bought with the precious blood of Christ and not based on my own choosing, but according to His glorious grace and sovereign will! Praise Him according to His glorious grace, for we are made new, forgiven, redeemed, and intricately created in His image.

Make me over, make me new ~ Make me a mirror, a reflection of You ~ Take me all apart ~ Take me to Your heart and pull me closer ~ Sweet Savior, make me over ~ I am only made of Your imagining ~ I'm dust and clay on the wind ~ Wash me in the river of Your sacrifice ~ Until I'm changed, purified ~ Take me all apart ~ Take me to Your heart and pull me closer ~ My Jesus, make me over (N.G.)

"Those who look to him are radiant,and their faces shall never be ashamed." (Psalm 34:5)

Daddy's Little Girl

Drift off and dream in your paper-doll world
Play with the presents from the boys and the girls.
Your big day is over. The cake is all gone.
We sang you to sleep with the birthday song.
No, you'll never be one again.
The two's are tumblin' on in.
Daddy's little girl is growing up in the world.
You'll never be one again.
The toy piano is quiet in the hall
as Kermie the frog sits watching it all.
And soon your legs will grow and make the tricycle go
and take you away from us all.
No, you'll never be one again.
The two's are tumblin' on in.
Daddy's little girl is growing up in the world.
You'll never be one again.
(Never Be One - Alabama)

Regardless of the band given due credit for writing this song, I will always hear my dad's voice when these words come to mind. He sang this to me, whether while tucking me in at night or cleaning house together on a Saturday afternoon. His soft, meek voice is the one I will always hear singing this familiar melody, remembering how he used to twirl me around the living room as if such a tune had been written just for me. He had priceless traditions and memories with my brother as well, but this one...this memory is ours.

All of us daughters have memories of our fathers; whether he was present or absent, consoling or cold, interested or preoccupied, we all have distinct associations with our own fathers. One of mine just so happens to be a song that the majority of people I know have never heard. Beyond such memories, though, I have recently begun pondering the lasting impact fathers have on their daughters. There have been numerous resources, particularly in the area of theological education, pertaining to mothers training their daughters, but what has been observed regarding fathers? Here is a rather brief list of considerations for taking a closer look at such a crucial relationship:

• effects of the father being present and engaged in his daughter's life;
• effects of the father being distant either due to other priorities or in the event of divorce;
• how single fathers engage their daughters and create a safe and loving environment in which to raise her;
• ways in which the father can set a standard for the men his daughter will meet and potentially date in the future;
• the father protecting his daughter from emotional, physical, sexual harm;
• the father reflecting the Father's love and discipline for His children;
• how the father can encourage and train his daughter toward biblical womanhood

I know that the bond between fathers and daughters is crucial, but I also know that I am still young and inexperienced. Looking further into the effects and impact of such a relationship I know will strike a chord with me, and I pray earnestly that whatever I glean will be rewarding both now and in the future.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ~Romans 15:4

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ~Hebrews 3:12-13

How else does one expose an unbelieving heart? How else does one expose a heart hardened by the deceitfulness of sin? Psychology will not tell me that the root of my idolatry is sin, nor is such counsel provided that produces true hope and sanctification.

In 2002, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted a resolution entitled "On the Sufficiency of Scripture in a Therapeutic Culture." There is a deep conviction for God-glorifying, Christ-centered, Bible-saturated counseling evidenced in such a resolution. Anything less is insufficient and falls short of the real solution to the human condition.

• WHEREAS, Southern Baptists are committed to the authority, sufficiency, and relevance of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:15-17); and
• WHEREAS, The Bible teaches that human beings are created in the image of God—made by Him, like Him, and for Him (Genesis 1:27-28)—and that because of sinful rebellion against the Creator, our entire being suffers from sin's corruption (Genesis 3:6-19; Ecclesiastes 9:3; Romans 1-3); and
• WHEREAS, All aspects of our lives—including our spiritual, moral, and psychological conditions—are to be informed and governed by the application of and obedience to Holy Scripture (1 Corinthians 10:31); and
• WHEREAS, In this therapeutic culture, physicians and counselors often ignore human sin and its effects, neglect our most fundamental human and spiritual needs, and therefore, misunderstand our condition, mistreat our problems, and sometimes unintentionally do more harm than good; and
• WHEREAS, An uncritical acceptance of the therapeutic culture too often has infected our pulpits, ministries, and counseling (Colossians 2:8); and
• WHEREAS, Our churches often have neglected our God-ordained responsibility for the care and cure of souls, becoming practically ineffective, both marginalizing ourselves from the culture and being marginalized by the mental health establishment; now, therefore, be it
• RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, June 11-12, 2002, affirm Christian counseling that relies upon the Word of God rather than theories that are rooted in a defective understanding of human nature (John 17:17); and be it further
• RESOLVED, That we affirm that any method worthy of the name "Christian counseling" must address the root of our problems and reveal the crux of God's solution—the redemptive work of Christ and the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, by which the depths of sin and the fullness of grace are made known (Hebrews 4:12-16); and be it further
• RESOLVED, That, while we affirm that there are real conditions that warrant legitimate medical treatment, we reject the assumptions of the therapeutic culture that offer a pharmacological solution for every human problem; and be it finally
• RESOLVED, That we call on all Southern Baptists and our churches to reclaim practical biblical wisdom, Christ-centered counseling, and the restorative ministry of the care and cure of souls.

(A Resolution Adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention-St. Louis, Missouri-June 2002)

Where were you?

My mother and father can both recount the hour, the place, the moment when they were told about President Kennedy's assassination. Such an event was a defining moment for that generation and for our country... I awoke that morning, September 11, 2001, to a beautiful day in Abilene, Texas. All of my friends and I were quickly getting ready for the inauguration ceremony for the new president at Hardin-Simmons. We were all in choir and had to report to the chapel by 9:00am. I remember hurrying downstairs and through the dorm lobby the small huddle of girls, when everything froze. Time seemed to stand still as we walked past the lobby, saw the faces of those staring at the big screen TV, and then directing our own eyes to the breaking news. Everything was a blur, and there were still just pieces of information being reported as 9:00 Central Standard Time meant 10:00 Eastern: an hour right in the midst of the horrific, breaking news. No one could speak as we walked outside and down the sidewalk toward the chapel.
When we arrived at the chapel and up the stairs to the balcony, the din of noises and fear was almost more than I could take in. As the ceremony commenced, the new president, Dr. Craig Turner, came to the podium in tears. No one knew what to say. What was originally anticipated to be a beautiful, celebratory day in September had, in a moments notice, drastically turned into a blurred day of fear and confusion. All the president knew to do was pray. Pray and plead for mercy.
The remainder of the day was eery. How do you accurately describe a cloudless, bright, sunny day as the worst ever imagined? I remember just wanting to be with people. The few times I left the comfort of companions in the dorm, I noticed that no one in view was alone. The scarce amount of students walking around campus were never by themselves: no one wanted to be alone on such a day. I spent the majority of the day and into the evening across the hall from my own dorm room in the presence of close friends. We didn't want to leave. We didn't really know what else there was to do, or what we could do. So we just stayed together, watching and wondering. September 11 was on a Tuesday, and Grace Bible Study resumed as scheduled over at the Civic Center. An evening which is normally characterized by bustling college students, excited and glad to be together in worship and Bible study was a night of clinging to one another as never before. I look back and I am still incapable of describing the mood of the evening. As with the earlier hours in the day, no one knew what to do. We were weak, helpless, vulnerable, and confused. That night at the Civic Center is a blur, but there is one song I remember us fighting to sing in the midst of blinding tears.
Help us, our God, help us, our Savior

For the glory of Your name, for the glory of Your kingdom

Deliver us, and atone for our sins

Deliver us, and forgive all our sins

Help us, our God, we come to You desperately needy

Help us, our God, may Your mercy come quickly to meet us

Help us, our God, help us, our God,

Help us, our God, for Your namesake

Help us, our God

Five years have now passed, which is somewhat unbelievable. So many lives were lost, so many wives and brothers and friends are missed terribly, and I still find myself unable to muster up the words. I don't know how I would respond if I were given the opportunity to visit Ground Zero and behold the aftermath of the event. I have visited the Holocaust Museum in Israel, and remember not being able to stomach the pictures and testimonies of that horrific time in this fallen world's history. Many questioned (and may still) where God was during all the chaos of September 11. While in many respects I am still speechless, one thing I do know is that God is sovereign. He's never absent, never out of control, never in need of our sinful, weak selves. He is sovereign, and His ways are not our ways.

If you are reading this, or come across this post at a later date, I pray that you know that truth and cling to Him as your only comfort in the face of such indescribable suffering. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 ~ "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

In Honor of Mr. Sad Spoon

I remember his face so vividly, and my apologies if I don't have the order of his appearances correct. The times I most often saw Mr. Sad Spoon were when he was traveling around in a purse. He would stay quiet and unbothered unless the child he was traveling with decided to disobey. After the second warning from the boy's parent, Mr. Sad Spoon would discreetly poke his head out and keep his eye on the boy to make sure he was obeying his mom. If the boy continued to act out...well, then he and Mr. Sad Spoon would evidently have to have a little meeting. I don't recollect Mr. Sad Spoon having to impart his wisdom too often, but there were definitely occasions.

I remember looking on at such times wondering as to the effects of Mr. Sad Spoon's particular form of discipline. Was this an effective means of correction? After my many visits to home where Mr. Sad Spoon was kept safe and sound, I was convinced that the answer to my question was "yes." I often looked on from a distance, wondering what was so distinct about this family's approach to discipline, their philosophy of raising their child, and how they came to know that this was effective. Even as an adolescent, I could see that there was appropriate correction going on. They were clearly doing something right, but at the time I didn't know how to articulate my observations or how to really dig deeper into why their means of discipline were so effective in raising up a child to love and fear the Lord. I didn't understand, and any form of discipline was completely foreign to me, so I simply assumed that they were really good parents. Don't get me wrong--they were great parents, but it was so much more than that, the reasons for which I have only recently been able to wrap my heart and mind around.

I am taking a class led by Dr. Stinson this semester on Parenting & Family Issues. This class has ministered to my heart much more than I was expecting. As many will agree who know me well, ministering to the family has always been a deep conviction of mine, so I was particularly excited about this class. Little did I know, however, just how much I would glean from the class discussions and required reading. Things that seemed like distant concerns to me for so long are now grabbing my attention, and I am finding myself meditating on passages of Scripture I would otherwise probably pass over (there's a bit of a confession for you--passing over portions of Scripture simply because they "don't apply.") What has blown me away in this class is just how much work it really is to train up children to love, obey, and fear the Lord. There are so many opportunities for parents to either boast in themselves and their progress, or spend hours awake at night in self-doubt over some poor choice they made either in a decision or harsh word spoken. There is much weight to the reality that parents are given the responsibility of teaching their children godly obedience and authority.

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. --Proverbs 3:11-12

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. --Proverbs 22:15

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. . . . For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. --Hebrews 12:7-11

In our recent class discussion, the professor emphasized that the goal of disciplining children is not punishment. The goal of discipline is pointing your children to true repentance. Parents are to approach their children with the attitude of, “I am a sinner desiring for my child, a fellow sinner, to know Christ and be cleansed—to experience real sanctification.” Dr. Stinson’s three older children were directly impacted by the discipline implemented in the home when it came to their individual conversion experiences and relationship to Him. The Lord very directly used that in their lives. That is so powerful…that those children will one day be able to say of their father that he displayed God-glorifying authority and discipline in a humble manner that pointed them to Him.

At this point, due to my somewhat rare medical condition, I may not even be able to have children. However, I can look to my own upbringing and see where I either benefited or was hindered by the general approach to discipline in my home. I can also look to families I know and have known, and so much more makes sense. Whether the reality of the particular family dynamic is encouraging and humbling, or discouraging and frustrating, I can better understand why those particular households run as they do. The question of why parents and children respond to one another in certain ways is more clear. Children are under the authority and wisdom and counsel of their parents, and parents are responsible for pointing their children to the authority and wisdom and counsel of their Father. Idols of the heart, whether covert or overt, will inevitably manifest themselves in the relationships between parent and child. Only the Lord Himself can guide and instruct parents on how they are to train their children, and He alone should be glorified in how discipline is implemented.



(Recommended: Peacemaking for Families by Ken Sande/Tom Raabe, and Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp)

And even when the trees have just surrendered to the harvest time ~ Forfeiting their leaves in late September and sending us inside ~ Still I notice You when change begins And I am braced for colder winds ~ I will offer thanks for what has been and what's to come... (Nichole Nordeman)

Something happens when the fall season arrives, and here in Louisville it really does arrive. One night the sun sets, and the next day you awaken to brand new scenery. The windows are opened to allow the breeze in, the coffee is brewed extra early while there is a still a crisp chill in those first morning hours, and the fleece house shoes are worn after many months of being stored away in the closet. I know everyone has their preferred seasons, but there is something distinct about autumn. I am welcomed outdoors, whether to walk my dogs or find a vacant bench on campus to read, write, or simply gaze at the glorious array of colors. When I behold the changing of the leaves, the arrival of a crisp breeze, I cannot help but be amazed. There is beauty which was spoken into existence by the One who looked upon His creation and saw that it was good. And it is good. The crack of a leaf under your shoe, the smell of pine outdoors and pumpkin spice indoors, the vibrant hues of red and orange splashed throughout the sky as the trees stand in grand display.... Why do I spend so much time reflecting on such details of the autumn season? Because such intricate details draw me closer to Him and cause my heart to proclaim, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge!"~Psalm 19:1-2

These are but the outskirts of his ways and the beams of his beauty.
The glory of God is not a reality that can be transferred merely by words. There is an immediacy in this discovery —a spiritual perception happens, a holy taste is born, a God-given revelation hits home. And no flood of words, no amount of reasonings, no mere arguments could ever impart what the heart sees when it sees the glory of God. It can come through the skies or it can come through the Scriptures (see also 2 Corinthians 4:4-6) or it can come through the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit (John 2:11; Matthew 5:16). But it is always more than the fruit of the Spirit, more than the Scriptures, more than the skies. These are the portrait not the Reality. These are the handiwork, not the Artist. (John Piper, "Do You See the Joy of God in the Sun?")

Mom, I don't think I have enough toys...will you buy me a new soccer ball?


I know how to sit, shake, and lay down. Does incessant barking qualify for a treat, too??

Nali's the big tease...she has to remind Maia at times that she's not as big as she may think!

"More Than You'll Ever Know"

A friend loaned me a CD over the weekend, and I must say that I have listened to it nonstop. Some of you are familiar with Watermark's latest album "A Grateful People." On my way to work this morning, an old favorite was playing: "More Than You'll Ever Know." Although I've always enjoyed the song, it was never one that really resonated with me. However, things have changed over the past year. Things I once took for granted have suddenly become so much more valuable. As I move forward, I don't dwell on the past, but my appreciation and love for those I hold dear has dramatically increased.

And this picture speaks a thousands words: me and my best friend. The casual onlooker may say, "That's a fun picture," or even, "You two have been friends for so long," but it's so much more than that. This a woman I have grown and laughed and cried with since those awkward years of junior high. We made it through high school, sometimes wondering if it would EVER end, and entered the college years knowing that anything was possible. We went to different colleges and met new friends: became involved in different organizations, took different trips around the world, and individually witnessed the transforming power and grace and mercy of the Lord. Through all of the changes, the times of growth, the occasional valleys, we have continued to persevere in faith and by His incomprehensible grace. And still...we have stuck together. I still look at pictures such as this, smile, and thank the Lord for my friend. She is still a rock in my life, a voice of truth and genuine compassion. I still learn so much from her. In certain ways we are still very different, but the Lord has so intricately ordained that our lives be intertwined throughout the years and the many changes.

So thank you, friend. I love you "to infinity and beyond!" And with you in mind, I'm sure I will be humming this song for the remainder of the day. And one more thought as you're viewing this picture--You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the girl~

"Something brought you to my mind today
I thought about the funny ways you make me laugh
And yet I feel like it's okay to cry with you
Something about just being with you
When I leave I feel like I've been near God
And that's the way it ought to be...
(CHORUS) 'Cause you've been more than a friend to me
You fight off my enemies
'Cause you've spoken the Truth over my life
And you'll never know what it means to me
Just to know you've been on your knees for me
Oh, you have blessed my life
More than you'll ever know
You had faith, when I had none
You prayed God would bring me a brand new song
When I didn't think I could find the strength to sing
And all the while I'm hoping that I'll
Do the kind of praying for you that you've done for me
And that's the way it ought to be... (CHORUS)
You have carried me
You have taken upon a burden that wasn't your own
And may the blessing return to you a hundredfold"

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light my strength my song

This Cornerstone, this Solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled when strivings cease!

My Comforter my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This Gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied -

For every sin on Him was laid:

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine -

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till he returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand!

(Keith Getty & Stuart Townend 2001 Kingsway's Thankyou Music)

Bring it On

Tomorrow.

1:30pm.

Our company's annual field day.

Just watch out because I'll be the one winning the potato sack race.

This Matter of Femininity

Princess. Dancer. Singer. SHEERA. I vaguely remember, as if a mere dream, of aspiring to be one of these at some point or another, but it was so long ago. As I grew into early adolescence, those awkward teen years seemed even more awkward than most. I was an 11-year-old being raised in a house of boys. There I was, a young girl torn between glittery nail polish and my big brother’s musical selections. I wanted to be just like him: listen to all of his preferred music, tell his jokes, watch his favorite movies. I never really understood why I was so different than all of the other girls my age, especially those who were my dearest of friends. The Lord is sovereign over all…even over events such as divorce when His hand may not be so visible. I hold no bitterness or enmity toward my parents, although there was a day when such feelings were at the forefront of my mind.

“Little girls are looking for role models to see what it means to be a woman. . . . There is a lot that God has put in our nature and character as men and women that we need to recognize and nurture in a way that is honoring to Him.” This is an excerpt from Dr. Russell Moore on a day here recently when he was filling in on Dr. Mohler’s radio program for a show entitled “Barbie, Lara Croft, and Biblical Femininity.” Many women also in attendance at Southern are there for some type of women’s ministry. While that has not been the primary focal point of that to which I have been called, I have recently been thinking on womanhood and femininity. What does it mean to be a woman who exhibits the glory of God? I wasn’t raised up in a way that encouraged godly womanhood nor was I taught those things that make up the character of a woman of dignity, worth, and value. While my father had good intentions and my mother was absent during many crucial times of growth, I was just confused. I did, however, have models in the church. At a very poignant time, the young age of fourteen, the Lord began bringing women into my life whom I will forever hold dear. They were not models of morality, self-esteem, or those things which constitute today’s modern, confident woman. Instead, they were women who were the first to admit that their righteousness was not their own. They were of such deep influence because they gently and humbly lived the truth that they were not worthy of such mercy and grace. I was often puzzled by them, and at times even in contention with them inwardly, because they were in stark contrast to the world’s standards of womanhood. I never had a gentle and quiet spirit, yet they were a constant source of such biblical, Christ-exalting femininity. I never wanted to be a nurturing mother, but I began to see that there was something more to being a truly good mother than making sure there was dinner on the table. And motherhood to them was not about putting their needs first, but continually dying to self in order that their relationship to their husbands would be one of daily sacrifice and sanctification.

Now I am of the age they were when our paths were ordained to cross, and I find myself more mindful than ever of how much I still have to learn and grow. I don’t know how to cook. As a matter of fact, I often get nervous at the thought. I have had little experience in caring for young children, and I am a scatterbrained mess when it comes to keeping my home in order. Knowing what I know, having had the Lord reveal what He as regarding biblical womanhood, I can’t even begin to imagine myself trying to teach a little girl what it means to be a woman of grace and femininity in the eyes of God. I never had it in my own home growing up, so how I can I expect to implement such grace to my own children? I can, however, tell you what I do know. I am fervently committed to my home being one in which the Word is spoken and lived out, and that begins with my relationship to my future husband and how we relate to one another. I cannot entertain the thought of being a godly woman and mother in the home without first knowing my relationship to Christ and how that is depicted and manifested in how I relate to my husband. A key problem I think I will have is that of allowing him to treat me well and protect me. I was not protected nor was I treated as a young girl growing into a woman of dignity and grace.
That very grace is what sustains and keeps me persevering as His child and as a woman who is hopefully teachable and receptive to hearing wise counsel from others. I still have such a long way to go in this matter of biblical womanhood and femininity, but I trust that He will accomplish all He has purposed and promised. Praise be to God the Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

"This is what I understand to be the essence of femininity. It means surrender. Think of a bride. She surrenders her independence, her name, her destiny, her will, herself to the bridegroom in marriage." ~Elisabeth Elliot

"There is no abiding joy without holiness...How important then is the truth that sanctifies! How crucial is the Word that breaks the power of counterfeit pleasures! And how vigilant we should be to light our paths and load our hearts with the Word of God!" ~John Piper, The Pleasures of God

"A thing sanctified is not made holy simply by being set apart; it derives its holiness from that to which it has been devoted. Because only God is holy, He alone can impart holiness." ~Robin Boisvert, How Can I Change? Victory in the Struggle Against Sin

...from self and pride to set thee free...

I Asked The Lord

1. I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face

2. Twas He who taught me thus to pray
And He I trust has answered prayer
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair

3. I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He'd answer my request
And by His love's constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest

4. Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of Hell
Assault my soul in every part

5. Yea more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Cast out my feelings, laid me low

6. Lord why is this, I trembling cried
Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?
"Tis in this way" The Lord replied
"I answer prayer for grace and faith"

7. "These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou mayest seek thy all in me,
That thou mayest seek thy all in me."

©2004 double v music (ASCAP).
Words:
John Newtonalt. Laura Taylor
Music:
Laura Taylor

"Seeing With New Eyes"

I spent a number of my adolescent years knowing what the Lord was calling me to, but never really knowing how that was going to pan out. Trusting in Him and the plan He had already set into motion, the bombarding of questions from others came without me having a specific, defined answer of, “This is the exact title for the career I am working towards.” This conviction only deepened as I entered into my college years, knowing that He was preparing me both socially and intimately for the field of counseling. However, I was often unsettled because I was becoming more and more aware of how unclear this portrait of my career looked. I knew I wanted to counsel, but I knew it wouldn’t be through the school of psychology. I knew I wanted to counsel, but I knew it wouldn’t be through what I had oftentimes seen labeled as “Christian counseling.” The more I meditated on His Word, the more I wrote and prayed over this very issue, the more sure I was of His counsel and authority over my life and how that would be manifested in my interactions with others. The authority of His Word supercedes all other theories and practices. While I do not necessarily hold some level of disdain for most psychological views of the person, I cannot in the conviction of the Holy Spirit, in the sufficiency of Scripture, support any other practices as being authoritative in aiding broken, sinful souls. The Lord has shown me time and time again the depth and weight and truth of such passages as that found in Hebrews 4:

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

My convictions for counseling under the authority of God and His Word have been part of His sovereign plan for my life, and part of His plan has been this season I am in as a student at Southern. My heart swelled when I first heard of the changes being made to the counseling program just months before I was supposed to begin classes at a sister seminary. David Powlison has an article in the Journal of Biblical Counseling which has been adopted by the seminary as affirmations and denials regarding the definition of biblical counseling. Here are a few excerpts from his article:

“We affirm that the Bible is God’s self-revelation in relation to His creatures, and, as such, truly explains people and situations.”

“We affirm that the Bible teaches, invites, warns, commands, sings, and tells the solution for what troubles humankind. In the good news of Jesus Christ, God acts personally. In word and deed, He redeems us from sin and misery through the various operations of His past, present, and future grace. God uses many means of grace, including the face-to-face conversations of wise counseling.”

“We deny that any other solution or therapy actually cures souls, and can change us from unholy to holy, from sinners to righteous, from insanity to sanity, from blindness to sightedness, from self-absorption to faith-working-through-love.”

“We deny that there is any method for instantaneous or complete perfection into the image of Jesus Christ. The change process continues until we see Him face-to-face.”

“We deny that the persons and problems addressed by the activity termed ‘psychotherapy’ fall outside the intended scope of the ministry of Christ in word and deed.”

“We affirm that the Scripture defines and speaks to the gamut of problems in living for all people in all situations.”

“We deny that psychological research, personality theories, and psychotherapies should be viewed as ‘objective science,’ as that term is usually understood. Neither should they be seen as extensions of medicine and medical practice.”

Yes, this truly is a new paradigm, a new way of seeing the field of Christian counseling. Where psychology is quick to answer the question of “what” in diagnoses and prescriptions, biblical counseling goes straight to the heart of the matter—“why?” What is the sin that so easily entangles? Where is this individual’s situation one affected by a true medical issue? When those questions are brought to the table, when the Church counsels from the sufficient Word of God, the root of the problem will be exposed.

We live in a fallen and depraved world, and only by His grace are we truly saved, healed, and persevere in sanctification.

According to Google

My middle name

My favorite color

My pets names (yes, there is more than one pair with the same names!)

My favorite fruit/veggie

My bad habit

From Osh-Kosh to Coldwater Creek (and still somewhere in between)

One of my dearest friends brought up one of my all-time favorite movies in one of her recent posts—“You’ve Got Mail.” Joe (Tom Hanks) and Kathleen (Meg Ryan) are corresponding via AOL (oh, how thankful I am for DSL) and he says:

“Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.”

While I don’t live in New York, I do have some weird affection for fresh, new school supplies. Notebooks, spirals, pens—my occasional journey through Office Depot is like a kid in a candy store…Yes, I like school supplies and yes I know it’s weird.

So I’m sitting here on this first day of the week, the first week of school, sipping my coffee and thinking about this brand new semester. My mom came to Louisville for a visit a few weeks ago, and treated me to a new skirt from Coldwater Creek. As I was putting it on this morning (of course you have to save new school clothes for the first day of school!) I couldn’t help but wonder at the transition. I can still remember my mom helping me with my new, snazzy denim Osh-Kosh B’Gosh jumper and brushing my hair for the first day of school. And now I’m here. I’m 24 years old, and rather than a new wardrobe consisting of Keds, jumpers, and the biggest hairbows you can find, I’m wearing a skirt from Coldwater Creek. (And it’s a very pretty skirt I might add.) When my mom and I went into the store, I still felt like a kid in some ways. There are certain stores I have and will always associate with my mom, so when I start finding things in the very same stores that catch my attention, I know that something has changed. When did I become a woman in my mid-20s? When did kids I babysat start entering their church youth groups and others even graduating from high school for that matter? And on top of that—I’ve realized more than ever that I really don’t have my brother’s metabolism! There was a day, much longer ago that I often realize, when I was off the walls on my constant sugar rush. If you don’t know me…yes, it was constant. For those of you who do know me…thank you for being my friends.

The point of all of these ramblings on this early Monday morning is to say that I am thankful for where the Lord has brought me. Although it’s hard for me to take it all in at times, how much has changed, how much I’ve grown (and considering the growth I still desperately need), the Lord has been faithful. My desire is for others to see His faithfulness in and through me. Here at my workplace, and even on a seminary campus, it’s very easy to blend in and go about your business. But that’s not enough. I don’t want to settle for that. I don’t want to be noticed for my own sake, for my own words and achievements, but may He use me as a vessel of His mercy and grace. He has afforded me much, and much more than I could ever deserve, earn, or hope for. There was so much going on last school year, what with the transition of living in another state, my own medical issues, and other details in between, much of it now is a blur. However, as grateful as I am for where the Lord has brought me, I hope in His future grace. My eyes are not to be fixed on the past, continually reminiscing over things that once were, but rather looking ahead to what He has in store. This doesn’t make me less grateful, but actually increases my gratitude. We don’t run this race looking behind us, but instead we press on, looking to Him, the Giver and Sustainer.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” –Hebrews 12:1-2

Just Can't Help But Smile!

The girls are about to fall asleep...

Maia at 3 months~

All I Owe

When this passing world is done,
When has sunk yon glaring sun,
When we stand with Christ in glory,
Looking o’er life’s finished story,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then, how much I owe.

And all I owe you paid for me
From all I owe I've been set free
And all I owe proves your great mercy to me

When I stand before Your throne,
Dressed in beauty not my own,
When I see You as You are,
Love You with unsinning heart,
Then Lord, shall I fully know—
Not till then, how much I owe.

Chosen not for good in me,
Wakened up from wrath to flee,
Hidden in the Savior’s side,
By the Spirit sanctified,
Teach me, Lord, on earth to show,
By my love, how much I owe.

Words by Robert M. McCheyne and Matthew S. Smith. Music by Matthew S. Smith.

And my soul wells up

I was wandering around the Lifeway store on campus today during my lunch break(one of the perks to being a seminary student), browsing the card section as my mom and dad's birthdays are quickly approaching. In the hustle of trying to pick out good cards (I'm slow), take care of my student account balance, drive home to feed the pups and manage to find something somewhat substantial to feed myself, I paused for a few moments while reading one card in particular. It was a birthday card in the midst of a new assortment I hadn't seen previously. Each of the cards was based on a song by singer/songwriter Chris Rice, and one in particular caught my attention. Everytime I hear this song, my soul wells up at the beauty and splendor of the Father, and I'm also personally reminded of dear friends of mine who are many miles away from me. I remember my friend singing this on a particular Sunday at my home church, and due to the recent valley she had walked through by her husband's side, the words to this song struck a particular chord in my heart. So I saw this card today at lunch, and stopped for a brief moment in the middle of Lifeway as I was compelled to quietly praise the Lord for His sovereign grace, His peace which passes all understanding, His goodness. My soul welled up in such a way that I could not fully express to you now how sweet that moment was. How often I lose sight of His daily, constant presence and abundant grace.

A purple sky to close the day
I wade the surf where dolphins play
The taste of salt, the dance of waves
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs
A lightning flash, my pounding heart
A breaching whale, a shooting star
Give testimony that you are
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs

Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can't be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

O cratered moon and sparrow's wings
O thunder's boom and Saturn's rings
Unveil our Father as you sing
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs

Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can't be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

The pulse of life within my wrist
A fallen snow, a rising mist
There is no higher praise than this
And my soul wells up
O my soul wells up
Yes my soul wells up with hallelujahs

Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can't be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
O hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

Search me and know my heart

I have wondered in recent days and weeks as to the kind of woman I am and am still becoming. There are certain struggles of mine, specific sins still lingering. Rather than falling to the floor in confession and repentance, I often look to others and secretly wonder how I will ever compare. The Lord has shown me in great measure just how sinful and pleasing to man such an attitude truly is, and how much it eats away.

There is a familiar phrase than I have often denied being defined by, and that quite simply is being a people pleaser. In times past I have refused to think of myself as one grouped into such a category of people. I observe the acts and attitudes I have refrained from since an early age, anything from drug use to staunch legalism, and I have had a persistent desire to walk in a manner worthy of being considered in imitator of Christ.

Then I was overcome by a dull, almost sickening realization. It came about after spending time with a friend who was helping me move into a new apartment. She was openly and honestly telling me of times when she has been a people pleaser. Whether choosing a career based on other peoples’ opinions, or engaging in events or behaviors to win the approval of friends, she was starting to realize these things and just how great a weakness this is for her. A matter of days later, I had a very disheartening conversation on the phone with a family member, and all the weighty struggles I have with my family came like a flood. I was angry and exhausted, and did not know what to do with myself other than cry and sulk.

And that is when it hit me. My struggle with pleasing man has not ever really been a blatantly overt act, but rather one much more deep and hidden from common interactions with others. The sin is so deep that it quickly affects every aspect of my being. The external area most affected is in my relationships with particular members of my family. I cower more than I should in the face of opposition, all the while screaming on the inside. I weep in the quiet of my room, yet do not outwardly proclaim to them that hope and life are only in Jesus Christ. How cowardly, how devastating, and how much this robs me of joy…

Consider this a confession. I have realized through rather difficult means provided by the Lord that I have had a one-sided view of people pleasing over the years. People pleasing is not merely an outward weakness of giving in to others in order to win approval. I think a much more destructive form is that which buries itself deep in our souls, so much that we began to believe that when certain emotions arise those emotions are merely a weakness in our character or personality. How deceiving this is from realizing the truth of that which robs of life and joy in the Lord. As someone who is not great at confession, this is my confession. The Lord is gracious, and is daily showing me where this arm needs to be cut off. Our hope is not in the things of this world. On a very practical level, that includes my mother, other godly women He has graciously brought into my life, as well as the career for which I am preparing. My hope is not in the wisest men and women I know, but in Christ alone.

"Be killing sin or [sin] will be killing you."
--John Owen, Mortification of Sin in Believers

"I repent...of paying for what I get for free
and for the way I believe that I'm living right
by trading sins for others that are easier to hide
I am wrong and of these things I repent"
--Derek Webb, "I Repent"

O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether….
For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well…..
How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with You…..
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! ---Psalm 139

From the Minds and Hearts of Great Men of Faith

I have read Plato and Cicero sayings that are very wise and beautiful; but I never read in either of them: "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give thee rest." --Augustine

A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent. --John Calvin

Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. --A.W. Tozer

The modern world detests authority but worships relevance. Our Christian conviction is that the Bible has both authority and relevance, and that the secret of both is Jesus Christ. --John R. Stott

Humanism was not invented by man, but by a snake who suggested that the quest for autonomy might be a good idea. --R.C. Sproul

Loving a holy God is beyond our moral power. The only kind of God we can love by our sinful nature is an unholy god, an idol made by our own hands. Unless we are born of the Spirit of God, unless God sheds His holy love in our hearts, unless He stoops in His grace to change our hearts, we will not love Him... To love a holy God requires grace, grace strong enough to pierce our hardened hearts and awaken our moribound souls. --R.C. Sproul

God just doesn't throw a life preserver to a drowning person. He goes to the bottom of the sea, and pulls a corpse from the bottom of the sea, takes him up on the bank, breathes into him the breath of life and makes him alive. --R.C Sproul