David Platt

Great message from David Platt...

Check it out.

Exodus 32:1-10, 1 Corinthians 10:6-13 from Southern Seminary on Vimeo.

Book Review: 20 and Counting

I just finished reading a friends copy of The Duggars: 20 and Counting! by the Duggar family. As someone who didn't have cable and couldn't watch the show, I was interested to read the book. I LOVED it. I have so much respect for them for choosing to allow God to determine the size of their family. God has clearly blessed them for their faith in Him.

I can't really dissect the book here but wanted to say that it was an inspiring read to see a family who loves each other, who works together, and who loves the Lord. Way to go Duggars!

Book Review: I Still Believe

Another book I asked for this Christmas....books were my thing this year. I STILL BELIEVE by Jeremy Camp sparked my interest simply due to my love for music. After reading this book what I have learned is that I absolutely LOVE the stories of musicians. So often the lyrics they write and sing stem from a deep place as they walk with the Lord. Haven known pieces of Jeremy Camps testimony, it was a treasure to read.

As you read of his parents battle as they came to Christ, his poor upbringing, his marriage and death of his first wife, the taking off of his music career and the marriage of his second wife and birth of his daughters, you can not help but see God's hand. He walked by faith alone. I have a deep respect for Jeremy and his willingness to have his yes on the table even in the valleys of life. An inspirational read of a brother in Christ who only wants what God wants.

This review would not be complete without mentioning his second wife, Adie (from The Benjamin Gate). What a devoted woman to know that though she is now his wife that the testimony God gave him involves his first wife. To embrace that testimony shows you her heart for Christ as well.

Lastly, a quote from the end of the book. "As for me and my house, that is our heart: to love Jesus more each day and to share his faithfulness wherever we go. I can't love anyone unselfishly if I'm not spending time with God and in the Scriptures. That can only happen through and by the Holy Spirit at work in my life. When we spend time with the Lord and let Him speak into our lives we can't help but then go out and love our neighbor as ourselves. And all of us living this out would make the world such a different place." (pg. 122, 123) Oh, how this speaks how we feel. Everything in the Christian life comes from knowing Jesus intimately. That must be first before we can love anyone else...we must love our God.

One of the songs written by Jeremy during the death of his first wife...

Will I believe you when you say, your hand will guide my every way.

Will I receive the words you say, every moment of every day.

I will walk by faith, even when I can not see.

Because this broken road prepares your will for me.

Book Review: Raising a Daughter After God's Own Heart

I asked for Raising a Daughter After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George for Christmas. I've never read her books before but heard good things about her materials. I enjoyed the book. Her are my take away nuggets:

• We become what we love
• We can not impart what we do not posses
• We are to do battle through prayer on behalf of our precious children
• Your human efforts might raise a daughter who will be an okay person. But prayer contributes to your raising an exceptional person.
• Your daughter's friends are key. There are 3 types: those you will pull her down, those who will pull her along, and those who will pull her up.
• Psalm 23 is a beautiful picture of what we are to provide for our daughters:

1. 23:1 Provide care for your daughter (everything they need NOT want.)
2. 23:2 Provide rest and peace
3. 23:3 Provide healing and guidance
4. 23:4 Provide presence and comfort
5. 23:5 Provide friendship and protection
6. 23:6 Provide hope and a home

None of these nuggets were a new revelation for me but timely reminders that our parenting is a direct correlation to our relationship with the One and Only Living God.

Where are You?

Over the weekend, we finally watched Courageous. The movie coupled with some thoughts rolling around in my head have led me to this post. I like blogging because I can get the thoughts from my head and heart onto "paper". Even if no one reads or comments it is therapeutic to me.

I've been struggling lately with how much the Church looks like the world. How "seeker friendly" the Church is becoming. When I say Church, I mean the big "C" church. American Christianity. I know I have mentioned this before so it is no surprise but why are we watering down the gospel? Why are we making church "fun" and "entertaining"? Why are our kids not opening he Word of God on Sunday morning? Why does worship time have to be so loud and contemporary? Why do kids need rewards to come with a Bible? Why do they need to play xbox and wii while parents talk? Why do we have to use secular influences and media to win our kids to coming to church? Why do we look like the world?

I've had parents tell me that as my child(ren) grow, I will allow them to watch all "those" movies, listen to secular radio, go to "those" dances...the list can go on. Really? Why? I'm told we can't keep them away from all of that forever. Really? What about being in the world not of the world? What about not conforming to the pattern of this world (Rom. 12:2). What about hating what is evil and clinging to what is good (Rom. 12:9)?

All those thoughts coupled with the movie this weekend as well as an awesome Sunday sermon (2/5/12 Kenmore Alliance Church - Ephesians) has led me here.

The movie wakes up dads to the role they have in the family. Of the role God designed for them and them alone. Dads are vital in the role of the family. They are the head of the Christian home. The tag line is, "so where are you men of courage?" It's a wake up call to the men and dads to love God, love their wives, and love their kids by being active and leading them in the way they should go.

The question spinning in my head today is "So where are you families of Courage?" Where are you? Won't you stand firm, be set apart, and look different than the world we live in? Won't you choose God's standards over mans? Will you set your eyes on things above and not on this earth (Col. 3:2)?

Are you willing to be a family of courage and choose the narrow road over the broad road traveled by many?

Book Review: Radical by David Platt

I had an interest in reading the book, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt when I finally connected the dots of who the author was. You see, for the last 2 years I have been using material from The Church at Brook Hills in my homeschooling.

So, on to the book. I personally loved it! I love that David Platt not only calls us to live a sold out life for Christ by winning souls to him but that he doesn't do so by looking like the world. I love chapter two where the question is asked if God's word is enough. No "extras," no "fluff". In 2012 so many churches look just like the world we live in. Complete with entertainment systems, xbox games, and a spread of coffee and snacks. If we took all this away, is God alone enough?

David clearly has an understanding and heart for global missions. For spreading the gospel to the ends of the Earth. I totally agree that this is the command of God...to go into the world and make disciples. He has a heart for the orphans, for starving and dying children...my heart is their with his.

But still, what I really like, is the fact that David Platt not only makes the calling clear but he equips his church to meet that calling. As I said, I have used materials of theirs for 2 years. The Bible material I use with my daughter is stronger than the material I have seen at many churches. I love that he is an expository preacher. He shares the Word of God so that his congregation knows the Word of God.

In 2012 it is refreshing to see a young paster on the scene both equipping and sending.

Book Review: One Thousand Gifts by Voskamp

I'm sad to say this book has been listed on this blog as one sitting in my to read pile. I picked it up after someone from church mentioned it. The only thing I knew at the time is that she wrote one of the history books my homeschool curriculum asks for.

That said, I stumbled across some reviews of the book and could not believe what I read. I went to my room, grabbed the book and opened it up for myself. I could not believe what I was reading. This book is awful. I will not finish reading it. I'm not one of those people who can just take the good and leave the bad. If there is teaching that is unbiblical the entire book becomes tainted for me. So, it is in my pile of books to burn in the fire this summer...

I am copying in 3 quotes that really are blasphemous....read with caution....

“I fly to Paris and discover how to make love to God.”

“God lays down all of His fullness into all the emptiness. I am in Him. He is in me. I embrace God in the moment. I give Him thanks and I bless God and we meet and couldn’t I make love to God, making every moment love for Him? “To know Him the way Adam knew Eve. Spirit skin to spirit skin.”

“The intercourse of soul with God is the very climax of joy.”

What is this generation doing? Sexualizing God? Where is reverence, awe, and honor? What happened to the days when you dare not say his name? Not gaze at his presence? We have lost all understanding of the greatness of our God, of his holiness, and his righteousness.

You can read one review here: The Berean Library » ANN VOSKAMP

Let me save you from making a painful mistake...don't buy the book. Flee from all kinds of evil instead.

Book Review: On Earth as it is in Heaven

I picked up this book at the discount store. I tend to browse for sound authors and grab some cheap reads. This is the first book I have read by Warren Wiersbe, On Earth As It Is in Heaven: How the Lord's Prayer Teaches Us to Pray More Effectively.

The book takes each section of the Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6 and explains what is REALLY being said and how it applies to us as Christians. Do we know what we are saying? Do we really believe what we are saying? Do we really want what we are saying? The book interested me as Abby just finished memorizing the Lord's prayer a few months ago. I can not do the content of this book justice so I am only going to bullet point my little nuggets.

• Prayer isn't an option; it's an obligation and an opportunity for us to glorify God's name.
• Prayer isn't a luxury; it's a necessity.
• The people of this world look at heaven from earth's point of view, but God's people look at this world from heaven's point of view.
• Biblical worship should begin with transcendence, affirming that the Lord is above us and is in control. Then we should move to immanence, thanking the Lord that he is with us as we leave his sanctuary. The current "buddy-buddy" approach to the Lord is definitely unbiblical. "Abba, Father" is fine for personal devotions but not always for corporate worship. We must first see the Lord "seated on a throne, high, and exalted" so we can truly say, "Woe is me" and "Here am I. Send me."
• Our task as a chosen people is to advertise by our words and deeds the glorious virtues of Jesus Christ.
• How can he church advertise the virtues of Jesus Christ if the church is imitating the world? We have been called to shine as lights, not reflect as mirrors.
• If we pray "your kingdom come" while at the same time compromising with the world, we are hypocrites and our prayers will not be answered.
• The unconverted person wears a heavy yoke of sin that grows heavier every day. The outwardly religious person wears a yoke of rules and rituals that bring no relief. But the children of God are united with Christ and wear a yoke that is easy. They carry burdens that are light, because "his commands are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). This is the summary of true discipleship.

Just some nuggets that struck a cord with me either as conviction or an Amen. It was a good read and a good reminder that the Lord's prayer is not just a prayer we memorize as kids but one that should truly be our daily model.

How will we go down in History?

The lyrics to this song have been echoing in my head for some time. I thought I would share them here.
How will we go down in History?

Oh little town of Bethlehem

Looks like another silent night

Above your deep and dreamless sleep

A giant star lights up the sky

And while you're lying in the dark

There shines an everlasting light

For the King has left His throne

And is sleeping in a manger tonight

Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping

For God became a man

And stepped into your world today

Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history

As a city with no room for its King

While you were sleeping

While you were sleeping

Oh little town of Jerusalem

Looks like another silent night

The Father gave His only Son

The Way, the Truth, the Life had come

But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save

Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping

The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today

Jerusalem, you will go down in history

As a city with no room for its King

While you were sleeping

While you were sleeping

United States of America

Looks like another silent night

As we're sung to sleep by philosophies

That save the trees and kill the children

And while we're lying in the dark

There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky

For the Bridegroom has returned

And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping

Will Jesus come again

And leave us slumbering where we lay

America, will we go down in history

As a nation with no room for its King

Will we be sleeping

Will we be sleeping

United States of America

Looks like another silent night

Serving...or is it?

A friend and I were talking the other day about "serving." You know, giving of your time and talents for the good of others. We were talking about how there seems to be "levels" to service. I don't know who invented these imaginary levels but it drives people like me nuts. When you are leading a ministry, at church 3 days a week, and running ragged that is SERVING.

Then there is me. I'm back in baby mode. No ministry leadership, no being at church 3 days a week, and a different kinda ragged running is occurring here. I'm asked often how I am "serving" or if I am serving...I speculate it is because I am no longer at the visible level of service.

So, me and this friend were talking about this very thing. Who defines what equals service? Who is judge to whether we are serving "enough." What is enough? Isn't that between the Lord and I? Why are moms who are home with their children not considered serving? Isn't that our most important mission field?

My friend sent me this link about 100 Ways for Your Family to Make a Difference. All of this made us recount how we have "served" over the last month. Here is what we have done:

*made blankets for the homeless

*bought groceries for a needy family

*delivered a stove to a needy family

*packed an Operation Christmas Child box

*donated used clothing

*sent money to Haiti to help with a boys funeral expenses

Is that serving? I didn't work in the nursery at church or lead a Bible Study. I did what a could with where I am at in this season of life. I serve my husband and kids every time I pick up dirty clothes, wash dishes, iron, pack a lunch, cook a meal, and teach a math, phonics, and Bible lesson. That is serving.

So, who came up with these man made levels of service? I for one have decided to stop letting man tell me when I am serving "enough."

"She did what she could...." Mark 14:8a

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at." T. Roosevelt