He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.
Matthew 28:6
Easter brunch with the family.
April 24, 2011
April 17, 2011
April 14, 2011
Awesome God
Last month, Billy attended John Piper's Desiring God Conference for Children in Minnesota. He relished the opportunity to be trained and equipped by men and women who are burdened for God's name to glorified among our children. When he returned--with head spinning and ideas flowing--he also brought back with him a cd for our little guy, called Awesome God. We also have a few of the Seeds cd's, but I must say, I personally enjoy the music in this one better. The song below is one Andre Zoom and I have been rocking out to a lot lately! Enjoy...
April 12, 2011
A Thing of Beauty
Those who know me know that I take great delight in beautiful things. So when I read this excerpt from "Seasons of a Mother's Heart," I was encouraged to hear that there is indeed a place for enjoying beauty that is not entirely frivolous...
"Humanity's ability to appreciate beauty is a distinctive mark of God's image within us, much like our ability to use language. God made us to enjoy and benefit from beauty, whether in the things He created or in the things we create. In contrast to the common and crass things of this world, which have a negative effect on our spirits, we are naturally drawn to and find pleasure in expressions of beauty--majestic mountains, burning sunsets, starry heavens, captivating paintings, inspiring music, moving poetry. Beauty brings us closer to the Creator, whose very nature and presence is the ultimate expression of beauty.
Beauty keeps my spirit refreshed. Without it, my spirit becomes dull and lifeless; with it, I am invigorated and encouraged. God has certainly made beauty a priority in His universe, so I can imitate Him by making room for beauty in my home."
April 4, 2011
One breath away from eternity
"As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field."
Psalm 103:15
Today, I attended the funeral service of a man from our church. He was 35. I've been to a number of funerals over the years, and like them, this one effectively drove home the point that "life is a vapor." (James 4:14) Today's funeral, however, was particularly impacting because of the fact that this man was my peer--I am only a year older than he was. He was in the very prime of his life, living as a husband to a loving wife and the father of four young children. It is a praise to know that this man trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior. Otherwise, it would be so easy to despair!
I was deeply encouraged by the passage our pastor turned to at this time: "O death, where is your victory. O death, where is your sting?" (I Corinithians 15:55) He gave the timely reminder that Christ has overcome death, and that we who believe in Him experience victory over death even when we die, because rather than face judgment for our sins, we are immediately ushered into His presence. What an assurance believers can have!
In light of this event, I find myself encouraged to do as the psalmist in Psalm 90:12 prayed: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." How brief life is! How fleeting! How important it is to make sure we are living it in the best way possible!
"Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
only what's done for Christ will last."
C.T. Studd
This challenges me every day as I think...Am I living as I should? Am I living for the one who died for me? So despite how sobering the subject of death is, I am grateful for the way it cuts right through to the heart of the matter. All men die, but not all men live. And if I'm not living for Christ, I'm not really living at all! (Romans 14:8) After all, it was Jesus who said, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) So as I step out today into the warm sunshine of a beautiful spring afternoon, I will bear this promise in mind with a thankful heart.
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