Saturday, May 20, 2006

A Word from Jonathan Edwards

"God has given to mankind affections, for the same purpose which he has given all the faculties and principles of the human soul for, that is, that they might be subservient to man's chief end, and the great business for which God has created him, that is, the business of religion [knowing and loving and glorifying God by enjoying Him]. And yet how common is it among mankind, that their affections are much more exercised and engaged in other mattters than in religion! In things which concern men's worldly interest, their outward delights, their honour and outward reputation, and their natural relations, they have their desires eager, their appetites vehement, their love warm and affectionate, their zeal argent; in these things their hearts are tender and sensible, easily moved, deeply impressed, much concerned, very sensibly affected, and greatly engaged; much depressed with grief at losses, and highly raised with joy at worldly successes and prosperity. But how insensible and unmoved are most men about the great things of another world! How dull are their affections! How heavy and hard their hearts in these matters! Here their love is cold, their desires languid, their zeal low, and their gratitude small. How can they sit and hear of the infinite height, and depth, and length, and breadth of the love of God in Christ Jesus, of His giving His infinitely dear Son, to be offered up a sacrifice for the sins of men, and of the unparalleled love of the innocent and holy, and tender Lamb of God, manifested in His dying agonies, His bloody sweat, His loud and bitter cries, and bleeding heart, and all this for enemies, to redeem them from deserved eternal burnings, and to bring to unspeakable and everlasting joy and glory-and yet be cold and heavy, insensible and regardless!"
Jonathan Edwards in "The Religious Affections" pp 51 - 52

Oh Lord God, have mercy on me! Change my heart, Oh God!

A Picture of Erin

Monday, May 15, 2006

It Was A Blessed Mother's Day


We spoiled Mom on Sunday. We fixed her favorite breakfast. We took her for a walk through the park. The kids kept running ahead, stopping to wait for us to catch up, and then asking what took us so long. They also took time to check out the stage there in the park. Then we let mom take a nap.

We also had a piano recital where our two pianist wowed all the mothers in the place, as well as the fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, and everyone else that was in there. For all the brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and grandmas and grandpas and anyone else that is reading this blog and might like to see the recital, I will be putting it, at least the important parts, on a DVD and you can see it. I will let you know when it is done. I will probably add a few other things to it for your viewing pleasure.

Finished the celebration of motherhood by taking Renee out to eat at Culver's. Yep, we had to get some ice cream too. Scotty, we thought of you while we were eating that ice cream. In fact, took a great big lick in honor of you. We were following the great example of christian charity that you exhibited while sharing ice cream with the clan in Louisville. You remember- when you took a great big lick for me!

Friday, May 12, 2006

Am I happy in God?

John Piper Quoted George Mueller the other day. He said, "George said, 'The most important point to be attended to is this: above all things see to it that your souls are happy in the Lord."
He went on to say that George would begin each day with that battle. To see to it that his soul was happy in God Himself. George new that, if he did not start the day that way, he would be of no use to anyone else. He would only use [abuse] people to satisfy those cravings which are in him and intended to be satisfied by God alone. And so they never can be satisfied by anyone or anything else.

The only way to do the things that Jesus tells us to do; "turn the other cheek," "love your enemy," "forgive 70 times 7, " consider others as better than yourself," "lay down your life," etc... is to have your satisfaction in Him.

He says "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will lovehim, and We will come to him and make our abode [live] with him." John 14:23

That is the kind of promise that can enable and sustain the soul in the hard times, if the soul is satisfied in the promise. That is, if the souls desire is Jesus; knowing Him, loving Him.

Oh Lord, help me to be "Happy in God!"

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

He heard my cry...


Psalm 40:1
I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.

Keith has been healed. His stomach ailments, which have plagued him since August of 2004, have left. We have been to many doctors, and many types of doctors. We were scheduled to take him to a pediatric diagnostician at the Mayo Clinic. But, one week before we were to take him there, just before the last performance of Passion; It's a Dying Thing in Toronto, Canada, he came up and said it was gone!


About three weeks prior, after hearing Sam Storm preach about "...how He [Jesus] went about doing good and healing all..." I began to pray that God would heal Keith, and heal him before we got to the Mayo Clinic, so that God would not share His glory with Mayo Clinic.

I know that God can and does use doctors. But, I prayed that way anyway. And He heard my prayer. He inclined to me and heard my cry. Keith is healed.


He has "...put a new song in my mouth , a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD."


Praise Him with me! Fear Him! Love Him! Praise Him! He is LORD over all.