More from Larry Crabb...

A few nuggets from "66 Love Letters" by Larry Crabb.

"God, I believe, help my unbelief. I hope, help my hopelessness. I love, help my lack of love." Pg. 124

I like this because I struggle with these things daily, but I do believe, hope and trust.

My justice serves the deeper purposes of My love. Always." pg. 125

I often don't understand His justice, but I can trust in it.

"I am wispering My love to you in your pleasures as a mother quietly sings over a child in her arms. But I want you to grow up." pg. 126

I like this picture. As a mom I do enjoy comforting my child and giving him/her joy, but I also know that he/she needs to grow up and I must help in that, often more difficult, process. Of course God doesn't just help in it, He designs what is needed for my growth.

Words

I got a new book recently. "The Power of words and the Wonder of God." It's essays,written by various leaders,on words. The first one is by Paul Tripp and gave me much to think on.

He mentions that the Bible is "... a story. A grand narrative of redemption." He tells us that this is to give us a "God's story mentality. This means that in the situations and relationships where God has placed us, we are to live in a way that is consistent with the plot of God's story."

I like that.

He also talks about speaking out of the kingdom of God's love or the kingdom of our own selfish desires. An interesting thing to be aware of throughout the day.

...all things for His good

I recently read a short biography of John Owen and it mentioned that he expended great effort to get John Bunyon out of prison. He couldn't see what good purpose there was in his being there. He needed to be out preaching and taking care of his family. God had different plans though. It was in this imprisonment that Bunyon wrote "Pilgrim's Progress." A book that has blessed and encouraged many generations of believers.

John Piper has a quote in "The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God," that has been a continual encouragment to me. "Beware, Jamima, God is kind in ways that will not fit your mind."

At present many brothers and sisters around the world are in prison for their faith. One that has become special to me is Asia Bibi. She was imprisoned in 2009 for sharing of her faith. She is in a Pakistan prison for blasphemy. She has a husband and three children who she is not able to care for. However, she spends much time fasting and praying for her family, fellow believers, those who turned her in, those in authority, her country and believers around the world. What good purpose could God have in her circumstances? Eternity may only tell but she will one of God's sparkling jewels in Heaven.

You can Bing Asia Bibi for more of her story.

Dancing with Max

I recently read "Dancing with Max" by Emily Colson and so enjoyed it. Max is her amazingly wonderful autistic son. I loved the response of their church to him. I loved her love and delight in him, and that she was real about how hard it is at times to raise him.
You will be blessed by reading this and it will help you in knowing better how to love and respond to special needs people in your life. It's also a reminder that we may see them as "special needs" but they are of great value and importance in our world.

Trusting in His providence

I found this statement on the blog Radical Womanhood. It's written to singles but relevent for all of us. The journey Tim and I have been on for 2 1/2 years has not been at all what we've exected. There have been very discouraging times, it often seems hopeless. We've chosen to keep trusting that God is at work and He is good, but it's easy to fall into Naomi thinking. I am so thankful that God is faithful and sovereign and I can put my trust in Him even when I can't see what He is doing. He is God and I am not.

"It’s all about trusting God’s good provision for our lives. Encourage single men and women to read Ruth. Not because it’s a matchmaking book (it’s really not), but because we all tend to be like Naomi. We survey our circumstances and think we know exactly what God is doing. . . or not doing. But we simply have no idea that he is doing more than we can ask or imagine. His quiet providence is on display everywhere and an eagerness to look for that and praise him for it cultivates gratitude. "

I'd also recommend "A Sweet and Bitter Providence," by John Piper. This book was a wonderful valentines gift from the love of my life.

I must! Really?

I have an addiction to on-line mahjong! Some people serf the web or watch then tube to waste time, I play mahjong. It's a time killer I know. When I play I can block out the world and I enjoy it. Harmless, right? Anything that is addictive isn't harmless. I've tried to not play, but I keep going back to this "harmless" time waster.
Today in reading Jeremiah I saw these words, spoken by the people of Judah when confronted with their idolatry, "It's no use. I love foreign gods and I must go after them." How foolish, how short sighted, how like me. "It's no use I love mahjong and I must play it."
To emphasize the message I was also in II Cor. where Paul was talking about dying to self and death, to self, being at work in him. I clearly saw that I am refusing in this area to die to myself, my "harmless" time waster.
I want to put God first and love Him above all else. If you think of me please pray that I will humble myself before Him and truly love Him enough to die to myself.

Let Your Heart Rejoice!

I've been memorizing Psalm 13:5-6 and trying to discipline myself to praise God for all things, especially my salvation and then I heard a song yesterday that was such a good reminder to me.
It's a song by Annie Herring, I don't know the name of it, but it's very simple and I've always loved it.

The words are:
Never let a day go by without letting your heart rejoice,
Never let a day go by without lifting up your voice.
To thank Him for the things He's done,
for giving us His precious Son.
Never let a day go by without letting your heart rejoice.

I had an "ah ha" moment when listening to it this time that my heart was made to rejoice in God and naturally wants to but I let life distract me and often get discouraged by the distractions. I need to free up my heart to rejoice as it was designed to do.

The hard part is what does that mean. I'm letting the Spirit talk to me about it and looking forward to what He is doing in my life through this nugget of truth.