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.