Hope-ism

After visiting a neighbor and hearing about their one-car dilemma, Hope came home and told me that the neighbor's transgression (transmission) went out on their van.

I was preparing my grapefruit for breakfast and Hope couldn't quite remember the name of the fruit, so without much thought she asked- "Do you really like fruit-grape?"

Now I know why Leave it to Beaver was so popular.

Samuel Rutherford

"To live on Christ's love is a king's life."

the body of Christ

I've been encouraged by God manifesting His love through the body of Christ lately. A friend called requesting prayer for her situation- we don't attend the same church but we have the same Savior and I was so thankful that I was just one of many with whom she was able to share her burden.

Another friend, who does attend church with me, found her family facing a trajedy as well. It was encouraging to hear how brothers in Christ were there to comfort and encourage her.

Finally, it was nice to receive an encouraging note from an elder after my skin cancer "scare". Again, it is VERY likely that I'm in clear- one of the fortunate ones- but it was nice to receive this word:

As Pastor Piper says below, this is a gift that He has not only given to you but to all those around you who are watching you, praying for you, and will be beside you and Will every step of the way to remind you of His great goodness and faithfulness in this trial. It is so hard to think of this as a gift. It’s much easier to see this as one of the many reasons why we along with all creation groan under the heaviness of sin’s destructive effect. It’s much easier to despair and allow our faith to wilt like Jonah’s gourd. But this is not befitting a child of the King and an heir of His kingdom. He has given us all things in Christ when Christ is our treasure. What is there to fear? What is there to dread? Is He not able to rescue? Is He not able to console? To comfort? To give extra grace where there is extra need? Will He not draw near to you as you draw near to Him? Is He not called our buckler and shield, a very present help, our Rock, fortress, our Most High God in whom is our refuge and safety? Does He not only promise us that we can lie down and sleep in peace but also give us this example in Christ Jesus, Paul, Peter, and so many others so that our faith would be strengthened? He is not only altogether lovely but He is also altogether greater in all things than what could ever be expressed in word. It will take an eternity to have only gained a glimpse of what angels have been adoring and worshiping since the moment of their creation.

Anyway, the bride of Christ is beautiful.

Skin Cancer

Yep- I have it (or had it, hopefully.)

Bad news- Level 3- Malignant Melanoma
Good news- they think they got it all

I go April 11 to have more of the area removed to ensure that ALL of the cancer cells are gone.

I've heard it many times, but now I know first-hand- early detection is a life saver! Thank the Lord that I couldn't stand the sight of that yucky mole another day.

True beauty

What is true beauty?

the latest fashion?
that great hair cut?
a fit physique?
I am too often deceived by the lies of this world.

God's Word says, "Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and praise is beautiful!"

A woman full of praise. . . that is true beauty.

Great Expectations

I've been discouraged by my sin and other circumstances, lately. But the Lord encouraged me with the phrase- great expectations. Wait on the Lord with Great Expectations. Our Great God does Great things in His time for His glory.

Words can never hurt me. . .

I told my husband I was going to tell on him. . . here I go:

I was in a hurry to get ready this morning so I opened my drawer and threw some clothes on. . . and then I started to second-guess my quick decision. . . so I asked my husband, "Am I too wrinkley?"

He replied, "Your clothes or your face?"

Good grief- what am I supposed to do with that?? There's not even a good comeback there. . .

oh, my husband. . . I love him.

My Hubby

I've been wanting Will to write on the blog- so without his consent (hee hee)- here is a little something he has been chewing on/writing about:

Moral ablility (free will):
In salvation . . .
“Whosoever will, may come” is a statement of permission, not of ability.
Jhn 6:44

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jhn 6:65

And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
The will is of no account . . .
Jhn 1:13

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Rom 9:16

So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
The human will is of no account in sanctification . . .
Phl 2:13

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
Jhn 15:5

I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Mat 19:25

When his disciples heard [it], they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26

But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Christ or moralism/legalism?
Rom 3:20

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.
Gal 3:3

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 2:16

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
The Jews were cut-off.…
Rom 11:7

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Because they became moralists/legalists….
Rom 9:30
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Rom 9:31
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Rom 9:32
Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

However, by our union with Christ we are sanctified….
Rom 6:6

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
And produce fruit….
Rom 7:4

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, [even] to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
And fruit is not action (to do), but character (to be)….
Gal 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Love to the Unseen Christ by Thomas Vincent

"The love of Christians unto Christ is a grace wrought in their hearts by the Spirit. It is a flower most sweet and fragrant, but there is no seed of it in the nature of any man since the fall."

"There must first be a discovery of Christ as a suitable object for love; and not merely a bare notion of this, but believing apprehensions of it, that Christ is infinitely lovely, superlatively excellent, and that His love is matchless and transcended towards the children of men; that there is a treasure in Him, and a storehouse of all graces, and the most needful and rich supplies."