Grace Blanket

Reading bits of Timothy Keller & Charles Spurgeon has been good for me. Some things have come into focus that I've needed to see. 

In "The King's Cross", Keller contrasts religion and the gospel. Religion is do's and don'ts, the lists if what is required so I am acceptable, and it puts the focus on me. Me working out my salvation, trying to earn it. Tiring stuff, but even so, my tendency is toward religion and collecting accomplishments that make me a model Christian girl. A gospel mindset is different because gospel means "good news", and knowing the good news of "though our sins are scarlet, He washed them white as snow," asks for a different response. It promotes worshiping the real God and not my accomplished self. It's grace, a free, costly gift. 

This morning in the "Evening and Morning" app (it's free in iTunes!), Spurgeon talked about the Lord's Prayer and how the first phrase, "Our Father" indicates the importance of our grasping the spirit of adoption. That blew me away. He's my Father through adoption, not because I was so awesome that I deserved to be picked. 

The theme I see is Jesus in His grace saved me; I strive so hard to do things to merit that salvation, but I miss out when I do. I want to live under the blanket of grace, so, so aware if the good news that saves.

Gratitude: siblings

(He's reading to her.)

My sisters are a tremendous blessing in my life; they get my corny humor (ad inwardly think I'm hilarious, but are too cool to admit it), they relate to my overly-romantic sensibilities, they share faith in Jesus with me. I am spoiled to have the gorgeous, talented, interesting, deep wells of wisdom and character in the sisters I have. 

It gives me joy to see Ransom and Hosanna interact. Sure, I have to monitor to make sure he doesn't drop/throw something on her and I know she'll become savvy to the trick of shifting blame/getting sympathy by crying, but these kids are still blessings.  Oh, how Hosanna zeroes in on Ransom when he's around and how she smiles when he comes close to her. She looks up to him already. I feel so grateful every time Ransom asks to hold her or wants her near to him, or when he includes her in conversation. Or the time he was sitting in the cart in the store and reached back to hold her hand for several minutes to comfort her when she was crying. I am so looking forward to their future interactions and am praying for them to be best friends. Praying that he'll protect her and look after her. Praying that she'll encourage him and cheer him on. 

It goes without saying, but I am so thankful for these kids.

Gratitude: Lots of Things

Lots to be grateful for today, but high on the list is the knowledge that God is working a bigger plan than I can understand, and He's faithful to leave evidence. 

The church my in-laws pastor (also the church I attended through college) had it's 15 year anniversary today and I was able to go to the service. It was soul-enriching to see people again, and to see AJ's parents leading in their new position, and it made me feel still a part of things going on there, still a part of the church family.

The rest of the day was spent as family together. Coffee & conversation, grandma & grandpa time for Ransom & Hosanna, window shopping, finding a pretty dress for $5.99, and more coffee and conversation. Good memories were made today. 

Take Him at His word

Yesterday Ephesians 3:12 stood out to me. It talks about how in Jesus we can approach God with confidence and freedom. That caught my attention because I think when I approach God, I do so with hesitation or with a "if you have time for me" or "if it's not too mug trouble..." sort of tone. Even after years of being a Christian, I struggle with this. 

So this morning I decided to experiment. My friend's car was broken into last night, nothing stolen, but she'll have to pay to get the window repaired and te whole thing is a bummer. So after dropping her off at work, in lieu of listening to music or a podcast, I asked God to bless her and that she'd get lots of tips today. The most tips she's ever had at work so far. 

Talked to her this afternoon and she did.

What!!!!! God totally answered my experimental prayer! He CARES about the details! He is so good at loving us. :)

Connecting the dots makes me worship.

My spiritual gift of overspiritualization is making a comeback in this post. Fair warning. :)

While we were on our pilgrimage this weekend (we went on a quick road trip to Bethel), someone was admiring Hosanna's polka-dot jacket. This lady said polka dots always remind her of how God is connectin the dots to make a beautiful picture. She was referring to mine own gorgeous baby girl, so I was happy to agree with her! (She's wearing the jacket in the above picture.)

Tonight Andrew and I started reading a book together. It's called King's Cross by Timothy. Only one chapter and a "Before" into it, dots are connecting for us. Keller (I feel so literature-y calling him that!) talks about the baptism of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, and how it connects to the creation. In Mark 1, God speaks of how he's pleased with his Son, and the Spirit of God hovers over Jesus like a dove. This moment in history is an echo of creation, but this moment heralds the creation of redemption. In Genesis 1, creation begins with the voice of God (Father), his Word (the Son, Jesus, who is called the Word in John 1), and the Spirt of God. Two beginnings with each member of the trinity playing a role.

Keller further opened our eyes to parallel temptations in Genesis and Mark. Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden were tempted with fruit from a forbidden tree and chose to disobey, resulting in them knowing death. Jesus was tempted too, and later in the garden of Gethsemane, before his arrest, Jesus chose obedience which resulted in his death on a tree (a cross). But his story doesn't end with death; his obedience opened the door for life, a juxtaposition to the Fall in Eden. 

Dots connect. So great when that happens! May you get polka-dotted Jesus connections in your life, too.

I am a Bible nerd. Praise the Lord! 

Accepting Advice from Spurgeoun

Recently I came upon a free app that is based on the devotional Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon. There's two readings each day, one for morning & one for evening. Clever, no?

I rarely have a chance to read both, but I always get something good out of the devotional when I do. 

Recently God's been showing me that I need to rely more on him in my exchanges with strangers and people I come across regularly. I tend toward being an introvert and sometimes use that personality trait of mine to justify my timidity. I've felt uneasy about this trait of mine, like I'm robbing myself of an experience to brighten up someone's day. It could be simple effort on my part that opens the door for Jesus to use me to reflect his love. 

Here's an excerpt from the devotions on October 20 that stood out to me: 

"You may be of a timid disposition, but you must strive against it, lest it lead you into disobedience. There is a sweet promise made to those who confess Christ—by no means miss it, lest you come under the condemnation of those who deny him. If you have talents keep not back from using them. Hoard not your wealth, waste not your time; let not your abilities rust or your influence be unused. Jesus kept not back; imitate him by being foremost in self-denials and self-sacrifices. Keep not back from close communion with God, from boldly appropriating covenant blessings, from advancing in the divine life, from prying into the precious mysteries of the love of Christ. Neither, beloved friend, be guilty of keeping others back by your coldness, harshness, or suspicions. For Jesus' sake go forward yourself, and encourage others to do the like."

Dedicated

Today we had Hosanna dedicated to Jesus. Instead of baptizing babies, our church's denomination dedicates babies by praying a blessing over them and having the church participate. I love baby dedications!

AJ's parents were there; our friend/more like a sister, Tia; honorary grandparents (when we were without family in our part of the country) the Poets; and Donna, nursery pastor/like an aunt to the kids, all stood up with us during the dedication. 

Andrew was dedicated as a baby in our church when his dad was a worship pastor there, and it is awesome to add Ransom & Hosanna's names to the spiritual legacy that has some good roots in this church.