Ursa Major

This past weekend I was in Big Bear with my Bible study, Compelled. Our speaker was Jack Hughes, and he preached on Christian liberties. I was so encouraged by spending time with some dear friends and fellow believers. And my walk was challenged as I remembered that everything I do needs to fall under the umbrella of putting others before myself. Even the way I use my liberties must be done through the eyes of loving and preferring other people with the gospel as my goal--the gospel to save those who don't know Jesus Christ, and to help those who do to excel still more! I was also reminded that I must know why I have the convictions I have, not simply because my church or my family did things a certain way, but because I have studied God's Word and developed convictions out of the desire to be obedient to Scripture. What a blessed time!

Tears of Joy and Tears of Sadness

I just read the blog of Emily Chapman (Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter). A close-up picture of her with a pretend shocked look on her face hinted at her excitement. And the story she shared below confirmed the news. She got engaged only a few days earlier. Then I heard the news that the five-year-old adopted Chapman daughter, Maria, was killed when her brother Will did not see her, and hit her while he was backing out of the driveway in an SUV.

And I thought to myself, life is like that. It has ups and downs and sometimes both at the same time. But one thing that does not change is the person of Jesus Christ who has sovereign power over all of those ups and downs. He gives and He takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Brokenness

Hebrews 7:24
“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
It’s humbling to see what a wretched sinner I am. Pride, self-sufficiency, and lack of trust, are but a few of my gross deficiencies. What a repulsive, dark, and festering place are the recesses of my heart. I could easily wallow in the abomination of my flesh and become a helpless, useless, mess.

Hebrews 7:25
“I thank God––through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
But praise God, He has enabled me to experience glimpses of victory over the flesh here on earth and eventually perfect freedom from sin in the life to come. He has forgiven me and washed me––though my sins are like scarlet, He has made me white as snow. Jesus, thank you!

A Funny Childhood Memory (Inspired by Jen's Funny Childhood Memory)

I was about 6 years old. My dad had just spanked me (which I am sure I very much deserved). I walked into the room and up to my father. I pulled down my pants and pointed to a red mark (the remains of the spanking). And I said to him, "look what you did! I hope you're happy!"

I think I deserved another spanking.