Tag Archives: christ

he is risen {he is risen indeed}

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happy {belated} resurrection sunday!  i hope that you enjoyed a lovely day of celebration with friends and family.  we most definitely did.  it was such a sweet time as our little family of three.  relaxing and playing and fancy sunday-best wearing and a joyful church service and a patio brunch.  and then we added to the fun by spending some hours with even more family in the afternoon and evening.

here are just a few snaps from the day.  how was your easter?  any family traditions to share?  we have some ideas for next year once miss elinor can engage in the festivities a bit more.  won’t it be the cutest?

photo 2 photo 1 photo 1 (2) photo 5 photo 3 photo 4 photo 2 (2)

it’s friday but sunday is coming…

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good friday links + reading

the crucifixion account:  matthew 27

behold the Son

what does it mean for Jesus to despise shame?

free download: a sample from “salvation accomplished by the Son”

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Lord, quiet my spirit on this day of darkness.  may i reflect upon my Savior’s passion as i ponder the darkness of my own heart.  may i recognize my sin that put my Savior on that cross, that i may appreciate all the more the joy that sunday brings.  may my fervor be refreshed.  may i understand more deeply the consequences of my sin and the greatness of Christ’s sacrifice.  and may my spirit rejoice in my redemption.

a few words on marriage from the renowned marriage counselor, ben affleck

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sometimes, God uses the most interesting of people, places, or things to speak into our lives.  recently it was ben affleck, at the oscars, gold statuette in hand.  he spoke about his marriage during his acceptance speech and it just got me thinking about the true meaning of marriage.  and then i read this article.  good stuff.

yes, there are moments of fairytale bliss - birds chirping and swirling around, flowers in bloom, forest creatures singing, glitter and clouds, and such.  but then there are hard days.  hard weeks.  hard months.  hard years, even.  times that are trying.  seasons of sickness. poorer instead of richer.  when the “worse” part of those vows stares you in the face, knocks the wind out of you, and becomes real.  but i must say that i agree with mr. affleck, “it’s good. it is work, but it’s the best kind of work.” 

my God + my hubby + me  the three of us work at it together.  but it’s the best kind of work.

and in those moments of bliss make you understand that God is true to His promises.  and then you just let out a contented sigh as you bask in the blessings of God.  grateful that He has given you someone to walk with and talk with and cry with and laugh with in this life.  He is a good God.  He is a kind and sweet God.  and He has given me a husband who loves me deeply with the love of Christ and who really truly likes me.  we enjoy each other’s company and have so much fun together.  and as long as we keep walking with our Savior…that love grows truer, our life together is a blessing to others, and the work pays off.

no ordinary marriage

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one of the greatest social tragedies of our day is the underperformance of marriage—not only marriages that end in divorce, but also those which, while remaining “intact”, become painfully strained and emotionally scarred. surely there must be hope for something better, for something more.

together for God’s glory

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the tagline for this book is unpacked on the pages of this fantastic work by dr. tim savage.  ben and i are blessed to get to hear him proclaim God’s truth every sunday at our church and we are thrilled about this new book.  God has blessed this man with a desire for Christ, a brilliant mind, an extreme love for people, a passion for holiness, a keen intellect, a gift for discerning and proclaiming the truth of God’s Word, and a humble servant’s heart.  God has used him mightily to pen an exquisite and profound work on the gift and meaning of marriage.

this book is rich and replete.  filled with vibrant observations andand significant pertinence.  it isn’t a quick and practical “how to” guide for married couples.  this isn’t a step-by-step guide or self-help feel-goodery mumbo-jumbo.  it delves into the depths of the sacred union and expresses God’s lofty purpose for marriage.  savage also discusses cruciform love and how God desires for our marriages to bring glory to Him so that His glory can infuse our relationships, increase our joy, and make us bright lights in a troubled world.

for married couples, engaged couples, dating couples, and soon-to-be-dating individuals, this is a powerful book.  pick it up and prayerfully pour over the pages.  let it seep into you, convict your heart, encourage your soul, inspire your actions, and shape your relationships – for His glory and your good.

28.

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why does that feel like such a giant number?  27 felt pretty good.  how come 28 feels so much bigger?  hmmm…

not that i have a problem with 28.  this is shaping up to be a great year.  i have been blessed beyond measure and feel like a could just burst!  God is so good.

He has given me life.  He has given me spiritual life through the gift of His Son.  He has given me His Word as a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path.  He has given me His Spirit to watch and guide.  He has given me  incredible parents who seek Him and have lived obediently.  they love God and they love each other.  they raised me and taught me and disciplined me and prayed for me.  and now, i have the amazing privilege to watch them as they become grandparents and pour out love on our little one.  [she is pretty blessed]  He has given me a sister to grow up with, be challenged by, to learn from, and to share life’s little milestones with.  He has given me friends.  people who sharpen me and encourage me and experience life with me.  He has given me a church family who supports and protects and loves.  a family that i can worship and serve and fellowship with.  He has given me a loving husband as a lifemate.  a man who has loved me through all the ugly and who rejoices with me through the good.  someone who images Christ’s love.  someone who i cherish.  He has given me health and vitality.  He has allowed me to enjoy His goodness and pleasures on this earth.  He has given me vocation and work that i may produce and yield fruit.  He has given me a home and haven.  He has given me the honor of carrying and stewarding the life of another.  He has allowed me to become a mother.

not too shabby for ol’ 28.

independence

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on this fourth of july, i find myself thinking about the word “independence”.  so often, this word is accompanied by the little preposition, from.  we wanted independence from great britain.  we want independence from oppression.  we want independence from government.  we want independence from our parents.  we want freedom from something else that we view as holding us back or fettering us.

but what does this idea of independence look like in my life?  what should a Christian life be?  should i really long for independence?  rather, should i long to be independence on something? john 15: 1-11 says:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. already you are clean because of the word that i have spoken to you. abide in me, and i in you. as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. i am the vine; you are the branches. whoever abides in me and i in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. if anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. by this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. as the Father has loved me, so have i loved you. abide in my love. if you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as  i have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. these things i have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

abide in me.  apart from me, you can do nothing.  it would seem as though we are not to wander through this life trying to do it on our own.  trying to be independent.  trying to be our own island.  man was created to abide.  man was created to be in fellowship with the Father.  to be constantly fed my the wellspring of life.  we cannot cut ourselves off and expect to flourish.  we need to be connected to the vine in order to be fruitful.  we need the holy sap to infuse our lives with His grace and sustenance that we might have life.  we wither away when we are away from the vine.

furthermore, we are created to be a part of a large vine.  we aren’t just lone plants in individual pots.  we are part of an interwoven family of shoots and branches and leaves that are dynamic.  each part growing and feeding.  God provides the nourishment and the pruning.  our job is to stay tapped in.  to continue to bear fruit.  to become bigger and stronger.  this is why we need other people to speak into our lives.  this is why we need community.  this is why we need companions.  this is why we need the local church.  we are called to be a part of something bigger than just our little branch.  the vine should be robust and conspicuous so that it is clear that it is a healthy vine.  the healthy vine brings glory to the Creator.

i need to be abiding.  i need to be independence on Christ.  only when i abide in Him and depend on Him for life will my joy be full.  and that is what i want.  fullness of joy.  that is true freedom.

a scandalous freedom

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oh, this is a controversial and fascinating book.  i love books that challenge me and make me think beyond my theological comfort zone.  we have been discussing the idea of true freedom in our community group and some fantastic conversation has been sparked.  what does it mean to be free?  how have i defined freedom in Christ?  is my definition the right one?  am i still a slave to the law?  or am i a slave to righteousness?  perplexing.

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galatians 5: 1

for freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

romans 6 [all of it] but particularly verse 18

and,  having been set free from sin,  have become slaves of righteousness.

john 8:31-37

so Jesus said to the jews who had believed him, “if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will  know the truth, and the truth  will set you free.” they answered him, “we are offspring of abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. how is it that you say, ‘you will become free’?”  Jesus answered them, “truly, truly, i say to you,  everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. the slave does not remain in the house forever;  the son remains forever. so if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed…”

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God has set us free.  Jesus paid it all, all to Him i owe.  sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.  we are justified in His eyes.  we are free.  and God has set us free from sin to live a life of freedom in Christ.  why is it that we then choose to walk our Christian walks chained to the former life OR in bondage to a new way life that we have devised based on the law?  rather than delighting in God’s lavish grace, we become fearful of igniting His displeasure.  we stick to rules and impose those rules on others.  why don’t we find rest in His all-sufficient grace?  why, once we are freed from the yoke of slavery to the master of sin, do we choose to take up a new yoke of slavery to man-made regulations?

Jesus not only opened the door to the prison, He loosed our chains.  He destroyed the locks.  He threw away the key.  He led us away from this prison and welcomed us to His banquet table.  He gave us snow-white linens and put a royal robe on us.  we now have access to the Most High.  we are sons and daughters of the Creator of the universe and King of glory.  the King then gives us His signet ring and offers us bountiful land for our stewardship and sustenance and a kingdom for our enjoyment.  at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.  sounds pretty good.  okay, so why do we throw off our robes, tear our clothes, roll in the dirt, dress in sackcloth and ashes, beat our chest, run back to the prison, slam the door behind us, and sit in our cells. all the while, complete freedom to be free and enjoyment of a life with our Savior is right outside the unlocked prison door.  instead, we choose a life of imprisonment in that cell.  a self-imposed sentence to a miserable life indeed.  is it because we long for the “security” of that cell?  the familiarity of that cell?  the isolation of that cell? is it easier to follow rules and check off boxes on our “to-do” and “to-don’t” list while we scratch off the days on the wall of our cell instead of living the adventurous life of freedom?  are we scared of what freedom truly means?

what is with us and our all too common freedom-stifling tendency?  a freedom-less life is a life without joy and void of celebration of our unique gifts in Christ.  this book has challenged to me explore the joys of biblical freedom.  to open the door to the fresh air of liberty in Christ.  and yes, while i don’t agree with everything in the book…it does challenge me to engage my mind.  to munch on the meat of the Word.  to discern Biblical truth and conform my life to those precepts.  to become a slave to righteousness.  may i continue to be sharpened as God uses His word to renew my mind and refresh my walk.

anything you can do…the annie oakley syndrome

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anything you can do, i can do better.  i can do anything better than you.  no, you can’t. yes, i can. no, you can’t. yes, i can. no, you can’t. yes, i can, yes, i can!

annie get your gun

and that’s not all.  annie goes on to sing a laundry list of things that she can do better…

  • she is greater than you
  • she can sing anything higher than you
  • she can say anything softer than you
  • she can hold any note longer than you
  • she can say anything faster than you
  • she can sing anything sweeter than you
  • in what you wear she’d look better than you
  • she can even buy anything cheaper than you…

doesn’t it feel like sometimes, we are all secretly [or perhaps, more blatantly] singing this song to one another?  constantly one-upping and competing and comparing.  yuck.  how often do i pull an annie oakley?  what is this need to be better than everyone?  why am i competing?  why do i compare myself to others?  a pretty pathetic state of things if you ask me.

and i think that this syndrome can be especially true of women.  sometimes it is as visible as an overt assault and sometimes it is veiled by a toss of the hair, an extra coat of pink gloss, or a backhanded compliment.

we set the stage and put ourselves on display in a real-life pageant of sorts [more like three ring circus or cage match].  welcome to…the who is better show!  it is caddy and absurd.  fighting it out over who has the best wardrobe.  who has the prettiest hair.  who has the biggest house.  who has the greatest career.  who has the cutest children.  who has the sweeter voice.  and yes, even who thrift store shops better.  [i can buy anything cheaper than you]  it isn’t just about looking great,  it is about looking greater than you.  we hold up mirrors and yardsticks and scales and bank statements to compare and see who comes out on top.  these blatant comparisons and competitions eat away at our relationships.  and, they eat away at our contentment.

what’s worse?  the quiet comparisons.  the ones you say to yourself and keep tucked away in your mind.  the ones that eat away at you.  the deadly comparisons that make you feel less than and unworthy. you know.  the ones that sound like…look what she is wearing, i wish i could pull that off.  i wish my skin looked like that.  if only i had her curly hair.  if only i had her straight hair.  everything always works out for her.  she gets to stay at home with her children.  she gets to go to work and engage in meaningful pursuits.  i wish i could cook like her.  i wish i had her metabolism.  ashes, ashes, we all fall down. 

the world is ripe with opportunities to compare and compete.  why do i engage?  even if i do win in one of the aforementioned categories, that fleeting joy will soon be overshadowed by the misery and disappointment of losing in the others.  what a mess.  and yes, we all fall down.

truly, i should never ever strive to be “better than you”.  and in reality, most of time i am just competing with myself.  my concocted ideas about what i think i should be and what others think i should be.  this just leads to more comparison and competition and discontentment.  the only thing that i should be striving for is holiness.  to image Christ more and more.  to grow in my likeness to Him.  if i am going to look to anything as my model for life, let it be Christ.  i should only press on and strive for the heavenly prize.  a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised.  who cares about what others have and do.  i need to fix my gaze on Christ so that i begin to reflect more of His beauty.  less time looking in the mirror – more time looking at His Word.  less time focusing on others – more time focusing on His mercies and grace and shekinah glory.  less time competing with others – more time allowing Him to shape my life.  less time comparing – more time contemplating my own actions.  as my pastor used to say…God has given each of us a bag.  a bag with contents uniquely purposed for you.  an assortment of talents and graces and blessings.  each one a good gift given by the Father above.  we must learn to use what God has given us.  and, to keep our noses in our own bag.

here’s to not being nosey or sticking our nose up at others.