The Radical Question

I recently listed to The Radical Question by David Platt.  This book starts out with a story of what believers in East Asia go through just to meet and read the Word of God (read by narrator Lloyd James, who I enjoyed very much).  They meet in secret; if they are found out their tongues could be cut out or they may lose their lives.  David Platt says they have shown by their sacrifices how much Jesus means to them.

He then asks the question:  What is Jesus worth to us?  By us, he means Americans.   He then goes on tell us what it means to sacrifice for Jesus.  He tells us to sacrifice it all.  All=the American dream, our stuff, our priorities.  We have a choice and should choose to die to ourselves and sacrifice our lives, gifts, skills, family and resources to make Christ known.

While I was convicted of having too much stuff and not living enough for the Lord, the author didn't really explain how I go about sacrificing all.  Do I just sell everything to go into missions?  I wish he would have given some practical ideas on what it means to sacrifice all.

He ends the book with the same radical question:  What is Jesus worth to me?  He then exhorts the reader to "...stop living as if this world is our home."  All well and good but how is that done?  What does it look like?  I think I would have enjoyed the book more if it didn't leave me hanging on a question that wasn't answered.

Please Note: This audiobook was gifted as a part of the christianaudio Reviewers Program in exchange for my unbiased review of this work. This has in no way influenced my opinion or review of this work. More information can be found about this and other Christian audiobooks at christianaudio.com.

Celebrating!

The past few days have been very rainy.  It is so hard for me to get motivated on days like this!  We needed the rain, though, so I am very thankful for it.  Perhaps the sun will come out later today!

Tuesday night our whole family went out to celebrate the engagement of Jessica and Anthony!  Here we are all together:

We had a wonderful time.  Now that everyone is working and/or going to school it is hard to get us all together in the same place.  Thankfully everyone's schedules worked out and we were able to celebrate.  

The Deep Running Veins of Sin

I read this article by Tim Challies this morning and it really spoke to me.  It is so easy (for me) to not dig too deep into those areas of my life where I am harboring sin.  But I need to dig!  And thankfully the Lord puts me in situations or brings people into my path that show me where my sin lies.  Other times it is when reading His word that I will be convicted of something that needs to be changed.
 
I pray that my heart will always be open to what the Lord is teaching me; that I will not harden it but accept it as a blessing from Him.

By His Wounds

A song for Good Friday...

Invasion of the Inch Worms

In the past week our area has been under attack from inchworms.  They are everywhere...on the door, windows and deck of the house.  Floating through the air on their wispy threads.  The one in the picture above looks cute.  That is until there are hundreds of them wherever you go.  A friend just posted on FB that she found one in her freezer.  

I heard on the news today that the infestation should be over in a week or so.  I hope it's sooner!

Hello!

I am ready to get back into the blogging world!  I took a much- needed break but now hope to be back on a more regular basis!

A Good Soldier

Some Bible study notes from studying 2 Timothy 2:3-4:  Endure hardship with us like a good solider of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer.

When I trusted the Lord as my Savior, I also took Him on as Lord—as my Commanding Officer.  As my C.O., the Lord has the right to do with me as He pleases.

My life should be totally committed to Him.  Although these verses may be talking about a pastor, the same principles are true for me.  I am not to become entangled in worldly pursuits.  I am to have singleness of purpose:  pleasing the Lord.  If I am to be a good soldier then my affections, time and talents are to be used in godly pursuits that would further the gospel.  Spending time on worldly pursuits can cause my heart to stray from Him and those things can become my treasure.  (Matthew 6:21; also Colossians 3:1-2)

Jesus tells us that we are to love the Lord with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength.  That doesn’t leave room for much else.  That doesn’t mean that we’re to not do things that are church-related but that in ALL we do, the Lord should be first. 

Another thing about a soldier’s life was that hardship was expected.  John tells us “not to be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates us” and Peter says “do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you”.  But Paul tells Timothy to “Endure hardship with us”.  We are not alone in these trials; we have a body of believers who can come alongside to help and comfort.  The Lord Himself said that we have a Comforter.  We can go to the throne of God and receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.

To live a life that is pleasing to the Lord is one of total commitment and hard work; it is one that involves suffering and trials.  We need to rely on the Lord for strength and endurance to be a good soldier; to follow orders from our Commanding Officer whether they are easy or hard.  If we have a singleness of purpose as a soldier does, then the Lord will give courage and perseverance to accept the assignment He gives us (Psalm 16:5).

If we persevere and please our Lord, then we will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your Master’s happiness!”

Happy New Year

Veterans Day

Thanks so much to all the brave men and women who have served (and are serving) our country so that my family and I can have many freedoms that other countries do not enjoy.  Thanks especially to my dad, sister, brother-in-law, and various other relatives who have served during times of peace and times of war.  I am so grateful!!

The Family Circus

"Family Circus" creator, Bil Keane, dies...

I didn't know Bil Keane or his family but I certainly felt like I did!  I grew up reading "Family Circus".  I was about 7 or 8 when my dad brought home one of their books.  I still have it--even after 47 years!  It's falling apart and I've since bought another copy but I still kept that one.

Ever since I received that first book I've been collecting them and have almost the entire collection.  To me, "Family Circus" celebrates marriage and family life back in the day when it was a more innocent time.  When family values were important.

I know his cartoons were cheesy sometimes but they were very sweet, too.  I guess I am really nostalgic about them.  They remind me of growing up in the 1960's when it was so much different than today.  His cartoons were about things that I could relate to and about families that I knew.  Did this ever happen in your home?

I don't know if his son will continue his legacy but I'm glad I have a lot of his books because I will never be too old to read them.  It will be a sad day, indeed, when there's no "Family Circus" on the funny pages.