Facebook Applications

Facebook has lots of applications, groups, causes, etc. that you can invite your friends to join.  I ignore a lot of them (sorry to those I’ve ignored) especially if it has something to do about saving the world from global warming.  I’m sorry to say (well, not really) but I just don’t believe in the whole global warming the same way that most imply.  I believe in a global warming and really, it’s such an under-statement to call it a global warming – more like a global burn.  It’ll come when God fully unleashes this wrath and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it, slow it down, or cool it down.  There are many reasons why I don’t believe in the trendy global warming and now is not the time I’m going to take for that. 

Other applications/groups/causes I check out as I get around to them.   Some of them have a tendency to freeze up on me or do some other odd thing and so I just close it and move on.   Besides, what you really end up with is a whole lot of stuff listed on your info page that you probably won’t go back to regularly and the applications, well, they do have the option to show on your profile or not but still, you may not really do much with them unless you are in the food fight one, or something like that.  Though, there are those who seem to be totally into (addicted) the Mafia and Pirates ones.  I won’t judge ya, but I may laugh. 

Fairly recently, one particular application caught my eye – it’s called “Praise Party“.  Someone sent me an invitation that said, “Let’s praise God together! …encouraging each other by reminding one another who He is and what He does!”  Then you click either Hallelujah or Ignore.   So, I checked it out because it sounded a bit different.  Ok, this is one I get excited about!  You send people attributes of God!  As those that you send them to accept them, you unlock more!  Now who wouldn’t want to accept something that draws your focus on who your God is and what He does and what He promises?  Well, I know there are those who would mock at it just as I do some other applications.  But really, I was looking at them yesterday thinking, “Wow!  What a great devotional!  Go to the Praise Party page, look at the next attribute (which has corresponding verses to go with it), look it up, start your prayer time pondering that very attribute!”  You can easily start a journal and review each day!  (Oh, and it’s all alphabetical so those of you “Monk” types it’ll be nice and organized for ya.)  Wow!  Or, if you have a blog – you can blog about it!  [tee-hee-hee]  So, if you are on Facebook, check out Praise Party!  If you are one of those friends of mine that I’ve sent those to and you haven’t accepted them, could you so that more of mine will be unlocked?  Please?  Purty please?  Please don’t accept them, though, if you don’t agree with them.  I still won’t accept the plants for the global warming thing. [wink] 

Here are some examples: 

• He’s my DWELLING Place (Psalm 90:1)
• He’s my CONTENMENT (Philippians 4:11)
• He CALLS (Revelation 17:14)
• my BRIDEGROOM (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:25-27, Revelation 19:7)
• APPOINTING us for His purposes (Esther 4:14)
• He is ARRAYING me in a robe of righteousness and ADORNING me as a bride with her jewels (Isaiah 61:10)
• God is ABSOLUTE (Psalm 86:8), ALMIGHTY (Job 37:23), ABOUNDING in love (Joel 2:13)

Sola Deo Gloria

~Het

Because He Loves Me; How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life

Because He Loves Me; How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life

By: Elyse Fitzpatrick
Hardback: 224 pages
Publisher: Crossway Books (April 30, 2008)
ISBN-10: 158134905X

“Simply speaking, love changes people. Christians, then, by definition, should exhibit the greatest transformation of all because, rightly understood and cherished, God’s love makes them increasingly more like the One who has lavished His love on them.  This truth is meant to tell believers who they are, their purpose and destiny, and how to faithfully persevere in their struggles. But sometimes people lose sight of this.  Because He Loves Me restores that vision, reminding Christians of their true identity as beloved children of God—adopted by the Father, espoused to the Son, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Christianity is not a self-improvement program but a transferring of identity and growth, accomplished in history through Christ and in our daily lives through His Spirit.  This book explores and celebrates these truths in an unforgettable way.  Study questions and invitations for deeper discovery conclude each chapter.”  (Description taken from web site.)

 We are finishing up Damsels in Distress in our young ladies Bible study.  Our next book, “Because He Loves Me” is a very re-assuring and encouraging yet proding book.  I just finished reading through the questions throughout the whole book (I know, I read books inside out, backwards, skipping around before I really get into a book — wierd ‘eh?).  I started with the Introduction, found an Apendix and read that, then started to look at all the little charts and figures in the book, but got distracted on the questions.  Let me just say this — I cannot WAIT to get into this book! 

In the forward (by Judy Hogan), she says how she was at “…a one-day ladies seminar that preceded a biblical counceling conference.  During this conference the speaker demonstrated how the gospel message, in five parts — the incarnation, Jesus’ sinless life, His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension — could be applied practially to a variety of counseling settings such as an anorexic teen and a Christian husband addicted to porn.  It was at this point that the Lord flipped the floodgate of revelation on my heart, and i saw with undisputed clarity that the gospel message is in fact the answer to every problem, situation, and sin.”  She goes on to say that she knew this in her head for years, but God made it an absolute reality in her heart at that minute. 

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:2-3

In the introduction, Elyse asks us to consider throughout this book one simple question:  In your pursuit of godliness, have you left Jesus behind?”  Then she asks a few more questions to help clarify.

• If I said that we’re going to spend page after page considering God’s love, would you feel the need to stifle a yawn?
• What does His transforming love mean to you today?
• Are you more focused on your performance for Him or His performance for you?
• At the end of the day, is there a rest in your soul because of Him, or is there guilt and a determination that tomorrow you’re going to “do better”?
• Do you still feel the need to prove that you’re not “all that bad”? Do you get angry when people criticize or ignore you?
• You know that Jesus is the Door. Do you see how He is your life? Could you tell me exactly how He has transformed your daily life?

She continues, “As we work though the answers to these questions together, I want you to be encouraged. This is an endeavor that your Savior is passionate about. His great accomplishments, so personally costly to Him, are not to be relegated to some introductory course that gets stored in the garage with old yearbooks. No, they’re to be constantly mused on and relentlessly rejoiced in by all who know them.”

In the appendix, Elyse gives the gospel and writes out some verses to really ponder on if you are questioning your salvation or if you have come to the realization that you were never saved.  This is one appendix that could be re-visited after most every chapter’s study questions. 

Can you see why I am just so excited to be going through this book?  I hope to be able to keep you posted on our progress through this book.  But really, just go get one yourself and share with others!!!! 

Table Of Contents

The “Must Read” Introduction:  Are You Forgeting Something?
Part One:  How God’s Love Transofrms Our Identity
Chapter 1:  Remembering His Love
Chapter 2:  Identity Amnesia
Chapter 3:  The Identity Gift
Chapter 4:  The Verdict
Chapter 5:  Your Inheritance
Chapter 6:  Look and Live!
Part Two:  How God’s Love Transforms Our Life
Chapter 7:  Be Who You Are
Chapter 8:  I Will Cleanse You
Chapter 9:  Walk In Love
Chapter 10:  Take Courage; Your Sins Are Forgiven
Chapter 11:  Gospel-Centered Relationships
Chapter 12:  The Hope of the Gospel
Apendix:  The Best News

Solus Christus
~Het

Homemade Humidifiers

We’ve had the sick going ’round this neck of the town.  It started with me the day or two after Christmas.  Then Noah got a touch of it.  Then Micah got something which he passed on over to his favorite big brother whom then passed it on to me, the mom.  Fun times, fun times.  With all this cough junk we’ve got and with the air being rather dry inside while trying to keep the house warm, it makes  for one to feel pretty worse and the cough all the harder. 

We have one of them store bought ones that makes it’s way around the house (mostly it spends the night in a bedroom).  But, it just wasn’t enough.  So, one day I pulled out a big stock pot and filled it with water.  But how boring is that!  We have an orange tree (which didn’t do so well this last year) and we had a bunch of oranges on the ground and stuff.  I sent out a kid of mine and he brought in some of these oranges.  They weren’t that greatest of oranges so I cut them in half and plopped them in the water, threw in some whole cloves (or whatever spice I ended up grabbing) and boiled.  Once to a boil, turn way down and let steam.  Result?  Nice, warm, moist, air that even smelled good!  I’ve since used other citrus fruits and each give a pleasant comforting feeling and smell to the air.  Kind of like a clean smell.  Now, I’m not always a huge fan of citrus smells, but this one is a very pleasant effect.  So, if any of you have any citrus trees and need to unload some, send ‘em on over! 

Well, there is a tid-bit for the day.  Gonna go back to blowing my nose and coughing up a lung or two.

Some Quotes to Encourage…

Haven’t posted for a bit (as if you needed that mare fact pointed out to you…).  The main reason for not posting was just because I was trying not to spend as much time on my computer.  

Today I’m missing church due to a goofy cold.  Don’t have much voice and decided to take up a new hobby of coughing.  Though I’ve always been under the assumption that hobbies are something fun to do, something one can “relax” in or have some other wonderful feeling.  Strange, but this new hobby of mine does none of that…on the contrary…but again, I won’t speak of the obvious.

Got off the phone a bit ago with a very dear friend of mine.  She’s home too with a sickie.   We had a conversation regarding seasons of life and how some are just lonely feeling.  Now it’s not the loneliness that one feels because of lack of friends, lack of companionship, lack of really anything.  We both agreed that we could be around people, involved with things, and having a good time at it too but that there is something else inside.  Ours had to do with motherhood.  It’s a loneliness that has to do more with being tired I think.  And not necessarily a tired that comes from lack of sleep (though sleep may help). 

So, after we got off the phone, I darted over to my cute Green Dell laptop (I like my laptop — it’s a dear friend of mine too ).  Decided to go over to another dear friend.  His name is Spurgeon.  I love reading his works.  The way he puts things into words — powerfull, convicting, encouraging, comforting, soul searching, bold, clear, peaceful.  I found a few things that I’d like to post that I found very comforting and encouraging.  I’d like to share them.  It may seem like a long post, but hope it offers someone who stumbles over this some peace and encouragement as well.  I would encourage you to go directly to the sites provided within this post to read the full sermon or writing of his to gain even more.   Go grab a ice cold Dr Pepper (or coffee, tea, whatever…) and be blessed.

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          If it would be marvelous to see one river leap up from the earth full-grown, what would it be to gaze upon a vast spring from which all the rivers of the earth should at once come bubbling up, a million of them born at a birth? What a vision would it be! Who can conceive it. And yet the love of God is that fountain, from which all the rivers of mercy, which have ever gladdened our race-all the rivers of grace in time, and of glory hereafter-take their rise. My soul, stand thou at that sacred fountain-head, and adore and magnify, for ever and ever, God, even our Father, who hath loved us! In the very beginning, when this great universe lay in the mind of God, like unborn forests in the acorn cup; long ere the echoes awoke the solitudes; before the mountains were brought forth; and long ere the light flashed through the sky, God loved His chosen creatures. Before there was any created being-when the ether was not fanned by an angel’s wing, when space itself had not an existence, when there was nothing save God alone-even then, in that loneliness of Deity, and in that deep quiet and profundity, His bowels moved with love for His chosen. Their names were written on His heart, and then were they dear to His soul. Jesus loved His people before the foundation of the world-even from eternity! and when He called me by His grace, He said to me, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
          Then, in the fulness of time, He purchased me with His blood; He let His heart run out in one deep gaping wound for me long ere I loved Him. Yea, when He first came to me, did I not spurn Him? When He knocked at the door, and asked for entrance, did I not drive Him away, and do despite to His grace? Ah, I can remember that I full often did so until, at last, by the power of His effectual grace, He said, “I must, I will come in;” and then He turned my heart, and made me love Him.   A Defense of Calvinism, by Spurgeon.

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          Think, too, of God working among solitary things; for grass does not merely grow where men take care of it, but up there on the side of the lone Alp, where no traveller has ever passed. Where only the eye of the wild bird has beheld their lonely verdure, moss and grass display their beauty; for God’s works are fair to other eyes than those of mortals. And you, solitary child of God, dwelling unknown and obscure, in a remote hamlet; you are not forgotten by the love of heaven. He maketh the grass to grow all alone, and shall he not make you flourish despite your loneliness? He can bring forth your graces and educate you for the skies in solitude and neglect. The grass, you know, is a thing we tread upon, nobody thinks of its being crushed by the foot, and yet God makes it grow. Perhaps you are oppressed and down-trodden, but let not this depress your spirit, for God executeth righteousness for all those that are oppressed: he maketh the grass to grow, and he can make your heart to flourish under all the oppressions and afflictions of life, so that you shall still be happy and holy though all the world marches over you; still living in the immortal life which God himself bestows upon you though hell itself set its heel upon you. Poor and needy one, unknown, unobserved, oppressed and down-trodden, God makes the grass to grow, and he will take care of you.     In The Hay-Field.  Farm Sermons by Spurgeon.

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          Cheerfulness, that compound of many excellencies, comparable unto “the powders of the merchant,” may scarcely claim to be called a virtue; but it is the friend and helper of all good graces, and the absence of it is certainly a vice. If cheerfulness be not health, assuredly melancholy is disease. Practically, cheerfulness occupies a very high position, and without it the Christian laborer is destitute of a very considerable element of strength. All wise workers for the Lord Jesus desire to preserve their tools in the best condition; their common sense teaches them that the tool-chest within themselves must not be left uncured for, since holy working with depressed spirits and gloomy views is as difficult as for the artist to paint with worn-out brushes, or the sculptor to fashion his marble with broken chisels. Cheerfulness sharpens the edge, and removes the rust from the mind. A joyous heart supplies oil to our inward machinery, and makes the whole of our powers work with ease and efficiency; hence it is of the utmost importance that we maintain a contented, cheerful, genial disposition. The longer I am engaged in my Master’s service, the more am I confident that the joy of the Lord is and must be our strength, and that discontent and moroseness are fatal to usefulness. With all my heart would I say to my fellow-servants, “rejoice in the Lord always,” not only for your own sakes, but for the sake of the work which is so dear to you. Whoever may advocate dreary dullness, I cannot and dare not do other than impeach it as an enemy of true religion. The deadening gloom and murderous chilliness of certain religionists is guilty of the blood of souls, and is to be avoided as men shun the death damps of malarious swamps. The Puritans were never accused of too much hilarity, but they were, as a rule, happy men; and one of them shall speak from the grave in support of the duty which I am now urging upon you. Ho, Master Thomas Watson, let us hear thy voice from thy sepulchre! These are the words which my ear drinks in from him who discoursed so sweetly upon “Divine Contentment:” “Cheerfulness honors religion; it proclaims to the world that we serve a good Master; cheerfulness is a friend to grace; it puts the heart in tune to serve God. Uncheerful Christians, like the spies, bring an evil report on the good land; others suspect there is something unpleasant in religion, that they who profess it hang their harps upon the willows, and walk so dejectedly. Be serious, yet cheerful. Rejoice in the Lord alway.” Well said, Master Watson, may we all have grace to practice thy good counsel!  Bells for the Horses.  The Sword and the Trowel by Spurgeon.

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I hope that these bless you as they did me.  (I’ve certainly enjoyed reading them with my Dr Pepper in hand. )

~Het

Couple New Links…

Just wanted to share a couple of blogs I’ve recently become aware of. 

• Before the Foundation:  by our very own Aaron Sauer!
• The Hawley Home:  just found her doing a search for a book review of a book I am reading — Pleasing People:  How Not To Be An “Approval Junkie” — will post more on that later.  She has a very good post on The Authority of Scripture in regards to this election year but is so applicable in all seasons of life.  I highly recommend that post!
• rambling rosemarie:  been following her blog for a bit now, but wanted to share because of a recent event in her life.  Start reading the post dated October 14 and then towards the current date.  She went into the ER for some pain and the doctors are amazed that she is alive.  Her testimony of God’s complete sovereignty is humbling, encouraging, convicting, comforting, challenging.

If there are any sites or posts you’d like to share that has ministered to you in some way or is just fun to read, please do so in the comments.