Piper on Parenting

"Everything we do from the time a child is born should be aimed at leading him to faith. Our warmth, our hugs, our laughter, our setting boundaries, our stern looks, our severe discipline, our mercy—all should be communicating who God is and that he is trustworthy. We should hope that our children will never be disbelieving but will rather grow up trusting in the Christ of our family."

Parenting

Good stuff on Parenting...

"Does it seem like parenting has gotten more complicated? I mean, as far as I can tell, back in the day parents basically tried to feed their kids, clothe them, and keep them away from explosives. Now our kids have to sleep on their backs (no wait, their tummies; no never mind, their backs), while listening to Baby Mozart surrounded by scenes of Starry, Starry Night. They have to be in piano lessons before they are five and can’t leave the car seat until they’re about five foot six." Keep reading... (Kevin DeYoung article)

During such a busy time this summer I can see how the temptation to weariness might happen so I'm reading over the good stuff over on the girl talk blog.

Quote of the Day

"On my worst days of sin and failure, the gospel encourages me with God's unrelenting grace toward me. On my best days of victory and usefulness, the gospel keeps me relating to God solely on the basis of Jesus' righteousness and not mine."

From A Gospel Primer, Milton Vincent

Not a Valentines Day Post, on Valentines Day

I know it's Valentines Day so I should be posting about how much I love Ryan, how awesome he is, how I adore him, etc. But, I'm pretty sure that everyone that is reading this knows that already :o) So, I'm going to post about something completely unrelated.

This is from "Lies Women Believe" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, good stuff about the importance of consistent time in the bible:

"Satan knows that if he succeeds in getting us to live independently of the Word of God, we become more vulnerable to deception in every area of our lives. Six times in the Old Testament we are told that David "inquired of the Lord". He knew he was nothing apart from God - that he could not make it without the Lord. In fact, the first thing he did every morning before turning to the business of the day - was to turn his heard towards the Lord in prayer (Ps. 5:3)... far too often I find myself turning my attention to the details and tasks of the day without first taking adequate time to "inquire of the Lord." When I do so, what I am really saying (though I'd never actually say it) is that I can handle that day on my own - apart from the presence, wisdom, and grace of God. I am saying I can do my work, keep my home, handle my relationships, and deal with my circumstances without him. That independent, self-sufficient spirit is an expression of pride. The Scripture teaches, "God resists the proud." If I walk in pride, I must be prepared for God to resist me and my efforts.

Sometimes I get the sense that God may be saying to me, "You want to handle this day by yourself? Go ahead." The result? At best, an empty, fruitless day lived by and for myself. At worst, oh, what a mess I end up making of things.

On the other hand, God "gives grace to the humble." When I start the day by humbling myself and acknowledging that I can't make it on my own - that I need him - I can count on His divine enabling to carry me through the day.

The Trust is, apart from "abiding in Him" - living in constant, conscious union with and dependence on Him - I cannot do anything of spiritual or eternal value. Oh, I can create a lot of activity, I can make a lot of decisions, but I will end up having nothing of real value to show for my life.

The Truth is, it is impossible for me to be the woman he wants me to be apart from my spending consistent time cultivating a relationship with him, in the Word and prayer.

Job 23:12, Ps. 5:3; 119:147, Proverbs 2:1-6;3:5-6, Matthew 6:25-43; 14:23, James 4:6."

A Poem

Excerpts from "A Gospel Narrative Poetic Version" in The Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent.

"...So this is my status
and these are my flaws
Apart from Christ Jesus
and His saving cause:
I carry sin's guilt
and am gripped by sin's pow'r,
Held fast to its
various lusts ev'ry hour,
Deserving of flames,
both within and without,
And sliding t'ward Hell
as I toss all about,

Too reprobate even
to play a small part
In clearing my record
or changing my heart
To pacify wrath
and be worthy of grace,
To make myself lovely
and win God's embrace.
Completely condemned by
God's Law in its whole,
I've nothing to offer
to ransom my soul.

But wonder of wonders,
so great to behold,
My God chose to save me
with method so bold.
What I could not render,
God fully has done,
And doing, He rendered it
all through His Son.
He sent Christ to die
on the cross for my sin
To suffer my anguish,
my pardon to win.

...So now God relates
to me only with grace,
The former wrath banished
without any trace!
And each day I'm made
a bit more as I should,
His grace using all things
to render me good.
Yes, even in trials
God's grace abounds too
And does me the good
He assigns it to do.

And when I am sinning
God's grace does abound,
Ensuring my justified
status is sound.
No wrath is awakened
in God at my sin,
Because Christ appeased it
(to say so again).
God's heart pulses only
with passionate grace,
Which jealously wants me
back in His embrace..."

Prayer

I'm currently reading "Prayers of an Excellent Wife" by Andrew Case. On several pages, after the prayer, he includes a quote about prayer. This is what I read today:

"A day without prayer is a boast against God" ~Owen Carr

Wow.

Two Quotes

for perspective for today:

"Nothing gives the believer so much joy as fellowship with Christ. He has enjoyment... in the common mercies of life, he can be glad in God's gifts and God's works; but, in all these separately, yea, and in all of them added together, he doth not find such substantial delight as in the matchless person of his Lord Jesus." - C.H. Spurgeon

"A mother... by her planning and industry night and day, by her willfulness of love, by her fidelity, she brings up her children. Do not read to me the campaigns of Caesar and tell me nothing about Napoleon's wonderful exploits. For I tell you that, as God and the angels look down upon the silent history of that woman's administration, and upon those men-building processes which went on in her heart and mind though a score of years; - nothing exterior, no outward development of kingdoms, no empire-building, can compare with what mother has done. Nothing can compare in beauty, and wonder, and admirableness, and divinity itself, to the silent work in obscure dwellings of faithful women bringing their children to honor and virtue and piety." - Henry Ward Beecher