Prayer sometimes tarrieth, like a petitioner at the gate, until the King cometh forth to fill her bosom with the blessings which she seeketh. The Lord, when he hath given great faith, has been known to try it by long delayings. He has suffered his servants’ voices to echo in their ears as from a brazen sky. They have knocked at the golden gate, but it has remained immovable, as though it were rusted upon its hinges. Like Jeremiah, they have cried, “Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.” Thus have true saints continued long in patient waiting without reply, not because their prayers were not vehement, nor because they were unaccepted, but because it so pleased him who is a Sovereign, and who gives according to his own pleasure. If it pleases him to bid our patience exercise itself, shall he not do as he wills with his own! Beggars must not be choosers either as to time, place, or form. But we must be careful not to take delays in prayer for denials: God’s long-dated bills will be punctually honoured; we must not suffer Satan to shake our confidence in the God of truth by pointing to our unanswered prayers. Unanswered petitions are not unheard. God keeps a file for our prayers—they are not blown away by the wind, they are treasured in the King’s archives. This is a registry in the court of heaven wherein every prayer is recorded. Tried believer, thy Lord hath a tear-bottle in which the costly drops of sacred grief are put away, and a book in which thy holy groanings are numbered. By and by, thy suit shall prevail. Canst thou not be content to wait a little? Will not thy Lord’s time be better than thy time? By and by he will comfortably appear, to thy soul’s joy, and make thee put away the sackcloth and ashes of long waiting, and put on the scarlet and fine linen of full fruition.How imprudent of me to not patiently wait on the Lord's timing! His timing is surely better than my own, yet through-out the day I function as if I always know best. In the fullness of time, God sent his Son to die, and in that same proven wisdom God's timing will always display perfection in every detail of my life.
God's Sovereignty in the Fullness of Time
I have so frequently been blessed by C.H. Spurgeon's words as I have been reading Morning and Evening. In particular, yesterday was a continual battle for me to trust the Lord's faithfulness as my (lack of) summer plans frustrated and upset me. I curled into bed, and read Spurgeon's words reflecting upon Song of Solomon 5:6 "I called him, but he gave me no answer.” Spurgeon writes:
A Prayer for Muslim Lands
This morning Kevin DeYoung posted A Prayer for Muslim Lands taken from Samuel M. Zwemer (1867-1952). I was deeply moved by Zwemer's words because they still earnestly apply today, so I wanted to pass them on.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ
This past weekend I was extremely blessed to hear Susan Heck teach at a church in Mansfield, OH. Through-out the weekend Susan exposited from 1 Peter 3:1-6 the six characteristics of a godly wife, and from Titus 2 the call to discipleship. Her teaching was powerful in that it came straight from God's Word, and even after a long week of little sleep it was rejuvenating to be there. I was especially thankful for her clarity in defining discipleship, which I will share with you here.
In Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth he writes:
Being taught about discipleship refreshed me so greatly because Susan not only explained it, but she also lives it. Even during a short weekend God allowed me to learn from Susan's life; specifically from her example in Scripture memorization. Susan has personally memorized 23 books of the New Testament word for word. Her speech is rich evidence of her knowledge of the Scriptures, and it blessed me to spend time with her. Never before had I spent time with someone in whom the Word dwelled so richly. Her discipline of storing away God's Word in her heart and mind is a beautiful example, worthy of emulation.
Thanks to Susan's godly example I have begun memorizing Ephesians 1-2. I have chosen these two chapters in light of Susan's wise advice to memorize chapters or books instead of the random verse method. However, I have historically struggled to stick with memorizing longer passages of Scripture. So, as a form of accountability, and prayerfully an encouragement to others, I will post the Scripture I am memorizing along the right column of my blog.
My only last thoughts are these...
In Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth he writes:
For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. (15-17)Later, Paul reiterates, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ" (11:1). This clear message of "Follow me, as I follow Christ" is pervasive through-out Paul's letters (Phil 3:17; 4:9; 1 Thess 1:6; 2 Thess 3:9). Therefore, living a life worth emulating is essential in Gospel ministry. Paul teaches, not only through proclamation, but also through the example of his life. That is the essence of discipleship! Discipleship involves teaching Gospel truth and Christ-likeness through your entire life.
Being taught about discipleship refreshed me so greatly because Susan not only explained it, but she also lives it. Even during a short weekend God allowed me to learn from Susan's life; specifically from her example in Scripture memorization. Susan has personally memorized 23 books of the New Testament word for word. Her speech is rich evidence of her knowledge of the Scriptures, and it blessed me to spend time with her. Never before had I spent time with someone in whom the Word dwelled so richly. Her discipline of storing away God's Word in her heart and mind is a beautiful example, worthy of emulation.
Thanks to Susan's godly example I have begun memorizing Ephesians 1-2. I have chosen these two chapters in light of Susan's wise advice to memorize chapters or books instead of the random verse method. However, I have historically struggled to stick with memorizing longer passages of Scripture. So, as a form of accountability, and prayerfully an encouragement to others, I will post the Scripture I am memorizing along the right column of my blog.
My only last thoughts are these...
This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:9)
His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:2-3)
Adorn Yourselves -- Women
My brother and co-laborer Austin started a series on his blog Voice Among Scoffers teaching about self-adornment from 1 Timothy 2. I earnestly agree with Austin when he writes, "The theme of this passage is how men and women wear their faith--as though it were clothing." Paul's initial focus is on men, as he commands that they "lead a peaceful and quiet life" (2), and "pray, lifting holy hands, without anger or quarreling" (8). Expounding upon 1 Timothy 2:1-8, Austin writes:
Eve's Original Beauty
When God created Eve he caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept he took one of his ribs and closed up the place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:21-25). In God's original creation Eve was naked and beautiful - needing nothing of creation to additionally adorn her to create a sense of beauty. Her radiance, which pleased both God and Adam, came from her created purpose to be an image bearer of God's glory. Eve, in her nakedness, was the most beautiful woman to walk the earth because of her pure and untainted resemblance to God. No braids, jewels, or gowns could ever compare to her beauty!
The Vileness of Sin
When Eve rebelliously chose to eat the apple of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil she sinfully sought to be like God (Gen 3:5-6). Although she was created to reflect God's image, she desired to be like God in wisdom and dominion, becoming a rebellious glory thief. In light of this new wisdom the eyes of Adam and Eve were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths (Gen 3:7). Adam and Eve covered the natural beauty that God created, because it was tainted with sin, and they were ashamed!
Women today continue to seek external adornment while ignoring that internally we are rotting away with sin! Our beauty is not meant to be crafted externally; God created Eve beautifully as His own image bearer. The more we look like God, the more beautiful we will be. However, in our blindness as women we inappropriately reveal our bodies, using them to sexually entice men, making wrong use of our beauty by attempting to glorify ourselves rather than God. Women, we must know that when we lure a man into lusting after us, we have stolen God's rightful place in their lives. A man turns his back on God when he chooses lust or sexual sin. This is exactly why Paul commands that godly women should adorn themselves "with modesty and self-control" (9). Modesty and self-control keep us from stealing God's glory.
Respectable apparel
Paul further specifies that women should not adorn themselves "with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire" (9). Paul is not prohibiting the wearing of jewelry; the principle is that women should not dress ostentatiously or seductively, but in a way that is proper. We can also learn from Peter when he addresses women, saying, "Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious" (1 Peter 3:3-4). Both Peter and Paul refer specially to braided hair, extravagant jewelry, and enticing clothing. However, they are clearly not claiming that braids, jewels, and clothes are evil! They are concerned with these external adornments because they reveal a heart that finds significance in worldly beauty. In contrast to this, the Christian woman should focus on inner (hidden) beauty of the heart. What matters to God is the godly character of a woman, characterized by a quiet and gentile spirit. And what matters to God needs to be what matters to us! There is an important difference between external and internal beauty! Our internal beauty comes from being transformed into the image of Christ which is eternal and worthy of praise!
The Message puts it this way: "And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it."
Adorn Yourselves -- Women to be continued...
Subsequent posts will cover what good works are proper for women who profess godliness, and how a woman can learn quietly with all submissiveness.
[Paul] speaks to men to adorn themselves not with anger and quarreling but with prayer and worship to God. We need to disrobe our bodies, strip them of the pride and arrogance that leads to vain discussion and quarreling. Instead, we should put on or adorn ourselves with Worship and Prayer!As Paul continues in 1 Timothy 2:9-12 he shifts his focus to addressing women.
Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.As we see in Paul's letter there there are specific ways that women should adorn themselves: with respectable apparel, good works, and a quiet submissive role. Clearly this is not an exhaustive list, but as Paul focuses on Adam and Eve's sin and consequent curse in the fall (Gen 3), he wisely choose to address these three issues. Therefore, as women and daughters of Eve we must seek to understand what Paul is teaching!
Eve's Original Beauty
When God created Eve he caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept he took one of his ribs and closed up the place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:21-25). In God's original creation Eve was naked and beautiful - needing nothing of creation to additionally adorn her to create a sense of beauty. Her radiance, which pleased both God and Adam, came from her created purpose to be an image bearer of God's glory. Eve, in her nakedness, was the most beautiful woman to walk the earth because of her pure and untainted resemblance to God. No braids, jewels, or gowns could ever compare to her beauty!
The Vileness of Sin
When Eve rebelliously chose to eat the apple of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil she sinfully sought to be like God (Gen 3:5-6). Although she was created to reflect God's image, she desired to be like God in wisdom and dominion, becoming a rebellious glory thief. In light of this new wisdom the eyes of Adam and Eve were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths (Gen 3:7). Adam and Eve covered the natural beauty that God created, because it was tainted with sin, and they were ashamed!
Women today continue to seek external adornment while ignoring that internally we are rotting away with sin! Our beauty is not meant to be crafted externally; God created Eve beautifully as His own image bearer. The more we look like God, the more beautiful we will be. However, in our blindness as women we inappropriately reveal our bodies, using them to sexually entice men, making wrong use of our beauty by attempting to glorify ourselves rather than God. Women, we must know that when we lure a man into lusting after us, we have stolen God's rightful place in their lives. A man turns his back on God when he chooses lust or sexual sin. This is exactly why Paul commands that godly women should adorn themselves "with modesty and self-control" (9). Modesty and self-control keep us from stealing God's glory.
Respectable apparel
Paul further specifies that women should not adorn themselves "with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire" (9). Paul is not prohibiting the wearing of jewelry; the principle is that women should not dress ostentatiously or seductively, but in a way that is proper. We can also learn from Peter when he addresses women, saying, "Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious" (1 Peter 3:3-4). Both Peter and Paul refer specially to braided hair, extravagant jewelry, and enticing clothing. However, they are clearly not claiming that braids, jewels, and clothes are evil! They are concerned with these external adornments because they reveal a heart that finds significance in worldly beauty. In contrast to this, the Christian woman should focus on inner (hidden) beauty of the heart. What matters to God is the godly character of a woman, characterized by a quiet and gentile spirit. And what matters to God needs to be what matters to us! There is an important difference between external and internal beauty! Our internal beauty comes from being transformed into the image of Christ which is eternal and worthy of praise!
The Message puts it this way: "And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it."
Adorn Yourselves -- Women to be continued...
Subsequent posts will cover what good works are proper for women who profess godliness, and how a woman can learn quietly with all submissiveness.
The Criminals - Death by Crucifixation
If I'm going to be honest, my driving habits probably aren't the best. I love driving with the windows down, blasting my music, and singing along to my favorite songs. I wrongly view driving as a great chance to catch-up on phone calls or text messages (which I'm convicted I should probably change in the immediate future). And I have a tendency to rebel against the 25mph speed limits that make driving through Oxford painfully slow. Despite my lack of attentiveness, my roommate lovingly commented that she feels safe with me driving - unlike her feelings towards most of her other friends when they are behind the wheel. Ironically, no less than 15 minutes after her comment, a cop handed me a hefty speeding ticket in my favorite - 25 mph speed limit.
I must mention that I have witnessed several friends receive much more costly speedy tickets in the past few months - and they handled the situations with amazing grace and humility. As they truthfully said, they were guilty of speeding and therefore they justly deserved the given ticket. As I recalled their grace and poise while being handed my own speeding ticket I greatly struggled against resentment and self-righteousness. Why should I pay a speeding ticket when hundreds of college students are drinking under-age AND driving, smoking illegal drugs, abusing prescriptions... doing things way worse than speeding in a 25! I am so innocent compared to their destructive and idiotic life decisions!
Yet, I did breach the law that leaders have set in place for the good of America. I broke the law. Regardless of my view of the moral importance of the speed limit I was guilty and I justly deserve the ticket that I received. I had no right to be angry at the police officer - all he did was catch me in my sin and deliver the predetermined fine. Not only did I deserve that ticket, but I deserve hundreds more that I have never received. How many tickets would you receive if a cop watched your every "stop" and speed? I have actually received way more grace than justice as a driver!
In a similar way we all stand guilty before a holy and righteous God. God correctly sees every man and woman as a criminal in both nature, since we are born in Adam, and in action since we actively seek and choose sin. When God sent his Son he did it knowing that we are utterly depraved and guilty of sin. As we read about Jesus' crucifixion in Luke 23, we must see ourselves within the criminals being crucified on either side of Jesus.
We are those criminals. There is no choice in the matter of our guilt - we are guilty before God.
However, there is a difference, ONE great difference. Which criminal will we be? We are either the first who railed against Jesus, mocking and denying him, or the one who feared God, seeing Jesus as holy and blameless, Lord and Savior, and trusting in Him alone for eternal life.
The first criminal ridiculed the name of Jesus saying "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" (39). He had no faith in Jesus as the Son of God, no shred of belief that Jesus could be his savior.
However, the second criminal, equally foul in deed and guilty in sin saw Jesus differently. “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong” (40-41). This man identified the weight of his own condemnation in light of Jesus' innocence. By faith, he identified Jesus as God and cried out to Him as savior, begging “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (42). And Jesus' response is the best news in the history of the world!
That's why what we believe about Jesus is the most significant decision we will ever make. Which criminal will you be?
I must mention that I have witnessed several friends receive much more costly speedy tickets in the past few months - and they handled the situations with amazing grace and humility. As they truthfully said, they were guilty of speeding and therefore they justly deserved the given ticket. As I recalled their grace and poise while being handed my own speeding ticket I greatly struggled against resentment and self-righteousness. Why should I pay a speeding ticket when hundreds of college students are drinking under-age AND driving, smoking illegal drugs, abusing prescriptions... doing things way worse than speeding in a 25! I am so innocent compared to their destructive and idiotic life decisions!Yet, I did breach the law that leaders have set in place for the good of America. I broke the law. Regardless of my view of the moral importance of the speed limit I was guilty and I justly deserve the ticket that I received. I had no right to be angry at the police officer - all he did was catch me in my sin and deliver the predetermined fine. Not only did I deserve that ticket, but I deserve hundreds more that I have never received. How many tickets would you receive if a cop watched your every "stop" and speed? I have actually received way more grace than justice as a driver!
In a similar way we all stand guilty before a holy and righteous God. God correctly sees every man and woman as a criminal in both nature, since we are born in Adam, and in action since we actively seek and choose sin. When God sent his Son he did it knowing that we are utterly depraved and guilty of sin. As we read about Jesus' crucifixion in Luke 23, we must see ourselves within the criminals being crucified on either side of Jesus.
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left... 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:32-33, 39-43
We are those criminals. There is no choice in the matter of our guilt - we are guilty before God.
However, there is a difference, ONE great difference. Which criminal will we be? We are either the first who railed against Jesus, mocking and denying him, or the one who feared God, seeing Jesus as holy and blameless, Lord and Savior, and trusting in Him alone for eternal life.
The first criminal ridiculed the name of Jesus saying "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" (39). He had no faith in Jesus as the Son of God, no shred of belief that Jesus could be his savior.
However, the second criminal, equally foul in deed and guilty in sin saw Jesus differently. “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong” (40-41). This man identified the weight of his own condemnation in light of Jesus' innocence. By faith, he identified Jesus as God and cried out to Him as savior, begging “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (42). And Jesus' response is the best news in the history of the world!
That's why what we believe about Jesus is the most significant decision we will ever make. Which criminal will you be?
Jesus Christ - Death by Crucifixion
Living within the 21st century of Western culture, the image of the cross is subconsciously linked with Jesus Christ crucified; Christianity. However, we often don't consider that the cross as a Christian symbol or "seal" didn't come into use until the second century, close to a hundred years after Jesus was crucified. During the first two centuries of Christianity, the cross may have been rare in Christian iconography, as it depicts a purposely painful and gruesome method of public execution. The Ichthys was used by early Christians. The first appearance of a cross in Christian art is on a Vatican sarcophagus from the mid 5th century. Interestingly enough, the first crucifixion scenes didn't appear in Christian art until the 7th century.
Today, we react to the image of the cross very differently than men and women did in the first or second centuries. This painful and gruesome act of execution is something we have probably never witnessed in real life. Perhaps watching The Passion of the Christ with Mel Gibson is our best visualization - which I personally remember watching with tears and nausea. Concerning death by crucifixion, pastor Mark Driscoll writes:
We can never think upon the cross too often.
* Quoted from Driscoll, Mark. Death by Love. pp 18-19.
Raising of the Cross by Rubens, Pieter Pauwel, 1610, Oil on panel
The ancient Jewish historian Josephus called crucifixion 'the most wretched of deaths.' The ancient Roman philosopher Cicero asked that decent Roman citizens not even speak of the cross because it was too disgraceful a subject for the ears of decent people... the Romans... reserved it as the most painful mode of execution for the most despised people, such as slaves, poor people, and Roman citizens guilty of the worst high treason... The pain of crucifixion is so horrendous that a word was invented to explain it - excruciating - which literally means 'from the cross.' The pain of crucifixion is due in part to the fact that it is a prolonged and agonizing death by asphyxiation. Crucified people could hang on the cross for days, passing in and out of consciousness as their lungs struggled to breathe, while laboring under the weight of their body. It was not uncommon for those being crucified to slump on the cross in an effort to empty their lungs of air and thereby hasten their death.*This historical truth concerning crucifixion should leave us amazed by God's great demonstration of love and mercy on the cross. Paul writes boldly in Romans 5, "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly... God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (6, 8). Jesus Christ endured and pain and agony of crucifixion for our sake. In God's perfect timing and plan He sent Jesus to live the perfect life, and die the perfect death - perfect because it fully satisfied God's wrath against man's sin. Paul continues, "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God" (9). This is the truth that Christians must live by, "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation" (10-11). The cross first brings sobriety at the recognition of our sin and God's wrath, than sorrow at the pain Jesus endured, but finally joy that reconciliation with God has been accomplished. For each of these reasons - we can never think upon the cross too often. The cross in the foundation of our justification, sanctification, and glorification. Every day we must seek to humbly sit beneath Jesus' feet, nailed the cross, thanking God for His mercy and grace.
We can never think upon the cross too often.
* Quoted from Driscoll, Mark. Death by Love. pp 18-19.
The Grace that is in Christ Jesus
My Birthday morning with Charles Spurgeon:
“Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 2:1
Christ has grace without measure in himself, but he hath not retained it for himself. As the reservoir empties itself into the pipes, so hath Christ emptied out his grace for his people. “Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” He seems only to have in order to dispense to us. He stands like the fountain, always flowing, but only running in order to supply the empty pitchers and the thirsty lips which draw nigh unto it. Like a tree, he bears sweet fruit, not to hang on boughs, but to be gathered by those who need. Grace, whether its work be to pardon, to cleanse, to preserve, to strengthen, to enlighten, to quicken, or to restore, is ever to be had from him freely and without price; nor is there one form of the work of grace which he has not bestowed upon his people. As the blood of the body, though flowing from the heart, belongs equally to every member, so the influences of grace are the inheritance of every saint united to the Lamb; and herein there is a sweet communion between Christ and his Church, inasmuch as they both receive the same grace. Christ is the head upon which the oil is first poured; but the same oil runs to the very skirts of the garments, so that the meanest saint has an unction of the same costly moisture as that which fell upon the head. This is true communion when the sap of grace flows from the stem to the branch, and when it is perceived that the stem itself is sustained by the very nourishment which feeds the branch. As we day by day receive grace from Jesus, and more constantly recognize it as coming from him, we shall behold him in communion with us, and enjoy the felicity of communion with him. Let us make daily use of our riches, and ever repair to him as to our own Lord in covenant, taking from him the supply of all we need with as much boldness as men take money from their own purse.
Quoted from Morning and Evening
Daily Readings by Charles Spurgeon
New Books for the month of March
Allegiance to Christ In an Age of Rivals
by Trevin Wax
Click here to read sample pages
The Knowledge Of The Holy
by A.W. Tozer
Morning and Evening
Daily Readings
by Charles Spurgeon
The Pursuit of Excellence and the Perils of Perfection
by Richard Winter
Depression
A Stubborn Darkness
by Edward T. Welch
Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards
by John Piper
Click here to read it FREE on pdf
Leaving for Spring Break tomorrow!
My favorite things about the Spring:
~ Driving with the windows down.
~ Reading (with Starbucks coffee in hand) at the uptown park Saturday mornings before Oxford wakes-up.
~ Jogging on the Miami trails.
~ Hanging-out on my porch at dusk.
~ Hitting golf balls at the driving range with a cold beer.
~ Hearing birds chirp as I wake-up each morning.
~ Playing tennis on lazy afternoons.
~ Going on walks with friends.
~ Wearing sundresses, sweatshirts, flip-flops, and sunglasses.
~ Spring break with my best friends!
~ Driving with the windows down.
~ Reading (with Starbucks coffee in hand) at the uptown park Saturday mornings before Oxford wakes-up.
~ Jogging on the Miami trails.
~ Hanging-out on my porch at dusk.
~ Hitting golf balls at the driving range with a cold beer.
~ Hearing birds chirp as I wake-up each morning.
~ Playing tennis on lazy afternoons.
~ Going on walks with friends.
~ Wearing sundresses, sweatshirts, flip-flops, and sunglasses.
~ Spring break with my best friends!
Where the Lord leads...
I just arrived in St. Louis to visit Covenant Theological Seminary with my friends Austin and Vince. I've only been here an hour, but I already feel like I am as home as I can be this side of heaven. Tomorrow will be a day full of questions, classes, interviews, coffee, and conversations but my soul is already inclined to say 'yes' if only the Lord wills.
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