Tuesday's slice of bread

A weekly post premised on this: Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord (Prov. 16:20)

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Location: Florence, Kentucky, United States

married to my best friend, writer, teacher, avid reader, occasional poet, volunteer

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

from LIT! A CHRISTIAN GUIDE TO READING BOOKS

from LIT! A CHRISTIAN GUIDE TO READING BOOKS by Tony Reineke published by Crossway

"Because of our sin we are born blind, unable to see the promises of God offered in Christ.  And the consequences of our ignorance are spiritually deadly.
Sin blinds our hearts to the true meaning and purpose of the Bible, even if we carry well-highlighted copies in out hands.  The problem is not with our Bibles; the problem is with out sinful hearts.  Sin darkens and deadens our spiritual perceptions.  God must illuminate our hearts.  God must act.  God must remove the blindfolds."

from LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED

from LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED by Martyn Lloyd-Jones published by Crossway

"The greatest need of men and women in this world is the need of what is called a quiet heart."
"The claim of the gospel is not only that  it can give us a quiet heart, but also that nothing else can do it."

from 31 Days of Praise

from 31 Days of Praise by Ruth and Warren Myers (book available through amazon.com)
On Day 5 the Myers write:
"There is none like Thee O LORD; Thou art great, and great is Thy name in might" Jeremiah 10:6
Part of the entry reads:  "You exercise Your gracious authority over all nations--and over each individual in all the world.  There is none like You, the true God, the living God, the everlasting Kind.
I praise You for your sovereignty over the broad events of my life and over the details.  With You, nothing is accidental, nothing is incidental, and no experience is wasted.  You hold in Your own power my breath of life and all my destiny.  And every trial that You allow to happen is a platform on which You reveal Yourself, showing Your love and power, both to me and to others looking on.  Thank You that I can move into the future nondefensively, with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead, for You hold the future and You will always be with me, even to my old age...and through all eternity."

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Blog Posts

Blog Posts
Since I have indulged in the purchase of a lot of books lately, until I make more progress in reading and digesting them, I will not be posting here regularly.  These are in addition to those on my Kindle.

What are the titles, you may ask?

Lit! by Tony Reinke
The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs
Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Comforts From The Cross by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick
Counsel From The Cross by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Dennis E. Johnson
A Woman's Wisdom: how the book of Proverbs speaks to everything by Lydia Brownback
A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent
Helps for Counselors by Jay E. Adams
The Bible's Promises for Women from The Holy Bible English Standard Version

Watch for posts with quotes from these books.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

a heart of wisdom

A heart of wisdom

Where is wisdom to be found?  Proverbs tells us:
"Does not wisdom call?  Does not understanding raise her voice?  On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance to the portals she cries aloud:
'To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.  O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.  Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.  All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.  They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.  Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her'" (Proverbs 8:1-11)

Hear again the voice and the warning and the hope of wisdom from Proverbs, chapter 1:
"Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the market she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
'How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?  How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
If you turn at my reproof, behold I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.
Because I called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devises.
For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them, but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.'"

Are you seeking wisdom? 

James tells you where to find it:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives graciously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" (1:5-9).

Paul writes this:
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:15-17) and then this: "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

In whom do you find wisdom? 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 tells us:
"And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"

Where does one go to gain a heart of wisdom?  To the Lord and to the Bible, the giver and the gift of the giver of the heart of wisdom.

Aging gracefully and gratefully

Aging gracefully and gratefully
"Aging gracefully" seems to mean adapting to changes in our bodies--or someone else's.
Aging gracefully is more than a physical thing for believers.
Aging gracefully means aging within the grace of God:
Holding fast to the Father with both hands--trust and obedience;
Holding fast to the Word in flesh and the word in print;
Holding fast to the Spirit who holds fast to us--our seal of present salvation and future glorification (Christ likeness).
Aging gratefully means facing the truth of His Word and embracing it:
"So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.  For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things which are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things which are unseen are eternal.
For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.  For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  He who prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
So we are always of good courage.  We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.  Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him" (2 Corinthians 4:16-5:9; ESV).