Daughters of Song

Tender Mothers, Courageous Fighters

2010-09-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

This from our friends, Becky and Vince Strawbridge who have 10 children and are the epitome of courageous believers:

Love Bavinck! {Herman Bavinck} Have you read this from him?
"Children are the luxury of marital life, the treasure of the parents, the wealth of the family life. Their presence develops a great number of virtues in the parents, the father and mother–love,... devotion, and self-sacrifice, the care for the future, interest in the community, the art of education. Children check selfishness in parents, reconcile the contrasts, soften the differences, bring the hearts of the parents ever closer to each other, give them a common interest that lives outside themselves, and opens their eyes and hearts to their surroundings and posterity. They uphold to the parents, as if in mirrors, their own virtues and defects, force them to reconsider their lives, soften their criticisms, and teach them how difficult it is to rule a human being. Out of the family life there proceeds a reforming power toward the parents. Who recognizes in the sensible, industrious father of a family the boisterous youth of former days, and who ever suspected the lighthearted maid of being changed, through her first-born, into a mother who willingly makes supreme sacrifices with cheerful patience? Family life turns the selfish into servants, misers into heroes, coarse men into considerate fathers, and tender mothers into courageous fighters."

Hearts of Wisdom Bible Study Week Two Guide

2010-06-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

Heart of Wisdom Summer 2010

Week Two Study Guide Ephesians Four

Welcome! For those of us who are just being introduced to Inductive Bible Study, it can be overwhelming to keep up with or even understand the homework each week. Take heart! Inductive Bible Study is a wonderful, rewarding, and life-changing way to study the Bible, and it just takes time and practice. Each of us can master this skill -- it just takes small steps to lead up to walking as wise women in the Word.

Here are the small steps, broken down for you. Start with the first ones and as you become more comfortable, work your way up to completing more and more each week. Our goal is to be able to work through each of these steps as we study a passage of God’s Word, because then we will have a full and broad, yet deep and intimate understanding of it. DO NOT GIVE UP! What a great reward it will be to come to a commentary and read things that we have already discovered through the Holy Spirit’s work in our own study!

STEP 1 “The secret things belong to the Lord but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever that we may do all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29

Now that we have an overview of the entire book of Ephesians, we will OBSERVE CHAPTER FOUR. READ THROUGH THE PASSAGE IN ITS ENTIRETY. Remember you are not behind, jump in where you are. Our plan is to be in God’s word every day for the rest of our lives on earth! It’s not a sprint, it’s a long distance race.

STEP 2

Find and mark all the places GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, and GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT are mentioned in this chapter. You can mark your text however you like. I use a red colored pencil for God the Son, yellow for God the Father, and blue for God the Holy Spirit. As you mark these places, make a list of what you learn about the God-head from this passage. Try to use the actual words in Scripture for your list.

STEP 3 Use the CHAPTER STUDY CHART ATTACHED TO:

Begin to “OBSERVE THE TEXT” of chapter four by marking the 5 W’s and H

WHO -- make note of people who are mentioned in this passage

WHAT -- write what is happening in this passage in relation to the people

WHEN -- make note of time references

WHERE -- write the places that are mentioned

WHY -- write out the reason for the above W’s as mentioned in this passage

HOW -- make note of how what is happening takes place

This can be one of the most complicated and overwhelming parts of Inductive Bible Study if you don’t tackle this with the big picture in mind. The point of observing the text is to get a good general understanding of what is taking place.

There are two main ways to make notes -- in a graph form, or by making lists. We have included an Observation Worksheet form to fill in the boxes for each of these W’s and H where you can write as much or as little in the boxes as you like for each verse. Many people enjoy seeing their observations laid out in this way. For others, it is confusing and confining to fill in the boxes. You can also make observations in a list form on your own paper where you simply write a “Who” and then list what you learn in relation to that person from the passage, including the what, where, when, why, and how. You can also make separate lists for the “When” and “Where” observations. This might go along nicely with what you have already observed in list form about the God-head from the passage. Find what works for your own personal style of observing the text. Again, try to use phrases straight from Scripture to fill in the box or make a list. Don’t reword what God’s Word says.

PLEASE do not get caught up in trying to find and mark every W and H. Many passages do not make mention of a certain place or time. That’s okay, you won’t have anything to write for those. Don’t get confused as to whether a particular phrase of Scripture is a “Why” or a “How” or a “What”. The point is not to get your Observation Worksheet just perfect. The point is to understand what is being said and taking place in God’s Word. Do as much or as little as you need to gain this big picture understanding.

Next note COMPARISONS, CONTRASTS, and CONCLUSIONS in this chapter.

Also, if you have any questions about the text, write them down at the bottom of your Observation Worksheet.

STEP 4

Find KEY WORDS in the passage. These are words that are often repeated and are central to the understanding and application of the passage. Mark these key words in the text however you like, possibly with different symbols or colors. By finding and marking these key words, you are beginning to see what the author’s main point of the passage.

STEP 5

Try to SUMMARIZE THE PASSAGE by using 5-7 words from Scripture to convey the main point of what you have read. Keep in mind what you have already observed and the key words you have found. There is no right or wrong summary title for the passage, so no pressure here! Just see if you can concisely put in to words the main idea of this passage from what you have already observed.

STEP 7

Now that we have thoroughly observed the text and looked deeper at the key words, we are ready to start learning how to apply this to our lives. When you have a good grasp as to the meaning of the passage, begin to ask yourself “HOW SHOULD MY LIFE CHANGE AS A RESULT OF THIS STUDY?” Take the time to write out a paragraph or prayer putting in to words what the Holy Spirit is showing you. This is intensely personal and will differ for each of us. This last step takes us full-circle to where God can rightly deal with our hearts. We cannot come to His Word in a deep way like this and leave unchanged. How does God want to change you through His Word and His Spirit’s work in your heart?

OBSERVATION WORKSHEET
FOR EPHESIANS CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER TITLE:
KEY VERSE:
4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 [There is] one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
8 Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men." 9 (Now this [expression,] "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
11 And He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.
14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all [aspects] into Him, who is the head, [even] Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in [the likeness of] God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one [of you,] with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
26 Be angry, and [yet] do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.
28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have [something] to share with him who has need.
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such [a word] as is good for edification according to the need [of the moment,] that it may give grace to those who hear.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Why "Hearts of Wisdom"?

2010-06-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

In the Spring, we studied the gospel of Luke as Pastor Erik preached through it. We worked together on s a topical study of Jesus' name for himself, Son of Man, looking at each passage in Luke in which the Lord refers to himself by this title. Most of the references are found in Luke: 6:5 the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. He is fully God. In 7:34 the Son of Man came eating and drinking. He is fully man. Luke 9:26 Jesus tells us,"Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when the Son of Man comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the glory of the holy angels." He repeats this in his teaching on stewardship in Luke 12:8-10. "Everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God." Jesus is teaching us about the stewardship which all men have before him, the stewardship of our lives. Erik spoke of the primary accountibility we have as stewards of our confession. The Greek word oikonimos translated "steward" means the manager of the house. Webster's definition? The conduct of careful and responsible management of that placed under the person's care."

God has placed into each of our lives areas of stewardship. We saw in Luke 12 that we are stewards of life itself, we are stewards of our confession, the words of our mouth. We are stewards of the treasure God has placed in our hands. We are accountible for our maturity as disciples and in that light, we are stewards of our time in light of the coming of the Son of Man.
In Luke 12:35-48, gives us a sterm admonition and then encouragement and blessing. "Who then is the faithful and wise steward whom the master will set over his household to give them their portion of food at the proper time?" Blessed is that servant whom when his master comes will find so doing."

Our desire for this 8 week time in the word of God is to learn how to be those faithful and wise stewards doing the will of the master until He comes. We will look tonight to Psalm 90 thought by many to be written by Moses. We will go back to Ephesians focusing on chapters 4 and 5 and examine our walk as disciples preparing for the Lord's return. We will examine what it means to be filled with the Spirit and the use of our gifts in ministry to the church looking at Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 14 - if we have time!

Facebook | Hearts of Wisdom Summer Bible Study

2010-06-08T04:50:00.000-07:00

Facebook Hearts of Wisdom Summer Bible Study

Psalm 90: Song for the Seventy Year Old

2010-06-08T03:28:00.000-07:00

This summer I will have my 67th birthday - 67th year to heaven as Dylan Thomas would have it. The psalmist tells me I can expect maybe three more years to heaven... perhaps thirteen more? or genetics give me reason to hope for fifteen - my mother died at eighty five. I was with my mother when she died - when her years came to an end with a final sigh, she was gone and she flew away.
In light of this reality, to what does the psalmist point? The wrath of God!
Why consider then the power of God's anger and His wrath according to the fear of Him? That we might learn to number our days for one purpose. That we might obtain a heart of wisdom. "Lord, let me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is!" (Psalm 39:4)

Psalm 90: Song for a Seventy Year Old

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.
Thou turnest man back to the dust, and sayest, "Turn back, O children of men!"
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. For we are consumed by thy anger; by thy wrath we are overwhelmed.
Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
For all our days pass away under thy wrath, our years come to an end like a sigh.
The years of our life are threescore and ten or even by reason of strength fourscore; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone and we fly away.
Who considers the power of thy anger and thy wrath according to the fear of Thee?
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on thy servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with thy steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad as many days as we have seen evil.
Let thy work be manifest to thy servants and thy glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Be Strong and Quit Yourselves Like Men

2010-06-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

This from my husband, Michael Albert Braun, in memory of his father:

Be strong, and quit yourselves like men...
lest ye become slaves ... quit yourselves
like men, and fight! - I Samuel 4:9
I was a war baby. The family joke ran no sooner was I born my than that my dad enlisted in the army and left home. Actually he did just that but you'd have had to known my father to realize it was not an attractive option for him. Born into severe poverty as the only child of a widowed mother in the depression, 'home' to dad for the first 18 years of his life was a one room apartment with a single pull down bed for himself and his mother to sleep on. He really never had a home until he married mom. Still, shortly after that, he gave up his home and family for nearly four years to fight in the jungles of the South Pacific.
His sacrifice was the defining moment of his life and of our relationship. I was three years old when this strange man with big arms and shoulders came into my life. He loved me and I loved him but, frankly, dad always scared me. I don't think he ever recovered from the events of World War 2 that left him with malaria, 3 purple hearts and the bronze star. He wouldn't talk a great deal about it though when he visited Florida for the first time in the 1970's he said the afternoon twilight made him very nervous. It was like the islands. The Japs always attacked at twilight. Nearly 40 years later he still had dreams about it.
It's fashionable today to call Dad's generation "The Greatest Generation". I wonder if our distant cousins, the Campbells of Pennsylvania who lost 10 sons in the Revolutionary war, would agree. Would Uncle Wash (short for George Washington Campbell), a union soldier severely wounded and consequently addicted to morphine to lessen his life long pain, agree with that? Probably not ... definitely not.
My father was a hero. Every American soldier is a hero. We say as much in our national anthem: Thus be it ever when free men shall stand between their loved homes and the war's desolation... Dad did not enjoy the war. He did not enjoy being in fear for his life day after day or seeing his friends die around him. But he did his duty, he fought for his family and country.
I suppose we should remember such sacrifices on this Memorial Day. But the words of President Lincoln counsel us to remember more than just the past. Of the fallen at Gettysburg Mr. Lincoln said though they had paid the last full measure of devotion it remained for us, the living, to consecrate and dedicate the present they bequeathed to us.
So much works against this resolve today. Cable TV regales us with documentaries and historical movies about the horrors of war. Martin Sheen, hardly a patriot, narrated a PBS special on World War II only to claim more than double the actual number of the Americans had died in that war. I heard a US senator announce on MSNBC that 100,000 marines died in Viet Nam. The actual count of the entire conflict was less than 50,000 and most of them were regular army troops. The real count of the casualties is awful enough. I have to ask myself what is going on. We are being bombarded by subtle propaganda from those who believe in peace at any price; that war is the ultimate obscenity. Their objective is a brave new world, a world that rejects war. "What if they gave a war," went the old slogan of the 60's, "and nobody came?" Well, "if" that were to happen ours would become a world that saw the end of freedom and hope. It would become a world run by evil men and populated by slaves.
I have 15 grandchildren, 10 of them fine young men. I have often wondered if any of them will have to follow in their grandfather's footsteps and defend our nation and our family. I have often wondered if any of them would be called upon to offer up that last full measure of devotion. I recoil at the thought and pray to God that it would never be. But we cannot ignore the world that lies before us... a world where Matthew Arnold said ignorant armies clash by night. But we are Christians, we walk in the light. We must always remember that death is not the greatest fear, that there are things worth fighting and even dying for. Many among us today would say that this is not so. I see their constant moaning over the fallen in war to be driven by an ulterior motive, by subtle cowardice and cynical self interest. There are things more noble than these, things for which to fight and perhaps to die. This is the lesson my father taught me.

A Word from Augustine

2010-05-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

A perverse will produces lust
Lust indulged forms habit
Habit not resisted becomes necessity.

What are you afraid of?

2009-12-26T04:55:00.000-08:00

What's scaring you today? Is it the illness of a child, fears of death, loss of income and security? Is it your marriage – are you frightened of the possibility that lies within you to throw it all away, to run from the responsibility and disillusionment regarding your own strength? Has the unfaithfulness of man made you frightened that your God will leave you as well? Can I encourage you to go to the word of the Lord as given to the prophet, Isaiah? At least 8 times, this command comes from our God: "Fear Not!" With the command comes encouragement, the reason to be strong: "I am with you!"

Read these passages, memorize them, write them on your heart:

ISAIAH 40:27-WHY DO YOU SAY, O JACOB, AND SPEAK, O ISRAEL, 'MY WAY IS HIDDEN FROM THE LORD? AND MY RIGHT IS DISREGARDED BY MY GOD'? HAVE YOU NOT KNOWN? HAVE YOU NOT HEARD? THE LORD IS THE EVERLASTING GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. HE DOES NOT FAINT OR GROW WEARY, HIS UNDERSTANDING IS UNSEARCHABLE. HE GIVES POWER TO THE FAINT, AND TO HIM WHO HAS NO MIGHT HE INCREASES STRENGTH. EVEN YOUTHS SHALL FAINT AND BE WEARY AND YOUNG MEN SHALL FALL EXHAUSTED; BUT THEY WHO WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH, THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT BE WEARY, THEY SHALL WALK AND NOT FAINT."

ISAIAH 41:4 WHO HAS PERFORMED AND DONE THIS, CALLING THE GENERATIONS FROM THE BEGINNING? I AM THE LORD, THE FIRST AND WITH THE LAST; I AM.

ISAIAH 41:9B-10: FEAR NOT! I AM WITH YOU, BE NOT DISMAYED FOR I AM YOU GOD; I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU, I WILL HELP YOU, I WILL UPHOLD YOU WITH MY VICTORIOUS RIGHT HAND.

ISAIAH 41:12B-14: … THOSE WHO WAR AGAINST YOU SHALL BE AS NOTHING AT ALL. FOR I, THE LORD YOUR GOD, HOLD YOUR RIGHT HAND; IT IS I WHO SAY TO YOU, 'FEAR NOT, I WILL HELP YOU. FEAR NOT, YOU WORM JACOB, YOU MEN OF ISRAEL! I WILL HELP YOU, SAYS THE LORD; YOUR REDEEMER IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.

ISAIAH 43:1ff: BUT NOW SAYS THE LORD, HE WHO CREATED YOU, O JACOB, HE WHO FORMED YOU, O ISRAEL: 'FEAR NOT, FOR I HAVE REDEEMED YOU; I HAVE CALLED YOU BY NAME, YOU ARE MINE. WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS I WILL BE WITH YOU; AND THROUGH THE RIVERS, THEY SHALL NOT OVERWHELM YOU; WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH FIRE YOU SHALL NOT BE BURNED, AND THE FLAME SHALL NOT CONSUME YOU. FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, YOUR SAVIOUR.

ISAIAH 43:5 FEAR NOT FOR I AM WITH YOU …I WILL GATHER YOU… MY SONS FROM AFAR AND MY DAUGHTERS FROM THE END OF THE EARTH, EVERYONE WHO IS CALLED BY MY,NAME, WHOM I CREATED FOR MY GLORY, WHOM I FORMED AND MADE.'

ISAIAH 44:2FF THUS SAYS THE LORD WHO MADE YOU, WHO FORMED YOU IN THE WOMB AND WILL HELP YOU: FEAR NOT, O JACOB MY SERVANT, JESHURUN WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN. FOR I WILL POUR WATER ON THE THIRSTY LAND, AND STREAMS ON THE DRY GROUND; I WILL POUR MY SPIRIT UPON YOUR DESCENDANTS AND MY BLESSING ON YOUR OFFSPRING. THEY SHALL SPRING UP LIKE GRASS AMID WATERS, LIKE WILLOWS BY FLOWING STREAMS. THIS ONE WILL SAY, 'I AM THE LORD'S, ANOTHER WILL CALL HIMSELF BY THE NAME OF JACOB AND ANOTHER WILL WRITE ON HIS HAND, 'THE LORD'S' AND SURNAME HIMSELF BY THE NAME OF ISRAEL.'

ISAIAH 44:6-8 THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE KING OF ISRAEL AND HIS REDEEMER, THE LORD OF HOSTS: I AM THE FIRST AND I AM THE LAST; BESIDES ME THERE IS NO GOD. WHO IS LIKE ME? LET HIM PROCLAIM IT, LET HIM DECLARE AND SET IT FORTH BEFORE ME. WHO HAS ANNOUNCED FROM OF OLD THE THINGS TO COME? LET THEM TELL US WHAT IS YET TO BE. FEAR NOT, NOR BE AFRAID; HAVE I NOT TOLD YOU FROM OF OLD AND DECLARED IT? AND YOU ARE MY WITNESSES! IS THERE A GOD BESIDES ME? THERE IS NO ROCK; I KNOW NOT ANY.

ISAIAH 45:5-8 "I AM THE LORD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER, BESIDES ME THERE IS NO GOD. I GIRD YOU THOUGH YOU DO NOT KNOW ME THAT MEN MAY KNOW, FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN AND FROM THE WEST THAT THERE IS NONE BESIDES ME; I AM THE LORD AND THERE IS NO OTHER. I FORM LIGHT AND DARKNESS, I MAKE WEAL AND CREATE WOE, I AM THE LORD, WHO DO ALL THESE THINGS.

ISAIAH 45:21FF AND THERE IS NO OTHER GOD BESIDES ME, A RIGHTEOUS GOD AND A SAVIOUR; THERE IS NONE BESIDES ME. TURN TO ME AND BE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH! BY MYSELF I HAVE SWORN, FROM MY MOUTH HAS GONE FORTH RIGHTEOUSNESS, A WORD THAT SHALL NOT RETURN: 'TO ME EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, EVERY TONGUE SHALL SWEAR.'
ONLY IN THE LORD, IT SHALL BE SAID OF ME, ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND STRENGTH…

Founding Father's Failure of Faith

2009-08-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

This from Mike Sr.:

Everytime I read from the pages of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography I am overtaken by a certain sense of sadness. Perhaps I have fallen under the spell of that great man's well crafted image as a man of kindly reason and general good will. He was, after all, the consummate self-made man. Perhaps the chief product of such labors was this rustic reasonable public persona that quietly smiles upon us from the historic portraits now hung in our nation's hallowed halls. I wouldn't be the first to so succomb to this affable image of bonhomme. Norman Cousins, one of America's greatest men of letters, described Franklin thus: He was rounded in interests without being polished; aristocratic in intellect without being undemocratic in thought; daring in ideas without being impractical in their execution; perennially youthful in outlook but consistently mature in approach. The Republic of Reason , New York: Harper & Row, 1958, p. 16
Why such sadness then? Primarily it is because the great man came so close to the gospel. At least so he would have us believe. Yet he remained to his dying day uncommitted to its message. A few weeks before his death at 84 in 1790, Franklin replied to a letter addressed to him by the President of Yale University, Ezra Stiles. Evidently Stiles had inquired as to Franklin's faith. Franklin wrote: "As to Jesus of Nazareth I have... some doubts as to his divinity though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble."
This is heartbreaking. The Christian knows too well the trouble that awaits an indifferent soul in eternity. Another sad note in Franklin's account of his life was sounded in the familiar comments on his friendship with the great evangelist, George Whitefield. They were good friends. Franklin said that he did not doubt Whitefield, who died 20 years before Franklin, prayed for his soul every day of his life. "But," Franklin observed, "to no avail." Perhaps the saddest aspect of Benjamin Franklin's failure to believe lies in these many connections with evangelical Christians. Charles Hodge, the noted Princeton theologian, married Franklin's great-great granddaughter and the features of Franklin can be seen almost eerily in the photos of their son, Archibald. The American poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, only a generation removed from Franklin, wrote: "for all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: it might have been." I suppose this sums up my melancholy over Benjamin Franklin. What might have been? Franklin's strongest ties to Christianity lay in his family's heritage of faith. From the pages of his autobiography we read: "This obscure family of ours was early in the Reformation, and continued Protestants through the reign of Mary, when they were sometimes in danger of trouble on account of their zeal against popery. They had got an English Bible, and to conceal and secure it, it was fastened upon with tapes under and within the cover of a joint-stool. When my great-great grandfather read it to his family, he turned up the joint-stool upon his knees, turning over the leaves then under the tapes. One of the children stood at the door to give notice if he saw the apparitor who was an officer of the spiritual court. In that cast the stool was turned down again upon its feet, when the Bible remained concealed under it as before."
What happened to Franklin's faith? I can only hazard a guess that comes from the counsel of God's Word. "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing the Word of Christ." (Romans 10:17) Somewhere along the roadside of his long and illustrious life the Evil One snatched away the Word of God from the mind of Benjamin Franklin. Once taken it could not be restored. And as great a mind as Franklin's remained unrepentant and unbelieving to the very end. How sad! How frightening! No wonder we are commanded over and over again to guard, protect, and regularly attend to the Word of God. To cite an old proverb that I found written on the fly leaf of my first Bible: "This book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book." A final footnote. Perhaps my maudlin sentiment is overly indulgent and too romantic. My sadness over Franklin's admissions is greater than any he ever expressed. After all, I can no more know the heart of Benjamin Franklin than I could any man's heart other than my own. I must ask myself, then, what is the reason for my remorse? Perhaps the truth is found in the words of Gerard Manly Hopkins. Hopkins wrote of seeing a young girl weep over the falling leaves of autumn. He asked "Margaret why are you weeping?" and concluded the young girls tears were common to us all. "It was," he said, "the blight man was born for. It is Margaret that you mourn for." My sorrow, I suppose, is less for Benjamin Franklin's loss of faith and more for the threat to myself and all my loved ones, if we do not attend daily to the hearing of the Word of God. It is as though God were saying "if this can happen to the greatest of men, what chance have you apart from my grace?" May God, the only sovereign creator and sustainer of life, keep me and my beloved ones ever and always in that place where he can bless us. May he keep us in his word.

Women Learning Together

2009-07-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

We have been blessed in the Wise Woman study this summer to have a number of young, unmarried women with us. One of them said: "I wasn't sure this was the study for me - what does this teaching on women building their homes have to do with a grad student (college student, single working woman) living in an apartment by herself or with a room-mate?

The reality is that all of us in the body of Christ are in the business of building God's household: the kingdom of God is among us, God's kingly rule presides over the household of the universal church, all believers of all times; the household of the local church, in our case Four Oaks; the household of the family unit; and the household of the individual believer. We have responsibilities within each of these spheres as we order our lives under our King. The apostle Paul's letter to Pastor Titus teaches us about this order and the particular order the women bring as pillars, strong beautiful pillars supporting and building the household.
We're learning the importance of the woman as priest within this household. The elder women have the responsibility for teaching and training the younger women to think and behave wisely based on the good things of God. The younger women have the responsibility for being willing to learn from women they know well with all their flaws and shortcomings - but who are desiring to obey this command from the Father of every household on earth and in heaven.
We've learned that we are in school together whatever our situation in life. We are encouraged to know the "grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live sober, upright and godly lives in this world awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds."

One of our single women with no children yet of her own, Lauren Curtis, shared the following:

Last week, one of my kids, we'll call her Kate for the sake of HIPPA laws, revealed to me a very tangible perspective on our need for Christ and the beauty of the Gospel. Kate is 3 years old and suffers from various health issues; she is legally blind as well as unable to walk or crawl, barely able to sit up on her own. One aftenoon last week, Kate was laying belly down, playing on the rug, completely content playing with some toys. A few minutes later, we turned around to see that Kate had had what we call a "blow out" and was completely covered in poop. Not only was she covered in her own poop, but she was playing in it face first. It was everywhere....and it was disgusting. I left the room disgusted at the thought, but later was very much blessed by this experience. This is a child that I pray for the Lord to help me love, she is very difficult in more ways than one. As I was praying about her the next morning, the Lord reminded me of Dueteronomy 32:10 which says "He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye." As I read this, I was first so convicted that I have not loved this little girl with the love that has been shown to me. Honestly, I looked at her in her poop and was just frustrated and comletely grossed out. Then I was so amazed at the truth that I, just like her, once played in poop, enjoying it for the satisfaction that I thought it would bring. I played in my own mess, completely blinded to the fact that it was poop and nothing about it was good. And in that mess, completely covered, head to toe, my Father found me, encircled me, cared for me and has kept me as the apple of his eye. He has loved me from before day one. Day in and day out, I am among the children of the world who are deemed unlovely and unworthy. Like Christ, people look at them and do not see beauty that makes them desirable. They have been rejected by men and are acquainted with daily sorrow and grief. But day in and day out, I see Christ in them. I look at them and am reminded that I am just like them. Though I see, though I walk, though I am not as smelly or dirty, I am no different. I need Christ just as much as they do. Isaiah 53:6 says "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - every one - to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Abba Father, please give us eyes to see the beauty, love, and grace of the Gospel in the most mundane and routine moments of our day; changing diapers, feeding families, taking out the trash, putting children to sleep. Please help us to take time to sit with You, speak with You and enjoy You. Jesus, thank you for seeing us for who we are, the muck and all, and loving us in that - teach and help us love others with that same love. Thank you for the ways in which You teach us of Yourself - help us not be so busy that we miss it. Still our crazy minds and hearts, Lord. Give us hearts that desire You first and foremost. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days (Psalm 90:14).

Workers of the Home

2009-07-21T05:52:00.000-07:00

This is from Ashley Baker's study:

The priestess guards her household through fear of the Lord and fruit of her hands. She tends hard to the things she has been given by the good works of her hands. She loves her husband and children, so that she may be praised and blessed. She teaches and encourages young women to do the same. She is focused on the coming age and not enslaved to the ways of this world. She is a keeper and protector of her household. Kindness is on her lips and wisdom in her good teachings. She represents strength and submission, sensibility and provision, and purity in words and action. Not entrenched in the malicious gossip of others. Her heart is fixed on her household so that the Kingdom of God may be furthered and those around her may be blessed by the fruit of her good works. She represents who we are to be, made perfectly in the image of God, glorifying him in every way. She shows others who she is in the eye of her Lord and Savior, far more precious than jewels.

Workers of the Home

2009-07-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

We're working through "The Wise Woman Builds Her House" again this summer. What a joy to study with these women of Four Oaks. As we study Paul's very deliberate commands to the women in the local church in Titus 2:3-5, we've zeroed in on the call for the older women (whose behavior is that of a priest in the home) to train the women in good sound doctrine and sound biblical thinking. The women are to be "workers of the home". The women were asked to carefully compare Proverbs 31 with Titus 2:3-5 and write a paragraph or two describing this "priestess in God's house", using both passages (Proverbs and Titus), as well as the things learned during the study that have shaped our thinking about our calling to the home.
As usual, the responses were terrific. I asked the women to email their paragraphs to me so I could post them here.

Tamzen Baker sent the first offering:
"The “worker” is deliberate, purposeful and mindful in her undertaking. She does not simply make sure things get done, family is fed, children are to bed. She is gracious in the way she acts, kindness and grace flow from her. She is thoughtful in her actions. She does well in the deeds, but is not too concerned with the outcome to not consider and serve the greater things (like Martha and Mary.) She does not trivialize her work, her family, her standing. It is her faithful action with an air of grace and dignity that forms her character and her reputation. These things reflect on her husband who is honored because of her, and they bless her household, causing her children to rise up and bless her. She is not a woman of extremes or run by fears, she guards, she protects, she is steady, she is sensible. She honors the word of God in her moral deeds as well as her diligent deeds. I don’t believe the woman of God, the worker at home, the proverbs 31 woman is a perfectionist causing stress and strife over things not done as well as the next magazine mom, but she does well to the ways of her household, she makes things special, she cares for the bodies and souls of those who are entrusted to her and trusts the One who has given her part in that stewardship."

I'll post more as I receive them!

Songs from Study of Mary's Song

2008-12-02T03:33:00.000-08:00

Here are some songs of praise from women studying Luke 1 this fall:

From Ashley Baker:
My heart believes in your true word
My Savior, My best friend
Thank you Father for salvation,
For my soul would be lost
Your grace has poured into my life
Like a stream of refreshing water on my face
Your love seeps into my veins,
Overpowering me with your faithfulness
The promises of life I wait for patiently and confidently
As the true word of your gospel spills off my lips
May your light of salvation shine into the hearts of the lost
And your promises be fufilled
As I place my hope in you alone.

from Kim Hughes:

My soul has declared in the past, and will keep on declaring, that the You are great, Lord.
My spirit has rejoiced in times past, and will keep on choosing to rejoice in You, Jesus, my Savior and God.
Please grace me to do so, I pray.
I am Your bondslave. You can do what You so choose with me for Your purposes. Somehow You have chosen to look at me and care for me and my life. I am blessed and my children are blessed too. Salvation had been granted our household and I pray that one day Reagan will walk in the blessing of salvation herself and her children’s children will also reverence You.
Many are the awesome things You have done for me. You are stronger than sin, and You have conquered death. Though life is a daily struggle and pain wants to win over my disposition and view, thus far You have brought me.
May mine be a heart that is humble in its thoughts, what a battle that is, Lord. Please help me.
It is You that has provided all that I have ever had, all I need now, and all that I will ever need. Especially in the circumstances in which I find myself now, You will provide. You are my Source.
Father, You told Eve in the garden that the Savior would come. You told Abraham the same, and now, daily, You are reminding me, that Jesus has come - and I am Yours and You are mine.
Thank You for the times I have stood before the 130 children You bring to me each day to sow the seeds of salvation, and allowed me to see the generations that will stand and bless Your name that will come one day from them. Holy is Your name.

from Noelani Ferguson:

My heart is glad with my Lord and Savior.
He has rescued my soul from the depths of murky sin and restored it with his grace.
Oh Heavenly Father, I bless your name, the name above all names.
You have never left your people, you are steadfast and faithful.
Great is the God of Israel who was and is and is to come, who knows all and sees all.
In His greatness he still gives us comfort in our doubt and weakness.
Merciful God, may I know you more and more to bless you everyday of the life you have given me.

A Quiet Time

2008-11-15T04:46:00.000-08:00

When I was a new believer 44 years ago those who discipled me in the Lord Jesus urged me to have what they called a "quiet time" with the Lord every day. I will always be grateful to these wonderful saints many of whom were in their eighties then and still vigorous in their love for the Lord. I'm so thankful for those who insisted that time by myself with the Lord every day should be a priority in my new life in the Lord. I remember reading a little pamphlet which listed all of the places in the Bible encouraging this for the morning and since I am a morning person, I began to get up early to spend time with the Lord. Since I had no idea how this sort of thing should go, it was helpful to see how other Christians ordered their time with the Lord. So – I will tell you what I have tried to do over the years in the hope that it will be helpful to you.

1. Read the Word. It was suggested to me that if I read 4 chapters a day I would read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice in a year so I began to do this and have continued it all these years. At first I simply read 4 chapters in a row – starting with Genesis 1-4 - a good place to begin. I began to keep a notebook handy to jot down something from each chapter as read. No long drawn out notes, just something that stood out. This keeps your mind from drifting off into neverland while you're reading Leviticus and the way to take care of a running sore. The second read through or so, I decided to read chapters from different sections of the Bible. For example, on January 1st (assuming I had kept to the schedule the previous year and read Revelation 22 on December 31st which I don't think has ever happened), I would read one chapter from the books of Moses, starting with Genesis 1, with intention to continue through the history of Israel ending with Nehemiah. I would then read one chapter from the poetic books starting with Job 1 and continuing through Song of Solomon. Next would be a chapter from the prophets starting with Isaiah 1 and reading through to Malachi. I would then read a chapter from the New Testament starting with Matthew 1. If I have time I add a 5th chapter and divide the New Testament reading the gospels and Acts and then a chapter from the letters. The wonderful payback of this is that I began to see themes through these disparate chapters as I read and jotted down a quick note from each. Several years ago someone put out a chronological bible and reading now and then has been helpful in seeing the sweep of God's plan in history. I still have trouble remembering which prophet went with which king but I'm working on it. Use a bible which doesn't leave out portions of Scripture because it may be repeated in another place – you don't want to rely on that sort of editing. Christy Neal is reading NIV's The One Year Chronological Bible and says it is laid out across the page in a way she finds easy to read. Gretchen Fleming has been an encouragement to all of us to read chronologically together and Jo An Smidley organizes a time to discuss together so watch the bulletin for this.
I don't like notes and commentary in my bible – it distracts me from the word. Remember if there is commentary you have to make sure it is accurate and not distortion of the word. This can be difficult if you are new to the word as well as distracting and time consuming. Make sure you are reading an actual translation of the Bible not a paraphrase.
Don't check your brain at the door when you read. The word will become its own commentary as you read. Don't forget that as you read you have the Holy Spirit looking over your shoulder (or are you looking over His?) He will guide you into all truth. Spurgeon writes, "The mind wearies of one thing and we have therefore studied variety…" This year we are reading through the King James again and the beauty of the language ministers to me so much.

2. Pray the Word. As I read the word, I find my spirit wanting to pray according to the word. I've found it helpful to write these prayer notes in the margin of my notebook and then take the time to pray through them for my family and for the needs of the day after the bible reading.

3. Memorize the Word. Pick a verse, a paragraph, a chapter and start learning it by heart. Remember John 14:20 "He that has my Word and keeps it, this is the one who loves me…" Jesus is telling us to hide God's word in our hearts.

4. Meditate on the Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the Word – to remind you of it all day long. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in 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 1:1-3 (RSV)

Jill Mattox told us she likes to have a devotional commentary to read with her thru the Bible time– she mentioned Streams in the Desert. Kay Arthur's little book on the names of God is good as well. One year I read Matthew Henry's commentary on each chapter which was too much for the devotional time. I try to keep the extra reading simple – it starts to crowd out the word but it can be helpful in jump-starting your soul devotionally.
Charles H. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening is wonderful and never fails to spark my flagging spirit. Let me end this with his comment on morning devotions:
"Morning exercises have ever been dear to enlightened, heaven loving souls, and it has been their rule never to see the face of man till they have first seen the face of God … The first hour of every morning should be dedicated to the Lord, whose mercy gladdens it with golden light. The eye of day openeth its lids, and in so doing opens the eyes of hosts of heaven-protected slumberers: it is fitting that those eyes should first look up to the great Father of Lights, the fount and source of all the good upon which the sunlight gleams…
Morning devotion anchors the soul so that it will not very readily drift far away from God during the day: the morning is the gate of the day, and should be well guarded with prayer. It is one end of the thread on which the day's actions are strung, and should be well knotted with devotion. If we felt more the majesty of life, we should be more careful of its mornings. He who rushes from his bed to his business and waits not to worship is as foolish as though he had not put on his clothes, or cleansed his face, and as unwise as though he dashed into battle without arms or armor."

Don't lose heart!

2008-11-04T06:13:00.000-08:00

Mike and I on our way to vote. We just read Luke 18 and received this reminder from our Lord - men ought always to pray and not lose heart! "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Two Faithful Women

2008-10-27T05:19:00.000-07:00

These are my notes from Erik's sermon on October 19th. I may have added my own thoughts as I listened so for the most accurate understanding go to the Four Oaks website and listen to the sermon.

TWO FAITHFUL WOMEN
Luke 1:39-45 The Visitation. Traditional name given to this meeting.
Luke's Focus:
1. transition from Mary's confession of faith to Mary's song of praise
2. the importance of godly women FULL OF POWER, noble godly wives and mothers
This is not egalitarianism but complementarianism – the interdependence of man and woman under God's leadership. We must affirm this.

How does God confirm His word?
1. Through faithful obedience: Mary went with haste… moves from confession to action… walking by faith (in Mary's case literally!) and radically. Mary is the counterpart, the second Eve. She states categorically, "I am the servant of the Lord" and then backs it with her deeds.
2. In His providential care – God's provision confirms His word and will (His providential will shown from day to day)
3. By prophetic exhortation
Erik's prophetic exhortation regarding the sanctity of life: the embryo that lept is a person, Jesus at 1 week post conception is a person!
Word of God spoken and taught confirms His moral will – speaking to one another for edification
Heb. 3:13; 4:12; 10:13 The Word of God alive and active among us so use for instruction, correction, exhortation as we keep meeting together.
4. Guardianship of the Word
We keep His Word as He keeps us in the word
- in reputation - against slander and false accusations
- our physical needs – provide for one another out of God's provision for us
- our spiritual needs – use what God has given you to train others
discipleship in love. Elizabeth and Mary examples of Titus 2:3-5 The interaction of older women and young women "that the word of God not be blasphemed".

God's Design for a Process for Praise
1. Revelation from God
2. Fear – anxiety – sorrow "Sorry and worry keep both soul and spirit from celebrating the goodness of God." (Calvin)
3. Grace in discipline – the terrible face of grace
4. Faith – Submission and trust - Psa. 94:12 "…thy consolations delight my soul…"
5. Obedience – God's Grace in Action
6. Confirmation in fellowship of believers – local body
7. Provision for everything we need for life and godliness
8. Joy burst forth in
9. Worship and Praise and we glory in our Lord and Savior!

The Lord is My Strength and My Song

2008-10-16T04:32:00.000-07:00

I woke this morning "feeling low" as my mom would have put it. Sort of moped around for a while, feeling sorry for myself and so on. I decided to work with the Old Testament references for Mary's song in Luke 1:46-52 Jill Mattox had put together for us for the Luke study. The first passage I read is 1 Samuel 2:1-10 - Hannah's song and from there I went to Isaiah 12:2-5 quoted again in Psalm 89:17-18. "Behold God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord is my strength and my song and he has become my salvation." What a soul lifter!
Do you need to be lifted up today? Go to God's Word and let his consolations delight your soul.
Here is the list of references:
Luke 1: 46-55; I Samuel 2:1-10; Isaiah 12:2-5; Psalm 34: 2,3; Habakkuk 3:18; Psalm 35: 9; Habakkuk 3:18; I Samuel 1:11; Psalm 138:6; Psalm 71:19; 126:2,3; 111:9; Genesis 17:7; Exodus 20:6; 34:6,7; Psalm 103:17; Psalm 98:1; 118:15; Isaiah 40:10; Psalm 33:10; I Samuel 2:7,8; Psalm 107:9
Isaiah 41:8; Psalm 98:3; Jeremiah 31:3; Genesis 17:19; Psalm 132:11; Genesis 17:7

Cassidy's Song

2008-08-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

"Sing, oh Heart!

"Sing a new love song to the Lord!

Picking up my dead, lifeless body, Jesus breathed in it life and said, "You, Cassidy, look like me."

And I shamefully lowered my gaze. In my hands were my idols.

On my body were their scars. I stood condemned.

But he lifted my face and said, "Because of my great love with which I love you, you are my daughter."

And in his presence, with the intensity of his pure love and righteous, holy wrath satisfied,I rested.

For he has become my Redeemer.

Sing a new song to the Lord!

God, rich in mercy, pulled me out of the pit of sin and death.

While I was still inflicting my body with sin, he freed me.

Once without hope, I have him, perfect Hope.

Once alienated an orphaned, I have a Father.

Why? It makes no sense to me.

Because of the great love with which he loved me.

Sing, oh heart!

Sing a new love song to the Lord!

- Cassidy Summers

Songs of Summer Study

2008-08-04T03:26:00.000-07:00

Songs of Praise and Worship
Summer Ephesians Bible Study 2008

Carey's Song:

Praise the Lord - all my soul- who has seen me dead in my transgressions, separate from the chosen and by astounding grace has chosen me to share the heavenly place through Christ Jesus. Praise God for His peace and reconciliation that there need be no more death or enmity. The Lord has filled me with His grace and abounding love that I may have full knowledge of Him - what LOVE! I praise the Lord for His Spirit which has sealed us for heaven for Christ which has brought us near by His blood. What love He has for us!

(Carey Mitchell)

Brittney's Song:

Once far away, dead to life,
My former life was ruled by flesh
The prince of this world led me so off course
I was a child of wrath, dead to life.
But God, praise God, full of mercy and love for me
Even when I was so far away
He made me alive - He gave me Christ
Now seated with Him , I am a child of His love for me.
This precious gift of life is only through His great grace
I boast only in my Lord
I am God’s workmanship - created in Jesus for good works
God chose me to walk in His path through His great grace.
I shall never forget that I was once far from Christ
Having no hope and without God in this world
I was so far off but have been brought near
I shall never be far, oh so far, from Christ.
His peace reached my life and I am now one
Family with the saints
A household, a temple, Christ is my cornerstone
Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit - I am now home.
(Brittney Harlacher)

Shannon's Song:

My Psalm
He has made me a saint
To the Praise of His Glory
He has blessed me with every spiritual blessing
In the heavenly places
To the Praise of His Glory
He chose me before the foundation of the world to be His child
Adopting me in love
To the Praise of His Glory
He redeemed me, forgave me, and lavished His grace and love upon me,
To the Praise of His Glory
He has made me an heiress,
To the Praise of His Glory
He has sealed me with His promised Holy Spirit,
To the Praise of His Glory
He revealed Himself to me when I was just a child,
And continues to enlighten the eyes of my heart,
To the Praise of His Glory
His great power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in me
To the Praise of His Glory
Though I was dead in my sin, following the course of this world, living in the passions of my flesh, a child of wrath, separated from God,
Even then, because of His great mercy and love toward me, He made me alive together with Christ by the greatest gift of His grace
To the Praise of His Glory
I am His workmanship and He is my peace,
To the Praise of His Glory
I am a citizen in God’s holy household,
To the Praise of His glory.
I am a saint, a loved child of God,
To the Praise of His Glory!
(Shannon Pifer July 14, 2008)

Jan’s Psalm:
I will praise the Lord, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I will thank Him with my whole heart for choosing me to be His child,
Even before the foundations of the world.
Praise you, Lord, for blessing me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, for your grace which you freely bestowed on me in my beloved Christ.
Praise you for your gift to me of salvation - by faith which you gave me. It isn’t something I could earn or work for.
Praise you, Lord, for saving me as a young girl, dead in my trespasses and sins, having no hope and separated from Christ, and without God in my world.
Praise you, Father, for always being with me and guiding me through life’s journey
For being my strength in times of weakness, for being my hope when all appeared hopeless.
Praise you for blessing me with your gift of children when I had despaired of ever being a mother.
Praise you, Lord, for showing me your goodness and for teaching me to wait on you, for giving my heart courage and strength as you work in my marriage.
Praise you, Father, that I can be anxious for nothing but instead pray to you about everything. Continue to help me to have a thankful and grateful heart.
Praise you, Lord, for showing me that you could supply all I need according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus, for giving me the confidence of knowing that the work you have begun in me, you will continue to perfect until the day of Christ Jesus. (Jan Wilson)

Nicole's Song:
Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks for His great mercy,
For His great love with which He loves me.
He loved me even in my deadness of sin,
Even in my deadness of heart.
Who am I that God would love me?
I was a stranger to God, His Son, His Spirit
I was a stranger to His promises, His gifts, His grace.
But God, who chose me for Himself,
Brought me near
Though I was far away
Brought me peace
Though I was hostile to Him
Placed me in His household
Though I was a stranger
Made me a citizen of His kingdom
In spite of my great sin
Great are the works of the Lord
Who raised Christ from the dead
Who seated Christ at His right hand
Great are the works of the Lord
Who raised me from my deserved death
Who seated me with Christ in the heavenly places.
Praise the Lord, the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ,
who chose me before the foundation of the World.
Praise the most Holy Lord who predestined me to adoption through Jesus Christ.
Praise the Lord God who forgave me my trespasses.
Praise the Father of glory who gave me knowledge of Him and, while I was still dead in my sins, being rich in mercy, raised me up and seated me in the heavenly places with the Son.
For I walked in the world, in darkness, in sensuality, and in the lusts of my flesh.
But God the Father brought me near by the blood of Christ and made me an heir and fellow partaker of the promise in Him through the gospel.
Therefore, praise the Lord God who sealed me with the Holy Spirit of promise as a gift of grace through faith in Him.
Praise His name forever!
(Nicole DeZego)

Jackie's Song:

Oh God, the Father, Creator of all things, I will praise You, praise your holy name. Yet when I was dead in my sins, my heart hardened, walking in the ways of the world, You called me by name -- before the foundation of the world. You chose me. Lavished your love, grace and mercy upon me.
Thank you Father for pursuing me. I heard Your voice from an early age, and yet walked in the ways of the world -- separate from Christ. I would feel your presence and comfort in the valleys, yet I did not understand. Thank you Lord for your patience as I struggled against your teachings -- not understanding that your ways are best; your plan is perfect. Thank you Father God for bringing me into the light -- for illuminating for me the goodness and rightness of your ways. Thank You Lord Jesus for giving me the faith that I might understand. I praise You for bringing me near by the blood of Christ, for adopting me as a daughter, for making me a citizen in your household, for making me alive -- alive in Christ to the praise of the glory of Your unfathomable grace. (Jackie Pugh)

Christy's Song:
Praise the Lord, who drew me out of darkness into the light of the Lord.
I once was without hope and without God in the world, but He saved me through faith and brought me near to Himself, establishing peace.
For the Lord hath taken this former child of wrath and raised me up with Him, making me a fellow citizen with the saints. I am His workmanship, created for good works.
I know that the Lord is great. He took me, a stranger and alien, and has given me access in one Spirit to the Father that I might come boldly to Him with my prayers.
I praise the Lord because He has renewed me in the spirit of my mind. Once I was tormented, scattered, anxious and fearful but His love cast out all fear. He is truth and He promises that the truth will set you free (John 8:32).
I will praise His holy name!
(Christy Neal)

more encouragement for the saints and faithful

2008-07-03T11:05:00.000-07:00

This from Terry Dudley:
After doing my word study ( I only looked up about 30 cross references) on saints, this is my long paragraph I wrote to summarize what God says about His beloved saints: Beloved, my faithful one (Eph 1:1), I want you to see how I have lavished my love on you. Do you realize you are my inheritance (Eph 1:18); I have given you grace and peace ( Col 1:2) and equipped you in everyway for works of service; building up the body(Eph Eph 4:12). I've given you my Spirit so that your heart can comprehend the immeasurable dimensions of my love for you and be filled to the fulness of God (Eph 3:18). I have given you community with the saints where you will find yourself sharing (Ro 12:13) and serving each other and persevering with prayers and petitions on their behalf (Eph6:18). Your love for them comes from my love that abides in you. Know my Beloved that angels gather you heart-felt pleas for one another and yourself in a golden bowl and lay them on the altar where a sweet aroma arises before Me (Rev 5:8, 8:3-4). Awaken and wipe the sleep from your eyes that you can capture my glory and see all that I have entrusted you . Contend for the faith (Jude 1:3)with fear and reverence and awe for I have called you out of darkness and into my glorious light through the sacrifice of my Son, Jesus, who I dearly loved. Strengthen your hearts and be holy (1Thess 3:13), (you are to be holy as I am holy). Repent of your sin and allow your heart to overflow with thanksgiving (Eph 5:3). Jesus will be glorified in His people called by His name(2 Thess 1: 10), wash the feet of the saints and greet all the saints (1Tim 5:10, Heb 13:24), share your faith (Phile 1:5-7). The Spirit I have given you as a deposit til I return and fully redeem you will intercede for you (Ro 8:27). There will be hard times. Those that fear the Lord will lack nothing (Ps 34:9). In the end I will come and pronounce judgement in favor of my saints (Dan 7:21), stand firm in your faith in me, rejoicing. One day you will possess the kingdom with me which will last forever and ever. THe fear of the Lord will leave you securely anchored, embracing my glory and you will lack nothing for the days ahead inorder to follow me. Meantime make yourself ready for my coming, prepare for I have the finest of white linen that you will be dressed in and shine brightly with purity of the righteousness (Rev 19:8). (1Cor 1:26-31) Boast only in the Lord, because formerly you were weak and despised and through the death and resurrection of Jesus you were given His righteousness, holiness and redemption. The Lord will reward the saints who revered His name (Rev 11:18). P.S. I love you more than you will ever imagine.

from study of Ephesians 1:15-22

2008-07-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

this from Katie Hughes:
Hey Susan, I know you like to hear from us re: how we're doing in the study. Well, I just wanted to tell you how wonderful last week was for me. I learned so much. Probably the most difficult spiritual discipline for me is prayer, and it always has been. I struggle with inconsistency and distraction, finding it hard to sit still and rest in the presence of God when there is always so much going on and so much to be done. I realized last week what a wonderful resource the Word is to us, not just in Bible study, but in prayer as well. Prayers can be surprisingly simple and powerful at the same time, like Paul's prayers in Ephesians. Praying that prayer for people made me love them more, and caused me to truly desire those things for them. One person in particular I prayed for is my brother, who is 21, and rather apathetic and unmotivated these days, particularly with regard to his faith. I of course tend to worry about him and not pray for him, and praying this prayer relieved me of my worrying, forced me to confess that only God can change him, and gave me great hope for what God can do in and through him. Katie

How? the mystery revealed

2008-06-13T18:38:00.000-07:00

This word of encouragement from Shannon Pifer regarding working on the chapter overview with the 5 W's and H:
Just reading your blog I thought I'd share this with you. I have in the past thought the "5W's and H" of each chapter to be quite tedious and not all that important. I've tried going into doing it in Ephesians with a better attitude than that, with eyes opened looking to see what God is showing me in this part of the process. Well, I just finished Chapter 3 and my "How" column got me excited. This is what's on it:
-by revelation
-by the Spirit
-through the Gospel
-according to the gift of God's grace
-by the working of His power
-according to the eternal purpose that He has realize in Christ Jesus our Lord
-through our Faith in Him-according to the riches of His glory
-through His Spirit in your inner being
-according to the power at work in us.
What great statements about how God does just about everything, in us and through us and for us, and for His own glory!! All in one little chapter!!! Now I'm excited to see what Chapter 4 has to say!!!
Blessings-Shannon

Using the Chapter Overview Chart

2008-06-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

Are you overwhelmed with the study guide for this week, fellow Ephesian students? I'm so encouraged to hear you have set your mind to doing this - to finding out what God is saying in this wonderful letter. I would like to encourage you to hang in there. If you are new to inductive study, just write down what you see in one reading of each chapter. For instance, in chapter one: Who? Paul, God, Jesus Christ, saints (you, us) Holy Spirit.
What? Will of God, Grace, Chosen (Predestined, Purposed, Will) Glory
Gospel
When? Before the foundations of the world v.4; fullness of the times v. 10
(you could also put these under Time on back of the sheet.
Where? the saints who are at Ephesus; in the heavenly places; in heaven and on earth. You could put In Christ here - your call.
Why? That we should be holy and blameless before Him; to the praise of the glory of His grace; v.10 with a view to the administration suitable to the times
How? By will of God; thru Christ Jesus Himself acc. to the kind intention of His will; thru Christ's blood; acc to the riches of His Grace
in all wisdom and insight; having been predestined acc to His purpose

If you are frustrated with this, you might want to move on to thinking about Paul and the Ephesians and their relationship and why Paul wrote this letter to them. We will spend time talking this through next Tues.

Julia Stake said some were having trouble with following the pronouns and putting them with their proper antecedents in the first chapter. This is a problem here for a couple of reasons: Paul's long sentences, his involved thought patterns and his lack of concern for our problems in this area! Remember the rule of Bible study: Context Rules. Whenever possible view a passage as a whole. So if you start with 1:3 and follow all that God the Father has done, and substitute His name for the pronoun, it becomes clear.
for instance: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who (God the Father) blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (v. 4) just as He (God the Father) chose us in Him (Christ - probably all the "in Him" phrases refer to Christ)...that we should be holy and blameless before Him (God the Father).

I liked doing this because repeating "God the Father" emphasizes in my mind my relationship with Him as his daughter and reminds me how much He loves me and wants me to know what He has done for me! If He has lavished all the riches of His grace on you, don't you think He will help you in any need or trouble?

Let me know if this helps - remember to email me, I don't think the comments on here get thru.

I'm a Morning Person?

2008-06-12T04:09:00.000-07:00

At our table on Tuesday night when we gathered to talk through the study of Ephesians, we each shared our prayer requests for the study. All of us wanted prayer for diligence and help in getting to the study early in the day. Someone said she wasn't a morning person but wished she were - think of all you could do before anyone was demanding something from you. Our daughter, Robin, said of her babies, "I don't care so much about the sleeping through the night. I just want them to sleep in the next morning!" I feel like my life has been a constant struggle to get enough sleep. Need I say that I am a morning person married to the champion night person? And all of our children seemed to have his bio-rhythms. Many of our friends who spent time at our home when we had a houseful of kids say they remember me curled up in the corner of the sofa with an afghan over my head, sound asleep while everyone else watched tv or chatted together.
What to do? Ask God to wake you up to his word... ask the Spirit to show you the best time to be in God's word - when you can give him the firstfruits of your time and attention. Don't worry about the when of it - just ask help in doing it sometime. Do it like you exercise - off and on all day. Plan it like you plan your work, your studies for school, your day with your children.
I'm up early today because Mike has a Bible study at 6 am on Thursday but also because I know the women at the study prayed for me to have the energy to be in God's word and the Lord is answering their prayer for me.
I'm praying for you all - that you will have a great time in his word, lavished upon you in all His glorious grace in Christ Jesus. Let's let everyone know that Four Oaks women are women of the Word.

Emails & Encouragements

2008-06-09T17:53:00.001-07:00

I asked for feedback on the Ephesians study, thought I'd pass these words of encouragement along:
from Shannon Pifer:
I know you like hearing from us as we study, so I thought I'd share a few thoughts with you about how it's going for me...First, it's struck me how different things jump out at me depending on how I'm taking it in. I've been listening to your husband while I drive. (By the way, he has a great radio voice and should do a radio show or something!) I've also been reading from my Bible as well as from the study guide worksheet as I study. It's so funny that it's all the same words, but depending on where I'm reading it from or how I'm hearing it, I'll catch things that I never caught before. I wonder if you or the other ladies have that same experience, or maybe my brain is weird or something!I also had a verse jump right out at me as I read this morning. I've probably read Ephesians through a dozen or so times in the past week or two but never caught it. Verse 8&9 of chapter 5 talk about walking as children of light. Then verse 10 says "...trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord." I thought, "Well that's exactly what I'm doing here, taking this class and studying this book. I'm trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord!" I just thought that was neat, finding in the book I'm studying the very reason why I'm studying it!
That's it! Nothing too earth shattering! I'm looking forward to tomorrow night! Blessings-Shannon
from daughter Kris:
...on another note i finished this weeks study and am just blessed ... from reading ephesians so many times (like eight?) i'm looking forward to the rest of the study.
from Katie Hughes:
am so excited about doing your study this summer. I did a bunch this morning and am already reaping the benefits :) ...Also, I wanted to tell you about this book on marriage Josh and I just read that is pretty awesome. I thought about it on Tuesday night because Betsy Ricucci (who sort of co-wrote it with her husband) says something really cool about Proverbs14:1 in the chapter entitled "Walking in Wisdom." She talks about what it means to "build" rather than "tear down" and then says this: "As a wife, mother, and homemaker, I can often reach the end of a day and think, Now, what have I accomplished today that was really worthwhile?...here is the biblical answer to that question: Because today's activities have furthered the building of my home, this has been a day in which, but God's grace, I have displayed true wisdom. According to Proverbs 14:1, if the choices I make are tearing down that which is most important, then I am living as a fool. But if I am living so as to build my household, then even when I am tempted to think my efforts aren't amounting to much, I can find encouragement that I am living wisely" I never thought of it that way, that if we are building our homes (not as works righteousness, obviously) then we can find reassurance that wisdom is displayed, even when it feels like foolishness in this world, where accomplishments are measured by successful careers and monetary gain. Oh, and the book is called Love that Lasts. It's by Gary and Betsy Ricucci.

Judy Murphy reports that she and Dave have been working on the study together (he wants to get in touch with his feminine side, biblically) and want to continue to work on it in North Carolina - via email!

from Julia Stake: I am looking forward to tomorrow night's study. I have enjoyed reading through Ephesians and doing the initial observation, though I must say with a longer book it does take a while. I can't imagine reading through Isaiah all at once or several times at once!! :)

from Beth Kinnon: Hi Susan! Just to give you some feedback....I was at the VBS training last night and saw Brittany Harlacher, Dana Letson, Krista Bump, and I can't think who else, but one more lady from the group. We all were making progress on the study, two women were on step 3, two on step 2 and one on step 1. Everyone was very encouraged and encouraging. I don't think anyone had trouble with the study not being "user friendly". We are all very excited to be studying Ephesians with you this summer! Of course, at the training they gave us quite a bit of VBS homework, so we might fall behind on the Bible study homework....... :)Looking forward to seeing you Tuesday evening,Beth

I'm encouraged! Hope you are too. Don't be shy about coming even if you have to miss some - see you Tues nights at 7 at the ministry center.

Family Devotions

2008-02-18T16:47:00.000-08:00

Ah, family devotions. I often wonder if others are inspired at the beginning of a new year to persevere in this much needed family activity.
“We need to really make that a priority,” my husband and I told each other, firmly and resolutely. We even bought a new devotional aid for parents with small children, with bright colors and helpful tips.
After dinner we brought out the Bible and our new book to read to our four precious children all sitting around the table, angelic faces leading us to believe they were as eager to carry out this resolution as their parents. They almost looked like the children on the cover of the devotional.
This was going to be great.
“Now,” Don began. “Tonight we are going to read about God creating the world…”
“I have to go to the bathroom,” our youngest piped up.
“Well, you can wait until we’re done. In the beginning…” Don continued.
“I have to go bad. Reeeeeeally bad.”
“Honey,” I whispered. “I’d hate to have an accident.”
“You’re right. Go ahead.” He cleared his throat and began again. “In the beginning –“
“Where were the dinosaurs?” another child asked.
“What?”
“Were the dinosaurs there?”
“Um, not yet. Now, let’s listen—“
“THERE’S NO MORE TOILET PAPER!!!” a call comes from the back.
“Sheesh. Where’s the toilet paper?” Don asked.
“It’s in there! I just put a new roll on!” I say defensively.
“I USED IT ALL!!” the voice from the bathroom chirped.
“YOU BETTER NOT USE THAT MUCH TOILET PAPER!!” I call back.
“I’ll go get him some,” my older daughter whips out of her chair.
“No! Wait!”Don calls, too late.
Soon all kids are back to the table.
“Ok, where were we? God created the world. In the beginning-- son, did you wash your hands? Excuse me, excuse me, don’t touch that. Did you wash your hands? Go wash your hands.”
“And flush the toilet!” I called after him.
“Yes, flush the toilet!” Don turned back to the Bible. “Ok, let’s read God’s word!”
“Um, Dad?”
Don sighed. “Yes.”
“Did the dinosaurs go to heaven?”
Don gave our daughter a bewildered look and after a long pause said: “I have no idea.”
My daughter looks disappointed.
Don presses on. “Now, I want to finish a verse! Everyone listen!”
The youngest returns to the table. “I flushed the toilet but it won’t go down.”
Don puts his head in his hands.
“Honey, let’s just pray.” I say.
“Yes, let’s pray. Who would like to pray?”
“ME!” “ME!”
“ME!”
“ME!”
“No, me first!”
“You always go first!”“That’s cuz I’m older and have more to pray about!”
“MOM!”
“Why don’t we let the youngest pray?”
“Dear God,” starts the four- year- old. “Thank you for my new jet plane-“
(Loud whisper: “OW! You’re squeezing my hand too hard!”)
“-and please make more dinosaurs-“ he continued.
(Louder whisper: “Eww! You’re hands are still wet!”)
“-so we can play with them. Amen.”
(loud crash when one of the kids falls backward in a chair.)
“THAT’S IT!!!” I cry. “GO TO BED!!”
That was not quite what I had pictured for our family devotions.
The next evening (oh who are we kidding, it wasn’t exactly the next evening but very soon after) as we are clearing the dinner dishes my youngest says: “Time to read the Bible!” and runs to get the Bible and the devotional book.
“Yay!” they all cry and gather around the table. (To be honest, I am not quite convinced that this enthusiasm isn’t slightly encouraged by the fact that devotions delay bed time. We’ll hope for the best.)
We have a similar reenactment of the night before, only this time, not quite as hectic, and we manage to make it through the second verse.
We consider that a great accomplishment.
(written by Robin)

2008-02-06T04:59:00.000-08:00

This from my husband:

This afternoon my daughter sent me the URL to an Op Ed piece entitled "Evangelicals a Liberal Can Love" which appeared n the NY Times on February 3, 2008. It was sent to her by a friend and she kindly passed it on to me. I must confess that when I saw the author's name my initial enthusiasm was somewhat abated.

Nicholas Kristof once again took his pen in hand and ventured onto the playing fields of the Op Ed section of the Times. Most everyone agrees that this venue hardly constitutes a level playing field. Nevertheless Mr. Kristof's decidedly left leaning stance appears quite balanced when framed in the skewed windows of our nation's "paper of record." The Times, a paper proudly claiming to bring its reader "all the news that's fit to print," appears to be convinced that any viewpoints not presented therein are unworthy of the ink it would take to print them. Almost uniformly contributors to the Times' Op Ed pages on any regular basis show a decided liberal bias. They require very little evidence to convince themselves of the fact they are not only brighter than their adversaries, but superior in their eclectic moralities. The Times' self congratulatory viewpoint often turns to Mr. Kristof as its champion. He is benevolent, if condescending, and oh so tolerant … to a point. St. Nicholas believes his positions take the moral high ground so often they do not require oxygen. Like many east coast liberal writers, Mr. Krisof is so damned pleased to be correct that he often, with all due beneficence, dispatches dispensations of grace to those who occupy lesser stations in life. This time the supplicants receiving his literary indulgences happen to be a few Christian evangelicals. That is, he is willing to acknowledge certain evangelicals if they march to his unchallenged agenda. The items of that agenda, in his eyes at least, are manifestly superior in their morality to all the other concerns of those who would align themselves to the right of his throne which proudly sets quite far to the left of the political spectrum. So, self assured of his correctness, Mr. Kristof is not above bestowing from time to time faint praises upon those less enlightened than he. Noblesse oblige. Thus he looks upon a few evangelicals worthy of his love.

Liberals, Mr. K. intones, "believe deeply in tolerance." This may come as a surprise to the countless conservatives who have been shouted down on major university campuses around the country, physically intimidated and even hit in the face with the ubiquitous pie. Neither should the myriad of conservative academics that have been denied their just credits and tenure be forgotten in this rush to baptize the left in the soothing waters of toleration. The chairman of a major university's department of religion once told me, without blinking an eye, that he would never appoint a self professed evangelical Christian to his faculty for no other reason than that he was an evangelical. Sic semper liberal tolerance. So when Mr. Kristof says "scorning people for their faith is intrinsically repugnant," all manner of red flags begin to wave before me. My caution was quickly rewarded when it became obvious that Mr. Kristof reserved tolerance for the religious right only if they focused on acceptable moral priorities: "poverty, AIDS, sex trafficking, climate change, prison abuses, malaria and" (are you ready?) "genocide in Darfur." One wonders if genocide elsewhere, say in the abortion chambers of the United States, is acceptable? I'm sure other diseases such as yellow fever and gonorrhea could easily be added to Mr. Kristof's fab five list plus one along with things like fetal research and socialized medicine. However, it is clear that to Mr. Kristof issues such as the advocacy of premarital celibacy or opposition to homosexual marriage, or efforts to restrict pornography when it masquerades as free speech and artistic expression, are non-issues. They are not pragmatically useful to a secular society though they are inherently more closely aligned to evangelical beliefs than the issues Mr. Kristof favors. Such evangelical concerns are beneath his standards of tolerance and unworthy of his love, even though they are clearly issues anchored in Judeo-Christian orthodoxy.

Mr. Kristof proves this observation in his praise of the tired radicalism of Jim Wallis whose biggest claim to being an evangelical is that he came out of Chicago and from among the corridors of Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College. Mr. Wallis, nonetheless, merits Mr. Kristof's "love" because he finds climate change and poverty more compelling moral concerns than the abortion deaths of 1.2 million American infants yearly. Mr. Kristof is delighted that the "purpose driven" pastor Rick Warren is willing to put the American social blight of promiscuity and sexual insanity behind the need for AIDS awareness in South Africa. But God help, no pun intended, any and all evangelicals who may favor a different moral priority than the one espoused by Mr. Kristof. And, by the way, when did Mr. Kristof reserve the right to define a more acceptable evangelical moral agenda? It's bad enough that CBS is attempting to do that with its questionable poll data. Mr. Kristof makes his contentions for what is "more moral" out of nothing save his own view point, and that the view point, not of an evangelical Christian, but of a sort of benign non-Christian secular pagan. Thus, with a back handed note of gratitude to a few non-conforming emerging church types, Mr. Kristof brings his mailed fist down once again on the tired head of Pat Robertson and the deceased pate of poor Jerry Falwell.

Yes, Jerry Falwell, the evangelical liberals loved to hate. Like the remains of Oliver Cromwell, who was disinterred in order to be more properly punished, Mr. Kristof resurrected Rev. Falwell's statement that AIDS was "God's judgment on promiscuity." This dictum, St. Nicholas solemnly noted, "constituted far grosser immorality than anything that ever happened in a bathhouse." One wonders just what bathhouses Mr. Kristof frequents to draw such a conclusion. Is he also in possession of statistics showing AIDS running rampant among those who restrict their sexual activity to monogamous marriage? Save for the intravenous drug users, the larger number of whom are sexually promiscuous anyway, and the statistically insignificant number of those infected from tainted blood supplies, Rev. Falwell's observation deserves consideration regardless of the opinion one may have as to its messenger.

When stripped of its contemporary facade Mr. Kristof's view is nothing more than the tired liberal opposition to evangelical Christianity and its heart felt mission to preach the Gospel seeking the salvation of eternal souls. It is another attempt to reduce the evangelical agenda in order to place it on a par with many other groups who, ignoring the soul, seek only to alleviate social evils and provide material relief. Admittedly Christ called for his disciples to give "cups of cold water" but it was always to be done under the aegis and clear articulation of His divine Name. Mr. Kristof seeks a utilitarian marginalization of biblical Christianity. It is the same liberal song and dance that attempted to delegitimize Christian foreign missions at the beginning of the 20th century. It was sought then and is still desired by many today to replace missionary evangelists and preachers with the more politically correct, and, to the liberal mind, more noble, medical professionals or anthropologists or sociologists. Mr. Kristof would prefer to send Margaret Meade back to Samoa instead of Billy Graham. This is his right. But it hardly qualifies him to determine who the more acceptable evangelical should be. I am not worried about the New York Times being deluded, they are already there. I am, however, concerned with those evangelicals who would take Mr. Kristof's viewpoint seriously and question the urgency of Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations through baptism and teaching. It is this command that explains Jesus' statement that he came to earth not to bring peace but a sword. The Gospel will inevitably divide people. That is only desirable if it is the truth. But, the Gospel of Jesus Christ cannot be labeled false simply because it does what Jesus said it would do and refuses to march in step with the New York Times. The message of Christ is the sword of the Spirit, but Mr. Kristof fails to get the point.

Any Jane Austen fans?

2008-01-24T07:44:00.000-08:00

Have you been watching Masterpiece Theatre's Complete Jane Austen? Post some reviews for us, please. The girls in our family are gathered on Sunday nights at their respective tv sets - eager to spot anachronisms and judge the relative merits of the different productions - we love Jane as she is presented for the 2008 audience!
Here's a mushy video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks8SRa7J7lA
to get you going.

Our God is a Happy God

2008-01-24T06:52:00.000-08:00

We used the title "Don't Worry! Be Happy!" for the bible study of Phillippians. When I asked the women at the study what they were expecting, two or three said, "I came because of the title." I first used this title after hearing the song by Bobby Mcferren.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjnvSQuv-H4 If this video combined with the picture above of our kids and their hair in 1989 doesn't make you smile, you're in a bad way. Note the contrast between the West Point cut and the super lacquered upsweep!

I know, I know, we don't like to talk about happiness for Christians, it seems greedy or giddy or something. And no, we shouldn't be rolling on the floor in fake laughter. But Spurgeon was right when he said, "Our God is a happy God and he is a happy making God." And happiness can be learned – Paul says, "I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content."
Spurgeon comments on Psalm 100: 1-2: Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. "The original word signifies a glad shout, such as loyal subjects give when their king appears among them. Our happy God should be worshipped by a happy people; a cheerful spirit is in keeping with his nature, his acts, and the gratitude which we should cherish for his mercies - Serve the LORD with gladness. 'Glad homage pay with awful mirth.' He is our Lord, and therefore he is to be served; he is our gracious Lord, and therefore to be served with joy. The invitation to worship here given is not a melancholy one, as though adoration were a funeral solemnity, but a cheery gladsome exhortation, as though we were bidden to a marriage feast. Come before his presence with singing."

So I say to all the daughters of song - in spite of the cheerios on the floor, the son who just told you he wants to be a clown when he grows up (not only told you but told his Sunday school teacher) when you were hoping for missionary/pastor/president of the US), the boss who is too demanding, the fears and frets that assail you, the studies that seem never ending, - come on, learn to be happy, shout out with joy!

Taking delight in the Sabbath

2008-01-14T05:08:00.000-08:00

Isaiah tells us if we call the sabbath a delight and honor it, we are taking delight in the Lord. We had such a good day at Four Oaks yesterday in God's house (on Sunday mornings, Chiles High School is God's house). What a great proclamation of the word from the pulpit! The exhortation to use our gifts that we might reflect the image and nature of God, demonstrate his goodness and compassion as we act in obedience to him, produce intimacy and true fellowship in the body and that final powerful purpose for using our gifts in service to the body of Christ and the world: we manifest and embody the redeeming love of Christ to the world. Really made me want to do my share, to labor for these purposes.

"Behold, We Did Not Know This"

2008-01-11T04:05:00.000-08:00

I didn’t have a good night’s sleep last night. I read Erik’s blog, Bright Wings, in the late afternoon, and he reminded me of the reality, the violence of abortion, of the murder of thousands of babies every day. I was a little irritated - I want to have peace and joy. I want to feel good about myself. Erik gave a website where I could view graphic pictures of these babies, these little ones. I didn’t go to that website. I knew it would upset me and I wanted a peaceful evening. I didn’t want to give a thought to those babies.
Then we read psalm 10 before we went to bed. “The wicked…sits in ambush… in hiding places he murders the innocent… he thinks in his heart, ‘God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.’ … Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, ‘Thou wilt not call to account‘? Thou dost see; yes, thou dost note trouble and vexation, that thou mayest take it into thy hands; the hapless commits himself to thee; thou hast been the helper of the fatherless… O Lord, thou wilt hear the desire of the meek; thou wilt strengthn their heart, thou wilt incline thy ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more."
I went to that website this morning at 6:45 AM and made myself watch the video. I'm not going to have a nice day. The terror going on today while I go about my life is going to get to me. I don’t want to forget. I want to be like my Father in heaven who cares for these babies. Will you go with me? Will you pray for an end to this? We need to be tough minded about this. Pray that the women of Four Oaks will be known as warriors for the unborn. "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'Behold, we did not know this,' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not requite man according to his work?"

"I will be their God"

2008-01-09T04:21:00.000-08:00

Start your day with this: "I will be their God." (Jeremiah 31:33) Here is all I require for today. "To make you happy you want something that will satisfy you; and is not this enough?" (Spurgeon's Morning Devotions) Yes, Lord! You have put your law within me – I have a new nature. You took my by the hand and led me out of darkness into your marvelous light – I have a new relationship with you based on real, intimate knowledge. I have forgiveness of my sin and iniquity – you remember my sin no more based on the blood of Christ shed for me.
"For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Cor. 2:16)
He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God has made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord." (1 Cor. 1:30-31)
"…let him who glories, glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says the Lord." (Jer. 9:23-24)
"O the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways. For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:33-36)
Okay, ready for your day now? I am!

Picture a Sunday Evening ...

2008-01-05T12:10:00.000-08:00

Picture if you will a Sunday evening at our home. It is about 6:00, and people are gathering around our kitchen, drinking coffee and eating various snacks, laughing, talking, catching up on the week. Occasionally you see a flash of a child go by, a little hand reaches up over the counter to grab a cookie. Several moms have babies on their hips. This is our Home Fellowship Group, and soon we will move to the living room where we will sing a few songs, have a time of prayer, share and spend time in God’s word together. I love seeing everyone together, and I am so glad we are doing it.
Doesn’t that sound inviting? Now, let me rewind a bit. It is 5:00, and we are preparing for people to come. One of my children has had a potty accident, the girls haven’t cleaned up their rooms like I had asked them and I notice a pile of laundry by the front door. My husband has decided this is a good time to touch up the paint on the window. One of my sons is attempting to break a record with how many times he can run around the room. I’m feeling insecure about my housekeeping abilities, everyone will see I still haven’t dusted the chandelier (and it’s not Halloween so I can’t use that as my excuse.) It is around this time I ask my husband, “Why, exactly, are we doing this again?”
Don usually says something like “Because this is what it’s all about!” That response doesn’t always bring thoughts of joy and love to my mind. But he’s right. When I read God’s word to us, the constant encouragement for believers is to gather together and to rejoice together. Hebrews 10:23 tells us: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
It is my habit to withdraw from the body when I feel discouraged. When things are rough; maybe there is stress in my marriage, with my children, or with other believers, I want to keep to myself. Or maybe it’s my pride, like I mentioned earlier, my house isn’t clean enough… my kids aren’t well-behaved enough… or I just don’t feel like I have my act together enough to face other believers. I don’t want people to see my flaws. But often, I need a firm reminder: that is not what we are called to do. I don’t want other women thinking I have it all together. I want younger women to know I struggle, but with God’s faithfulness and mercy, I persevere, and I lean totally on His strength. What keeps me loving my children and my husband is God’s love for me. What keeps me loving His people is God’s love for me. I also want my children to see us open our home, to share our lives, to learn practically that it’s not all about our family and our needs, that we are part of a bigger family.
Of course, I look forward to those Sundays where we can take a night off and relax with just my family, and have some reprieve from the stresses of hosting. My children are usually disappointed, they love having the other kids over and playing with the babies. But when I feel the temptation to pull away, to close the door and turn off the porch light, God’s word is a wonderful reminder to me of His promises of sweet fellowship. My husband once said after a great meeting together of good fellowship, “Man! That is what heaven is going to be like, only better!” Yes, indeed. And I won’t have to hide my laundry behind the shower curtain. (Shh. Don’t tell.)
(Posted by Robin St. Denis, our daughter in Jacksonville)

Resolution for 2008

2008-01-04T05:31:00.000-08:00

Two Resolutions for 2008: the first came as a result of encouragement from our daughter, Robin, who told me her only resolution this year was to get up and have some time with the Lord. I know if she can manage it, pregnant with 4 lively other children, I certainly ought to be able to! And my second? To use this blog as an encouragement for others to do the same. It's more difficult than I imagined to write for encouragement and send it out to cyberspace - all my insecurities come charging in. So let me know if you read this - if you can't get through to comment here, send me an email at susanbraun7@gmail.com.
I can't wait to study with some others Paul's letter to the Phillippians - the first letter I read in the New Testament as a young Christian almost 44 years ago and it has never lost its appeal for me. There is nothing like the joy of rediscovering all God has for us as we get into the Word together.

Who is this King of Glory?

2007-10-25T04:34:00.000-07:00

“Light is the countenance of the Eternal,' sung the setting sun: 'I am the hem of his garment,’ responded the soft and rosy twilight. The clouds gathered themselves together and said, ‘We are his nocturnal tent.’ And the waters in the clouds, and the hollow voices of the thunders, joined in the lofty chorus, ‘The voice of the Eternal is upon the waters, the God of glory thundered in the heavens, the Lord upon many waters.’
‘He flieth upon my wings,’ whispered the winds and the gentle air added, ‘I am the breath of God, the aspirations of His benign presence.’ We hear the songs of praise,’ said the parched earth; ‘all around is praise; I alone am sad and silent.’ Then the falling dew replied, ‘I will nourish thee, so that thou shalt be refreshed and rejoice, and thy infants bloom like the young rose.’ ‘Joyfully we bloom,’ sang the refreshed meads; the full ears of corn waved as they sang, ‘We are the blessing of God, the hosts of God against famine.’
‘We bless from above,’ said the gentle moon; ‘We too bless Thee,’ responded the stars; and the lightsome grasshopper chirped, ‘Me, too, He blesses in the pearly drop.’ ‘He quenched my thirst,’ said the roe, ‘and refreshed me,’ continued the stag; ‘and grants us our food,’ said the beasts of the forest; ‘and clothes my lambs,’ gratefully added the sheep.
‘He heard me,’ croaked the raven, ‘when I was forsaken and alone’; ‘He heard me,’ said the turtle-dove cooed, and the swallow and the other birds joined the song. ‘We have found our nests, our houses, we dwell upon the altar of the Lord, and sleep under the shadow of His wing in tranquility and peace.’
‘And peace,’ replied the night, and echo prolonged the sound, when chanticleer awoke the dawn and crowed with joy, ‘Open the portals, set wide the gates of the world! The King of glory approached. Awake! Arise, ye sons of men, give praises and thanks unto the Lord, for the King of glory approaches.!
The sun arose and David awoke from his melodious rapture. But as long as he lived, the strains of Creation’s harmony remained in his soul and daily he recalled them from the strings of his harp.” From the “Legend of the Songs of the Night,” in the Talmud, quoted in “Biblical Antiquities” by F. A. Cox. Taken from the Treasury of David; Charles H. Spurgeon.

The Reward of Bad Telly

2007-09-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

At the end of the day, after homework and chores, soccer/baseball/piano practice, after nagging to pick up toys/ clothes/ shoes/ don’t bring the lizard into the house I don’t care if it is orphaned, after baths and brushed teeth and reading Hop on Pop and singing the favorite song and saying prayers and wait you didn’t practice our memory verses (children become spiritually enthusiastic if it delays bedtime)and doing the correct night-time kisses (butterfly/Eskimo/ big hug, in that order) and making sure nothing is in the closet/under the bed/ behind the curtain, and the night-light is turned on and the door isn’t shut and getting a glass of water, (“me too!” “I don’t like water” “This water is too cold”) and finally going to bed, (wait, someone needs to go tinkle, not by themselves, wait, someone didn’t pull their pants down all the way we need to change into a new pair of pjs, wait, they are in the laundry, here just wear a t-shirt but I’m cold just wear it!!!)
Ok, everyone is in bed, you tip toe down the stairs, ignore the sink that isn’t sparkling like Flylady says and head for the sofa… ahhhhhhhh. Now you have time to do the one thing that can bring you complete and utter joy after a long day….
Bad television.
How can I possibly justify it? What can I say? I watch too much bad television. Do you know when you can tell you have watched too much bad telly? When you begin sentences with “Oprah says…” Or worse: “Tim Gunn says…” Or even worse: “ Suzanne Somers says…” (and if you know those names, you live in my world, my friend.)
Seriously, what can be better after a day of making meals with a main ingredient of cheese or peanut butter, than watching “Top Chef?” I would like to see those guys try to pull it off. Sure, you can make duck confit on an airplane, but can you satisfy the palate of four children under nine who still, no matter what disciplinary action is taken, can’t resist pointing to the plate and saying “What’s THAT?” Please. You people are novices.
My favorite show used to be “Fashion Runway.” I loved the way the judges gave the designers projects that were next to impossible to complete, and then, totally ripped their creations to shreds. For example: make an outfit out of items you can purchase at a drugstore for $25. One of the judges scoffed and said: “Please, that dress looks like it was made out of a lawn chair!” Um, that’s because it IS made out of a lawn chair!!!
And then there is Super Nanny, which is surreal to watch because it is on late and I am usually dozing in and out of consciousness. Wait. That can’t have happened. Did that mother really agree to allow television cameras to follow her around during the day (and night!) and record her parenting? On national television??!! Do they pay these people? There is no amount of money that could override my enormous ego and get me to do that. No way. And then have a saucy British woman, no matter how clever and savvy with children she is, comment? (“Put him in the naughty chair, mummy! The naughty chair!”) She would leave with a limp.
Yes, perhaps it’s time to turn the channel. Or, just go to bed. That’s what Super Nanny would do, anyway.

Written by Robin Braun St. Denis, mother of 4 of the six children on her couch above.

Memories of Baptism

2007-09-23T18:49:00.000-07:00

I don't remember the first time I was baptized. I know I was baptized as an infant because when I told my mother I was going to be baptized at 20 years old after professing Jesus Christ as my Savior, she told me there was no need because I had already been baptized. Neither she nor my father were believers at that time.

But I certainly remember being baptized after my conversion. I was going to school in Santa Barbara, California, living with a young family there, helping with their little girl for room and board. The pastor of the church I attended preached a message much like the ones Erik has been preaching and I knew that because Jesus said to be baptized, I needed to obey Him. The church had the service in the afternoon and I was very nervous and shy about being in front of hundreds of people and professing my faith. It was wonderful to come up out of that water and be congratulated by God's people who rushed around me in support and a show of love.

But the real testimony came after I got home. Stan and Helen Silva, the young couple with whom I lived, were having a large group of their friends over for a pool party and as I came in the door, Stan saw me and called me to the backyard. He knew I had become a Christian and had been teasing me about praying for everything and going to church all the time. He knew I was being baptized that day and took this chance to tease me again. He had me stand in front of their friends while he questioned me about this strange thing - an adult college girl being dunked in a pool like a religious fanatic. With my hair still soaking wet, I had a chance to share my love for the Lord Jesus with about 30 people who didn't know you could have a personal relationship with Him.

I was embarrassed, sure - but also proud to be able to overcome my natural shyness by the power of the Spirit in order to do what Jesus asked me to do - be obedient in baptism that others might come to know Him. I had memorized 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given you a spirit of fear but a spirit of love and power and self control." I'm glad I was forced to put that promise to the test.

The Evening Wolves and the Morning Watch

2007-09-21T04:40:00.000-07:00

I've been oppressed lately by what Spurgeon calls 'the evening wolves', the thoughts and low spirits, the false accusations of the devil which seem to plague when the day is done and tiredness has set in. I know I just need to rest - there is nothing left for me but sin. Calvin says about Mary's song in Luke 1: "Sorrow and worry prevent both soul and speech from celebrating the goodness of God. Thus when Mary's mind exults for joy, her heart breaks out into the worship of God." The cure for the 'evening wolves'? Setting my mind on the morning watch. David says in Psalm 3: "I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me. I am not afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about." And then Shannon reminded me of Psalm 5:3: "O Lord, in the morning thou dost hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for thee, and watch." As I lie down to sleep I prepare my mind for waking to see the Lord (one way or the other!) reminding myself that I through the abundance of my Savior's steadfast love will awaken in God's house, worshiping toward God's holy temple.

The night before Ridley was to be martyred, burned at the stake for preaching the gospel, his brother came to him in prison and offered to remain with him during the night but Ridley declined, saying that "he meant to go to bed and sleep as quietly as ever he did in his life."

Hey, what have I got to be afraid of?

New Baby for the Kinnons

2007-09-20T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hi Susan, Funny you should ask.... I am emailing you from our hospital room! William Aaron (Will) Kinnon was born Tuesday, September 18 at 4:31 am - 7 lbs 7oz, 20 1/2 inches long. It was an extremely fast labor and we are both doing great - hoping to go home this morning. I am continually awed by God's goodness and His sweet sweet blessings and his faithfulness to us. I've attached a couple pictures. I read Shannon's blog post - good questions she had about readying our family's hearts for worship. Does Erik post anywhere what the scripture passage will be for each Sunday? When he's following along in 1 Corinthians, it's easy to know, but that's not always the case. When you mentioned inductively reading the scripture before each Sunday, I thought that was such a great idea (and why didn't I ever think to do that before?) And yes, I have to agree with Shannon, the past two worship services have been extremely powerful and sweet. I think starting with the Word and then worshipping in song, as a response to God's Word, and all together (everyone there) has just been awesome. Hope you and Mike are doing well. I'm sure Mike is busy with the new classes he is teaching, but I'm equally sure he is enjoying excercising his gift. Beth

A Day in the Life of a Mom of Boys

2007-09-20T06:26:00.001-07:00

Our after school snack consisted of canned spaghettios with meatballs…and a glass of milk. Josh (my six year old) put on his cleats (and I double tied them) to get ready for flag football practice. After begrudgingly finishing homework, Parker (my 10 year old) asked if he could take his bike (for the bike trails) to Joshua’s practice. I said, “yes”, so we loaded the bike in the car. When we got there, Parker decided that he didn’t want to ride the trails…after getting his bike out of the car and sitting on it. Instead we played catch. After all, Parker has flag football practice tomorrow and needs to keep his arm loose since he’s the throwing quarterback. Josh is also quarterback (especially this week because the 7-yr-old QB is missing the game) and I’m watching his practice out of the corner of my eye as Parker and I run patterns and practice leading each other with the football. As practice winds down, Parker and I go over to wait with the other parents and one “dad” says TO ME, “You throw pretty good!” Then he takes the field and Josh’s team circles around him for a motivational speech. It was Buddy Curry who played linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons in the 80’s! We leave flag football practice and go to pick up the big boys, Trey (my 14-year-old) and Dad (my almost 40-yr-old) from varsity football practice at Lincoln High School. I am handed tickets to Friday night’s game, which is in a 20,000-seat stadium in Valdosta, Georgia and told to be there by kick-off because my freshman son is starting at right guard that night!! We decide to celebrate just a tad early and go out for dinner that night. After putting the bicycle in Dad’s classroom, because we forgot that the FIVE of us and the bike could not all ride together across town, we head over to Sonny’s Barbecue where at least two of us will order the “all you can eat” portions. As we are escorted to our table, Mike nods toward another table and I discreetly look over and see Bobby Bowden (head football coach of the FSU Seminoles) and his wife! Wow! My first Bobby sighting in the four years I’ve lived here. How cool is that? So we sit, and pray, and eat, and chat, and eat and joke and eat a little more. And then we have to pay, of course. And pay again when we arrive home because it is a little later than normal for winding down, and the boys are silly, and begin running through the house naked (well, not the 14-yr-old) after their showers.
Ah, and finally they settle, and Mike and I have the living room to ourselves. I’m reminiscing about a fantastic day with my boys, and he is absorbed in Ultimate Fighting Championship TV.

Get The Clutter Together!

2007-09-10T08:43:00.000-07:00

Did you know a group of kittens is called a clutter? It’s a gaggle of geese, an exaltation of lark, a flamboyance of flamingo. You have a parliament when you get owls or rooks to gather, crocodiles congregate. When male dolphins get together for cigars, it’s called an alliance but female dolphins party. Kris and I looked these up on the internet when we heard someone on tv ask what you called a group of ape - the answer? A shrewdness. I knew from the title of a novel it’s an unkindness of raven. Your kids would like to know when they see a slimy bunch in the bucket for fishing, it’s a squirm of worm. When mice hold a conference, it’s only for mischief. We all love a kaleidoscope of butterfly, hate the smack of jellyfish and sigh over the loveliness of ladybug. Have you seen a piteousness of dove, a dropping of pigeon, a parade of penguin, an ostentation of peafowl, a richness of marten, a murder of magpie, a convocation of eagle (of course), a ballet of swan, a quarrel of sparrow, a siege of crane, a charm of hummingbird, a paddling of mallard and my personal favorite, a darling of robin.
I saw Shannon and Rob Pifer walking up to church, Rob in the lead with the little one in his arms, then Shannon, then the other four in a row behind her like ducklings. They looked so orderly and yet fun. I wonder what Shannon had to do to get her gaggle, her parade together that morning. When we had our five all at home - a 13 year old, a 12 year old, a 9 year old, a five year old and a babe in arms, we might have been labeled a disarray of Brauns. But I needed to get my prickle of porcupines out the door and into the door of the church every Sunday.
Wasn’t yesterday wonderful? The exposition of 1 Corinthians 10 and the challenges to avoid attributing spiritual realities to ritual activity, particularly as we took communion. The sorrow of facing down our sin and the joy of knowing the blood of Christ has cleansed us. The fellowship at the altar of communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I love seeing your faces as you go forward for communion and hearing your voices as you praise our God. Did you take seriously the admonition to avoid casual irreverence in your approach to worship? I like what David said in 1 Chronicles 21:24, “I will not take for the Lord what is yours nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” It may seem trivial to you, the effort expended week after week to make sure you and yours are in attendance before the Lord but God doesn’t regard your efforts as trivial. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5: “When you are assembled and my spirit is present, with the power of the Lord Jesus…” The power of the Lord Jesus is there, in that place. It’s worth every bit of effort. Let’s join in encouraging one another - let us know how you make gathering on Sunday morning and for your fellowship groups a priority. When do you start preparing? How do you prepare physically? Spiritually? Mentally?
And all the peeps said?

Let's Create Some Morning Chatter!

2007-09-05T04:40:00.000-07:00

You may have wondered how I came up with the title, Daughters of Song. When my sister, Gail, visited our church in New Jersey and sat watching the women come in dressed in their bright dresses and chattering to their friends and families as they got settled, she said it was like watching a flock of pretty birds. I thought of Ecclesiastes 12, "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come... when one rises at the sound of the bird and all the daughters of song sing softly." We are God's daughters, we sing his song. David says in Psalm 1: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night.
On “…but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night…” Martin Luther writes (I know he uses 'hence' twice but don't let that stop you from the power of this :) “The ’will’ which is here signified, is that delight of heart, and that certain pleasure, in the law, which does not look at what the law promises, nor at what it threatens, but at this only: that the law is ’holy, and just and good.’ Hence it is not only a love of the law, but that loving delight in the law which no prosperity, nor adversity, nor the world, nor the princes of it, can either take away or destroy; for it victoriously bursts its way through poverty, evil report, the cross, death and hell, and in the midst of adversities, shines the brightest.”
“The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom.” Hence, Augustine has, in his translation, ’chatter’; and a beautiful metaphor it is - as chattering is the employment of birds, so a continual conversing in the law of the Lord (for talking is peculiar to man) ought to be the employment of man.” Martin Luther
The women of God, those ’daughters of song’ ought to create a godly chatter in the morning. As the psalmist says, ’I will awake the dawn’. I don’t think you have to be up before the sun but there is something about the Proverbs 31 woman who rises while it is still early and provides food for her household that should compel us to our morning devotions. The King James Version says, “provides meat”… we know the word is likened to spiritual food and we are to be like newborn babies desiring that spiritual food (1 Peter 2) not only for our own nourishment but to build up others. Every new mother knows what it is like to rise while it is yet night to feed that little one.
When we talked about the woman as “keeper of the home” many said that Proverbs 31 seems like a scary list of tasks at which we are constantly falling short but we must see it as the praise of our heavenly husband saying to the bride, “You are blessed because you are this woman, this woman who fears the Lord."
So let’s create some early morning chatter, you daughters of song, and keep it up all through the day and night! Let us hear from you - we need your song today.

Mike Jr. and Karen's Family Introduction

2007-09-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

My name is Karen (Dunn) Braun and I married Susan’s oldest son just over 18 years ago. I grew up in a family of seven in a small East Texas town. My mom and dad had five children within the first ten years of their marriage. Mom held down the fort as Dad served in Vietnam as an Army Chaplain. I trusted Jesus at an early age and He became my Lord as Savior. After playing sports and graduating from high school, I left home to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. That is where I met Michael… Mike… Mike Jr., all one in the same. We graduated together in the class of ’89 and married in July of that same year. One military tour in Germany, ten moves, three sons, and 18 years later here we are in Tallahassee, Florida with the majority of the Braun clan. I could not have married into a finer family of “in-laws”. The Lord has sustained Mike and me by His grace on our journey and our present profile looks like this: Dad teaches high school and coaches football. Mom also teaches high school (after 11 years of being home with the boys). Trey is a freshman in high school and a football player. Parker is a fifth grader and into skateboarding. And Joshua is a first grader and pretty much, happy-go-lucky. The Brauns are a much funnier lot (as in able to communicate with humor) than the crew I grew up in, so please recognize my meager attempts to add comedy as we encourage each other in our walk of faith through this blog.

Quiet Time

2007-08-31T19:58:00.000-07:00

For many years I've used Charles Spurgeon's little devotional book, "Morning and Evening", as an encouragement for my own quiet time. I'm reading from his entry for evening, August 31. "If we walk in thFe light, as he is in the light (1 John 1:7) As he is in the light! Can we ever attain this?... I cannot attain to that perfection of purity and truth which belongs to the Lord of Hosts by nature as the infinitely good, yet I can set the Lord always before me, and strive, by the help of the indwelling Spirit, after conformity to His image."
What a thought for sleep - I want to wake up tomorrow morning with thoughts of my Lord. David says, I will wake the dawn!
Join me in praising Him in the morning and the evening.
Will you send me your devotional thoughts and encouragements so I can post them here for our sisters in Christ? Sometimes when I wake up in the night or get up in the early morning I feel I'm like the owl of Psalm 102:6&7, "I am like the vulture of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places; I lie awake, I am like a lonely bird on the housetop..." How wonderful to think of God's women bowing before Him in the morning and offering their homes and lives to Him for the day.

2007-08-31T17:44:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 14:1 gives this admonition:
"The wise woman builds her house but the foolish tears it down with her own hands."
This proverb has always intrigued me. Who is this wise woman? What constitutes her house? Who is the foolish woman? Note the contrast between building and tearing down--how do we determine which we are doing?
Solomon tells us the answer in Proverbs 9:1-12. "Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven pillars." The verses which follow tell us what wisdom, personified as this wise woman, has done to build her house according to seven pillars which will keep her house strong. She has prepared a banquet and calls the young woman to come and learn what to do to build her house.

1. Leave the foolish life; determine to live the wise life. (v.6)
2. Walk in the way of insight. (v. 6) Paul prays in Eph. 1:17: "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened…" We must have this insight into the Word of God and live according to it.
3. Accept correction and reproof – love it. (v. 8)
4. Look for those who will teach you wisdom, being willing to learn and increase in learning. (v. 9)
5. Fear of the Lord stands at the head of the class – our pledge before we begin our time of learning. (v. 10a)
6. Knowledge of God as the Holy One opens our eyes and enables us to learn wisdom. (v.10b) Proverbs 30:3-4 says "I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His Name and what is His Son's Name? Surely you know!"
7. The wise woman stays at the banquet laid out for her in the Word of God though the world calls out to her to join in the feast of foolishness. (13-16)
We must be women who fear God, love life and want to walk in the way of insight and knowledge of the Holy One, Jesus Christ, following those who will love us enough to use the Scripture not only as a tool of love but also as a rod of reproof and correction. We need teachers who want to increase in righteousness themselves but also want to instruct us in righteousness.