Thy God is a Jealous God

Psalm 22

 
⁶But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
 ⁷All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
 ⁸He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
 
 ¹³They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
 ¹⁴I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
 ¹⁵My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
 ¹⁶For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
 ¹⁷I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
 ¹⁸They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
 
 ²⁷All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

This past weekend, when Easter  was celebrated by many Christians, one of Queensland's largest news paper, The Courier Mail,  ran a cartoon which not only angered but also saddened my heart.
In my "righteous anger" I tossed it away which I regret now as I can not quote directly from the words.  The principle is the same never the less.

The cartoon showed Jesus, with the two thieves beside him, hanging from the cross.  In front stood a Roman soldier telling the on lookers to clear out, in another week or two this will all be forgotten.
Silly cartoonist.  Whether he was expressing contempt at the insignificance of Jesus death or the opposite, saying here we are 2.000 years later still remembering it, I find it deeply hurtful and dishonouring to our Lord and Saviour who humbled himself to come into this world as a man, who lived among us, his lowly creation, who endured the miseries of this life and death itself for the sake of his people. to be caricatured and mocked in this so-called Christian country.

No one who stood around the cross that day, nor indeed in the whole of Jerusalem would have ever forgotten that amazing afternoon when the sky was darkened, the graves of the dead were opened and the veil of the temple was torn in two.  It is finished.....

He is risen!  and he is coming again to judge the living and the dead.  Then will every knee bow and he shall be recognised and acknowledged by all.  What a dreadful day for those who mock and despise Him still.

In our country we enjoy Freedom of Religion.  We support this because, even though we believe that all other religions and gods are false we respect a person's right to worship as they choose.  Where is this respect for the believers in Christ?  If the symbols and gods of Islam, Hindu, Buddhism are insulted their vocal, devout followers raise strong objections.

 We are Christians.  We turn the other cheek,  We forgive.  But the Lord our God is a jealous God. He will have no other gods before Him.  He is righteous, just and holy.  We must protect our right to worship the one true God and we must be zealous for His Name,  his Word,  His worship.  God is not mocked , he is a consuming fire!

To add to my angst, a few pages over the Cross, that Christian symbol so well recognised, once again featured in a comic strip.  This time Julia Gillard was hanging on it.  Lord forgive them for they know not what they do.  It was some political satire which again I am not sure of the wording.  What does it suggest?  Julia, saviour? or Julia, sacrificed at the hands of brutal men? 

We discussed this here over the weekend.  One thing is for sure I am once again convicted that we are too reticent in voicing our "intolerance" for the rubbishing of our faith and our God.

My daughter was telling us that a friend of ours (about 20) had said in his Face Book status, "Come along to ......................Church and find out about the real meaning of Easter/"  She was upset at the rude and derogatory remarks this young man received from some so-called" friends".   She also said she should have commented instead of just liking his post.  This led us to conclude that we all need to speak out more ourselves and be more supportive of steadfast believers who are being persecuted, even in small ways.  I am proud of that youth standing and speaking for the Lord.
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*Julia Gillard is the Prime Minister of Australia.

* Our family does not celebrate Easter, although we do remember Jesus death and rejoice in His resurrection every Lord's Day.  Neither do we use representations of Christ in keeping with the second commandment, which adds to my extreme agitation at these poor attempts at humour.

By God's grace, let us attempt to live out our Christian walk with all fear and reverence due to God alone.

If it be so......

Term 1 is over!!

 Once again it seems that time has flown.  If you follow along here you will remember that I was struggling early in the term.  I felt as though fatigue had set in almost as soon as we resumed school.  My ambitious schedule gradually went by the way side.  We started our days later and worked longer into the afternoons.  But here we are at the end of term, our work returns have been sent and we have covered most of the goals for the term.  I am thankful to the Lord that what at first seemed like a very sloppy day moved into a good rhythm in the last few weeks.  We found that we can start formal work a little later, enabling a level of organisation in the house first, and work later into the day quite successfully.  Both of my students are progressing in their reading skills and we are working, as always, on character.  Diligence, patience, kindness.

The Christian Living unit we are studying this term has been on Daniel, "Loyalty Under Pressure" and has challenged us all in our steadfastness and preparedness to stand out from the crowd for the Lord's sake.  When looking at Daniel Chapter 3 I particularly loved these verses :

 ¹⁶Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
 ¹⁷If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
 ¹⁸But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden  which thou hast set up.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego trusted God and effectively said, Thy will be done.  They knew that God could deliver them from the fiery furnace but they acknowledged that for their good, and his own glory, he may not.  Of course, we read then of their marvelous deliverance!  Often we forget that God is working all things together for the good of his people.  Sometimes this means we must suffer illness or persecution or disappointment and we have to accept his will in a given circumstance, believing that He does all things well.

These studies have been a good opportunity to discuss loyalty, the steadfastness and reliability of God and ways to avoid and cope with temptation.  It has also been a good starting point for prayer for specific areas which we have encountered and for courage to follow through with our convictions.

When I look at the society around me, I see that we have so many idols and temptations to draw us away.  Can I be a Daniel in this corrupt world?  Could I like Daniel kneel before my window and pray openly knowing that the authorities are watching my every move.  Courage!
Not forgetting that many brothers and sisters in the Lord are daily staying "Loyal under Pressure"  by the grace of God.

Psalm 137

 ¹By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
 ²We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
 ³For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
 ⁴How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?
 ⁵If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
 ⁶If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
 ⁷Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
 ⁸O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
 ⁹Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

(A beautiful psalm.  I always find the last verse a difficult one :0)  And of course you remember Bony M?

Shakespeare at my feet.

It's almost the end of term and I would love to be able to enumerate for you all the wonderful achievements for the year.  I wish I could say we are finishing off on a high note and studying the Bard, or performing him.

The reality is we are chugging along, hoping to finish before mid-December.  We are all feeling the effects of a stressful year which has presented many challenges.  We are also beginning to feel the notorious Rockhampton humidity which arrives just after the heat to stifle the breathe out of you and sap away the energy.

The honorable William Shakespeare, at least my lovely fat copy of his complete works, is at this very moment lodged under one side of my office chair!  Argh, wash my mouth out with soap!  That thick volume was the nearest book I could find, sufficient to hold me up when the wheel broke off and I was about to use the computer just now.  Ah, how the mighty have fallen.

I would prefer to say I am leaning on God's Word but could not stoop so low as to use that sacred book in such a fashion.

I am finding little time for reading or writing blog posts but it seems that many are in the same boat as I am missing some of my regular favourite reading places and not seeing a lot of comments when I do post.  These are the cycles and seasons of the internet no doubt, just as in our own real lives.  One thing I really want to do is catch up with friends on this holidays.  Busy lives make that very difficult.

The strange upside to the deaths and funerals in our family recently has been an unusually long amount of time to spend with relatives.  With the two funerals just two days apart many travelled and stayed, making it possible to see one another more than the usual few moments at a service.

I often thank God for the marvellous blessing of a great family.  This has been brought home to me very forcefully these last few weeks.  I am so thankful, proud and happy to come from such good stock!  Of course we have our skeletons....and then there is me :-(  but a finer bunch of people one couldn't hope for in their family. 

Trisha commented on my last post about the good family stories I have recorded for my children and later generations.  If the Lord tarries, this is my hope.  To continue to record as much first hand family history as I can.

Have a great week!




^{Ephesian 2:3-5
3}Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
 ⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
 ⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

<sup>Ecclesiastes 3


1</sup>To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
 ²A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up
   that which is planted;
 ³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
 ⁴A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
 ⁵A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
   a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
 ⁶A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
 ⁷A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
 ⁸A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

God grant me the wisdom and grace to know the times

 and the seasons.

He gives us beauty for ashes.

"It is said that in some countries trees will grow,
but will bear no fruit because there is no winter there."

John Bunyan

"Humility is a strange flower; it grows best in winter weather,
and under storms of affliction."

Samuel Rutherford

"After winter comes the summer. After night comes the dawn.
After every storm, there comes clear, open skies." 

Samuel Rutherford


(Thank you to Stefanie at Stefanie's Pleasant Places for these quotes.)

Some quotes from respected men of God of the past.
When we experience these hard trials and periods of
 affliction, a winter in our soul, it is good for us to
remember that our fellow believers have and still do
endure the same,
if they are being sanctified by the Lord.

May you know the joy which comes in the morning,
in the Spring and let us praise and magnify the Lord.

"For whom the Lord  lovest He chasteneth"
Hebrews 12:6

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:

 weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

Psalm 130

Although we sing acapella we use this beautiful tune (Martyrdom). It is a Psalm very precious.

"I wait for God, my soul doth wait, my hope is in his word,

 More than they that for morning watch, my soul waits for the Lord."



When I make up my Jewels

I had the great privilege to sit and reason together with two very dear and aging saints today. Where two or three are gathered, there is the Lord in the midst of us. As we yarned, laughed and praised God for his unfailing goodness, I sensed that true and beautiful unity that the saints share when we fellowship in his name. This godly man, now in a very rigid and painful stage of Parkinson's disease rested his head  back and  tears began to run down his face. His dear wife questioned him in alarm. But they were not tears of pain, he was trying to express something.
"Malachi, jewels," he said hoarsely.
"It's a verse!" I suggested. He's trying to tell us a verse."
Sure enough! As she pressed him and looked it up, he was quoting Malachi 3.


16Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.


17And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.


18Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Need I say that I too shed a tear '-)

Our God Shall Surely Come!

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

There are some passages of scripture which are so majestic

 all one can do is to read and wonder... Selah

Psalm 50

1 The mighty God, the Lord,

hath spoken, and did call

The earth, from rising of the sun,

to where he hath his fall.

2 From out of Sion hill,

which of excellency

And beauty the perfection is,

God shined gloriously.

3 Our God shall surely come,

keep silence shall not he:

Before him fire shall waste, great storms

shall round about him be.

4 Unto the heavens clear

he from above shall call,

And to the earth likewise, that he

may judge his people all.

5 Together let my saints

unto me gather'd be,

Those that by sacrifice have made

a covenant with me.

6 And then the heavens shall

his righteousness declare:

Because the Lord himself is he

by whom men judged are.

(Scottish Metrical Version)

Flourish Like the Palm

Cedars of Leanon

Jeremiah 17

7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Don't you love the way the Word of God affirms and overlaps in places, bringing out certain truths to us. Psalm 1 is so familiar to most of us. Here in Jeremiah we find these parallel verses. Once again the picture of a strong tree, deeply rooted, the unfading leaf. Never ceasing to bear fruit! This is a scriptural theme I have recently been mulling over. Even in time of drought, dry spiritual periods, the Spirit which dwells within each believer is working, no matter how small the harvest may seem to us at the time.

Flourishing Palm Tree

Psalm 91

12The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

14They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

15To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Tribulation Works Patience

Psalm 27:14

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:
wait, I say, on the LORD.




Waiting for the Lord's answer was one of the points in our sermon yesterday. Ruth 3, where Ruth and Naomi wait to see how things will work out when Boaz meets the nearer kinsman at the gates.

Spiritual struggles.
The scripture tells us that tribulation works patience! (Romans 5:3) I find myself becoming increasingly impatient with my circumstances and I need to be still and wait on the Lord. Sometimes my heart is completely overwhelmed and frustration rises up which can, at worst result in anger but more often in tears.

Psalm 46
1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
10Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Physical struggles
I had a disappointment today. We rang to enquire how the waiting list is progressing for my eye operation only to be told that there were hold ups in the Eye Clinic and I had not progressed up the queue. I am still looking at 3 months plus for my operation. It seems that the priority list, which I was put on, is not the urgent list. Lord, give me patience.
Meanwhile, I can notice my vision  deteriorated week by week. I am down to shadowy outlines of figures without any faces, can't see clock faces etc. While I can read at the computer with magnification ( book reading has been out for months) I am finding that blurriness is getting very bad despite the size of the print.

Simple pleasures

Since I obviously can't drive at the moment outings are a special pleasure. We attended the Home Schoolers Cross Country event on Saturday / It was a great afternoon of catching up with the families and of course a big effort for all the children.

One of my little men is coming to visit this afternoon and the thrill of spending time with my children and grandchildren is one which never fails!

Blog reading
I am not writing very many blog posts but I am trying to read a little each day. Forgive me if I am not reading or commenting at your place so often at the moment. Particularly if you you have  a stark white or very bright background or if the print is very close in colour to the background, I struggle to read it.
Being on the computer less is actually a plus but frustratingly I am not able to do a lot else either! Cooking family meals is fine but baking  is only possible when someone else is there to do the measuring. This has been exacerbated by the boys reading limitations because I often need one of them to read simple instructions or phone numbers. I think we often take for granted the gift of sight (or any other sense) and it is not until we lose it that we realise how precious it is.

Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Weary and heavy laden?

Come unto me
all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest"

Matthew 11:28

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Disappointment:

Disappointments are a fact of life. People let us down. Isn't it a precious thing to know the Lord Jesus Christ. What he has promised, he will do! Often we are the ones who let others down. We are weak and do not, sometimes cannot, follow through with our commitments. But God.....

Discouragement

Our weaknesses, and those of the people around us, can become discouraging. If only..... When will they?...... How can I?...... Doubt, fear, anxiety.

Jesus, our Saviour and Lord, will never leave or forsake his people. When we are feeling low and unable, is when we realize that the Lord is only refuge and strength . That he has and is carrying us through each trial.

Distress

How often do we allow all of our disappointemnts and discouragemants cause us distress and depression? Fill your mind with the words and promises of Christ!

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Delight

Having "joy" is not some constant emotional high for the believer. It is knowing with certainty and confidence that the Lord is ruling in every situation. The joy of the Lord is your strength, if we are relying on him in all our difficult and our routine situation.

Delight thyself always in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Whatever disappointments, discouragements and failures we are facing, if we seek to do the will of the Lord, to make our desires those which are according to his will, then he will hear us. However disappointing our friends and family are He is always trustworthy. However weak we are He is strong and sure.

May our God go with you this week!

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. Isaiah 30:15

But God...

PSALM 73

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

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These words from Psalm 73, especially verse 26, give me great comfort and express my own thoughts. My body and heart, my resolve and commitment are weak. But God.....

He never leaves or forsakes his people. He is constant and his promises are yeah and amen in Christ. As believers we know this, but sometimes in our cushy lives we do not cling to it. We do not desperately seek him. We do not RUN after him. We are sometimes drawn away and do not long for his appearing. We fail.

But God......

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Lately, I am facing new challenges. You know, although I have faced many challenges in my life, I find, disappointingly, that I still fear. I still get anxious, I still crumble. Yet at times others will say, "You are strong." That is when I realize the truth which says through Paul, when I am weak, then am I strong. At present I have very limited eyesight. This is my current bodily affliction which is causing me grief. I trust in a short time this will be rectified. Meanwhile, I am learning to deal with this thorn in the flesh and seeking to glorify God with a good attitude to that which his providence has dealt me.

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I have many real life friends whose lives and endurance under affliction inspire me, encourage and humble me. I thank God for them and his word which continually uplifts and upholds me.

I have just been thinking of the many blogging friends, who seemingly by random chance, yet in reality by the providence of God, have come across my path. Some of these have touched my life and thoughts more than you can imagine. I am sure you have had the same experience.

I encourage you to visit Mindy at Momma Mindy's Moments. What a testimony she is to the very words of Psalm 73 : 26. Browse through her blog and be exhilarated by the steadfastness of God in the life of one who has faced many trials and fears and found God faithful. She is an inspiration to me at present and makes my problems seem so insignificant

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May you know this comfort in your life also. Have a great week!

The Will of God Concerning You

Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18

The Scriptures are full of treasures to be mined, studied, memorized, loved by the people of God. Not in a lifetime can we know it all. Every reading, every day there is something new to ponder and digest. The very word of God, the words of eternal life!

Yesterday we heard a very challenging and thought provoking message from 1 Thessalonians regarding that glorious and much anticipated event, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. I've said before I am not courageous enough to tackle the end times on my blog, but what a wonderful chapter to read and contemplate this is.

I am thinking on the above verses this morning which come toward the end of that chapter. The Bible is full of deep and sometimes difficult teachings, but look at the simplicity of these instructions. Short, direct, clear, simple. Rejoice, pray, give thanks.

While we wait in longing and expectation for the great and terrible day of the Lord, let's apply these positives to our lives.

Have a good and productive week everyone!

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 7:21 -23

These could be the most frightening words in the whole of scripture!

Many will say Lord, Lord, and call upon their good works in his name, yet only those who have done the will of the Father shall enter in.

As we pray, and go about our daily walk with the Lord, let us purpose to seek His will.

May the Lord bless each one this week, especially those of you getting back to school routine. I am reminded that I do not teach my children at home as some good work which will save them, or me. But in accordance to God's Word, to teach our children diligently and to raise them in the fear and nuture of the Lord.

Hinds' Feet in High Places!

Habbakuk 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 3:19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

If you are weary, lonely, heavy ladened then you will take comfort from these beautiful words written by the prophet Habbakuk, inspired by the Holy Spirit. How often do we doubt. We think things look hopeless, we cannot see a way of escape. But God....

I have been praying for some time, for years in fact , for wisdom and perhaps some practical help in teaching my sons. God has been gracious to give me grace and strength sufficient for each day. He has also provided outside help from time to time.

Yesterday, a lovely christian woman, offered to come and work with the boys one day each week! She will specifically spend time doing activities related to the Auditory Processing Delays which my boys have! This is the area which I find so hard to keep consistently plodding on with. This is an extra ordinarily generous offer of her time, energy and talents. Praise God!

What was seeming like a very high hurdle going into a new year, the Lord has provided a way of escape. I am like a hind today!

The Narrow Way

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew7: 13, 14

Our Pastor recently used a good illustration when preaching on this passage.

Imagine a great mass of people, packed into the street, surging forward.... In the excitement many are carried along. The street is filled, everyone is caught up in the frenzy. Who knows what the final destination is?

But then, imagine a solitary explorer, in a tunnel. The path is narrow. the cliffs rise up on either side. There is darkness all around and only one way out. Just one possible destination.

I've been thinking more on this. Last year we visited the local caves. The guide turned off the lights and the darkness was a deep "felt" blackness. But what made the tour possible for us? The light! "I am the Light of the world" .

These have been good thoughts to begin a new year. It is usually a time when we make resolutions, re-schedule, re consider our commitments. As I think about 2010, I am purposing anew to follow the straight path. It is the narrow path, the path less travelled. But it is the path that leads unto life! If we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, read, study and put into practice his Word, we have that assurance that we are on the right path. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

Ruth

Here is a link to a write up on the Desiring God blog about John Piper's newest book "A Sweet and Bitter Providence". A book about the biblical Book of Ruth. It piqued my interest and I thought it might yours, though I have not ordered it and will refrain from doing so for a while as I have a PILE of books in the reading queue at present.

You would think being holidays I would be doing heaps of reading, but there is just so much to do, so many places to go, people to see, babies to googaa at .... :-)

Hopefully one day, I shall manage to read this highly recommended book on the noble Ruth. If you happen to read it - let us know what you think.

The Highest End

Here is a link to a beautiful meditation on the first catechism. (Westminster Confession of Faith, Larger Catechism) by Reverend Matthew Winzer.

What is the chief and highest end of man?

Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him for ever.

Wait upon the Lord...

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard,

that the everlasting God, the Lord,

the Creator of the ends of the earth,

fainteth not neither is weary?

there is no searching of his understanding.

He giveth power to the faint,

and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary

and the young men shall utterly fall.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up with wings as eagles,

they shall run, and not be weary

and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40: 28 - 31

What is the RPW?

The Regulative Principle of Worship is a principle presented in the Scriptures (Gen. 4:3-7; Ex. 20:4-6; 25:40; Lev. 10:1-3; Deut. 4:2; 12:32; I Sam. 13:11ff; I Ki. 12:32-33; I Chr. 15:13; II Chr. 26:16; Jer. 7:31; Matt. 15:9; Matt. 28:19-20; John 4:22-24; Acts 17:23-25; Col. 2:18-23).

It teaches that we are to worship God only in ways He commands in His Word. We are not to insert into the worship service any elements which are the fabrications and inventions of man. God is honoured only when we worship Him according to means set forth in His Word (either by direct commandment or logical implication), and when we do not add to or take away from anything set forth therein.

Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapter 21.1 The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is good, and doth good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the holy Scripture.

ooOoo

Some argue that what is not forbidden in God's Word is permissible concerning the worship of God. How can we offer less in worship to God than what he has commanded? How can a man- imagined offering be pleasing to the Holy, Righteous Creator of all? How can we say we worship Christ, it is all about Jesus, we are honouring the Lord, when the focus is man centred and man delighting and not in keeping with God's own commands? Why do we who have the best (The inspired Word of God) want so much to imitate the world?

"Howbeit, in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men." Mark 7:7