Some things to marvel at

I love learning about God's awesome creation:

• The horseshoe crab has sky-blue blood.

• The pouch on a pelican's beak can hold up to 2 gallons of water.

• A freshly hatched crocodile is three times longer than the egg it came from.

• The world's termites outweigh the world's humans 10 to 1.

• Frogs have an ear drum on the outside of their head.

• Polar bears look white, but they actually have black skin.

• Crickets have ears on their front legs.

• A blue whale's tongue weighs more than an elephant.

• A cockroach can survive 9 days without its head before it starves to death.

• Some frogs squirt blood from their eyes when they are angry

As John Piper says in His sermon, The Pleasures of God in His Creation,

"What is this universe but the lavish demonstration of the incredible, incomparable, unimaginable exuberance and wisdom and power and greatness of God! And what a God He must be! What a God He must be!

Which brings me to the final statement.

God rejoices in the works of creation because they point us beyond themselves to God Himself.

God means for us to be stunned and awed by His work of creation. But not for its own sake. He means for us always to look at His creation and say: If the work of His hands is so full of wisdom and power and grandeur and majesty and beauty, what must this God be like in Himself!!

These are but the backside of His glory seen through a glass darkly. What will it be to see the Creator Himself! Not His works! Not even a billion galaxies will satisfy the human soul. God and God alone is the soul's end."

Praise the LORD

The LORD has given me 2 days and 8 hours without a cigarette....with minimal cravings!!

Praise the LORD!

Thank you for your prayers.

Right Now Counts Forever by R.C. Sproul

REGENERATION PRECEDES FAITH. This assertion that captures the heart of the distinctive theology of historic Augustinian and Reformed thought is the watershed assertion that distinguishes that theology from all forms of semi-Pelagianism.

The semi-Pelagian would argue that despite the ravages of the fall, man still has an island of righteousness left in his soul, by which he still can accept or reject God’s offer of grace. This view, so widely held in evangelical circles, argues that one must believe in Christ in order to be born again, and so the order of salvation is reversed in this view by maintaining that faith precedes regeneration.

However, when we consider the teaching on this issue as found in John’s record of Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus, we see the emphasis that Jesus places on regeneration as a necessary condition, a sine qua non, for believing in Him. He says to Nicodemus in John 3:3: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The must-ness of regeneration of which Jesus speaks is necessary for a person to see even the Kingdom of God, let alone to enter it.

The weakness of all semi-Pelagianism is that it invests in the fallen, corrupt flesh of man the power to exercise faith. Here, fallen man is able to come to Christ without regeneration, that is, before regeneration. On the other hand, the axiom that regeneration precedes faith gets to the very heart of the historic issue between Augustinianism and semi-Pelagianism.

In the Augustinian and Reformation view, regeneration is seen first of all as a supernatural work of God. Regeneration is the divine work of God the Holy Spirit upon the minds and souls of fallen people, by which the Spirit quickens those who are spiritually dead and makes them spiritually alive. This supernatural work rescues that person from his bondage to sin and his moral inability to incline himself towards the things of God.

Secondly, regeneration is a monergistic work. “Monergistic” means that it is the work of one person who exercises his power. In the case of regeneration, it is God alone who is able, and it is God alone who performs the work of regenerating the human soul. The work of regeneration is not a joint venture between the fallen person and the divine Spirit; it is solely the work of God.

Thirdly, the monergistic work of regeneration by the Holy Spirit is an immediate work. It is immediate with respect to time, and it is immediate with respect to the principle of operating without intervening means. The Holy Spirit does not use something apart from His own power to bring a person from spiritual death to spiritual life, and when that work is accomplished, it is accomplished instantaneously.

Fourthly, the work of regeneration is effectual. That is, when the Holy Spirit regenerates a human soul, the purpose of that regeneration is to bring that person to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Regeneration is more than giving a person the possibility of having faith, it gives him the certainty of possessing that saving faith.

The result of our regeneration is first of all faith, which then results in justification and adoption into the family of God. Nobody is born into this world a child of the family of God. We are born as children of wrath. The only way we enter into the family of God is by adoption, and that adoption occurs when we are united to God’s only begotten Son by faith.

Finally, it’s important to see that regeneration is a gift that God disposes sovereignly to all of those whom He determines to bring into His family.

Struggles

I confess that I am struggling a lot with trying to quit smoking. If you know me, you won't be too surprised with it. I realize that it's not necessarily a "sin" to smoke, but for me, it is. At least, that is what the LORD has revealed to me. I've made smoking my idol. I've made it my comfort when things get stressful. And every time I have one, I feel guilty and ashamed. And anyway, we are trying to get pregnant! So I need to be healthy!!

I'm tired of quitting, then starting, then quitting again. I pray about it often, but I have yet to overcome this. If you are dropping by and reading this, could you say a quick prayer for me?

I hate to ask, but I'm starting to feel hopeless.

Please email me anytime if you'd like prayer. It's a privilege for me to be able to pray for you, in whatever circumstances or sins that you might be facing.

For His Glory

IDFLI syndrome

I Don't Feel Like It syndrome.

It's a hard one to get over, especially when you are constantly allowing feelings to be your spiritual guide. Certainly there are "emotions" that come with being a Christian (joy of our salvation, love for our Savior, sorrow over our sin) but let's not forget that everyday we are battling our flesh. And everyday we have to fight to believe God's Truths and not let our "feelings" be our deciding factor.

I don't always "feel" like being nice. And I certainly do not always "feel" like praying, or reading my bible, or fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters, or being submissive to my husband. But that doesn't matter, does it? I cannot solely base everything on each emotion I feel.

I believe godly emotions are a gift. We read scripture. We ask God to reveal to us His Truth. When we face temptations, the Holy Spirit reminds us of what God's Truth is. If I don't "feel" like obeying His Word in that moment, does that give me license to sin? If I don't "feel" like fighting off my temptation, should I just sin?

Of course not. With time, however, I do believe that as we grow with Christ, His "emotions" will manifest themselves in our hearts. We will start to "feel" like going to church and "feel" like fighting off sin. We will love scripture and love prayer. And even though we will still fight off those sinful emotions to disobey, His Spirit will always be victorious! I do not mean that we will not sin, but that even if we do, His Spirit will convict us and cause us to repent. And that is a victory!

The fruit of conviction

My soul has been downcast. I've been sorrowful because I see the great sickness of my soul: sin. I do not fear the LORD as I should. My sin is not as horrible to me as I know it is to God.

If I saw who God truly was, every sin against Him should cause me to fall into the pits of despair! I should fall at His feet and weep. I should weep that I caused His crown of thorns, His scourging, His mocking, His nails, His enduring of God's righteous wrath. And yet, I walk around like a ridiculous sinner, ungrateful for the salvation God has so graciously blessed me with!

Oh, if only I was like the great Puritans, who boldly recognized the depravity of their souls, their need of a Savior!

I find that the more I know Christ, the more sinful I see myself. I feel like my hands are stained with blood and filth. How can I walk up to Christ and ask Him to cleanse me? How can I approach His mercy seat when it is His blood that is on my hands?

How sinful we all truly are! How arrogant, boastful, prideful, filthy wretches we all are! How Great a Savior! How great a love He has lavished on such unworthy people as we.

If only it was enough. If only this Truth was enough to cause us to forsake all sin and to grasp tightly the cross that was meant for us. If only we saw with new eyes the seriousness of each sin. None of it small. None of it will be forgotten! For only a righteousness not our own will cause us to see the Glory of God. Praise the Lord, the God of my salvation, the lover of my soul, the perfecter of my heart.

"Infinite upon infinite ... Infinite upon infinite!" - Jonathan Edwards

The Love of God and the Non-Elect

The Love of God and the Non-Elect

Does God love only the elect and hate the non-elect?

By John MacArthur

The fact that some sinners are not elected to salvation is no proof that God’s attitude toward them is utterly devoid of sincere love. We know from Scripture that God is compassionate, kind, generous, and good even to the most stubborn sinners. Who can deny that these mercies flow out of God’s boundless love? Yet it is evident that they are showered even on unrepentant sinners.

It must be acknowledged, however, that explaining God’s love toward the reprobate is not as simple as most modern evangelicals want to make it. Clearly there is a sense in which the psalmist’s expression, “I hate the assembly of evildoers” (Ps. 26:5) is a reflection of the mind of God. “Do I not hate those who hate Thee, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against Thee? I hate them with the utmost hatred; they have become my enemies” (Ps. 139:21-22). Such hatred as the psalmist expressed is a virtue, and we have every reason to conclude that it is a hatred God Himself shares. After all, He did say, “I have hated Esau” (Mal. 1:3; Rom. 9:13). The context reveals God was speaking of a whole race of wicked people. So there is a true and real sense in which Scripture teaches that God hates the wicked.

So an important distinction must be made. God loves believers with a particular love. It is a family love, the ultimate love of an eternal Father for His children. It is the consummate love of a Bridegroom for His bride. It is an eternal love that guarantees their salvation from sin and its ghastly penalty. That special love is reserved for believers alone.

However, limiting this saving, everlasting love to His chosen ones does not render God’s compassion, mercy, goodness, and love for the rest of mankind insincere or meaningless. When God invites sinners to repent and receive forgiveness (Isa. 1:18; Matt. 11:28-30), His pleading is from a sincere heart of genuine love. “‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’” (Ezek. 33:11). Clearly God does love even those who spurn His tender mercy, but it is a different quality of love, and different in degree from His love for His own.

A hymn a day keeps satan away....? Day 5

Thou Lovely Source of True Delight

By: Anne Steele

1. Thou lovely source of true delight
Whom I unseen adore
Unveil Thy beauties to my sight
That I might love Thee more,
Oh that I might love Thee more.

2. Thy glory o’er creation shines
But in Thy sacred Word
I read in fairer, brighter lines
My bleeding, dying Lord,
See my bleeding, dying Lord

3. ’Tis here, whene’er my comforts droop
And sin and sorrow rise
Thy love with cheering beams of hope
My fainting heart supplies,
My fainting heart’s supplied

4. But ah! Too soon the pleasing scene
Is clouded o’er with pain
My gloomy fears rise dark between
And I again complain,
Oh and I again complain

5. Jesus, my Lord, my life, my light
Oh come with blissful ray
Break radiant through the shades of night
And chase my fears away,
Won’t You chase my fears away

6. Then shall my soul with rapture trace
The wonders of Thy love
But the full glories of Thy face
Are only known above,
They are only known above

A hymn a day keeps satan away....? Day 4

Adelaide Pollard had a yearning in her heart to bring the Gospel to Africa. As her missionary trip grew closer, however, the funding fell through, and she was left feeling alone and discouraged. But God reminded her of Jeremiah 18:3-4:

"So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do."

She said, "Perhaps my questioning of God's will shows a flaw in life, so God has decided to break me, as the potter broke the defective vessel, and then to mold my life again in His own pattern."

The hymn, "Have thine own way, LORD" was written from that lesson. And she did eventually become a missionary to Africa. But she had to be patient. It was in the LORD's time, not hers. A good reminder for us all today!

Have Thine own way, Lord
Have Thine own way, Lord! have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter; I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter then snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power - all power- surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

Have Thine own way, Lord! have Thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!