Thursday, December 24, 2009

For unto us a child is born...

And her name shall be called Sarah Abigail.  (What? You were expecting a Christmas post?) 

Our first grandchild entered the world Wednesday night (Dec 23) at 23:10CST.  She is a 7#4oz, 20" bundle with lots of curly hair, like her mother had.  Mother and child are doing well. 

And here she is:





Thursday, December 17, 2009

Why celebrate Christmas?

Got this in an email.  While I am not much for promoting "Christmas", I promote Christ crucified whenever I can.


Twelve Reasons for Christmas


1.
"For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth."
(John 18:37)

2. "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." (
1 John 3:8; cf. Hebrews 2:14-15)

3. "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (
Mark 2:17)

4. "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (
Luke 19:10)

5. "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
(Mark 10:45)

6. "God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." (
Galatians 4:5)

7. "For God so loved the world that whoever believes on him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved." (
John 3:16).

8. "God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him." (
1 John 4:9; cf. John 10:10).

9. "The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." (
1 Timothy 1:15).

10. "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against . . . that the thoughts of many may be revealed" (
Luke 2:34f).

11. "He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." (
Luke 4:18)

12. "Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy." (
Romans 15:7-8; cf. John 12:27f).  [Taste and See, 2002, John Piper]

HT: Mark LaCour

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Talking about the weather

When I Grumble about the Weather


"The Lord has heard all your grumblings against Him!" Exodus 16:8



Does God really hear every discontented word I ever speak? Does He hear when I grumble about the hard winter, about the late spring, about the dry summer, about the wet harvest?


Does He hear when I grumble about the frosts, about the drought, about the high winds, about the storms?


Does He hear when I grumble about my circumstances, about the hardness of my situation, about my losses and disappointments?


If we could get into our heart, and keep there continually, the consciousness that God hears every word we speak, would we murmur and complain as much as we do?


We are generally careful to not speak words which would give pain to the hearts of those we love. Are we as careful not to say anything that will grieve our Heavenly Father?


"I tell you this--that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak." Matthew 12:36


"He who complains of the weather is complaining of the God who ordains the weather!" -- William Law


-- J. R. Miller
 


HT- Mack Tomlinson