Proclaim the Excellencies

You will never be able to proclaim the excellencies of Jesus while living in disobedience to Jesus.

The Freelance Christian?

The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. In the old covenant, God set his people apart from the nations. In the new covenant, he sets us apart as we live among the nations. But all of Scripture testifies that believers cannot be godly or fruitful without joining God's family and realizing some form of separation from the world. 

~Daniel M. Doriani, I Peter Reformed Expository Commentary

the truth

Since the church is full of sinners, it is also full of deceivers, hypocrites, and slanderers. People say one thing, then the opposite, and act baffled if someone points this out. For some people, words are tools they deploy to fulfill their goals or desires. For them, the truth is any statement that gets them what they want, and a lie is any statement that keeps them from getting what they want.

Daniel M. Doriani; Reformed Espository Commentary on I Peter

New Tangles

My neighbor is an artist. A couple of days ago I saw some of her doodles, and it inspired me to try out a few new patterns.

some new artwork

Here are some of my more recent doodles. They are mostly in the form of blank cards and postcards. If you are interested in purchasing a card, or have a card that you would like me to make, just let me know. 

Thanks (blank inside)

Thanks (blank inside)

(blank inside)

(blank inside)

Fire Flowers (blank inside)

Daisies in a Basket (blank inside)

I Love You (blank inside)

You Are My Love (blank inside)

Bubbles (blank inside)

postcard

postcard

postcard

postcard

postcard

Judge Not the Lord by Feeble Sense

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm. 

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will. 

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head. 

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face. 

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r. 

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

William Cowper, 1774

"Why have I found favor in your sight?"

We are studying Ruth in our adult Sunday School Class at Church. I am using A Sweet and Bitter Providence by John Piper as a guide. As he writes about Ruth 2:10-13, he says the following (which is worth sharing and pondering):

[Ruth] is different from most people today. We have a sense of entitlement. We expect kindness and are astonished and resentful if we don't get our "rights." But Ruth expresses her sense of unworthiness by falling on her face and bowing to the ground. Proud people don't feel amazed at being treated well. They don't feel deep gratefulness. But humble people do. In fact, they are made even more humble by being treated graciously. They are so amazed that grace came to them in their unworthiness that they feel even more lowly. But they receive the gift. Joy increases, not self-importance. Grace is not intended to replace lowliness with pride. It's intended to replace sorrow with joy.

John Piper, A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God