Reformed SHEology

Today's topic weighs heavily on my heart. In fact it is a continuation of my last post simply titled "Fallow Ground". In that article I touched on how trials can lead to loss of expectations, cause us to slow our pace, and when we have been hurt there's a tendency to withdraw. As it so happened I was talking to a dear sister about this very issue which she also had been recently going through. It was a timely conversation and much needed time of fellowship. I have decided to share here what the Lord has shown me in order to bring help to those who are also experiencing any of the issues we have raised.

It is discouragement which can also lead to hope deferred which "makes the heart sick", Proverbs 13:12.We don't have to go through some major trial to become discouraged. As I touched on before just our being weary of doing good can cause discouragement. It is discouragement which can also lead to hope deferred which "makes the heart sick", Proverbs 13:12. There are times where we perhaps do need to withdraw a little from activities and maybe even some friends to spend time waiting on the Lord. Retreats are ideal for this but for those to whom it is impossible to spend time at a retreat, a quiet room at home will do, as will walks in a park or countryside, anywhere that gives a degree of privacy to commune with God. Physical withdrawal alone is not the answer, for our refuge is not in a place but a person. We must also keep in mind the scripture where we are commanded:

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Withdrawal should never mean withdrawing from God. It is in these trying circumstances where we ought to in fact draw closer in communion with God and wait on Him.

"But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

As the above text shows our strength is then renewed so we are enabled to not only run and not be weary but even have the strength to get up! We can become so tired and weary that we cannot even muster the strength to move. Ground becomes fallow when in these situations we lose heart and become lax in seeking God. It is crucially important in these times to press into God even when we feel in life we can no longer run and press onwards. There may be seasons in a saint's life where she has been confined to the sick bed. These can be places of great spiritual blessing in communion with God. Two saints who come to mind are Jesse Penn Lewis and Amy Carmichael. Both drew their strength from God and went on to write about the deep things of God. You could tell through their writings they had been with Jesus!

Scripture also tells us that in the heat of the battle God hides us. In 1 Kings 17 the word of the Lord came to Elijah saying:

“Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” Verses 3-4

There Elijah was provided for and when the brook dried up, his source for water, the Lord, moved him on to a widow who would provide for him. Only the provision was not going to come from the widow but from God! The widow said to Elijah:

“As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” Verse 12.

In Psalm 31 David seeks his refuge only in God. Not only is David's refuge in God alone but his trust also:

"IN YOU, O Lord, do I put my trust and seek refuge" Verse 1

In verse 20 he says:

"In the secret place of Your presence You hide them from the plots of men; You keep them secretly in Your pavilion from the strife of tongues.

What a verse of encouragement to those who are being persecuted. Who are the victims of not only their faith but jealousy, misunderstanding and false accusations. The rest of that Psalm is so encouraging I must go on to quote the rest:

"21 Blessed be the Lord! For He has shown me His marvelous loving favor when I was beset as in a besieged city.
22 As for me, I said in my haste and alarm, I am cut off from before Your eyes. But You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried to You for aid.
23 O love the Lord, all you His saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, and plentifully pays back him who deals haughtily.
24 Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!

The worst pain comes not from those who are our enemies but brothers and sisters in the Lord. As David says in Psalm 55:

12 "For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.
13 But it was you, a man my equal,
My companion and my acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together,
And walked to the house of God in the throng."

We cannot hide from them but we can seek our refuge in God, drawing strength from Him and the grace to move on. In a previous post I touched on Psalm 84 on the valley of Baca, meaning "weeping". David being chased by his enemy (the enemy being not a heathen but one of God's annointed!), was in hiding so could not join the other worshipers in pilgrimage to worship God. Instead David watched them from the valley of Baca and in His despair penned Psalm 84. Yet look at Gods bountiful provision in this valley!
If you are in pain, discouraged and/or weary as I have also been, let us today find our refuge and provision in God. May He alone be our hiding place.

”Sow for yourselves according to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God); reap according to mercy and loving-kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, to inquire for and of Him, and to require His favor, till He comes and teaches you righteousness and rains His righteous gift of salvation upon you.”Hosea 10:12

The coming in of this new year I did not really celebrate. It was nice to be with family watching the fireworks and Chinese lanterns in the distance. But I set no resolutions, no new reading plan or had any sense of expectation. 2011 felt to me like just another year. Actually, to be honest, part of me just wanted to brace myself for more pain. So I guess there was one expectation . . . that of getting hurt again!

However, deep down in my spirit I can sense something . . . something good! Before I touch on that however I need to lay open my heart. On New Year's Eve I found myself going to our fellowship to meet with the church to see in 2011. I was caught totally off guard and the pain was awful. So I reacted . . . badly! Normally I would stay at home with the children watching the fireworks but I felt the Lord was prompting me to go and join with the church. And I knew why. It has to do with relationships. I was very clearly led back to the fellowship I'm in now for the reason of reconciliation, building and nurturing relationships with my brothers and sisters. This I did but ended up getting really hurt again. I was caught totally off guard and the pain was awful. So I reacted . . . badly! After time with God in prayer I was able to forgive and move on, the relationship quickly restored. After that however I became more withdrawn. By the end of 2010 the main purpose for going back to my fellowship came to a halt. I sensed it was important to be with the church where God has placed me to see in the new year. Funny thing was only the people I had yet to form a relationship with were there. That night I took the initiative to start the conversations, something I'm not great at as I'm actually pretty shy with new people. As a result new relationships were formed.

Back to this feeling in my spirit I mentioned earlier. Many have been anticipating great things for the new year. Many always do. But I hadn't been feeling all that positive about things lately. The past couple of months have been petty idle ones. Idle in the sense that I haven't really been pressing on but plodding on. I have grown weary in well doing. I always thought that verse meant in doing good deeds but I now understand it to mean in doing what is right in every sphere of life. In this case it's keeping the peace, maintaining and nurturing friendships while getting hurt in the process. The Amplified translates this verse well:

”And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.”Galatians 6:9

Also, other factors which have contributed to my weariness have been this harsh winter here in the UK and sickness. These have all brought me to a slower pace spiritually. Yet deep down I have sensed those people were right expecting great things for they were pressing on!

In summer last year God laid on my heart very strongly Hosea 10:12, ”Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” I knew what the verse meant but at the time nothing really ever came of it, though I did for a while ponder on it. Then this past Sunday our pastor preached on that verse. Suddenly it quickened me! Arthur Wallis commenting on the fallow ground writes:

”What is fallow ground? It is not desert that has never been cultivated. The application therefore is not to unbelievers who have never experienced God's grace. Nor is it necessarily land that was once cultivated, but has now been abandoned and returned to a desert state. So it is not a particularly the backslider who is in view. It is land that has borne fruit in the past, but now lies idle through lack of cultivation.”

That's it! If I carried on the way I was, just plodding along, there was the danger of the ground in the garden of my soul eventually becoming fallow! And what happens with fallow ground? It becomes hard AND weed-bound! Of this Wallis writes:

”One of the main objects of cultivation is to eliminate weeds that would overrun the good seed or the growing plants. 'Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns,'exhorted Jeremiah (Jer.4:3). The people did not heed him, for we learn later that they reaped the thorns that they had refused to weed out (Jer. 12:13). As every gardener knows, weeds do not have to be cultivated to thrive. They are the inevitable product of neglect.”

The exhortation to break up your fallow ground has become a clarion call for me! A warning of what could happen if I just kept plodding on instead of pressing on!
So how are we to break up our fallow ground and keep it from becoming so? Repentance is always a good start but there must first be a self-humbling and contrition. Arthur Wallis puts it well:

”Humbling ourselves is the first step. This gets the blade of the plough into the hard soil. Then comes the contrition that turns the soil over.” When we humble ourselves we ”come out from our hiding place, expose our hearts and lives to the searchlight of God's presence, with a willingness to come to grips with reality.”

Contrition, as a state of repentance, acknowledges as true what God then reveals, then goes on to confession and repentance. Forgiveness and cleansing is sure to follow.

So this is me exposing my heart. Revealed by the light of God's Word I now “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” for “it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

As I meditated on all of what the Lord was showing me, all the exhortations presented before me I suddenly realized something. Something quite wonderful which would bring me full circle back to the feeling I have deep in my spirit of good things. Attached to each of these exhortations are the most wonderful promises! Let us finish today's post by taking a look at some of them:

The exhortation in Hosea 10:12 "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD..."
The Promise; "...till he come and rain righteousness upon you."

The exhortation in James 4:10 to "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord..." comes with the following promise, "...and he shall lift you up."

The exhortation in Galatians 6:9 to "let us not be weary in well doing." is followed by the promise that "in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

And the well know passage in 2 Chronicles 7:14 comes with the following exhortation; "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;" and is followed by the promise "then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

The last verse is always found when talking about revival. But if we are to see revival in our land we must first experience a personal reviving. We can then go on to pursue revival for our nation. Can you identify with anything spoken of in this post? If so may you go on to humble yourselves, and pray, and seek God's face! Break up your fallow ground, do some gardening and look for the fruit which is sure to come!

Arthur Wallis quotes are from his classic writings on revival Rain From Heaven.

Britain this year has seen some of it's coldest weather. Yet with this Arctic blast has been a country transformed into a winter wonderland just in time for Christmas! I thought it would be nice to share some photos I took of where I live to share with readers. Enjoy!









For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." Isa. 61:10

For some time now I have had on my heart many things I wanted to share and write about. I feel sorry for Jen, founder of this blog because I keep telling her of the things which I would love to write about but then something else happens and it’s put on hold! As I press on to know the Lord more my hunger for His Word increases and I could quite happily spend a whole day in His presence. But then life happens and when your routine is interrupted you learn to appreciate those quite times with Him.

...we need Gods grace for the good days and the bad days.Interrupted routine has made me so much more grateful for His grace and my salvation. I mean I began to beat myself up a little for not being able to have the same quality time with the Lord but then I saw the trap I was falling into… AGAIN! Works based righteousness. It’s like what Jerry Bridges says, we need Gods grace for the good days and the bad days. We think that on those bad days we don’t deserve His blessing when in reality we never had any righteousness of our own to please God. It is all because of our Lord Jesus Christ we are blessed, saved and sanctified and it is His righteousness not our own, therefore we are in need of Gods grace everyday, both the good days and bad. I thank God for His loving kindness and Grace.

Our walk with the Lord is as individual as a fingerprint. We all experience different things at different times and are at different stages of our growth in Christ. To my dismay and ignorance I found that because some people weren’t at the same level as I was I became judgemental. I didn’t know I was doing it but I was. A very pivotal point in my life was the moment God opened my eyes to that carnal side which would try to become holy by my own efforts. Since that day there have been so many changes. It was a real eye opener!!! I understand more what it is to abide in Christ and I have come to know Him more intimately. I truly thank God for that.

Since knowing God more intimately, having my eyes opened to the self life and our need for God’s grace, there has been a stronger desire to share this experience with others. I don’t want to be an armchair blog critic but to go out and make Christ known and blog about it, lol. Can we love when we have more of a relationship with a point of view than with the Lord Himself?
But in the blogging world I have found there to be so many critics. They know their theology inside out. They blog about it, arrange debates to debate about it, create forums exclusively for it, fellowship only with believers who hold to it, defend it wherever it is threatened with an opposing point of view and they fall out with their brothers and sisters over it. But when it comes to living it out they fall far short. They argue “We must defend truth!” But what is truth? Truth isn’t an it, Truth is a Person!

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John14:6

There is such a danger of putting our theology before God. Knowing our theology more intimately than the Lord and believing it is that theological interpretation that is the way, the truth and the life…the only way to the Father. But it is not the way. Jesus is the way! Can we love when we have more of a relationship with a point of view than with the Lord Himself? For many years as a babe in Christ I was so hungry to learn that I substituted relationship for knowledge. I remember many years ago now when reading books on the Lord thinking “Why don’t I feel that way about the Lord!”. They wrote like they knew Him so personally. Deep down I knew I didn’t know the Lord like I should. But God knows and brought me through many things to establish that relationship and grow to know Him intimately.

When it comes to a theological interpretation (Non essential I hasten to add yet that should be obvious!) why do we elevate Christian teachers to the point that we name drop them to show what we are writing is sound because so and so holds to it.....but isn’t there a very subtle tendency to elevate our own ego and pride? You bet!

The other day I followed a link to a blog and to my surprise, under the title there was a subtitle which went something like this “A view held by….. , …… & ….. . There were a couple of well known teachers and one not so well known. What did they mean by that? Are they saying that because these people hold this view it must be right? Then there is nowadays an increasing elevation on ones own name over the Lords. Today there is such a danger of elevating ones ministry and name online. Of course we desperately need to spread the gospel and the truth but isn’t there a very subtle tendency to elevate our own ego and pride? You bet! I have seen many out there who take pride in their own name to become the next Paul Washer. We must turn our eyes on ourselves now and then and question our motives!
What is the aim of our blog, website or for promoting our sermons and ministries online? Is it to spread the gospel and to make disciples or is it tainted with vain glory and self exaltation?

All these thoughts have been on my heart of late and I would be interested in your thoughts too. I’m sure …. No in fact I know there are many walking wounded because of pride and stubbornness in the online Christian community but we need to overcome them, forgive and pray for those who hurt us and live out the gospel as much online as we do out there in the world. May we shine as bright lights making Christ known everywhere!

Spring here in the North West of England has so far been quite beautiful. Glorious in fact! But as I sit and write today's post it is freezing cold outside, windy with the occasional snowfall. The UK is known for its temperamental weather and constant rain but without it we would not have such a beautiful green land. I love it! In fact as I shared in a previous post I have always felt God speak to me through creation. Somehow it just makes me feel closer to Him.

My friends and family know how silly I get when I see the moon, a rainbow or just some particular stunning scenery. I'm like a child seeing it for the first time. As I was reading some quotes from Amy Carmichael I was struck by how many times she expressed in such a poetic way my very thoughts. I would like to share them here in the hope of blessing others.

Many travel to Israel to see the very places Jesus and His disciples walked. Mainly I suppose to enrich their faith. But you don't have to leave your front door to do this. Let me share one of those Amy Carmichael quotes:

When I was a little child I used to wish I could touch something that our Lord Jesus touched, or see something that He saw. Then suddenly to my delight I thought, But I can see something that He saw. He saw the very same moon and stars that I see. And I used to look at the moon and think, He saw you, He saw those funny marks in your face we call the man in the moon. He looked up to you just as I look up at you tonight.

I had a similar "revelation" only a couple of weeks ago when I came across a scripture verse in Genesis:

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. (Gen. 3:16, Italics mine)

As I read "and I will look upon it", I realized that every time I see the rainbow and get excited about it, My heavenly Father, who put it there in the first place, is at the same time looking upon it and thinking of us. This thought just overwhelms me.

Then there are those special moments at night just as you go to bed. You have put on your pj's and brushed your teeth and are about to go to bed when you glance out the window and it almost takes your breath away . . . the moon is out, the sky is clear. It is a particularly beautiful night. At times like this I stand in awe of God and say a prayer of thanks unable to move for the next 5 minutes as I try to take it all in. I used to want to take a photo of nights like these but it just wouldn't do it any justice. Again Amy captures my thoughts perfectly in a quote that really moved me:

Night in the East
Who can forget the first nights in the East? There is the night of velvet depths when the stars burn in ordered distances, one beyond the other for ever and ever. And there is the night when the sky, lit with a little moon, is asleep in gauzy blue and the constellations appear in bright groups; and again there are full-moon nights, when every color of the earth shows clear (only most strangely holy) and you feel it ungrateful to go to sleep while the very trees stand awake and conscious and worshipful.

And you feel it ungrateful to go to sleep. That's me! Many a late night I have had because of this! Times where I have been feeling down or particularly tested and only had to take a look at the night sky and instantly my problems fade and my thoughts turn to God. All I want to do is praise Him and give thanks! Thank you Heavenly Father for the wonderful works of Your hands!

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1)

Have you ever wondered how to put into words what you want to say? Even if you could, many would still read them and miss the very essence of their content. Unless one has gone through the same experience readers will only understand up to a certain point. For example, a young Christian reading a book written by a seasoned child of God will only glean so much. Picking it up again a few years later when she is older and more seasoned, what was overlooked before is met with sympathy. The Holy Spirit shines light on truths previously missed.

I've pondered for sometime on how to put into words what God has brought me through these past few months and even years. Some may read what I write and not be moved at all. Some may sift every word in a critical spirit looking for something to use in argument, missing any good at all. Then there are those always coming with an open heart, ready to receive and glean something which may be of some help, some comfort, or of some good for their souls. It goes without saying we must pray without ceasing especially when reading anything, asking the Lord to keep us from any error or deception.

I hate rushing any post and quite often it can take hours as I ponder and pray over anything I write. Clicking the publish button is a scary moment! This is one reason I have not posted as often as I have in the past. I also hate posting for the sake of it. There is a great responsibility that comes with anything we share especially online. Our words must reflect the Light within us that we may glorify our God. With all this said I commit all to my God and Saviour with the desire to bring Him glory and honour and to edify the body, His bride.I don't believe for a minute it has to be like that.

Be Zealous!
As a new born babe in Christ I was blissfully unaware of even the word theology. All I knew, with great simplicity, was that God sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to take my place on the cross to die so I can be saved and brought into a right relationship with Him, my heavenly Father. Little did I know of the trials ahead or of having to learn of God as a Father. These days were carefree, full of joy and I felt full of the Holy Spirit. Many have said to me over the years, “Oh yes, that is the zeal we all had when born into the Kingdom. It's the honeymoon period. It soon passes.” I hate that saying! I don't believe for a minute it has to be like that. In fact Jesus tells us to “Be zealous”, Rev.3:19.

Over the years the enemy came and did what he does best . . . steal, kill and try to destroy! Seeing my weak points he used hurt to try and cause unforgiveness and bitterness to grow within. God's strength was made perfect in my weakness. The Lord used this for good and continues to do so. Then came something that caught me off guard. I had the basics (the essential doctrines) of faith, was growing in my relationship with God when suddenly before I even knew it I was in a world of many various points of view of Christian doctrines. Arminianism , Calvinism, Pre-Trib, Post-Trib etc. The schools of thought seemed to never end. Then there are those longing for the "good old days" and trying to bring back the old manna of yesterday even naming themselves after that particular group. Which brings up the issue of the many denominations today. Entering this world and taking hold of what seemed the right point of view at the time I became engrossed in defending that view. My bookshelf showed it. My way of looking at everything did too and unfortunately this resulted in outright judgmentalism, legalism and a critical spirit towards my brothers and sisters in the Lord. This was a few years ago. Now but coming through it, I had lost my zeal and vision. What now?

With the benefit of hindsight I can almost see the Lord looking at me and saying, “Have you quite finished now? Have you come to the end of yourself and stopped striving? OK, now follow Me.” I realized I stopped following the Lord and listening to His voice. Somehow, somewhere I listened to the voice of a stranger. Now was the time to listen to the Good Shepherd's voice, the one I knew so well. So what did He say to me? Well for a while I had on my heart peacemaking. All this time I wasn't in a particular fellowship. I knew I did not leave the last one well and believed relationships needed to be restored including any past hurts forgiven of.

After some time seeking the Lord I found it was my relationship with Him that needed attention first. He was drawing me closer to Himself. I realized I had not been pursuing God but religion. Religion had brought with it a set structure and told you how things were. It was a way of being brought into the bondage of legalism. Man is very good at taking a truth and turning it into a doctrine! It's very subtle at first and only people on the outside can see what's going on. In it you cannot see what it is doing to you. Joy has gone only to be replaced by seriousness. A lightness of spirit replaced by a heavy one and fear, worry and anxiety abound. Worst of all your view of God changes from loving Father to someone you fear if you don't meet with the theological interpretation you are following. Again, I am talking about the non essentials.I JUST LOVE THE LORD!

BUT NOW I AM FREE! Free to love God, to know Him, to grow in my knowledge of Him, to allow self to be crucified so I can become more like Him, and to just abide in Him! I JUST LOVE THE LORD! I am a child of God. And that's it, knowing who you are in Him. To find out who a fellow brother or sister is some will ask, “What denomination are you?” or “What is your theology?” Then if it does not agree with their point of view they will either write you off or categorize you in the hope of one day "converting you"! When someone replied, “I'm a Christian” it would annoy me. But now I understand!Big fat pride kept saying no!

As I continued to listen, the Lord began to reveal His will. Over and over I kept getting the words "keep moving forward: and Phillipians 3:13-14. “But Lord”, I thought, “Forward where?” And that's when I knew in order to move forward I had to go back. Yes, I had to go back to my old fellowship! I knew with all my heart I had to go back but big fat pride kept saying no! Confirmation after confirmation came through my daily readings until one day I surrendered to God's will. The day I went back (I called it a tester day, at this point it was official only between God and I) the whole sermon was on the very scriptures God had been giving me! What has ensued since going back is nothing short of miraculous. The changes in me (zeal is back!), the miracles I've seen with God stepping into situations and most of all I have been greatly humbles by the brethren at the fellowship. The relationships of the saints there with their Lord are beautiful and humbling and I'm always being being challenged by this!

So right now this is where I am. A child of God wanting to be used by Him, for His glory, a vessel of honor fit for the Master's use.

Can I share with you a secret?...
I never intended on writing all this. In fact I was writing a post on something entirely different! But who knows, maybe this is written because it is meant for someone. Someone going through the same situation perhaps? God knows.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1

Ever since I was a child God spoke to me through creation. There has never been a day where I have not been awed by it. I suppose though that could be said for the majority of people whether or not they believe in God. Many fight tooth and nail for a house with a view. Why is that? Because they see beauty in creation. Yet God is revealing Himself to them through creation:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
Romans 1:18-20

As a Christian this makes perfect sense! That feeling I get when in awe of stunning scenery or a crisp, clear night sky, the bright white moon crowning it I now know it to be not with what I see alone but with the fact God is revealing Himself through it. Amazing! I see a glimpse of His glory, His majesty, His greatness!

But sadly through the years, since the theory of evolution many professing Christians try to force this theory (evolution) into their faith thus denying God's sovereignty in creation and administration. To accept evolution is to deny the creation account in Genesis and thus deny the whole of Gods Word.

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.....Then God said...and it was so.
Genesis 1:3,9

Here we see God's sovereignty. He said and it was so. Therefore who are we to take the creation account, label it as myth, take a theory and make it fact because it is labelled "science". This requires MORE faith! All through the Bible we see God said and it was so (the plagues in Egypt, commanding weather, the fiery furnace even). Therefore, again, to deny the creative account in Genesis is to deny God's sovereignty elsewhere through the Bible. Deny His sovereignty you deny He is God. Or as Pink put it:

To say that God is sovereign is to say that God is God A.W.Pink.

God rules over all His creation.

The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:19

We see this everyday. If God were to withdraw His governing hand from creation I dare say everything would be destroyed in moments. Everything would be in chaos! Take the weather, when we complain about it we are really murmuring against God. 'Deny that God is governing matter,deny that He is "upholding all things by the word of His power" (Heb 1:3), and all sense of security is Gone!-A.W.Pink. How true!

In meditation of the sovereignty, majesty and greatness of God I finish with a verse taken from Psalm 104. If you can I recommend turning to the whole Psalm.

O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all.
Psalm 104

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee;
in whose heart are the ways of them.
Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well;
the rain also filleth the pools.
Psalm 84:5,6
We are in this world "strangers and pilgrims". A stranger is away from home, but a pilgrim is on the way home. It is on this journey to our heavenly home we will come across the Valley of Baca or as it is also known, Valley of Weeping. The exact location of this valley is unknown. But what is known about it is that it appears to be a dry place. The sun burning above made the valley arid and dry. This Psalm was penned by David in exile as he watched the Israelites make their way to worship at Jerusalem. Three times a year they would make this pilgrimage.

I went through my own valley not so long ago which brought the words of Psalm 84 vividly alive to me. It was a place I was brought where I could turn to no one else but the Lord. It is a very lonely place yet also very precious. Many treasures are found in this valley if one only lifts his/her eyes to heaven and in doing so is brought to lift one's head and look around. It is a place of deep intimacy between you and the Lord and you draw ever closer to Him. It is then you thank God for your times of trouble, for this valley of weeping. How precious is your communion with the Lord at this time. Only you MUST draw near to Him and bring all before Him:

casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.1 Peter 5:7

You must turn to Him in this hour of trouble and cast your cares upon Him and:

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.James 4:8

In so doing we are digging a well in this dry and arid valley just as others before us. Here is a wonderful quote by J.C.Philpot who gave a fantastic sermon on the valley of Baca;

“Make it a well;” that is, there are from time to time sweet refreshments in this valley of tears; there are bubblings up of divine consolation; there are fountains of living waters, streams of heavenly pleasures. And when the sun-burnt, weary pilgrims, all parched and dry, are journeying through this valley, and their tongues cleave to the roof of their mouths with thirst, the Lord from time to time opens up in this valley a well; as we read, Isaiah 41:17-18,When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and dry land springs of water.”

“Some manifestation of His gracious presence, some promise coming with power to the soul, some testimony of saving interest in the love and blood of Jesus, some smile from His countenance, some word from His lips, some encouraging testimony that the feet are upon the rock, is given. This is a well at which his thirst is slaked; his parched tongue no longer cleaves to his palate; he drinks of the water that bubbles up from the thirsty soil to refresh the weary pilgrim.”

C.H. Spurgeon also wrote about this valley. It is a result of his going through the valley of weeping. No one who has not traveled the valley of weeping can tell of this place no more than can anyone tell of a far country in which they have never been to! But for those who have travelled through this place, perhaps many times, have left wells dug, way-marks if you will for the next pilgrim to find.

The Psalm also speaks of pools which the rain fills. How amazing that the wells were not the only resource! But notice how it is the rain that fills them. We can dig the pool but it must be filled from heaven. These pools can be "the means of grace, the ordinances of the Lord's house, and those various helps that the Lord Himself has appointed; but which are themselves as desolate and dry as the pool or tank, and need the rain of heaven to fill them".

How often I have been refreshed by these pools. Prayer was an opportunity to get back into the presence of God and enjoy sweet communion with Him while the storm raged. Reading His Word and claiming His promises found in them revived me. Listening to the word being preached encouraged me. But how often have I come to a pool and found it dry! Again Philpot actually remarks on this very well:

“I find them so [dry], you find them so, who know the difference between the letter and the Spirit, between “bodily exercise which profits little,” and the power of vital godliness that is profitable unto all things. The Lord will teach his people this; and He will teach it his ministers also. They may construct a pool-in their parlours at home they may build a very pretty tank; it may be divided and sub-divided; a cell here, and a compartment there. And they may come with their pools to chapel. But unless the rain fills it from above, all their ingenuity will be thrown away.”

This valley is a painful experience and one we must never think is only travelled through once. But when we do find ourselves in this valley again be comforted and encouraged. There is much to refresh the soul here if we would only dig and seek it. Communion with Christ is all the more intimate in this place and therefore a place to be cherished. We can also leave our own way-marks for others and be comforted to know that others have been here by their way-marks left.

All my springs are in thee. Psalm 87:7

A friend and I were discussing the sad condition of many a church today. It is in sad times we live when we cannot even recommend anywhere for the new convert, which happened to be the main topic of our conversation. It is worse still when leaders are content with the way things are. But then our focus was shifted on the new creature and what this life looks like! I believe Horatious Bonar sums up the differences wonderfully. He paints a beautifully balanced description of both. I cannot do it justice so will quote it here for you. Enjoy!

“Take yon member of the church. He wears the garb and bears the name of Christ. He is a fair average specimen of a large class. He has the profession of being a Christian yet he is fond of the world! He grasps at its gold. He loves its fashionable gaiety. He reads his novels. He frequents its haunts of amusements. He enjoys its company. He relishes its foolish talking and jesting. Is he a new creature in Christ Jesus? Is it possible that with so much worldliness, so much selfishness, so much self-indulgence, so much pleasing of the flesh, he can have been born again whatever his profession may be?Sin has become hateful. Holiness has become supremely attractive.
A new creature then, old feelings, old habits, old tastes, old hopes, old joys, old sorrows, old haunts, old companionships are all gone. Old things have passed away. All things have become new. Formally I sought the things of this world, so now by the necessity of my new nature I seek the things above. Sin has become hateful. Holiness has become supremely attractive. My vision has been purged so that now I see everything as with a new eye. The evil with an eye which loathes it. The holy with an eye which loves it. I approach everything with new feelings, new tastes, new sympathies, new antipathies. I behold everything in a new light and from a new point of view. My self, this world, the world to come, God, Christ and the everlasting joys. All these are to me now what they have never been before. My whole inner man has changed, respecting them. There has been a new creation. What then have I to do with sin? With the flesh? With the vanities of so vain a life as the men of this world are leading? Oh, the unimaginable blessedness of those on whom this new creation has taken place. Oh the unutterable, the endless misery on whom no change has passed in whom old things still remain.”

How amazing is this creative miracle! How amazing is Gods sovereign grace!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

I cannot believe how time flies between posts! Getting a quiet moment in my house is rare indeed. I reserve the first ones to be with the Lord but to find another in the day is near impossible. Needless to say I have been struggling to catch up to the next post! I'm so glad I have sympathisers out there who understand what it is like to be a wife and mother, it encourages me to know I'm not alone. Speaking of brethren who encourage brings me to the point of this post, of which I must confess may stray slightly off this month's theme. That being said when we do talk about God it is impossible not to overlap themes sometimes!

How amazing it is that the smallest distractions in life can build up so much that your vision becomes very narrow. Let me give you an example from personal experience;
This year began with good intentions. I prayed and determined that I would keep up with all my commitments. I even gave some up because of time. But in time, in no time at all really, everyday concerns, cares and needs had me pressed in on all sides scrambling for more time. My head hit the pillow and that was it, I was out like a light! Until the next morning it started all over again. After a while without realising it my vision would only extend to the everyday concerns that would wrapped around me. Those good intentions seemed to get further and further away! I longed to be out with others witnessing but it wasn't an option. With my husbands long shifts and no family to help with the children there's rarely time to go out anywhere. That zealousness for sharing the gospel you could feel dying down as much as you don't want it to. The desire is still there but not as strong. Circumstances seem to get the better of you until.........

In the briefest of moments God uses someone, a brother or sister to shine like a beacon and reignite that passion you had and encourage you on. You may not even meet this brother/sister face to face but it could be something as simple (yet precious) as a testimony, a song or maybe just a word. They are encouraging without even knowing it!

Enter my most recent beacon of light, Deborah Drapper. A 13 year old girl born into a large Christian family in the south of England. The most amazing documentary of this young girl can be seen below. Watching it really set my heart on fire again to press on through my daily toil and extend my vision once more. And what do you know!...........only yesterday at the most unusual time two Jehovah's Witnesses came to my door! God has brought the opportunities to me!!!

So brethren, be encouraged to know that your devotion and faithfulness to God, when seen by others will bring encouragement to them. Granted I should not have allowed my everyday chores to distract me from seeking first the Kingdom of God!

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day [is] its own trouble.Matthew 6:33-34

Last month here at Reformed SHEology the theme of the month was Total Depravity. This month as you know our theme is the Sovereignty of God. Yet very sadly however within the church today and in Pink's time;

“Few, very few, today really believe in the complete ruin and total depravity of man....there are fewer still who really believe in the absolute sovereignty of God.” - A.W.Pink

As a result what is being taught in the pulpits affects our understanding of salvation and even our walk with God. This is exactly what happened to me....

Growing up I believed in God. Deep and firmly rooted within me I knew God existed. However the only place I learnt of God as a child was in school. It was a CofE and we often visited the church we were linked to for the usual celebrated dates. I was in complete awe of the church building. As I sat on those hard wooden pews, tapping the worn prayer cushion on the cold stone floor with my foot, staring at the colourful picture book windows and the smell of incense in the air my mind would wander. My thoughts were far from what was going on in the service. When those thoughts weren't on wondering how to get to the top of the tower to see the bells, they were always on the Being for whom this beautiful building was crafted and constructed for. The church became for me a very special place. It was a kind of refuge for my thoughts. I was Christened there with my brother and sister, took part in school nativity plays for parents and the congregation....... until I was nine and we moved. My life would never be the same again.

Far from where I grew up and in a new school, by God's providence (though I didn't know it at the time) God continued to be made known to me by my new headteacher. A short yet quite broadly built man with a strong Welsh accent(kind of like a granddad type figure, lol.) In every assembly he would sing loudly and almost very proudly, hymns from the school's hymn books. He sang so passionately in fact that I believed every word he sang. Like the building had done, those words drew my attention to the person and work of the Lord. No one really taught me how to pray; I would just talk to God. It was safe to say that growing up I did have a tender conscience however it was often mocked and trampled on. It wasn't "normal" for a child to be so "soft" especially in my family. The women are all very independent and strong minded. But the days came where I was forced to face the harsh realities of life. I felt I had to try and take on some of those characteristics of the women in my family just to survive. Slowly but surely I was pushing aside God and my conscience.I said the prayer, was baptised and that was that. I became just another notch on the belt.

Fast forward to where I was reintroduced to the Lord. He never completely left my mind and neither had my conscience. But the church I became a part of never told me of my sin, only urged me to accept Jesus "back" into my life. I said the prayer, was baptised and that was that. I became just another notch on the belt. Over the next few years I would genuinely seek God but just didn't know why Jesus had to die. No one told me what sin was and the need to be saved. I was in church for years before someone held up to me the mirror of the law and I saw myself for who I really was.....totally sinful, lost and helpless to do anything to save myself. Then I saw Jesus upon the cross and the joy that filled my heart to realise what He had done for me only to be followed by the shock and horror of my sinful self.

There He was.

There I was.

I fell to the foot of the cross in repentance, understood that there on my knees I had to die to self and stand up as a new creation in Christ, take up my cross and follow Him. No more would I be blindly groping in the dark trying to find my own way. Suddenly all made sense to me. I was led to believe that as I let go of God growing up He became a helpless figure unable to tame me. That I was in total control of my life and that I chose Him to "come into my life". OH how wrong I was!

Now as I looked back I saw things very differently. My life now up to this point made complete sense. It wasn't chaotic and unpredictable as I viewed it before. Tracing my footsteps I could see I was never alone. God was directing my steps. I wasn't the independent, free spirit I thought I had become. Far far from it. I wasn't free at all. I was a slave to the wrong master. All this time God had been drawing me to Him. I saw His long suffering towards me. No longer was Salvation for me about choosing the Lord and finding Him but He found me, opened my eyes to sin and the price He paid on the cross!

How many more similar stories I have heard since then. A failure to see ourselves as we really are effects our knowledge of Him. Yet once we realise our need for the Saviour (a truth that needs to be preached more today) we can begin to learn who God is, His attributes, to understand He is sovereign. As we learn more about Him and draw near to the Lord in relationship our faith strengthens and there can be no denying that God is in complete control. This knowledge brings with it comfort:

But When we receive all that enters our lives as from His hand, then, no matter what may be our circumstances or surroundings-whether in a hovel, a prison-dungeon, or a martyrs stake-we shall be enabled to say, “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places” (Psalm 16:6). But that is the language of faith, not of sight.”-Pink

As I started my new life in Christ I grew to know Him. It was progressive but the more I learn who He is the more I love Him and the more we focus and fix our thoughts on Him there will be rest for the heart and peace for the mind. Mere head knowledge alone will not do. We must also know God!

To quote Pink once more;

“The people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits, Daniel 11:32 We know of nothing which is more calculated to infuse spiritual vigour into our frames than a scriptural apprehension of the full character of God.”

In summary, it is crucially important that we understand the basic Christian truths and how we apply them, to have a right view of ourselves, and of God. Once we understand God is sovereign we see Him as the the potter and we as the clay, the Lord as The Good Shepherd and we as His sheep. This is the abundant life indeed!

Faithful are the wounds of a friend Proverbs 27:6

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness 1 John 2:9

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:14,15

If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:20

Many of us have gone through the most painful situations where we have been wronged by fellow believers. What the other party did was unthinkable and unbecoming of a Christian. You feel hurt, wronged, angry (that they could do such a thing) and even sorry for yourself. You begin to ask yourself questions, questions you feel justified to ask, such as “why me?” You consider yourself to be a good friend and brother/sister to the body, so it can't be any fault of your own that this thing has happened. The fact it is not your fault may be completely true. So it's a good thing you have your inner circle of friends/family to support you at this time to share your feelings, right? WRONG!Light begins to shine within, just as the sun rises at dawn, the light gently creeps over the earth, and what you see horrifies you!

Ok, you're nursing raw wounds as you try to put things right. You want to glorify God. You feel you're doing all the right things when suddenly even your friends and loved ones seem to be against you. For completely different reasons they are not being themselves. They highlight things about you that are just not true. This may be in the form of an argument with one and reproof off another. Great! Just when I need them the most. You can feel yourself becoming more and more isolated from people in general as if you have no one left to turn to. Suddenly you feel a revived sense of longing to be with God in prayer. Time with Him is bliss until you see what God shows you in the most gentle and loving way in which only God can do.......light begins to shine within, just as the sun rises at dawn, the light gently creeps over the earth, and what you see horrifies you! “I'm telling my daddy of you!”

Suddenly, being in God's presence is not about seeking communion but forgiveness and repentance. You cannot believe how long you have been walking around completely unaware of the many sins hiding in the darkness of yourself. “Oh!” You cry, “I feel such a fool!” Those reproofs and painful words from the ones you dearly love begin to make sense. They were like signposts pointing the way to that which was true about yourself only pride would not acknowledge them. Instead the hard, unyielding self stood up for itself and like a child said, “I'm telling my daddy of you!” Only as you went to The Father you found yourself being lovingly and tenderly corrected. You see now that you are totally and utterly powerless to change yourself. You beg God to cleanse and change you.

After confession and repentance, making the point of now keeping daily accounts with God, the stiff-necked proud I know bows the head in humility and embraces loved ones with a grateful heart. You realise that they have done you the greatest favour a friend could ever do. To be known as we really are-that is true fellowship!

The importance of being transparent with others cannot be underestimated. C.H.Spurgeon in one of his sermons defines it as “The willingness to know and be known”. To have at least one friend we can trust to be honest in the must loving way with us and us with them, is infinitely priceless. To be known as we really are -that is the true fellowship!

Going back to the original offence where you felt innocent, you now see that you had been all this time justifying self. You were unaware of it but you became just like the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14. Ok, so you may have been wronged but when you cry out to all who are willing to listen the wronged been done to you and justifying yourself by admitting you seek reconciliation is nothing other than sin. You can be seeking reconciliation yet without acknowledging the massive beam of wood in your own eye. Suddenly, after seeing the huge beam in your eye that speck in your brother's eye doesn't seem as big as you thought it was! Now you can work on overcoming the sins in your own life as well as being reconciled with your brother. No longer will you feel the need to justify yourself. You will approach the whole matter no more proud and stiff-necked but with head bowed in humility. That way, even when the other person denies doing you any wrong you can still walk in forgiveness praying for and blessing them, hoping that in time the Holy Spirit will shine light in their hearts. Certainly God will be most glorified this way!

In the year 2006 I was blessed to be a part of Evangelism Boot camp in New York. I had that previous year heard the life changing message Hell's Best Kept Secret and had my eyes opened to many things in the faith that were not taught or revealed to me previously. One such thing was exactly what sin is and why Jesus died and rose again. Foundational truths yes! But no one told me anything about them! The only messages I heard were "Jesus loves you so much that he died for you" and that was it. There was no explanation of what sin is or the reason Jesus had to die in the first place.When I arrived I felt overwhelmed with the fact I made it through the flight alone!

Born Again.......Again!
Well, with feeling like I was born again, again (!) and my heart on fire to evangelise (see my last post) I heard of a ministry that went out, hit the streets using the principles taught by Way of the Master, a ministry birthed from the HBKS message. With nothing like it over here and feeling really lonely in my longing to evangelise I wanted to go to one of these "boot camps" to meet like-minded Christians. The only problem was it was all the way in New York and I live in England. Yet, a few months later I found myself at the boot-camp. It was surreal. When I arrived I felt overwhelmed with the fact I made it through the flight alone!

It was an amazing experience. I preached open air for the first time on the underground train!, met many good friends one of whom happens to be a certain Jennifer, creator of Reformed SHEology. But as good as it was I felt I had not really had that chance to speak one to one with anyone. Hearing all the amazing testimonies at the end of each day left me feeling disheartened. Then I would feel bad because I should be rejoicing in what God was doing. I even began to wonder if it was God's will that I even came to boot camp.

As the second to last day drew to a close and having no real conversations I was beginning to feel pretty useless especially when I saw so many in my group witnessing. I know it was wrong to compare myself to others but I couldn't help it. I decided to take one last walk alone praying to God about how I was feeling.

God-incidence!
As I made my way to the quieter part of Washington square, an area with steps and shaded by trees, I saw a woman (who I'll call Trish) sitting on the steps looking a little upset.I just couldn't believe my ears! I approached her and asked if she was OK. I could see she had been crying and was trying to hide her tears. I asked her if I could pray for her. I will never forget her heart-wrenching reply. As she reached into her purse she said, “Yes, but I'm afraid I don't have any money.” I just couldn't believe my ears! I then became overwhelmed with pity and ashamed that she had to feel that I would want money in exchange for prayer. Immediately I knelt beside her and cried “I don't want money, I want to help!”. I then explained how I was over from the UK with the church to meet like minded Christians and evangelise. Then I prayed for her. Trish then began to cry and tell me her story. Her daughter wasn't well and she was feeling overwhelmed with her circumstances. She shouldn't even have been at the square but she needed somewhere for a moment to gather herself and then we met. I told her it wasn't coincidence and she became encouraged after our meeting. After she left I realised I didn't preach the gospel to her but mentioned Christ, the fact I am a Christian, and gave her a tract. But then I knew that God was totally in control of the situation and He had answered my prayer in the most amazing and beautiful way. That one single meeting made the whole trip so worth while.

I learnt that day that as important as it is to preach the gospel, each encounter is always unique and we should never overlook an individual's needs in a desperate scramble to tell them the good news. I made sure she did have the message in the form of a tract however. I love how the Father puts us in the right place at the right time!

The following is an testimony of one of those amazing encounters when afterwards you ask yourself whether or not you entertained an angel. It was, for me, a life changing moment.

My husband and I travelled to Wiltshire with the children to visit my aunt and uncle in Chippenham. I often thought about the spiritual climate in the South West as it is steeped in new age. This is crop circle country and home of the famous festival, Glastonbury. It was this thought that occupied my mind as we made our way into the town centre after parking the car. The walk is a beautiful one, along the banks of the river Avon, with weeping willows draping their branches over and into the fast flowing water. My thoughts began to shift towards wondering about the church and how much of the body was in the area and what it was like for them to live in such a spiritual climate. Suddenly, I found my thoughts being interrupted by what I thought to be some kind of commotion in the high street ahead. As we approach the noise, to my surprise I found it to be a open air preacher! I knew I had to speak to this man and encourage him.It was like the questions I had just been contemplating were, to a degree, about to be answered. At this point in my Christian life I had never met a street preacher or even witnessed myself. I knew I had to speak to this man and encourage him.

After he finished preaching I introduced myself as a sister and told him what a great job he was doing. He smiled and said thank you and that was that. I then made my way to the shop where my husband and children were waiting. After paying for our goods we came out of the shop when I noticed the preacher off his box completely surrounded by a group of young teenage boys, many on bikes. Now I had never in my life witnessed so what happened next can only be described as a miracle!

My First Witnessing Encounter
After asking my husband if he would watch the children and wait for me I found myself making my way to the group of boys. On hearing one of their questions, all being asked in mockery and trying to catch the preacher out, I opened my mouth only to find I had a answer ready not only for that one question but for them all. There is noway it was knowledge I already had and was sharing with them. I couldn't have known these answers but here I was answering them. If that wasn't enough the boys began to listen intently and their questions became more serious! The one ringleader tried to lead the others astray by asking silly questions but even with him I felt compelled to to speak to him something specific. He pretended to be offended but you could see him thinking about what was said.

Matthew
One young boy in the group, Matthew, really blessed me. Never before or since have I seen such conviction and thirst in a boy of his age. I knew I had to give him my Bible. As I gave it to him all the boys eyes widened and they looked at the Bible with awe. I mean these are young teenage boys we're talking about here and they were looking at the Bible with such awe. At this point the ringleader had given up trying to get the others to do what he wanted. As Matthew opened the Bible he saw passages I had highlighted and asked why had I done that. So I proceeded to tell him how some had a specific meaning to me that he could do the same and he would know what I meant if he was to prayerfully read it. To this day I wonder how Matthew is doing and he has often been in my prayers over the years.

The boys then began to disperse and soon I find it was just me and the preacher. He told me his name was Joseph and thanked me for helping him out. But I knew it wasn't me. What had just taken place was nothing short or a miracle! From that moment on it was my hearts desire to witness and I could never make excuse: "But I don't know what to say."

do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. Matthew 10:19

I never did see Joseph again and upon enquiry no one knew him. Not many words were exchanged between us and I like to think of him as an angel sent from God. Although, Joseph, if you are reading this I want you to know how your obedience to the great commission blessed me and changed my life. Every time I'm in Chippenham I look out for you.

As mentioned in my previous post I have decided to take up the Love Dare. I will be sharing some of my experiences here on Reformed SHEology along the way. Now with Saturday being day one I really didn't expect to be sharing so soon but here I am eager to share what has happened! But before I do I must rewind back to the day before I began the dare:

In my prayer time with God Friday morning I prayed something that even surprised me as I prayed it. I'm not in the habit of praying for specific material things that I can quite easily go without. So I was surprised when I felt really led to pray for a laptop. We have a family computer at home and when I need to get work done I don't often get a chance to go online and when I do I can feel quite rushed. I thought to myself how wonderful it would be to be able to work in the privacy of my room and not get distracted.

Fast forward to Saturday, day one of the Love Dare. As I went downstairs to get a cup of coffee I decided to quickly check my messages online only to discover to my horror we had an awful computer virus. The night before my husband downloaded something that contained the virus that now wreaked havoc with everything we had stored on the computer. Realising just how we got this virus I was tempted to proceed with giving my poor husband a lecture. In a moment I was faced with two choices. I left my husband to fix the problem with the computer while I went upstairs to pray. I was reeling inside and the last thing I felt like doing was praying. But as I walked in my room I suddenly realised that I had not read today's dare! The first day and I almost forgot! So I picked up the book, The Love Dare and turned to day one. I couldn't believe what I read:

The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It's better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret.

Did anything happen today to cause anger toward your mate? Were you tempted to think disapproving thoughts and to let them come out in words?

After repenting I came out my room rejoicing and praising God. I knew what I had to do. Downstairs my poor husband was working hard to fix the computer. I sat down next to him and instead of giving him an earache I reassured him that these things happen and I'm sure we'll get it sorted soon. He looked at me and smiled.

Later that morning we had to go out and I shared with my husband my desire for a laptop. When I explained to him what I needed it for he explained a netbook would be more suitable for me. That evening when I found out all our family pics may be lost I couldn't hold back the tears. Seeing I was upset my husband told me not only was he able to save the photos but he had bought me a netbook which would be dropped of in the next 15 minutes! I couldn't believe it!

Dare one - check!
I contemplated how that day could have turned out had I not been patient and held my tongue. Even though I was patient I could not have done it all in my own strength. I had to continue to rely on God's grace and focus throughout the day on what matters most. It wasn't easy.

Well, here I am writing this post with my new netbook...an answer to prayer, praise God!

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. - Ephesians 4:1-2

This month on Reformed SHEology our film of the month has been the much anticipated Fireproof. Yet because I live in the UK I have not been able to view this movie yet. For those of you who have been blessed enough to see the movie you will be very familiar with the featured book The Love Dare. In the movie the couple "dares to rescue their choking marriage from the flames of divorce and temptation using The Love Dare book as a guide."

When my husband came home from America, he brought back for me the ESV study Bible (yeay!) and to my delight a copy of The Love Dare. It was like Christmas day when he came home! As I set aside my new Bible and opened up my copy of the Love Dare I was met with the following words of warning:

Receive this as a warning. This forty day journey cannot be taken lightly. It is a challenging and often difficult process, but an incredibly fulfilling one. To take this dare requires a resolute mind and a steadfast determination.

It is not meant to be sampled or briefly tested, and those who quit early will forfeit the greatest benefits. If you will commit to a day at a time for forty days, the results could change your life and your marriage.

Consider it a dare, from others who have done it before you.

I knew then what I held in my hands wasn't just another book to add to my ever growing library. If I was to seriously contemplate taking up the dare I would have to heed those words of warning and not rush headlong into it with an attitude of complacency. Yet this isn't such new territory for me. In fact it wasn't so long ago that I commited to another such book only to come under the most testing of times as I progressed through it. But glory to God that from such testing not only was I being conformed to the image of Christ but my marriage was also being refined. Even from the day of our wedding our marriage has endured many tough trials, often so big that I am sure if I wasn't saved my marriage would have failed by now. But what we have as husband and wife is so very precious that the only way to get what we have now is to go through such fiery trials together with our eyes firmly fixed on the Lord.

After experiencing such a trial from committing to following and applying a biblical study that would be an instrument of change not only for myself but for my marriage also, I take seriously the warning and words of wisdom that precede The Love Dare. It is with all this in mind that I take the love dare! As I progress through the 40 days I will share some of my experiences in the hope of encouraging others.Marriage is only the beginning of the journey.

In closing this post I want to share one last point that has been touched upon on Reformed SHEology this month. Marriage is often portrayed in the movies, fairy tales and novels as the end of any romantic story. They focus on the build up to the moment everyone is waiting for...the proposal. Much like Ross and Rachel in the series Friends you are often made to think "Will they? Won't they?" In these build ups we see the couples many obstacles and trials, laughter and tears until we come to the end...marriage. But the reality is marriage is the beginning and not the end of the love story! All that has gone before is only a taste of what is to come. In many films/stories when the proposal comes, it releases the sense of a huge sigh of relief; "Ah, they made it!" But this is not so in reality. Marriage is only the beginning of the journey. That sigh of relief should only be made if we have successfully run the race of marriage. So the real love story begins every morning of our married lives. The Love Dare can only be a part of that story, a marker guiding us through God's Word on our way.

I Take the dare. Watch this space!

As Christians we're all too familiar with the fact that we can have many different idols in our lives. Unfortunately as God opens our eyes to one and we let go and deal with it, another is just around the corner. We'd be fools to think that once dealt with, we are free from them once and for all. Idols can be very subtle and once our eyes are opened to them they are often painful to let go of. The problem is that something as simple as wanting to keep a clean house can become an idol. As Tara Klena and Judy Dabler write in their excellent book, Peacemaking Women:

"It is not the object that is the problem - it is how much we desire it that is the problem."

So it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise when I say that even our husbands can become idols. I can imagine some laughing at that statement but when we really think about how our husbands become our idols it becomes quite a serious matter. When I say the husband can become your idol I am talking about the many desires we have regarding him. Take the following for example:

Desire for...

The perfect husband
The unsaved husband to be saved
The husband to meet specific needs (such as financial, etc.)

Now, this is by no means an exhaustive list and I'm certain there are many women who can add a few more examples to it. But my point is to show the many desires we have for our husbands which, and let me stress, in themselves are right! But, when those desires are elevated to demands they turn to idolatry. Idols then rule us and can cause us to stumble:

They served their idols,
which became a snare to them. Psalm 106:36 ESV

I can shamefully recall my desire for my husband to be walking with the Lord. This desire grew into a demand. I turned into this ugly monster demanding we have prayer times together, questioning the last he read his Bible, demanding he take more Sundays off work to go to church. Oh, I'm cringing as I type but back then I felt justified!

As a result my marriage began to suffer. Then God mercifully opened my eyes to this idol.

As with many idols, they can destroy relationships. A desire can become an expectation made too high. For example, if we desire our husbands to be home more and we then justify it in our minds, listening to the voice that whispers "he should be at home more, he's married to you not work!", then we expect them to be home and when our expectations aren't met we begin to make demands. This we all know can lead to tension and arguments, not a path we want our marriages to take.
The key is to find our fulfillment in Christ.
The key is to find our fulfilment in Christ. I must admit, this is not easy. We crave to have the things we feel are rightfully ours such as a husband who would only help out more. But as we turn to Christ, surrender our will and seek His, we can become satisfied. We can work on repenting and giving up our idols and from there seek God to change our circumstances. But we mustn't ever put a time limit on these things. As you pray, God will do His part in His time.

Is there any desire you have that has become a demand? Has it begun to affect any of your relationships? Often we don't notice it but our children can even pick up on our idol worship and those idols can become theirs. (Sadly we hear all too often of young girls thinking they're not thin or pretty enough!)

Maybe we can,with HUMILITY, ask our husbands if they feel there's too much of a demand being made of them. We can then take this to God in prayer.

For a fantastic write up on idolatry please check out Chapter Two of Peacemaking Women. It is a very helpful chapter on idolatry in general. There is a great Q&A at the end of the chapter which I have found powerfully thought-provoking and helpful. And if that's not enough, there is a great list on recommended resources for further study and consideration.

Celebrity top beauty tips, 20 Anti-aging secrets, The Ultimate Guide to Managing the Home! Today, women are bombarded by such headlines on the magazine shelf, internet, junk mail, etc. Headlines such as these are written for a reason. They draw the reader's attention because the writers know what are on most women’s minds and what it is that will get them to buy their products. I see these headlines all the time but the question is what is it that is on my mind most of the time? Is aging an issue for me? Do I think "wouldn’t this article help because so and so endorses the topic?" This got me thinking about, well, thinking actually! Let me explain.

With my youngest starting nursery I have found that even though I am still busy with many things to get done in the day I am now, for a couple of hours at least, less distracted. But now a new distraction has arisen. My mind is now more freely allowed to think and meditate on things. But there is a problem: trial and temptation. None of us as Christians are ever beyond trials or being tempted. It can happen suddenly. When we are faced with a trial it follows that we are tempted to contemplate ways out, to find our comforts from the world or even slip into self pity. If we don’t begin to restrain our thoughts then we can be sure the enemy will draw us away from the Lord.

I have found in a place of testing and with moments of less distraction I have been thinking more on earthly things such as "contact such and such person for a chat (knowing it will lead to grumbling about the situation!)," "treat yourself to such a thing (even when you don‘t have the money!), you deserve it because you're going through such a hard time." By allowing myself to meditate on thoughts such as these I can easily be led to act on them which would be unwise and even sinful. John Owen writes:

We should make every effort to think carefully about our trials and temptations. Anyone who is ill will want to find out about the illness and how it can be cured. Should we not be equally concerned about spiritual ill-health? There is a problem here: the more we think about the things that tempt us, the more likely we are to be tempted, for temptations gain strength over us when we continually think about them.

Such thoughts may seem innocent to an undiscerning mind but they are the beginnings of being led astray. As Proverbs 14:12 tells us:

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

It’s much like a root. We can have very seemingly innocent thoughts but on closer examination they are in fact roots of something far more sinister. So what can we do to take these thoughts captive and shut the door, so to speak? Well, the Word tells us that we are to set our minds on things above not on the things on the earth, Colossians 3:2. Looking at this verse we see where we ought to be setting our minds. But when we look at the KJV of that verse it says:

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

This then would imply that where we set our minds we also set our affections. Well, then, I must ask myself now, where are my affections? Do I worry a lot? Under worry could come an almost immeasurable number of things such as aging, what our house looks like, money,and so on. Do I contemplate how I have been wronged and slip into self pity? Do I think a lot about getting a new job and yet neglect to help out in church? If so then my affections are not on things above but the of the earth. Matthew Henry writes:

Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Observe, to seek heavenly things is to set our affections upon them, to love them and let our desires be towards them. Upon the wings of affection the heart soars upwards, and is carried forth towards spiritual and divine objects. We must acquaint ourselves with them, esteem them above all other things, and lay out ourselves in preparation for the enjoyment of them. David gave this proof of his loving the house of God, that he diligently sought after it, and prepared for it, Ps. 27:4. This is to be spiritually minded (Rom. 8:6), and to seek and desire a better country, that is, a heavenly, Heb. 11:14, Things on earth are here set in opposition to things above. We must not dote upon them, nor expect too much from them, that we may set our affections on heaven; for heaven and earth are contrary one to the other, and a supreme regard to both is inconsistent; and the prevalence of our affection to one will proportionably weaken and abate our affection to the other.

We must always be vigilant especially in our thought life taking extra care to be more diligent in the times of testing and trial. We live in this world so to some degree we will have hold of things in this world but our grip on them must be loose and not so tight. We must be able to easily let go of those things that will only perish. If they have our affections then we are holding too tightly! Hold fast to the heavenly. Let our thoughts and meditations be of the Beauty and Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. I love the following analogy by Owen:

Several advantages are to be expected from regularly thinking about heaven. In the same way as when one looks at the bright light and the image of that brightness afterwards blinds one to other sights for a while, so whoever meditates on heavenly glories will find desire for earthly things lessened.

Ways we can do this is to make sure we have our daily times with God in prayer and through the reading of His Word. Quoting John Owen again:

As another rule, let me ask whether spiritual thoughts flow in those times when we are quiet and free from our usual activities? Even the busiest persons have some times of quiet, whether they want to or not. Moments after waking, or before sleeping; journeying times; times when circumstances compel them to be alone. If we are spiritually minded, then spiritual thoughts will automatically and regularly claim such time for themselves. If they do not, is that not evidence that spiritual things are of little interest to our minds?

In conclusion then we can see that it is of utmost importance to fill our minds and thoughts on things above especially in our modern culture where we are bombarded with what the world says we should be concerning ourselves with. So next time you find yourself worrying and being distracted too much by the earthly take time out and focus on the heavenly. Let our thoughts glorify God and pray for more of His Grace when we feel weak.

References

John Owen, Thinking Spiritually.

Despise, condemn, disdain, abhor, detest, disregard, hate, loathe.... I'm sure that everyone reading this article has at some point in their lives been treated badly by someone because they have felt one of the above towards you. It breaks my heart to hear stories of how people were bullied or mocked and no one stood with them. They were left to bear the pain, stigma and shame alone. When we hear some of the names people have been called it almost always boils down to one thing.....that person doesn't meet up to the world's standards of beauty, therefore they are the perfect targets for the bully. Granted, (and let me stress this point) some are actually bullied out of jealousy for their looks but in this article I want to look at those who, in the world's eyes are despised for not meeting its standards for worth. But we as Christians are reassured and know that this world's standard of "True Beauty" is not the same as God's.

I can speak from experience because I have been called names at school. If you look at those names then you can probably guess what "standards" I didn't meet. OK, for those of you reading who know me from school, you'll remember, I'm sure, what one of those names were.......Yes that's right, I became known as "Casper". Casper as in the friendly ghost because I have a very pale skin tone. Others of you reading may remember what or who you've been likened to. But we as Christians are reassured and know that this world's standard of "True Beauty" is not the same as God's. At this point we recall the verses of scripture in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (Emphasis Mine);

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

We see here that God chooses the weak, foolish and the base "according to worldly standards". The world will mock, laugh, and scorn all the more saying surely God would have chosen the strong, the wise and those of high estate to make the gospel more attractive and spread more quickly and effectively. They would not only choose so, but it would also apply all its "gimmicks". Yet, I must point out now, that what is fascinating today is that the world doesn't even think beauty is beautiful enough when they touch up photos using computer technology. Its standard therefore is a lie; it's unattainable and therefore will always bring misery to those pursuing it.Few of distinguished rank and character were called to be Christians.

But God chose otherwise "to convey the treasure of saving knowledge to the world". Matthew Henry does a wonderful job of expounding the above verses so I will quote him here:

None of the famous men for wisdom or eloquence were employed to plant the church or propagate the gospel. A few fishermen were called out, and sent upon this errand. These were commissioned to disciple the nations: these vessels chosen to convey the treasure of saving knowledge to the world. There was nothing in them that at first view looked grand or august enough to come from God; and the proud pretenders to learning and wisdom despised the doctrine for the sake of those who dispensed it. And yet the foolishness of God is wiser than men, v. 25. Those methods of divine conduct that vain men are apt to censure as unwise and weak have more true, solid, and successful wisdom in them, than all the learning and wisdom that are among men: "You see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called, v. 26, etc. You see the state of Christianity; not many men of learning, or authority, or honourable extraction, are called.’" There is a great deal of meanness and weakness in the outward appearance of our religion. But God seeth not as man seeth. For, (1.) Few of distinguished character in any of these respects were chosen for the work of the ministry. God did not choose philosophers, nor orators, nor statesmen, nor men of wealth and power and interest in the world, to publish the gospel of grace and peace. Not the wise men after the flesh, though men would apt to think that a reputation for wisdom and learning might have contributed much to the success of the gospel. Not the mighty and noble, however men might be apt to imagine that secular pomp and power would make way for its reception in the world. But God seeth not as man seeth. He hath chosen the foolish things of the world, the weak things of the world, the base and despicable things of the world, men of mean birth, of low rank, of no liberal education, to be the preachers of the gospel and planters of the church. His thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as our ways. He is a better judge than we what instruments and measures will best serve the purposes of his glory. (2.) Few of distinguished rank and character were called to be Christians. As the teachers were poor and mean, so generally were the converts. Few of the wise, and mighty, and noble, embraced the doctrine of the cross. The first Christians, both among Jews and Greeks, were weak, and foolish, and base; men of mean furniture as to their mental improvements, and very mean rank and condition as to their outward estate; and yet what glorious discoveries are there of divine wisdom in the whole scheme of the gospel, and in this particular circumstance of its success!

Consider, for a moment, what happens to the remnant pieces of fabric in the craft/fabric stores. All the fabrics are in rolls, placed in such a position where the customer can see them. But almost always you will find a box on the floor with bundles of remnant pieces of fabric on sale for giveaway prices. Now many would have no use for these small pieces. But every now and then a individual will come in solely for what is to them much prized pieces! That person will take these pieces home and after hours of loving labour these pieces are now one...one big beautiful piece of patchwork! This is very much like how we are after God chooses us, those discarded pieces, and lovingly works on us, transforming us. I likened these pieces (see here) as the fruits of the Spirit sown together to form a beautiful garment of Grace. It is these graces worked in us by the Holy Spirit that are transforming us to Christ's likeness and that is God's standard for us. So we may be despised in the worlds eyes but we have been chosen and saved by Gods amazing Grace!

As I bring this post to a close I want to show why God chooses those He does. 1 Corinthians 1:29 has the answer:

so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Everything that we have is a gift from God. There is nothing we can boast about. Our looks, no matter how imperfect by the world's standards, are from God, the ability to work, to think, everything! And even when we are limited physically, and feel totally useless, as we surrender our lives totally to God the Father, He will use us for His Glory! God is so good and so wise! When we do have a moment and find ourselves focusing in on our imperfections think on these words from Robert Murray M'Cheyne:

"For every look at self, take ten looks at Christ."

Reference

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible. Can be accessed Here.