Pondering Words

In beginning a six-month plan through the Bible, I once again read through Genesis. As we're
introduced to Joseph, his brothers, and his father, we begin to understand the family dynamics a bit more as the chapters progress. Brothers are jealous, father has favorites, and Joseph is considered "strange" by his family. Genesis 37 is the chapter in which Joseph is introduced and he reveals the dreams that he's been having to his family. Whether or not this was a good course of action is somewhat debated, though I tend to think it was rather unwise. However, we note the responses of his father and brothers. His brothers are indignant and angry that he would have dreams that demonstrate him ruling over them, and his father follows in a similar response in rebuking his son. But afterwards, one verse is given to us:

And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind. (Genesis 37:11)

While Joseph's brothers were immediately angry and judgmental of their younger brother, Joseph's father initially rebukes him, and yet he seems to ponder the words of his son. We don't know whether or not Joseph knew his father was thinking about his dreams or not, but the Bible tells us that he was. Jacob himself had had many encounters with God; perhaps the most memorable being that he wrestled with God himself and the Lord put his hip out of joint in the end. With Jacob's past history of visions and meetings with God, perhaps he had more reverence for such things in his son.

This verse reminded me of another person who pondered things in her mind, as well. Mary, the mother of Jesus, also initially rebuked her Son when He remained behind at the temple in Jerusalem after the Passover. Searching for three days, His parents grew anxious, and finally found Him questioning and listening to the Jewish rulers. Jesus responds by questioning them as to why they were looking for Him, seeing as He was doing His Father's business in His Father's house. They did not understand His words at the time, but we're told that...

...his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:51)

Again, another parent hears the words of their child and ponders the meaning. While Jacob and Mary may seem to have little in common, they both come to realize the profound impact of their children's words later on in life. Perhaps they both regretted rebuking them, or perhaps they simply came to a greater knowledge of God through their life story. But I am certain that later on, they understood the bigger picture of a boy with dreams and another boy who followed an unseen Father's commands. Perhaps it's meant as a lesson for us, too. Don't rebuke another hastily when you don't understand. A good lesson for us as humans are naturally quick to speak and slow to listen.

December Quotes

Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

You never go away from us, yet we have difficulty in returning to You. Come, Lord, stir us up and call us back. Kindle and seize us. Be our fire and our sweetness. Let us love. Let us run. 
-St. Augustine

“Is it true, O Christ in heaven, that the highest suffer the most?

That the strongest wander furthest and most hopelessly are lost?

That the mark of rank in nature is capacity for pain?

That the anguish of the singer makes the sweetness of the strain?” 

-John Milton

A holy woman's object in life is a perfect union with the will of God, perfect conformity. And as we are conformed to the image of Christ and conform our wills to God, we will find that our joy is greater and greater. Humility and surrender can be your gateway to joy.

-Elisabeth Elliot

Pray that this year you may be holy, humble, zealous, and patient and have closer communion with Christ. Pray that you may be an example and blessing to others, and that you may live more for the glory of your Master… Let January open with joy in the Lord, and December close with gladness in Jesus.

-Charles H. Spurgeon

I choose to believe the Bible because it is a reliable collection of historical documents, written by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They report supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies, and they claim to be divine rather than human in origin.

-Dr. Voddie Baucham

Here we have a picture of God’s ideal woman…Faith in God that sees beyond present bitter setbacks. Freedom from the securities and comforts of the world. Courage to venture into the unknown and the strange. Radical commitment in the relationships appointed by God… It is a beautiful thing to watch a woman like this serve Christ with courage.

-John Piper

The point of your life is to point to Him. Whatever you are doing, God wants to be glorified, because this whole thing is His. 

-Francis Chan

Let us banish every fearful thought, and rejoice with exceeding great joy, in the prospect that this year we shall begin to be "forever with the Lord. 

-C. H. Spurgeon

But friends, as we face a new year, let us take heart! Let us find courage! -not in the strength of our own arms, but in the power of our resurrected Lord who sits in the heavens and does whatsoever He pleases (Ps.115:3)! Let us persevere in hope! -not because we see the light at the end of the tunnel, which we may not--but because our King has guaranteed a harvest in due season if we faint not (Gal.6:9). And when we do feel like fainting, let us remember that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but to those who are weak in Christ--because when we are weak, then are we strong (2 Cor.12:10).
-Neil Craig

Just a Note...

A big thank you to all my readers this year! I loved each of your comments, and I am grateful if you found encouragement through my posts. I don't know what next year will hold, but I am not planning on regular posts each week. I intend to keep up the quotes postings, but the devotional posts will be more infrequent, I think. Look out for the last quotes post of 2016 next Friday. May you find blessing and joy during the remaining days of this year.

No Condemnation

An excerpt from a devotional series I wrote two years ago.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

Even though the law condemns us as guilty, the flesh serves the law of sin, and Satan attempts to throw our righteousness back in our faces—we have been redeemed from eternal damnation. The law has been fulfilled, and in Christ, we are free from the bondage of that law. Once in Christ we are no longer slaves to the flesh or to the Devil, but children of the Spirit. We are warring against principalities and powers of darkness, but the Spirit of freedom will guides us and teaches us as we abide in Christ. We are sinners, and we live in a sin-cursed world, but we are not of the world, but of Christ. And because our lives are hidden in Christ, there is no condemnation. Our sins have been as far removed as east is from west and buried in the depths of the sea. There is no remembering of them, for your name is in the Lamb’s book of life.

There is no judgment for wrong, for our lives were purchased and our sin was atoned for by the ultimate sacrifice. There are no arguments the devil can use against us. Condemnation is reserved for the unrighteous. The moment the Innocent Substitute died, the temple curtain was torn in two: no

longer was a priest needed to intercede for the people. As His redeemed, we come boldly to the throne of grace to find mercy. When the devil haunts you with your past, discourages you with the present, and threatens you with the unknown future, then you will face him and say “My condemnation has been removed. The One who paid the ultimate sacrifice will mete out justice fairly. I have nothing to fear. I am in Christ Jesus!”

Testimony and Encourager

I grew up in a Christian home from the day I was born. We attended various churches for the first several years of my life, and then home-churched for several more. I remember listening to sermons as a family, reading the Bible, and singing together. Around the age of eight, my family started attending Grace Baptist Church. In Sunday school class, we were given the suggestion to read through the Gospels, and being an avid reader, I took on the task. The gospels were not unfamiliar to me, but this time, when I reached the end of John, I remember praying and asking God to save me. I don’t remember many specifics from my childhood, but I do remember understanding that I needed a Savior and that

Christ was the only one who could cleanse from sin.

During the next several years, we had special speakers and evangelists in our church, and most of the time when they asked if people needed to be saved or if they wanted to talk to someone about it, I would raise my hand. I remember sitting with one pastor’s wife in the Sunday school room and praying the “sinner’s prayer” because I wanted to make sure that I was saved. I am unsure as to which prayer was completely genuine, but I know it was around this time that I was aware of my sin and acknowledged Christ as the only remedy for that sin.

My testimony doesn’t have a specific lightbulb moment or a drastic turning point from a past way of life, rather it was a growing knowledge of who God is and what He has done for me. And I am still in that process today. Many people’s salvation stories are a one-time event, but even once the moment of salvation is gone, God is still in the work of saving His people…because we are sinful and always in need of sanctification.

I think most people struggle with assurance of salvation from time to time. Assurance isn’t something you hear preached on too often—perhaps for good reason—but I think most Christians would agree that at some point they question their salvation. Maybe they’re going through a difficult time or maybe they are just working through a spiritually dry season. Either way it can be an incredibly lonely place, and I just wanted to leave you with some encouragement in that area.

Satan likes to use our own doubts, the world’s criticism, and the sin of others around us to cause us to question God’s work in our lives. Often it’s a small seed of doubt, but once it’s planted, it takes root quickly. At full growth, it can lead to despair, depression, and worse--if we allow it a hold on our mind. We question if we’re allowing God to sanctify us. We wonder if that prayer was sincere when we first prayed it. We doubt that we’re bearing fruit.

And it gets hard to fight, because it seems like we’re fighting something all the time. There is little time to rest on the battlefield of life. Soldiers get weary. Some fall. Some die. Some leave. In the constant fight, we forget to protect our own mind and soul from the doubt that creeps in. And we forget that saved sinners have a new name: saints.

Ephesians 2:19

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

Saints are those who are set-apart and holy through faith in Jesus Christ. Though we live in sin and battle it daily, it holds no dominion over us. It does not define us. We don’t live to serve it any longer. The doubts, worries, and questions that plague us, don’t have to take control over our minds.

Scripture teaches that once saved, always saved—otherwise known as the doctrine of eternal security. Once saved, there is nothing you, Satan, or the world can do to destroy your salvation. Salvation rests on God, and because He is unchanging and all-powerful, He cannot refuse those who have come to Him. We could not keep our salvation if we tried, but Christ’s work and God’s covenant cannot be reversed, and He holds us eternally regardless of our doubts.

So in the weariness of life, remember that the battle you fight is not for your salvation—that’s already been secured. Amid the doubts and questions, remember that the war for holiness was conquered at the cross—the outcome of your salvation is secure. The God-Man who saved you, is still saving and sanctifying you—He will complete His good work.

Sometimes we dwell so much on the sin and weakness in us that we forget we are saints. We’re not just saints when we reach heaven, we’re saints now. We’re created in the image of God, and His deity dwells in us. He has triumphed over our past, present, and future sin, and it holds dominion over us no more. Salvation is God’s work. Let us walk as saints because the victory is already certain. The battle is conquered. The war for salvation’s security was won at the foot of the cross. Instead, when you question your faith, give thanks for His faithfulness. He will hold you fast.

Philippians 3:9, 12

And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness form God that depends on faith…Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

I leave you with the words of the second verse of “Before The Throne of God Above”, a hymn written by Charitie Lees Bancroft, the daughter of an Irish minister.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Break Time!

Taking a break for the next two weeks! Will be back again on the 23rd of September. Check out my book review blog for some great reads this month! God bless.

Blogging Break

Due to illness and the busyness of life, there won't be a devotional today. I'll be back next week with the second part
of Ephesians 2:10, Lord willing! Stay strong in Him. :)

The Reading Habits Tag

Well, there's an extra Friday this month, so I thought I'd pick up a book/reading tag from Lady B's blog. I don't write much about myself here anymore, but perhaps this will give my readers a little inside look at the author of all the Facing the Waves devotionals. I'm not just a writer. I'm a reader.

Random Facts about Me (and My Books)
Last year, I bought the lifetime version of LibraryThing.com and began cataloguing all my books. It was a long process at first, but now it's much easier, as I just add them in as I get them. Currently, I'm at 963 books. The scary thing is that I should be able to make it to 1000 books by the end of the year. Without any trouble.

I have nine individual shelves of books. Seven of which are in my room. I have two shelves of the books I used to read as a kid. One shelf holds counseling/coaching/life type books and my special fiction books. Another shelf has my favorite non-fiction books. The shelf above my bed has all the books I've never read (easily accessible ;), and the remaining two shelves holds fiction and non-fiction books that I don't read much.

I have the Kindle app on my laptop and I have several hundred books in there, I think. I'm trying to do better at reading them, because sometimes I forget they exist. I like my "real" books better. ;) I also have a Pinterest board of book quotes and book shelves and pictures and book house ideas. Maybe someday the hidden rooms or stairs or windowseats made out of books will be come a reality. 

I don't throw away books. Perhaps that's a fault of mine, but unless a book is completely bad with no hope of redemption, then I don't throw them away. I might not recommend them to people or display them where people can see them, but they're still there somewhere. 

I love series of books, and I attempt to collect them when I can. There are some amazing Christian fiction and allegory-type books coming out by young authors, and I'm hoping to find more series as I find good ones. The covers of books in the last 3-4 years...oh my. They've been amazing. I wish I could say that the content is always as good, but as I haven't read all the new books, I can't. However, the authors and illustrators and publishers are doing an amazing job of cover details. 

My family tells me I have book radar. There are few book stores or book sales that I can go by and not stop at. I also don't miss the signs leading up to them. I always take a book with me wherever I go. You know. Just In Case. I sign up for all the websites that offer free books, and I enter the giveaways for books (never won any, of course). And I'm starting to try to help out authors and buyers by posting short reviews--haven't created a habit of that, yet, but I hope to!

I don't like reading a series as it's published. I'd rather wait until the whole series is complete and then just read straight through it all. And I'm not one of those people who loves the books better than the movie necessarily. In some cases there are extreme differences, but somehow I can love the books and movies as they are and for what they show individually. 

So...all that because those are extra details you probably won't find in the answers to the tag questions. ;) 

1. Do you have a certain place at home for reading?
My bed or my desk(s). It really doesn't matter actually. I can read anywhere in any place. I like to read at my desk if it's a Kindle book or I read in my bed before I go to sleep. I remember when I was younger I cleaned out under my desk and created a little hideout by covering the desk with a blanket. Then I'd just sit under my desk and read there. It wasn't very comfortable, though, so it didn't last long. I think I liked the idea better than the reality of it. Couches are great for reading, too. 

2. Bookmark or random piece of paper?
Both. I use bookmarks primarily, but if I don't have one accessable, then I use paper, money, kleenex, tissue paper, grocery lists, receipts, bobby pins, another book, earbuds, or whatever happens to be lying around. I don't like lying the book face open, though. That's just horrible. I always stick something in it rather than splitting the spin by lying it down open. But I try to carry bookmarks around with me. I have a container next to my bed with all my special bookmarks in it.

3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter/ a certain amount of pages?
Non-fiction books I can stop anywhere, though I always try to finish the chapter. When reading fiction, I try to end the scene, wherever that might be. But when all else fails, I just stop--fiction or non-fiction. I can usually pick it up just fine later on, so I don't think about it too much. 

4. Do you eat or drink while reading?
Yes, I have done and do both. Sometimes I'll avoid it if it's a really special book or if it's brand new, but I'm pretty good at not damaging books while I read. Comes with practice I guess...and from being homeschooled and doing online college. :P

5. Multitasking: Music or TV while reading?
Well, we've never had a TV, but I can read with movies and music. Sometimes I listen to music on purpose while reading. I don't typically read while watching a movie, but I have been tempted to sometimes. I can read through most noise and distraction, which I think is nice. It has it's pros and cons. ;) I can do many things while reading: listen to lectures for school (which isn't the best idea ever, actually), texting, music, listening to conversations, walking around the house, eating. And audio books are great when driving. I'm just finding that out recently!

6. One book at a time or several at once?
Several at once. I like finishing a book on a fairly regular basis, and that doesn't happen if it's a slower-going book. I have about four on the go right now. I tend to read fiction very quickly, so it's good to throw one of those in now and then to balance out the non-fiction that sometimes takes longer. I read several non-fiction at once to give me variety in topics and to connect mentally with another topic if one book is just not working. 

7. Reading at home or everywhere?
Everywhere! In doctors' offices, airplanes, cars, libraries, parks, beaches, malls, bedrooms, dentists', backyards, barns, lofts, alone, with friends. Anywhere, basically. When it's not rude. ;) And read late at night or early in the morning. 

8. Reading out loud or silently in your head?
In my head. I can read fine out loud, but I read much quicker in my head so it keeps me mentally alert, rather than forcing my brain to slow down to verbalizing each word. I understand things quicker and better when I read in my head, than when I read out loud. Though, when things are hard to understand (like for school or exams), I have been known to say the sentence or paragraph aloud to try to understand it better. I like reading in my head, because the imagination creates the voices and scenes which can be shattered if someone reads it aloud. 

9. Do you read ahead or even skip pages?
I read ahead. Particularly the endings. Especially if I'm suspicious of the author's plot and I want to make sure some character makes it to the end. In reading non-fiction, sometimes I'll skip ahead to a topic that I need or that is more relevant. However, I don't read ahead often, and if I do, I read it again when I come around to it a second time. I never skip pages not to read them. I just return to them later on. I once attempted to read ahead on a short story someone was writing for me. *cough* It didn't work very well despite my pleas and arguments. But they can't say I didn't try..and it was most fun in the process. :D 

10. Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
I like to keep it new. Breaking the spine does eventually happen, but I try to keep my books in as good condition as they came (or better, if they were bought second-hand). I don't mind getting books in rough shape. I like to think they get a better home with me, but on the other hand, I love the new-new of books straight from the bookstore. 

11. Do you write in your books? 
The first thing I do when I get a book is write my name and the date in it. I didn't always do that, so I'm guessing that many of my books are missing that, but I've been doing it for several years now, and I intend to keep up the practice. I don't write in my books, but I will underline sentences or bracket paragraphs if I find them meaningful. I didn't used to do that, but college courses cause me to mark things so I wouldn't spend hours trying to find that one paragraph. I highlight in my Kindle books when I remember to do so. Other than that I don't typically write in my books. But I do write messages on the first available page when I'm giving books to friends. That's a special part of giving and receiving books. 

There you have it. A little more about me and my books. I read to learn...to educate myself, but also to find people, places, and characters who have lived life and come out victorious on the other side. I read to find hope. But the best place to receive wisdom, education, and hope is from the Bible. All other stories and authors are only tiny replicas of The Greatest Story ever written. And they are replicas in and of themselves, because, regardless of the content (and yes, sometimes it can be very bad content), people are made in the image of God and they have eternity set in their hearts. So whatever we do (though we can use it for good or bad due to our human nature) stems from an internal knowledge of a Creator, and is a tiny copy, a mirror, an imitation of the Best Author. 

So, yes...

What about you? 

For the New Year...

Well, today is the beginning of a brand new year. Happy New Year! :) And it's also my 165th post today. Since I couldn't think up anything particularly "inspirational" to write for the first day of 2016, I decided to share one of my hobbies here.

I don't know when I started it, but over the course of a few years I began making desktop backgrounds with verses or quotes on them. I collected pictures from family photos or just public online sources and when I found a quote or I needed to be reminded of a certain truth, I turned it into a background picture. Sometimes I used quotes from friends, past influencial preachers, authors, blog posts, books, songs...from anywhere, bascially. I've collected quotes for about five years now, so there is no way I'll ever run out of them any time soon. And so I hope these posters will be an encouragement to all of you as well. Feel free to save them for personal use if you wish.

May the Lord bless you in this next year. May He comfort and encourage you and give you your heart's desires. Hold true to what you have attained and stand firm in the Lord.

More secure is no one ever,
Than the loved ones of the Savior,
Not yon star on high abiding
Nor the bird in home nest hiding.

God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they florish.
From all evil things He spares them;
In His loving arms He bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

Little flock, to joy then yield thee!
Jacob's God will ever shield thee;
Rest secure with this Defender--
At His will all foes surrender.

Tho' He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne'er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

("More Secure Is No One Ever", Carolina V. Sandell-Berg)

Standing at the portal
Of the opening year,
Words of comfort meet us,
Hushing every fear;
Spoken thro' the silence
By our Father's voice,
Tender, strong and faithful,
Making us rejoice.

I, the Lord, am with thee,
Be thou not afraid!
I will keep and strengthen,
Be thou not dismayed! 
Yea, I will uphold thee 
With My own right hand;
Thou art called and chosen
In My sight to stand.

For the year before us,
O what rich supplies!
For the poor and needy
Living streams shall rise;
For the sad and sinful
Shall His grace abound;
For the faint and feeble
Perfect strength be found.

He will never fail us, 
He will not forsake;
His eternal cov'nant
He will never break.
Resting on His promise,
What have we to fear?
God is all sufficient
For the coming year.

Onward, then, and fear not, 
Children of the day;
For His Word shall never,
Never pass away.

("Standing at the Portal", Frances R. Havergal)

Psalm 42--Daniel Craig

I'll Never Forsake You--Steve Pettit Team

December Quotes

Pray that this year you may be holy, humble, zealous, and patient and have closer communion with Christ. Pray that you may be an example and blessing to others, and that you may live more for the glory of your Master… Let January open with joy in the Lord, and December close with gladness in Jesus.

-Charles H. Spurgeon

Men of iron are forged in fire.

-Unknown

We became very close. Sitting together in silence sometimes, he would say the thought that was stirring in my mind. So it should be, but rarely is, between friends, and between man and wife. 

-Richard Wurmbrand

The attitude in your heart will determine the atmosphere of your home, 

which in turn will affect the actions of everyone in your home. 

-Nancy Campbell

If I take offence easily; if I am content to continue in cold unfriendliness, though friendship be possible, then I know nothing of Calvary love. 

-Amy Carmichael

When a painter starts a portrait, all you see is a blur of colour. It takes time for the sitter to emerge. Everyone admires the portrait of Mona Lisa, but it took Leonardo forty years to finish. The ascent of a mountain is hard going before you can enjoy the view from the summit. 

-Richard Wurmbrand

Satan's power and knowledge are limited; his doom is sure. He's not worthy of our time, obsession, and emotions. Instead we live with both of our eyes fixed firmly on Jesus, who has delivered us from the devil's wrath and given us a sure hope that we will one day be rid of him for ever.

-Mike McKinley

Demanding respect is the quickest and most efficient way to lose it. Rendering respect is the biblical way to give, and, in the giving, to receive back what was given in another form.

-Douglas Wilson

But if we have the peace of God, the world cannot take that from us. It cannot give it. It cannot destroy it. We have to get it from above the world. It is peace that Christ gives. 'Great peace have they which love Your law, and nothing shall offend them.' Christ says, 'Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.' Now, if you will notice, wherever there is a Bible-taught Christian, one who has the Bible well-marked, and daily feeds on the Word by prayerful meditation, he will not be easily offended.

-D.L. Moody

The key to battling pride is not found in struggling against thinking too highly of ourselves or in striving to think of ourselves as lowly. The key is found in simply not thinking about ourselves at all, but setting our minds on Christ and the needs of others. 

-Paul Washer

The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.

-C. S. Lewis

But no good hope dies without leaving a child behind it—a younger and fresher hope. The year’s fruit must fall that the next year’s may come, and the winter is only way to the spring.

-George MacDonald

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

(Romans 13:5-6,13 ESV)

At the Close of 2015...

This has been my theme verse for the year of 2015, and as the days of this year draw to a close, I find myself still reminded of it.

The believer's life is sure to bring joys and trials, but there is a promise that once we are in Christ, we are secure in him. Nothing can move us from the Father's love, the Son's protection, or the Holy Spirit's guidance. Christ Jesus has made me His own, and nothing can separate me from the love of God. It's not because we've obtained spiritual maturity or because we're perfect. We continue on in working out our own salvation because it's God who works in us and because Christ Jesus has made us His own. A people of his possession, the chosen ones, sent to live Jesus to the world and share His love to other believers.

I've been reading through all four Gospels as part of my reading plan, and I've almost finished John. John 14-17 especially have been some of my most favorite chapters in the Gospels. Jesus talks with His disciples shortly before He will be arrested and He provides them with the comfort and teaching they need in that moment. They don't understand it all until His ascension, but because the words were penned for us also, we, as the 21 century believers, benefit from it today.

We were made the possession of Jesus when He purchased our ransom by paying for our sins on the cross.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Colossians 2:13-15, ESV)

He chose to remove the legal record against us, and not only did he just satisfy the requirement for a perfect blood sacrifice, but He also gloried and triumphed in it. He was pleased to do it. He set aside the majesty to heaven to be born, to die, and to rise again for the people He created. Our past, present, and future is nailed to the cross with Him. That's why we are in Him--He made us His own.

We are now citizens of a new country, a heavenly one, and we await a Savior, who, though is tarrying long in His return, will come again for He has promised. We're not of this world anymore. Scripture commands us to forsake the world and its desires and walk worthy of the Lord. We're saints saved by His grace through faith in Christ Jesus for His glory. Our life is hidden with Christ in God, and when our Life appears, we also will appear with Him in glory.

2015 gave us another year to walk as saints of God's kingdom. Perhaps we did, but in many ways we probably did not. Lord willing, 2016 will give us another year and through its challenges and blessings, we will be offered another season of spiritual growth to use for Christ. Let us not grow weary or fall by the wayside, but let us have courage to do what God has called us to. Not because we've obtained anything in and of ourselves, but because we forget what lies behind and we strain forward into what lies ahead. Let us press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. May our work for the Savior keep us humble but confident, weak but strong, patient but waiting. And wherever He calls us to go may we know that our time spent for God is not in vain, for it is done in the power of Jesus Christ. We are more than just conquerors. We're will reign with Christ as saints. Let us live like it. Let us thank Him for the days ahead in which we will be given opportunity to demonstrate our love for Him and for others.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement as friends and as readers of Facing the Waves. You are appreciated. May God go with you all and may you know His peace, comfort, and love in the days to come.

Guest Post: Collin McConkey

Today we have the first of a few upcoming guest posts on Facing the Waves! I blogged in April on my Bible study group's blog, but today Collin McConkey, our ICBF leader, joins us here to share the importance of reading good books. An avid reader and student of the Scriptures, Collin continues to blog twice weekly and post the study notes from his weekly Bible studies on the International Christian Bible Fellowship blog. If you're interested in joining our Bible study, details and contact information can be found on the ICBF blog; we'd love to have you! 

Leave a comment on this post and share with us what type of books you enjoy reading. 

Thank you for writing and sharing with us today, Collin. :)

"Bring the Books"--The Importance of Reading in the Life of a Christian

“When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.” (2 Timothy 4:13)

Writing to Timothy, his spiritual son in the faith, the apostle Paul is languishing in a Roman dungeon awaiting his certain execution. While the emperor Nero has for many years reigned supreme over the Roman Empire, the political climate has turned utterly hostile to the Christian faith, and now Paul faces execution as an enemy of the Caesar simply because Paul served a greater Lord. And having only Luke with him, doubtless to attend to his health while he was in harsh prison conditions, Paul wants to be reunited with Timothy once before he dies. He wants to have his cloak brought to him in order to keep warm, and he also wants “the books” and “the parchments”. And in commentating on this passage, Spurgeon exclaimed the following.

“He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He has had wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up in the third heaven, and had heard things unlawful for a man to utter, yet he wants books! He has written a major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books! The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every Christian, 'Give thyself to reading.' The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves he has no brains of his own.”

Throughout the centuries of the Christian church, particularly after Christianity was no longer viewed as a hostile religion to the Roman Empire, the importance of books became a vital part of the Christian life. The most important surviving books are the great codices of the early church wherein the Bible was written in Greek, such as Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Vaticanus. And throughout the church, particularly as the printing press was developed, literature was able to pour once more into the homes of Christians. Bibles such as the Geneva Bible from the 16th century still exist today, and magnificent libraries such as the library in Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland stand as testaments to the importance of reading throughout history.

Therefore, the following five principles prove helpful in integrating reading as a vital part of the Christian life. They are principles that help me leverage reading in order to benefit my soul and grow my own mind, and may they be helpful to the readers as well.

1. Read to Renew Your MindIn Romans 12, the apostle Paul begins a new section in this letter written to the Roman church. In Romans 1-8, the apostle Paul lays out a detailed argument for what the Gospel is, what it means, and why it is necessary. Then after three chapters dealing specifically with how the Gospel relates to his own Jewish countrymen, Paul now develops the practical applications of his theology in the remainder of this book. And so beginning in chapter 12, he instructs us to renew our minds in order to present our bodies as spiritual sacrifices in our worship to God.

Therefore, when we read, we need first of all to read in order to renew our minds and put on the mind of Christ. Reading Scripture is of course a prerequisite; however, interested readers may read this article I wrote, as this particular post does not deal with that subject here. When we read, we need to read books about God, about Scripture, about Christ, and about His church. We need to grow in our knowledge of God in order so that we may know Him more fully. We need to read about Scripture in order to understand its history and theology and background. We need to read about the glories of Christ, so that we may worship Him for who He really is and that we may follow in His footsteps. And we need to read about the church for which He died, in order that we might know how to exist in and serve the body of Christ in its various functions and capacities.

2. Read to Grow in Knowledge
Proverbs is replete with calls for us to gain knowledge and understanding, and reading proves a very valuable way that we can heed these calls. Reading opens windows into new worlds, allowing us to gaze on vistas we previously did not know existed. For example, growing up I would read about the history of medieval warfare and found the development of human weapons and military tactics to be fascinating. The earliest books I read on my own were books from the library on astronomy, and as a young 7 year-old I was immediately confronted with evolutionary cosmology, spurring me to collect and read many books over the years about creation vs. evolution. I would read about the Cambrian explosion, for example, or the Big Bang theory.

But not only can we read about science, as that is only one example, we can read about a great many fields. We can read to learn about the historical and modern sociological factors of cultures and nations. We can read about the academic disciplines, such as mathematics, science, philosophy, literature, and the arts. We can read about politics and economics. We can read about significant individuals in history in the form of biographies—or even better, autobiographies. Reading the autobiography of Davy Crockett, for example, is not only entertaining but demonstrates that the level of biblical literacy of this famed outdoor hunter is greater than the average level of biblical literacy of mainstream evangelicals, reflecting the changes in culture from that day to our own.

3. Read to Connect with History
“’Classic' - a book which people praise and don't read.” So said Mark Twain, and his wry comment demonstrates that all too often we praise books from history or about history without actually reading them. In the Old Testament, the Lord repeatedly impressed upon the Israelites that they greatly needed to know their own history: how the Lord had redeemed them out of Egypt, how He had given promises to the patriarchs, and how He had established them in the Promised Land. Those who do not read their history are doomed to repeat it. For example, a common argument from the homosexual left today is that the ancients had no understanding of “sexual orientation.” But is that true? No, for reading the ancient Greek writers reveals that they very much espoused the darkened thinking of marred sexuality that has been resurrected by modern writers today. It is reading history that affirms to us that there truly is nothing new under the sun.

Therefore, what type of history should we be reading? In my own library, the books about history I own primarily deal with early church history and the history of the United States. Growing up, I read much historical fiction (and some nonfiction) about the Civil War and World War 2, as those eras of American history have always fascinated me. As Christians, we need very much to know how Christ has built His church throughout the ages, and so we must read the history of the church from the time of the apostles all the way until now. How exactly did Christianity spread under intense persecution? What brought about the Council of Ephesus, for example? These questions and more are vital to ask, and can be answered by the pages of history.

Not only should we read church history, however, but also the history of western civilization. How did the Roman Empire thrive and flourish? What social factors created “the powder keg of Europe” in the Balkans? How did World War 1 massively rearrange empires and nations? How did the U.S.S.R. develop, and how did it pose such a threat to the free world? Also, included in this history should be the history of missionary endeavors. Who was the first missionary to China? How did the Gospel spread across South America? Connecting with the great examples of heroic missionary service encourages us to better follow the Great Commission today.

4. Read to Interpret Texts
Lastly, the more we read, the better equipped we will be in analyzing and interpreting literary texts. Why should this be important? If we know not how to follow an argument in literature, we will not be able to trace Paul’s argument from Romans 1 to the end of Romans 8. The more we read, the better we will be with our tools of literary analysis. Grammatical and syntactical analysis become more ingrained. We can see the importance of modifiers and prepositions and clauses—and this need not be wearisome, as in studying grammatical textbooks, but becomes more greatly intuitive the more we develop our minds to analyze written texts.

Honing our ability to interpret literature enables us to understand the significance, for example, of the storm in Matthew 8:23-27. This was no ordinary storm—it was a “great” storm, for the adjective sets apart this storm from any other. And using literary contrast, Matthew then describes the result of Jesus’ rebuke to nature as a “great” calm. What was a great storm turned into a great calm, and this contrast is intentional on the part of the author. A man who can turn a great storm into a “great calm” demands an answer to the question: who is this man that even wind and waves obey Him? Being able to understand how authors use literary devices helps us understand how the authors of Scripture use them and enables us to come to the conclusions they wish us to make.

Reading in the 21st Century
In conclusion, having covered a few points as to the nature and necessity of reading, how should 21st century readers approach this wonderful discipline? First, while I greatly prefer the printed page over the digital page, Kindle books are much more cost effective than purchasing them in softcover or hardcover. You can store a few thousand books on an iPad, while it would take a room to store them in printed form. Digital books can be carried anywhere, while printed books take up much space. You can highlight them, add notes, look up definitions to words, and navigate cross-references very easily with digital books, in contrast to printed books.

However, for reading comprehension, being able to physically hold a book in your hands and read right-to-left, top-to-bottom, page-to-page is better for remembering what is read. I can remember some extracts from books simply because I can remember the page and where on the page it was. A digital book on a Kindle does not offer these same benefits for memory comprehension. And admittedly, having a bookshelf full of books warms the reader’s soul more than scrolling through a list of e-books in an app. Also, the constraints of screen sizes sometimes makes printed books more practical. For example, one of the tools in my library is Throckmorton’s Gospel Parallels, a volume that measures 11 inches high and 8 ¾ inches wide. The large size of this book enables him to lay out the synoptic gospel accounts side by side for easy comparison with each other. Doing so on a smaller digital screen, however, would be impractical.

Therefore, having given reasons for reading and considerations for the modern reader, let us—like Paul—continue to say, “Bring the books.”

April Quotes

Today I'm blogging for my online Bible study group. You can head over to our blog and check it out HERE. :) God bless.

God never denies us our hearts desire except to give us something better.

-E. Elliot

Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend. 

-Charles H. Spurgeon

Thou hast created us for Thyself, 

and our heart is not quiet until it rests in thee. 

-Augustine of Hippo

He who calls us must also equip, 

and extraordinary commissions require extraordinary endowments, 

which the Lord alone can impart.

-A.W. Pink

The great Lover of his children gives indefinitely, 

though he will not take from man his suffering 

until strength is perfected in weakness.

-George McDonald

Remember that thought is speech before God.

-Charles Spurgeon

Be careful how you spend your time: Spend your time in nothing which you know must be repented of; in nothing on which you might not pray for the blessing of God; in nothing which you could not review with a quiet conscience on your dying bed; in nothing which you might not safely and properly be found doing if death should surprise you in the act. 

-Richard Baxter

It was an easy thing to hold with Christ while the Prince and the world held with Him; but now the world hateth Him, it is the true trial who be His. Wherefore, in the name and in the virtue, strength, and power of His holy Spirit, prepare yourselves in any case to adversity and constancy. Let us not run away when it is most time to fight. 

-John Hooper

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. 

-George Mueller

All of life is a calling, a vocation from the Lord. 

-Brian Borgman

We find comfort among those who agree with us—growth among those who don’t. 

-Frank A. Clark

You can’t stay mad at someone who makes you laugh. 

(That last one doesn't really have anything to do with Scriptural principles, but it's true, you know. ;)

His New Year!

Well, here it is again. Another 365 days (363 now) laid out before us. And January 2015 also ushers in the third anniversary of Facing the Waves. Thank you to all who have made this journey and these posts possible. Knowing my audience and reading comments has served as a means of encouragement each week. :)

In the last several hours of 2013 I posted on one my social networking sites some of the goals I intended to accomplish during 2014. I didn't refer to those goals very frequently througout the year, but I was surprised to see that I had actually accomplished many of them by the end of 2014. I did actually earn 24 more credits. I did attend the annual Christian Heritage homeschool conference in April. I did continue to teach Sunday school, and I did read more books (42, to be exact). I did pass my music harmony exam and my New Drivers' road test. I had seven harp jobs, and I started blogging on a weekly basis. Unfortuntately, there were several major goals I did not accomplish, which were all very disappointing. I did, however, participate in things like my sisters's graduation, a church wedding, my dog's puppies, weekly Bible studies, college assignments, music practice and private lessons, hosting friends, making meals, volunteering for a seamstress, housesitting, and dogsitting.

The very last goal I listed was something that encompassed each and every one of my previous goals, and it was to do as King Hezekiah did in this passage...

Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did what was good, right and true before the LORD his God. Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered. (2 Chronicles 31:20-21)

Hezekiah didn't just randomly decide to do what was good, right, and true in the eyes of the Lord. He was in the position to lead the Lord's people, and he had to make a conscious decision to seek God. The Israel nation was full of people who had turned from Him, who had had false places of worship erected, and who had had previous kings whose hearts were wicked in the sight of God. Hezekiah had an ungodly father, so he wouldn't have even had a godly upbringing from his own parent. And so he is now king over an ungodly nation, and he has most certainly learned first-hand that people do not naturally seek after the Lord.

A king over the Southern kingdom at age 25, Hezekiah does not procrastinate. He repairs the temple and he calls the entire nation (Northern and Southern) to worship the Lord and observe the Passover. Some laughed and mocked the new king after the couriers had delivered the messages. Hezekiah found that though he heard and responded to the challenge to seek the Lord, not everybody else was going to back him up. Leadership is often a lonely position; those you lead or influence may scorn your ideas and convictions. Be willing to be put in a place where you are the object of other people's mocking. Be willing to go "outside the camp and bear the reproach" for God's sake (Hebrews 13:13).

But some didn't laugh. 2 Chronicles 30:11 said that some of the people humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. They had set their heart and mind to seek the Lord their God (1 Chronicles 22:19a). Seeking the Lord is a conscious decision and it's foundation is prayer. When King Hezekiah determined to seek the Lord early in his days, that's when his life produced that which was good, right, and true before the Lord, and that's why he prospered. He wasn't a perfect man, but his life demonstrated his heart's desire. When we pray, we acknowledge our dependence on God. People often pray when they need something. The Lord's leaders prayed especially when they were completely helpless or surrounded by enemies. We seek the Lord in prayer when we realize who we are and who we are not. And we should be afraid to take one step without the Lord leading our lives. Hezekiah sought the Lord, he prospered, and he brought about a spiritual revival in Israel.

Yet, seeking the Lord doesn't mean we won't have troubling or threatening circumstances. The righteous kings of Israel rooted out the evil, but that was not without difficulty. But those who humbled themselves and prayed, those who heeded the warnings of God, and those who followed His words were blessed. Hezekiah cried out to the Lord and was delivered when Sennacherib threatened his nation. Job was a godly man, yet his life was not free of turmoil and fear. Josiah was a righteous king, and though the Lord promised that he should not see the destruction of the land, He promised that it would surely come later. God never promised a life free of storms, but He did give us a Rock to cling to while we face the waves. He offers the freedom of peace through the difficulties, and He promises that though we may not understand, each joy and each trial will ultimately bring about glory to His name and growth in our spiritual walk.

And so, I learned that this year in my own limited way. Learning that seeking God is a conscious decision; that seeking God doesn't remove challenges, but provides a training ground for spiritual maturity; and that seeking God means constant communion with Him in prayer. And I had ample opportunities to put those things into practice this year.

Don't excuse your imperfections. Plead with God to save your from yourself. Prepare your heart to seek the Lord. And recognize that obstacles and distractions will come. But those who seek the Lord with all their heart will be found of Him, and their life will yield that which is good, right, and true.

Psalm 107 recounts the grace and mercy the Lord provided to His children...

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. 
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
(Psalm 107:28-31)

Perhaps 2014 was a good year for you, or perhaps it was a hard year. Likely, it was a bit of both. But God was, is, and always will be in control. There is much hope when walking into an unknown future with a omnipotent, loving, and merciful Savior. And just as He prospered Hezekiah when he sought the Lord, so, too, will he bless those who remain faithful to His Word.

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near...

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sowerand bread to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accmoplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace.

(Isaiah 55:6, 8-12a)

I know not the way God leads me, but well do I know my guide.

~Martin Luther

When the Light of the world is walking before you and beside you, the darkness of the unknown path must flee, for Light is the absence of darkness. The Prince of Darkness is overthrown when the Light of the World is your shield. May His Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path as we tread the path of this next year.

Praise the Lord for what He has done in 2014, what He is doing today, and what He will do in 2015!

God bless you all. Happy New Year!

**Notes taken from the sermon series Hearts Prepared to Seek the Lord (Part One, Part Two) by Pastor Paul Johnson.
**Check out the new blog design, and tell me what you think! Suggestions are welcome! Also, all my previous puppy updates from the summer have been archived to the "My Puppies" page underneath the blog title. 

The Power of the Written Word

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

John 17:17

*****

The ‘fear of the Lord’ means fearing to dishonor the Lord, which means fearing to distrust the Lord which means fearing to fear anything that the Lord has promised to help you overcome. In other words the fear of the Lord is the great fear destroyer.

-John Piper

To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.

-G. K. Chesterton

True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

-George Washington

Suffering is a sacred entrustment by God for the further development of His child to have a greater ministry then he ever knew.

-Jim Binney

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

-Corrie Ten Boom

Knowing that God rules over all things gives you hope...there are things that happen to us that are awful...But here's what I know, God is good. He can't help but be good. And whatever has come to pass was for God's glory. And ultimately, because I'm His, it's for my good. I believe that. Because I trust a sovereign God...this is the only way you have hope in dire circumstances. It's the only way.

-Voddie Baucham

The Christian soldier must avoid two evils-he must not faint or yield in the time of fight, and after a victory he must not wax insolent and secure. When he has overcome, he is so to behave himself as though he were presently about to be assaulted. For Satan's temptations, like the waves of the sea, do follow one in the neck of the other.

-George Downame

Marvel not that we do not excel—marvel that we do excel in anything, unstable as we are.

-C.H. Spurgeon

Where there is much love, all discord ends. 

-Thomas Dekker

The devil is aware that one hour of close fellowship, hearty converse with God in prayer, is able to pull down what he hath been contriving and building many a year.

-John Flavel

*****

See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass,
and the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
1 Peter 1:22b-25a