This sweet friend and I are just days apart in our delivery due dates. We used to live in the same apartments in Louisville and enjoyed a sweet friendship. So excited they now live in my home state and are about to bring much joy to their family by adding one little member. Here are some photos from our day at the Grand Floridian at Walt Disney World. Many blessings, Sarah and Chuck!
Are you ever at a point in your life where you don’t need any wisdom? I would venture to say the answer is probably “Kim, you are so funny, I always need more wisdom!” Whether it is in how to live in your relationships, serve in your home or ministry positions, how to get along with your boss, how to parent your children, how to manage conflict which seems to creep up, etc. There is always room for more wisdom in your life.
The reason I chose Lydia Brownback’s book A Woman’s Wisdom for my Crossway book to review was because my hubs and I are going through James – which some people say is the NT book of Wisdom (matching Proverbs). This book is definitely that, as her subtitle says “how the book of Proverbs speaks to everything.”
This handy guide to everything in life is chocked full of Scripture that has the power to change and mold your life to what Christ would want it to be – more like Him. Chapters include such topics as words, financaes, sexuality, friendships and more. The book of Proverbs (as well as the rest of the Bible) speaks to EVERY area of our life. I love how Lydia writes directly to women and doesn’t just spout off her own life advice (like so many secular authors do), but points her readers back to the TRUTH of God’s Word.
Here are some fave quotes from it:
“Wisdom is the realization that He is everything.” (pg 23)
“Wise women are governed by the principles of God’s Word, not by their feelings, hormones, or enjoyments.” (pg 28) – I loved this one because it is SO pivotal in my life right now, being in my third trimester and its the middle of the summer!
She helps us guard against pride by saying this: “Each one of us is, in some way, a foolish woman.” (pg 51)
As I had the chance the meet Lydia at the TGCW Conference in June, I found her to be delightful and personable, welcoming conversation by us “normal folk”. And she has to be into health because she was eating a granola bar! 🙂
This is a post written really to my single brothers in Christ (because I found the following status update on a friend’s FB page). But, girls – ladies, I pray that you would pray for your brothers in Christ that they would treat their sisters in Christ as just that – sisters in Christ.
Here was a recent FB post on a believer’s FB page:
(so on Saturday I called up my ex-girlfriend)
her: what do you want?
me: it’s hot, and I miss your icy stares, your cold shoulder, and your generally frosty demeanor.
I know, it is st a joke Kim, but seriously – this isn’a type of joking that should come from Christian brothers – the Bible says to not let any coarse joking come out of your mouths (Eph 5:4)
Brothers, friends:
1. I don’t know of too many women who desire to be joked about like this, to their faces or behind their backs.
2. This kind of joking does nothing to build up the body of Christ (Eph 4:29)
3. This would definitely not be the kind of joking that would be gracious to tell your wife in marriage, so why have the practice now as a single guy.
4. Men who are married, please lead your single brothers to treat and think of women better than this.
I am married to a gracious man who never once joked with me like this – that is one of many reasons I knew he was marriage material. He was respectful of me from day one.
Ok – rant over! Back to your regularly scheduled blogging already in progress!
Do we really live our lives in such a way that we would be considered Trinitarians – not Bi-nitarians. Definition: living life in such a way that we are in community with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not just Father Son.
In the biblical communities (ie churches) that I have been a part of for my whole life, the majority of the talk is either on God the Father or God the Son, Jesus. Not many of the traditions I’ve been in focus in (if at all) on the Spirit. I’m not necessarily talking about the “charismatic gifts” such as prophecy and speaking in tongues or lifting your hands and dancing in the aisles during a church service.
But, for many believers there is an error on either side:
1. We don’t recognize the role of the Holy Spirit enough: whether in our prayers or our experiences
2. We over emphasize the role of the Spirit in unbiblical ways.
“Spiritual experience that does not arise from God’s Word is not Christian experience. But when we study God’s word we should pray that the Spirit of God will not only inform our heads but also inspire our hearts.” – Total Church by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis, pg 31
I’ve heard many folks say: God led me to do this, God is calling me into this profession, etc. The only thing wrong with statements like these is that in the instances I am thinkig about – the object of what God said for them to do does not line up with the perfect authoritative Word of God. The Holy Spirit of God will NEVER contradict what is said (what God breathed) in His Word.
God has said that we have all we need for life and godliness. The Spirit brings to mind what is written in the Word that can enable us to ive a God-glorifying life in every way. That is His role (John 15-17). He is our Helper and our Comforter.
So, while not living in one error – how do we not live in the other error:
1. Pray for the Spirit to bring to remembrance Scriptures that can light your path (John 15-17, Psalm 119). When you are in a situation that you need counsel on, first go to the Word. He will guide you.
2. Put every action or decision up against the authority of God’s Word. It is perfect and will never lead you astray. It is sufficient for leading us and for directing your life in perfect wisdom. It has no errors.
3. Read the Word and what it says about the Holy Spirit. Find a concordance or look in a study Bible or even pick up books like Wayne Grudem’s Bible Doctrines, the Holy Trinity by Robert Letham, or Francis Chan’s Forgotten God (I’m sure there are plenty of others). Study who the Holy Spirit is. Strive to know Him just as well as you know the Father and the Son.
Happy July 4.
I love being an American. Really.
But, as I heard this weekend, from “sea to shining sea” isn’t all that God has planned for this world. His glory extends beyond this melting pot of humanity to the far reaches of the globe. May we see the world with His eyes.
Picture taken in 2011 in Charleston, WV.
The title is to be said in your best whiny voice possible, maybe even shed a few tears or throw a temper tantrum.
Yesterday, while finishing up Amy Spiegel’s book Letting Go of Perfect, I came across a familiar passage of Scripture that speaks of Moses hitting a rock to get the water to pour out of it. That seems a little strange yes, a rock giving life-supporting water? But, that is what he did. And it gave water, it just wasn’t how God had commanded him to do it.
Moses was a good man, he was faithful, he led God’s people out of Egypt, most of the time he was bold and courageous, he believed God. Yet one “small” mistake kept him from the greatest opportunity of his life, the greatest reward – the Promised Land. All God let him do was see it – to dangle it in front of him.
As I was reading this and explained it to my sweet hubs, I started crying. Why would God do that? I mean, it was just one small mistake. I wonder if Moses stayed awake at night contemplating the goodness of God when He didn’t allow him to enter the land that had been promised to His people. I wonder if he pleaded with God to release him from this punishment or if he took it like a man?
But, in light of God’s holiness – this punishment was actually an act of mercy. When Moses disobeyed God’s command and struck the rock, God could have easily and righteously struck him dead right then. God didn’t need Moses to finish the work that God wanted to do. No, God commanded His people to be holy, and no matter how much good Moses did, he still sinned against a holy God.
Do we grumble and complain against the Lord’s chastisement on us or do we look upon any correction that He brings our way as an act of mercy?
And you know, as look further into the line of history, we see that Moses may not have been able to see the Promised Land, but, as we read in Mark 9, Moses got to see the glory of the Son of God, Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration. Moses will still get his great reward: (see Hebrews 11:39-40).
Here is the takeaway from this little devotional:
1. Do we think we are good enough to not deserve punishment from a holy God?
2. Do we accept the consequences of our actions?
3. When we do get chastised/disciplined do we look at it as a loving gesture from a good heavenly Father and one of mercy?
4. Do we see our reward not here on earth but are we awaiting something Better?
I am certain that these notes will not do this workshop justice; it was so rich with the grace and wisdom that come only from years of serving in the trenches of ministry.~Bekah
Paige Benton Brown: Relationships Required
She recommends Paul Tripp’s book, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, for a fuller explanation of much of what she discusses today.
This can be considered a General Directory for Ministry: The Christian-to-person ministry to which God calls all of us.
**There should be no relationships that are not ministry.
I. Person: Christ
How do we minister Christ to people?
1. “He is the journey and the journey’s end.” Boetheus.
Those who have the Son have life, and it doesn’t matter what else you have. If you don’t have the Son, you don’t have life.
If we are not ministering Christ to one another, we are not ministering at all.
HE is the Content of all ministry.
HE is the Cause of all ministry.
Ministry is not ours, it is Christ’s.
We are not results people. We are responsibility people.
We have a responsibility to be faithful and obey. The results of that are the responsibility of the God who sends us.
God uses our weakness. Why does God use us at all? His passion is for his people. He not only lavishes you with grace, He allows you to participate. As we minister, we learn and grow and mature. He allows us to participate because He knows it’s what’s best for us.
See Philemon 6.
II. People:
He sends the Gospel to people wrapped up in people.
You can’t just be great with people, you have to be great with persons. Individuals.
“Let him love the Church. Just don’t let him see the faces.” Screwtape knew that we can get so busy “doing ministry” for people that we completely miss the genuine ministry to the person.
III. Posture:
Do ministry in the name of Christ. We work for him, belong to him and stand in his stead.
We must have his heart and mind. We must be full of grace AND truth.
The will of God for your life in one word: Christlikeness.
IV. Pathways: There are two basic pathways of ministry…
Public: Some are called and equipped to minister in a public capacity. This may be seen more.
Personal: All are called to minister in this capacity. But this is more intense.
Both are needed.
Proclamation and Conversation. Some are called to public proclamation, but all are called to and gifted for the personal relationship pathway. We have been given Christ and have been given persons. It is our job to be an ambassador of Him to them.
The public is not more important than the personal gifts and responsibilities.
People have the greatest influence on one another, but when someone comes to us with a struggle, we want to give people a book or take them to an event.
Don’t ask “For what am I responsible?” Instead ask “For whom am I responsible?”
Not just what they need or what they know, but who they are.
Personal relationships are an irreplaceable vehicle for God’s grace to individual.
Consequential necessity, according to the sovereignty of God.
We must be involved with people!
Don’t be so busy with PEOPLE that you are no longer ministering to PERSONS.
This is not a program or a group, but discipleship LIFESTYLE of ongoing personal ministry. And it is messy.
Don’t be like the Energizer Bunny by valuing the activity without considering the direction. When you spend time investing in individuals, where are you going?
Five Progressive Aspects of a Personal Relational Ministry Trajectory. In ANY relationship.
I. Initiating: Everything about God’s relationship with us is His initiative. He is the initiator. As His ambassadors, we move towards people. Jesus never told His disciples to “be available.” He told them to “Go.” Initiate people as people and not as players in your church or ministry. Get to know them for them and not for what they can do for you.
a. Obvious: Who is immediately around you? Don’t look for new people, look at the same people with new eyes.
Jesus sent Legion and the Woman at the Well back to their people. New testimony with the same people.
Look at your relationships you would have anyway. Are they radically different relationships different because of Christ? Not just interaction, but involvement.
b. Unobvious: Not just available to them, but actively pursuing them. Leaving the 99 for the one who will never come on their own. The ones who are gonna need it most are the ones who will never approach you.
Who needs to be approached who will never approach anyone else?
We are in the service of a Seeking Savior. He does not hang a shingle, but is the Hound of Heaven.
Summary of the Fall: Good things never “just happen.” We don’t wait, we don’t pray and make ourselves available and willing. We go.
2. Investing: Involvement is often involuntary. Investment is voluntary. We are trying to figure out what “they” think about God. We enter into relationships trying to figure out if they’re going to be compatible. BUT what matters is what God thinks about them. And he thinks they are worth the investment.
1 Thess 2: Paul shared not only the Gospel, but his life as well. We show value by sharing the lives of other.
The foundation of ministry is not theology. It is love. Romans 8:38-39
It starts with His love for people. We can never say, “I just can’t love this person.”
We enter into their world to show that we love them.
Beware of Liabilities that Damage True Ministry:
1.The liability of technological counterfeits and distractions: The Internet is Social, NOT Relational. And not knowing the difference is devastating.
People want to express themselves, but they have no relationships in which they are safe enough to share. Be wise.
2. The liability of groups: Having a great community group is NOT the same as having great relationships. Be able to tell about the persons in your group and not just your group. Be in relationship with the individuals in your group.
3. The liability of fitting in: There is no ministerial way to sin. Do not compromise your integrity and Christ’s witness for a chance to be accepted.
Don’t reject the “wild” the categories. Be there. IOW– Don’t reject someone or assume they aren’t interested in relationship with you or with Christ because they have a “wild” reputation. Even the wildest of party girls does more than drink excessively or sleep around. Who are the WHOLE people that we are loving? Get to know her and not just her reputation.
Follow His heart to the people and your heart will follow.
Investing in the lives of others will rearrange your life. We have to go all the way to people, and it will not be easy.
Sometimes we have to crawl in there and sit with them.
3. Investigation: How well do I know them? We are not getting to know people to see if we will love them. We are getting to know them BECAUSE we have committed to knowing and loving them.
A. Digging: Knowing theological truths about ALL people is not the same as knowing the individual. Ask, don’t assume. Ask and ask and ask and then listen and listen and listen. Know the facts about their lives. But the facts alone are not enough. Know the facts and know what they feel about them. Get beyond the first impression and ask followup questions.
Don’t jump to conclusions based on your experience. Look for them, the person. Don’t go looking for anything other than THEM, the heart.
Be willing to talk about what matters to them. We have to listen to find out what matters.
Not “Talk about something that matters.” but “Talk about whatever because YOU matter.”
When helping others learn to minister, give them questions to ask, not answers to give.
There are no kinds of people. There are just people.
B. Diagnosing: Do the digging, but also diagnose. If you just dig, you’re just nosy.
Figure out what’s really going on. People are not self-aware. You’re identifying with them.
4. Illustrating: They have every right to investigate us. They won’t know they’re doing it, but they’re looking at us to see Christ.
Are our lives teaching truth as much as our words?
His honor is attached to EVERYTHING that we think and say. Everything. We don’t get to say to people, “Only watch me on these days.”
Are our lives reinforcing what they know about Scripture, or are they eroding the Gospel?
5. Intervening: Often, when we have shown we care, when we have earned trust, we are invited into the situation. We will have the opportunity to intervene.
**I had to leave Paige’s workshop as she began to quickly explain this last point further, so I do not have notes past this. If you attended and were able to stay for the end, please add to this in the comments.
I’m very excited to start a new month with new reading. I’ve got a smaller list this month and I changed some out – but I may add some more or may actually finish all of these. But…here they are. Let me know what you are reading this month:
James by Doriani – in the Reformed Expository Commentary series. This will be in light of the James Bible study I am writing.
A Woman’s Wisdom by Lydia Brownback – I thoroughly enjoyed meeting this author and hearing her speak at the recent TGCW12, so I look forward to finishing this book.
The Fruitful Life by Jerry Bridges – hands down my favorite author and I am excited about spending some time studying the fruit of the Spirit.
Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot – I was given this book a while ago by a friend of mine who thoroughly enjoyed it and I anticipate the same.
I will be praying through some books for devotional reading and reading portions of books for different blog posts. So, its going to be a great month!
This book, Amy’s first one that has just hit the presses, is one that every woman could read and obtain laughter, wisdom, and gospel implication…no matter what stage of life she is in. Usually you can’t say that about women’s books: they are geared toward one woman or another: wife, mom, empty nester, single, divorcee, etc. But, even though Amy is married, you can take all of her experiences and apply the gospel truths she illustrates to your life.
There will be a longer, more detailed review of this book coming up in the fall edition of the Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, but until then take hold of some of these favorite quotes from her. See if you find yourself trying to set a standard of perfection (that is based on others around you) instead of living by grace in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Choosing what I will and won’t wear is as much about living up to my responsibilities to myself and my fellow womankind as it is about showing consideration to my brothers. I have a responsibility not to create a competitive or hostile environment for my fellow females.” (pg 28-29)
This weekend I had my second opportunity to hear Dr. Carson preach in person. What a privilege. Especially after coming off of finishing this book on the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus.
Ok, now granted it was my Easter reading and I am just now finishing it, but I finished it nonetheless. And it was good – just longer chapters (so I can’t just breeze through one) and theological material (so I don’t breeze through that either. But rich.
This book it pretty much sermons that Carson has preached on the cross – it will bring new insights to the power of the cross for you with which you can use to live the empowered Christian life. Enjoy it. Don’t fly through it – savor it.
“It is in Jesus’ death, in His destruction, and in His resurrection three days later , that Jesus meets our needs and reconciles us to God, becoming the temple, the supreme meeting place between God and sinners. To use Paul’s language, we do not simply preach Christ; rather we preach Christ crucified.” pg 23
“…Paul is convinced that the root problem is our rebellion against God, our fascination with idolatry, our grotesque de-godding of God.” pg 43-44
“Paul insists that if you rightly read the OT, you will discover that these very writings, rightly understood, point forward to , testify to, anticipate, and prophesy what has culminated in Christ.” pg 52
“The rapid pace of life often squeezes what is important out to the periphery: the urgent displaces the important, the digital replaces the personal.” pg 77
