Costly Grace...

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession.  Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.  It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.  It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner.  Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son:  "Ye were bought at a price", and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us.  Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered hm up for us.

Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

The Mark of a Man

"The world cries for men who are strong-- strong in conviction, strong to lead, to stand, to suffer.  I pray that you will be that kind of man--glad that God made you a man, glad to shoulder the burden of manliness in a time when to do so will often bring contempt."
Elisabeth Elliot, The Mark of a Man

The LORD has truly blessed our dear friends, Isaac and Lydiana.  Look how their family has grown!
Wade is almost three, Ben is almost 2, and Eliana was born in May.
When I think of them, my heart smiles really BIG!

LORD bless you Isaac!  You bear the marks of a godly husband and father! 
I thank the LORD for you and your family!   

Ohhh, The Precious Blood

VERSE 1
Before the cross I kneel and see The measure of my sin
How You became a curse for me Though You were innocent
The magnitude of Your great love Was shown in full degree
When righteous blood, the crimson spill Rained down from Calvary

CHORUS
Oh, the precious blood That flowed from Mercy’s side
Washed away my sin When Christ my Savior died
Oh, the precious blood Of Christ the crucified
It speaks for me before Your throne Where I stand justified

VERSE 2
And who am I that I should know This treasure of such worth
My Savior’s pure atoning blood Shed for the wrath I’d earned
For sin has stained my every deed My every word and thought
What wondrous love that makes me one Your priceless blood has bought

BRIDGE
A crown of thorns, pierced hands and feet A body bruised, and Mercy’s plea
© 2005 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP).

Why Do I Pray?

Bruce (back) and his Bride, Belle (front) 

I pray because I can't help myself.

I pray because I'm helpless.

I pray because the need flows out of me all the time -waking and sleeping.

It doesn't change God. 

It changes me.

C.S. Lewis

This post is in honor of my dear "Grannie Rabbit", Maude Alma Harris Cleland, (August 17, 1910-June 23, 2001).

Our Losses

We often complain of our losses; but the expression is rather improper. Strictly speaking, we can lose nothing, because we have no real property in anything. Our earthly comforts are all lent to us by our good and gracious God; and when recalled, we ought to return and resign them with thankfulness—to Him who has let them remain so long in our hands!

John Newton~

In late February of this year, Katherine and Matt arrived home from church one Sunday to see smoke billowing from the lower eaves of our neighbor's home.  Within minutes of calling 911, he was joined by other neighbors who ran over to help, and he said, in the distance he could hear the loud sirens of fire and rescue trucks on their way.  Before he knew it, they were lining our street.  It only took minutes before smoke could be seen coming from the upper eaves.  The fire within seemed all consuming. 

The  rest of us arrived home just in time to access our driveway.  Fear gripped my heart as I jumped out of our truck and wondered whether anyone was inside.  

The first responders had already entered with quick intent to rescue.  Matt said they kicked in the front and back doors with ease, and found the house had no occupants.  What a precious relief!!  
Later we learned everyone had left home 30-45 mins earlier.  

It was a sad sight to witness this home going up in smoke, but oh soo awe inspiring to see the fast work of the firemen to contain the fire.  An upper portion of the home had to be cut into w/saws so  they could better extinguish reigniting fires that were not satisfied with the water they poured into the house.  Though the fire was declared 'out', the smell of all that remained smoldered for hours (and even days in my memory). 

Friends from near and far congregated that day.  While Fire Inspectors and police officials inspected what remained, a television crew interviewed witnesses who were happy to talk. The most moving sight for me was to see our caring neighbors close in on the arriving family.  At first their tears were hardly consolable, but it seemed the hugs of their friends held them up that day.

Now almost six months later, our neighbors are playing an active part in restoring their home. The construction company they've hired has worked hard and fast in the last month or so to hopefully have them back in their home before the end of September. Though their home may not at that time be the perfect end they've anticipated, I suspect they'll walk back into their 'Home, Sweet (memory filled) Home' together with a greater grace to thank the One who lends and allowed such a tragedy to make them stronger and better.   

 

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; 
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine. 
 Words: How Firm a Foundation, From A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, by John Rippon, 1787; attributed variously to John Keene, Kirkham, and John Keith.

It is He who remembered us in our low estate,
for His steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
for His steadfast love endures forever; 
He who gives food to all flesh,
for His steadfast love endures forever; 
Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for His steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:23-26, ESV 

His Blessed Beauty Marks

"He who says he abides in Him, ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 John 2:6 

Character grows as the baby matures into manhood. Every day something is written on our character, some mark made. 

The mother writes something; 

the teacher writes something; 

every day's experiences write some words;

every touch or influence of other lives, leaves some mark;

temptation and struggle, do their part in filling the page;

books, education, sorrow, joy, companions, friends — 

all of life touches and paints some line of beauty — or scratches some mark of marring on our character. 

Our final character, is the result of all these influences which work and co-work upon our life. In the end, we shall be altogether like Jesus; hence all of life's aiming and striving should be towards His blessed beauty.

"For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son!" Romans 8:29

J. R. Miller

Not Yours, Not Mine, Not Ours: HIS

"[There is] a largeness of life undreamed of by the liberators of the world… a place where the God-given differentiation between the sexes is not obfuscated but celebrated, where our inequalities are seen as essential to the image of God, for it is in male and female, in male as male and female as female, not as two identical and interchangeable halves, that the image is manifested."

Elisabeth Elliot

"Mercies Anew" - Sovereign Grace Music

Every morning that breaks
There are mercies anew
Every breath that I take
 Is your faithfulness proved
And at the end of each day
When my labors are through I
 will sing of Your mercies anew

When I’ve fallen and strayed
There were mercies anew
For you sought me in love
And my heart you pursued
 In the face of my sin Lord,
You never withdrew
So I sing of Your mercies anew

CHORUS:
And Your mercies, they will never end
For ten thousand years they’ll remain
 And when this world’s beauty has passed away
Your mercies will be unchanged

And when the storms swirl and rage
There are mercies anew
In affliction and pain
You will carry me through
And at the end of my days
When Your throne fills my view
I will sing of Your mercies anew
 I will sing of Your mercies anew

Credits: Words and music by Mark Altrogge and Bob Kauflin 
© 2001 Sovereign Grace Praise 

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep...

Umm, NEVER underestimate a cat's intelligence, or need for rest!!