I've been saving up a bunch of links that I want to share with you... I hope you find these useful/encouraging/challenging as I did. Happy reading!
Living Intentionally
Six Reasons I Love Living in a Small House by Jill Winger
Why Do I Have THIS Stuff? Building a Sharing Community by Lindsay Edmonds
Adoption & Abortion Issues
How Some Kids with a Van are Changing the Pro-Life Movement by Kristen Walker
50 Ways to Help Unborn Babies and Their Mothers by Randy Alcorn
Don't You Already Have Kids? Adding to Your Existing Family Through Adoption by Randy Stinson
Dating/Marriage/Motherhood
Guidlines for Sexual Purity by Randy Alcorn
A Challenge to Women by John Piper
The Mommy Wars by Carolyn McCulley
Kids Don't Retrofit by Candice Watters
Your Children Want YOU by April Perry
Don't Carpe Diem by Glennon Melton
Women with More Kids Live Longer by Kathleen Gilbert
Why I Never Should Have Had Eight Children by Leila Miller
Inspiring Lives
The Story of Ian & Larissa by John Piper
Pray for Ian (Ian & Larissa's blog)
Showing posts with label living our theology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label living our theology. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Sunday, June 19, 2011
on being the Body
Roles have reversed for me in this past week. Typically I'm someone who would bring a meal to a friend who's sick, or host family in our home for brunch, cooking up a storm as a way to show them that I love and care. But the tables have turned. I'm not allowed to be on my feet for more than 10 minutes at a time. Cooking any real meal is out of the question. I'm allowed to do "minimal meal prep" but Stewart (graciously) hasn't let me do even that!
And so instead of serving, I am being served. It's humbling. And it's a huge blessing. It inspires me more than ever to continue serving others in this way, once the baby comes and I'm back on my feet. Whether it's a distant cousin who brought us stew and mashed potatoes for supper, my parents who brought their beef roast to share with us on Friday night, the armload of groceries my mother-in-law brought over, or the container of snacks my brother and his wife brought to me at the hospital, it's really all tangible gifts of God's love. He's providing for us and our daily needs (and wants!) through the hands of His people. Even these little acts -- a bottle of Perrier and a jar of pasta sauce from friends -- these are God's hands at work.
Never minimize the love and care you show to others. It is all meaningful. Even seemingly small acts that are done in the Name of Jesus, are significant. It is the Body working as it should, caring for and supporting one another. When I am well, I will do what I can to care for you in your sickness. Not because you cared for me, or because I owe you one. Simply because I am part of the Body and I care for you. You are my Family and I love you. What we have, as believers, is unique. We are one. When you hurt, I hurt. When I'm sick, you care for me and my family. This is how it should be. And what an example it is to others!
And so instead of serving, I am being served. It's humbling. And it's a huge blessing. It inspires me more than ever to continue serving others in this way, once the baby comes and I'm back on my feet. Whether it's a distant cousin who brought us stew and mashed potatoes for supper, my parents who brought their beef roast to share with us on Friday night, the armload of groceries my mother-in-law brought over, or the container of snacks my brother and his wife brought to me at the hospital, it's really all tangible gifts of God's love. He's providing for us and our daily needs (and wants!) through the hands of His people. Even these little acts -- a bottle of Perrier and a jar of pasta sauce from friends -- these are God's hands at work.
Never minimize the love and care you show to others. It is all meaningful. Even seemingly small acts that are done in the Name of Jesus, are significant. It is the Body working as it should, caring for and supporting one another. When I am well, I will do what I can to care for you in your sickness. Not because you cared for me, or because I owe you one. Simply because I am part of the Body and I care for you. You are my Family and I love you. What we have, as believers, is unique. We are one. When you hurt, I hurt. When I'm sick, you care for me and my family. This is how it should be. And what an example it is to others!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
StewBlogs: Bon Courage Mes Amis
This is making my wife really happy. We officially have a 'family blog'. You'd have thought the Canucks won the Stanley Cup. Ok, now for the real goods:
Over the last several years I have diligently been striking any and all phrases pertaining to luck from my vocabulary. The reason for this is that I just don't believe in luck and random chance... the Bible doesn't let me. In the past I have said things to my friends like, "I don't like theology". My wife almost didn't marry me because I said this to her. The truth of the matter is that I don't like theology that doesn't impact the life of the theologian. You can have the most polished theological classroom perspective but if your life is not changed by who you know God to be then your theology sucks. There I said it, now you have to deal with it. Don't get angry at me, cause so far my theology sucks too, but lets work on it together OK?
So, I'm changing my speech to reflect my theology. God is sovereign over all things. Proverbs 16:33 teaches us that the dice fall according to God's direction. Some people are going to have a hard time with this, but my suggestion is read the Bible cover to cover and observe God with his metaphorical fingers in every part of the story working it according to his plan. Good and evil, disaster and blessing, life and death, the rise and fall of nations, the suffering of righteous men at the hands of the wicked, the affliction of those handicapped by physical disability, the atonement for our sin by the sinless Son of God, it is inescapable.
Now the exciting part is that being here in a French speaking context has given me a wonderful replacement for such phrases as "Good luck!". In keeping with the mandate of Joshua 1:9 and Paul's prayer in Ephesians 6:19 : "Bon courage mes amis!"
Over the last several years I have diligently been striking any and all phrases pertaining to luck from my vocabulary. The reason for this is that I just don't believe in luck and random chance... the Bible doesn't let me. In the past I have said things to my friends like, "I don't like theology". My wife almost didn't marry me because I said this to her. The truth of the matter is that I don't like theology that doesn't impact the life of the theologian. You can have the most polished theological classroom perspective but if your life is not changed by who you know God to be then your theology sucks. There I said it, now you have to deal with it. Don't get angry at me, cause so far my theology sucks too, but lets work on it together OK?
So, I'm changing my speech to reflect my theology. God is sovereign over all things. Proverbs 16:33 teaches us that the dice fall according to God's direction. Some people are going to have a hard time with this, but my suggestion is read the Bible cover to cover and observe God with his metaphorical fingers in every part of the story working it according to his plan. Good and evil, disaster and blessing, life and death, the rise and fall of nations, the suffering of righteous men at the hands of the wicked, the affliction of those handicapped by physical disability, the atonement for our sin by the sinless Son of God, it is inescapable.
Now the exciting part is that being here in a French speaking context has given me a wonderful replacement for such phrases as "Good luck!". In keeping with the mandate of Joshua 1:9 and Paul's prayer in Ephesians 6:19 : "Bon courage mes amis!"
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