Rachel put up this quote recently on our fridge. It was rather timely on several counts...
"He that deserves nothing should be content with anything." (Charles Spurgeon)
I hope it is encouraging to you as well...
love kristi
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Only slightly overdue....
HOORAY!! The North Wing is FINALLY updating their blog! Here are some highlights from the past year....
It started off with (imagine this!)--snow!!!! This is a view out Kristi's parent's back yard.
And, of course, the incredible cooking forces of the North Wing....Easten and Bri here are demonstrating the power of the Cheese Apron.
We have had lots of fun with friends and small group "groupies"....
...And of course with the neighbor's children. This is Kate and Byron.
...And Bri and Ruth. They are mastering the Art of the Marshmallow.
Kristi went to the Twin's Home Opener for the year....might we add that it snowed over 12 inches that night--namely, March 31st?!
Kristi went to England, Ireland, and Wales with her parents in March/April.
This is in London....
Outside of London (has anyone seen Mr. Darcy???)
This is at Hampton Court...
Here is Ireland...
And Wales. This first picture was taken by Kristi, who was on a horseback ride through the mountains/beaches of Wales--it was AMAZING.
This is Wales by car. This is a road...I, uh, think.
Meanwhile, Easten, Bri, and Kate held down the fort at home...here is Easten and Ruth.
In July, Easten, Kristi, and Kate did the Minneman Triathlon--Bri was the house team manager (she was rewarded for her VERY early morning of moral supporting with a free hot dog...at 8:00 AM!) We all finished and are already planning on next year!
Some of the most important news of the year is that our dear roommate Bri got engaged to Craig!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(hmmmm...we are picture-less on this one! We'll have to work on that)
...and Easten started um, "grabbing dinner" with Micah (heh heh). Micah proved to be very useful during PlumFest 2008....
...in which we had a harvest of over 55 lbs of plums from the one tree in our backyard. This is but a small representation of our harvest...we used just about every kind of mixing bowl, serving bowl, salad bowl, we could find!
Kristi, Easten, and Micah went to the State Fair this year...hopefully it is the only time Kristi will ever have to go in a wheelchair (due to foot/ankle injuries incurred during a street fight with a curb. Kristi lost).
Easten and Micah on the bus....
Kristi in her wheelchair (Kudos to Micah for pushing it for 6 hours!)
Gotta love the milk mustache....
And of course the sheep.
Also of note from the year are two visits from our dear friend Jenny...
...as well as several Easten-Kristi "dates", including the Museum of Art (did you know a splotch of ketchup on white construction paper is considered art? So is a lobster glued to a phone and spray painted white). It was an enlightening experience.
Kate, a.k.a. "Dr. Nelson", expanded into the world of orthodontic repair, assisted by Easten.
Also the un-photographed news....
*Kate, in between cooking ventures and sleeping in between night shifts, got a new job on a new unit at Abbott Northwestern hospital! She will be working in an ICU stepdown unit.
*Easten, Kristi, and Kate are all taking TBI classes and LOVING them!
*Kristi and Kate are busy hosting small group still...pictures hopefully soon! This has been a huge blessing for both of us.
*Bri, very sadly, will be moving in a week or so. We have labeled this the "Subject of Which We Do Not Speak". : ) In reality, we will miss her very, very much--and we hope she comes back "home" often!!
I am sure I have missed something of importance of the past year--but nevertheless, we hope you have enjoyed our "Tour of 2008". Hopefully we will be updating a little more frequently. However, it is truly a blessing to be able to remember this past year--and to acknowledge God's faithfulness in it. Not just His faithfulness to sustain, provide, and protect--but also His faithfulness to do "exceedingly, abundantly beyond all you can ask or imagine"!! We are so thankful to Him for these memories, for each other, and for the promises yet to be fulfilled. We are looking forward to another year of His mercies, which are "new every morning"!
love kristi
It started off with (imagine this!)--snow!!!! This is a view out Kristi's parent's back yard.
And, of course, the incredible cooking forces of the North Wing....Easten and Bri here are demonstrating the power of the Cheese Apron.
We have had lots of fun with friends and small group "groupies"....
...And of course with the neighbor's children. This is Kate and Byron.
...And Bri and Ruth. They are mastering the Art of the Marshmallow.
Kristi went to the Twin's Home Opener for the year....might we add that it snowed over 12 inches that night--namely, March 31st?!
Kristi went to England, Ireland, and Wales with her parents in March/April.
This is in London....
Outside of London (has anyone seen Mr. Darcy???)
This is at Hampton Court...
Here is Ireland...
And Wales. This first picture was taken by Kristi, who was on a horseback ride through the mountains/beaches of Wales--it was AMAZING.
This is Wales by car. This is a road...I, uh, think.
Meanwhile, Easten, Bri, and Kate held down the fort at home...here is Easten and Ruth.
In July, Easten, Kristi, and Kate did the Minneman Triathlon--Bri was the house team manager (she was rewarded for her VERY early morning of moral supporting with a free hot dog...at 8:00 AM!) We all finished and are already planning on next year!
Some of the most important news of the year is that our dear roommate Bri got engaged to Craig!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(hmmmm...we are picture-less on this one! We'll have to work on that)
...and Easten started um, "grabbing dinner" with Micah (heh heh). Micah proved to be very useful during PlumFest 2008....
...in which we had a harvest of over 55 lbs of plums from the one tree in our backyard. This is but a small representation of our harvest...we used just about every kind of mixing bowl, serving bowl, salad bowl, we could find!
Kristi, Easten, and Micah went to the State Fair this year...hopefully it is the only time Kristi will ever have to go in a wheelchair (due to foot/ankle injuries incurred during a street fight with a curb. Kristi lost).
Easten and Micah on the bus....
Kristi in her wheelchair (Kudos to Micah for pushing it for 6 hours!)
Gotta love the milk mustache....
And of course the sheep.
Also of note from the year are two visits from our dear friend Jenny...
...as well as several Easten-Kristi "dates", including the Museum of Art (did you know a splotch of ketchup on white construction paper is considered art? So is a lobster glued to a phone and spray painted white). It was an enlightening experience.
Kate, a.k.a. "Dr. Nelson", expanded into the world of orthodontic repair, assisted by Easten.
Also the un-photographed news....
*Kate, in between cooking ventures and sleeping in between night shifts, got a new job on a new unit at Abbott Northwestern hospital! She will be working in an ICU stepdown unit.
*Easten, Kristi, and Kate are all taking TBI classes and LOVING them!
*Kristi and Kate are busy hosting small group still...pictures hopefully soon! This has been a huge blessing for both of us.
*Bri, very sadly, will be moving in a week or so. We have labeled this the "Subject of Which We Do Not Speak". : ) In reality, we will miss her very, very much--and we hope she comes back "home" often!!
I am sure I have missed something of importance of the past year--but nevertheless, we hope you have enjoyed our "Tour of 2008". Hopefully we will be updating a little more frequently. However, it is truly a blessing to be able to remember this past year--and to acknowledge God's faithfulness in it. Not just His faithfulness to sustain, provide, and protect--but also His faithfulness to do "exceedingly, abundantly beyond all you can ask or imagine"!! We are so thankful to Him for these memories, for each other, and for the promises yet to be fulfilled. We are looking forward to another year of His mercies, which are "new every morning"!
love kristi
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
99 Balloons
I saw this on Justin Taylor's blog, and I was so touched by it I had to post it myself...have some tissues handy and be prepared to be amazed at the goodness of our God in the midst of tragic circumstances.
http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/iv/singles/570/99-Balloons
http://www.ignitermedia.com/products/iv/singles/570/99-Balloons
Thursday, October 4, 2007
A thought
I came across a thought in Jeremiah that I found rather interesting (I could very well be the last person to notice this, but just in case I thought I would share it!) : )
Jeremiah 29:11 is probably one of the most quoted passages in the Bible. It can be applied to almost any circumstance, and has provided great comfort. But it is interesting to notice the context of this verse--
"For thus says the Lord, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill my good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. And I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the Lord, 'and I will bring you back to the from where I sent you into exile.'"
Several things to note:
1. The phrase "declares the Lord" is repeated several times in these few verses alone--indicating the importance the author places on the fact that these are not his words but are indeed the words of our great God Himself.
2. Historically, Jeremiah was a prophet to the Israelites, who had a very long history of loving the Lord, turning away from Him, recieving judgement, repenting, and the Lord welcoming them back as His children. The particular event referred to in this passage is the Hebrew exile into Babylon, a historical event in which the Israelites were taken captive by the King of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzer) and scattered throughout the Babylonian empire (called the Babylonian Captivity).
3. The Lord indicates that He not only knows the future, but is active in all aspects of it--from the judgement of Israel itself to the restoration of His people.
What can we conclude?
1. What the Lord says, the Lord will do. The Babylonian captivity did indeed take place...and Israel was eventually not only restored in fortune but was gifted with the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
2. The Lord is gracious and loving toward His people--over and over and over again. To the Israelites, the Captivity was a calamity--but the Lord promises that what appears to be a calamity is for the good of His people, and is not to harm them. Indeed, it is to give them "a future and a hope"--culminating in the coming of the promised Messiah, the Savior.
3. The Lord does indeed have good purposes for what He does--both immediate and long-term. More immediately, the Israelites were shown the graciousness and loving purposes of our God in acting to bring His wandering people back to Him. In the long term, the Diaspora (or dispersing of the Jews throughout the Babylonian Empire) created pockets of Jewish people all over Mespotamia. This, I believe, helped to set the stage for the coming of the Messiah--in numerous ways.
How can we apply this?
1. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5-6). The Lord knows what He is doing--and even in the face of what appears to be uncontrollable calamity, God is in charge and God is working to bring about more good that we can imagine! ("No eye has seen, no ear has percieved, no mind can concieve what God has prepared for those who love Him!") He is working for a "future and a hope" for us, that will bring us joy and cause us to rejoice in our gracious Lord.
2. If you are in sin, or feeling guilty over a past or events that grieved our Holy God, look to the love and grace that He showed to Israel over and over and over again. There are consequences for our actions oftentimes, but the Lord is loving and carries us through everything, including His own judgement (which is for our good). And He will always welcome back His children with loving arms--and restore them, just as He did the Israelites. Trust His promises, and trust His forgiveness!
William Cowper sums all of this up very nicely in an old hymn....
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
-Cowper, 1774
love kristi
p.s. keep your eyes open for the second installment of pictures and an update from the last part of the summer here at the North Wing! : ) km
Jeremiah 29:11 is probably one of the most quoted passages in the Bible. It can be applied to almost any circumstance, and has provided great comfort. But it is interesting to notice the context of this verse--
"For thus says the Lord, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill my good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. And I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the Lord, 'and I will bring you back to the from where I sent you into exile.'"
Several things to note:
1. The phrase "declares the Lord" is repeated several times in these few verses alone--indicating the importance the author places on the fact that these are not his words but are indeed the words of our great God Himself.
2. Historically, Jeremiah was a prophet to the Israelites, who had a very long history of loving the Lord, turning away from Him, recieving judgement, repenting, and the Lord welcoming them back as His children. The particular event referred to in this passage is the Hebrew exile into Babylon, a historical event in which the Israelites were taken captive by the King of Babylon (Nebuchadnezzer) and scattered throughout the Babylonian empire (called the Babylonian Captivity).
3. The Lord indicates that He not only knows the future, but is active in all aspects of it--from the judgement of Israel itself to the restoration of His people.
What can we conclude?
1. What the Lord says, the Lord will do. The Babylonian captivity did indeed take place...and Israel was eventually not only restored in fortune but was gifted with the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
2. The Lord is gracious and loving toward His people--over and over and over again. To the Israelites, the Captivity was a calamity--but the Lord promises that what appears to be a calamity is for the good of His people, and is not to harm them. Indeed, it is to give them "a future and a hope"--culminating in the coming of the promised Messiah, the Savior.
3. The Lord does indeed have good purposes for what He does--both immediate and long-term. More immediately, the Israelites were shown the graciousness and loving purposes of our God in acting to bring His wandering people back to Him. In the long term, the Diaspora (or dispersing of the Jews throughout the Babylonian Empire) created pockets of Jewish people all over Mespotamia. This, I believe, helped to set the stage for the coming of the Messiah--in numerous ways.
How can we apply this?
1. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5-6). The Lord knows what He is doing--and even in the face of what appears to be uncontrollable calamity, God is in charge and God is working to bring about more good that we can imagine! ("No eye has seen, no ear has percieved, no mind can concieve what God has prepared for those who love Him!") He is working for a "future and a hope" for us, that will bring us joy and cause us to rejoice in our gracious Lord.
2. If you are in sin, or feeling guilty over a past or events that grieved our Holy God, look to the love and grace that He showed to Israel over and over and over again. There are consequences for our actions oftentimes, but the Lord is loving and carries us through everything, including His own judgement (which is for our good). And He will always welcome back His children with loving arms--and restore them, just as He did the Israelites. Trust His promises, and trust His forgiveness!
William Cowper sums all of this up very nicely in an old hymn....
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
-Cowper, 1774
love kristi
p.s. keep your eyes open for the second installment of pictures and an update from the last part of the summer here at the North Wing! : ) km
Monday, September 24, 2007
In light of recent events, including Pastor John's loss of his granddaughter this past weekend, I thought this would be an appropriate article that I got from the DG website (no doubt put there on purpose for this week...) I hope you are blessed and encouraged in it.
love kristi
There is a Way to Be Happy, Even in Sadness
Godly Sorrow: Jesus' and Ours
By John PiperMarch 23, 2005
Christian Hedonists embrace necessary sorrow for the glory of God. On the one hand, we are utterly committed to pursuing joy in God at all times. But on the other hand, we know there is more to the emotional life of godly people than joy. Joy is not the only good emotion. But without delight in God, no emotion would be good. Either as component or the concomitant of all godly emotions, it is joy in God that makes them good.
Consider sorrow. Neither Jesus nor the Holy Spirit has ever sinned. But both have grieved. Both have been sorrowful. Therefore, godly sorrow is possible.
Not only that, godly sorrow is possible also for sinners. It is possible precisely because of our sin. One form of sorrow is sorrow for doing something wrong. So Paul writes to the Corinthians:
For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it. . . . I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:8-10)
At least two things govern what makes sorrow good. One is the cause, the other is the outcome. The cause of godly sorrow for our own sin is the spiritual perception of its moral ugliness, not just its negative consequences. We see it as morally repugnant. This repugnance is owing to our spiritual preference for the taste of the truth and beauty of God. Therefore our sorrow for sin is rooted in our savoring of God. Sin is a revolting flavor in the feast of godwardness. Therefore, sorrow over this is a signal that we delight in God. That is what makes the sorrow good.
The outcome of good sorrow for sin is repentance and holiness. In fact, repentance includes sorrow for sin and extends it to a more durable experience of holy living. This holy living is the outward form of delighting in God above all sin. Therefore delight in God is what makes the sorrow and repentance good.
But what about sorrow that is not for our own sin, but for the way we are sinned against or the way we are hurt by calamity and loss? Jesus sorrowed like this. For example, when he saw the Pharisees murmuring about his healing on the Sabbath, “He looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart” (Mark 3:5). And in the garden of Gethsemane, he said, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch” (Mark 14:34).
Jesus’ sorrow was not owing to his own sin, but to the sins of others. This is the way it is with the Holy Spirit as well. Paul calls us to put sin out of our lives so that we do not grieve the Spirit: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:29-30).
In the same way believers embrace godly grief not only for our own sins but for the sins of others and for the pain that loss brings us. For example, Peter speaks of our grieving over trials: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, as was necessary, you have been grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6). Paul speaks of our grieving over lost loved ones: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). And Paul refers to his own grief over the lostness of his kinsmen: “My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart (Romans 9:1).
Nevertheless Paul makes the astonishing statement in 2 Corinthians 6:10 that what marks his life and should mark ours is “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” This is what makes our sorrow godly. I do not claim that this experience is simple or that we can even put it into adequate words—what it means to be joyful in sorrow. Heaving sobs at the loss of a loved one does not look like joy. Indeed is not joy in its fullness, as we will know it when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Rather the joy that endures through sorrow is the foretaste of that future joy in God which we hope for in the future. When Jesus was “very sorrowful, even to death” in Gethsemane he was sustained by “the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). This does not mean that he felt in the garden or on the cross all that he would feel in the resurrection. But it does mean that he hoped in it and that this hope was an experienced foretaste of that joy.
Therefore, we groan here, waiting for the redemption of our bodies and for the removal of all our sins (Romans 8:23). This groaning and grieving is godly if it is molded by our delight in hope of glory (Romans 5:2-3). The delight is muffled by the pain. But it is there in seed form. It will one day grow into a great vine that yields wine of undiluted delight.
So let us embrace whatever sorrow God appoints for us. Let us not be ashamed of tears. Let the promise that joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5) sustain and shape our grief with the power and goodness of God.
© Desiring God
Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Desiring God.
Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org
love kristi
There is a Way to Be Happy, Even in Sadness
Godly Sorrow: Jesus' and Ours
By John PiperMarch 23, 2005
Christian Hedonists embrace necessary sorrow for the glory of God. On the one hand, we are utterly committed to pursuing joy in God at all times. But on the other hand, we know there is more to the emotional life of godly people than joy. Joy is not the only good emotion. But without delight in God, no emotion would be good. Either as component or the concomitant of all godly emotions, it is joy in God that makes them good.
Consider sorrow. Neither Jesus nor the Holy Spirit has ever sinned. But both have grieved. Both have been sorrowful. Therefore, godly sorrow is possible.
Not only that, godly sorrow is possible also for sinners. It is possible precisely because of our sin. One form of sorrow is sorrow for doing something wrong. So Paul writes to the Corinthians:
For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it. . . . I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:8-10)
At least two things govern what makes sorrow good. One is the cause, the other is the outcome. The cause of godly sorrow for our own sin is the spiritual perception of its moral ugliness, not just its negative consequences. We see it as morally repugnant. This repugnance is owing to our spiritual preference for the taste of the truth and beauty of God. Therefore our sorrow for sin is rooted in our savoring of God. Sin is a revolting flavor in the feast of godwardness. Therefore, sorrow over this is a signal that we delight in God. That is what makes the sorrow good.
The outcome of good sorrow for sin is repentance and holiness. In fact, repentance includes sorrow for sin and extends it to a more durable experience of holy living. This holy living is the outward form of delighting in God above all sin. Therefore delight in God is what makes the sorrow and repentance good.
But what about sorrow that is not for our own sin, but for the way we are sinned against or the way we are hurt by calamity and loss? Jesus sorrowed like this. For example, when he saw the Pharisees murmuring about his healing on the Sabbath, “He looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart” (Mark 3:5). And in the garden of Gethsemane, he said, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch” (Mark 14:34).
Jesus’ sorrow was not owing to his own sin, but to the sins of others. This is the way it is with the Holy Spirit as well. Paul calls us to put sin out of our lives so that we do not grieve the Spirit: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:29-30).
In the same way believers embrace godly grief not only for our own sins but for the sins of others and for the pain that loss brings us. For example, Peter speaks of our grieving over trials: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, as was necessary, you have been grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6). Paul speaks of our grieving over lost loved ones: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). And Paul refers to his own grief over the lostness of his kinsmen: “My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart (Romans 9:1).
Nevertheless Paul makes the astonishing statement in 2 Corinthians 6:10 that what marks his life and should mark ours is “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” This is what makes our sorrow godly. I do not claim that this experience is simple or that we can even put it into adequate words—what it means to be joyful in sorrow. Heaving sobs at the loss of a loved one does not look like joy. Indeed is not joy in its fullness, as we will know it when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Rather the joy that endures through sorrow is the foretaste of that future joy in God which we hope for in the future. When Jesus was “very sorrowful, even to death” in Gethsemane he was sustained by “the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). This does not mean that he felt in the garden or on the cross all that he would feel in the resurrection. But it does mean that he hoped in it and that this hope was an experienced foretaste of that joy.
Therefore, we groan here, waiting for the redemption of our bodies and for the removal of all our sins (Romans 8:23). This groaning and grieving is godly if it is molded by our delight in hope of glory (Romans 5:2-3). The delight is muffled by the pain. But it is there in seed form. It will one day grow into a great vine that yields wine of undiluted delight.
So let us embrace whatever sorrow God appoints for us. Let us not be ashamed of tears. Let the promise that joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5) sustain and shape our grief with the power and goodness of God.
© Desiring God
Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Desiring God.
Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Deep and Philisophical Question of the Week
Here it is:
Why, no matter how careful you are, do you always end up with 95% of your socks unmatched by the time you finish laundry?
I thought about putting up a picture to demonstrate but there is no need for my socks to be published all over the internet for general viewing. However, if anyone has any answers to this important question, please fill me in.
love kristi
Why, no matter how careful you are, do you always end up with 95% of your socks unmatched by the time you finish laundry?
I thought about putting up a picture to demonstrate but there is no need for my socks to be published all over the internet for general viewing. However, if anyone has any answers to this important question, please fill me in.
love kristi
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