Worshiping our Wrathful God

"Perhaps we have lost the fear of God because we take His grace for granted. At the very begining God said to Adam and Eve, 'The day you eat from [the forbidden tree], you shall surely die.' (Genesis 2:17) They ate from it but they did not die that day. God showed them grace."

"He continues to be gracious. We are alive only because God is merciful. But instead of our accepting the mercy of God with thankfulness and keeping the perspective of fearing God, we begin to get used to it.Consequently, when God does punish sin,we think He's unjust."

- John MacArthur, Jr.

From "The Ultimate Priority"

There are many reasons why our worship is not full, is not focused, is not holy unto God. The most common one, however is a lack of knowledge concerning God and His character. We often think that his mercy out-weighs his justice and that his grace is in greater measure than His wrath. Simply not true. He is the very definition of each of these things, meaning that He is fully and completely defines both mercy and justice, both grace and wrath.

As Christians we are continually given mercy and grace because God sees us through the blood of His Son, Jesus, just as He saw our sin placed on Him. But we cannot allow this wonderful out-pouring of favor keep us from seeing just what we have been saved from: our just dessert of God's wrath and our deserved punishment of His eternal wrath. How blind we are when we fail to see our sin for what it is and what it cost our Saviour on the cross to secure our complete and total forgiveness.

Father, forgive us for thinking You less than You are, thinking Your justice or wrath as any less than completely holy and unstained by worldly definition. Forgive us where we have fallen short in giving You what You deserve and give us hearts undivided by wants and cares that distract from Worship in the fullest measure. Thank You for sending your Son that we my come before the throne with reverance.

Jesus, what a friend for sinners You are. It is Your obedience that has paid the price for our wandering thoughts, Your blood-sacrifice which covers our meager offerings of empty promises. You have met every requirement where we have failed. Bless You, Jesus, our dear, perfect and sinless Substitute. You, our Beloved Brother, our Saviour, our Lord.

Spirit of God, prick our hearts with rememberance of the just and dreadful reward we have been saved from through the blessed gift of the eternal Lamb who took our sin upon Himself, who suffered the punishment which was rightfully ours as if it were His very own.

"Praise to the Lamb that was slain!

Praise to the Father who gave His Son away!

The proof of love the price of grace.

You traded all to take my place.

You died for me so I could be a child of God."

- Todd Proctor

Does your life need a change?

"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing and things like these, which I forwarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

- Galatians 5:19-21

The gate to enter Heaven is narrow, but so is the path to get there.

The narrow gate is Jesus who said "I am the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father but through Me." And the path He calls those who would enter is narrow as well. It is the path that He Himself laid by teaching and example. "Take up your cross and follow Me."

Are you on the path to begin with?

If you're on the path, are you more like Jesus today than you were yesterday?

Am I more like Jesus today than I was yesterday?

...

...

... I'm not sure...

...

...

... But I want to be!!

One thing I have asked of the the Lord, that I shall seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the LORD

And to meditate in His temple.

Psalm 27:4

O LORD, who may abide in Your tent?

Who may dwell on Your holy hill?

He who walks with integrity,

And works righteousness,

And speaks truth in his heart.

Psalm 15:1-2

Just A Few Words

My eyes are dry and my pillow soaked

With tears of mourning over sin.

Yet, I smile on. In hopes that my heart

Will give way to the seen expression.

Come sweet sleep and offer your rest.

Sooth these weary eyes with your renewing slumber.

Do You Remember??

I had a pressing question for myself today and simply could not answer it myself. I know it sounds really bad but I could not remember when I graduated. Yeah I know it's lame and makes me sound quite a bit older than I actually am, senile really. But for the last week or so I have genuinely confused. I had quite a few friends who graduated the year before me and was mixing them with the ones I graduated with. It was all a very confusing for a little while. Until a good friend was gracious enough to tell me that I graduated with her and just what year that was.

Whew!!

Have a Blessed Holy-Day!!
Happy Resurrection Sunday!!

Where Have I Been??

It's crazy, just plain crazy!!!

Crazy because some days I haven't really been sure where I've been, in a cyber sense that is. I've recently began working for a new family with four, count them "1...2...3...4", children AND I've moved across town... CRAZY!!!

But all of this really is not very connected to lack of web-time. It really is more connected to a lack of connection. I know what you're thinking:

"'connected to a lack of connection.' What are you thinking random blogger whom I've never read before and most likely will never come across again. That doesn't even make sense. You're a rambling idiot who has no idea how to make a simple statement like 'I haven't felt like expressing myself to the equally random public.'"

Well, if you were thinking that then you are a genius or a mind reader because there is no way that I could have worded that so eloquently. Thank you for stating it so well!!!

Yeah, so the point is that I am a bit of an introvert. Okay, maybe a little more than "a bit." SO... I haven't felt like writing out that the things that have been rolling about in my head, for the world to see. The sad thing is that when the marbles are rolling around the property up there they really do make a little more sense than you might imagine from this post. But, ALAS, they don't seem to be rolling very far this evening AND the fact that I am experiencing "typing dyslexia" doesn't help them produce thoughts of extreme wisdom and influence on the masses of people dropping in on this blog, resulting in world wide societal change.

So... I'll have to call it a night on this one and stop in, hopefully, in the near future to impart deeper words of change and impact.

Until next time...

NL White

Music for Ladies' Retreat

Hello Tammi, and all you other ladies who I've directed here for what we'll be singing at our little "Day Retreat."

#2 Breathe On Me, Breath of God - Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah - Marvelous Light

The funny thing is that we didn't even make it to this set :^)

Ancestor or Just Plain Silliness?

I was able to watch Ben Stien's "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" the other day and would like to encourage any and all who come across this blog to watch it as well. I dosen't really matter what your view on science, biology, or evolution is. This movie is intended to challenge, to pose questions, and encourage others to do the same. Intelligent debate about "Intelligent design" is being thwarted in a field of study that is meant to be challenged, science. In this country we can challenge such things and yet we do not. It was pointed out in the movie that Poland has more freedom in education reguarding how we came to be than we do and scientists who study such hyopthesies in France are treated with a measure of respect while those the "Land of the Free" are losing positions and tenure for slightly mentioning they might take it seriously in seeking answers. Answers to questions that Darwinism does not have viable answers to. Saying they cannot know how life began on earth because they were not there.

I believe in the God that was there and I believe it happened just as He says in the amount of time He tells us. I believe Him in Genesis because He is the "God, who cannot lie" of Christianity (Titus 1:2)

Click the photo for a little bit of an update.

A Busy Week

This week my usual flexibility has been spoken for by an occasional employer who has been very gracious. God has used them often in these last seven years to provide hours when nanny times have been sparse and when I've needed an extra bit of cash for this and that. The parents left for France on Friday and asked me to be a single parent in their absence. "Mom" who is extremely organized has arranged for family friends and neighbors to help out with pick-up from school and various weekly activities, which is a great help, but from 6:30pm to 7:30am They're all mine. This weekend we held a spy convention at the house creating legends and IDs for the neighborhood boys as well as nearly missing a baseball game one of them was to play in.

The time is, however, bitter-sweet. I recieved a call yesterday from dear, dear friends, a brother and sister in Christ, with a request for help that I really wanted to provide for them. God has blessed me so often with the ability and availability to say yes to so many things and I wanted to do so yet again but that door of ministry in time of need was closed. God is faithful to those needs that we don't even know are coming and has provided for the family who needed a helping hand and also for my sanity. Having two boys with heavy after-school schedules made the decision to say no heart-breaking and yet simple. Should the situation have been different I would not have hesitated to say yes, but the answer was no before I even knew what the question was.

Many prayers will be offered for the brother and sister and daily help will be offered by the Body of Christ. The members acting together for the preservation and benefit of one another. All of this will be done because of Christ's love dwelling in us for His glory. He is faithful to meet every need that may arise and meet it to the very end.

I thought I may drop into CA (hopefully more like a controlled landing) in October but my time is better spent here for now.

September 16th

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Psalm 104:5-9

5 (The LORD) set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.

6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.

7 At your rebuke (the waters) fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.

8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them.

9 You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.


The hills of "the Ozarks" are witness to the power of God. Fossils found here are more common in areas near the sea or grand lakes not the land-locked central US (vs6&8). Caves in this area act as drains for much of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri (vs7). Nature compensating for what would be a massive flood-plain, I think not. God has made provision for His creation (vs9).

What You Been Up To?

Well... let's see...

You know it's really hard to keep up with more than a couple of things. I've found that in order to do even half of what I want to do with my flickr photos and visit friendly blogs on a semi regular basis something has to go by the way-side. And it turns out that this is that thing.

Fortunately it's more like the gutter of a bowling lane rather than that of a rubbish filled ghetto street. Still useful and sometimes visited :>)

So... I'll try to post once or twice a month and keep sane in the process.

Here's hoping many of you have a great school year and others a great nine months.

Some pregnant, most not :>)

Here's something cute to look at while you eagerly wait for my next post:

Watermelon Wishes

I have written before of smells that I love. Some are associated with people and others with places or things and I can't help but take a moment to reflect on that noun that they remind me of. Back in April I wrote of a smell that I associate with the warm days of spring and summer. The smell is that of a freshly cut lawn. I again caught a reflective sniff of such a day or so ago and remarked in my thoughts how closely it resembled that of a watermelon that has just been cut into. An instant smile arose from the thought and I've been longing for watermelon ever since.

Today's my 28th birthday. Happy Birthday to me!

Have a great "my birthday"!

Click the Pic to see what I've written about this special day.

The Funniest Thing I've Seen Today

A little view of my world today

This morning my boys and I made our way to the $1 summer feature at our local theater and was disappointed when the projector died and had to find entertainment else-where. So... we made our way to the market to pick up a few items needed for the house; milk, Cheerios, ham, juice, etc., etc. Then we took our "break today" at McDonalds Playplace. Therefore 2yr old little "O" was sufficiently worn out for his sleep.

As usual he made a little fuss as I carried him up stairs and put him in his cot, so I told him "night, night", closed the door and made my way down the stairs to play Chutes & Ladders with 4yr old "Z." We were both somewhere around #50 when the irritated cry from upstairs quieted and then made a comeback as more of a "I'm hurt, so come save me" cry. I made my appoligies to "Z" and hobbled upstairs to find "O" pinned between the side of the cot and the wall. However, I was without a camera and therefore must leave the scene up to your imagination.

There were many things that began to run through my mind but the first thing to escape my lips was "I told you it wasn't safe to climb out of your cot." Feeling vendicated, I then began to smile over the hilarious picture that presented itself and make my way over to the distressed toddler. I was greeted with a very appreciative hug (or maybe he was just hanging on for dear life). So after a moment of absorbing this display of affection, I placed the boy back in his cot and retrieved the comfort blankies he had obviously tried to get for himself and all was well. Sleep soon came and the scene was brought to a close. But I must honestly say that it was indeed the funniest thing I've seen today and perhaps even in a great while because is it continues to bring quite a grin to my face and a light to my eyes.

Enjoy your days!!

Lil' Buddy

Hey some of you know Jordan. She' taking the move a bit hard and needs a shout-out so drop by and encourage a sista'

YahooS

Click the Pic to see these YahooS Better

Back from camp and trying to get back in the swing of things.

Happy B-Day Lo-Lo

Keep The Light On

This is a picture of a lighthouse originally constructed near Cape Cod (East Coast) in 1881. It was thought until last year that it was taken apart and discarded in 1925 but recently an historian based in it's original location discovered that the lighthouse was just relocated and is still in service today about 25 miles south of San Fransisco.

Last year we had a pastoral intern join our youth staff. He was accustomed to a large church atmosphere and spending the last year of his internship in a small church was to serve as a different experiance to help offer a more well rounded youth pastor to some unknown church. Recently he and his wife canidated in Colorado and he recieved a call of invitation this Sunday. It's and exciting time for them and our little youth group. Even though we are sad to see them move on we know that the light they have to offer is needed elsewhere.

We've learned a few things and have tried to offer a bit of knowledge of our own over the last year and pray that the transition to ministry in Colorado will be smooth for them and those they will be ministering to as well as with.


Jake and Candace,
We've been blessed and hope that you have been as well through this year of ministry at Hope. We know that God will be honored in this new endevor and pray that you will see His hand working in your ministry.

Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."