Quote from Susanna Wesley...

Back in Feburary of this year I posted a blog about all of my books and being a book-a-holic. In the course of the year and all that life brings, I have not completed any of them yet. I have however, started many. That is just how it happens some times.

I am back reading "The Grand Weaver" by Ravi Zacharias again. And have put all others down until I finish this one. My goal is to have it read completely by the time I go back home to Alabama. (In my free time while here in VA visiting with my Julia, Ronnie and baby Josiah!)

I have a quote that I want to share...
John Wesley had asked his mother, Susanna Wesley, to define sin. Here is her answer:

"Son, whatever weakens your reasoning,

impairs the tenderness of your conscience,

obscures your sense of God,

or takes away your relish for spiritual things;

in short, if anything increases the authority and

power of the flesh over the Spirit,

then that to you becomes sin,

however good it is in itself,"

I agree with Ravi Zacharias- I doubt any theologians could have done better than she did!

Certainly we all would do well to use this as a guide to search our lives and our decisions and our choices.

The World of "Mother"

As a mom, it is hard to explain the emotion of knowing that YOUR baby girl is in labor and about to give birth. You want to do something... and there is absolutely nothing you can do. Nope, she has to walk this road... on her own.

When we arrived in VA - we were able to go back to the room and visit for just a minute. Our first born baby girl was in labor. Her hands were shaking from the meds - and I could hardly contain the emotion. But I did. As I said, I just wanted to do SOMETHING. So, I prayed. And went back to the waiting room. And continued to pray. And went to sleep curled up on a small chair. And prayed. And waited.

She did so well - of course! You can read her story here.

It is the beginning of motherhood. The beginning of being able and willing to give your life for your child. The beginning of sacrifice. The beginning of a love that is incomprehensible and unexplainable and unending.

And for the Mom of the new Mom - it is certainly another "No Greater Joy" moment..

Welcome, my Julia, to the world of "Mother".








(P.S. - there will be pics of our Baby Josiah coming soon!)

The Other Team's Fight Song...

Do you ever find yourself singing the other team's fight song?

I grew up in a city where there were two High Schools - one was a city school and one was a county school. They were actually close in location. There were only a couple of city blocks and a set of train tracks that separated them. As rivals - they were definitely on different sides of the track.

Then in my home state - there are two big College Football rivals. And the lines are clearly drawn. You are for one team or the other. The colors are defined. Crimson and White are completely different from Orange and Blue. I know this is true in other states as well. The point is that in the game of football - we clearly choose our sides. (well, those of us who like football do).

For those reading who are not sports fans of any type - work with me here - I am trying to make a point! I am sure you understand what I am saying.

So, I return to my post title... and ask this question: "Do you ever sing the other team's fight song?" Do you ever cheer for the other side? Do you ever wear their colors?

For those avid fans - I know the answer. It is a resounding NO! NEVER!

Yet, as Christians, we often do.

Light is totally different from darkness.

But it is so easy to say that our particular issue (sin - hobby - lust , etc. ) is ok. It is so easy to compromise and straddle the fence when my own pleasure is involved.

Now, I could make a list of compromises. But the truth is I don't have to. Because as Christians, the Holy Spirit of our Living God indwells us and He will convict of sin. He will fill in my blank________ . He will fill in your blank________.

Let me share a few scriptures for us to meditate on:

I Peter 1: 14-15
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you
lived in ignorance, but just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you
do; for it is written: "Be holy because I am holy."

Ephesian 5:8-13
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live
as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,
righteousness and truth) and find our what pleases the Lord. Have
nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose
them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in
secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is
light that makes everything visible..."

Luke 11:23
"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me
scatters."

and look at this same passage from the Message Version:

Luke 11:23
"This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side,
you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse. "

"nuff said. That last passage says it pretty strong.... "there is NO neutral ground"

So, the question remains... Do we ever sing the other team's fight song? What is our life humming?

Any thoughts?