Congratulations!

Please join me in congratulating my daughter, Grace, on her engagement to Anthony Carter! Anthony has been courting Grace for six months, and finally asked her to be his wife on Friday night. We are thrilled that God has brought them together and they will walk down life's road side-by-side.

Anthony and Grace are planning a May 29, 2010 wedding.

"‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” --Matthew 19: 5 - 6

Names of God

I found Wordle.net tonight while looking for something else. It's fun!

Holding Faith,

Blog Troubles

Obviously, I am having formatting issues! My daughter is trying to help me figure out what went wrong, so bear with me until I get this fixed!

Holding Faith,

"Grace Will Be My Song"

Grace Will Be My Song

Jesus Jesus Jesus
You ransomed one like me
Jesus Jesus Jesus
Your blood, my liberty
And now my shame is gone
And grace will be my song

Jesus Jesus Jesus
Lover of the weak
Jesus Jesus Jesus
With strength to carry me
And now my shame is gone
And grace will be my song

Glory Glory Glory
To the one who saved my soul
Glory Glory Glory
To the Everlasting Lord
Glory Glory Glory
To the King who sits enthroned
Our God

Sing

--Steve Fee
from the album We Shine

Here's the requisite video; actually, it's a picture to look at while the song is playing.

Another YouTube video, this one with three songs: Grace, Grace Will Be My Song, and The Stand. The second song starts about four minutes in.

Holding Faith,
Ginny

Biblical Faith

Nearly every Sunday night, I think about posting my notes from that evening's sermon.  But the week goes by, and I never do it.  Not this time!

1.  Faith is not recognized by how things turn out, by the outcome of the issue.

Heb 11:33  who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34  quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
Heb 11:35a  Women received back their dead by resurrection...

These verses speak of good and miraculous outcomes.  Compare them to:

Heb 11:35b Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.
Heb 11:36  Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
Heb 11:37  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated--
Heb 11:38  of whom the world was not worthy--wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
 Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.
Heb 11:36  Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
Heb 11:37  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated--
Heb 11:39  And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,


In these verses, the believers were not spared hardship.  Yet, they had faith (v 39), and an eternal reward (35b).

We cannot look at a situation to determine whether someone has faith.

2.  Faith does not demand a certain outcome.

Heb 11:39  And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,
Heb 11:40  since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

3.  Faith always looks to the future, to eternity.  See verse 35b above.  Our responsibility is to glorify God.

4.  Faith seeks God's approval.  Verse 39.  It can be harder to be faithful in the tough situations; for instance, not being healed. 

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Heb 11:2  For by it the people of old received their commendation.

Conclusion:  The purpose of man is to glofiry God.  The object  of our faith is Jesus Christ. 

Heb 12:2  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

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You can listen to the entire message here or watch it on video here.
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All Scripture verses are taken from the English Standard Version.

The Purpose of Christianity

The purpose of Christianity
is not to avoid difficulty,
but to produce a character
adequate to meet it when it comes.
It does not make life easy;
rather it tries to make us great enough for life.

-- James L. Christensen

Holding Faith,

25 years ago, I promised to walk through life beside this wonderful man. Together we've raised two beautiful daughters (one of whom is now contemplating marriage, but that's another post), weathered many storms, and now live each day reminded of our commitment to stay together "in sickness and in health".

Phil, it hasn't been an easy 25 years, but by God's grace, we've walked "down life's lumpy road together", as Pastor Newhart is fond of saying. I thank God every day for you. Your love for me is overwhelming, your support and encouragement inspire me, and your commitment to me is amazing, for I surely do not deserve it. You demonstrate agape love to me daily, which would not be possible without your passionate commitment to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and the work He has done in your life.

I am thrilled at the changes God has wrought in our marriage these past few months. My prayer is that we will continue to draw near to God, and to each other. I love you more than words could ever express. Thank you for staying beside me these 25 years.

Holding Faith,