Recommended Reading!

I'm reading this book at the minute and it has been such an encouragement and challenge to me:

A summary of Christian Doctrine by Louis Berkhof

It's a short concise summary of systematic theology which is very easily read. Its wonderful to be reminded of the great truths of our faith and to ground ourselves in the doctrines of Scripture. I thoroughly recommend you to read it - as women we daren't leave such gleanings solely to our men-folk!

Prayer

"O Sovereign Lord, Let those that are united to me in tender ties be precious in thy sight and devoted to thy glory. Sanctify and prosper my domestic devotion, instruction, discipline, example, that my house may be a nursery for heaven."

I found this prayer this morning on one of my regular blogs. Its from the Valley of Vision collection of puritan prayers and devotions (one of my favourite CDs!) - thought I would share it with you as I pray it for my own household.

Choices have Consequences

Yesterday at Church my pastor preached on Galatians 6:7, ‘a man shall reap what he sows’. Basically, the choices that we make now will determine what our lives will be like ten years from now, and the choices that we made ten years ago are largely responsible for the way our lives are today. This is obvious in some areas of life, like careers, but the rule holds true in every other area as well. It is especially important in relation to the development of character, because the choices we make, and the habits we form, fix our characters for life. For teenagers this is a really crucial issue. The world says ‘Have fun, enjoy yourself, don’t take any responsibility, just live for yourself all the time’, and it is so easy to believe the lie that this will not have any long term consequences. But it will!! If our teenager years are spent forming bad habits of laziness, self-indulgence and self-centredness, then we will be stuck with those traits for life. It may seem possible to get away with it now, to live as if there is no tomorrow, but ultimately everyone reaps the consequences of their choices and actions. The Bible sets a very high standard for Christians, and teenagers are no exception. We are to be ‘imitators of God’ not imitators of the world. So spend your teen years developing a godly character, not conforming to the world’s low standards and values.

Change

Change is as integral to life as breathing the air around us – life doesn’t stand still for any of us. An unhappy outcome of the fall means that aging and death separates us from our loved ones. But change also brings new life, allows for the forging of new relationships and brings us nearer to heaven and re-union with our creator God. Change is sometimes an easy and happy turn of event and at other times a hard thing to deal with.

Moving is never easy and especially when it means moving location, moving culture and leaving behind loved ones. It has been a painful process to leave behind our church family in England and move to the Republic of Ireland. God teaches us to rely solely on Him – He is the great constant in this changing and decaying world. Our relationship with Him changes as we choose to serve Him more or less, to become more Christ-like or not. We need to learn to graciously accept change and learn to trust God more through it.

An Introduction

The contributors of this blog are good friends, both in church-planting situations, but separated by the Irish Sea. As we live in different countries so we are also at different stages in life. One is a wife and mother; the other is a daughter and sister; but we both seek to press on towards the goal set before us in Christ Jesus.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)