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  Have you ever been to the circus and watched the performers walk the tight rope? I have always been fascinated with the bravery of these people. They put their trust in this thin piece of cable. It will only take one little slip up and they can seriously injure themselves. However, the performers continue to trust their preparation and that dreaded cable. We must be the same way with God. We must be brave and step out on the cable of faith and trust that God will keep us. But who do we put our faith and trust in? It is so easy to fall into the trap of putting our trust in people, things or even ourselves. However, none of these things have the the ability to keep us over the long haul. We must seek to fasten our hope to the eternal things . The temporal things like: Money, people, power, toys (cars, houses, devices, earthly pleasures) are just temporary. These things (temporal things) are made for our earthly use and pleasures not our godly purpose. God has made it clear that if...

We continue our series on the writings of John Bunyan. In today's post we look at the first three of Bunyan's "dying sayings" (slightly modernized) which he wrote while on his death bed. Historical records show that in 1688 Bunyan was caught in a storm while on the way to London, after which he became ill with a serious fever. He died on August 31, 1688 and was buried in a tomb in Bunhill Fields nonconformist burial ground in London. It was during these last days that he wrote the following sayings. It is truly a remarkable testimony of Bunyan's faith that he was not angry at God for what some may view as a needless illness and death for a great servant of God. Not only did Bunyan accept God's will, but he used his final days to continue teaching the truths of God and His Word.   OF SIN Sin is the great block and bar to our happiness, the procurer of all miseries to man, both here and hereafter: take away sin and nothing can hurt us: for death, temporal, spiri...

Last week, I talked about the importance of feeding our souls even when we feel like we're too tired to eat, and today I want to share some practical ideas for how busy/sleepy mommies can find time when no time is to be found. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11) The Bible, On Reading the Bible One of my favorite motifs in the psalms is this idea of meditating on God "in the night watches."  David was on the run for so much of his life as a military man, and he mentions r...

For Christians it's important to read.  It's important to read the Bible, books on the Bible, books about Christian living, and books to know more about God. But sometimes one's life gets very busy. How can the busy Christian find time to read? This post is meant to be a pastoral, practical and encouraging answer to that question. 

In today's entry, I continue our series looking at the works of John Bunyan. The following paragraphs contain select verses from John Bunyan's "Mediations" which he wrote while in prison. Written in a poetic format, these verses record Bunyan's experiences of God's grace and goodness in his life while he was imprisoned without just cause. With each word it becomes powerfully clear that Bunyan's time in prison only served to strengthen and embolden him more in his zeal for God. I hope you find these verses as exhortational as I did, and if you want to read the complete work (I encourage you to do so!), you can find the PDF here .   I am, indeed, in prison now In body, but my mind Is free to study Christ, and how Unto me he is kind. For though men keep my outward man Within their locks and bars, Yet by the faith of Christ I can Mount higher than the stars. Their fetters cannot spirits tame, Nor tie up God from me; My faith and hope they cannot lame, Above th...

Most kind and loving people have admirably low expectations for mothers of young children.  People constantly reassure me that my failures are okay, whether it’s that I forgot to bring something, do something, answer an email quickly, or even if it’s something more important: “Nobody can be perfectly patient all the time.”  “I didn’t read the Bible for years when we had littles.”  “They won’t remember the bad times.”  “The important thing is that you’re trying.”  “God knows what we need even when we’re too tired to pray.” Even great pastors like D.A. Carson and Martyn Lloyd-Jones are hasty to reassure us of the legitimacy of our struggle, the impossibility of being a mother of young children and a devotee of Scripture at the same time. There is much kindness in such reassurance.  I have no doubt that it is well-meant. But while pithy reassurances are comforting, they aren’t necessarily biblical or helpful. My heart is bleak ; I am not strong enough to stop burying myself in the Word ...

I’m always appalled at some who are quick to call another Christian “Pharisee.” Especially when they relish attacking those whom they see as Pharisees as a means of virtue signalling before another audience they want to please or win over.