Where'd you go?

Sorry about that. We haven't meant to go silent on you. At least not unexplained.

We (Gayline, Brooke, Jenn, and Robin) are in the process of taking a step back and looking at how we want to proceed with the blog in 2010. We're looking at everything from topics to design.

That being said, would mind taking a moment to let us know what kinds of things you'd like us to be talking about? Are you a homeschooling mom who needs encouragement to keep at it? Are you a single woman who's feeling lonely? Are you a single mom struggling with disciplining your kids? We'd love to be able to speak to where the women of TFC (and hopefully others!) are right now.

And while you're at it, it'd be great if you let us know what you think of the current design. Does it display well on your computer? Is it easy to navigate?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Look for us to come back in full swing on February 1!

New Year--Old Resolutions

I love New Years' Resolutions. I am awesome at making them...just not as successful at keeping them...I'm resolving to work on that.

My list of resolutions for 2010 is shorter than previous years. My focus this year is in making relevant resolutions, accompanied by carefully-laid plans (the hardest part!) on how to move toward attaining the end results I desire.

It is a good mental exercise--resolution-making...sitting down and thinking.

Speaking of 'thinkers'...New Years' Day is too perfect of an opportunity to not do another Jonathan Edwards 'resolution post.'

Rather than listing for you my resolutions for 2010, I think that you would be much more profited by hearing from one who has stood the test of time.

Here are eight choice resolutions from Jonathan Edwards to start off the new decade.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory and to my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now or never so many myriads of ages hence. (Resolution 1)

2. Resolved, never to do anything that I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life. (Resolved 7)

3. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of them. (Resolution 28)

4. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live if they were to live their lives over again. Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. (Resolution 52)

5. Whenever I hear anything spoken in commendation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, resolved to endeavor to imitate it. (Resolution 54)

6. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do if I had already seen the happiness of heaven and the torments of hell. (Resolution 55)

7. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as Providence orders it. I will, as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. (Resolution 57)

8. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, that is, with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and everything, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's sermon on Psalm 119:26. (Resolution 65)

Happy resolution-making!

Live well, die better

John Calvin said once that we should live our lives 'with one foot raised.'

He meant that Christians should be looking forward to departing this world to be with the Lord...'for that is much better.'

It's rather easy to long for eternal life with the Lord when we undergo hardship, trial, disappointment, etc. These things, as Calvin said, do serve us in weaning us off of this life. The ultimate test, however, is how much we long to gaze upon the Lord of Glory when everything in our lives here seems to be going well.

Seasons of blessing and peace are from the Lord. Even in joyous seasons, remembering that there is a war going on--and we are soldiers in that war--is vital to emerging victorious.

The temptation is there, when life is peaceful and full of joy, to relax and 'settle in.' We cannot forget that this is not home.

Home. 

When I was a little girl and I had an upcoming event--usually a birthday party--that I was excited about, I would often predict Jesus' return to be on date of the party. In my foolishness, I thought that Christ was then unable to come back on that day because 'no one knows the day or the hour.' Very foolish.

What is worse, though, is the fact that I wanted to go to a silly party more than I wanted to see the Lord. Absurd!

It is strange that we live in a world that is visual and physical, yet not reflective of reality. And the reality of the supernatural realm is there, but we have not been given eyes to see it...yet.

So we live, and enjoy, life...with one foot raised...every day thinking, 'This could be the day that my faith becomes sight.'

When I go don't cry for me

In my Father's arms I'll be

The wounds this world left on my soul

Will all be healed and I'll be whole

Sun and moon will be replaced

With the light of Jesus' face

And I will not be ashamed

For my Savior knows my name

All My Tears, Lyrics by Emmylou Harris

if you've done everything you should...

Just about every family has its own opinion and conviction about Santa Claus. I don't remember being told anything about Santa, but I did know that on Christmas Eve I got presents from "Santa." However, I realized very early on that Santa and Ma (my grandma) had the same handwriting--loopy and graceful, very delicate and feminine. I don't think I ever thought that Santa was real.

At least, not the jolly, fat, red-robed, cookie-eating bearded fellow from the North Pole. But a mystic, wish-granting, good-behavior rewarding, bad-behavior excusing deity? "You'll get yours if you've done everything thing you should, extra-special good." And if you weren't good... well, no one I know has ever actually gotten coal, and let me tell you, I know a few people who deserve coal every year. If that were just about Santa, I could stomach it. But don't we often think that way about God?

Take, for example, my least favorite Christmas song - "Santa Baby." It's a series of wishes in a prayer-like format. And our singer prays for all sorts of goodies, reminding Santa all the time of her own good behavior and of her future good behavior. She cajoles, "I really do believe in you. Let's see if you believe in me."

Maybe it's a single girl thing. But not only can I naturally think just like the girl in the song, but modern Christianity wants to feed me a steady diet of, "God just wants you to learn what He has for you. Then He will lead you to what's next." So what you're telling me is that once I've been really good, God will deliver? C'mon, God--think of all the fun I've missed! Think of all the fellows that I haven't kissed! Pay up!

Whatever happened to obedience to God's word because He is worthy of radical obedience, whether it makes me happy or not, whether it satisfies my earthly desires or not? Have we lost a sense of God's wrath and judgment upon sin? Do we forget that God is not Santa, that while bad kids still get presents, God is required by His own justice to punish sin? I forget it sometimes.

What freaks me out is that a lot of times our prayers sound like Christmas songs--big wish lists, with a few little compliments thrown in to appease the big guy in the red pajamas. There's an old hymn that takes the form of a prayer. Every time I hear "Santa Baby," I think of this hymn and get convicted all over again. I know which one I more often pray like.

We have not known Thee as we ought,
Nor learned Thy wisdom, grace and power;
The things of earth have filled our thought,
And trifles of the passing hour.
Lord, give us light Thy truth to see,
And make us wise in knowing Thee.
We Have Not Known Thee as We Ought by Thomas B. Pollock

hoping in God

The day before this past Thanksgiving she baked off a pumpkin pie with pecan streusel on top. She and her husband took the two kiddos and baby for holiday haircuts. Her thoughts were of the imminent joys of family and traditions.

The next morning her 35 year-old husband had a seizure, collapsed, and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors found a hefty-sized tumor on his frontal lobe.

How does a person, a wife, a mother, a Christian respond to this?

Lauren Chandler said, "Whom have I in heaven but you + earth has nothing I desire besides you--though my heart + flesh may fail--You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

That's, to me, mind boggling. That doesn't come in a moment. It is based on something big, something strong, something deep--a foundation of rock that can and will withstand howling winds and crashing waves. When you come to hard times, going to Scripture is the best idea. But the very, very bestest idea is to go to Scripture before the hard time and during the hard time.

Four days after her husband Matt's seizure and diagnosis, Lauren blogged,

"The Sunday before the "event," I opened my Bible intending to study a specific text in John. When the pages fell open, the title page of the book of Job stared me squarely in the face. I'm not normally one to play the magic eight ball game with the Bible but I'm also not one to believe in mere coincidence. The Lord--in His sure presence--was readying my heart. He was reminding me that nothing, absolutely nothing, can happen to Matt, the kids, other loved ones, or me without first passing through His hands. Satan had to ask permission to sift Job. The prince of this world is but a pawn in the Lord's plan.

This mass, tumor, whatever it is, is but an agent to bring Him greater glory and us greater joy. "

Wimpy theology makes wimpy women, John Piper says. Lauren Chandler is not a wimpy woman. The day before Matt's brain surgery, when he could have lived or died on the table, she tweeted, "Hoping in God. He is good and does good."

An amazing example of godliness in action. It is, I almost hate to phrase it this way, a privilege to watch Christians suffer, to see them declare as the world watches, "Jesus you are my great reward...your Kingdom come your will be done."

May God grant us the grace to endure joyfully, willingly, and patiently when our turn comes.