pieces of summer

gospel-centered prayer

JD Greear shares three things he prays every morning to help him stay gospel-centered.

“God, because I am in Christ I know there is nothing I can do today that would make you love me any more, and there is nothing I have done that makes you love me any less.”

“God, your presence and approval is all I need to have joy today.”

“God, everything the gospel tells me about your intentions for my life is TRUE.”

How do you start your day?

words from the heywood crib

i've been praying that the Lord would give me wisdom. i've been praying this a lot lately. mostly cause i'm seeing all the situations in my life where i'm acting without wisdom and discernment. i've been tossing around james 1:5 in my mind where james says, "if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given him. but when he asks, he must believe and not doubt." praying this scripture in faith has assured me of God's willingness to give wisdom to me as i seek it, its declared to me that the Lord requires us to seek His gifts with a believing heart, but its still left me a bit in the dark about what it looks like to practically seek to walk in wisdom in my daily life.

i recently read an article from a sermon preached by a dude named Josh Harris on Proverbs 1. his 5 points were that:

-God's grace toward sinners gives us confidence to seek wisdom.
-We must choose wisdom.
-Wisdom comes from God. Solomon asked for wisdom, but it is God who bestowed it.
-Wisdom is for living. It is knowledge in action. It is put on display when we make choices and perform actions.
-You are only as wise as your next decision. You prove your wisdom in what you choose today.

this last point challenges me like crazy. i am only as wise as my next decision. whether i decide to sleep in or wake up early, to spend my time selfishly or selflessly, to respond in this or that manner, to read my bible or go on the internet, to give my money away or spend it on myself, wisdom is proven from moment-to-moment. and each decision is a new opportunity to exercise God-glorifying, God-gifted wisdom.

my tendency is to lapse into periods of coasting. as i disengage from intentional living in order to allow myself some laziness and unholy rest, i think i can ride out the past efforts of wise decisions i've made. how foolish this is! yesterday's wise decisions are undone by my next decision. i must choose wisdom for these decisions everyday. and what promise the Lord gives us that He will faithfully provide wisdom to those who seek it.

Guy #3

Guy #3 made this happen. Before him, it was just a couple of crazies breaking it down... then Guy #3 got risky and initiated a dance party. No bravery points for any one after Guy #3.

Back home.

"We must hide our unholiness in the wounds of Christ as Moses hid himself in the cleft of the rock while the glory of God passed by. We must take refuge from God in God. Above all, we must believe that God sees us perfect in His Son while he disciplines and chastens and purges us so that we may be partakers of His holiness." A.W. Tozer

I know that I must preach the gospel to myself everyday.
I must see my deep depravity- and let it drive me to humility, drive me to worship of Him who gave us undeserved mercy and grace.
I must believe that the cross of Christ is the work of justification and propitiation for me. The cross alone. I must believe God loves me enough to see past it all and comfort me despite the ugliness of my sin.
I must believe that My Jesus stands before the Lord, interceding on behalf of my wretched soul, showing the blood He shed to present me pure and blameless and shining with the radiance of the beautiful righteousness of Christ, God in the flesh.
I must see that the discipline of the Lord is a sure pledge of His love for me for He would not be moved to chastise those who are not His.
And I must fix my eyes on the end, in the midst of pain and struggle and discipline, because the Lord's discipline brings us to fear Him, to walk in holiness and godliness and see the fruit that righteousness brings.

I know that I must preach the gospel to myself everyday.
I must preach the gospel to myself everyday.

Columbus to Minneapolis (halfway home)

i drove for 14 hours in my car today. all alone. it was surprisingly wonderful apart from the periodic cramps that wreaked havoc on my legs every 2-3 hours. i became "that girl" doing laps around the sunoco gas station to get the blood flowing. i'm not ashamed. there were a few delirious moments of driving-exhaustion where the only remedy was to crank the local rap station and break it down at the top of my lungs (i usually just sing the duet girl part to be completely honest). the country station is also a sure thing for sing-alongs but sometimes an excess of the crooning of heart-sick hicks makes me a bit nauseous. reading and analyzing ridiculous billboards, bumper stickers, and license plates kept me occupied for a bit and there were a few moments where i just reflected on the joy of the excellence in gas mileage that Coby the Cobalt supplies. 14 hours of a 26 hour journey are now down and the reality of home is setting in. home is wonderful. there's something safe and comforting about being at home with my family. the Lord has used it to revitalize and refresh me in the past, and i have no doubt that He will be faithful in this again. i need rest in Christ. i need renewal in my spirit, in my heart, in my mind. the long drive home has been the start of that as i pull myself away from distractions and busyness and am in solitude before the Lord. i'm in deep need of Christ and i know it.


"Now then, little man, for a short time fly from your business; hide yourself for a moment from your turbulent thoughts. Break off now your troublesome cares, and think less of your laborious occupations. Make a little time for God, and rest for a while in him. Enter into the chamber of your mind, shut out everything but God and whatever helps you to seek him, and, when you have shut the door, seek him. Speak now, O my whole heart, speak now to God: 'I seek thy face; thy face, Lord, do I desire.'"

Anselm of Canterbury (ca. 1033-1109), Proslogion, chapter one.