The Mundane Moments

Sheena and I just returned from a marriage conference in Ft. Myers, Florida with Paul Tripp.  It was very refreshing.  One of the things he talked about was glorifying God in the mundane moments of life.
He (Tripp) recounted a moment when he basically told his wife she was making them very late for a church breakfast before Easter.  Love is patient, right?  Well, patience wasn't high on the Tripp 'O Meter that day and it was noticeably obvious to his son.  His son asked him if his behavior was what God would want from him.  He was frustrated, embarrassed, and riddled with guilt.  Soon thereafter, he repented and trusted in Christ.  He reconciled with his wife and family.
During this moment, it occurred to him that God cares about the little moments in life.  He cares about the small conversations in the bathroom as well as the conversations about where our children will go to University or if they should go to a University.  The God who created the world cared that day how Paul Tripp would respond to his wife.  God was in the one bathroom, in that one house, in that one city, and in that state, which is located in one country, in one continent, and one one world.  God who oversees and cares for the afflicted, the poor, the widows, and many others was showing his care for his children in the Tripp household.  In those mundane moments of life, let us not suffer from gospel amnesia.  The gospel has saved us from our past and rescues us for the future but also saves us in the here and now.  When we display patience when the world would rather exhibit sarcasm, we display Jesus Christ and his patience and grace towards us in going to the Cross and bearing the punishment that we rightly deserved.  I pray that I will be more patient not because I have attained the secret to patience but because the root of patience is grace...grace found only at the Cross of Christ.

We could apply this scenario to a dozen different encounters.  How do we treat our waiter/waitress or what does our conversations look like when we get our hair cut/styled or how do we treat family members who are less mature in the faith or might not be believers at all?
The gospel applications abound.  I pray we will glorify God even in the mundane moments.

The Word of God

“Defend the Bible? Would you defend a lion? Loose him; and let him go!” 

When he spoke of Scripture, Charles Haddon Spurgeon consistently returned to two closely related themes. First, the Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God. Second, this inspired Word bears testimony to the Word of God incarnate, Jesus Christ.

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. 
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. – Psalm 18:30

The Last Day of 2011

Often, I think change is needed...for other people.  I see the sins of others yet don't see where I am sinning.  This portrays a delight in the flesh over the power of the Spirit.  I pray that God's grace will awaken me to my slothfulness in mortifying my sin and cultivating humility.  

Below you will find one of my favorite posts from one of the bloggers I follow (Trevin Wax).  It reveals a heart that longs for less of self and more of the Savior.  I pray that this will be prevalent in my journey throughout 2012 and beyond...

Lord God Almighty,

I understand that I am unable to do anything without your help,
so I ask you to enable me by your grace to fulfill your will.

Give me grace to do whatever brings most glory and honor to you,
pleasure and profit to me,
and life and love to others.

Help me to number my days,
spending my time wisely,
living my life with all my might while I still have breath.

Humble me in the knowledge that I am chief of sinners;
when I hear of the sins of others,
help me to not look upon them with pride,
but to look upon myself with shame,
confessing my own sins to you.

When I go through difficulties and trials,
remind me of the pains of hell
from which you have already delivered me.

Place people in my path who need my help,
and give me a compassionate and generous spirit.

Fill my heart with such love
that I would never do anything out of a spirit of revenge,
nor lose my temper with those around me.
Hold my tongue when I am tempted to speak evil of others.

Thank you for the gospel and for the hope of glory.
Help me to live in light of these truths every day of my life,
so that when the time of my death arrives,
I will rest assuredly in you,
and you will be most glorified in me.

In Christ’s name…

- Trevin Wax (adapted from the first 21 of Jonathan Edwards’ resolutions)

Substitution

For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be. Man claims prerogatives that belong to God alone; God accepts penalties that belong to man alone.   --  John Stott

Video that I could not get to Embed

http://vimeo.com/2843450

Finish the Mission

Obviously, it has been a while since I've posted last.  I didn't quite finish my reading list.  I will hopefully give brief reviews sometime in the near future.

It has been a roller-coaster of emotions over the past month.  As the new pastor of Haven Baptist Church, I recognize the great responsibility that this position brings.  In light of my shepherding responsibility, I was reminded of another biblical responsibility that the Church bears in our day and age.  It is to testify of the gospel to those who have never heard.
There are some unique opportunities that are taking place in Southern Baptist Churches in North America.  It is exciting and surreal that our family could play a part in reaching those who are among an unreached people group.

Summer of Reading

The children love to read. The whole family has enjoyed many good books this summer. Here is a pic of the kids at the library recently.