You can order verse packs and memorization journals from their website or visit their blog for great entries and reflection focused around the verse that week.  I just discovered that they have iPhone or iPad and Android apps available as well which are well worth the price!  We’re looking forward to really using this great resource in our home this year for verse memorization!

I enjoy making this recipe early in the day and putting it in the crock pot for supper.  I sometimes add fresh cranberries to the sauce if I have some on hand.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1 (16 ounce) can jellied cranberry sauce
• 1 (18 ounce) bottle barbecue sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

6+ years ago when we started our family planning, I did not think that I would be a stay at home mom. I was very career driven…had just finished my masters degree….loved my job….etc. Then, infertility entered my life. It’s amazing how we as humans value and prioritize those things that we cannot have, but I still don’t exactly think that is what changed my heart. A series of events in those 5 years of ttc (trying to conceive for those IF (infertility) savvy peeps.) including injuries with months of recovery, job searching, moving to another state, death of a dear family member, another injury…on top of the ttc and IF treatments that started….just sort of turned my world upside down. About three years ago we did a small group at Redeemer and read the book Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson. I don’t think there was something earth shattering said in that small group or in the book (sorry Pastor Adam…and Douglas Wilson)—but I started to really pray about and think about my role in our marriage and in our home. I felt like God had changed my mindset and my heart to be more focused on my family. So, when I finally did have my baby, planned to stay at home….and then I couldn’t– I really wasn’t sure what to think.

As we’ve been in our final countdown (a very long 3 month countdown), many people have asked me if I’m excited. And, I am excited. I was trying to ponder in my head what exactly I am excited about or how I feel about it. Then I thought….After these really crazy 6 years, I’m just excited to have my life back. And my immediate next thought was “whoever loves his life loses it.” 6 years. Sometimes I am a slow learner.

John 12:23-26. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

I am both a list maker and a list reader.  Lists summarize information into small manageable units for quick access and organization.  Most will agree, for example, that following a list in the grocery store aids in staying on track with finances and time. Also, recording expenses helps to shed light on spending areas still in need of tweaking.  In addition, documenting sermon highlights in brief bullet-points can assist an aging memory in quickly retrieving key points for consideration and personal application.   One of my most important lists is the daily To-Do. This list gives shape and structure to my day.   Reading the Bible and other good books always appear on that daily agenda.  God is consistently faithful in providing the right resources to supplement His Word and enhance my understanding of biblical truth.  

As I reflect on a few lists this last day of the year and offer a prayer of thanks to the Lord for gifted authors and His continued goodness and faithfulness in all things, here is one last list of some of my noteworthy books of 2011.   What books made your list this year?

• The MacArthur Daily Bible
• Daily Readings from the Life of Christ – Vol. 3 by John MacArthur
• The Valley of Vision by Arthur Bennett & Max McLean
• Expository Listening by Ken Ramey
• The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel
• Triumphing Over Sinful Fear by John Flavel
• Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen
• The Next Story – Life and Faith After the Digital Explosion by Tim Challies
• Practicing Affirmation by Sam Crabtree
• The Masculine Mandate – God’s Calling to Men by Richard D. Phillips
• Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper
• What is The Gospel by Greg Gilbert
• The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards by Steven Lawson
• Wrestling With An Angel – A Story of Love, Disability and the Lesson of Grace by Greg Lucas
• Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

]]> http://redeemerpgh.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/one-more-year-end-list/feed/ 8 junekathy2334 IMG_0343 IMG_0415 http://redeemerpgh.wordpress.com/2011/12/24/2265/ http://redeemerpgh.wordpress.com/2011/12/24/2265/#comments Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:16:40 +0000 Anna Valentine http://redeemerpgh.wordpress.com/?p=2265 ]]>

It is difficult to believe that Christmas day is almost upon us!  It is easy to get caught up in all of the places to go and the things to do that we breeze right through the month of December, at least I’m feeling that way this year!  There are certainly some sights and sounds that are welcome back each year, and others that I could personally do without e.g.- Porky Pig singing “Blue Christmas” (although it was very amusing to watch my Dad hear that for the first time).  For some, Christmas brings fond memories and time with family and friends,  for others memories of pain and feelings of loneliness.  Regardless of your feelings about the festivities surrounding Christmastime, there is one very important aspect of the holiday that it is crucial you do not miss: God sending His only Son (Jesus) to earth to live in the midst of sinners, yet without sinning, so that He could be the perfect sacrifice to make peace between God and man.  I don’t know the exact month or day of the birth of Jesus (although I’m sure there are some scholarly opinions), but I do know that without this event in history there would be no peace, no redemption, no life beyond this world.  If you are having a difficult time finding something to rejoice in this year, rejoice in the saving work of Jesus Christ.  “He came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost”.

Luke 2:1-20

 ¹ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration whenQuirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. ⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
   and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

 ¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

When I say the word “theology” what scary picture rushes into your mind? A thin man with a long white beard, and a monotone voice droning on and on about words you can’t understand? Or a group of people arguing seemingly about nothing but semantics? Or a book that you know you probably should read, but every attempt results in narcolepsy?

Let me paint a different picture for you: A woman sitting at the feet of her Rescuer, discovering the greatest love of her life; His likes and dislikes; pushing herself into who He is, relishing every aspect of His beautiful, amazing character. This, my sisters, is what theology is. Theology contemplates God, discovers the God you have pledged yourself to. As women, we study and want intimate knowledge of those we love, of those we are in relationship with. Why would we shy away from or snub knowing the One that knows us most fully?

Theology isn’t just a scary word. Theology, knowing God, is what will keep you when the trials come. If you have a false idea about God, you won’t be able to understand why He would allow suffering or hurt to come into your life.

Here’s an example where I was sustained by the theology I had already learned: When my oldest son was 7, he was admitted into Children’s Hospital for a very high fever and a strange lump on his neck. He looked like he had pushed an orange through his ear and it was lodged inside the side of his throat. We spent days and nights with doctors running tests and trying to figure out what was happening to my sweet baby. The only hope I had during that time of uncertainty, was that I knew my God. I knew He was loving, and powerful, and sovereign. I knew that He wouldn’t allow anything to come into my life unless it was for my family’s good and for His glory. I didn’t know how my circumstances would work out, I didn’t know if my son would be okay, but I was absolutely positive about the character of my God.

Theology isn’t boring or irrelevant. It is full and rich and beautiful. The more you know God and study Him, the deeper your love will grow for Him. The more you know Him, the more you be grateful for what He has done for you. Our immense, all knowing, all seeing God chose to set His love on you. He gave His Son to rescue you. He gives us the Holy Spirit to help us understand Him better.

Theological doctrine will bring richness to your relationship with your Heavenly Father. Being sure of what you believe and why you believe it will cultivate affection for your Savior. Praying that you would be able to comprehend the riches of the fullness of His grace will make your Christianity vibrant, unassailable in times of trial.

The truth of the matter is that even if you say theology isn’t important and you don’t want to bother with it, you are a making a statement about God. That statement is this: His character is not worthy of your time and energy.

Sisters, put the milk away, pull out a knife and fork and dive into the meat of our Creator. Don’t be afraid of theology, don’t leave the head work up to the men. Grab ahold of our great God and study Him. Study who He is, what He has revealed about Himself in the Bible. Study what He says about you. Be amazed at the wonder of His great love and see how that knowledge will revolutionize all of life.

Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them (Psalms 111:2).

Ingredients:

4 baking potatoes

2/3 cup butter

Now that I have a child, I do want her to have fond childhood memories of Christmas time traditions—like watching A Charlie Brown Christmas on tv, watching dad get frustrated as he hangs the lights outside, baking sugar cookies and decorating the tree.  But what is more important to me is for her to see how those traditions glorify God and for that to me a part of her core being…so when something in this world appears hopeless, she has the true Hope to cling to (yet, another lesson God showed me through my years of awaiting motherhood). As I was decorating the tree this year (and Grace was desperately trying to climb over my barricade to assist), I began to think of practical ways to make Jesus the center of our holiday traditions….and then I really started to think about how do we raise Grace in the day to day to do that. I came across this John Piper sermon that I thought gave some good points to keep in mind.

Raising Children Who Hope in the Triumph of God (May 8, 1988)

10 Basic Ways to Instill This Vision
• Make all of life God-Saturated. 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”
• Pray. We must pray for our children and teach them to pray. We need to pray in the presence of our children, and we need to pray with our children.
• Demonstrate the importance of the bible. Make the bible the most important book in their lives.
• Be living examples of faith. We need to be living examples of faith in very practical ways so that our children will never doubt our word or God’s word that God will always triumph.
• Be happy. We need to be happy lest our children get the impression that the triumph of God would be the triumph for gloom.
• Discipline.
• Be humble and willing to apologize. The willingness to apologize to our children and show humility, to show them that the cross can triumph even over a parent’s mistake.
• Worship together. Children can see their parents praise God and bow in reverence and cherish the preaching of God’s word.
• Uphold standards and everyday holiness. Standards of purity, integrity, truthfulness, self-control, hard work and what that means in practical everyday terms to be on the side of justice and grace that will someday triumph over all evil.
• Love. Learning that in the end everything is in vain without love. In the world, love is the visible expression of faith in the triumph of God.

Noel Piper shares the stories of five Christian women in history facing unique challenges who, nevertheless, were determined to pursue God’s call for their lives.

Lovely Sarah Edwards was married in the early 1700s to pastor, author, thinker Jonathan Edwards.  He lovingly depended on her to manage their busy home-life (eleven children) while he devoted himself to teaching the Word and much study (sometimes up to thirteen hours per day).  Not only did she learn to trust in the Lord for wisdom and strength to complete that herculean task, but she also made herself available to spiritually nurture others.

Lillias Trotter, born over a century later, showed much promise as a talented young artist, but strongly believed the Lord wanted her to pursue missions.  She began by serving among the outcasts in London then eventually went on to share the gospel with Muslims in Arabia. That was no small task, especially for a delicate woman with a weak heart who had been rejected by a mission board because of poor health.

Gladys Aylward, another Londoner, did not like school at all in the early 1900s and by age fourteen dropped out altogether.   She felt an intense desire to reach out to the Chinese people, however, after reading an article in a Christian magazine about their need to hear the gospel.  Even though her educational and financial limitations caused many frustrations and detours, she eventually arrived in China, and began a long and fruitful ministry to the Chinese.

Helen Roseavere on the other hand, excelled in school especially science, but was plagued with feelings of inadequacy and debilitating self-doubt.  Despite becoming a medical doctor and helping others, nagging feelings of hopelessness and inferiority dogged her. She persistently sought and received God’s strength, though,  to persevere in serving and learning from the Kenyans in Mombasa, Africa.

Each of the women profiled faced unique challenges to being faithful in their respective callings.  Some were tortured and brutalized by those they were called to love and serve.  Others were plagued by physical and emotional frailties.  Yet these women, who lived at different times in history, all shared a resolute faith in the one, true, unchangeable God.

May the stories of these sisters in the faith encourage us to persevere in fulfilling our mission. Our extraordinary God continues to do amazing things through faithful women in a myriad of circumstances.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the powers at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”  (Ephesians 3:20- 21)

* Available at the Redeemer Community Bookstop