Women of Promise

       Fresh off of the wonderful marriage retreat weekend, all educated on the agape love that I am to have for my husband, I was pretty full of myself when I picked up my study of Titus 2 and came to verse 4.  I was so sure I knew all about what Paul was talking about. After all, I had just heard approximately 3 hours of preaching on agape love in addition to a couple of breakout sessions and a closing message that focused on practically applying this knowledge.  So, imagine my surprise when I look up the word for love in Titus 2:4 and find out that it is not agape  used, but phileo!  Phileo  love is the brotherly kind of love.  It means you really, really like someone!  Whoa! OK. What does that mean?  I mean, I know I am called to love my husband with that love also.  However, I had always just assumed that this verse referred to agape  love.        Agape  love means that we love unc...

       I grew up with a father who was a theologian and a philosopher.  He loved the Word of God and led his family to serve and honor the Lord.  He taught us well, but we always struggled as children to understand the practical application of all of his deep studies.  God balanced my dad's esoteric tendancies with an extremely practical and down-to-earth wife.  Mom was the epitomy of a Proverbs 31 woman. She found great fulfillment in keeping the home and was a help-meet extraordinaire for my dad.  She did her best to translate for us kiddos and help us practically apply what Dad taught.      Sometimes studying the Word of God is like that.  We can get very amazed and even overwhelmed with the amazing truths of creation and redemption -- and we should! These truths and wonders are the very foundation of who and what we are.  However, these truths should not just stop at being amazing, glorious facts and thoughts that...

       We have talked  a little about the "5 Solas" in the past, and I have shared with you about each of those foundational truths of the Christian faith.  While studying those Latin phrases, I came across another new-to-me Latin phrase that has been a fascinating study.  I pray that it will be edifying to you as well.  It is the Latin phrase, Coram Deo.   It is first used in the Latin Vulgate Bible to translate Psalm 56:13:   For You have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. (ESV)          The phrase, Coram Deo , is translated into English in this Psalm as, "that I may walk before God."  Literally, Coram Deo  means something that takes place in the very presence of God, or in front of His face.  The Psalmist was praising God for the opportunity to live  life in front of His Creator.       We know from S...

      It's that time of year again. The time where we look over the past year and make "resolutions" for the New Year. We are gifted a fresh start and it is a good time to focus on new disciplines or renewed focus on older disciplines.      As followers of Jesus, I hope that the importance of reading the Word of God is already a priority for each of us. If not, that is a great resolution for the new year! We cannot understand or know God and His great love for us apart from the Bible. His Word is living and powerful. It will cut to the bones and marrow. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. God's Word will bring light to your soul and you will never be the same. There is no substitute for spending time in the Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your heart through it. (If reading is difficult for you, there are many wonderful audio versions available -- check them out!)     One of my areas of renewed focus th...

  image source: James Shulz at fineart.com      Growing up, one tradition that my parents created for our family was the playing of Handel's Messiah  every year throughout the Christmas season.  It is a classical oratorio piece that is absolutely jam-packed with Scripture put to beautiful music. You have probably heard "The Hallelujah Chorus?" We learned to stand for that section, in honor of the glorious entrance of Christ as King.  Even with the scratchiness of the old vinyl record, it just didn't feel like Christmas until we had heard this playing through the house as we went about our other Christmas traditions. This was just one way that my parents worked hard to keep Jesus the central focus of the Christmas season.      Recently, my oldest son (15 years old) had the opportunity to lead a ministry time for over 70 people.  He only had a few hours notice.  He was understandably nervous and trying to decide what to say. My o...

  Amazing grace! how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. The Lord has promised good to me His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures. ~ John Newton      We all recognize these words to the beautiful hymn, "Amazing Grace," which has been sung for hundreds of years in churches around the world.  John Newton, the author, celebrates the 4th "Sola" that we come to in our study of the "5 Solas,"  Sola Gratia,   or Grace Alone. Mr. Newton knew that his soul's eternal security was a gift that he could never be worthy of receiving.      We have discussed that Scripture is our only authority.  Then we have seen that salvation from an eternal hell (justification) is recieved by faith alone, in Christ alone.   The doctrine of Grace Alone teaches us that our justification is offered on the basis of GOD's grace only. ...

     As part of our sinful nature, we humans tend to like to think that we are involved in everything, don't we? We often inflate our part in the retelling for it to seem as if we are just a little bit more important than we are.       As we look into the "5 Solas,"  we are going to take a brief look at Solus Christus today.  "Christ Alone."  We often apply this primarily to salvation. Justification --salvation from hell, or eternal separation from God, is made possible ONLY by the work of Christ on the cross. However, this applies to all areas of our life as we experience the sanctifying work of Christ in our lives -- transforming us into His image.  In both justification and sanctification, it is Christ alone who accomplishes this beautiful work in and through us.       Looking back at the time of Martin Luther, salvation was taught by the Roman Catholic church, who controlled what and how Scripture was accessi...